Yunnan Province has emerged as a trailblazer in fostering an ecological civilization, assuming a prominent and pioneering role as the vanguard of ecological conservation in the southwestern region of China. Within the expansive tapestry of Yunnan Province, the northwest region has assumed a pivotal and indispensable position in spearheading the advancement of ecological civilization. To unravel the intricate and complex dynamics at play, this investigation employed a comprehensive array of methodologies, encompassing the sophisticated land use transfer matrix, the dynamic degree of land use, the center-of-gravity migration model, and the standard deviation ellipse. These sophisticated approaches were employed to delve deeply into the nuanced characteristics of the spatiotemporal evolution of ecologically pristine land in northwest Yunnan, while meticulously exploring the multifaceted factors that have intricately shaped its trajectory. The research findings illuminated several pivotal domains: (1) In terms of quantitative transformations, a substantial conversion of vast grassland expanses into cultivated land transpired from 2000 to 2010, spanning an expansive territory of 1303 km2. The most significant transformations were observed between forested land and grassland (591.81 km2) and from cropland to built-up land (51.99 km2). (2) Turning our attention to the pace of transformation, a closer examination of the land use dynamic degree revealed that urban construction land exhibited the highest degree of dynamism throughout the study period, demonstrating an average annual growth rate of 3.89% from 2000 to 2010, followed by a more accelerated growth rate of 6.14% from 2010 to 2020. In terms of the comprehensive land use dynamic degree, the annual rates of land use change from 2000 to 2010 and from 2010 to 2020 were only 0.1% and 0.03%, respectively. These figures indicate a gradual and deliberate overall pace of land use change in the northwest region of Yunnan throughout the entire study period. (3) Regarding spatial transformations, between 2000 and 2010, there was a discernible southeastern displacement of the center of gravity for ecological land. However, from 2010 to 2020, the center of ecological land experienced a migration towards the northwest, covering an impressive migration distance of up to 48,657.35 m. Simultaneously, the index of biological abundance exhibited high values in the northwest and low values in the southeast, indicative of favorable ecological conditions in the northwest region. (4) An analysis of the influencing factors revealed that the adaptive and dynamic nature of social and economic factors played a pivotal role in shaping the alterations observed in the ecological landscape. The study of ecological land use in northwest Yunnan holds the potential to provide valuable support for the protection and sustainable utilization of regional ecological land use, thereby contributing to the consolidation of the ecological
{"title":"Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Evolution and Factors Influencing Ecological Land in Northwest Yunnan from the Perspective of Leading the Construction of a National Ecological Civilization","authors":"Xian Wang, Shiqin Yang, Renyi Yang, Zisheng Yang","doi":"10.3390/d15101074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101074","url":null,"abstract":"Yunnan Province has emerged as a trailblazer in fostering an ecological civilization, assuming a prominent and pioneering role as the vanguard of ecological conservation in the southwestern region of China. Within the expansive tapestry of Yunnan Province, the northwest region has assumed a pivotal and indispensable position in spearheading the advancement of ecological civilization. To unravel the intricate and complex dynamics at play, this investigation employed a comprehensive array of methodologies, encompassing the sophisticated land use transfer matrix, the dynamic degree of land use, the center-of-gravity migration model, and the standard deviation ellipse. These sophisticated approaches were employed to delve deeply into the nuanced characteristics of the spatiotemporal evolution of ecologically pristine land in northwest Yunnan, while meticulously exploring the multifaceted factors that have intricately shaped its trajectory. The research findings illuminated several pivotal domains: (1) In terms of quantitative transformations, a substantial conversion of vast grassland expanses into cultivated land transpired from 2000 to 2010, spanning an expansive territory of 1303 km2. The most significant transformations were observed between forested land and grassland (591.81 km2) and from cropland to built-up land (51.99 km2). (2) Turning our attention to the pace of transformation, a closer examination of the land use dynamic degree revealed that urban construction land exhibited the highest degree of dynamism throughout the study period, demonstrating an average annual growth rate of 3.89% from 2000 to 2010, followed by a more accelerated growth rate of 6.14% from 2010 to 2020. In terms of the comprehensive land use dynamic degree, the annual rates of land use change from 2000 to 2010 and from 2010 to 2020 were only 0.1% and 0.03%, respectively. These figures indicate a gradual and deliberate overall pace of land use change in the northwest region of Yunnan throughout the entire study period. (3) Regarding spatial transformations, between 2000 and 2010, there was a discernible southeastern displacement of the center of gravity for ecological