Latitudinal pattern in species diversity and its response to global warming in permafrost wetlands in the Great Hing’an Mountains, China

Permafrost wetlands are one of the most sensitive plant communities in response to global warming. Global warming could induce natural plant communities to shift into cooler climate zones, or extirpate. To understand how plant communities in permafrost wetlands are affected by global warming, we examined the patterns of plant species diversity in the 24 permafrost wetlands in the Great Hing’an Mountains along a latitudinal gradient. This gradient was characterized by a northward decline in mean annual temperature (Δ = 3.5°C) and mean annual precipitation (Δ = 38.7 mm). Our results indicated that latitudinal patterns in species diversity existed in the permafrost wetlands. The numbers of family, genus and species, the Gleason index and Shannon-Wiener index for shrubs decreased linearly with decreasing latitude, but increased for herbaceous plants. The latitudinal patterns in species diversity had influenced strongly by temperature. Simple linear regression yielded about 2 decreases in shrub number and 9 increases in herbaceous species number with an increase of mean annual temperature by 1°C, with 0.33 decreases in shrub diversity and 0.29 increases in herbaceous species diversity. If temperature warms 3.7°C by 2100, herbaceous plants might increase in the permafrost wetlands, with species number increasing 48% or 6 times and species diversity increasing 40% or 2 times; and some shrub species might decrease and even disappear in part of the areas with lower latitude, with species number decreasing 50–100% and species diversity decreasing 69–100%. The permafrost wetlands in the Great Hing’an Mountains might continue degenerating and shift northward with global warming over the next century.     

Relationship between the Biodiversity of phyto- and zoobenthos in the continuum of the model mountain river Komarovka (Primorye,Russia)

The structure of benthic communities was studied in the continuum of the model mountain river Komarovka, which flows in the conifer-broadleaf forest subzone in the southwest of the Silkhote-Alin Mountain Range (Primorye, Russia). The lowest species diversity of phyto- and zoobenthos was recorded in the upper reaches of the river, in a heterotrophic area; the highest species diversity, in the central part of autotrophic area. At the same time, the Shannon index for algal communities had the highest values in the heterotrophic area, while that for bottom invertebrate communities, within the autotrophic area. Thus, the increase in invertebrate species diversity in the river continuum was accompanied by complication of the structure of zoobenthos, while the increase in the taxonomic diversity of phytobenthos took place against the background of increasing dominance of a few algal species.     

三峡水库忠县至秭归县段消落带植被群落特征研究

为了研究三峡水库周期性的水位调节对消落带植被群落特征的影响，选择重庆忠县至宜昌秭归段的消落带植被群落进行研究，运用重要值和多样性指数分析不同高程的植物种类组成、生活型分布特征及物种多样性。结果表明：（1）研究区域统计植物共32科70属73种，禾本科、菊科和豆科是3个优势科，单种、属现象明显；狗牙根、苍耳、鬼针草、苘麻、鳢肠、酸模叶蓼、莲子草是3个高程的共存种，其中，狗牙根和苍耳在3个高程均为优势物种。（2）研究区域共统计11种植物生活型，在消落带下部和中部，一年生草本植物占绝对优势；在消落带上部，多年生草本植物成为优势生活型，生活型类型多样化，蕨类、藤本、灌木以及乔木植物开始出现。（3）消落带植物群落的丰富度、多样性、均匀度指数均随海拔变化表现出显著差异，并且随海拔升高呈现上升趋势。由此可见，水位变化对植物群落结构和物种多样性产生很大影响，在低海拔区段，消落带物种组成简单化，耐水淹和繁衍能力强的植物成为优势物种；随着海拔上升，水淹胁迫减弱，出现更多适应水位变化的植物种类，使植物群落沿海拔变化形成不同的分布特征。这些研究结果对三峡库区消落带生态修复植物的筛选，以及物种多样性的提高具有参考价值。     

Shifting maize cultivation and secondary vegetation in the Southern Yucatán: successional forest impacts of temporal intensification

Shifting cultivation around the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve of Mexico, part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, appears to be intensifying temporally through reductions in crop–fallow cycles, with potential impacts on species diversity in the regenerating forest patches surrounding the reserve. This paper documents the temporal intensity of shifting maize cultivation in the region and links it to the species diversity found in secondary vegetation of different ages following different crop–fallow cycles. It finds that younger secondary growth, which is increasing under intensification, has less diversity in species composition. Simultaneously, the concentration of cultivation practices appears to foster more patches in older and more species-diverse vegetation. The implications for the preservation of the region’s forest remain uncertain, however, given the spatial concentration of open lands along two key axes, one which dissects the reserve.     

