Sex change and the genetic structure of marine fish populations

The interaction between environmental forces and dispersal characteristics is largely responsible for the patterns of population structure in marine fish. Yet, crucial gaps in knowledge on life-histories and the relative contributions of numerous environmental factors still hinder a thorough understanding of marine population connectivity. One life-history trait so far overlooked by most fish population geneticists is sequential hermaphroditism, whereby individuals first mature as one sex and later in life reverse into the other sex. Population genetic theory predicts that sex-changing fish will present a higher potential for more spatially structured populations than gonochoristic species, as a result of their naturally skewed sex ratio, which is expected to reduce effective population size and hence increase genetic drift. We gathered published data on genetic population structure in marine fish, as summarized by the popular F _ST index, and – after controlling for several potentially confounding factors – we tested the hypothesis that sex-changing species are more genetically structured than gonochoristic ones. Although we found no evidence to support the theoretical expectations, our results suggest new working hypotheses that can stimulate new research avenues at the intersection between physiology, genetics and fisheries science.     

European eel distribution and body condition in a river floodplain: effect of longitudinal and lateral connectivity

Abstract – We studied eel population characteristics (size classes, densities and body condition) in the lower Loire River floodplain (France) to evaluate the effects of longitudinal and lateral gradients. A total of 36 sites were electrofished in June 2005. The sites were grouped first into three river segments according to the distance inland corresponding to a longitudinal gradient and secondly into three lateral connectivity categories. Results indicate that small eels, especially those ≤300 mm, were very abundant downstream but density rapidly decreased upstream. In addition, eels ≤150 mm tended to be most abundant in connected waterbodies. Conversely, the distribution of larger eels was quite uniform across both dimensions. Eel condition decreased upstream. In parallel, in downstream river segment, eels had a lower condition in disconnected waterbodies than in connected ones. Eel specialists still have only a longitudinal perception of eel habitat. Our results suggest that lateral gradients should be also taken into consideration.     

Influence of a shrub corridor on movements of passerine birds to a lake littoral zone

A pine forest was separated from a lake littoral zone by a meadow on one area (discontinuous) while these habitats were separated by a shrub strip in another area (continuous). This shrub strip acted as an ecological corridor enhancing the movements of birds between the forest and the littoral reed zone. The number of individuals of non-littoral species that visited the reed zone was higher (p < .001) on the area with the connecting shrub strip in autumn but the number of species visiting the littoral zone was not significantly higher. Significantly more (p < .001) autumn movements by birds in the continuous area were oriented along paths between the forest and the littoral zone whereas movements in the discontinuous area paralleled the littoral and forest zones (p < .001). Movements of birds were concentrated along the edge of the shrub strip. The spatial configuration of the landscape facilitated access by some forest birds to the littoral habitat.     

Urbanization Development under Climate Change: Hydrological Responses in a Peri‐Urban Mediterranean Catchment

Relatively few studies have so far investigated the hydrological impacts of urbanization in Mediterranean catchments, and particularly in peri‐urban catchments experiencing relatively rapid and large changes in their land‐use mosaic. This study uses data‐based model simulations to investigate such impacts, with the Ribeira dos Covões catchment in Portugal as a concrete Mediterranean peri‐urban catchment example. We distinguish the impacts of urbanization from those of climatic change on the water flux partitioning and connectivity in the catchment over the period 1958–2013. Decrease in precipitation over this period has primarily driven decreases in annual runoff and actual evapotranspiration, while the urbanization development has primarily changed the relative flux partitioning and connectivity pattern in the catchment. The relative contribution of overland flow to annual and seasonal runoff has increased, keeping the absolute overland flow more or less intact, while the baseflow contribution to the stream network has decreased. Methodologically, the present simulation approach provides a relevant means for distinguishing main drivers of change in hydrological flux partitioning and connectivity under concurrent urbanization and climatic changes. © 2017 The Authors. Land Degradation & Development Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

独立数小于4的图的结构研究

图论研究中一个很重要的方面是利用图的各种参数来刻画图的结构。通过对图的两个重要不变量——独立数和连通度的分析,分别给出了图G的独立数α(G)=1,2或3,而连通度κ(G)任意取值时图G的结构特征。     

应用结构信息价连接性指数预测多氯联苯(PCBS)的气相色谱保留指数(RRT)

根据隐氢分子图中顶点i原子的价层轨道在参与成键时的杂化形式,新定义了顶点i原子的价点价δiY,以价连接矩阵为基础构建了1个新的结构信息价连接性指数mQtY。新的结构信息价连接性指数mQtY能很好地反映化合物的结构特征,并且比Kier等人提出的价连接性指数mχtv的结构选择区分性能好。多氯联苯(PCBS)是一类重要的环境污染物。利用多元线性回归技术建立了209个PCBS化合物的mQtY与这些物质的气相色谱保留指数(RRT)的定量结构/保留相关关系(QSRR)模型,其相关性良好。新模型物理意义明确,计算简便,预测能力比较强。     

