The hydroclimatic and ecophysiological basis of cloud forest distributions under current and projected climates

Annals of Botany, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 113(6), P. 909 - 920

Published: April 24, 2014

Tropical montane cloud forests (TMCFs) are characterized by a unique set of biological and hydroclimatic features, including frequent and/or persistent fog, cool temperatures, high biodiversity endemism. These one the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change given their small geographic range, endemism dependence on rare microclimatic envelope. The frequency atmospheric water deficits for some TMCFs is likely increase in future, but consequences integrity distribution these uncertain. In order investigate plant ecosystem responses change, we need know how TMCF species function response current climate, which factors shape ecology will into future. This review focuses recent advances ecophysiological research plants establish link between hydrometeorological conditions vegetation distribution, functioning survival. hydraulic characteristics trees discussed, together with prevalence ecological foliar uptake fog (FWU) TMCFs, key process that allows efficient acquisition during immersion periods, minimizing favouring survival prone drought-induced failure. Fog occurrence single important feature affecting plants. Plants very drought (possessing safety margin), presence FWU minimizes tree thus favours where such may occur. Characterizing interplay dynamics relations foster more realistic projections about effects distribution.

Language: Английский

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Timing is everything: does early and late germination favor invasions by herbaceous alien plants?

Journal of Plant Ecology, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. rtw105 - rtw105

Published: Sept. 22, 2016

AimsPlant invasions represent a unique opportunity to study the mechanisms underlying community assembly rules and species distribution patterns. While superior competitive ability has often been proposed as major driver of successful plant invasions, its significance depends crucially on timing any interaction. We assess whether mismatch in germination phenology can favor establishment alien species, allowing them exploit vacant niches where competition is low. As well having important effects survival, growth fitness asymmetric potential soil legacies resulting from early or late also impact recruitment. However, comes at cost, increases risks exposure unfavorable conditions requires an enhanced abiotic resistance if it lead establishment.

Language: Английский

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Winter range expansion of a hummingbird is associated with urbanization and supplementary feeding

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 284(1852), P. 20170256 - 20170256

Published: April 5, 2017

Anthropogenic changes to the landscape and climate cause novel ecological evolutionary pressures, leading potentially dramatic in distribution of biodiversity. Warm winter temperatures can shift species' distributions regions that were previously uninhabitable. Further, urbanization supplementary feeding may facilitate range expansions reduce migration tendency. Here we explore how these factors interact non-uniform effects across a species's range. Using 17 years data from citizen science programme Project FeederWatch, examined relationships between urbanization, availability food (i.e. artificial nectar) on expansion (more than 700 km northward past two decades) Anna's hummingbirds (Calypte anna). We found have colonized colder locations over time, more likely colonize sites with higher housing density visit feeders expanded compared historical Additionally, their mirrored corresponding increase time tendency people provide nectar This work illustrates humans alter migratory behaviour species through resource modification.

Language: Английский

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The silent extinction: climate change and the potential hybridization-mediated extinction of endemic high-mountain plants

Biodiversity and Conservation, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 24(8), P. 1843 - 1857

Published: March 16, 2015

Language: Английский

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New pasture plants intensify invasive species risk

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 111(46), P. 16622 - 16627

Published: Nov. 3, 2014

Significance Governments spend billions of dollars each year managing invasive plant species. Many plants have escaped from pastures and now degrade natural areas transform ecosystems. New pasture taxa are promoted to help achieve sustainable intensification agriculture by increasing production without using more land. However, characteristics that increase also invasion risk. Combined with inadequate regulation management establish large feed-plant populations, new will likely exacerbate problems Livestock accounts for 30% the world's land area. Risks associated feed-plants been largely overlooked, even studies explicitly critiquing environmental risks intensification. We suggest a suite protocols reduce these in agriculture.

Language: Английский

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