Coping with Environmental Extremes: Population Ecology and Behavioural Adaptation of Erebia pronoe, an Alpine Butterfly Species

A mark-recapture study of the nominotypical Erebia pronoe in the Alps was conducted to survey its ecological demands and characteristics. Population structure analysis revealed a combination of protandry (one-week earlier eclosion of males) and serial eclosion. Significant differences between both sexes were found in population density (males: 580/ha ± 37 SE; females: 241/ha ± 66 SE), sex-ratio (2.4) and behaviour (57.7 vs. 11.9% flying). Both sexes used a wide range of nectar plants (Asteraceae, 77.3%; Dipsacaceae, 12.3%; Gentianaceae, 9.7%). The use of nectar plants shows a non-specific spectrum, which, however, completely avoids overlap with the locally co-occurring species Erebia nivalis. Movement patterns show the establishment of homeranges, which significantly limits the migration potential. Due to its broad ecological niche, E. pronoe will probably be able to react plastically to the consequences of climate change. The formation of high population densities, the unconcerned endangerment status, the unspecific resource spectrum and the sedentary character of the species make E. pronoe a potential indicator of the quality and general resource occurrence of alpine rupicolous grasslands.

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Transcriptome wide SSR discovery cross-taxa transferability and development of marker database for studying genetic diversity population structure of Lilium species

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-75553-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Manosh Kumar Biswas ◽

Mita Bagchi ◽

Ujjal Kumar Nath ◽

Dhiman Biswas ◽

Sathishkumar Natarajan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Structure ◽

Large Scale ◽

Polymorphic Information Content ◽

Pcr Amplification ◽

Efficient Manner ◽

Lilium Species ◽

Population Structure Analysis ◽

Wide Range ◽

Functional Molecular Markers

Abstract Lily belongs to family liliaceae, which mainly propagates vegetatively. Therefore, sufficient number of polymorphic, informative, and functional molecular markers are essential for studying a wide range of genetic parameters in Lilium species. We attempted to develop, characterize and design SSR (simple sequence repeat) markers using online genetic resources for analyzing genetic diversity and population structure of Lilium species. We found di-nucleotide repeat motif were more frequent (4684) within 0.14 gb (giga bases) transcriptome than other repeats, of which was two times higher than tetra-repeat motifs. Frequency of di-(AG/CT), tri-(AGG/CTT), tetra-(AAAT), penta-(AGAGG), and hexa-(AGAGGG) repeats was 34.9%, 7.0%, 0.4%, 0.3%, and 0.2%, respectively. A total of 3607 non-redundant SSR primer pairs was designed based on the sequences of CDS, 5′-UTR and 3′-UTR region covering 34%, 14%, 23%, respectively. Among them, a sub set of primers (245 SSR) was validated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, of which 167 primers gave expected PCR amplicon and 101 primers showed polymorphism. Each locus contained 2 to 12 alleles on average 0.82 PIC (polymorphic information content) value. A total of 87 lily accessions was subjected to genetic diversity analysis using polymorphic SSRs and found to separate into seven groups with 0.73 to 0.79 heterozygosity. Our data on large scale SSR based genetic diversity and population structure analysis may help to accelerate the breeding programs of lily through utilizing different genomes, understanding genetics and characterizing germplasm with efficient manner.

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Performance of Elastomeric Silicones in Ablative and Space Environments

Rubber Chemistry and Technology ◽

10.5254/1.3547133 ◽

1966 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 1247-1257 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Clyde L. Whipple ◽

John A. Thorne

Keyword(s):