land. However, from 2010 to 2020, the center of ecological land experienced a migration towards the northwest, covering an impressive migration distance of up to 48,657.35 m. Simultaneously, the index of biological abundance exhibited high values in the northwest and low values in the southeast, indicative of favorable ecological conditions in the northwest region. (4) An analysis of the influencing factors revealed that the adaptive and dynamic nature of social and economic factors played a pivotal role in shaping the alterations observed in the ecological landscape. The study of ecological land use in northwest Yunnan holds the potential to provide valuable support for the protection and sustainable utilization of regional ecological land use, thereby contributing to the consolidation of the ecological ","PeriodicalId":56006,"journal":{"name":"Diversity-Basel","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136353377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Understanding the population size of animals is crucial for formulating scientific management policies, especially for endangered species. The central area of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi is a vital area for forest musk deer, but research is insufficient and estimates of its population size are lacking. In this study, we constructed a species distribution model for the forest musk deer in the central Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi using topography, land-use, and bioclimatic variables alongside forest musk deer occurrence data. The Time-to-Event (TTE) model was employed to estimate the population density of forest musk deer in the selected survey area. By utilizing the suitable habitat area provided by the species distribution model, the population density in the central Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi was estimated by extrapolating from the survey area. Our estimate of the population size of forest musk deer in the central Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi is approximately 2722 ± 788. Similar population estimation methods could be more widely applied, especially in areas with limited survey resources.
{"title":"Integrating Species Distribution Models to Estimate the Population Size of Forest Musk Deer (Moschus berezovskii) in the Central Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi","authors":"Xinyu Gao, Shuhai Bu, Xueli Zheng","doi":"10.3390/d15101071","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101071","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding the population size of animals is crucial for formulating scientific management policies, especially for endangered species. The central area of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi is a vital area for forest musk deer, but research is insufficient and estimates of its population size are lacking. In this study, we constructed a species distribution model for the forest musk deer in the central Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi using topography, land-use, and bioclimatic variables alongside forest musk deer occurrence data. The Time-to-Event (TTE) model was employed to estimate the population density of forest musk deer in the selected survey area. By utilizing the suitable habitat area provided by the species distribution model, the population density in the central Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi was estimated by extrapolating from the survey area. Our estimate of the population size of forest musk deer in the central Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi is approximately 2722 ± 788. Similar population estimation methods could be more widely applied, especially in areas with limited survey resources.","PeriodicalId":56006,"journal":{"name":"Diversity-Basel","volume":"35 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135094678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alena Firsova, Yuri Galachyants, Anna Bessudova, Lubov Titova, Maria Sakirko, Artyom Marchenkov, Diana Hilkhanova, Maria Nalimova, Vasilisa Buzevich, Ivan Mikhailov, Yelena Likhoshway
Studying correlations between phytoplankton communities and environmental factors is critical for understanding how aquatic ecosystems function. The high sensitivity of phytoplankton to changes in these factors makes it possible to control the state of the ecosystem of water bodies. Artificial lakes often demonstrate increased trophic status, inducing changes in phytoplankton structure. In this paper, we studied phytoplankton in June 2023 (hydrological spring) in two ecosystems, South Baikal and the Irkutsk Reservoir, that are connected by a water course but have different environmental parameters. The gradient of environmental parameters from the lake towards the reservoir revealed peculiarities in the distribution of some microalgae species. Microscopy and statistical analysis showed that water temperature was the most important factor affecting the structure of the communities. The warmer water of the reservoir, in contrast to the lake, demonstrated a twofold increase in species number, abundance, and biomass. Downstream from the reservoir, we observed a succession in the dominating Baikal species complex, its supplementation, and replacement with other species typical of the summer period and Baikal bays. The trophic status of the reservoir during the study may be described as oligotrophic, with local traits of mesotrophicity; its water refers to Class I and Class II and may be qualified as clean.
