Bird species composition and conservation challenges in the Gaoligong Mountains, one of the most diverse bird areas in the world

The Gaoligong Mountains(GLGM),located in southwestern China,extend north to south along the western border of the Hengduan Mountains,spanning approximately 600 km.In this study,we consolidated findings from 17 bird surveys conducted in the GLGM between 2010 and 2022.We found that the GLGM harbors tremendous bird diversity,with a total of 796 documented bird species in the region.Nearly a quarter(23.0%)of these species are listed as state key protected species or as Chinese and global threatened species.Analysis of species richness at the county level showed a decreasing trend with increasing latitude,with the greatest diversity in Yingjiang(661 species).Observations indicated that the GLGM belongs to the Oriental realm,primarily composed of bird species from southern and southwestern China.The GLGM plays an important role in avian conservation by sheltering exceptional bird diversity,providing corridors and flyways for bird migration and dispersal,and mitigating the effects of climate change.In response to the conservation needs of birds and other wildlife,the Chinese government has established numerous protected areas within the GLGM.Despite these efforts,avian conservation still faces considerable challenges in the GLGM due to limitations in the protected area network,transboundary nature of the regions,and existing gaps in monitoring and research.

Mammals of Gaoligong Mountain in China:Diversity,distribution,and conservation

Gaoligong Mountain(hereafter,GLGM)is located at the intersection of Myanmar and China’s Yunnan Province and Xizang Zizhiqu,and spans three globally significant biodiversity hotspots:the Himalayas,Indo-Burma,and the Mountains of Southwest China.Although surveys of mammals in this ecologically important region have a long history,there is no comprehensive systematic checklist and distribution account of the mammals of GLGM.Here,we compiled a mammal species checklist of GLGM based on thorough field investigations and literature reviews.We also examined specimen collections and applied camera trapping surveys to explore the region’s mammal diversity and distribution patterns.We recorded 212 mammal species in nine orders,33 families,and 119 genera,which accounts for 30.5%of China’s mammal species,and a high proportion of nationally protected(50)and globally threatened(29)species.Mammal species richness showed a symmetrical unimodal curve along the elevation gradient,peaking at intermediate elevations(2000 to 2500 m above sea level(asl)),and increasing generally from south to north,slightly higher in the east slope than in the west.Cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed three distinct elevational assemblages(<900 m asl.,900-3500 m asl.,and>3500 m asl)and significant south-to-north variation,but no substantial differences between the east and west slopes.The GLGM present a unique conservation value due to the high proportions of rare and endangered mammal species,complex faunal composition,high endemism,and being the distribution boundary for many species.This study is an important phased account of mammal diversity in GLGM and makes a prospect for future research.

Diverse responses of fungal functional groups to desertification in forest soils of Pinus densata on the Chinese Tibetan plateau

Rapid increase in desertification is an environ-mental concern,especially for the health and sustainabil-ity of ecosystems in changing climates.How ecosystems respond to such changes may be partially understood by studying interactions and performance of critically impor-tant groups such as soil fungi functional groups.This study investigated variations in diversities of three soil fungi functional guilds(saprotrophic,symbiotic,pathogenic)and influencing abiotic factors in a Pinus densata forest on the southeast Tibetan Plateau where desertification is intense.The results indicate desertification significantly decreased the proportion of dominant fungal guild-symbiotic fungi(mean relative abundance decreasing from 97.0%to 68.3%),in contrast to saprotrophic fungi(increasing from 2.7%to 25.7%)and pathogenic(from 0.3%to 5.9%).Soil pH had the most significant impact on fungal community structure and negatively correlated with symbiotic fungal richness,which was significantly lower in arid soils,and positively correlated with saprotrophic and pathogenic fungal alpha-diversity,which were abundant.Different community struc-tures and regulators of the three fungi communities were observed,with pH,total phosphorus and ammonium(NH_(4)^(+))as the main determinants.This study links the biotic and abi-otic components during desertification and the interactions between them,and may be used as indicators of ecosystem health and for amendments to mitigate the effects of a chang-ing climate.