Species diversity of spiders (Arachnida, Aranei) in agroecosystems of Moscow oblast and Krasnodar krai

A census of spiders has been taken in Moscow oblast and Krasnodar krai (the Kuban Plain) in fields under corn, vetch-oat mixture, and winter wheat (in the central and peripheral zones separately), as well as on their margins and in adjoinint areas of other biotopes. Spiders were collected using entomological sweeping and pitfall traps. On the whole, 286 species of 20 families and 146 genera have been found (205 species in Moscow oblast and 139 species in Krasnodar krai). The level of species diversity does not change significantly; a noticeable decrease in this parameter is observed only in the central zones of fields. In Moscow oblast, species diversity reaches a peak at field margins; in Krasnodar krai, no regular differences in this parameter between the forest strip, field margin, and the peripheral zone of a crop field has been revealed. Species diversity usually decreases toward the field center. However, changes in species diversity at a distance of more than 100 m from the margins are insignificant.     

Monitoring of species diversity in the herbaceous layer of mixed forests on the central Russian plain

The diversity and structure of the herbaceous layer were monitored on a transect through mixed forests in the Malinskaya Biogeocenotic Station (Moscow oblast, Russia). The data obtained in 1987 and 1997 were compared. The parameters of species rank distribution, number of species, and entropy estimate of specie diversity only slightly changed during that period. The total coverage and abundance changed substantially; statistically significant changes in the contributions of species to the community were revealed. Estimates of changes in the community status of species belonging to different ecological groups on the Ellenberg scale served as the basis to demonstrate that soils were eutrophicated and the climate became more continental during the period of the study. Transformations of the vegetation structure were found to be equilibrium; and the community, to exhibit elements of self-organization.     

Landscape pattern and census area as determinants of the diversity of farmland avifauna in Estonia

Landscape structure affects farmland bird species richness and diversity at different scales. We develop a predictive, metric-based model for farmland bird species richness in different bird guilds and study how the research area size influences the relationship between bird diversity and landscape metrics. Thirty research locations (randomly selected, each containing four counting points) were located in three counties of Estonia. In early summer 2002 and 2004, two bird counts per point were carried out in each research location. Three landscape metrics (patch density, edge density and Shannon’s diversity index) were calculated at three spatial scales: 100- and 200-m buffer zones around the count points and in a 1 km² at 1 m × 1 m grain size. Using generalized additive mixed models with repeated measures, we found in most cases that the proportion of variance explained between the bird variables and landscape metrics increased with an increased study area thus demonstrating the effect of scale. Thus, a larger research area is recommended for landscape metrics. At large scales, however, all used landscape metrics were equally good predictors for bird species richness.     

Range contraction and loss of genetic variation of the Pyrenean endemic newt <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calotriton asper</Emphasis> due to climate change

Many studies have identified climate warming to be among the most important threats to biodiversity. Climate change is expected to have stronger effects on species with low genetic diversity, ectothermic physiology, small ranges, low effective populations sizes, specific habitat requirements and limited dispersal capabilities. Despite an ever-increasing number of studies reporting climate change-induced range shifts, few of these have incorporated species’ specific dispersal constraints into their models. Moreover, the impacts of climate change on genetic variation within populations and species have rarely been assessed, while this is a promising direction for future research. Here we explore the effects of climate change on the potential distribution and genetic variation of the endemic Pyrenean newt Calotriton asper over the period 2020–2080. We use species distribution modelling in combination with high-resolution gridded climate data while subsequently applying four different dispersal scenarios. We furthermore use published data on genetic variation of both mtDNA and AFLP loci to test whether populations with high genetic diversity (nucleotide diversity and expected heterozygosity) or evolutionary history (unique haplotypes and K clusters) have an increased extinction risk from climate change. The present study indicates that climate change drastically reduces the potential distribution range of C. asper and reveals dispersal possibilities to be minimal under the most realistic dispersal scenarios. Despite the major loss in suitable climate, the models highlight relatively large stable areas throughout the species core distribution area indicating persistence of populations over time. The results, however, show a major loss of genetic diversity and evolutionary history. This highlights the importance of accounting for intraspecific genetic variation in climate change impact studies. Likewise, the integration of species’ specific dispersal constraints into projections of species distribution models is an important step to fully explore the effects of climate change on species potential distributions.     

