Small-scale Divergence in Egg Color along an Elevation Gradient in the Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina): A Condition-dependent Response?

The Auk ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. McCormack ◽  
Elena C. Berg
Keyword(s):  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Aphelocoma Ultramarina

scholarly journals Niche expansion leads to small-scale adaptive divergence along an elevation gradient in a medium-sized passerine bird

2008 ◽  
Vol 275 (1647) ◽  
pp. 2155-2164 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E McCormack ◽  
Thomas B Smith
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Passerine Bird ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Adaptive Divergence ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Niche Expansion ◽  
Aphelocoma Ultramarina ◽  
Pine Cones

Niche expansion can lead to adaptive differentiation and speciation, but there are few examples from contemporary niche expansions about how this process is initiated. We assess the consequences of a niche expansion by Mexican jays ( Aphelocoma ultramarina ) along an elevation gradient. We predicted that jays at high elevation would have straighter bills adapted to feeding on pine cones, whereas jays at low elevation would have hooked bills adapted to feeding on acorns. We measured morphological and genetic variation of 95 adult jays and found significant differences in hook length between elevations in accordance with predictions, a pattern corroborated by analysis at the regional scale. Genetic results from microsatellite and mtDNA variation support phenotypic differentiation in the presence of gene flow coupled with weak, but detectable genetic differentiation between high- and low-elevation populations. These results demonstrate that niche expansion can lead to adaptive divergence despite gene flow between parapatric populations along an elevation gradient, providing information on a key precursor to ecological speciation.

scholarly journals Upward shifts in elevation – a winning strategy for mountain viticulture in the context of climate change?

2018 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
pp. 02006
Author(s):  
Lukas Egarter Vigl ◽  
Arno Schmid ◽  
Franz Moser ◽  
Andrea Balotti ◽  
Erwin Gartner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Winning Strategy ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Pinot Noir ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
European Alps ◽  
New Production ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Wine Production ◽  
Mountainous Regions

The advent of global climate change has major impacts upon viticultural production. Changes in the spatial limits of wine production are already being observed around the globe; vineyards are now viable at higher elevations and more polar latitudes. Climatic conditions are also threatening production in existing appellations. Therefore, sound management strategies are vital to maintain high-quality wines and varietal typicity, and to respond to changing market conditions. In mountainous regions such as the European Alps, new production areas at higher elevations are increasingly considered to be a promising solution. However, the suitability of viticulture in general, and even specific varieties of wine grapes, can change drastically across short distances in complex mountain terrain. Variations in temperature and radiation accumulation directly influence plant suitability, yield quantity, and quality. This paper shares initial findings from the REBECKA Project, a transnational research initiative designed to assess the impacts of climate change on mountain viticulture and wine quality in South Tyrol (Italy) and Carinthia (Austria). A three-part approach is utilized to better assess these dynamics: (1) historical crop yield data from local vineyards are assessed, (2) plant phenology stages and polyphenolic compounds of the Pinot Noir variety are analyzed along an elevation gradient and related to bioclimatic indices, and (3) a suitability map is developed that considers small-scale topographic and agro-environmental conditions. Taken together, these components contribute in clarifying many of the opportunities and threats facing high altitude viticulture in a changing world and provide new insights for sound decision-making in alpine vineyards.

scholarly journals Alpine grassland soils contain large proportion of labile carbon but indicate long turnover times

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 1911-1923 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Budge ◽  
J. Leifeld ◽  
E. Hiltbrunner ◽  
J. Fuhrer
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Labile Carbon ◽  
Site Factors ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Labile C

Abstract. Alpine soils are expected to contain large amounts of labile carbon (C) which may become a further source of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) as a result of global warming. However, there is little data available on these soils, and understanding of the influence of environmental factors on soil organic matter (SOM) turnover is limited. We extracted 30 cm deep cores from five grassland sites along a small elevation gradient from 2285 to 2653 m a.s.l. in the central Swiss Alps. Our aim was to determine the quantity, allocation, degree of stabilization and mean residence time (MRT) of SOM in relation to site factors such as soil pH, vegetation, and SOM composition. Soil fractions obtained by size and density fractionation revealed a high proportion of labile C in SOM, mostly in the uppermost soil layers. Labile C in the top 20 cm across the gradient ranged from 39.6–57.6 % in comparison to 7.2–29.6 % reported in previous studies for lower elevation soils (810–1960 m a.s.l.). At the highest elevation, MRTs measured by means of radiocarbon dating and turnover modelling, increased between fractions of growing stability from 90 years in free POM (fPOM) to 534 years in the mineral associated fraction (mOM). Depending on elevation and pH, plant community data suggested considerable variation in the quantity and quality of organic matter input, and these patterns could be reflected in the dynamics of soil C. 13C NMR data confirmed a relationship of SOM composition to MRT. While low temperature in alpine environments is likely to be a major cause for the slow turnover rate observed, other factors such as residue quality and soil pH, as well as the combination of all factors, play an important role in causing small scale variability of SOM turnover. Failing to incorporate this interplay of controlling factors into models may impair the performance of models to project SOM responses to environmental change.

scholarly journals Leaf trait variation in species-rich tropical Andean forests

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Homeier ◽  
Tabea Seeler ◽  
Kerstin Pierick ◽  
Christoph Leuschner
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Environmental Filtering ◽  
Leaf Thickness ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Leaf Trait ◽  
Foliar N