Multi-omics analyses provide insights into the evolutionary history and the synthesis of medicinal components of the Chinese wingnut

Chinese wingnut(Pterocarya stenoptera)is a medicinally and economically important tree species within the family Juglandaceae.However,the lack of high-quality reference genome has hindered its in-depth research.In this study,we successfully assembled its chromosome-level genome and performed multiomics analyses to address its evolutionary history and synthesis of medicinal components.A thorough examination of genomes has uncovered a significant expansion in the Lateral Organ Boundaries Domain gene family among the winged group in Juglandaceae.This notable increase may be attributed to their frequent exposure to flood-prone environments.After further differentiation between Chinese wingnut and Cyclocarya paliurus,significant positive selection occurred on the genes of NADH dehydrogenase related to mitochondrial aerobic respiration in Chinese wingnut,enhancing its ability to cope with waterlogging stress.Comparative genomic analysis revealed Chinese wingnut evolved more unique genes related to arginine synthesis,potentially endowing it with a higher capacity to purify nutrient-rich water bodies.Expansion of terpene synthase families enables the production of increased quantities of terpenoid volatiles,potentially serving as an evolved defense mechanism against herbivorous insects.Through combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis,we identified the candidate genes involved in the synthesis of terpenoid volatiles.Our study offers essential genetic resources for Chinese wingnut,unveiling its evolutionary history and identifying key genes linked to the production of terpenoid volatiles.

Host plant traits play a crucial role in shaping the composition of epiphytic microbiota in the arid desert,Northwest China

Phyllosphere microorganisms are a crucial component of environmental microorganisms,highly influenced by host characteristics,and play a significant role in plant health and productivity.Nonetheless,the impact of host characteristics on shaping phyllosphere microbial communities of plants with different life forms remains ambiguous.Utilizing high-throughput sequencing technology,this study analyzed the diversity and community composition of phyllosphere epiphytic microorganisms(e.g.,bacteria and fungi)of various plant life forms in the hinterland of the Gurbantunggut Desert,Northwest China.Functional annotation of prokaryotic taxa(FAPROTAX)and fungi function guild(FUNGuild)were employed to assess the ecological functions of microorganisms and to investigate the role of stochastic and deterministic processes in shaping phyllosphere microbial communities.Result showed a diverse array of phyllosphere epiphytic microorganisms in the desert plants,with Proteobacteria,Cyanobacteria,and Actinobacteriota dominating bacterial community,while Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were prevalent in fungal community.Comparison across different plant life forms highlighted distinct microbial communities,indicating strong filtering effects by plant characteristics.FAPROTAX prediction identified intracellular parasites(accounting for 27.44%of bacterial community abundance),chemoheterotrophy(10.12%),and phototrophy(17.41%)as the main functions of epiphytic bacteria on leaves of different life form plants.FUNGuild prediction indicated that phyllosphere epiphytic fungi primarily served as Saprotrophs(81.77%),Pathotrophs(17.41%),and Symbiotrophs(0.82%).Co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated a predominance of positive correlations among different microbial taxa.Raup-Crick dissimilarity index analysis revealed that deterministic processes predominantly influenced phyllosphere bacterial and fungal community assembly.Variance partitioning analysis and random forest modeling suggested that plant leaf functional traits significantly impacted both bacterial and fungal community composition,with fungal community composition showing a closer association with leaf nutrients and physiology compared with bacterial community composition.The distinct responses of bacterial and fungal communities to plant traits were attributed to the differing properties of bacteria and fungi,such as bacteria having higher potential dispersal rates and broader ecological niches than fungi.Overall,the results indicate that phyllosphere bacterial and fungal communities undergo similar community assembly processes,with fungi being more influenced by plant characteristics than bacteria.These findings offer novel insights into the ecology of phyllosphere microbial communities of desert plants.

Circumscription of the East Asia clade (Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae) and the taxonomic placements of several problematic genera

