Historical and current climates affect the spatial distribution of herbivorous tree insects in China

Historical and current climate impacts reshape the evolutionary trajectory and ecological dynamics of entire vegetative communities,which can drive insect species distribution.Understanding the spatial distribution of insects can enhance forest management effectiveness.The effects of historical and current climates in the spatial distribution of herbivorous tree insects in China were explored.A species distribution model simulated insect spatial distribution based on 596 species and the distribution probability and richness of these species were assessed in forest ecoregions.The explanatory power of the historical climate was stronger than that of the current climate,particularly historical annual precipitation and annual mean temperatures,for the distribution of herbivorous insects.Under both historical and current climatic conditions,herbivorous tree insects were and are mainly distributed in the North China Plain and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Plain,namely in the Huang He Plain mixed forests,Changjiang Plain evergreen forests,and Sichuan Basin evergreen broadleaf forests.The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and northeast China are regions with large impact differences between historical and current climates.The findings of this study provide valuable insights into herbivorous insect responses to sustained climate change and may contribute to long-term biodiversity conservation activities.

Developing conservation strategies for Pinus koraiensis and Eleutherococcus senticosus by using model-based geographic distributions

We described potential changes in the geo- graphic distribution and occurrence probability of Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc. and Eleutherococcus senticosus （Rupr. et Maxim.） Maxim. in the counties of northeast China. This information was used to identify priority areas for protection and provide protection and management recommendations within each studied county. The two species were mapped in 2884 study plots throughout this region over a 4-year period （38°40＇N-53°30＇N, 115°05＇E- 135°02＇E）. We used the species distribution models （Maxent）, systematic conservation planning models （Marxan）, and Geographic Information Systems （ArcGIS 10.0）. The distributions of two species were correlated in the study area, enabling unique and economically viable joint conservation measures to be implemented. Three models were combined to identify feasible priority con- servation sites. We used local spatial statistics to assess all identified conservation areas in relation to potential climate change based shifts in the geographic distribution of the two species. Model-based conservation strategies were used to identify effective measures to protect and utilize these two tree species in the study region. This study pre- sents a novel technique for assessing wild plant distribu- tions, in addition to serving as a model for the conservation of other species within the framework of general forest management, ecological construction, and geographical surveying.

The spatial distribution of threats to plant species with extremely small populations

Many biological conservationists take actions to conserve plant species with extremely small populations （PSESP） in China; however, there have been few studies on the spatial distribution of threats to PSESP. Hence, we selected distribution data of PSESP and made a map of the spatial distribution of threats to PSESP in China. First, we used the weight assignment method to evaluate the threat risk to PSESP at both country and county scales. Second, we used a geographic information system to map the spatial distribution of threats to PSESP, and explored the threat factors based on linear regression analysis. Finally, we suggested some effective conservation options. We found that the PSESP with high values of protection, such as the plants with high scientific research values and ornamental plants, were threatened by over-exploitation and utilization, habitat fragmentation, and a small sized wild population in broad-leaved forests and bush fallows. We also identified some risk hotspots for PSESP in China. Regions with low elevation should be given priority for ex- and in-situ conservation. Moreover, climate change should be considered for conservation of PSESP. To avoid intensive over-exploitation or utilization and habitat fragmentation, in-situ conservation should be practiced in regions with high temperatures and low temperature seasonality, particularly in the high risk hotspots for PSESP that we proposed. Ex-situ conservation should be applied in these same regions, and over-exploitation and utilization of natural resources should be prevented. It is our goal to apply the concept of PSESP to the global scale in the future.

黄河源区丘-洼微生境对高寒沼泽草甸植物群落的影响

黄河源区高寒沼泽草甸中有许多不均匀的小丘和洼地,形成了独特的微生境,深刻影响着植物特性和土壤养分含量。通过研究高寒湿地冻融丘和洼地空间异质性对植物群落和土壤性质的影响,可以深入了解微地形水文条件对丘-洼微生境空间波动的影响。本研究在黄河源区高寒沼泽湿地的冻融丘(淹水和无淹水)和洼地(蓄水和无蓄水)共设置36个样地(1 m×1 m),采集了45个植物样和225个土壤样,并采用比较法评价高寒沼泽湿地是否存在“肥岛效应”。研究结果显示,冻融丘的存在增加了微生境的空间异质性,促进了藏嵩草群落的物种多样性和土壤肥力。淹水和无淹水的冻融丘生境下的植物高度、盖度、地上生物量、物种丰富度和多样性均显著高于湿地外围的高寒草甸。与高寒草甸相比,高寒沼泽湿地丘-洼复合体为莎草科植物的生长提供了有利的微生境。另外,湿地丘-洼微生境与周围高寒草甸在0-50 cm土层之间的比较表明,土壤有机碳和全氮距离地表越近含量越高。在深层次土壤中,丘洼微生境与高寒草甸土壤养分之间的差距变小。因此,湿地丘-洼微生境形成了一个富饶的“肥沃岛”格局。这些研究结果有助于加深对高寒沼泽草甸生态系统恢复的认识。