Genotypic Diversity Affects Age Structure of Tiller and Rhizome of Leymus chinensis Population,But Not Age Structure of Bud

The effect of genotypic diversity on the age structure and bud bank of the Leymus chinensis population has not yet been demonstrated.This experiment was designed to study the age structure of the tiller,rhizome,and bud of L.chinensis at genotypic diversity levels of 1,2,4,8,and 12.A total of 64 communities were established in this experiment,following the principle of randomized block experimental design.The results indicated that genotypic diversity had a significant or obviously significant effect on the cumulative length of rhizomes of 2a and 4a,dry matter accumulation of rhizomes of 1a and 2a,tiller number of 1a,tiller productivity of 3a,but had no significant effect age structure of buds.As the levels of genotypic diversity increased,the proportion of the cumulative length of rhizomes with 4a decreased and then increased,and dry matter accumulation of rhizomes with 1a and 2a gradually increased while the number of tillers with 1a gradually decreased,when the gradient of genotypic diversity increased.At the 1,2,4,8,and 12 genotype diversity levels,the number of tillers,the cumulative length of rhizomes,and dry matter accumulation in rhizomes and buds were all age structures of expanding type.However,tiller productivity was an expanding or stable age structure at levels of 1,2,4,8 genotypic diversity,while it was a declining age structure at the 12 genotype diversity gradient.An appropriate genotypic diversity is conducive to maintaining the growth and stability of the age structure of L.chinensis population,but too high a gradient of genotypic diversity can have a negative impact on the population age structure.This study provided that an appropriate number of genotypic diversity contributes to the stability of the population.

Age Structure of Females in a Breeding Population of Echinotriton chinhaiensis(Caudata:Salamandridae) and Its Conservation Implication

Knowledge of life history is important for understanding possible connections to population declines. Here, we investigated the female age structure and fecundity of Echinotriton chinhaiensis, one of the most endangered salamanders in the world, using skeletochronology based on specimens collected in 2008 and 2009 from a population in Ruiyansi, northeast of Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. The results showed that most female salamanders were between 5 and 6 years of age, with the minimal reproductive age, predicted to be 3 years, and the clutch size correlated to the body size. We argue that both delayed attainment of sexual maturity and low fecundity make this species more vulnerable to extinction.

Age structure and dynamics of Zoysia japonica module population

The age structure of the natural Zoysia japonica clonal population at QipanMountain in Huishan Scenic Spot of Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China was studied using themorphological method in 2003 and 2004. The dynamics of leaves were recorded and the dynamics oftiller and rhizome in the growing season were observed. The results indicated that the rhizomesformed in different years changed in color and rigidity. Its internodes produced in autumn becameshorter. The number of naked nodes changed with the tiller age. Rhizome and tiller characters wereused as a foundation for judging the ages of modules in this study. The longevity of tiller andrhizome was 3 years at most. At the beginning of the growing season, 2-year-old tillers and rhizomespredominated. Then 1-year-old tillers and rhizomes increased rapidly and became dominant in July.The proportion of buds to tillers on quantity was stable at about 30% in the mid-phase of thegrowing season and rose to about 50% in autumn. The seasonal dynamics of tiller, rhizome and bud wasvery important to guarantee the sustained existence of the Zoysia japonica population. The turnoverof modules was the mechanism of sustaining the rejuvenation of the Zoysiajaponica clonalpopulation.

Skeletochronological Study on Age Structure of a Chinese Endemic Frog(Rana omeimontis)

We used skeletochronology to estimate age structure of the Omei Wood Frog, Rana omeimontis, from southwestern China.Average age differed significantly between males and females.Age at sexual maturity in both males and females was 1 year. Longevity was 6 and 7 years for males and females, respectively. Average body size differed significantly between the sexes, with females being larger than males. A non-significant correlation between age and body size was found within each sex in this population. The ANCOVA analysis revealed that females also had larger body size than males when the effect of age was controlled.