{"title":"Environmental Factors Affecting Distribution and Diversity of Phytoplankton in the Irkutsk Reservoir Ecosystem in June 2023","authors":"Alena Firsova, Yuri Galachyants, Anna Bessudova, Lubov Titova, Maria Sakirko, Artyom Marchenkov, Diana Hilkhanova, Maria Nalimova, Vasilisa Buzevich, Ivan Mikhailov, Yelena Likhoshway","doi":"10.3390/d15101070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101070","url":null,"abstract":"Studying correlations between phytoplankton communities and environmental factors is critical for understanding how aquatic ecosystems function. The high sensitivity of phytoplankton to changes in these factors makes it possible to control the state of the ecosystem of water bodies. Artificial lakes often demonstrate increased trophic status, inducing changes in phytoplankton structure. In this paper, we studied phytoplankton in June 2023 (hydrological spring) in two ecosystems, South Baikal and the Irkutsk Reservoir, that are connected by a water course but have different environmental parameters. The gradient of environmental parameters from the lake towards the reservoir revealed peculiarities in the distribution of some microalgae species. Microscopy and statistical analysis showed that water temperature was the most important factor affecting the structure of the communities. The warmer water of the reservoir, in contrast to the lake, demonstrated a twofold increase in species number, abundance, and biomass. Downstream from the reservoir, we observed a succession in the dominating Baikal species complex, its supplementation, and replacement with other species typical of the summer period and Baikal bays. The trophic status of the reservoir during the study may be described as oligotrophic, with local traits of mesotrophicity; its water refers to Class I and Class II and may be qualified as clean.","PeriodicalId":56006,"journal":{"name":"Diversity-Basel","volume":"27 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135044153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
As the woody legume, Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) has encroached into grasslands and rangelands in the southern Great Plains, USA, two grass species, C4 shortgrass, Buchloe dactyloides (buffalograss), and C3 mid-grass, Nassella leucotricha (Texas wintergrass), have increased in dominance. Occurrence of more productive C4 mid-grasses and herbaceous diversity have declined. We measured effects of various combinations of spring clipping (to simulate cattle grazing) and summer and/or winter fire treatments on the stability of monoculture patches of these two grass species over an eight-year period, with the goal of reducing Nassella and increasing C4 mid-grass cover. All fire treatments top-killed most Prosopis trees that subsequently resprouted. Buchloe cover declined in the No Clip + No Fire treatment but remained intact with clipping and/or fire. Frequent clipping reduced Nassella cover across all fire treatments. Buchloe encroachment into Nassella patches was greatest in the Clip + Alternate Season fire treatment. C4 mid-grass cover increased to 15–25% in Nassella patches in several fire-only or Clip + Fire treatments; greatest gains were observed in treatments that included summer fire. In contrast, C4 mid-grass gains were lower in Buchloe patches. These results suggest that C4 mid-grass restoration was linked with treatments that reduced Nassella cover.