纳板河自然保护区景观连接度变化分析

自然保护区是保护物种栖息地的重要基础,但频繁的人类活动干扰导致自然保护区内生物栖息地斑块破碎化的问题依然存在,景观连接度定量评价对于保护区生物栖息地保护具有重要作用。以纳板河自然保护区为例,基于图论的指数方法利用2014年和2018年高空间分辨率遥感数据,对保护区栖息地的景观连接度指数的变化及其驱动力因素进行分析。结果表明:1)2014—2018年的景观连接度指数中整体性连接度指数(IIC)、概率连接度指数(PC)都呈现下降趋势,IIC和PC指数分别下降0.29和0.53,指示保护区内栖息地破碎化加剧;2)最大斑块的重要性指数从85.14减少到84.19,重要性前十的斑块时空变化表明了自然保护区栖息地斑块面积不断减小,中部、中西部地区破碎化显著;3)土地利用变化对保护区景观连接度产生重要影响,其中橡胶林、耕地、水库、茶园4类土地利用增加是栖息地破碎化的驱动力因素。研究结果可为纳板河自然保护区栖息地保护管理提供科学依据。     

文峪河流域景观格局动态及其驱动力分析

以文峪河流域为研究对象,分析流域2000—2018年景观格局数量动态的面积、转移及速度特征。从斑块类型尺度与景观尺度2个层面选取景观指数分析流域近18年的景观格局动态,并在流域尺度上沿城市—林区梯度线分析沿线景观格局指数的梯度分布,基于数量统计模型对景观格局动态驱动力进行研究。结果表明,流域耕地、林地、草地面积有所减少,向其余地类支出面积,水域、建设用地、未利用地面积增加,向其余地类吸收面积,不同地类土地转移、变化速度情况不同。不同景观类型的格局动态不同,流域整体景观破碎化程度增加,连通性下降、景观规则度下降、景观核心面积下降,不同景观指数的梯度分布特征不同。自然驱动因子、社会驱动因子对流域景观格局变化均具有驱动作用,文峪河流域的景观动态在过去18年间经历了快速、复杂的变化,社会经济驱动因子是景观格局演变的主要驱动力量,经济与人口发展、产业结构及工业化进程是文峪河流域景观格局演变的重要驱动力量。     

苏州市1985～2010年LUCC及生态连通性时空差异研究

利用苏州市1985和2010年2期遥感卫星影像,对研究地区土地利用/土地覆被变化情况进行了分析,并就土地利用变化的生态连通性格局进行了研究,揭示了LUCC与生态连通性变化间关系,提出了通过土地利用调整改善生态环境效应的建议。研究发现:1985~2010年研究区土地利用变化强烈,耕地是减少最多的土地利用类型,而城镇工矿和农居点则是变化幅度和变动程度最为剧烈的土地利用类型;受土地利用变化影响,苏州地区生态连通性变化强烈,全市土地有84.2%区域生态阻力呈现不同程度上升,这源于城镇工况和农居点快速扩张,仅有15.8%区域生态阻力下降,生态连通性提高,这源于土地利用类型向水域和草地的转换。全市生态孤岛面积增加15.84%;通过对农村地区农居点有效整理,将其转变成为更具有生态价值的耕地、水域、草地或林地,是降低苏州地区生态阻力,提高生态连通性,有效改善生态环境的重要手段。     

Genetic differentiation among Atlantic island populations of the brown spiny lobster Panulirus echinatus (Decapoda: Palinuridae)

1. Declines in Panulirus echinatus Smith, 1869 populations along their wide distribution in the Atlantic Ocean have spurred efforts to improve their fisheries management and conservation. In this study, the genetic structure of these populations is reported for the first time.
2. In a survey of 18 species‐specific polymorphic microsatellite markers, 152 individuals were genotyped from five Atlantic oceanic islands, covering most of the insular distribution range of the species. The analyses revealed that P. echinatus is genetically partitioned into two stocks in the Atlantic Ocean. A highly significant genetic structure was observed between north‐east and south‐west Atlantic populations based on fixation index, discriminant analysis of principal components, and structure and barrier analysis.
3. We suggest that the Equatorial Circulation System represents a biophysical barrier that effectively limits migration among Atlantic subtropical gyre systems, as has been described for other species. Other physical and ecological barriers, such as the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge itself, the distance between the eastern and western sides of the Atlantic (Mid‐Atlantic Barrier) and water mass differences, as well as other biological aspects, may also influence larval dispersal and modulate the insular distribution of this species.
4. The results show the existence of two distinct genetic stocks of P. echinatus and have implications for fisheries management in the Atlantic Ocean, including their independent management according to their individual status. The Cabo Verde and the Canarian populations (north‐east Atlantic) showed the lowest level of genetic variability in comparison with the south‐western populations. A combination of factors that have occurred or are occurring in the Canary Islands, such as overfishing and volcanic eruptions, is likely to explain the reduced abundance of this lobster species in the area.