Productivity is a poor predictor of plant species richness

For more than 30 years, the relationship between net primary productivity and species richness has generated intense debate in ecology about the processes regulating local diversity. The original view, which is still widely accepted, holds that the relationship is hump-shaped, with richness first rising and then declining with increasing productivity. Although recent meta-analyses questioned the generality of hump-shaped patterns, these syntheses have been criticized for failing to account for methodological differences among studies. We addressed such concerns by conducting standardized sampling in 48 herbaceous-dominated plant communities on five continents. We found no clear relationship between productivity and fine-scale (meters(-2)) richness within sites, within regions, or across the globe. Ecologists should focus on fresh, mechanistic approaches to understanding the multivariate links between productivity and richness.     

RESEARCH PROGRESS ON THE IMPACT OF NITROGEN DEPOSITION ON GLOBAL GRASSLANDS

● Grasslands in many regions of the world have been impacted by atmospheric nitrogen deposition. ● Nitrogen deposition commonly leads to reductions in species richness. ● Increases in biomass production is a common response to increased N deposition. ● In some parts of the world there has been limited research into the impacts of nitrogen deposition. Grasslands are globally-important ecosystems providing critical ecosystem services. The species composition and characteristics of grasslands vary considerably across the planet with a wide variety of different grasslands found. However, in many regions grasslands have been impacted by atmospheric nitrogen deposition originating from anthropogenic activities with effects on productivity, species composition and diversity widely reported. Impacts vary across grassland habitats but many show declines in species richness and increases in biomass production related to soil eutrophication and acidification. At a continental level there is considerable variation in the research effort that has been put into understanding the impacts of nitrogen deposition. In Europe, North America and parts of Asia, although there are unanswered research questions, there is a good understanding of N deposition impacts in most grassland habitats. This is not the case in other regions with large knowledge gaps in some parts of the world. This paper reviews the impacts of N deposition on grasslands around the world, highlighting recent advances and areas where research is still needed.     

青藏铁路唐古拉山南段沿线植被多样性及盖度特征分析

通过以铁路线为样带中心点,对青藏铁路唐古拉山南段沿线垂直于铁路两侧系统设置植被调查样带、样地、样方,重点调查铁路沿线原生植被物种组成、高度、盖度、株丛数等,着重分析了不同样带植被物种丰富度、植被盖度、物种共有度沿纬度方向的空间变化特征,为铁路生态安全体系建设和植被生态修复提供重要参考。结果表明:①1 m×1 m样方平均物种数多在9～12种之间,丰富度相对较低;20 m×20 m样地平均物种17～26种。各样带总的物种丰富度在47～59种之间;植被物种丰富度纬度方向距离差异不明显;样方、样地、样带小尺度的变化对物种丰富度会产生很大影响。②青藏铁路南段总体植被覆盖度高,植被覆盖率80%以上的占1/2强;因受局部环境条件的影响,其植被覆盖度也存在一定差异。③应用Jaccard指数对沿线各植被样带物种共有度进行分析,结果表明,随着样带纬度方向间距的增大,物种共有度指数值呈逐渐减小的趋势,相邻样带的物种共有度最大,物种纬度方向逐渐替代的规律明显。      

大坂山不同海拔高寒植被物种多样性研究

[目的]研究大坂山不同海拔高寒植被的物种多样性。[方法]对祁连山山脉东段大坂山高、中、低（3 025、3 405、3 813 m）3个不同海拔的植物群落进行调查,并比较分析了3个不同海拔高度植被的丰富度、多样性指数。[结果]随着海拔的逐渐升高,其植物丰富度逐渐减小;植物群落物种多样性在中海拔相对较低;群落相似性随着海拔的升高而降低,群落的β多样性具有明显的变化。[结论]海拔梯度造成的环境因子的变化以及人类干扰是造成不同海拔高度物种分布格局发生变化的重要原因。     

Ecosystem service supply and vulnerability to global change in Europe

Global change will alter the supply of ecosystem services that are vital for human well-being. To investigate ecosystem service supply during the 21st century, we used a range of ecosystem models and scenarios of climate and land-use change to conduct a Europe-wide assessment. Large changes in climate and land use typically resulted in large changes in ecosystem service supply. Some of these trends may be positive (for example, increases in forest area and productivity) or offer opportunities (for example, "surplus land" for agricultural extensification and bioenergy production). However, many changes increase vulnerability as a result of a decreasing supply of ecosystem services (for example, declining soil fertility, declining water availability, increasing risk of forest fires), especially in the Mediterranean and mountain regions.     

