A Reference Vector-Assisted Many-Objective Optimization Algorithm with Adaptive Niche Dominance Relation

It is still a huge challenge for traditional Pareto-dominatedmany-objective optimization algorithms to solve manyobjective optimization problems because these algorithms hardly maintain the balance between convergence and diversity and can only find a group of solutions focused on a small area on the Pareto front,resulting in poor performance of those algorithms.For this reason,we propose a reference vector-assisted algorithmwith an adaptive niche dominance relation,for short MaOEA-AR.The new dominance relation forms a niche based on the angle between candidate solutions.By comparing these solutions,the solutionwith the best convergence is found to be the non-dominated solution to improve the selection pressure.In reproduction,a mutation strategy of k-bit crossover and hybrid mutation is used to generate high-quality offspring.On 23 test problems with up to 15-objective,we compared the proposed algorithm with five state-of-the-art algorithms.The experimental results verified that the proposed algorithm is competitive.

Multiple Spatial Scale Analysis of the Niche Characteristics of the Rhododendron dauricum Plant Communities in Northeast China

This study aims to verify the concept of niches at multiple spatial scales in plant communities.To this end,we analyzed the niche characteristic of Rhododendron dauricum plant communities in Northeast China at three spatial scales.At the local scale,we calculated the Importance Value(IV)of species in five communities in the north of the Da Hinggan Mountains.At the intermediate scale,we examined five communities in their entirety,calculated the niche breadth of the species,and integrated niche overlap and interspecific association to analyze interspecific relationships.Further,the generalized additive model(GAM)was used to analyze the impact of topography and soil factors on niche characteristics.At the regional scale,we analyzed the geographical distribution of dominant species of R.dauricum plant communities in Northeast China and used principal component analysis(PCA)to analyze the impact of geographical and climate factors on species distribution.The results show that at the local scale,the IV of the species in each community varies widely.At the intermediate scale,species with a wide niche breadth tend to have a high value for IV.Larix gmelinii,Betula platyphylla,R.dauricum,Ledum palustre,and Vaccinium vitis-idaea had a relatively wide niche breadth and a high niche overlap,and the interspecific associations were almost all positive.Elevation and soil nutrients were the most dominant environmental factors.At the regional scale,species with a wide niche breadth tend to have a wide range of distribution,and temperature and precipitation were the most dominant environmental factors.This study suggests that the niche characteristics at three scales are both related and different.Niche characteristics at the local scale were various and labile,and niche characteristics at the intermediate and regional scales were relatively regular.These results show some degree of consistency with previous studies from an evolutionary perspective.The action mechanisms of these communities are related to differences in the dominant environmental factors.In addition,the integration of niche overlap and interspecific association determine interspecific relationships more accurately.

Niches of dominant fish in the waters surrounding the Taishan Islands, China

An index of relative importance(IRI) was employed to screen for dominant fish in the waters surrounding the Taishan Islands, China, using data from four seasonal trawl surveys undertaken between 2012 and 2013. Niche breadth and niche overlap were measured using the Feinsinger and Morisita-Horn indices, respectively, and the characteristics and seasonal variations in the niches of dominant fish were assessed via non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS) and cluster analysis. A total of 80 fish species, including 16 dominant species, were recorded. Only A mblychaeturichthys hexanema was dominant in all seasons. According to niche breadth values and NMDS, the 16 dominant species were grouped into the following three types:(1) wide niche breadth species, including Cynoglossus macrolepidotus, A. hexanema, and Trypauchen vagina, among others;(2) medium niche breadth species, including Setipinna taty and Johnius belangerii; and(3) narrow niche breadth species, including A trobucca nibe and Coilia mystus. Most species with a wider niche breadth were demersal fish with a lower swimming capability and even distribution. The niche breadth of migrating fish was narrower than that of settled fish. At a given spatial scale, fish with stronger swimming capabilities had a narrower niche breadth. Niche overlap, which is associated with niche specialization, ranged from 0.000 to 0.886 and had an annual mean value of 0.314. In summer and autumn, niche overlap was relatively high within species of the Sciaenidae family and within species of the Gobiidae in autumn. Dif ferences in thermophily, feeding habits, food organism abundance/distribution and predator-prey relationships af fected the niche overlap of fish in this area. Cluster analysis revealed that species with the narrowest niche breadth and lowest niche overlap values usually displayed lower aggregation and greater distribution dif ferences compared with other species.