The East Asia(or Physospermopsis) clade was recognized in previous molecular phylogenetic investigations into the higher-level relationships of Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae. The composition of this clade, the phylogenetic relationships among its constituent taxa, and the placement of species previously determined to be problematic have yet to be resolved. Herein, nr DNA ITS sequences were obtained for150 accessions of Apioideae, representing species whose distributions are in East Asia or genera having one or more species included within the East Asia clade. These data, along with published ITS sequences from other Apioideae(for 3678 accessions altogether), were subjected to maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses. The results show that the East Asia clade contains representatives of 11currently recognized genera: Hansenia, Hymenolaena, Keraymonia, Sinolimprichtia, Acronema, Hymenidium, Physospermopsis, Pimpinella, Sinocarum, Tongoloa, and Trachydium. However, the latter seven genera have members falling outside of the East Asia clade, including the generic types of all except Tongoloa. Within the clade, the species comprising these seven genera are widely intermingled, greatly increasing confusion among relationships than previously realized. The problematic species Physospermopsis cuneata is confirmed as falling within the East Asia clade, whereas P. rubrinervis allies with the generic type in tribe Pleurospermeae. Physospermopsis kingdon-wardii is confirmed as a member of the genus Physospermopsis, whereas the generic attributions of P. cuneata and Tongoloa stewardii remain unclear. Two species of Sinocarum(S. filicinum and S. wolffianum) are transferred into the genus Meeboldia. This is the most comprehensive molecular phylogenetic investigation of the East Asia clade to date, and while the results increase systematic understanding of the clade, they also highlight the need for further studies of one of the most taxonomically intractable groups in Apioideae.

Ecological Networks of Allometric Growth,Feeding Behavior and Gut Microbiota in Chinese Alligator Hatchlings

Chinese alligator hatchlings in captivity are fragile and have a high mortality rate within first year.The body mass gain of reptile animals is closely related to their feeding behavior and gut microbiota.This study analyzed the intrinsic factors influencing the allometric growth of Chinese alligator hatchlings based on their body mass gain,feeding behavior,and gut microbiota.This information would enhance the health management of Chinese alligator hatchlings.There was a significant correlation between the total distance moved,the average number of conspecifics nearby,and body mass gain.Chinese alligator hatchlings with a greater growth rate showed greater activity and more independent behavior during feeding than those with a lower growth rate.Moreover,after feeding started,some functions of the gut microbiota showed significant relationships with growth rate and feeding activity.Chinese alligator hatchlings with a greater growth rate showed greater levels of heme biosynthesis than those with a lower growth rate,and feeding activity was inhibited by long-chain fatty acid biosynthesis.These results elucidate the relationships between health,feeding behavior,and the gut microbiota of Chinese alligator hatchlings.Understanding the intrinsic factors of their health and feeding behavior can improve the health management of Chinese alligator hatchlings in captivity for conservation.

Effects of Different Light Qualities on the Growth Characteristics of Populus trinervis

Populus trinervis is native to China and plays an irreplaceable role in maintaining the ecological balance of boreal and temperate forests.P.trinervis mainly grows in high-altitude areas.At present,there are limited studies on the response of P.trinervis to different light qualities,so it is necessary to investigate the photosynthetic physiological changes of P.trinervis in different light environments.In our study,P.trinervis was grown for 8 months under light filtered by three different colored films.The three treatments were blue film,green film,and white plastic film.The effects of blue(B),green(G),and white(W)light on photosynthetic pigment content,absolute growth,photosynthetic parameters,soluble sugar content,and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were studied,respectively.Compared to the Wtreatment,the chlorophyll a and b,carotenoids,total chlorophyll content(a+b),absolute growth of seedling height,net photosynthetic rate(PN),water use efficiency(WUE),total soluble sugars,sucrose,and nonphotochemical quenching(NPQ)of P.trinervis were significantly increased under B treatment.Meanwhile,chlorophyll a and b,carotenoids,total chlorophyll(a+b),transpiration rate(Tr),intercellular CO_(2) concentration(Ci),stomatal conductance(gs),absolute growth of seedling height and leaf length,reducing sugar,total soluble sugar content,and NPQ were significantly increased under G treatment.The results showed that the absolute growth and chlorophyll content of P.trinervis were increased under B light,while the sugar and photosynthetic parameters were increased under G light.Additional studies may look into how B light impacts absolute growth and promotional mechanisms,as well as how G light affects the accumulation of sugar levels.

