The response of flowering time to global warming in a high-altitude plant: the impact of genetics and the environment

Botany ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanne Brunet ◽  
Zachary Larson-Rabin
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Flowering Time ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Evolutionary Potential ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

In high-altitude habitats, an increase in temperature and greater precipitation in the form of rain represent climate changes typically associated with global warming. We determined whether phenotypic plasticity and genetic changes in the mean phenotype could affect the adaptation of flowering time to changes in the environment resulting from global warming in a montane plant species, Aquilegia coerulea James. We collected seeds from 17 plants from each of three natural populations. For each of these 51 families, we assigned 3–4 individuals to each of four water and temperature treatments. We observed phenotypic plasticity in flowering time in response to both temperature and water availability but no genetic variance or genetic differentiation in phenotypic plasticity. These results indicate that phenotypic plasticity could provide a quick response to environmental changes but provides little evolutionary potential. In contrast to phenotypic plasticity in flowering time, the mean flowering time did vary among families and among populations, suggesting a genetic basis to flowering time and adaptation in the different populations. The most likely scenario for the adaptation of this plant species to climate change is a rapid response via phenotypic plasticity followed by selection and micro-evolutionary changes in the mean phenotype.

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH INCREASING THE BACTERIAL CAUSING INFECTIOUS DISEASES PERFORMED BY EXPERIMENT: VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES INSECTS, TAIF, KSA

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 42-53
Author(s):  
Sherifa Mostafa M. Sabra ◽  
Samar Ahamed
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
The Public ◽  
Colony Forming Unit ◽  
Tapinoma Sessile ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

The search conducted on "The impact of global warming (GW) on the public health (PH) increasing the bacterial causing infectious diseases (IDs) performed by experiment: Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) insects, Taif, KSA", the experiment used ants (Taif Tapinoma sessile), prepared, arranged appropriate nests and adjusted the temperature at (20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45°C), for a week of each zone. It revealed the behaviour as (normal, semi-normal and ab-normal), the mean of mortality rates were between (0-53.3%). The bacterial contents measured by the turbidity indicated the presence of multiplication, were between (0.109-0.328). The bacterial growth degrees by sings were between (+ - +++++) and percent between (12-100%). Colony Forming Unit/ml (CFU/ml) confined between (1.8X102-15.0X102)/mL. Through this experiment it turned out the GW had a significant role on the PH, helped the proliferation of bacterial pathogens that caused IDS. The conclusion wiped from the experiment that the extent degrees of GW disadvantages on the PH. The PH workers must take the "Preventive Health Prophylaxis Measures" (PHPMs) to protect the individuals from IDs by eliminating the VBDs of various types, monitoring the immunological situation of individuals, provided the vaccinations of IDs and preparing for complete PHPMs against any changes in the PH.

Modelling patterns of parasite aggregation in natural populations: trichostrongylid nematode–ruminant interactions as a case study

Parasitology ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 111 (S1) ◽  
pp. S135-S151 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. T. Grenfell ◽  
K. Wilson ◽  
V. S. Isham ◽  
H. E. G. Boyd ◽  
K. Dietz
Keyword(s):  
Population Biology ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Host Immunity ◽  
Moment Closure ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Parasite Aggregation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

SUMMARYThe characteristically aggregated frequency distribution of macroparasites in their hosts is a key feature of host–parasite population biology. We begin with a brief review of the theoretical literature concerning parasite aggregation. Though this work has illustrated much about both the sources and impact of parasite aggregation, there is still no definitive analysis of both these aspects. We then go on to illustrate the use of one approach to this problem – the construction of Moment Closure Equations (MCEs), which can be used to represent both the mean and second moments (variances and covariances) of the distribution of different parasite stages and phenomenological measures of host immunity. We apply these models to one of the best documented interactions involving free-living animal hosts – the interaction between trichostrongylid nematodes and ruminants. The analysis compares patterns of variability in experimental infections of Teladorsagia circumcincta in sheep with the equivalent wildlife situation – the epidemiology of T. circumcincta in a feral population of Soay sheep on St Kilda, Outer Hebrides. We focus on the relationship between mean parasite load and aggregation (inversely measured by the negative binomial parameter, k) for cohorts of hosts. The analysis and empirical data indicate that k tracks the increase and subsequent decline in the mean burden with host age. We discuss this result in terms of the degree of heterogeneity in the impact of host immunity or parasite-induced mortality required to shorten the tail of the parasite distribution (and therefore increase k) in older animals. The model is also used to analyse the relationship between estimated worm and egg counts (since only the latter are often available for wildlife hosts). Finally, we use these results to review directions for future work on the nature and impact of parasite aggregation.

