Long‐term continuity of steppe grasslands in eastern Central Europe: Evidence from species distribution patterns and chloroplast haplotypes

The way we view species distribution patterns, particularly at the level commonly referred to as the “community”, has changed over the past 70 years in biology and, subsequently, in paleontology. Because the degree to which species associations can be interpreted as ecological and evolutionary units depends ultimately on recognition and interpretation of faunal spatial variability, we need to understand the nature of this variability at all levels of resolution before we can adequately address questions of “community” structure and dynamics. While it is possible to recognize spatial variability at several levels, from the distributions of individuals within a species to the overall pattern created by the global biota, we must ask whether these patterns really comprise a hierarchy with natural discontinuities (Fig. 1), or whether it is more realistic to view them as a continuous variability spectrum.

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Long-term stress level in a small mammal species undergoing range expansion

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mammalia-2020-0041 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Adrien André ◽

Johan Michaux ◽

Jorge Gaitan ◽

Virginie Millien

Keyword(s):

Stress Level ◽

Species Distribution ◽

Small Mammal ◽

Range Expansion ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Distribution Ranges ◽

Northern Edge ◽

Small Mammal Species ◽

White Footed Mouse

Abstract Rapid climate change is currently altering species distribution ranges. Evaluating the long-term stress level in wild species undergoing range expansion may help better understanding how species cope with the changing environment. Here, we focused on the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), a widespread small mammal species in North-America whose distribution range is rapidly shifting northward. We evaluated long-term stress level in several populations of P. leucopus in Quebec (Canada), from the northern edge of the species distribution to more core populations in Southern Quebec. We first tested the hypothesis that populations at the range margin are under higher stress than more established populations in the southern region of our study area. We then compared four measures of long-term stress level to evaluate the congruence between these commonly used methods. We did not detect any significant geographical trend in stress level across our study populations of P. leucopus. Most notably, we found no clear congruence between the four measures of stress level we used, and conclude that these four commonly used methods are not equivalent, thereby not comparable across studies.

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Past megadroughts in central Europe were longer, more severe and less warm than modern droughts

Communications Earth & Environment ◽

10.1038/s43247-021-00130-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

M. Ionita ◽

M. Dima ◽

V. Nagavciuc ◽

P. Scholz ◽

G. Lohmann

Keyword(s):

Central Europe ◽

North Atlantic Ocean ◽

Explosive Volcanism ◽

American Southwest ◽

The North ◽

European Climate ◽

Blocking Activity ◽

Meteorological Observations ◽

Dalton Minimum

AbstractMegadroughts are notable manifestations of the American Southwest, but not so much of the European climate. By using long-term hydrological and meteorological observations, as well as paleoclimate reconstructions, here we show that central Europe has experienced much longer and severe droughts during the Spörer Minimum (~AD 1400–1480) and Dalton Minimum (~AD 1770–1840), than the ones observed during the 21st century. These two megadroughts appear to be linked with a cold state of the North Atlantic Ocean and enhanced winter atmospheric blocking activity over the British Isles and western part of Europe, concurrent with reduced solar forcing and explosive volcanism. Moreover, we show that the recent drought events (e.g., 2003, 2015, and 2018), are within the range of natural variability and they are not unprecedented over the last millennium.

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An unexpected new record of the Mediterranean orchid, Ophrys bertolonii (Orchidaceae) in Central Europe

Biologia ◽

10.2478/s11756-011-0086-2 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 66 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Attila Molnár V ◽

András Máté ◽

Gábor Sramkó

Keyword(s):

Central Europe ◽

New Record ◽

Dispersal Ability ◽

Long Distance Dispersal ◽

Long Distance ◽

Permanent Establishment ◽

Adriatic Coast ◽

Northward Expansion ◽

Mediterranean Plant

AbstractOne flowering specimen of Ophrys bertolonii (s. str.) — a plant with a Circum-Adriatic distribution and hitherto unknown in other regions — was found on 7th May 2010 in the vicinity of Kunadacs (Central Hungary; N 47°00′ E 19°17′). The nearest known populations of this Mediterranean plant inhabit the Adriatic coast (ca. 450 km away) in Croatia, therefore this new occurrence represents a significant long distance dispersal event. The circumstances of the occurrence argue against introduction, but we can not decide now whether this new appearance is temporary or permanent. The permanent establishment of this strictly entomophilous plant requires the presence of its specific pollinator in the close neighbourhood of the habitat. However, no pollination was observed on the three flowers of the plant until 9th May, and one day later the stem had disappeared most likely due to grazing. Whatever the long-term fate of the plant is, this discovery represents a significant long distance (jump) dispersal event, and testifies to the dispersal ability of Ophrys species. Additionally, the appearance of a mature Adriatic plant in Central Europe fits well into the currently observed, climate change driven northward expansion of European orchids, therefore this finding most likely reflects a growing Mediterranean-like climatic influence in the region.

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