Comparative transcriptomic evidence of physiological changes and potential relationships in vertebrates under different dormancy states

Dormancy represents a fascinating adaptive strategy for organisms to survive in unforgiving environments.After a period of dormancy,organisms often exhibit exceptional resilience.This period is typically divided into hibernation and aestivation based on seasonal patterns.However,the mechanisms by which organisms adapt to their environments during dormancy,as well as the potential relationships between different states of dormancy,deserve further exploration.Here,we selected Perccottus glenii and Protopterus annectens as the primary subjects to study hibernation and aestivation,respectively.Based on histological and transcriptomic analysis of multiple organs,we discovered that dormancy involved a coordinated functional response across organs.Enrichment analyses revealed noteworthy disparities between the two dormant species in their responses to extreme temperatures.Notably,similarities in gene expression patterns pertaining to energy metabolism,neural activity,and biosynthesis were noted during hibernation,suggesting a potential correlation between hibernation and aestivation.To further explore the relationship between these two phenomena,we analyzed other dormancy-capable species using data from publicly available databases.This comparative analysis revealed that most orthologous genes involved in metabolism,cell proliferation,and neural function exhibited consistent expression patterns during dormancy,indicating that the observed similarity between hibernation and aestivation may be attributable to convergent evolution.In conclusion,this study enhances our comprehension of the dormancy phenomenon and offers new insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning vertebrate dormancy.

Profiles of the Headspace Volatile Organic and Essential Oil Compounds from the Tunisian Cardaria draba (L.) Desv. and Its Leaf and Stem Epidermal Micromorphology

In this work, we investigated aroma volatiles emanated by dry roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits of Cardariadraba (L.) Desv. growing wild in Tunisia and its aerial part essential oils (EOs) composition. A total of 37 volatileorganic compounds (96.7%–98.9%) were identified;4 esters, 4 alcohols, 7 hydrocarbons, 12 aldehydes, 5 ketones,1 lactone, 1 organosulfur compound, 2 organonitrogen compounds, and 1 acid. The hydrocarbons form the maingroup, representing 49.5%–84.6% of the total detected volatiles. The main constituent was 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane(44.5%–76.2%) reaching the highest relative percentages. Forty-two compounds were determined in thetwo fractions of EOs, representing 98.8% and 97.2% of the total oil composition, respectively. The principal componentswere hexadecanoic acid (34.6%), 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (18.3%), decanal (15.0%), 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (13.2%), and n-pentacosane (13%). Micromorphological details of the leaf and stem epidermisusing light microscopy revealed polygonal cells with sinuous walls in the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces andnearly rectangular and long ones with linear and thick walls for the stem epidermis. The stomata complexes wereanisocytic in the leaf epidermis and mainly anisocytic and rarely paracytic in the stem epidermis. Non-glandulartrichomes were unbranched and long with an acute apex or short with a convex apex. The glandular ones wereidentified for the first time in this species. They were short-stalked with a large secretory head. The highest stomatalindex (17.02%) was recorded in the abaxial leaf surface. The identification of headspace volatiles and essentialoil compounds can be used to characterize this species, and the various epidermis micromorphologicalfeatures are very useful for biosystematics taxonomic studies within Brassicaceae.

Characteristics and drivers of the soil multifunctionality under different land use and land cover types in the drylands of China

The drylands of China cover approximately 6.6×106 km2 and are home to approximately 5.8×10^(8)people,providing important ecosystem services for human survival and development.However,dryland ecosystems are extremely fragile and sensitive to external environmental changes.Land use and land cover(LULC)changes significantly impact soil structure and function,thus affecting the soil multifunctionality(SMF).However,the effect of LULC changes on the SMF in the drylands of China has rarely been reported.In this study,we investigated the characteristics of the SMF changes based on soil data in the 1980s from the National Tibetan Plateau Data Center.We explored the drivers of the SMF changes under different LULC types(including forest,grassland,shrubland,and desert)and used structural equation modeling to explore the main driver of the SMF changes.The results showed that the SMF under the four LULC types decreased in the following descending order:forest,grassland,shrubland,and desert.The main driver of the SMF changes under different LULC types was mean annual temperature(MAT).In addition to MAT,pH in forest,soil moisture(SM)and soil biodiversity index in grassland,SM in shrubland,and aridity index in desert are crucial factors for the SMF changes.Therefore,the SMF in the drylands of China is regulated mainly by MAT and pH,and comprehensive assessments of the SMF in drylands need to be performed regarding LULC changes.The results are beneficial for evaluating the SMF among different LULC types and predicting the SMF under global climate change.