{"title":"Stability of C3 and C4 Grass Patches in Woody Encroached Rangeland after Fire and Simulated Grazing","authors":"R. James Ansley, William E. Pinchak","doi":"10.3390/d15101069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101069","url":null,"abstract":"As the woody legume, Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) has encroached into grasslands and rangelands in the southern Great Plains, USA, two grass species, C4 shortgrass, Buchloe dactyloides (buffalograss), and C3 mid-grass, Nassella leucotricha (Texas wintergrass), have increased in dominance. Occurrence of more productive C4 mid-grasses and herbaceous diversity have declined. We measured effects of various combinations of spring clipping (to simulate cattle grazing) and summer and/or winter fire treatments on the stability of monoculture patches of these two grass species over an eight-year period, with the goal of reducing Nassella and increasing C4 mid-grass cover. All fire treatments top-killed most Prosopis trees that subsequently resprouted. Buchloe cover declined in the No Clip + No Fire treatment but remained intact with clipping and/or fire. Frequent clipping reduced Nassella cover across all fire treatments. Buchloe encroachment into Nassella patches was greatest in the Clip + Alternate Season fire treatment. C4 mid-grass cover increased to 15–25% in Nassella patches in several fire-only or Clip + Fire treatments; greatest gains were observed in treatments that included summer fire. In contrast, C4 mid-grass gains were lower in Buchloe patches. These results suggest that C4 mid-grass restoration was linked with treatments that reduced Nassella cover.","PeriodicalId":56006,"journal":{"name":"Diversity-Basel","volume":"438 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135197460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Athanasios Kallimanis, Ioannis P. Kokkoris, Ioannis Bazos, Thomas Raus, Arne Strid, Panayotis Dimopoulos
Biological invasions are one of the main threats to biodiversity, but they also offer insights on different ecological processes, as highlighted by the hypotheses posited to explain the phenomenon. We explore the relative importance of different hypotheses using biotic (native diversity) and abiotic factors (climate and landscape configuration) as proxies driving the spatial pattern of alien plant biodiversity in Greece. The strongest predictor of alien species richness is native species richness. Landscape heterogeneity boosts this relationship, but native and alien species prefer different conditions. Landscape composition and configuration explain more of the variance of alien diversity than of native diversity, with native diversity increasing at more naturally vegetated areas and alien diversity at agricultural lands. Climate is associated more strongly with native diversity than with alien diversity, with native diversity increasing in colder regions and alien diversity in warmer regions. The transportation network was associated with higher alien species richness but not with native species richness, highlighting the importance of propagule/colonization pressure. These differences might indicate that aliens occupy part of the niche space that is not preferred by the natives and thus allow us to speculate on the role of limiting similarity as a driving force.
{"title":"What Insight Does the Alien Plant Species Richness in Greece Offer for the Different Invasion Biology Hypotheses?","authors":"Athanasios Kallimanis, Ioannis P. Kokkoris, Ioannis Bazos, Thomas Raus, Arne Strid, Panayotis Dimopoulos","doi":"10.3390/d15101067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101067","url":null,"abstract":"Biological invasions are one of the main threats to biodiversity, but they also offer insights on different ecological processes, as highlighted by the hypotheses posited to explain the phenomenon. We explore the relative importance of different hypotheses using biotic (native diversity) and abiotic factors (climate and landscape configuration) as proxies driving the spatial pattern of alien plant biodiversity in Greece. The strongest predictor of alien species richness is native species richness. Landscape heterogeneity boosts this relationship, but native and alien species prefer different conditions. Landscape composition and configuration explain more of the variance of alien diversity than of native diversity, with native diversity increasing at more naturally vegetated areas and alien diversity at agricultural lands. Climate is associated more strongly with native diversity than with alien diversity, with native diversity increasing in colder regions and alien diversity in warmer regions. The transportation network was associated with higher alien species richness but not with native species richness, highlighting the importance of propagule/colonization pressure. These differences might indicate that aliens occupy part of the niche space that is not preferred by the natives and thus allow us to speculate on the role of limiting similarity as a driving force.","PeriodicalId":56006,"journal":{"name":"Diversity-Basel","volume":"66 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135197748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gladiolus palustris (marsh Gladiolus) of wet grasslands is an extremely rare and highly endangered species in Central Europe. Ongoing loss of habitat, population fragmentation, drought, and higher mean annual temperatures caused by global warming have all contributed to a severe decline in its population over the past few decades. Additionally, hybridization with other species, such as G. imbricatus and G. illyricus, and genetic depletion may pose a significant threat to the species’ survival. The focus of this study is to characterize major gene pools of the species in southern and southwestern Germany. Using molecular AFLP markers and ITS DNA sequencing, this study shows that past hybridization and introgression in Central Europe are more extensive than previously thought, posing a challenge to conservation strategies targeting taxonomically defined species. The region of the Rhine River in southwestern Germany (Upper Rhine Valley) has seen the emergence of various scattered populations of G. palustris over the past three decades, which are believed to have been introduced by humans. Introduced populations in this area (comprising the German Federal States of Baden–Württemberg and Rhineland–Palatinate) likely descend from a large source population near Lake Constance. Therefore, the study suggests promoting and protecting these new populations, given their long-standing presence in the region. Furthermore, the research proposes that naturally occurring hybrids and introgressed populations should also be the primary target of conservation efforts.
