Anomalous, extreme weather disrupts obligate seed dispersal mutualism: snow in a subtropical forest ecosystem

The yellow-throated marten, Martes flavigula, is the only living species of the genus Martes found in subtropical and tropical forests (Harrison et al. 2004). It is distributed throughout central and southern Asia in a wide variety of habitats. Despite its extensive geographical range, the ecology and behaviour of this species has so far received little attention, aside from a study of habitat use (Grassman et al. 2005). Studies on other martens have shown that fruits are an important food resource (e.g. M. martes, Bermejo & Guitian 2000; M. foina, Pandolfi et al. 1996). Thus, they are considered to be important potential seed dispersers (Corlett 1998, Herrera 1989, Willson 1993), as confirmed by recent studies (M. melampus, Otani 2002; M. americana, Hickey et al. 1999; M. foina and M. martes, Schaumann & Heinken 2002). Although no systematic study of the diet of M. flavigula has been conducted (Harrison et al. 2004), it is known to be omnivorous and to consume fruit (Gao & Wang 1987). To date, however, there has been no comprehensive study of frugivory and seed dispersal by M. flavigula (but see Corlett 1998).

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Food from Seed-Dispersal Mutualism Shifts Sex Ratios in Colonies of the Ant Aphaenogaster rudis

Ecology ◽

10.2307/176966 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 79 (2) ◽

pp. 734 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Manuel A. Morales ◽

E. Raymond Heithaus

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Sex Ratios ◽

Aphaenogaster Rudis ◽

Seed Dispersal Mutualism

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Assessing ecological specialization of an ant–seed dispersal mutualism through a wide geographic range

Ecology ◽

10.1890/08-2274.1 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 90 (11) ◽

pp. 3009-3022 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Antonio J. Manzaneda ◽

Pedro J. Rey

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Geographic Range ◽

Ecological Specialization ◽

Seed Dispersal Mutualism

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Impact of cloudiness on net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide in different types of forest ecosystems in China

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-7-711-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 711-722 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

M. Zhang ◽

G.-R. Yu ◽

L.-M. Zhang ◽

X.-M. Sun ◽

X.-F. Wen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Forest Ecosystem ◽

Temperate Forest ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Ecosystem Respiration ◽

Net Ecosystem Exchange ◽

Subtropical Forest ◽

Strong Light ◽

Sky Conditions ◽

Temperate Forest Ecosystem

Abstract. Clouds can significantly affect carbon exchange process between forest ecosystems and the atmosphere by influencing the quantity and quality of solar radiation received by ecosystem's surface and other environmental factors. In this study, we analyzed the effects of cloudiness on net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide (NEE) in a temperate broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest at Changbaishan (CBS) and a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest at Dinghushan (DHS), based on the flux data obtained during June–August from 2003 to 2006. The results showed that the response of NEE of forest ecosystems to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) differed under clear skies and cloudy skies. Compared with clear skies, the light-saturated maximum photosynthetic rate (Pec,max) at CBS under cloudy skies during mid-growing season (from June to August) increased by 34%, 25%, 4% and 11% in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. In contrast, Pec,max of the forest ecosystem at DHS was higher under clear skies than under cloudy skies from 2004 to 2006. When the clearness index (kt) ranged between 0.4 and 0.6, the NEE reached its maximum at both CBS and DHS. However, the NEE decreased more dramatically at CBS than at DHS when kt exceeded 0.6. The results indicate that cloudy sky conditions are beneficial to net carbon uptake in the temperate forest ecosystem and the subtropical forest ecosystem. Under clear skies, vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and air temperature increased due to strong light. These environmental conditions led to greater decrease in gross ecosystem photosynthesis (GEP) and greater increase in ecosystem respiration (Re) at CBS than at DHS. As a result, clear sky conditions caused more reduction of NEE in the temperate forest ecosystem than in the subtropical forest ecosystem. The response of NEE of different forest ecosystems to the changes in cloudiness is an important factor that should be included in evaluating regional carbon budgets under climate change conditions.

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