AGE STRUCTURE AND SPATIAL PATTERN OF OLD-GROWTH KOREAN PINE FOREST IN XIAOXING'ANLING MOUNTAIN

Spatial pattern of trees, basal stem increment and height were examined in a 5.0 ha mixed deciduous/ Pinus koraiensis forest from October in 1984 to May in 1987. Conclusions arc as following: 1. Analysis of the age-structure of the korcan pine forest shows that it is different from general steady-state forest type. The lack of saplings and individuals in small-diameter class clearly indicates that regeneration is not continuous. Continuous regeneration depends on thinning of the canopy to form a gap. Similar-aged korcan pine seedings grow in these gaps. 2. The horizontal structure of the korcan pine is a mosaic of more or less even-aged groups of trees. The mosaic is a result of korcan pine by regeneration strategy. The aggregations of korcan pine of different ages overlaps to form a continuous population generation. As a results, the population is maintained in steady state.

Age Structure of Two Species of Odorous Frogs(Odorrana margaretae and Odorrana grahami)

Variation in age structure and body size benefits are identified to understand the evolution of life history.Here,we estimated the age structure and body size of two species of odorous frogs(Odorrana margaretae and Odorrana grahami)by using skeletochronology.The ages at sexual maturity of O.grahami and O.margaretae in both sexes were 1 and 2 years,respectively.For both sexes,the maximum age observed in O.margaretae was six years.For O.grahami,the maximum age observed in males and females were 4 and 5 years,respectively.Males and females did not differ in mean age in the two species.The average body size of both species considerably differed between sexes,with females being larger than males.The body size of females was also larger than that of males when the effect of age was removed.We also found positive correlations between body size and age within each sex in O.margaretae,but only for female in O.grahami.The female-biased sexual size dimorphism of the two species suggested that fecundity selection for larger female size may increase the reproductive output.

Global asymptotic stability in a pseudorabies virus model with age structure

Pseudorabies is a highly contagious disease caused by pseudorabies virus(PRV)or suid herpesvirus 1(SuHV1),causing significant economic losses to the swine industry in countries where the disease exists.In this paper,we formulate an age structure model of pseudorabies virus that takes into account disease-related mortality and vertical trans-mission.We find a threshold to determine the stability and existence of the disease.We show that there is always a globally asymptotically stable boundary equilibrium if and only if R_(02)<1+q,which means that the disease always exists in piglets and will die out in adult pigs.When R_(02)>1+q,the boundary equilibrium is unstable and there exists a unique disease-endemic equilibrium,which is globally asymptotically stable.We give detailed proofs of our theoretical results and numerical examples.Brief concluding re-marks are also provided.

Age structure in neutral theory resolves inconsistencies related to reproductive-size threshold

Aims Neutral theory consists of a suite of models that assume ecological equivalence among individual organisms.They have been most commonly applied to tropical forest tree communities either as null models or as approximations.Neutral models typically only include reproductive adults;therefore,fitting to empirical tree community data requires defining a reproductive-size threshold,which for trees is usually set arbitrarily to a diameter at breast height(DBH)of 100 mm.The inevitable exclusion of some reproductive adults and inclusion of some saplings cause a non-random sampling bias in neutral model fits.Here,we investigate this problem and resolve it by introducing simple age structure into a neutral model.Methods We compared the performance and sensitivity of DBH threshold of three variants of a spatially explicit neutral model:the traditional model,a model incorporating random sampling and a model with two distinct age classes—reproductive adults and saplings.In the age-structured model,saplings are offspring from adults that disperse according to a Gaussian dispersal kernel around the adults.The only extra parameter is the ratio of adults to saplings,which is not a free parameter but directly measurable.We used species–area relationships(SARs)to explore the predicted effect of saplings on the species richness at different scales in our model.We then evaluated the three model variations to find the parameters required to maintain the observed level of species richness in the 50-ha plot on Barro Colorado Island(BCI).We repeated our analysis filtering the data at different minimum tree-size thresholds in order to find the effect this threshold has on our results.Lastly,we used empirical species–individual relationships(SIRs)to test the pre-existing hypothesis that environmental filtering is the primary cause of differences between the assemblage of saplings and that of adults on BCI.Important Findings Our age-structured neutral model was characterized by SARs that were insensitive to the presence of saplings at large scales and highly sensitive to them at small scales.Both models without age structure were highly sensitive to the DBH threshold chosen in a way that could not be explained based on random samplings alone.The age-structured neutral model,which allowed for non-random sampling based on life stage,was consistent with species richness observations.Our analysis of empirical SIRs did not support environmental filtering as a dominant force,but it did show evidence for other differences between age classes.Age can now be easily incorporated into future studies of neutral models whenever there is a concern that a sample is not entirely composed of reproductive adult individuals.More generally,we suggest that modeling studies using tree data subject to a minimum size threshold should consider the sensitivity of their results to that threshold.