Predicting changes in the suitable habitats of six halophytic plant species in the arid areas of Northwest China

In the context of changes in global climate and land uses,biodiversity patterns and plant species distributions have been significantly affected.Soil salinization is a growing problem,particularly in the arid areas of Northwest China.Halophytes are ideal for restoring soil salinization because of their adaptability to salt stress.In this study,we collected the current and future bioclimatic data released by the WorldClim database,along with soil data from the Harmonized World Soil Database(v1.2)and A Big Earth Data Platform for Three Poles.Using the maximum entropy(MaxEnt)model,the potential suitable habitats of six halophytic plant species(Halostachys caspica(Bieb.)C.A.Mey.,Halogeton glomeratus(Bieb.)C.A.Mey.,Kalidium foliatum(Pall.)Moq.,Halocnemum strobilaceum(Pall.)Bieb.,Salicornia europaea L.,and Suaeda salsa(L.)Pall.)were assessed under the current climate conditions(average for 1970-2000)and future(2050s,2070s,and 2090s)climate scenarios(SSP245 and SSP585,where SSP is the Shared Socio-economic Pathway).The results revealed that all six halophytic plant species exhibited the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values higher than 0.80 based on the MaxEnt model,indicating the excellent performance of the MaxEnt model.The suitability of the six halophytic plant species significantly varied across regions in the arid areas of Northwest China.Under different future climate change scenarios,the suitable habitat areas for the six halophytic plant species are expected to increase or decrease to varying degrees.As global warming progresses,the suitable habitat areas of K.foliatum,S.salsa,and H.strobilaceum exhibited an increasing trend.In contrast,the suitable habitat areas of H.glomeratus,S.europaea,and H.caspica showed an opposite trend.Furthermore,considering the ongoing global warming trend,the centroids of the suitable habitat areas for various halophytic plant species would migrate to different degrees,and four halophytic plant species,namely,S.salsa,H.strobilaceum,H.glomeratus,and H.capsica,would migrate to higher latitudes.Temperature,precipitation,and soil factors affected the possible distribution ranges of these six halophytic plant species.Among them,precipitation seasonality(coefficient of variation),precipitation of the warmest quarter,mean temperature of the warmest quarter,and exchangeable Na+significantly affected the distribution of halophytic plant species.Our findings are critical to comprehending and predicting the impact of climate change on ecosystems.The findings of this study hold significant theoretical and practical implications for the management of soil salinization and for the utilization,protection,and management of halophytes in the arid areas of Northwest China.

Typology and Agroecology of Agroecosystems in Vegetation Dynamics in the Ecotones of the Mbam and Inoubou

Agroforestry systems strongly characterize the Cameroonian agrarian landscape. Agroforests are among those structuring the ecotones of Mbam and Inoubou in the Central Cameroon region. Numerous works on agroecosystems of Central and South Cameroon, few have come out contribution of the structure of these traditional systems in the dynamics of the vegetation of these forest-savannah ecotones. The present contribution has the overall objective of demonstrating the structural efficiency of agroforests the dynamics of ecotone vegetation, but also in the conservation of biodiversity. To do this, a participatory analysis was carried out with 56 farmers distributed in the five villages of Makénéné. Botanical inventories supplemented socio-economic household surveys. The data collected was subjected to various analyzes (univariate test, analysis of variance, multivariate test, PCA, CAH). The results reveal that 55.2% of agroforests are less than 15 years old and those with an area greater than 1500 m2 predominate (33%). They are mainly young with generally small surface areas. The horizontal structure reveals that the largest diameter classes are those of [20 - 30 cm[ and [10 - 20 cm[ with a very low rate of basal area. Agroforests with trees over 10 m high are dominant in five villages of Makénéné. Two types of structural profiles characterize the agroforestry flora of the area, namely intensive pluristratified home gardens on savannah and intensive pluristratified agroforests under forest-savannah transition vegetation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Ascending Hierarchical Clustering (HAC) show three Agroforest Clusters each. The PCA distribution reveals that woody biomass (Y) is strongly correlated with tree diameter (DBH) and significantly with height (Cluster 2). The age (AAG) (Cluster 1) of these agroforests, on the other hand, remains independent of the density (DST) of these trees (Cluster 3). The agroforests in the Nyokon, Carrière and Mocksud villages are the most effective in terms of conserving woody diversity while the agroforests of the Kinding ndé and Nyokon villages are more efficient in the reforestation processes. These results could be considered as effective and quantifiable tools for the certification of numerous cash crops such as cocoa and coffee, which will make it possible to valorize this local knowledge in terms of scientific and in the development of various programs and writing of technical notes.

