Divergence of alpine plant populations of three Gentianaceae species in the Qinling sky Island

BMC Plant Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 25(1)

Published: Feb. 4, 2025

Known for their unique biodiversity, the Qinling Mountains are considered only area in which alpine biomes occur central China. Given that particularly sensitive to global warming, understanding how plants respond climatic fluctuations is essential evolution and conservation of biodiversity. To address this issue, three species Gentianaceae (Gentiana crassuloides, G. hexaphylla Swertia bifolia) represent different life types diverse genera were selected. Genetic clustering analysis according around 33,317 185,133 SNPs showed population was a separate lineage within each species. A high level genetic differentiation observed among populations other Divergence time estimation based on plastomes approximate Bayesian computation genomic originated at periods under various patterns including primary source hybridization. Significant signals isolation by distance environment found all The redundancy gradient forest analyses revealed several temperature- precipitation-related variables mainly contributed shaping others, indicating exhibited similar pattern adaptations local environments. This study unveiled evolutionary features these elucidated contributing role both environmental geographical differentiation, scientifically supports future efforts.

Language: Английский

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Many winners, few losers: stable bird populations on an Afrotropical mountain amidst climate change

Frontiers in Conservation Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: Feb. 4, 2025

Organisms in mountainous areas are frequently exposed to climatic extremes and among the most vulnerable climate change. Long-term studies on birds along elevational gradients, which vital understanding species dynamics, rare tropical mountains, limits ability understand their population trends face of We modelled local abundances understorey bird (N=18) over a 13-year period (2011–2023) Mt. Kasigau, Kenya, using mist netting data collected an gradient. Our models show relatively stable study period. However, we found two distinct crashes that affected 2015 2022, suggesting changes dynamics may lead heavy declines populations regions. Most had period, but parametric bootstrapping revealed declining trend for few species, including endemic, threatened species. highlight importance regions maintaining global environmental transformation such as posed by change, dynamism across small spatial-temporal variations. While mountain ecosystems viewed potential refugia biodiversity warming climate, further needed drivers short long-term at higher elevations, especially Africa.

Language: Английский

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Feeding Specialisation Shapes Avian Functional Diversity Along a Tropical Rainforest Elevational Gradient

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 7, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim Avian functional diversity in montane systems has been scrutinised by researchers seeking to uncover deterministic processes driving community assembly. However, many tropical rainforests lack fully surveyed elevational gradients that could inform on ecology of avian assemblages. Here we expand global coverage trends bird the third largest contiguous rainforest world. Location A 3500 m uninterrupted gradient Papua New Guinea. Taxon Birds. Methods We conducted point‐count surveys communities, sampling eight sites from 200 above sea level treeline at 3700 m. Functional indices (functional richness, evenness, and divergence) were examined using Bayesian generalised additive models after standardising for species richness. Additionally, analysed phylogenetic structure, variation individual traits, including feeding guild, morphology, dispersal ability. Results richness declined sharply lowlands 1700 level, followed a weak decrease towards treeline. evenness decreased monotonically with elevation, while divergence increased low elevations again near Phylogenetic exhibited monotonic decline accompanied clustering higher elevations. The mid‐elevation collapse was likely caused trophic interactions. Reduced availability large fruits declines frugivore body size beak dimensions, high abundance invertebrates favoured functionally uniform insectivores. Near treeline, communities displayed morphological shifts terrestrial lifestyles reduced ability, suggesting environmental filtering forest structure. Main Conclusions By examining highlight role interactions shaping systems. Similar research robust trait data can deepen our understanding ecosystem functions guide conservation strategies different groups birds across regions.

Language: Английский

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Scarce consideration of climate and land use changes impacts on ecosystem services and biodiversity in the Apennines Mountain system, Italy

Regional Environmental Change, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 25(2)

Published: April 29, 2025

Language: Английский

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Dispersal constrains the biotic connectivity of mountain assemblages

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 51(7), P. 1230 - 1243

Published: Feb. 23, 2024

Abstract Aim Climate warming is shifting the bioclimatic optima of species towards mountaintops, but ability organisms to track these changes also depends on their dispersal skills. Here, we assessed role over niche‐driven processes in connecting assemblages along mountain slopes and between massifs. Location Cantabrian Mountains, Spain. Taxon Birds (Animalia; Aves) Lichens (Fungi; Ascomycota, Basidiomycota). Methods We examined change with elevation community‐level traits that are proxies (wing shape birds type dispersing propagule lichens) ecological niche (micro‐habitat, substrate, foraging features). then permutate composition within sites massifs create models distribution constrained by processes. These were compared observed disclose relative contribution niche‐based biotic interchange (vertical connectivity) isolated summits (horizontal connectivity). Results Both bird lichen communities formed enhance at high elevations. groups showed similarities elevational patterns diversity, which dropped Dispersal was far dominant assembly mechanism both taxa. Pairwise community comparisons among belts weak vertical connectivity, predominant limitations barriers extremes gradient. Among massifs, horizontal connectivity higher than those from lower Main Conclusion found be systems, even taxa potential. Highland had low functional diversity mobility. This permits and, potentially, colonization other as climate warms. Our framework combining occurrence‐permutation improve understanding mechanisms gradients points limitations, especially low‐middle

Language: Английский

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Climate tracking by mountain bumblebees across a century: Distribution retreats, small refugia and elevational shifts

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 54, P. e03163 - e03163

Published: Aug. 23, 2024

Language: Английский

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Ski resorts threaten climate refugia for high-elevation biodiversity under current and future conditions in the Alps

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 301, P. 110890 - 110890

Published: Nov. 29, 2024

Language: Английский

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Wing morphology changes with habitat availability and elevation in an alpine-specialist bird

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. e03276 - e03276

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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