Age structure of a lizard along an elevational gradient reveals nonlinear lifespan patterns with altitude

Lifespan is one of the main components of life history.Shorter lifespans can be expected in marginal habitats.However,in the case of ectotherms,lifespan typically increases with altitude,even though temperature-one of the main factors to determine ectotherms'life history-declines with elevation.This pattern can be explained by the fact that a shorter activity time favors survival.In this study,we analyzed how lifespan and other life-history traits of the lizard Psammodromus algirus vary along a 2,200 m elevational gradient in Sierra Nevada(SE Spain).Populations at inter-mediate altitudes(1,200-1,700 m),corresponding to the optimal habitat for this species,had the shortest lifespans,whereas populations inhabiting marginal habitats(at both low and at high altitudes)lived longest.Therefore,this lizard did not follow the typical pattern of ectotherms,as it also lived longer at the lower limit of its distribution,nor did it show a longer lifespan in areas with optimal habitats.These results might be explained by a complex combination of different gradients along the mountain,namely that activity time decreases with altitude whereas food availability increases.This could explain why lifespan was maximum at both high(limited activity time)and low(limited food availability)altitudes,resulting in similar lifespans in areas with contrasting environmental conditions.Our findings also indicated that reproductive investment and body condition increase with elevation,suggesting that alpine populations are locally adapted.

Dynamics of an SIRS model with age structure and two delays

ln this paper,we propose and investigate an SlRS model with age structure and twodelays.Both the infected and the recovered individuals have age structure,the infectionrate(from the infective to the susceptible)and the immune loss rate(from the recoveredto the susceptible)are related to two independent time delays,respectively.We provethat the proposed age structured SIRS model is well-posed by using the Co-semigrouptheory.The basic reproduction number Ro is given,and the unique endemic equilib-rium exists when R_(0)>1,while the disease-free equilibrium always exists.A rigorousmathematical analysis for the stability of two equilibria is provided.The disease-freeequilibrium is local asymptotically stable if R_(0)<1,and the endemic equilibrium is localasymptotically stable if R_(0)>1 and τl=0.Finally,we give numerical simulations toverify our results.

Epidemic time series similarity is related to geographic distance and age structure

Objective:More similar locations may have similar infectious disease dynamics.There is clear overlap in putative causes for epidemic similarity,such as geographic distance,age structure,and population size.We compare the effects of these potential drivers on epidemic similarity compared to a baseline assumption that differences in the basic reproductive number(R0)will translate to differences in epidemic trajectories.Methods:Using COVID-19 case counts from United States counties,we explore the importance of geographic distance,population size differences,and age structure dissimilarity on resulting epidemic similarity.Results:We find clear effects of geographic space,age structure,population size,and R0 on epidemic similarity,but notably the effect of age structure was stronger than the baseline assumption that differences in R0 would be most related to epidemic similarity.Conclusions:Together,this highlights the role of spatial and demographic processes on SARS-CoV2 epidemics in the United States.

Age and Body Size of the Shangcheng Stout Salamander Pachyhynobius shangchengensis(Caudata:Hynobiidae)from Southeastern China

Age and body size a re critical for understanding life history evolution and ecology.In this study,the age and body size of the Shangcheng stout salamander,Pachyhynobius shangchengensis,from a population in Anhui Province,China,were studied by skeletochronology.The mean age was 8.8±0.2(mean±SD)years in females and 9.6±0.2 in males and ranged 5-13 years for both sexes.The mean age was significantly different between sexes.The mean body size and mass were(100.21±0.91)mm and(31.76±0.73)g in females,and(105.31±1.23)mm and(37.14±1.12)g in males,respectively.Males were significantly larger and heavier than females,indicating sexual size dimorphism.There was a significant positive correlation among body size,body mass,and age,suggesting that the oldest individuals are larger and heavier.The growth rate in males was significantly higher than in females.The present study provides preliminary data on life-history traits which can be helpful for future studies of this species and other hynobiid salamanders.