High Vacuum ◽

Thermal Control ◽

Heat Fluxes ◽

Space Environment ◽

Space Applications ◽

Wide Range ◽

Environmental Extremes ◽

Temperature Ranges ◽

Space Environments ◽

Thermal Control Coatings

Abstract Elastomeric silicones are among the best materials available for many ablative and space applications. In ablative applications, these materials protect launching equipment, safeguard various parts of vehicles and spacecraft during flight, and shield re-entering spacecraft. Generally, elastomeric silicones are used where ablative conditions involve low to moderate heat fluxes and shear forces. Ablative characteristics of materials can vary widely depending on polymer type, fillers, and applications techniques, and no one elastomeric silicone will perform in a wide range of ablative missions. A good knowledge of the ablative characteristics of silicone materials is required to select the best candidates for a given application. In the space environment, silicones are often used for seals, thermal control coatings, potting materials, and other applications because they perform well over wide temperature ranges, and because they are inherently stable to high-vacuum and ultraviolet conditions. Data given in this paper illustrate that silicones show little weight loss or loss of properties on exposure to space environmental extremes. Furthermore, these losses can be made almost negligible by proper conditioning of the finished elastomer.

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Microsatellite based molecular epidemiology of Leishmania infantum from re-emerging foci of visceral leishmaniasis in Armenia and pilot risk assessment by ecological niche modeling

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0009288 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. e0009288

Author(s):

Katrin Kuhls ◽

Olga Moskalenko ◽

Anna Sukiasyan ◽

Dezdemonia Manukyan ◽

Gayane Melik-Andreasyan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Structure ◽

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Central Asia ◽

Causative Agent ◽

Ecological Niche ◽

Ecological Niche Modeling ◽

Niche Modeling ◽

Population Structure Analysis ◽

First Time

Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is re-emerging in Armenia since 1999 with 167 cases recorded until 2019. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine for the first time the genetic diversity and population structure of the causative agent of VL in Armenia; (ii) to compare these genotypes with those from most endemic regions worldwide; (iii) to monitor the diversity of vectors in Armenia; (iv) to predict the distribution of the vectors and VL in time and space by ecological niche modeling. Methodology/Principal findings Human samples from different parts of Armenia previously identified by ITS-1-RFLP as L. infantum were studied by Multilocus Microsatellite Typing (MLMT). These data were combined with previously typed L. infantum strains from the main global endemic regions for population structure analysis. Within the 23 Armenian L. infantum strains 22 different genotypes were identified. The combined analysis revealed that all strains belong to the worldwide predominating MON1-population, however most closely related to a subpopulation from Southeastern Europe, Maghreb, Middle East and Central Asia. The three observed Armenian clusters grouped within this subpopulation with strains from Greece/Turkey, and from Central Asia, respectively. Ecological niche modeling based on VL cases and collected proven vectors (P. balcanicus, P. kandelakii) identified Yerevan and districts Lori, Tavush, Syunik, Armavir, Ararat bordering Georgia, Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan as most suitable for the vectors and with the highest risk for VL transmission. Due to climate change the suitable habitat for VL transmission will expand in future all over Armenia. Conclusions Genetic diversity and population structure of the causative agent of VL in Armenia were addressed for the first time. Further genotyping studies should be performed with samples from infected humans, animals and sand flies from all active foci including the neighboring countries to understand transmission cycles, re-emergence, spread, and epidemiology of VL in Armenia and the entire Transcaucasus enabling epidemiological monitoring.

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Butterfly diversity of paddy growing area in winter and pre-monsoon season (Rabi crop) at Silezari site of Gondia district, Maharashtra, India

IRA-International Journal of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2455-4499) ◽

10.21013/jas.v3.n1.p7 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dharmik R. Ganvir ◽

Chintaman J. Khune

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Life Span ◽

Paddy Field ◽

Monsoon Season ◽

Agricultural Fields ◽

Butterfly Species ◽

Agricultural Field ◽

Systematic Survey ◽

Butterfly Diversity ◽

Wide Range

A systematic survey was carried out on butterflies of agricultural field during winter and pre-monsoon season, Silezari, Vidarbha, India because it is now clear that agricultural fields particularly paddy field are unique ecosystems that provide some butterflies to complete their life span.. Total 24 species of butterflies were recorded belonging to 20 genera and 5 families. Nymphalidae family is consisting of maximum number of genera and species and only one species recorded from family Papilionidae. Maximum species richness reported from March and April month. The present study will encourage the conservation of a wide range of indigenous butterfly species in an area.