Slope orientation enhances the nurse effect of a paramo shrub, Hypericum irazuense (Hypericaceae) in Costa Rica

2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro G. Farji-Brener ◽  
Federico A. Chinchilla ◽  
Ainhoa Magrach ◽  
Víctor Romero ◽  
Marcos Ríos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Nurse Plant ◽  
Positive Interaction ◽  
Nurse Plants ◽  
Nurse Effect ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Environmental Mitigation ◽  
Occurrence Of Species

The nurse effect is a positive interaction in which one plant (the nurse) provides conditions that enhance the establishment and growth of another plant species (Callaway 1995). Increased environmental severity appeared to increase the strength of nurse effects (Brooker et al. 2008, Lortie & Callaway 2006). On the one hand, the impact of the nurse effect depends on the magnitude of the environmental changes exerted by the nurse plant. On the other hand, the impact could depend on the number of plant species in the regional pool that respond to such changes. For example, better conditions beneath the crowns of nurse plants might allow the occurrence of species that are sensitive to environmental stress and that occur infrequently in open areas. Thus, if a nurse plant modulates environmental conditions that are critical for the persistence of other plant species, it seems likely that such nurse plants would have greater effects in stressful habitats, where they cause relatively larger environmental mitigation (Badano et al. 2006, Callaway et al. 2002).

Livestock Effects on Genetic Variation of Creosote Bushes in Patagonian Rangelands

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cintia P. Souto ◽  
Mariana Tadey
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Evolutionary Potential ◽  
Monte Desert ◽  
Larrea Divaricata

SummaryGenetic diversity is the raw material for species’ persistence over time, providing the potential to survive stochastic events, as well as climate and/or human-induced environmental changes. Biodiversity in dry rangelands is decreasing due to intensification of livestock production, but its effects on the genetic diversity of the consumed biota have seldom been assessed. We examined livestock effects on the genetic diversity of two dominant creosote species of the Patagonian Monte Desert, Larrea divaricata and Larrea cuneifolia. We deployed competing hierarchical regression models to assess the relationship between genetic variation within natural populations as a function of increasing stocking rates on ten arid rangelands. These species exhibit similar levels and patterns of genetic structure, with high levels of both inbreeding and divergence among locations. We found that increased stocking reduces genetic variation and increases genetic subdivision between populations. Our results indicate that grazing pressures are impoverishing the gene pool of these dominant native species of the Monte Desert, decreasing the evolutionary potential of the primary plant producers and increasing the desertification risk for a vulnerable habitat. We highlight the importance of considering livestock as a major driver of genetic losses in dry rangelands under overgrazing pressure, especially given current forecasts of climate change.

scholarly journals Assortment of flowering time and immunity alleles in natural Arabidopsis thaliana populations suggests immunity and vegetative lifespan strategies coevolve

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirin Glander ◽  
Fei He ◽  
Gregor Schmitz ◽  
Anika Witten ◽  
Arndt Telschow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽  
Flowering Time ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Optimal Investment ◽  
Host Immunity ◽  
Host Defenses ◽  
Immunity Genes ◽  
Pleiotropic Action ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTThe selective impact of pathogen epidemics on host defenses can be strong but remains transient. By contrast, life-history shifts can durably and continuously modify the balance between costs and benefits of immunity, which arbitrates the evolution of host defenses. Their impact on the evolutionary dynamics of host immunity, however, has seldom been documented. Optimal investment into immunity is expected to decrease with shortening lifespan, because a shorter life decreases the probability to encounter pathogens or enemies. Here, we document that in natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana, the expression levels of immunity genes correlate positively with flowering time, which in annual species is a proxy for lifespan. Using a novel genetic strategy based on bulk-segregants, we partitioned flowering time-dependent from – independent immunity genes and could demonstrate that this positive co-variation can be genetically separated. It is therefore not explained by the pleiotropic action of some major regulatory genes controlling both immunity and lifespan. Moreover, we find that immunity genes containing variants reported to impact fitness in natural field conditions are among the genes whose expression co-varies most strongly with flowering time. Taken together, these analyses reveal that natural selection has likely assorted alleles promoting lower expression of immunity genes with alleles that decrease the duration of vegetative lifespan in A. thaliana and vice versa. This is the first study documenting a pattern of variation consistent with the impact that selection on flowering time is predicted to have on diversity in host immunity.