Predicting the potential geographic distribution of Bactrocera bryoniae and Bactrocera neohumeralis(Diptera: Tephritidae) in China using MaxEnt ecological niche modeling

Bactrocera bryoniae and Bactrocera neohumeralis are highly destructive and major biosecurity/quarantine pests of fruit and vegetable in the tropical and subtropical regions in the South Pacific and Australia. Although these pests have not established in China, precautions must be taken due to their highly destructive nature. Thus, we predicted the potential geographic distribution of B. bryoniae and B. neohumeralis across the world and in particular China by ecological niche modeling of the Maximum Entropy(Max Ent) model with the occurrence records of these two species. Bactrocera bryoniae and B. neohumeralis exhibit similar potential geographic distribution ranges across the world and in China, and each species was predicted to be able to distribute to over 20% of the globe. Globally, the potential geographic distribution ranges for these two fruit fly species included southern Asia, the central and the southeast coast of Africa, southern North America, northern and central South America, and Australia. While within China, most of the southern Yangtze River area was found suitable for these species. Notably, southern China was considered to have the highest risk of B. bryoniae and B. neohumeralis invasions. Our study identifies the regions at high risk for potential establishment of B. bryoniae and B. neohumeralis in the world and in particular China, and informs the development of inspection and biosecurity/quarantine measures to prevent and control their invasions.     

Reorganization of North Atlantic marine copepod biodiversity and climate

We provide evidence of large-scale changes in the biogeography of calanoid copepod crustaceans in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean and European shelf seas. We demonstrate that strong biogeographical shifts in all copepod assemblages have occurred with a northward extension of more than 10 degrees latitude of warm-water species associated with a decrease in the number of colder-water species. These biogeographical shifts are in agreement with recent changes in the spatial distribution and phenology detected for many taxonomic groups in terrestrial European ecosystems and are related to both the increasing trend in Northern Hemisphere temperature and the North Atlantic Oscillation.     

Homogenization of fish faunas across the United States

Fish faunas across the continental United States have become more similar through time because of widespread introductions of a group of cosmopolitan species intended to enhance food and sport fisheries. On average, pairs of states have 15.4 more species in common now than before European settlement of North America. The 89 pairs of states that formerly had no species in common now share an average of 25.2 species. Introductions have played a larger role than extirpations in homogenizing fish faunas. Western and New England states have received the most introductions, which is a reflection of the small number of native fishes in these areas considered desirable gamefish by settlers.     

横头山干线公路的建设对沿线土壤养分和植被的干扰

以哈尔滨-阿城快速路横头山干线公路沿线作为研究区,分析公路建设对公路沿线两侧距公路不同距离土壤养分和物种丰富度及多样性指数的变化和影响。利用相关性分析,分析土壤养分与物种丰富度及多样性指数的关系。结果表明:公路建设对土壤养分的影响下坡大于上坡,影响范围在200 m范围内;对物种丰富度及多样性的影响范围在100 m内,0~50 m内影响较为强烈;相关性分析表明,土壤中的有机质（OM）、pH、速效钾（AK）、速效磷（AP）与物种丰富度和多样性指数的相关性显著,说明土壤中的有机质含量、pH值及有效形态的P、K是本研究区中物种丰富度和多样性指数的主要限制因子。     

海南鹦哥岭附生兰物种组成、分布及与生态因子的关系

为了研究附生兰的物种组成、分布及与生态因子的关系,对海南热带雨林国家公园中的鹦哥岭地区的附生兰进行了调查,采用CCA探索了环境因子对物种组成的影响,计算了各环境因子对物种组成的总效应和净效应,并分析了附生兰物种丰富度和多度在不同环境梯度的变化情况。结果表明:（1） 所选9个环境因子共解释了物种组成变异的7.8%,其净效应由大到小依次为植被类型、树皮类型、年平均气温、每月最高气温与最低气温的差值平均值、最干月降雨量、海拔、郁闭度、坡向、坡度,仅坡度的净效应未达到显著。（2） 随海拔升高,附生兰物种丰富度呈现出先上升后下降的趋势,中低海拔段（700～900 m）物种最丰富,附生兰多度呈现出递增的趋势;缓坡地段,附生兰物种丰富度与多度均较高,阳坡和半阳坡的附生兰物种丰富度与多度较阴坡与半阴坡少;粗糙的树皮更易着生附生兰,覆盖物为树皮上的附生兰提供了良好的生长环境;多数附生兰倾向于生长在弱光环境中;低地雨林中附生兰物种最丰富,热带针叶林中的附生兰具较高的优势度;附生兰倾向于分布在较低的气温、每月最高气温与最低气温差值在（7.8～7.85）℃之间的生境中;在降雨量较多的环境中,附生兰物种丰富度和多度较高。     