{"title":"The Diverse Reticulate Genetic Set-Up of Endangered Gladiolus palustris in Southern Germany Has Consequences for the Development of Conservation Strategies","authors":"Marcus A. Koch","doi":"10.3390/d15101068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101068","url":null,"abstract":"Gladiolus palustris (marsh Gladiolus) of wet grasslands is an extremely rare and highly endangered species in Central Europe. Ongoing loss of habitat, population fragmentation, drought, and higher mean annual temperatures caused by global warming have all contributed to a severe decline in its population over the past few decades. Additionally, hybridization with other species, such as G. imbricatus and G. illyricus, and genetic depletion may pose a significant threat to the species’ survival. The focus of this study is to characterize major gene pools of the species in southern and southwestern Germany. Using molecular AFLP markers and ITS DNA sequencing, this study shows that past hybridization and introgression in Central Europe are more extensive than previously thought, posing a challenge to conservation strategies targeting taxonomically defined species. The region of the Rhine River in southwestern Germany (Upper Rhine Valley) has seen the emergence of various scattered populations of G. palustris over the past three decades, which are believed to have been introduced by humans. Introduced populations in this area (comprising the German Federal States of Baden–Württemberg and Rhineland–Palatinate) likely descend from a large source population near Lake Constance. Therefore, the study suggests promoting and protecting these new populations, given their long-standing presence in the region. Furthermore, the research proposes that naturally occurring hybrids and introgressed populations should also be the primary target of conservation efforts.","PeriodicalId":56006,"journal":{"name":"Diversity-Basel","volume":"22 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135197461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lilia A. Akhmetova, Olivier Montreuil, Andrey V. Frolov
Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) are among the most cost-effective and informative biodiversity indicator groups, conveying rich information about the status of habitats and faunas of an area. In Madagascar, they are important elements in forest food chains and ecosystems where they originally evolved to decompose lemur excrements, but later many species shifted to utilize cattle dung and human feces. In the present contribution, we report the results of dung beetle sampling in six protected areas of northern and central Madagascar. In total, over 400 specimens of Scarabaeinae beetles belonging to three tribes, eight genera, and 26 species were collected. All species are endemic to the island and most of them belong to the endemic genus Helictopleurus d’Orbigny. Nanos neoelectrinus Montreuil and Viljanen, recently synonymized with N. humeralis Paulian, is revalidated based on the new material.