The human retinal stem niches could overlap a vascular anatomical pattern

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells which have the unique potential to self-renew and to supply, via intermediate stages of transit amplifying cells （TACs）, differentiated cells. With- in the stem cell niches not only heterologous cells, but also differentiated progeny of stem cells provide regulation to the stem cells parents. Stem cells can differentiate in various cell types during tissue maintenance or repair.

A niche model to predict Microcystis bloom decline in Chaohu Lake, China

Cyanobacterial blooms occur frequently in lakes due to eutrophication. Although a number of models have been proposed to forecast algal blooms, a good and applicable method is still lacking. This study explored a simple and effective mathematical-ecological model to evaluate the growth status and predict the population dynamics of Microcystis blooms. In this study, phytoplankton were collected and identified from 8 sampling sites in Chaohu Lake every month from July to October, 2010. The niche breadth and niche overlap of common species were calculated using standard equations, and the potential relative growth rates of Microcystis were calculated as a weighted-value of niche overlap. In July, the potential relative growth rate was 2.79 (a.u., arbitrary units) but then rapidly declined in the following months to -3.99 a.u. in September. A significant correlation (R=0.998, P<0.01) was found in the model between the net-increase in biomass of Microcystis in the field and the predicted values calculated by the niche model, we concluded that the niche model is suitable for forecasting the dynamics of Microcystis blooms. Redundancy analysis indicated that decreases in water temperature, dissolved oxygen and total dissolved phosphorus might be major factors underlying bloom decline. Based on the theory of community succession being caused by resource competition, the growth and decline of blooms can be predicted from a community structure. This may provide a basis for early warning and control of algal blooms.

基于Niche的间接T-S模糊自适应控制

提出了新的基于生态系统的Niche间接T-S(Takagi-Sugeno)自适应模糊控制,将含有参数的生态位贴近度函数作为模糊规则的后件,从而构成零阶的T-S模糊控制模型。采用Lyapunov合成方法设计控制器,并使用梯度下降法优化后件参数,最后得到了后件参数的自适应律,体现了生物个体的自适应能力,引入了生态位的模糊系统具有生物个体始终朝着有利于自身方向发展的特性。因此,所建立的模糊T-S系统具有更好的自适应性,可以获得更小的变动跟踪误差,并保证整个闭环系统全局稳定性。通过对生态系统的二维捕食系统的仿真验证了本方法的可行性。

Limiting climatic factors in shaping the distribution pattern and niche differentiation of Prunus dielsiana in subtropical China

Subtropical forest in China has received much attention due to its complex geologic environment and bioclimatic heterogeneity.There have been very few studies addressing which climatic factors have shaped both distribution patterns and niche differentiation of species from this region.It also remains unclear whether phylogenetic niche conservatism retains in plant species from this biodiversityrich subtropical region in China.In this study,we used geographic occurrence records and bioclimatic factors of Prunus dielsiana(Rosaceae),a wild cherry species,combined with the classical ENM-based DIVA-GIS software to access contemporary distribution and richness patterns of its natural populations.The current distribution of P.dielsiana occupied a relatively wide range but exhibited an uneven pattern eastward in general,and the core distribution zone of its populations are projected to concentrate in the Wushan and Wuling Mountain ranges of western China.Hydrothermic variables,particularly the Temperature Seasonality(bio4)are screened out quantitatively to be the most influential factors that have shaped the current geographical patterns of P.dielsiana.By comparison with other sympatric families,climatic niche at regional scale showed a pattern of phylogenetic niche conservatism within cherry species of Ros aceae.The effect of habitat filtering from altitude is more significant than those of longitude and latitude.We conclude that habitat filtering dominated by limiting hydrothermic factors is the primary driving process of the diversity pattern of P.dielsiana in subtropical China.