Rapid advance of spring arrival dates in long-distance migratory birds

Several bird species have advanced the timing of their spring migration in response to recent climate change. European short-distance migrants, wintering in temperate areas, have been assumed to be more affected by change in the European climate than long-distance migrants wintering in the tropics. However, we show that long-distance migrants have advanced their spring arrival in Scandinavia more than short-distance migrants. By analyzing a long-term data set from southern Italy, we show that long-distance migrants also pass through the Mediterranean region earlier. We argue that this may reflect a climate-driven evolutionary change in the timing of spring migration.     

Background and mass extinctions: the alternation of macroevolutionary regimes

Comparison of evolutionary patterns among Late Cretaceous marine bivalves and gastropods during times of normal, background levels of extinction and during the end-Cretaceous mass extinction indicates that mass extinctions are neither an intensification of background patterns nor an entirely random culling of the biota. During background times, traits such as planktotrophic larval development, broad geographic range of constituent species, and high species richness enhanced survivorship of species and genera. In contrast, during the, end-Cretaceous and other mass extinctions these factors were ineffectual, but broad geographic deployment of an entire lineage, regardless of the ranges of its constituent species, enhanced survivorship. Large-scale evolutionary patterns are evidently shaped by the alternation of these two macroevolutionary regimes, with rare but important mass extinctions driving shifts in the composition of the biota that have little relation to success during the background regime. Lineages or adaptations can be lost during mass extinctions for reasons unrelated to their survival values for organisms or species during background times, and long-term success would require the chance occurrence within a single lineage of sets of traits conducive to survivorship under both regimes.     

大坂山不同海拔高寒植被物种多样性研究（摘要）

[目的]研究大坂山不同海拔地区高寒植被的物种多样性。[方法]对祁连山山脉东段大坂山高、中、低（3025、3405、3813m）3个不同海拔的植物群落进行调查,并比较分析了3个不同海拔高度植被的丰富度、多样性指数。[结果]随着海拔的逐渐升高,其植物丰富度逐渐减小;植物群落物种多样性在中海拔相对较低;群落相似性随着海拔的升高而降低,群落的β多样性具有明显的变化。[结论]海拔梯度造成的环境因子的变化以及人类干扰是造成不同海拔高度物种分布格局发生变化的重要原因。     

宁夏罗山拟步甲物种多样性及分布特点

采用巴氏罐诱法于2009年5月至9月对宁夏罗山国家级自然保护区拟步甲垂直分布及群落多样性进行调查,共收集拟步甲19属40种,3 507只,其中粗背伪坚土甲(Scleropatrum horridum horridum)、弯齿琵甲(Blaps femoralis femoralis)、郝氏刺甲(Platyscelis hauseri)、突角漠甲(Trigonocnera pseudopimelia)、条纹琵甲(Blaps potanini)和宁夏漠土甲(Melanesthes ningxiensis)为优势种,个体数量分别占总数的28.74%、7.93%、7.13%、6.81%、6.47%和6.47%。5种主要生境(山地荒漠草地、浅山灌丛、山地针阔混交林、山地针叶林和亚高山灌丛草甸)中,山地荒漠草地拟步甲物种多样性指数和丰富度均高于其他生境,浅山灌丛次之,山地针叶林最低,山地荒漠草地和浅山灌丛是拟步甲主要的分布带。山地荒漠草地和浅山灌丛之间拟步甲物种相似性最高(0.648 6),而山地荒漠草地和山地针叶林之间的相似性系数最低(0.027 8)。根据拟步甲生态分布特征,并结合植被、地形、地貌,应用除趋势对应分析可将40种拟步甲划分为3个生态种组。     

广东省自然保护区物种丰富度与环境因子的关系

物种丰富度是反映物种多样性的指标之一,研究物种丰富度与环境因子的关系对自然保护区的发展、规划和管理具有重要意义.研究选取广东省已经进行过深入调查的19个自然保护区为样本,对物种丰富度(科数、属数和种数)及环境因子(经度、纬度、海拔、年均温度、无霜期、年均降雨量、相对湿度、面积)的关系进行分析.结果表明,物种丰富度与经度呈显著负相关,与海拔呈显著正相关.     