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Influence of technogenic loading of pyrogenic origin on the geochemical migration of heavy metals

Journal of Geology Geography and Geoecology ◽

10.15421/111829 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 43-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Y. Buts ◽

V. Asotskyi ◽

O. Kraynyuk ◽

R. Ponomarenko

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Chemical Elements ◽

Soluble Form ◽

Soil Reaction ◽

Ph Values ◽

Wide Range ◽

Migration Potential ◽

Order Of Magnitude ◽

Migration Capacity ◽

Heavy Metals In Soils

The study of geochemical aspects of the transformation of migration properties of heavy metals under the influence of anthropogenic loading of pyrogenic origin has been given insufficient attention. We studied the concentration of heavy metals in soils by atomic absorption analysis. The results indicate the transformation of their migration properties. The diversity and versatility of behaviour of chemical elements in environmental components after fire was noted. In different ecological conditions, it is possible to observe a wide range of quantitative values of geochemical migration or accumulation of any particular chemical element. The analytical results show that the contents of migrant elements, pH values, areas of disasters which are approximately in the same conditions, but passed by the grass or upper fire differ quite tangibly. Heavy metals that hit the environment can form difficult soluble hydroxides. In addition, in the soil solution, there is a probability of the formation of hydroxocomplexes with different amounts of hydroxide ions by metals. The range of precipitation of hydroxides and the region of predominance of soluble hydroxocomplexes have been studied by constructing concentration-logarithmicdiagrams. On the basis of the calculations it can be argued that the influence of technogenic loading of pyrogenic origin influences the geochemical migration of heavy metals . Compounds Fe3+ at the pH = 4.5-14, Cu2+ at pH = 7-14, Cr2+ at pH = 7-9, Zn2+ at pH= 8-11, Ni2+ at pH = 8-14 have the lowest migration potential. Compounds Pb2+ at pH = 9-12, Fe2+ - pH = 9.5-14 have the lowest migration potential also. In a more acidic environment, soluble substances are formed, but at a pH increase of only 0.5-1, they can decrease their mobility by an order of magnitude which contributes to their concentration in the soils after the fire. In a neutral soil reaction, most of the heavy metals (Al, Cr, Zn, Cu, Fe (II), Ni) are in a slightly soluble form (in the form of hydroxides), with insignificant, migration capacity which leads to the accumulation of these chemical elements in the soil. It is necessary to allocate heavy metals moving in a neutral environment (Fe (II), Cd, Co, Mg, Mn) into a separate group. Any increase in pH values contributes to their fixation. The obtained calculations can be used to predict the geochemical migration of heavy metals in soils which result from anthropogenic disasters of a pyrogenic origin.

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Population Transcriptomes Reveal the Interspecific Adaptive Genetic Differentiation of Liriodendron by Landscape Genetics

10.21203/rs.3.rs-62166/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yufang Shen ◽

Hui Xia ◽

Zhonghua Tu ◽

Yaxian Zong ◽

Lichun Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Structure ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Genetic Differentiation ◽

Ecological Niche ◽

Genetic Variations ◽

Biological Pathways ◽

Environmental Data ◽

Genomic Resources ◽

Population Structure Analysis ◽

Precipitation Seasonality

Abstract Background: Adaptive genetic differentiation is a hotspot in the research of speciation mechanisms in evolutionary biology. Genomic resources are important for detecting ecological adaptive evolution of non-model plants. Using RNA-seq for non-model plants is a good approach to obtain their genomic resources. The combination of population transcriptome resources and environmental data can provide insights into the genetic mechanism of adaptive genetic differentiation.Results: Based on the population transcriptome data, we investigated the spatial distribution of genetic variations in Liriodendron to detect relationships between ecological factors and genetic differentiation. Environmental data and genetic variations from 17 populations were integrated to detect the population structure, adaptive genes and key environmental factors that shape the population genetic structure by landscape genetic approach. Here, we identified 16592 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The population structure analysis results showed that 17 populations were divided into three groups: L. tulipifera, eastern group and western group of L. chinense. Redundancy analysis and latent factor mixed model analysis suggested that precipitation seasonality, precipitation in the driest quarter, diurnal temperature, and solar radiation in May were closely associated with the adaptive genetic differentiation of Liriodendron. Ecological niche differentiation analysis implied significant ecological niche divergence between L. chinense and L. tulipifera habitats. In total, 858 environment-related loci were identified, which were associated with 464 genes. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were significantly enriched in multiple biological pathways. Related studies confirmed that these biological pathways play vital roles in plant growth, development, stress, immune response and photosynthesis.Conclusions: Our research provided empirical evidence that environmental factors may play a key role in driving adaptive genetic differentiation of species. Furthermore, the combination of population transcriptome resources and environmental datasets provides new insights into the study of adaptive genetic differentiation of species.

