scholarly journals Host compatibility interacts with seed dispersal to determine small-scale distribution of a mistletoe in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China

2015 ◽  
pp. rtv024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahuang Luo ◽  
Yi Sui ◽  
Jianmin Gan ◽  
Ling Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Southwest China ◽  
Small Scale

scholarly journals Time Series of Landsat Imagery Shows Vegetation Recovery in Two Fragile Karst Watersheds in Southwest China from 1988 to 2016

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 2044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Pei ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Xiaoyue Wang ◽  
Zheng Niu ◽  
Maggi Kelly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Southwest China ◽  
Landsat Imagery ◽  
Ecological Engineering ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Vegetation Recovery ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Conservation Projects

Since the implementation of China’s afforestation and conservation projects during recent decades, an increasing number of studies have reported greening trends in the karst regions of southwest China using coarse-resolution satellite imagery, but small-scale changes in the heterogenous landscapes remain largely unknown. Focusing on two typical karst regions in the Nandong and Xiaojiang watersheds in Yunnan province, we processed 2,497 Landsat scenes from 1988 to 2016 using the Google Earth Engine cloud platform and analyzed vegetation trends and associated drivers. We found that both watersheds experienced significant increasing trends in annual fractional vegetation cover, at a rate of 0.0027 year−1 and 0.0020 year−1, respectively. Notably, the greening trends have been intensifying during the conservation period (2001–2016) even under unfavorable climate conditions. Human-induced ecological engineering was the primary factor for the increased greenness. Moreover, vegetation change responded differently to variations in topographic gradients and lithological types. Relatively more vegetation recovery was found in regions with moderate slopes and elevation, and pure limestone, limestone and dolomite interbedded layer as well as impure carbonate rocks than non-karst rocks. Partial correlation analysis of vegetation trends and temperature and precipitation trends suggested that climate change played a minor role in vegetation recovery. Our findings contribute to an improved understanding of the mechanisms behind vegetation changes in karst areas and may provide scientific supports for local afforestation and conservation policies.

scholarly journals Spatial and temporal patterns of fish assemblages in mountain streams of the Ren River, southwest China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Liu ◽  
Pengcheng Lin ◽  
Huanzhang Liu ◽  
Jun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Fish Assemblage ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Southwest China ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Temporal Patterns ◽  
Mountain Streams ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Landscape Factors

The spatial-temporal patterns of fish assemblages in lotic systems can provide useful information in developing effective conservation measures. This study aimed to explore the spatiotemporal changes in fish assemblage and their association with environmental factors in mountain streams of Ren River, southwest China. Filed investigations were conducted at 18 sites during rainy and dry season in 2017. A total of 21 species, belonged to 3 orders, 8 families and 19 genera, were collected. Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) showed fish assemblages structure varied significantly at the spatial scale, but not at the temporal scale. In low order sites, fish assemblages were mainly dominated by cold water and rheophilic species (e.g. Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, Scaphesthes macrolepis, Metahomaloptera omeiensis and Gnathopogon herzensteini), while those in high order sites were predominated by warm water and eurytopicity or stagnophilic species (e.g. Squalidus argentatus, Hemiculter leucisculus and Zacco platypus). Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed fish assemblages were structured by a combination of large-scale landscape factors (e.g. altitude and C-link) and small-scale habitat features (e.g. channel width, water temperature and depth). Among these factors, landscape factors had the greatest influence on fish assemblage, while local habitat measures played less important roles or just acted in certain season.

scholarly journals Rodent-mediated plant seed dispersal: what happens to the seeds after entering the gaps with different sizes?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Yu ◽  
Guangjie Li ◽  
Shanshan Wei ◽  
Xianfeng Yi ◽  
Jianmin Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Forest Recovery ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Forest Gap ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Gap Formation ◽  
Plant Seed ◽  
Closed Canopy ◽  
Seed Eating