Comparison of intestinal bacterial communities in grass carp,Ctenopharyngodon idellus,from two different habitats

The intestinal bacteria of vertebrates form a close relationship with their host.External and internal conditions of the host,including its habitat,affect the intestinal bacterial community.Similarly,the intestinal bacterial community can,in turn,influence the host,particularly with respect to disease resistance.We compared the intestinal bacterial communities of grass carp that were collected from farm-ponds or a lake.We conducted denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of amplified 16S rRNA genes,from which 66 different operational taxonomic units were identified.Using both the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means clustering and principal component analysis ordination,we found that the intestinal bacterial communities from the two groups of pond fish were clustered together and inset into the clusters of wild fish,except for DF-7,and there was no significant correlation between genetic diversity of grass carp and their intestinal bacterial communities(Mantel one-tailed test,R=0.157,P=0.175).Cetobacterium appeared more frequently in the intestine of grass carp collected from pond.A more thorough understanding of the role played by intestinal microbiota on fish health would be of considerable benefit to the aquaculture industry.

Phylogenetic pattern of alpine plants along latitude and longitude in Hengduan Mountains Region

To detect the horizontal pattern of phylogenetic structure shown by alpine plants, we measured phylogenetic structure using net related index(NRI) and net nearest taxon index(NTI), and analyzed the phylogenetic structure patterns of alpine plants along longitude, latitude and environmental gradients in the Hengduan Mountains Region(HDMR). Our results show that: 1) the phylogenetic structure tended to cluster with increasing latitude and longitude; 2) for NRI, latitude was closer related than longitude,while for NTI, longitude was closer related than latitude, though they both not significantly relate to NTI.The phylogenetic structure tended towards overdispersion in the southern HDMR, with good climate conditions of higher mean annual temperature and more mean annual precipitation. In contrast, with harsh climate conditions of lower mean annual temperature and less mean annual precipitation, the increasing environmental stress led to phylogenetic clustering in the northern HDMR. The results highlighted that in the alpine region of HDMR, environmental filters and geographical isolation had a great effect on the latitudinal and longitudinal alpine species distribution, respectively.

Correlation of production constraints with the yield gap of apple cropping systems in Luochuan County, China

Apple occupies a dominant position in fruit production globally, and has become the main income source of local smallholder farmers in Luochuan County in the Loess Plateau area, one of the largest apple production areas in China. However, the annual productivity of apple orchards in this region remains low and has gradually declined over the years. The distinction and correlation of production constraints can contribute to the promotion of apple orchard productivity and the development of a sustainable orchard system. In the present study, survey data from 71 smallholder farmers were analyzed using a yield gap model to distinguish the production constraints and determine their correlation with the yield gap based on the structural equation model(SEM). The results indicated that the average apple yield in Luochuan County was 29.9 t ha^–1 yr^–1, while the attainable yield(Yatt;the highest yield obtained from the on-farm surveys) was 58.1 t ha^–1 yr^–1. The average explained and unexplainable yield gaps were 26.3 and 1.87 t ha^–1 yr^–1. According to the boundary line analysis, crop load,number of sprayings and base fertilizer N were the top three constraints on apple production in 9.8, 7.8 and 7.8% of the plots, respectively. Among the production constraints, crop load and fruit weight affected apple yield through direct pathways,whereas other constraints influenced apple yield through an indirect pathway based on the SEM, explaining 51% of the yield variance by all the main production constraints. These results can improve the current understanding of production constraints and contribute to the development of management strategies and policies for improving apple yield.

Effects of salinity on the soil microbial community and soil fertility

Saline area is an important reserve resource of arable land,however,the effects of soil microorganisms on the soil fertility in saline coastal ecosystems remain poorly understood.The salinity effects on soil microorganisms,nutrient availabilities and their relationships were studied in soils along a salinity gradient.A total of 80 soil samples were collected from 16 sites at four salinity levels(non-saline soil,salt content<1 g kg^1;low salinity soil,salt content=1–2 g kg^1;middle salinity soil,salt content=2–4 g kg^1;high salinity soil,salt content>4 g kg^1).The results showed that the salinity increased soil pH and exchangeable Na percent,but decreased soil organic matter,soil exchangeable K,and soil microbial biomass.Both the abundance and community composition of soil bacteria and fungi were significantly different between the non-saline and the saline soils.The predominant genera of soil bacteria(Planctomyces and Archangium,positive for carbon fixation)and fungi(Hydropisphaera,efficient in lignin degradation)changed with the increasing soil salinity and the decreasing soil organic matter.In summary,soil salinity changed the abundances of soil bacterial,fungal,and arbuscular mycorrhizal communities and,subsequently,affected their function in saline coastal ecosystems.