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Changes in the Geographic Distribution of the Diana Fritillary (Speyeria diana: Nymphalidae) Under Forecasted Predictions of Climate Change

10.20944/preprints201807.0058.v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Carrie Wells ◽

David Tonkyn

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

North America ◽

Geographic Distribution ◽

Ecological Niche ◽

Ecological Niche Modeling ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Butterfly Species ◽

Operating Characteristics ◽

Southeastern Us ◽

The Future

Climate change is predicted to alter the geographic distribution of a wide variety of taxa, including butterfly species. Research has focused primarily on high latitude species in North America, with no known studies examining responses of taxa in the southeastern US. The Diana fritillary (Speyeria diana) has experienced a recent range retraction in that region, disappearing from lowland sites and now persisting in two, phylogenetically disjunct mountainous regions. These findings are consistent with the predicted effects of a warming climate on numerous taxa, including other butterfly species in North America and Europe. We used ecological niche modeling to predict future changes to the distribution of S. diana under several climate models. To evaluate how climate change might influence the geographic distribution of this butterfly, we developed ecological niche models using Maxent. We used two global circulation models, CCSM and MIROC, under low and high emissions scenarios to predict the future distribution of S. diana. Models were evaluated using the Receiver Operating Characteristics Area Under Curve test and the True Skill Statistics (mean AUC = 0.91± 0.0028 SE, TSS = 0.87 ± 0.0032 SE for RCP = 4.5, and mean AUC = 0.87± 0.0031SE, TSS = 0.84 ± 0.0032 SE for RCP = 8.5), which both indicate that the models we produced were significantly better than random (0.5). The four modeled climate scenarios resulted in an average loss of 91% of suitable habitat for S. diana by 2050. Populations in the Southern Appalachian Mountains were predicted to suffer the most severe fragmentation and reduction in suitable habitat, threatening an important source of genetic diversity for the species. The geographic and genetic isolation of populations in the west suggest that those populations are equally as vulnerable to decline in the future, warranting ongoing conservation of those populations as well. Our results suggest that the Diana fritillary is under threat of decline by 2050 across its entire distribution from climate change, and is likely to be negatively affected by other human-induced factors as well.

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Ecological Niche Space of Fish Communities in Impounded Sections of Large Rivers: Its Application to Assessment of the Impact of Weirs on River Ecosystems

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10124784 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 4784 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jun Hur ◽

Min-Ho Jang ◽

Kyung-Hoon Shin ◽

Kyung-Lak Lee ◽

Kwang-Hyeon Chang

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotopes ◽

Stable Isotope ◽

Ecological Niche ◽

Fish Community ◽

Micropterus Salmoides ◽

Fish Communities ◽

Niche Space ◽

Predator Species ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Impact

To estimate the impact of weirs on large river fish communities, we applied the ecological niche space (ENS) measured quantitatively using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios to the monitoring of effects of weirs constructed on four major rivers in Korea. ENS was calculated using the Bayesian stable isotope in R statistics. The ENS of fish communities showed persistent differences between upstream and downstream areas of all studied weirs. The ENSs of omnivores were larger in upstream impounded areas but the ENSs of predator species, both endemic (Erythroculter erythropterus) and exotic (Micropterus salmoides) predators had decreased ENSs in upstream areas. E. erythropterus showed horizontal variations in a wide range of carbon stable isotopes, whereas M. salmoides showed vertical variations in nitrogen stable isotopes. The results suggest that weir construction may have species-specific impact on the ENS of fish community by impoundment and increase niche overlap in upstream areas of the weir. The measured ENS of fish community was significantly correlated with the relative abundance of tolerant species negatively, whereas correlated with that of endemic species positively, suggesting that the ENS can be used as a comprehensive indicator of habitat conditions.