Validation and Application of Skeletochronology for Age Determination of the Ryukyu Ground Gecko, Goniurosaurus kuroiwae(Squamata: Eublepharidae)

Skeletochronology is a method commonly used for estimating the age of amphibians and reptiles in the wild. However, the number of lines of arrested growth （LAGs） does not necessarily reflect age in some species. We validated the applicability of this method to an endangered eublepharid gecko, Goniurosaurus kuroiwae, then inferred its longevity and age structures in wild populations. We classified young geckos into three groups using previously published data for early growth： Group 1 contained hatchlings before the first winter, Group 2 contained hatchlings after the first win- ter, and Group 3 included yearlings after the second winter. LAG numbers in these groups were then compared. All individuals in Group 1 possessed a single LAG, which was considered as a hatching line. Most individuals in Groups 2 and 3 possessed one and two additional LAGs, respectively （LAG1 and LAG2）, corroborating the notion that LAGs are formed annually. A few geckos exhibited fewer LAGs than expected. Analysis of variations in LAG and marrow cavity diameter demonstrated that in animals with fewer LAGs, endosteal resorption or fusion of hatching line and LAG1 had occurred. LAG2 was never lost by endosteal resorption and was identifiable by its diameter. Thus, the age of adult geckos could be determined by counting LAGs outward from LAG2. Application of this method to wild populations re- vealed that the longevity of this species is not less than 83 months, but that almost all individuals in fragmented habitats die before 50 months, suggesting lower population sustainability in such habitats.

Skeletochronological Study of Age,Longevity and Growth in a Population of Rana nigromaculata(Amphibia:Anura) in Sichuan,China

A skeletochronological study was conducted for the age, longevity and growth of a Rana nigromaculata population in northeastern Sichuan, China. Of 139 specimens, 119(68 males and 51 females) exhibited distinct arrested growth lines in phalanges. Age at first reproduction was found to be two years of age for males and three for females. Maximum longevity was estimated to be at least six years in males and seven years in females. Average age did not differ between males and females. Breeding females were significantly older than breeding males. Females were larger in body size and heavier in body mass than males. Age was not correlated with body size and body mass in males, but a significant correlation was found among age, body size and body mass in females. The growth curve appeared significantly different between the sexes, with a higher growth rate throughout life and a larger asymptotic size in females. Moreover, analysis of the growth model indicated that the population studied was relatively stable.

Conceptual models of forest dynamics in environmental education and management:keep it as simple as possible,but no simpler

Background：Conceptual models of forest dynamics are powerful cognitive tools,which are indispensable for communicating ecological ideas and knowledge,and in developing strategic approaches and setting targets for forest conservation,restoration and sustainable management.Forest development through time is conventionally described as a directional,or ＂linear＂,and predictable sequence of stages from ＂bare ground＂ to old forest representing the ＂climax-state＂.However,this simple view is incompatible with the current knowledge and understanding of intrinsic variability of forest dynamics.Hypothesis：Overly simple conceptual models of forest dynamics easily become transformed into biased mental models of how forests naturally develop and what kind of structures they display.To be able to communicate the essential features and diversity of forest dynamics,comprehensive conceptual models are needed.For this end,Kuuluvainen（2009） suggested a relatively simple conceptual model of forest dynamics,which separates three major modes of forest dynamics,and incorporates state changes and transitions between the forest dynamics modes depending on changes in disturbance regime.Conclusions：Conceptual models of forest dynamics should be comprehensive enough to incorporate both longterm directional change and short-term cyclic forest dynamics,as well as transitions from one dynamics mode to another depending on changes in the driving disturbance regime type.Models that capture such essential features of forest dynamics are indispensable for educational purposes,in setting reference conditions and in developing methods in forest conservation,restoration and ecosystem management.

