Response of Distribution Range Against Climate Change and Habitat Preference of Four National Protected Diploderma Species in Tibetan Plateau

Understanding the spatial distribution and habitat preference for rare and endangered species are essential for effective conservation practice.We examined the spatial distribution and habitat preference of four Diploderma species(Diploderma drukdaypo,D.laeviventre,D.batangense,and D.vela),which are endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and are currently under state protection.We used the ensembles of small models(ESM)approach and predicted potential distribution ranges of the species in current and two future climate scenarios(SSP126 and SSP585).The degree of overlap between the predicted distribution ranges and existing natural reserves was further analyzed.Habitat preference was examined using a paired quadrat method.Our results predicted that D.drukdaypo has a current distribution range of 600 km^(2),which would decrease to 50 km^(2)and 55 km^(2)under the SSP126 and SSP585 respectively.For D.laeviventre,the current distribution range is 817 km^(2),with minimum changes in the two future climate scenarios(774 km^(2)and 902 km^(2)).For D.batangense,the current distribution range is 875 km^(2),which would expand to 1522 km^(2)and 3340 km^(2)in the two future climate scenarios.Similarly for D.vela,the current distribution range is 1369 km^(2),which would change to 1825 km^(2)and 2043 km^(2)respectively under the two future climate scenarios.The effect of protection of current nature reserves are likely low for those species;we found no overlap(D.drukdaypo,D.laeviventre)or little overlap(D.batangense 2.04%–3.56%,D.vela 15.52%–16.87%)between the currently designated protection area and distribution range under current and future climate scenarios.For habitat preference,stones appear to be the critical habitat element for those species although different species had different stone requirements.Taken together,we provided critical information on potential distribution ranges and habitat preference for four endangered Diploderma species,and confirmed the inadequacy of current nature reserves.The establishment of new or expansion of existing nature reserves is urgent for the conservation of those species.

Historical biogeography and evolutionary diversification of Lilium(Liliaceae): New insights from plastome phylogenomics

Here, we infer the historical biogeography and evolutionary diversification of the genus Lilium. For this purpose, we used the complete plastomes of 64 currently accepted species in the genus Lilium(14plastomes were newly sequenced) to recover the phylogenetic backbone of the genus and a timecalibrated phylogenetic framework to estimate biogeographical history scenarios and evolutionary diversification rates of Lilium. Our results suggest that ancient climatic changes and geological tectonic activities jointly shaped the distribution range and drove evolutionary radiation of Lilium, including the Middle Miocene Climate Optimum(MMCO), the late Miocene global cooling, as well as the successive uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP) and the strengthening of the monsoon climate in East Asia during the late Miocene and the Pliocene. This case study suggests that the unique geological and climatic events in the Neogene of East Asia, in particular the uplift of QTP and the enhancement of monsoonal climate, may have played an essential role in formation of uneven distribution of plant diversity in the Northern Hemisphere.

Distribution Pattern of Vascular Plant Species of Mountains in Nepal and their Fate Against Global Warming

This study aims to find the altitudinal distribution pattern of vascular plant species reported from high mountain of Nepal(Manang) along the whole Himalayan elevation gradient, and evaluate their fate against climate change. Data was gathered from multiple sources, field investigations, literatures, and herbarium specimens. Altogether, 303 vascular plant species were reported from Manang. We used a published data to calculate distribution range of each species by interpolating between its upper and lower elevation limits. The relationship between elevation and species richness is elucidated by generalized linear model. The consequence of global warming upon Manang's vascular plant species was estimated based on projected temperature change for next century and adiabatic lapse rate along the elevation gradient of the Himalayas. The vascular plant species richness has a unimodel relationship with elevation along the whole elevation gradient of Nepal as well as in three biogeographical regions of Nepal. Vascular plants of Manang are found distributed from low land Terai to high alpine regions of Nepal and their elevation distribution range varies from 200 to 4700 m. Out of 303 vascular plants of Manang, only seven species might be affected if temperature increase by 1.5°C, whereas at least 70 species will be affected with 5°C temperature increased. However, the majority of species(233 species) have wider distribution range(> 1000 m) and more than 5°C temperature tolerance range, thus they are likely to be less affected from global warming by the end of 21 st century.

Average Range and Network Synchronizability

The influence of structural properties of a network on the network synchronizability is studied by introducing a new concept of average range of edges. For both small-world and scale-free networks, the effect of average range on the synchronizability of networks with bounded or unbounded synchronization regions is illustrated through numerical simulations. The relations between average range, range distribution, average distance, and maximum betweenness are also explored, revealing the effects of these factors on the network synchronizability of the small-world and scale-free networks, respectively.

Comparison of head size and bite force in two sister species of parrotbills

Background: Brain size is associated with morphological evolution and behavioral flexibility because animals with large brain size tend to utilize new resources and colonize novel environments more successfully.Therefore, animals with larger brain size should possess larger distribution ranges.Brain size is strongly positively correlated with head size in birds, but also with prey size and vocalizations, because individuals with large heads eat large food items and produce high frequency calls.Methods: To test if there exists an association between head morphology and bite performance, we compared head size and bite force in two sympatric sister species of parrotbills, Ashy-throated Parrotbill(Paradoxornis alphonsianus) and Vinous-throated Parrotbill(P.webbianus), which both originated from the Himalayan area, but differ significantly in their distribution ranges.Results: In Guizhou, southwestern China, the Ashy-throated Parrotbill with a restricted distribution range had smaller heads whilst the Vinous-throated Parrotbill with a large distribution range had larger heads.However, there were no differences in head size between Ashy-throated Parrotbills and allopatric populations of Vinous-throated Parrotbills(Jiangxi and Hebei).Furthermore, the tendency of variation in bite force was opposite to that in head size with populations with larger head size having weaker bite force.Conclusions: We showed that there are no differences in head size between the Ashy-throated Parrotbill and allopatric populations of Vinous-throated Parrotbill, which provides evidence for the hypothesis that differences in head size in the Guizhou populations of two sister species are probably the result of local adaptation rather than species-specific.Our study has implications for avian dispersal and adaption related to head size such as diet ecology and vocalizations.