In general, it is accepted that gap formation significantly affects the placement of scatter-hoarded seeds by small rodents, but the effects of different forest gap sizes on the seed-eating and scatter-hoarding behaviors of small rodents remain unclear. Thus, we examined the effects of a closed canopy forest, forest edge, and gaps with different sizes on the spatial dispersal of Quercus variabilis acorns and cache placement by small rodents using coded plastic tags in the Taihang Mountains, China. The seeds were removed rapidly and there were significant differences in the seed-eating and caching strategies between the stand types. We found that Q. variabilis acorns were usually eaten after being removed from the closed canopy forest and forest edges. By contrast, the Q. variabilis acorns in the forest gap stands were more likely to be scatter hoarded. The dispersal distances of Q. variabilis acorns were significantly longer in the forest gap plots compared with the closed canopy and forest edge plots. However, the proportions of scatter-hoarded seeds did not increase significantly as the gap size increased. In small-scale oak reforestation projects or research, creating small gaps to promote rodent-mediated seed dispersal may effectively accelerate forest recovery and successional processes.

scholarly journals Offspring sex preferences among patrilineal and matrilineal Mosuo in Southwest China revealed by differences in parity progression

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 160526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siobhán M. Mattison ◽  
Bret Beheim ◽  
Bridget Chak ◽  
Peter Buston
Keyword(s):  
Southwest China ◽  
Son Preference ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Parity Progression ◽  
Cultural Characteristics ◽  
Sex Preferences ◽  
Offspring Sex ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Matrilineal Inheritance

Son preference predominates in China, yet there are patterned exceptions to this rule. In this paper, we test whether lineality (patrilineal versus matrilineal inheritance and descent) is associated with son versus daughter preference among the ethnic Mosuo (Na) of Southwest China. Our results show (i) an increased probability of continued fertility among matrilineal women after having a son compared with a daughter and (ii) an increased probability of continued fertility among patrilineal women after having a daughter compared with a son. These results are consistent with son preference among patrilineal Mosuo and more muted daughter preference among the matrilineal Mosuo. Furthermore, we show (iii) the lowest probability of continued fertility at parity 2 once women have one daughter and one son across both systems, suggesting that preferences for at least one of each sex exist alongside preferences for the lineal sex. The Mosuo are the only known small-scale society in which two kinship systems distinguish sub-groups with many otherwise shared cultural characteristics. We discuss why this, in conjunction with differences in subsistence, may shed light on the evolutionary underpinnings of offspring sex preferences.

Identification and characterization of anonymous nuclear markers for the double-striped cockroach, Blattella bisignata

2012 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q.-P. Ren ◽  
Z. Fan ◽  
X.-M. Zhou ◽  
G.-F. Jiang ◽  
Y.-T. Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southwest China ◽  
Genomic Library ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Nuclear Markers ◽  
Representative Species ◽  
Identification And Characterization

AbstractDuring the last decade, multilocus analysis has gradually become a powerful tool for the studies of population genetics and phylogeography. The double-striped cockroach, Blattella bisignata, is endemic to southeast Asia, and there is currently little genetic information available for the species. We chose it as the target species to investigate a biodiversity hotspot in southwest China. Here, we report the identification and characterization of 11 single-copy anonymous nuclear markers with an average length of 378bp. These loci, isolated from a genomic library of B. bisignata, can amplify in two additional Blattella species (B. germanica and B. lituricollis). While testing these markers in representative species of Blattellidae, Blattidae and Epilampridae, some of them can cross-amplify successfully. After sequencing 30 individuals collected from southern China per locus, we found relatively high variability (approximately 3.6 SNPs per 100bp). Finally, a small-scale study was also performed to show that these markers do indeed fulfill the expectations as phylogeographic markers.

scholarly journals Special delivery: scavengers direct seed dispersal towards ungulate carcasses

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 20180388 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. J. G. Steyaert ◽  
S. C. Frank ◽  
S. Puliti ◽  
R. Badia ◽  
M. P. Arnberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Vegetative Reproduction ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
Alpine Tundra ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Plant Seeds ◽  
Plant Life ◽  
Viable Seeds