Age,growth and reproduction of Sarcocheilichthys nigripinnis from the Qingyi Stream in the Huangshan Mountains

Identifying the life-history strategies of fish and their associations with the surrounding environment is the basic foundation in the conservation and sustainable utilization of fish species.We examined the age,growth,and reproduction of Sarcocheilichthys nigripinnis using 352 specimens collected monthly from May 2009 to April 2010 in the Qingyi Stream.We found the sex ratio of this study population was 0.58:1(female:male),significantly different from expected 1:1.Females and males both comprised four age groups.The annuli on the scales were formed during February and March.No obvious between-sex difference was observed in length-weight and length-scale-radius relationships.The total length in back-calculation significantly increased with age for both sexes,but did not differ significantly at each age between the two sexes.An inflection point was observed in the growth curves given by the von Bertalanffy growth function for total weight.At this inflection point,fish were 3.95 years.Both sexes reach their 50%sex maturity at age 2,when females and males were 94.7 mm and 103.0 mm total length.The temporal pattern of the gonado-somatic index corresponded to a spawning period that occurred from April through July.The non-synchronicity of egg diameter in each mature ovary during the breeding period suggested these fish may be batch spawners.The absolute fecundity increased significantly with total length and weight,whereas no significant correlation was observed between the relative fecundity and body size.

Effect of shading treatment on stomatal behavior of Adenophora lobophylla at different ages

The stomatal behavior of Adenophora lobophylla of different age structures was studied in July 1995 in greenhouse of the Harbin Forest Farm of Northeast Forestry University by means of shading experiment. The effects of different shading treatments on the stomatal physiological character and ecological adaptation of A. lobophylla of different ages were compared. The results showed that the morphological characters of annual A. lobophylla were more obvious than that of the perennial, but the stomatal density of annual was less than that of perennial. Growth of annual A. lobophylla was more sensitive to the change of environment than that of the perennial. The ecological adaptation of annual was weak, which was one of the main causes of endangered population.

Population dynamics and protection strategies of Litsea coreana Levl.var.sinensis with Guizhou Province in China as an example

Studying the dynamics of plant populations is crucial to the conservation and management of endangered plants.The diameter at breast height(DBH),tree height,crown width,and environmental factors of a total of 15 plots in five populations in Guizhou Province,China were measured in this study.The method of substituting diameter at breast height for age was used to divide the population into 7 age classes.The age structure,static life table,and relationship between the population characteristics and environmental factors of the Litsea coreana Levl.var.sinensis population were studied.Moreover,the time series model was used to predict the population dynamics.Results showed that the age structure of population in Zhengan County(Population ZA)had an inverted Jshape with abundant seedlings and insufficient middle-aged and elderly individuals.The age structures of populations in Daozhen County(Population DZ),Kaiyang County(KY),Meitan County(Population MT),and Xishui County(Population XS)were spindle-shaped with few young individuals and many middle-aged and elderly individuals.The mortality rate of each population fluctuated with the increase in age class,and the populations were extremely unstable.The survival curve was close to the Deevey III type,and the degree of deviation was related to the lack of young individuals.After the age stages II,IV,and VI,the number of aged plants in the different populations initially increased then decreased,and population stability was difficult to maintain.Redundancy analysis showed that the DBH,tree height and crown width of the population decreased with the increase of annual mean temperature,and the population density was restricted by soil nutrient conditions to a certain extent.The results of this work provide scientific basis for the conservation and sustainable utilization of natural populations of L.coreana var.sinensis in Guizhou Province,China.

Well-Posedness and a Finite Difference Approximation for a Mathematical Model of HPV-Induced Cervical Cancer

We present a first-order finite difference scheme for approximating solutions of a mathematical model of cervical cancer induced by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which consists of four nonlinear partial differential equations and a nonlinear first-order ordinary differential equation. The scheme is analyzed and used to provide an existence-uniqueness result. Numerical simulations are performed in order to demonstrate the first-order rate of convergence. A sensitivity analysis was done in order to compare the effects of two drug types, those that increase the death rate of HPV-infected cells, and those that increase the death rate of the precancerous cell population. The model predicts that treatments that affect the precancerous cell population by directly increasing the corresponding death rate are far more effective than those that increase the death rate of HPV-infected cells.