Public health preparedness for the impact of global warming on human health

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 217-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Wassel, MD, MHS(c)
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
Production And Distribution ◽  
Global Environmental Changes ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To assess the changes in weather and weather-associated disturbances related to global warming; the impact on human health of these changes; and the public health preparedness mandated by this impact.Design: Qualitative review of the literature. Articles will be obtained by searching PubMed database, Google, and Google Scholar search engines using terms such as “global warming,” “climate change,” “human health,” “public health,” and “preparedness.”Results: Sixty-seven journal articles were reviewed.Conclusions: The projections and signs of global environmental changes are worrisome, and there are reasons to believe that related information may have been conservatively interpreted and presented in the recent past. Although the challenges are great, there are many opportunities for devising beneficial solutions at individual, community, and global levels. It is essential for public health professionals to become involved in advocating for change at all of these levels, as well as through professional organizations.We must begin “greening” our own lives and clinical practice, and start talking about these issues with patients. As we build walkable neighborhoods, change methods of energy production, and make water use and food production and distribution more sustainable, the benefits to improved air quality, a stabilized climate, social support, and individual and community health will be dramatic.

scholarly journals The Role of Tropical, Midlatitude, and Polar Cloud-Radiative Changes for the Midlatitude Circulation Response to Global Warming

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (18) ◽  
pp. 7927-7943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Albern ◽  
Aiko Voigt ◽  
David W. J. Thompson ◽  
Joaquim G. Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Storm Track ◽  
Radiative Heating ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Circulation Changes

AbstractPrevious studies showed that global cloud-radiative changes contribute half or more to the midlatitude atmospheric circulation response to global warming. Here, we investigate the relative importance of tropical, midlatitude, and polar cloud-radiative changes for the annual-mean, wintertime, and summertime circulation response across regions in AMIP-like simulations. To this end, we study global warming simulations from the ICON model run with the cloud-locking method and prescribed sea surface temperatures, which isolate the impact of changes in atmospheric cloud-radiative heating. Tropical cloud changes dominate the global cloud impact on the 850 hPa zonal wind, jet strength, and storm track responses across most seasons and regions. For the jet shift, a more diverse picture is found. In the annual mean and DJF, tropical and midlatitude cloud changes contribute substantially to the poleward jet shift in all regions. The poleward jet shift is further supported by polar cloud changes across the Northern Hemisphere but not in the Southern Hemisphere. In JJA, the impact of regional cloud changes on the jet position is small, consistent with an overall small jet shift during this season. The jet shift can be largely understood via the anomalous atmospheric cloud-radiative heating in the tropical and midlatitude upper troposphere. The circulation changes are broadly consistent with the influence of cloud-radiative changes on upper-tropospheric baroclinicity and thus the mean potential energy available for conversion into eddy kinetic energy. Our results help to explain the jet response to global warming and highlight the importance of tropical and midlatitude cloud-radiative changes for this response.

scholarly journals Long-term warming results in species-specific shifts in seed mass in alpine communities

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7416
Author(s):  
Chunhui Zhang ◽  
Zhen Ma ◽  
Huakun Zhou ◽  
Xinquan Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Life History Theory ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Alpine Plant ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Species Specific

Background Global warming can cause variation in plant functional traits due to phenotypic plasticity or rapid microevolutionary change. Seed mass represents a fundamental axis of trait variation in plants, from an individual to a community scale. Here, we hypothesize that long-term warming can shift the mean seed mass of species. Methods We tested our hypothesis in plots that had been warmed over 18 years in alpine meadow communities with a history of light grazing (LG) and heavy grazing (HG) on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. In this study, seeds were collected during the growing season of 2015. Results We found that warming increased the mean seed mass of 4 (n = 19) species in the LG meadow and 6 (n = 20) species in the HG meadow, while decreasing the mean seed mass of 6 species in the LG and HG meadows, respectively. For 7 species, grazing history modified the effect of warming on seed mass. Therefore, we concluded that long-term warming can shift the mean seed mass at the species level. However, the direction of this variation is species-specific. Our study suggests that mean seed mass of alpine plant species appears to decrease in warmer (less stressful) habitats based on life-history theory, but it also suggests there may be an underlying trade-off in which mean seed mass may increase due to greater thermal energy inputs into seed development. Furthermore, the physical and biotic environment modulating this trade-off result in complex patterns of variation in mean seed mass of alpine plant species facing global warming.

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