AbstractScreening species-rich communities for the variation in functional traits along environmental gradients may help understanding the abiotic drivers of plant performance in a mechanistic way. We investigated tree leaf trait variation along an elevation gradient (1000–3000 m) in highly diverse neotropical montane forests to test the hypothesis that elevational trait change reflects a trend toward more conservative resource use strategies at higher elevations, with interspecific trait variation decreasing and trait integration increasing due to environmental filtering. Analysis of trait variance partitioning across the 52 tree species revealed for most traits a dominant influence of phylogeny, except for SLA, leaf thickness and foliar Ca, where elevation was most influential. The community-level means of SLA, foliar N and Ca, and foliar N/P ratio decreased with elevation, while leaf thickness and toughness increased. The contribution of intraspecific variation was substantial at the community level in most traits, yet smaller than the interspecific component. Both within-species and between-species trait variation did not change systematically with elevation. High phylogenetic diversity, together with small-scale edaphic heterogeneity, cause large interspecific leaf trait variation in these hyper-diverse Andean forests. Trait network analysis revealed increasing leaf trait integration with elevation, suggesting stronger environmental filtering at colder and nutrient-poorer sites.

scholarly journals A Small-Scale Analysis of Elevational Species Richness and Beta Diversity Patterns of Arthropods on an Oceanic Island (Terceira, Azores)

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 936
Author(s):  
Jan Peter Reinier de Vries ◽  
Emiel van Loon ◽  
Paulo A. V. Borges
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Introduced Species ◽  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Species Replacement ◽  
Diversity Patterns ◽  
Total Species Richness

We present an analysis of arthropod diversity patterns in native forest communities along the small elevation gradient (0–1021 m a.s.l.) of Terceira island, Azores (Portugal). We analysed (1) how the alpha diversity of Azorean arthropods responds to increasing elevation and (2) differs between endemic, native non-endemic and introduced (alien) species, and (3) the contributions of species replacement and richness difference to beta diversity. Arthropods were sampled using SLAM traps between 2014 and 2018. We analysed species richness indicators, the Hill series and beta diversity partitioning (species replacement and species richness differences). Selected orders (Araneae, Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Psocoptera) and endemic, native non-endemic and introduced species were analysed separately. Total species richness shows a monotonic decrease with elevation for all species and Coleoptera and Psocoptera, but peaks at mid-high elevation for Araneae and endemic species. Introduced species richness decreases strongly with elevation especially. These patterns are most likely driven by climatic factors but also influenced by human disturbance. Beta diversity is, for most groups, the main component of total (gamma) diversity along the gradient but shows no relation with elevation. It results from a combined effect of richness decrease with elevation and species replacement in groups with many narrow-ranged species.

Plasticity of the Clonal Growth in the Wetland SedgeCarex brevicuspisAlong a Small-Scale Elevation Gradient in Dongting Lake Wetlands, China

2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng-Miao Deng ◽  
Xin-Sheng Chen ◽  
Yong-Hong Xie ◽  
Ying Pan ◽  
Feng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clonal Growth ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Dongting Lake ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Lake Wetlands

Foliar stoichiometry of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in wetland sedge Carex brevicuspis along a small-scale elevation gradient

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 322-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Li ◽  
Jiayu Hu ◽  
Yonghong Xie ◽  
Guishan Yang ◽  
Cong Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus

scholarly journals Litter quality and pH are strong drivers of carbon turnover and distribution in alpine grassland soils

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 6207-6242 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Budge ◽  
J. Leifeld ◽  
E. Hiltbrunner ◽  
J. Fuhrer
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Litter Quality ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Site Factors ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Lower Elevation ◽  
Relationship Of

Abstract. Alpine soils are expected to contain large amounts of labile carbon (C) which may become a further source of atmospheric CO2 as a of global warming. However, there is little data available on these soils, and understanding of the influence of environmental factors on soil organic matter (SOM) turnover is limited. We extracted 30 cm deep cores from five grassland sites along a small elevation gradient from 2285 to 2653 m above sea level (a.s.l.) in the central Swiss Alps. Our aim was to determine the quantity, degree of stabilization and mean residence time (MRT) of SOM in relation to site factors such as temperature, soil pH, vegetation, and organic matter (OM) structure. Soil fractions obtained by size and density fractionation revealed a high proportion of labile particulate organic matter C (POM C %) mostly in the uppermost soil layers. POM C in the top 20 cm across the gradient ranged from 39.6–57.6% in comparison to 7.2–29.6% reported in previous studies for lower elevation soils (810–1960 m a.s.l.). At the highest elevation, MRTs measured by means of radiocarbon dating and turnover modelling, increased between fractions of growing stability from 90 years in free POM (fPOM) to 534 years in the mineral-associated fraction (mOM). Depending on elevation and pH, plant community data indicated considerable variation in the quantity and quality of litter input, and these patterns could be reflected in the dynamics of soil C. 13C NMR data confirmed the direct relationship of OM composition to MRT. While temperature is likely to be a major cause for the slow turnover rate observed, other factors such as litter quality and soil pH, as well as the combination of all factors, play an important role in causing small-scale variability of SOM turnover. Ignoring this interplay of controlling factors may impair the performance of models to project SOM responses to environmental change.

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