Seasonal resource use and niche breadth in an assemblage of coexisting grazers in a fenced Park

Many small Parks inKenyaare being fenced to control human-wildlife conflict. Some of these Parks have a diversity of large herbivores which might increase in density in the wake of fencing and subsequent compression of their home ranges due to closure of their migratory routes. It is important to understand the consequences of such an increase on the structuring of insularised herbivore assemblages in such Parks. We studied seasonal resource segregation and niche breadth variation as mechanisms of coexistence in a high density grazer assemblage inLakeNakuruNational Parkwhich is small and completely fenced. Diet composition and habitat use were considered as variables of resource use. We predicted that overlap in resource use and niche breadth would be the smallest among grazers with similar body weights in the dry season which is the most resource limiting for grazers in East Africa. Our results were contrary to the predictions because of lack of seasonal differentiation in the overlap of diet composition and habitat use, and in niche breadth. Overlaps in resource use were consistently high during both the wet and dry seasons, and niche breadth contraction during the dry season was not possible probably because of lack of species-specific niches during the dry season. Our results suggest that there might be competitive interactions in this grazer assemblage which is an important parameter to consider in the management of the Park.

Niche breadth and overlap of spotted deer and domestic cattle with swamp deer in tropical region of Nepal

Background:Knowledge about the niche overlap among wild species and domestic cattle is helpful to conserve and manage wildlife.We assessed the habitat niche breadth and overlap of sympatrically living spotted deer(Axis axis)and domestic cattle with swamp deer(Cervus duvaucelii)in Shuklaphanta National Park,Nepal during the dry season to explore the possibility of interspecific competition by studying the habitat use by these species.The assumption was made that the presence of pellets is proof of habitat used by species.Methods:Grids of 2 km×2 km have four subgrids,each with four sample plots,making a total of 16 plots(20 m×20 m)in each grid.The size of each sub-grid was 200 m×200 m and they were placed randomly inside the grid but at least 1 km apart from one another.The data was collected in a 96 plots in total.Levin’s niche breadth and Morisita’s overlap index were calculated to determine the niche breadth and the habitat overlap,respectively.Results:The Levin’s measure of niche breadth suggested that spotted deer had the highest acclimatization with an index value of 0.94,followed by domestic cattle at 0.50,and swamp deer at 0.33 in our study area.Thus,our findings supported the evidence that spotted deer are habitat generalists,whereas swamp deer are habitat specialists.The swamp deer had lower niche breadth and more overlap with domestic cattle.Conclusion:Our study showed the least niche breadth of swamp deer in comparison to spotted deer and domestic cattle.The domestic cattle had the highest and least niche overlap with spotted deer and swamp deer,respectively,in terms of habitat use.Our study suggests that domestic cattle grazing should be stopped,and grassland management should be carried out for the benefit of ungulates.Similar studies should be conducted,including different seasons and places,prior to appropriate habitat management.In addition,further studies are needed to quantify the extent of interspecific competition by incorporating more species.

Research on Adaptability of Construction Project from Point of Ecology

Concept of zoology energy is advanced,zoology energy development trend line and zoology energy development curve of construction project are traced out in this paper.From the point of construction project itself,its adaptability can be shown in its own strong zoology energy,dominant in zoology energy sequence of its engineering population,great niche breath and less superpostion(overlap) in its engineering community.Adaptability of construction project is researched from the angle of ecology which can be taken as basic research of consistent development of construction project,and enrich evaluation system of construction project.

Stable isotope evidence for trophic niche partitioning in a South African savanna rodent community

Species＇ partitioning of resources remains one of the most integral components for understanding community assem- bly. Analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in animal tissues has the potential to help resolve patterns of partitioning be- cause these proxies represent the individual＇s diet and trophic niche, respectively. Using free-ranging rodents in a southern Afri- can savanna as a model community, we find that syntopic species within habitats occupy distinct isotope niches. Moreover, spe- cies with strongly overlapping isotope niches did not overlap in their spatial distribution patterns, suggesting an underlying effect of competitive exclusion. Niche conservatism appears to characterize the behaviour of most species in our sample - with little or no observed changes across habitats - with the exception of one species, Mastomys coucha. This species displayed a generalist distribution, being found in similar abundances across a variety of habitats. This spatial pattern was coupled with a generalist isotope niche that shifted across habitats, likely in response to changes in species composition over the same spatial gradient. The case for M. coucha supports contentions that past competition effects played a significant evolutionary role in shaping community structures of today, including the absence of strong interspecific niche overlaps within particular habitats. Our study highlights the value of stable isotope approaches to help resolve key questions in community ecology, and moreover introduces novel ana- lytical approaches to quantifying isotope niche breadths and niche overlaps that are easily comparable with traditional metrices