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Bats and bat-borne diseases: a perspective on Australian megabats

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo12126 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 48 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Justin H. J. Ng ◽

Michelle L. Baker

Keyword(s):

Infectious Diseases ◽

Ecological Niche ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽

Hendra Virus ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Highly Pathogenic ◽

Host Interactions ◽

Wide Range

Bats are the second most species rich and abundant group of mammals and display an array of unique characteristics but are also among the most poorly studied mammals. They fill an important ecological niche and have diversified into a wide range of habitats. In recent years, bats have been implicated as reservoirs for some of the most highly pathogenic emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases reported to date, including SARS-like coronavirus, Ebola, Hendra and Nipah viruses. The ability of bats to harbour these viruses in the absence of clinical signs of disease has resulted in a resurgence of interest in bat biology and virus–host interactions. Interest in bats, in Australia in particular, has intensified following the identification of several novel bat-borne viruses from flying-foxes, including Hendra virus, which is capable of spillover from bats to horses and subsequently to humans with potentially fatal consequences. As we continue to encroach on the natural habitats of bats, a better understanding of bat biology, ecology and virus–host interactions has never before been so critical. In this review, we focus on the biology of Australian pteropid bats and the pathogens they harbour, summarising current knowledge of bat-borne diseases, bat ecology, ethology and immunology.

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Population growth rate and its determinants: an overview

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2002.1117 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 357 (1425) ◽

pp. 1153-1170 ◽

Cited By ~ 287

Author(s):

Richard M. Sibly ◽

Jim Hone

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Population Density ◽

Population Growth ◽

Population Ecology ◽

Ecological Niche ◽

Population Growth Rate ◽

Population Regulation ◽

Interference Competition ◽

Environmental Stressors ◽

Future Population

We argue that population growth rate is the key unifying variable linking the various facets of population ecology. The importance of population growth rate lies partly in its central role in forecasting future population trends; indeed if the form of density dependence were constant and known, then the future population dynamics could to some degree be predicted. We argue that population growth rate is also central to our understanding of environmental stress: environmental stressors should be defined as factors which when first applied to a population reduce population growth rate. The joint action of such stressors determines an organism's ecological niche, which should be defined as the set of environmental conditions where population growth rate is greater than zero (where population growth rate = r = log e ( N t +1 / N t )). While environmental stressors have negative effects on population growth rate, the same is true of population density, the case of negative linear effects corresponding to the well–known logistic equation. Following Sinclair, we recognize population regulation as occurring when population growth rate is negatively density dependent. Surprisingly, given its fundamental importance in population ecology, only 25 studies were discovered in the literature in which population growth rate has been plotted against population density. In 12 of these the effects of density were linear; in all but two of the remainder the relationship was concave viewed from above. Alternative approaches to establishing the determinants of population growth rate are reviewed, paying special attention to the demographic and mechanistic approaches. The effects of population density on population growth rate may act through their effects on food availability and associated effects on somatic growth, fecundity and survival, according to a 'numerical response', the evidence for which is briefly reviewed. Alternatively, there may be effects on population growth rate of population density in addition to those that arise through the partitioning of food between competitors; this is 'interference competition'. The distinction is illustrated using a replicated laboratory experiment on a marine copepod, Tisbe battagliae . Application of these approaches in conservation biology, ecotoxicology and human demography is briefly considered. We conclude that population regulation, density dependence, resource and interference competition, the effects of environmental stress and the form of the ecological niche, are all best defined and analysed in terms of population growth rate.

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