Cytological study on the genus Syncalathium (Asteraceae-Lactuceae),an endemic taxon to alpine scree of the Sino-Himalayas

Cytological characters of four species in Syncalathium （Asteraceae： Lactuceae）, a small genus with six identified species endemic to alpine scree of the Sino-Himalayan region, are surveyed in this report. Three species （Syncalathiumpilosum, Syncalathium chrysocephalum, and Syncalathium disciforme） are examined for the first time. Combined with our previous counts, five species have been cytologically investigated from the genus and the results indicated that all species are diploid with the basic somatic chromosome number of x=8. The karyotype asymmetry of Syncalathium souliei is 2A, distinct from the other four species of 1A, and the remaining species are divided into two subgroups with different karyotypes, consistent with their morphological features. The significance of the cytological evolution of Syncalathium is briefly discussed.

Climatic envelope of evergreen sclerophyllous oaks and their present distribution in the eastern Himalaya and Hengduan Mountains

Evergreen sclerophyllous oaks （the E.S. oaks, Quercus section Heterobalanus） are the dominant species of the local ecosystem in the eastern Himalaya and the Hengduan Mountains, southwest China. In this study, we document the climatic envelope of the seven E.S. oak species and examine the relationships between climate and their distribution. This was done using a principal components analysis （PCA） and multiple regression analysis （MRA） of nine climatic indices. The main climatic envelope of the E.S. oaks were： mean temperature of the warmest month （MTW）= 12.0-19.5℃, warmth index （WI） = 33.2-88.9℃ month, annual biotemperature （BT）=-6.9- -0.3 ℃, coldness index （CI）=-30.4- -10.1 ℃ month, mean temperature of the coldest month （MTC）=-3.7-3.0℃ and annual precipitation （AP）=701-897 mm at the lower limits; and MTW=8.3-16.1℃, WI=15.7-59.1℃ month, BT=3.6-8.9℃, CI=-55.4-19.3℃ month, MTC=8.3-16.1 ℃ and AP=610-811 mm at the upper limits. The climatic range of the E.S. oaks is wide and includes two climatic zones, the cool-temperature zone and the subpolar zone. The PCA and MRA results suggest that the thermal climate plays a major role and precipitation plays a secondary role in controlling the large-scale distribution of the E.S. oaks, except Quercus monimotricha. In thermal regimes, BT and/or MTW are most important for both lower and upper limits of the E.S. oaks. Furthermore, our results indicate that the upper distribution limits of the E.S. oaks are less determined by low temperatures and their duration （CI） than by other factors.

Phylogenetic analysis of Toxicodendron(Anacardiaceae) and its biogeographic implications on the evolution of north temperate and tropical intercontinental disjunctions

Toxicodendron is a genus in the Rhus complex of Anacardiaceae with a disjunct distribution between eastern Asia and North America, extending to southeastern Asia and the neotropics. Nuclear （internal transcribed spacer, external transcribed spacer, and NIA-i3） and chloroplast （ndhF and trnL-F） sequences were used to construct phylogenetic relationships of Toxicodendron. Phylogenetic analysis of these data strongly support Toxieodendron as a monophyletic group distinct from other genera of the Rhus complex, and the phylogeny does not fully corroborate classification at the sectional level. Two temperate disjunct lineages were detected, one from section Toxicodendron and the other between the eastern North American Toxicodendron vernix and the eastern Asian Toxicodendron vernieifluum. Their divergence times were estimated to be 13.46 （7.95-19.42） and 7.53 （2.76-12.86） mya, respectively. The disjunction between section Griffithii （taxa from warm temperate to tropical Asia） and Toxieodendron striatum （from the neotropics） was supported and their divergence time was estimated to be 20.84 （11.1 6-30.52） mya in the early Miocene. Our biogeographic results and the paleontological data support the Bering land bridge as the most likely route to explain the temperate disjunctions, yet the tropical disjunction in Toxicodendron seems to be best explained by the North Atlantic land bridge hypothesis.