Biogeographic evolution of Madagascar's microendemic biota

The endemic species richness on Madagascar, relative to landmass area, is unparalleled in the world. Many organisms on the island have restricted geographical ranges. A comprehensive hypothesis explaining the evolution of this microendemism has yet to be developed. Using an analysis of watersheds in the context of Quaternary climatic shifts, we provide a new mechanistic model to explain the process of explosive speciation on the island. River catchments with sources at relatively low elevations were zones of isolation and hence led to the speciation of locally endemic taxa, whereas those at higher elevations were zones of retreat and dispersion and hence contain proportionately lower levels of microendemism. These results provide a framework for biogeographic and phylogeographic studies, as well as a basis for prioritizing conservation actions of the remaining natural forest habitats on the island.     

新疆东部天山蝶类多样性及其垂直分布

2006-2008年研究了新疆东部天山蝶类多样性和垂直分布。结果表明:研究区域内共记录蝴蝶7科43属63种,占新疆已记录蝶类种数的24.80%,区系组成主要是古北种,占73%;其次是广布种,占27%,没有发现东洋种。其中蛱蝶科的物种数最多,为11属19种,蚬蝶科的物种数最少,只有1属1种。按海拔将生境分为5个垂直自然带,包括低山灌木草原带、山地森林草原带、亚高山草甸带、高山草甸带、垫状植被带。蝶类物种数和个体数排序为亚高山草甸带>山地森林草原带>低山灌木草原带>高山草甸带>垫状植被带。采用Shannon-Wiener指数和G-F指数对蝶类物种和科、属的多样性进行了分析评价,结果显示亚高山草甸带的蝶类多样性最为丰富,其次是山地森林草原带和低山灌木草原带,而高山草甸带和垫状植被带的蝶类多样性相对较低,物种和科、属多样性分析结果均一致。蝶类垂直分布明显,物种数和个体数随海拔变化的趋势类似,均为先增加后下降。蝶类区系成分随着海拔升高发生改变,广布种的比例逐渐降低,高山草甸带和垫状植被带只有古北种分布。研究结果显示,生境改变对蝴蝶群落影响明显,保护生境是保护蝴蝶生存的最主要措施。     

Climatic niche shifts are rare among terrestrial plant invaders

The assumption that climatic niche requirements of invasive species are conserved between their native and invaded ranges is key to predicting the risk of invasion. However, this assumption has been challenged recently by evidence of niche shifts in some species. Here, we report the first large-scale test of niche conservatism for 50 terrestrial plant invaders between Eurasia, North America, and Australia. We show that when analog climates are compared between regions, fewer than 15% of species have more than 10% of their invaded distribution outside their native climatic niche. These findings reveal that substantial niche shifts are rare in terrestrial plant invaders, providing support for an appropriate use of ecological niche models for the prediction of both biological invasions and responses to climate change.     

陕西省栓皮栎群落物种多样性的空间异质性

采用重要值作为多样性测度指标,计算了物种丰富度指数S、多样性Simpson指数、Shannon指数、均匀度Pielou指数和A latlo指数.分渭北黄土高原、秦岭北坡、巴山地区三区,研究了陕西不同区域生物多样性特征,物种从渭北到秦岭,再到巴山,越来越丰富,林内的差异性也越来越大,均匀度就越来越差.分海拔探讨了物种多样性特征,得出海拔700-900 m处是最适宜栓皮栎生长的.讨论了其它环境因子对多样性的影响,进而提出了在暖湿的陕南秦巴山区,海拔700-900 m处,营造栓皮栎的人工林,把人们的对栓皮栎的利用转到人工林的利用上来,应该尽快采取措施对原有天然林进行保护.     

Global warming, elevational range shifts, and lowland biotic attrition in the wet tropics

Many studies suggest that global warming is driving species ranges poleward and toward higher elevations at temperate latitudes, but evidence for range shifts is scarce for the tropics, where the shallow latitudinal temperature gradient makes upslope shifts more likely than poleward shifts. Based on new data for plants and insects on an elevational transect in Costa Rica, we assess the potential for lowland biotic attrition, range-shift gaps, and mountaintop extinctions under projected warming. We conclude that tropical lowland biotas may face a level of net lowland biotic attrition without parallel at higher latitudes (where range shifts may be compensated for by species from lower latitudes) and that a high proportion of tropical species soon faces gaps between current and projected elevational ranges.