Condition of the Soil Fauna near the Epicenter of an Underground Nuclear Explosion in the Northern Urals

Radioactive contamination affects soil organisms and causes profound structural rearrangements in soil zoocenoses, which are manifested in the decreased species diversity of invertebrate communities and low relative abundance of large soil invertebrates. However, these communities gradually recover their initial structure. The soil biota near the epicenter of an underground nuclear explosion performed 30 years ago in Perm oblast has been studied to reveal specific structural features of the soil macro- and microfauna. Its structural diversity is considered with regard to such components as species (taxonomic) composition, the structure of dominance, and the ratio of ecological and trophic groups.__________Translated from Ekologiya, No. 3, 2005, pp. 171–179.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kolesnikova, Taskaeva, Krivolutskii, Taskaev.     

三峡库区香溪河消落带植被多样性及分布格局研究

研究三峡大坝蓄水10 a后香溪河消落带不同高程区域植被的物种组成、群落多样性及其空间分布特征,旨在为库区消落带生态修复中的物种选择、植被群落重建提供依据。研究结果发现:(1)香溪河消落带植被以一年生草本植物为主,物种组成比较简单。植物种群空间分布分析表明,优势种种群均属于聚集分布;(2)随着高程的增加,α多样性指数中Patrick丰富度、Shannon-wiener多样性和Pielou均匀度呈增加趋势,而Simpson优势度则与其它三个指数相反呈递减的趋势;而β多样性指数中Cody指数、Wilson-Shmida指数、Jaccard指数和Sorenson 指数均呈增加趋势;(3)推荐狗牙根、马唐、狗尾草和香附子4种植物作为三峡库区香溪河消落带植被恢复的备选草本物种。     

Phylogenetic diversity scaling in small mammal communities: The example of Nizhny Novgorod region of the Volga Basin

Traditional approaches to structural analysis of biotic communities, based on the data on species abundances, do not take into account phylogenetic relationships between these species. We propose a new approach to studying the scaling (scale dependence) of phylogenetic diversity by means of multifractal analysis in which the moments of phylogenetic diversity are used. The results of applying this approach to small mammal communities of Nizhny Novgorod region of the Volga Basin has shown that phylogenetic diversity scaling complies with the power law, which is indicative of the self-similarity of these communities. The multifractal spectra of phylogenetic diversity scaling markedly differ from the spectra of species diversity scaling, providing evidence that the proposed approach can provide novel information on the structure of biotic communities.     

Phenotypic diversity in populations of the common blue butterfly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polyommatus icarus</Emphasis> Rott. As a trend in the ecocenotic strategy of the species

Phenotypic diversity in populations of Polyommatus icarus Rott. (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) is regarded as a component of the ecocenotic strategy of the species, trends in which may serve as markers characterizing the state of natural populations.     

汉江上游平川段鱼类群落多样性及空间格局分析

2016年5~6月对汉江上游平川段11个采样点开展鱼类多样性及水环境因子调查，共采集鱼类29种，隶属于3目5科25属，其中鲤科鱼类最多（21种，物种占比72.41%），其次为鳅科（5种，物种占比17.24%）。汉江上游平川段鱼类鱼种多样性水平分布呈现中间段低两端段高的特点，鱼类多样性垂直分布符合随海拔升高物种多样性指数下降的规律。采用非度量多维标度排序（NMDS）和典范对应分析方法（CCA）分析了鱼类群落空间分布特征及水环境因子对鱼类群落格局的影响。NMDS结果显示该河段各个站点鱼类群落分布并未出现明显的聚类特征。CCA分析结果表明水环境因子中电导率，五日生化需氧量，pH和硫酸盐浓度对平川段鱼类群落结构有极显著的影响。     

镇江内江湿地植物群落演替动态研究

采用“空间代替时间”方法,于镇江内江湿地选择4类典型样地,分别代表群落演替的4个不同时间段,从物种组成、多样性及生活型等方面研究湿地植被的演替规律,从而探索受损群落的修复途径。结果表明：不同演替阶段植物群落的物种组成、多样性指数和生活型变化明显。物种丰富度指数和多样性指数随演替呈上升趋势,且演替中后期最高,均匀度随演替递增,而优势度递减;在生活型上,多年生草本的重要值随演替先降后升,其物种数逐渐上升并在后期维持相对稳定,并在各演替阶段处于主导地位。而一、二年生草本植物的重要值和物种数均为先升后降;在科属总数上,科属数随演替逐渐增加,其中,禾本科植物始终处于优势种地位。     

Structure and species diversity of topical groups of mollusks in lakes of the Solovetsky Islands and Onega Peninsula, northwestern Russia

The main differences in the structure and species diversity of topical groups of mollusks between lakes on Solovetsky Island and continental lakes have been revealed. Insular groups are characterized by higher indices of species richness (the average number of species per sample) and density, with the level of dominance being decreased. In general, specific features of the insular territory impose limitations not only on the total species richness but also on the number of structural variants of topical mollusk groups, with the range of parameters of their species diversity being reduced against the background of sharp increase in the density of mollusk colonies. Insular topical groups of mollusks are characterized a certain set of species dominating in abundance.     

