Climate warming is expected to advance treelines to higher elevations. However, empirical studies in diverse mountain ranges give evidence of both advancing alpine treelines as well as rather insignificant responses. ...Climate warming is expected to advance treelines to higher elevations. However, empirical studies in diverse mountain ranges give evidence of both advancing alpine treelines as well as rather insignificant responses. In this context, we aim at investigating the sensitivity and responsiveness of the near-natural treeline ecotone in Rolwaling Himal, Nepal, to climate warming. We analysed population densities of tree species along the treeline ecotone from closed forest stands via the krummholz belt to alpine dwarf shrub heaths （3700-4200 m） at 50 plots in 2013 and 2014. We quantified species - environment relationships, i.e. the change of environmental conditions （e.g., nutrient and thermal deficits, plant interactions） across the ecotone by means of redundancy analyses, variation partitioning and distance-based Moran＇s eigenvector maps. In particular, we focus on explaining the high competitiveness of Rhododendron campanulatum forming a dense krummholz belt and on the implications for the responsiveness of Himalayan krummholz treelines to climate change. Results indicate that treeline trees in the ecotone show species-specific responses to the influence of environmental parameters, and that juvenile and adult tree responses are modulated by environmental constraints in differing intensity. Moreover, the species - environment relationships suggest that the investigated krummholz belt will largely prevent the upward migration of other tree constrain the future response species and thus of Himalayan krummholz treelines to climate warming.展开更多
Mountainous regions of the globe experience landslides due to heavy rainfall and unplanned construction on slopes. Geojute is adopted globally as a landslide rehabilitation measure, but its impact on natural vegetatio...Mountainous regions of the globe experience landslides due to heavy rainfall and unplanned construction on slopes. Geojute is adopted globally as a landslide rehabilitation measure, but its impact on natural vegetation development is poorly understood. The present study was conducted to examine the impact of geojute application on vegetation restoration, ecology and carbon stock in a recently occurred landslide, during 2012. The results revealed that the geojute application improved the richness, diversity, density and basal area of plant species at the landslide site. Likewise, biomass production, carbon stock and carbon sequestration of plant species was observed significantly higher in geojute treatments compared to control(without geojute treatment). Moreover, significant improvement in soil moisture was recorded beneath the geojute treatments. Further, results showed that the geojute is highly effective in controlling soil erosion at the landslide site. The findings of this study revealed ecological and environmental benefits of geojute application in term of improvement in vegetation recovery processes, species diversity and carbon sequestration at the landslide site. The scientific outcome of this study can be helpful for planning the rehabilitation measures in landslide affected regions of the globe.展开更多
The study focuses on the dynamics and biomass production （g·m-2） of understory （herbaceous） plant community under broad-leaf forests consisting of Quercus leucotrichophora （Banj-oak）, Quercus floribunda （T...The study focuses on the dynamics and biomass production （g·m-2） of understory （herbaceous） plant community under broad-leaf forests consisting of Quercus leucotrichophora （Banj-oak）, Quercus floribunda （Tilonj-oak） and Quercus semicarpifolia （Kharsu-oak）, respectively in central Himalaya, India. With increasing altitudes, the den-sity and biomass decreased significantly across the three types of forests. Banj-oak forest harboured the maximum density and biomass among the other sampling sites. The mean density of herb species in two contrasting orientation differed significantly （p0.05）, showing relatively higher density on slope orientation （west）. Across the sites, total production declined significantly with increasing altitude of the sites （p0.05）, and Banj-oak forest presented the highest production.展开更多
The influence of sea ice on the species composition and cell density of phytoplankton was investigated in the eastern Bering Sea in spring 2008. Diatoms, particularly pennate diatoms, dominated the phytoplankton commu...The influence of sea ice on the species composition and cell density of phytoplankton was investigated in the eastern Bering Sea in spring 2008. Diatoms, particularly pennate diatoms, dominated the phytoplankton community. The dominant species were Grammonema islandica （Grunow in Van Heurck） Hasle, Fragilariopsis cylindrus （Grunow） Krieger, F. oceanica （Cleve） Hasle, Navicula vanhoeffenii Gran, Thalassiosira antarctica Comber, T. gravida Cleve, T. nordenskioeldii Cleve, and T. rotula Meunier. Phytoplankton cell densities varied from 0.08× 10^4 to 428.8× 10^4 cells/L, with an average of 30.3× 10^4 cells/L. Using cluster analysis, phytoplankton were grouped into three assemblages defined by ice-forming conditions： open wate.r, ice edge, and sea ice assemblages. In spring, when the sea ice melts, the phytoplankton dispersed from the sea ice to the ice edge and even into open waters. Thus, these phytoplankton in the sea ice may serve as a “seed bank” for phytoplankton population succession in the subarctic ecosystem. Moreover, historical studies combined with these results suggest that the sizes of diatom species have become smaller, shifting from microplankton to nannoplankton-dominated communities.展开更多
Many species produce individually specific vocalizations and sociality is a hypothesized driver of such individuality. Previous studies of how social variation influenced individuality focused on colonial or non-colon...Many species produce individually specific vocalizations and sociality is a hypothesized driver of such individuality. Previous studies of how social variation influenced individuality focused on colonial or non-colonial avian species, and how so- cial group size influenced individuality in sciurid rodents. Since sociality is an important driver of individuality, we expected that bird species that defend nesting territories in higher density neighborhoods should have more individually-distinctive calls than those that defend nesting territories in lower-density neighborhoods. We used Beecher＇s information statistic to quantify individu- ality, and we examined the relationship between bird density （calculated with point-counts） and vocal individuality on seven spe- cies of passerines. We found non-significant relationships between breeding bird density and vocal individuality whether regres- sions were fitted on species values, or on phylogenetically-independent contrast values. From these results, we infer that while in- dividuality may be explained by social factors, breeding bird density is unlikely to be generally important in driving the evolution of individually-specific vocalizations [Current Zoology 58 （5）： 765-772, 2012].展开更多
基金funded by Studienstiftung des deutschen VolkesGerman Research Foundation for funding(DFG,SCHI 436/14-1,BO 1333/4-1,SCHO 739/14-1)
文摘Climate warming is expected to advance treelines to higher elevations. However, empirical studies in diverse mountain ranges give evidence of both advancing alpine treelines as well as rather insignificant responses. In this context, we aim at investigating the sensitivity and responsiveness of the near-natural treeline ecotone in Rolwaling Himal, Nepal, to climate warming. We analysed population densities of tree species along the treeline ecotone from closed forest stands via the krummholz belt to alpine dwarf shrub heaths （3700-4200 m） at 50 plots in 2013 and 2014. We quantified species - environment relationships, i.e. the change of environmental conditions （e.g., nutrient and thermal deficits, plant interactions） across the ecotone by means of redundancy analyses, variation partitioning and distance-based Moran＇s eigenvector maps. In particular, we focus on explaining the high competitiveness of Rhododendron campanulatum forming a dense krummholz belt and on the implications for the responsiveness of Himalayan krummholz treelines to climate change. Results indicate that treeline trees in the ecotone show species-specific responses to the influence of environmental parameters, and that juvenile and adult tree responses are modulated by environmental constraints in differing intensity. Moreover, the species - environment relationships suggest that the investigated krummholz belt will largely prevent the upward migration of other tree constrain the future response species and thus of Himalayan krummholz treelines to climate warming.