A new perspective on functional redundancy and phylogenetic niche conservatism in soil microbial communities

Functional redundancy in soil microbial communities seems to contradict the notion that individual species have distinct metabolic niches in multi-species communities.All soil microbiota have the metabolic capacity for"basic"functions(e.g.,respiration and nitrogen and phosphorus cycling),but only a few soil microbiota participate in"rare"functions(e.g.,methanogenesis and mineralization of recalcitrant organic pollutants).The objective of this perspective paper is to use the phylogenetic niche conservatism theory as an explanation for the functional redundancy of soil microbiota.Phylogenetic niche conservatism is defined as the tendency for lineages to retain ancestral functional characteristics through evolutionary time-scales.The present-day soil microbiota is the result of a community assembly process that started when prokaryotes first appeared on Earth.For billions of years,microbiota have retained a highly conserved set of core genes that control the essential redox and biogeochemical reactions for life on Earth.These genes are passed from microbe to microbe,which contributes to functional redundancy in soil microbiota at the planetary scale.The assembly of microbial communities during soil formation is consistent with phylogenetic niche conservatism.Within a specific soil,the heterogeneous matrix provides an infinite number of sets of diverse environmental conditions,i.e.,niches that lead to the divergence of microbial species.The phylogenetic niche conservatism theory predicts that two or more microbial species diverging from the same clade will have an overlap in their niches,implying that they are functionally redundant in some of their metabolic processes.The endogenous genetic factors that constrain the adaptation of individuals and,thus,populations to changing environmental conditions constitute the core process of phylogenetic niche conservatism.Furthermore,the degree of functional redundancy in a particular soil is proportional to the complexity of the considered function.We conclude with a conceptual model that identifies six patterns of functional redundancy in soil microbial communities,consistent with the phylogenetic niche conservatism theory.

The effects of prey depletion on dietary niches of sympatric apex predators in Southeast Asia

Resource depletion exerts opposing pressures on co-occurring consumers to expand diets while limiting overlap with competitors.Using foraging theory as a framework,we tested the effects of prey availability on diet spe-cialization and overlap among competing Asian predators:dhole,leopard,and tiger.We used scat analysis from a prey-poor site,combined with a quantitative synthesis of 40 other diet studies,to determine biomass of different prey types consumed by each predator.We then assessed diet composition in relation to prey density,and compared diet breadth and overlap between prey-poor and prey-rich sites.In prey rich areas,all three predators specialized on energetically profitable medium and large ungulates(>30 kg),resulting in narrow,overlapping niches.Each predator shifted toward less profitable small-bodied prey(≤30 kg)as preferred ungulates declined,whereas con-sumption of preferred ungulates was unrelated to small prey abundance,as predicted by foraging theory.Diet breadths doubled under prey depletion(except leopard),but overlap declined as diets diverged via species-specific traits that facilitated capture of different types of alternative prey.Asia’s apex predators adapt similarly to depletion of mutually preferred ungulates by switching to more numerous but less profitable small prey.Yet they can also partition a depleted prey base through intrinsic niche differences,thereby avoiding competitive exclusion.Our find-ings illuminate the stabilizing properties of adaptive foraging and niche differences in ecological communities,and provide insights into the behavior and resilience of Asia’s endangered apex predators in response to prey depletion in the heavily poached forests of this region.

Draft Genome of White-blotched River Stingray Provides Novel Clues for Niche Adaptation and Skeleton Formation