A study of the strong pulses detected from PSR B0656+14 using the Urumqi 25-m radio telescope at 1540 MHz

We report on the properties of strong pulses from PSR B0656＋14 by analyzing the data obtained using the Urumqi 25-m radio telescope at 1540 MHz from August 2007 to September 2010.In 44 h of observational data,a total of 67 pulses with signal-to-noise ratios above a 5σthreshold were detected.The peak flux densities of these pulses are 58 to 194 times that of the average profile,and their pulse energies are 3 to 68 times that of the average pulse.These pulses are clustered around phases about 5-ahead of the peak of the average profile.Compared with the width of the average profile,they are relatively narrow,with the full widths at half-maximum ranging from 0.28 ° to 1.78 °.The distribution of pulse-energies follows a lognormal distribution.These sporadic strong pulses detected from PSR B0656＋14 have different characteristics from both typical giant pulses and its regular pulses.

Numerical simulation of the effect of lower positive charge region in thunderstorms on different types of lightning

Combined with the existing stochastic lightning parameterization scheme, a classic tripole charge structure in thunderstorms is assumed in the paper, and then 2-dimensional fine-resolution lighting discharge simulations are performed to quantitatively investigate the effect of lower positive charge(LPC) on different types of lightning. The results show:(1) The LPC plays a key role in generating negative cloud-to-ground(CG) flashes and inverted intra-cloud(IC) lightning, and with the increase of charge density or distribution range of LPC region, lightning type changes from positive polarity IC lightning to negative CG flashes and then to inverted IC lightning.(2) Relative to distribution range of charge regions, the magnitude of charge density of the LPC region plays a dominant role in lightning type. Only when the maximal charge density value of LPC region is within a certain range, can negative CG flashes occur, and the occurrence probability is relatively fixed.(3) In this range, the charge density and distribution range of LPC region jointly determine the occurrence of negative CG flashes, which has a linear boundary with the trigger condition of IC lightning.(4) The common effect of charge density and distribution range of the LPC region is to change the distribution of positive potential well of bottom part of thunderstorms, and inverted IC lightning occurs when the initial reference potential is close to 0 MV, and negative CG flashes occur when the initial reference potential is far less than 0 MV.

Genetic analysis and ecological niche modeling delimit species boundary of the Przewalski’s scorpion(Scorpiones: Buthidae) in arid Asian inland

Reliable delimitation of venomous scorpions is not only consequential to toxicological studies but also instructive to conservation and exploration of these important medical resources.In the present study,we delimited species boundary for the the Przewalski’s scorpion from arid northwest China through a combined approach employing phylogenetic analysis,ecological niche modeling and morphological comparison.Our results indicate that the Przewalski’s scorpion represent an independent taxonomic unit and should be recognized as full species rank,Mesobuthus przewalskii stat.nov.This species and the Chinese scorpion M.martensii represent the eastern members of the M.caucasicus species group which manifests a trans-Central Asia distribution across the Tianshan Mountains range.We also discussed the likely geographic barrier and climatic boundary that demarcate distributional range of the the Przewalski’s scorpion.

A SURVEY OF SUIZHOU METEORITE SHOWER

A chondrite shower occurred on April 15, 1986 in the vicinity of Dayianpo Village, Suizhou City, Hubei Province. It is the second large scale meteorite shower following the Jilin Meteorite Shower.

Direct impacts of recent climate warming on insect populations

Effects of recent climate change have already been detected in many species,and,in particular,in insects.The present paper reviews the key impacts of global warming on insect development and dispersal.The effects of climate change appear to be much more complex than a simple linear response to an average increase in temperature.They can differ between seasons and bioclimatic regions.Earlier flight periods,enhanced winter survival and acceleration of development rates are the major insect responses.Differential response of insects and hosts to warming up might also lead to disruption of their phenological synchrony,but adaptive genetic processes are likely to quickly restore this synchrony.In a number of cases,warming results in removing or relocating the barriers that limit present species’ranges.It is also likely to facilitate the establishment and spread of invasive alien species.Finally,knowledge gaps are identified and future research interests are suggested.

SIGNATURES OF UNIVERSAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FRACTAL FLUCTUATIONS IN GLOBAL MEAN MONTHLY TEMPERATURE ANOMALIES

This paper proposes a general systems theory for fractals visualising the emergence of successively larger scale fluctuations resulting from the space-time integration of enclosed smaller scale fluctuations. Global gridded time series data sets of monthly mean temperatures for the period 1880- 2007/2008 are analysed to show that data sets and corresponding power spectra exhibit distributions close to the model predicted inverse power law distribution. The model predicted and observed universal spectrum for interannual variability rules out linear secular trends in global monthly mean temperatures. Global warming results in intensification of fluctuations of all scales and manifested immediately in high frequency fluctuations.