基金Common Fund for Commodities and the OPEC Fund for International Development for funding to carry out this study in collaboration with National Jute Board,Kolkata,India and Jute Diversification Promotion Centre,Bangladesh
文摘Mountainous regions of the globe experience landslides due to heavy rainfall and unplanned construction on slopes. Geojute is adopted globally as a landslide rehabilitation measure, but its impact on natural vegetation development is poorly understood. The present study was conducted to examine the impact of geojute application on vegetation restoration, ecology and carbon stock in a recently occurred landslide, during 2012. The results revealed that the geojute application improved the richness, diversity, density and basal area of plant species at the landslide site. Likewise, biomass production, carbon stock and carbon sequestration of plant species was observed significantly higher in geojute treatments compared to control(without geojute treatment). Moreover, significant improvement in soil moisture was recorded beneath the geojute treatments. Further, results showed that the geojute is highly effective in controlling soil erosion at the landslide site. The findings of this study revealed ecological and environmental benefits of geojute application in term of improvement in vegetation recovery processes, species diversity and carbon sequestration at the landslide site. The scientific outcome of this study can be helpful for planning the rehabilitation measures in landslide affected regions of the globe.
文摘The study focuses on the dynamics and biomass production （g·m-2） of understory （herbaceous） plant community under broad-leaf forests consisting of Quercus leucotrichophora （Banj-oak）, Quercus floribunda （Tilonj-oak） and Quercus semicarpifolia （Kharsu-oak）, respectively in central Himalaya, India. With increasing altitudes, the den-sity and biomass decreased significantly across the three types of forests. Banj-oak forest harboured the maximum density and biomass among the other sampling sites. The mean density of herb species in two contrasting orientation differed significantly （p0.05）, showing relatively higher density on slope orientation （west）. Across the sites, total production declined significantly with increasing altitude of the sites （p0.05）, and Banj-oak forest presented the highest production.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41276128,41476116)the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)(No.2010CB428704)
文摘The influence of sea ice on the species composition and cell density of phytoplankton was investigated in the eastern Bering Sea in spring 2008. Diatoms, particularly pennate diatoms, dominated the phytoplankton community. The dominant species were Grammonema islandica （Grunow in Van Heurck） Hasle, Fragilariopsis cylindrus （Grunow） Krieger, F. oceanica （Cleve） Hasle, Navicula vanhoeffenii Gran, Thalassiosira antarctica Comber, T. gravida Cleve, T. nordenskioeldii Cleve, and T. rotula Meunier. Phytoplankton cell densities varied from 0.08× 10^4 to 428.8× 10^4 cells/L, with an average of 30.3× 10^4 cells/L. Using cluster analysis, phytoplankton were grouped into three assemblages defined by ice-forming conditions： open wate.r, ice edge, and sea ice assemblages. In spring, when the sea ice melts, the phytoplankton dispersed from the sea ice to the ice edge and even into open waters. Thus, these phytoplankton in the sea ice may serve as a “seed bank” for phytoplankton population succession in the subarctic ecosystem. Moreover, historical studies combined with these results suggest that the sizes of diatom species have become smaller, shifting from microplankton to nannoplankton-dominated communities.
文摘Many species produce individually specific vocalizations and sociality is a hypothesized driver of such individuality. Previous studies of how social variation influenced individuality focused on colonial or non-colonial avian species, and how so- cial group size influenced individuality in sciurid rodents. Since sociality is an important driver of individuality, we expected that bird species that defend nesting territories in higher density neighborhoods should have more individually-distinctive calls than those that defend nesting territories in lower-density neighborhoods. We used Beecher＇s information statistic to quantify individu- ality, and we examined the relationship between bird density （calculated with point-counts） and vocal individuality on seven spe- cies of passerines. We found non-significant relationships between breeding bird density and vocal individuality whether regres- sions were fitted on species values, or on phylogenetically-independent contrast values. From these results, we infer that while in- dividuality may be explained by social factors, breeding bird density is unlikely to be generally important in driving the evolution of individually-specific vocalizations [Current Zoology 58 （5）： 765-772, 2012].