屎壳郎(金龟子科，金龟子科)是最具成本效益和信息丰富的生物多样性指标群之一，能传递有关一个地区栖息地和动物群状况的丰富信息。在马达加斯加，它们是森林食物链和生态系统中的重要元素，它们最初进化为分解狐猴粪便，但后来许多物种转向利用牛粪和人类粪便。在本贡献中，我们报告了在马达加斯加北部和中部六个保护区的屎壳郎取样结果。共采集到金龟子科甲虫标本400余件，隶属3个部落8属26种。所有种都是岛上特有的，大部分属于特有属Helictopleurus d 'Orbigny。Nanos neoelectrinus Montreuil和Viljanen最近与n.h humeralis Paulian同义，基于新材料重新验证。
{"title":"Diversity of the Endemic Madagascan Dung Beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae): New Records from Six Protected Areas","authors":"Lilia A. Akhmetova, Olivier Montreuil, Andrey V. Frolov","doi":"10.3390/d15101066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101066","url":null,"abstract":"Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) are among the most cost-effective and informative biodiversity indicator groups, conveying rich information about the status of habitats and faunas of an area. In Madagascar, they are important elements in forest food chains and ecosystems where they originally evolved to decompose lemur excrements, but later many species shifted to utilize cattle dung and human feces. In the present contribution, we report the results of dung beetle sampling in six protected areas of northern and central Madagascar. In total, over 400 specimens of Scarabaeinae beetles belonging to three tribes, eight genera, and 26 species were collected. All species are endemic to the island and most of them belong to the endemic genus Helictopleurus d’Orbigny. Nanos neoelectrinus Montreuil and Viljanen, recently synonymized with N. humeralis Paulian, is revalidated based on the new material.","PeriodicalId":56006,"journal":{"name":"Diversity-Basel","volume":"7 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135252267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The ecology and diversity of flowering parasitic plants and their hosts are poorly investigated and usually ignored in Saudi Arabian plant communities. Therefore, this work aimed at assessing the ecology and diversity of parasitic plants and their hosts along an elevation gradient in the Al-Baha region (1300–2400 m.a.s.l.). Different quantitative vegetation parameters were applied to analyze the collected data. Eight parasitic plants from six genera and four families were identified along the gradient, with 67% of them being zoochorously dispersed species. They accounted for approximately 23.5% (8 out of 34) of those found throughout Saudi Arabia. Perennials, stem hemiparasites, and biregional taxa accounted for around 62.5% of the total parasites, whereas indigenous species accounted for 75%. The dominant family of parasitic species was Loranthaceae (50%), and Phragmanthera austroarabica A.G.Mill. & J.A.Nyberg was the most important species (IVI = 107.28). Orobanche cernua Loefl. and Loranthella deflersii (Tiegh.) S.Blanco & C.E.Wetzel were restricted to the dry zone (low elevation) only, while the other parasites were distributed across the surveyed region. Twenty-three host plants were identified throughout the study region. About 83% of them were phanerophytes and bioregional plants, with 91% being perennial species. The prevalent host plant family across all sites was Fabaceae, with Nicotina glauca Graham being the most important host species (IVI = 32.44%). P. austroarabica and Plicosepalus curviflorus Tiegh. preferred Vachellias as host plants, while Vachellia flava (Forssk.) Kyal. & Boatwr. was the heavily infected host by P. austroarabica. P. austroarabica had a broad spectrum of host range (13 host plants), while O. cernua had a very narrow host range (only Rumex nervosus Vahl). Individual parasite and host species were markedly more abundant in the wet zone than in the low-altitude dry zone. Further research is needed to fully understand such distinctive groups of plants and their negative and positive ecological consequences on plant biodiversity and natural ecosystems.