Restoration of the lower reaches of the Tarim River in China

The middle and lower reaches of the Tarim River are areas of rich biodiversity and natural resources in the inland arid region of China. However, the Tarim River and its associated wetlands have been severely damaged and fragmented during the past several decades. To restore the deteriorated ecosystem and preserve the endangered riverine vegetation along the Tarim River, a project for releasing water from upper dams to the lower reaches of the Tarim River was initiated by China’s government in 2000. Between 2000 and 2005, we monitored the responses of groundwater levels and vegetation to this mitigation along nine transects spaced at mean intervals of 45 km along the river from Daxihaizi Reservoir, the source of water conveyance, to the Lake Taitema, the mouth of the Tarim River. We found that average groundwater levels rose significantly from 8 to 4 m below ground surface. Species diversity did not change during the 5-year period, but the total vegetation coverage and canopy size of some species significantly increased. The endangered tree species, Populus euphratica, started to regenerate. Our results indicated that species diversity might recover very slowly, even if the trial water release program became a permanent river management practice. Management decisions about allocating limited water supplies among competing uses in arid regions will ultimately determine whether degraded river ecosystems, such as the Tarim River, can be restored.     

汉江中下游春季浮游甲壳动物群落结构的空间差异

2002年4月,在汉江中下游从丹江口坝上至其河口沿途设17个采样点,共采集到浮游甲壳动物10科26属33种,其中桡足类4科10属11种,枝角类6科16属22种。根据各采样点的种类组成和数量分布,采用Shannon Wiener指数、Simpson指数和Pielou均匀度指数分析了不同江段浮游甲壳动物的群落多样性特征,并运用SOM人工神经网络方法对其群落结构的空间差异进行了比较。结果表明,汉江中下游江段浮游甲壳动物的密度分布呈现出中游高于下游的特征,而物种丰度和群落多样性指数则是下游高于中游;中游上段的属于密度高但多样性低的群落、中游下段和汉江口属于密度较低但多样性高的群落,下游除汉江口外属于密度和多样性均较低的群落。     

Growth of the nesting colony of slaty-backed gulls (Larus schistisagus) and plant cover degradation on Shelikan Island (Taui inlet, the Sea of Okhotsk)

The size of Larus schistisagus nesting colony on Shelikan Island (8 ha in area) has increased from 2000 to 6000 pairs over 18 years. Today, this is the largest colony in the Sea of Okhotsk. The growth of the bird population has entailed catastrophic deterioration of the plant cover accompanied by a decrease in the species diversity of vascular plants: more than one-third of plant species recorded on the island in 1986 have already disappeared, and the establishment of several new plant species cannot compensate for this loss. If the size of the colony increases further, woody vegetation will fully deteriorate and only a thinned herbaceous layer consisting of 15–20 most resistant species will remain on the island.     

Ordination of Plant Communities in Forest Biogeocenoses under Conditions of Air Pollution in the Northern Kola Peninsula

The species diversity and structure of the tree, herb–dwarf shrub, and moss–lichen layers in the biogeocenoses (BGCs) of pine forests of the Kola Peninsula were analyzed in the zone affected by the Pechenganikel Combined Works. Relationships of the diversity of phytocenoses with the amount of atmospheric fallout and the concentrations of accessible compounds of polluting elements (nickel and copper) and nutrients (potassium, magnesium, and nitrogen) in forest litters were revealed.     

Abundance and community structure of bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) hibernating in artificial caves of Samarskaya Luka

The structure of hibernating bat communities has been studied in eight artificial caves of Samarskaya Luka differing in size and layout. Three types of the relative abundance distribution (RAD) of species in these communities have been revealed. Conditions for hibernation are most favorable in large caves with a stable microclimate, where the abundance of bats is high, the Shannon index has the peak values, and variation in the index of species evenness is the lowest. In such caves, RAD fits the broken-stick and log-series models. Variation in diversity indices reaches the highest level in shallow adits with a changeable microclimate, where RAD fits the geometric series model. The abundance, diversity, and structure of communities depend mainly on cave size and the presence of absence of drafts and, to a lesser extent, on ambient temperature, availability of microshelters, and the type of landscape surrounding the cave. Anthropogenic factors have a weak effect only on the abundance of individual species (M. nattereri, M. daubentonii, M. dasycneme, and E. nilssonii) but not on the overall diversity of bat communities.