Cadaver decomposition islands around animal carcasses can facilitate establishment of various plant life. Facultative scavengers have great potential for endozoochory, and often aggregate around carcasses. Hence, they may disperse plant seeds that they ingest across the landscape towards cadaver decomposition islands. Here, we demonstrate this novel mechanism along a gradient of wild tundra reindeer carcasses. First, we show that the spatial distribution of scavenger faeces (birds and foxes) was concentrated around carcasses. Second, faeces of the predominant scavengers (corvids) commonly contained viable seeds of crowberry, a keystone species of the alpine tundra with predominantly vegetative reproduction. We suggest that cadaver decomposition islands function as endpoints for directed endozoochory by scavengers. Such a mechanism could be especially beneficial for species that rely on small-scale disturbances in soil and vegetation, such as several Nordic berry-producing species with cryptic generative reproduction.

scholarly journals Nanoscale Study of Titanomagnetite from the Panzhihua Layered Intrusion, Southwest China: Multistage Exsolutions Record Ore Formation

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenyuan Gao ◽  
Cristiana L. Ciobanu ◽  
Nigel J. Cook ◽  
Ashley Slattery ◽  
Fei Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Element ◽  
Southwest China ◽  
Spinel Phase ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Layered Intrusion ◽  
Dark Field ◽  
Trace Element Distribution ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Slow Cooling ◽  
Ore Formation

Titanomagnetite from Fe-Ti-V ores of the Lanjiahuoshan deposit, Panzhihua layered intrusion, Southwest China, was investigated at the nanoscale. The objectives were to establish the composition of exsolution phases and their mutual relationships in order to evaluate the sequence of exsolution among oxide phases, and assess mechanisms of ore formation during magma emplacement. At the micron-scale, titanomagnetite shows crosscutting sets of exsolutions with ilmenite and Al-Mg-Fe-spinel (pleonaste), as well as overprint, both in terms of phase re-equilibration and remobilization of trace elements. Most complex textures were found in titanomagnetite surrounded by ilmenite and this was selected for high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF STEM) imaging and STEM energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) spot analysis and mapping on a thin foil prepared in situ on a focused ion beam scanning electron microscope platform. Titanomagnetite revealed two sequential sets of exsolutions, {111} crosscutting {100}, which are associated with changes in phase speciation and trace element distribution patterns. Qandilite is the dominant spinel phase inside titanomagnetite; magnesioferrite is also identified. In contrast, Fe-poor, Al-rich, Mg-bearing spinel is present within ilmenite outside the grain. Vanadium enrichment in newly-formed magnetite lamellae is clear evidence for trace element remobilization. This V-rich magnetite shows epitaxial relationships with ilmenite at the contact with titanomagnetite. Two-fold super-structuring in ilmenite is evidence for non-redox re-equilibration between titanomagnetite and ilmenite, supporting published experimental data. In contrast, the transformation of cubic Ti-rich spinel into rhombohedral ilmenite imaged at the nanoscale represents the “oxy-exsolution” model of titanomagnetite–ilmenite re-equilibration via formation of a transient ulvöspinel species. Nanoscale disorder is encountered as vacancy layers in Ti-rich spinel, and lower symmetry in the Fe-poor, Al-Mg phase, suggesting that slow cooling rates can preserve small-scale phase equilibration. The cooling history of titanomagnetite ore can be reconstructed as three distinct stages, concordant with published models for the magma plumbing system: equilibrium crystallization of Al-rich, Mg-bearing titanomagnetite from cumulus melts at ~55 km, with initial exsolutions occurring above 800 °C at moderate fO2 conditions (Stage 1); crosscutting {111} exsolutions resulting in formation of qandilite, attributable to temperature increase due to emplacement of another batch of melt affecting the interstitial cumulus during uplift. Formation of 2-fold superstructure ilmenite + V-rich magnetite exsolution pairs representing non-redox equilibration indicates resetting of the cooling path at this stage (Stage 2); and ilmenite formation from pre-existing Ti-rich spinel and ulvöspinel, illustrative of redox-driven cooling paths at <10 km (Stage 3). HAADF STEM provides direct imaging of atomic arrangements, allowing recognition of processes not recognizable at the micron-scale, and can thus be used to constrain exsolution models during ore formation.

Small-scale spatial structure within patterns of seed dispersal

Oecologia ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 158 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Cousens ◽  
T. Wiegand ◽  
M. S. Taghizadeh
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Spatial Structure ◽  
Small Scale
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document