{"title":"Ecology and Diversity of Angiosperm Parasites and Their Host Plants along Elevation Gradient in Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia","authors":"Sami Asir Al-Robai","doi":"10.3390/d15101065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101065","url":null,"abstract":"The ecology and diversity of flowering parasitic plants and their hosts are poorly investigated and usually ignored in Saudi Arabian plant communities. Therefore, this work aimed at assessing the ecology and diversity of parasitic plants and their hosts along an elevation gradient in the Al-Baha region (1300–2400 m.a.s.l.). Different quantitative vegetation parameters were applied to analyze the collected data. Eight parasitic plants from six genera and four families were identified along the gradient, with 67% of them being zoochorously dispersed species. They accounted for approximately 23.5% (8 out of 34) of those found throughout Saudi Arabia. Perennials, stem hemiparasites, and biregional taxa accounted for around 62.5% of the total parasites, whereas indigenous species accounted for 75%. The dominant family of parasitic species was Loranthaceae (50%), and Phragmanthera austroarabica A.G.Mill. & J.A.Nyberg was the most important species (IVI = 107.28). Orobanche cernua Loefl. and Loranthella deflersii (Tiegh.) S.Blanco & C.E.Wetzel were restricted to the dry zone (low elevation) only, while the other parasites were distributed across the surveyed region. Twenty-three host plants were identified throughout the study region. About 83% of them were phanerophytes and bioregional plants, with 91% being perennial species. The prevalent host plant family across all sites was Fabaceae, with Nicotina glauca Graham being the most important host species (IVI = 32.44%). P. austroarabica and Plicosepalus curviflorus Tiegh. preferred Vachellias as host plants, while Vachellia flava (Forssk.) Kyal. & Boatwr. was the heavily infected host by P. austroarabica. P. austroarabica had a broad spectrum of host range (13 host plants), while O. cernua had a very narrow host range (only Rumex nervosus Vahl). Individual parasite and host species were markedly more abundant in the wet zone than in the low-altitude dry zone. Further research is needed to fully understand such distinctive groups of plants and their negative and positive ecological consequences on plant biodiversity and natural ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":56006,"journal":{"name":"Diversity-Basel","volume":"25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135252948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuting Lu, Hong Wang, Yao Zhang, Jiahao Liu, Tengfei Qu, Xili Zhao, Haozhe Tian, Jingru Su, Dingsheng Luo, Yalei Yang
Considering Inner Mongolia as the study area, the ecological theory of climate change, and human activities affecting a wide range of biodiversity patterns, MODIS multi-timeseries remote sensing image data were used and the interannual variation index was obtained by the method of fitting the curve to obtain the annual phenological and seasonal indicators. At the same time, the Landsat 8 standard deviation image was calculated to obtain the spatial variation index and generate spatial–temporal remote sensing indices to quantify the threat of climate change to biodiversity. In addition, the impact of human activities on biodiversity was quantified by generating a map of the human footprint in Inner Mongolia. The spatial–temporal remote sensing index and the human footprint index were integrated to identify areas protected from climate change and human activities, respectively. Eventually, the hotspot areas of biodiversity conservation in Inner Mongolia were obtained and priority protected area planning was based on the hotspot identification results. In this study, remote sensing technology was used to identify biodiversity conservation hotspots, which can overcome the limitations of insufficient species data from the past, improve the reliability of large-scale biodiversity conservation analyses, and be used for targeted management actions that have practical significance for biodiversity conservation planning.
{"title":"Combining Spatial–Temporal Remote Sensing and Human Footprint Indices to Identify Biodiversity Conservation Hotspots","authors":"Yuting Lu, Hong Wang, Yao Zhang, Jiahao Liu, Tengfei Qu, Xili Zhao, Haozhe Tian, Jingru Su, Dingsheng Luo, Yalei Yang","doi":"10.3390/d15101064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101064","url":null,"abstract":"Considering Inner Mongolia as the study area, the ecological theory of climate change, and human activities affecting a wide range of biodiversity patterns, MODIS multi-timeseries remote sensing image data were used and the interannual variation index was obtained by the method of fitting the curve to obtain the annual phenological and seasonal indicators. At the same time, the Landsat 8 standard deviation image was calculated to obtain the spatial variation index and generate spatial–temporal remote sensing indices to quantify the threat of climate change to