The white-blotched river stingray(Potamotrygon leopoldi)is a cartilaginous fish native to the Xingu River,a tributary of the Amazon River system.As a rare freshwater-dwelling cartilaginous fish in the Potamotrygonidae family in which no member has the genome sequencing information available,P.leopoldi provides the evolutionary details in fish phylogeny,niche adaptation,and skeleton formation.In this study,we present its draft genome of 4.11 Gb comprising 16,227 contigs and 13,238 scaffolds,with contig N50 of 3937 kb and scaffold N50 of 5675 kb in size.Our analysis shows that P.leopoldi is a slow-evolving fish that diverged from elephant sharks about 96 million years ago.Moreover,two gene families related to the immune system(immunoglobulin heavy constant delta genes and T-cell receptor alpha/delta variable genes)exhibit expansion in P.leopoldi only.We also identified the Hox gene clusters in P.leopoldi and discovered that seven Hox genes shared by five representative fish species are missing in P.leopoldi.The RNA sequencing data from P.leopoldi and other three fish species demonstrate that fishes have a more diversified tissue expression spectrum when compared to mammals.Our functional studies suggest that lack of the gc gene encoding vitamin D-binding protein in cartilaginous fishes(both P.leopoldi and Callorhinchus milii)could partly explain the absence of hard bone in their endoskeleton.Overall,this genome resource provides new insights into the niche adaptation,body plan,and skeleton formation of P.leopoldi,as well as the genome evolution in cartilaginous fishes.

Age and sex differences in niche use at molt and its effect on plumage coloration characteristics in a bird

Bird plumage is often very colorful and can communicate the quality of the bearer to conspecifics. These plumage-based signals of quality are composed of multiple pigments (e.g., melanin and carote no ids). Therefore, sex and age classes, which often show marked differe nces in plumage coloration, may have different dietary needs for the different plumage components and this might promote pref ere nces for differe nt dietary niches at different molting stages. However, no study has addressed the role that changes in niche use play in the expression of multiple component plumage signals in birds. We used stable isotope analysis to test the hypothesis that niche use is related to age and sex and to differently cultured plumage patches, yellow carotenoid-based and black melanin-based, in great tits Parus major. We recorded high niche overlap between plumage patches, although δ15N was higher in black than yellow plumage. Niche overlap was relatively low for age classes and relatively high for sex classes, and age classes showed a contrasting pattern of niche overlap between carotenoid- and melanin-based plumages. Moreover,δ13C, but not δ15N, had a significant negative relationship with carotenoid-based plumage, which was only apparent in juveniles. Take n together, our results demonstrate that n iche use had a moderate in fluence on plumage coloration characteristics of great tit individuals, mostly associated with δ13C rather than with δ15N and with age rather than with sex. Therefore, our study is significant because it confirms the releva nee of n iche use duri ng orn ame nt production in free-livi ng birds.

生态位视角下创新型产业集群竞争力测度研究

创新型产业集群是通过聚合创新形成现代产业竞争优势的战略性力量。在生态位理论视角下,构建创新型产业集群竞争力评价的理论分析框架,选取技术、组织、资本、服务创新资源生态位因子,运用生态位宽度、重叠度、适宜度及竞争力综合评价模型对中国70个创新型产业集群的生态位竞争力进行多维测度。研究发现,中国创新型产业集群的生态位宽度呈递增趋势,涵盖的资源空间日益广泛,资源聚合竞争力逐年增强;生态位重叠度存在过度竞争、过度分散等问题,其中地理位置邻近、主导产业相同的创新集群间生态位重叠度偏高;生态位适宜度总体偏低,进化动量总体较高,说明多数集群在生境适应能力方面的竞争力较弱,与领先集群间差距较大,但呈现出较好的成长性。生态位竞争力综合分析显示,创新集群形成了由四个梯队构成的产业创新空间格局。从产业特征看,新一代信息技术及相关服务业集群的生态位竞争优势明显,而节能环保、高端装备与新能源汽车产业的创新集群则处于生态位竞争劣势;从空间维度看,南部沿海区域的创新集群生态位竞争力最强,形成珠三角经济圈创新生态高地,而大西北区域的创新集群则面临着创新生态脆弱性的挑战,存在更大的进化动量空间。据此,提出资源协同集聚、集群错位竞争和区域协调发展策略以进一步提升中国创新型产业集群的生态位竞争力。

依托生态位战略的国产工业软件发展

工业软件被称为工业制造的大脑与神经,然而由于欧美软件占据市场主导地位,工业软件成为我国工业行业中的弱势领域。生态位战略立足国产工业软件行业现状,有助于企业厘清市场竞争法则,选择合适的生存战略。借鉴生态位理论,依托企业生态位重叠度、生态位宽度的内涵,对减轻国产工业软件的竞争压力作出尝试性探索。并通过创元对北仑模具行业进行数字化改造的案例,对我国工业软件的生态位发展策略进行适用性分析。该研究可为国产工业软件企业提供借鉴参考,使其找准发展空间,推动国产工业软件持续健康发展。

Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus are more sensitive to environmental factors in dicots than in monocots,globally

Leaf nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)levels provide critical strategies for plant adaptions to changing environments.However,it is unclear whether leaf N and P levels of different plant functional groups(e.g.,monocots and dicots)respond to environmental gradients in a generalizable pattern.Here,we used a global database of leaf N and P to determine whether monocots and dicots might have evolved contrasting strategies to balance N and P in response to changes in climate and soil nutrient availability.Specifically,we characterized global patterns of leaf N,P and N/P ratio in monocots and dicots,and explored the sensitivity of stoichiometry to environment factors in these plants.Our results indicate that leaf N and P levels responded to environmental factors differently in monocots than in dicots.In dicots,variations of leaf N,P and N/P ratio were significantly correlated to temperature and precipitation.In monocots,leaf N/P ratio was not significantly affected by temperature or precipitation.This indicates that leaf N,P and N/P ratio are less sensitive to environmental dynamics in monocots.We also found that in both monocots and dicots N/P ratios are associated with the availability of soil total P rather than soil total N,indicating that P limitation on plant growth is pervasive globally.In addition,there were significant phylogenetic signals for leaf N(λ=0.65),P(λ=0.57)and N/P ratio(λ=0.46)in dicots,however,only significant phylogenetic signals for leaf P in monocots.Taken together,our findings indicate that monocots exhibit a“conservative”strategy(high stoichiometric homeostasis and weak phylogenetic signals in stoichiometry)to maintain their growth in stressful conditions with lower water and soil nutrients.In contrast,dicots exhibit lower stoichiometric homeostasis in changing environments because of their wide climate-soil niches and significant phylogenetic signals in stoichiometry.

阿勒泰荒漠区草本植物生态位与种间关联

草本植物的种间关系在生态修复中具有指导意义。为揭示阿勒泰荒漠区草本植物的种间关系,本研究基于野外调查数据,采用生态位测定、方差比率法、χ^(2)检验、种间联结系数AC和Spearman秩相关系数等方法,分析了14种优势草本植物的生态位特征和种间关联性。结果表明:1)72个样地共发现121种草本植物,以菊科、禾本科和藜科为主,草本优势种中角果藜(Ceratocarpus arenarius)、猪毛菜(Kali collinum)和白茎绢蒿(Seriphidium terrae-albae)的重要值和生态位宽度较大;2)草本优势种的总体生态位重叠程度较低,平均值为0.11,物种间竞争较小;3)草本优势种的总体关联性为显著负联结,群落处于不稳定的演替状态;4)χ^(2)检验、种间联结系数和Spearman秩相关系数结果均显示物种多呈不显著联结,物种间联结性较低。因此在阿勒泰荒漠区草本植物的生态恢复工作中,可以选择生态位宽度较大、种对间呈显著或极显著正关联的植物搭配种植,恢复群落稳定性。

基于改进遗传算法的磁流变阻尼半主动控制系统整体优化

为解决磁流变阻尼半主动控制系统中控制算法参数、阻尼器参数与布置位置优化问题,提出一种改进的自适应小生境遗传算法.该遗传算法在选择策略、交叉和变异操作、交叉概率和变异概率的自适应调整等方面作了改进,并同时采用预选择机制和共享机制这两种小生境技术.算例分析结果表明:改进的自适应小生境遗传算法和改进的基本遗传算法优化结果总体一致,表明前者分析结果是正确的;前者首次得到最优解耗费的机时比后者平均少32.7%,可见前者比后者收敛速度更快;30次优化分析结果表明,前者比后者稳定性更强;经前者优化的磁流变阻尼半主动控制系统取得良好减振效果,El Centro波、集集波、人工波输入时,半主动控制结构层间位移角和绝对加速度的最大值较无控时分别平均减小64.1%、54.7%、55.9%.算例表明了改进的自适应小生境遗传算法的有效性,实现了对磁流变阻尼半主动控制系统的整体优化.