In the past decade there has been a profusion of studies highlighting covariation between individual differences in stress physiology and behavioural profiles, here called personalities. Such individual differences in...In the past decade there has been a profusion of studies highlighting covariation between individual differences in stress physiology and behavioural profiles, here called personalities. Such individual differences in ways of coping with stress are relevant both in biomedicine, since different personalities may experience a different stress and disease vulnerability, and in behavioural ecology, since their adaptive value and evolutionary maintenance are the subject of debate. However, the precise way in which individual stress differences and personalities are linked is unclear. Here we provide an updated overview of this covariation across different species and taxa, consider its functional significance and present working hypotheses for how behavioural and physiological responses to stress might be causally linked, affecting life-history traits such as dispersal and life-span [Current Zoology 56 （6）： 728-740, 2010].展开更多
Understanding how population sizes vary over time is a key aspect of ecological research. Unfortunately, our under- standing of population dynamics has historically been based on an assumption that individuals are ide...Understanding how population sizes vary over time is a key aspect of ecological research. Unfortunately, our under- standing of population dynamics has historically been based on an assumption that individuals are identical with homogenous life-history properties. This assumption is certainly false for most natural systems, raising the question of what role individual variation plays in the dynamics of populations. While there has been an increase of interest regarding the effects of within popula- tion variation on the dynamics of single populations, there has been little study of the effects of differences in within population variation on patterns observed across populations. We found that life-history differences （clutch size） among individuals ex- plained the majority of the variation observed in the degree to which population sizes of eastern fence lizards Sceloporus undula- tus fluctuated. This finding suggests that differences across populations cannot be understood without an examination of differences at the level of a system rather than at the level of the individual展开更多
Aims Multi-stemming supports plants’resilience to disturbances and then contributes to soil stabilization and forest function,especially in mountain habitats.Many questions remain about(i)the ontogenetic phase at whi...Aims Multi-stemming supports plants’resilience to disturbances and then contributes to soil stabilization and forest function,especially in mountain habitats.Many questions remain about(i)the ontogenetic phase at which multiple stems can occur,(ii)how habitat drivers affect multi-stemming and(iii)whether ontogenetic phase and habitat drivers interact.We asked these questions for Quercus glauca(ring-cupped oak),the dominant species and sprouter across large warm-temperate areas of Asia;its multi-stemmed trees reflect individual survival,population regeneration and forest ecosystem stability.Methods In a 5-ha permanent plot of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in eastern China,we examined the temporal patterns and spatial distribution of multi-stemmed trees of Q.glauca within 99 quadrats of 20 m×20 m.Important Findings There were three temporal modes for multi-stemming among the Q.glauca trees and most of them appeared to produce multiple stems from an early stage.Environmental disturbances related to slope convexity appear to be the main drivers of multi-stemming of Q.glauca.Moreover,the closer to the ridge,the earlier the multi-stemming occurs.Thus,also for other woody species in other forests and climate zones,ontogeny and environmental drivers promoting disturbance(not only geomorphology,but also extreme weather events,soil drought,fire),as well as soil fertility,need to be considered in combination to better understand multi-stemming and its consequences for community structure.展开更多
文摘In the past decade there has been a profusion of studies highlighting covariation between individual differences in stress physiology and behavioural profiles, here called personalities. Such individual differences in ways of coping with stress are relevant both in biomedicine, since different personalities may experience a different stress and disease vulnerability, and in behavioural ecology, since their adaptive value and evolutionary maintenance are the subject of debate. However, the precise way in which individual stress differences and personalities are linked is unclear. Here we provide an updated overview of this covariation across different species and taxa, consider its functional significance and present working hypotheses for how behavioural and physiological responses to stress might be causally linked, affecting life-history traits such as dispersal and life-span [Current Zoology 56 （6）： 728-740, 2010].
文摘Understanding how population sizes vary over time is a key aspect of ecological research. Unfortunately, our under- standing of population dynamics has historically been based on an assumption that individuals are identical with homogenous life-history properties. This assumption is certainly false for most natural systems, raising the question of what role individual variation plays in the dynamics of populations. While there has been an increase of interest regarding the effects of within popula- tion variation on the dynamics of single populations, there has been little study of the effects of differences in within population variation on patterns observed across populations. We found that life-history differences （clutch size） among individuals ex- plained the majority of the variation observed in the degree to which population sizes of eastern fence lizards Sceloporus undula- tus fluctuated. This finding suggests that differences across populations cannot be understood without an examination of differences at the level of a system rather than at the level of the individual
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(LY17C030001)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971426).
文摘Aims Multi-stemming supports plants’resilience to disturbances and then contributes to soil stabilization and forest function,especially in mountain habitats.Many questions remain about(i)the ontogenetic phase at which multiple stems can occur,(ii)how habitat drivers affect multi-stemming and(iii)whether ontogenetic phase and habitat drivers interact.We asked these questions for Quercus glauca(ring-cupped oak),the dominant species and sprouter across large warm-temperate areas of Asia;its multi-stemmed trees reflect individual survival,population regeneration and forest ecosystem stability.Methods In a 5-ha permanent plot of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in eastern China,we examined the temporal patterns and spatial distribution of multi-stemmed trees of Q.glauca within 99 quadrats of 20 m×20 m.Important Findings There were three temporal modes for multi-stemming among the Q.glauca trees and most of them appeared to produce multiple stems from an early stage.Environmental disturbances related to slope convexity appear to be the main drivers of multi-stemming of Q.glauca.Moreover,the closer to the ridge,the earlier the multi-stemming occurs.Thus,also for other woody species in other forests and climate zones,ontogeny and environmental drivers promoting disturbance(not only geomorphology,but also extreme weather events,soil drought,fire),as well as soil fertility,need to be considered in combination to better understand multi-stemming and its consequences for community structure.