biodiversity. In addition, the impact of human activities on biodiversity was quantified by generating a map of the human footprint in Inner Mongolia. The spatial–temporal remote sensing index and the human footprint index were integrated to identify areas protected from climate change and human activities, respectively. Eventually, the hotspot areas of biodiversity conservation in Inner Mongolia were obtained and priority protected area planning was based on the hotspot identification results. In this study, remote sensing technology was used to identify biodiversity conservation hotspots, which can overcome the limitations of insufficient species data from the past, improve the reliability of large-scale biodiversity conservation analyses, and be used for targeted management actions that have practical significance for biodiversity conservation planning.","PeriodicalId":56006,"journal":{"name":"Diversity-Basel","volume":"45 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135252251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Polymorphism has been described in many avian taxa including Ardeidae. This study investigated the spatio-temporal distribution of color polymorphic forms (with regard to the color of the unfeathered parts (legs/lores)) of the Great White Egret Ardea alba alba in internet images from Europe. In total, 140 images of presumed polymorphs from 16 countries (from 2006 to 2021) have been collected and examined. Eight coloration schemes of visible unfeathered parts were distinguished. Since some polymorphs may represent the subspecies Eastern Great Egret Ardea alba modesta, the ratio of beak length to total head length was compared among individuals representing the nominal and Eastern Great Egret subspecies. The ratio distributions were similar in all compared groups; thus, polymorph egrets may represent both of these subspecies. Most polymorph images originate from the Netherlands and the southwestern Norwegian coast. This may have resulted from specific local diets and contact with hormone-disrupting compounds. Nevertheless, some observation biases, such as the presence of local breeding population or high numbers of nature photographers, could have affected our observation pattern. Some analyzed features also followed temporal patterns. Most polymorphs were observed during the breeding season, suggesting disruptions of sex hormones as a possible cause. Studies of spatio-temporal patterns of polymorph occurrence may allow us to obtain insights into the causes of large variation in coloration schemes in polymorphic species.
在包括鸭科在内的许多鸟类分类群中都发现了多态性。本研究调查了欧洲网络图片中白色白鹭(Ardea alba alba)的颜色多态形式(关于无羽部分(腿/胸)的颜色)的时空分布。总共收集和检查了来自16个国家(2006年至2021年)的140张假定多态性图像。区分了可见无羽部分的八种配色方案。由于一些多态性可能代表东部大白鹭亚种Ardea alba modesta，因此比较了代表名义和东部大白鹭亚种个体的喙长与总头长之比。各比较组的比例分布相似;因此，多态白鹭可能代表这两个亚种。大多数多形图像起源于荷兰和挪威西南部海岸。这可能是由于特定的当地饮食和与激素干扰化合物的接触。然而，一些观察偏差，如当地繁殖种群或大量自然摄影师的存在，可能会影响我们的观察模式。一些分析的特征也遵循时间模式。大多数多态性是在繁殖季节观察到的，这表明性激素的破坏是可能的原因。对多态发生的时空模式的研究可以让我们深入了解多态物种的显色方案差异很大的原因。
{"title":"Color Polymorphism of Unfeathered Parts of the Great White Egret Ardea alba alba in Europe: An Analysis of the Internet Images","authors":"Karolina Cieślińska, Brygida Manikowska-Ślepowrońska, Dariusz Jakubas","doi":"10.3390/d15101063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101063","url":null,"abstract":"Polymorphism has been described in many avian taxa including Ardeidae. This study investigated the spatio-temporal distribution of color polymorphic forms (with regard to the color of the unfeathered parts (legs/lores)) of the Great White Egret Ardea alba alba in internet images from Europe. In total, 140 images of presumed polymorphs from 16 countries (from 2006 to 2021) have been collected and examined. Eight coloration schemes of visible unfeathered parts were distinguished. Since some polymorphs may represent the subspecies Eastern Great Egret Ardea alba modesta, the ratio of beak length to total head length was compared among individuals representing the nominal and Eastern Great Egret subspecies. The ratio distributions were similar in all compared groups; thus, polymorph egrets may represent both of these subspecies. Most polymorph images originate from the Netherlands and the southwestern Norwegian coast. This may have resulted from specific local diets and contact with hormone-disrupting compounds. Nevertheless, some observation biases, such as the presence of local breeding population or high numbers of nature photographers, could have affected our observation pattern. Some analyzed features also followed temporal patterns. Most polymorphs were observed during the breeding season, suggesting disruptions of sex hormones as a possible cause. Studies of spatio-temporal patterns of polymorph occurrence may allow us to obtain insights into the causes of large variation in coloration schemes in polymorphic species.","PeriodicalId":56006,"journal":{"name":"Diversity-Basel","volume":"72 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134975645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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