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1,029 results for “altitude”
FIGURE 5 in Qorimayus, a new genus of relictual, high-altitude harvestmen from western Argentina (Arachnida, Opiliones, Gonyleptidae) reveals trans-Andean phylogenetic links
FIGURE 5. Qorimayus alticola (Ringuelet, 1962) comb. nov., holotype ♂, distal end of penis. A: Dorsal view. B: Lateral view. C: Detail of stylus and ventral process of stylus (VPS). Macrosetae series are labelled as MS A, MS B, MS C, MS D and MS E, following the nomenclature of Kury & Villarreal (2015). Scales: 0.1 mm.
FIGURE 8 in Qorimayus, a new genus of relictual, high-altitude harvestmen from western Argentina (Arachnida, Opiliones, Gonyleptidae) reveals trans-Andean phylogenetic links
FIGURE 8. Habitat of Qorimayus alticola in the Río Oro canyon (La Rioja Province, Argentina). A: General view of the valley at ca. 2400 m a.s.l. B: Scrubland bordering the track to Mina El Oro, at one collecting site (2450 m a.s.l.).
Data from: Genetic adaptation of Tibetan poplar (Populus szechuanica var. tibetica) to high altitudes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
<p>Plant adaptation to high altitudes has long been a substantial focus of ecological and evolutionary research. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying such adaptation remain poorly understood. Here, we address this issue by sampling, genotyping, and comparing populations of Tibetan poplar, Populus szechuanica var. tibetica, distributed from low (~2000 m) to high altitudes (~3000 m) of Sejila Mountain on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Population structure analyses allow clear classification of two groups according to their altitudinal distributions. However, in contrast to the genetic variation within each population, differences between the two populations only explain a small portion of the total genetic variation (3.64%). We identified asymmetrical gene flow from high- to low-altitude populations. Integrating population genomic and landscape genomic analyses, we detected two hotspot regions, one containing four genes associated with altitudinal variation, and the other containing ten genes associated with response to solar radiation. These genes participate in abiotic stress resistance and regulation of reproductive processes. Our results provide insight into the genetic mechanisms underlying high-altitude adaptation in Tibetan poplar.</p>
Data from: Life history evolution and cellular mechanisms associated with increased size in high-altitude Drosophila
Understanding the physiological and genetic basis of growth and body size variation has wide-ranging implications, from cancer and metabolic disease to the genetics of complex traits. We examined the evolution of body and wing size in high-altitude Drosophila melanogaster from Ethiopia, flies with larger size than any previously known population. Specifically, we sought to identify life history characteristics and cellular mechanisms that may have facilitated size evolution. We found that the large-bodied Ethiopian flies laid significantly fewer but larger eggs relative to lowland, smaller-bodied Zambian flies. The highland flies were found to achieve larger size in a similar developmental period, potentially aided by a reproductive strategy favoring greater provisioning of fewer offspring. At the cellular level, cell proliferation was a strong contributor to wing size evolution, but both thorax and wing size increases involved important changes in cell size. Nuclear size measurements were consistent with elevated somatic ploidy as an important mechanism of body size evolution. We discuss the significance of these results for the genetic basis of evolutionary changes in body and wing size in Ethiopian D. melanogaster.
Data from: Differential high-altitude adaptation and restricted gene flow across a mid-elevation hybrid zone in Andean tit-tyrant flycatchers
The tropical Andes are a global hotspot of avian diversity that is characterized by dramatic elevational shifts in community composition and a preponderance of recently evolved species. Bird habitats in the Andes span a nearly two-fold range of atmospheric pressure that poses challenges for respiration, thermoregulation, water balance, and powered flight, but the extent to which physiological constraints limit species' elevational distributions is poorly understood. We report a previously unknown hybrid zone between recently diverged flycatchers (Aves, Tyrannidae) with partially overlapping elevational ranges. The southern Anairetes reguloides has a broad elevational range (0-4200 m), while the northern Anairetes nigrocristatus is restricted to high elevations (>2200 m). We found hybrids in central Peru at elevations between ~3100-3800 m, with A. nigrocristatus above this elevation and A. reguloides below. We analyzed variation in hematology, heart mass, morphometrics, plumage, and one mitochondrial and three nuclear loci across an elevational transect that encompasses the hybrid zone. Phenotypic traits and genetic markers all showed steep clines across the hybrid zone. Hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean cellular hemoglobin concentration, and relative heart mass each increased at altitude more strongly in A. reguloides than in A. nigrocristatus. These findings suggest that A. nigrocristatus is more resistant than A. reguloides to high-altitude hypoxic respiratory stress. Considering that the ancestor of the genus is suggested to have been restricted to high elevations, A. reguloides may be secondarily adapted to low-altitude. We conclude that differential respiratory specialization on atmospheric pressure combined with competitive exclusion maintains replacement along an elevational contour, despite interbreeding.
Ancient hybridization with an unknown population facilitated high altitude adaptation of canids
<p>Genetic introgression provides material for adaptive evolution, but also confounds our understanding of evolutionary history. This is particularly true for canids, a species complex in which genome sequencing and analysis has revealed a complex history of admixture and introgression. Here, we use newly sequenced genomes of high-altitude Tibetan and Himalayan wolves to explore the evolutionary history and adaptation of this group. We find that Tibetan and Himalayan wolves are closely related to each other, and that approximately 39-49% of their nuclear genome are derived from an as-yet unrecognized wolf-like lineage that is deeply diverged from living Holarctic wolves and dogs. The <i>EPAS1</i> haplotype, which is present at high frequencies in Tibetan dog breeds and wolves and confers an adaptive advantage to animals living at high altitudes, was probably derived from this ancient lineage. Our study suggests the complexity of canid evolution and demonstrates how admixture and introgression shape the evolutionary trajectories and adaptation of species.</p>
Data from: From pristine forests to high-altitude pastures: an ecological approach to prehistoric human impact on vegetation and landscapes in the western Italian Alps
1. This paper addresses the origin and development of the oldest prehistoric pasture in the timberline ecotone known so far in the Alps and its relation to anthropogenic pressure and natural climate change. 2. Paleoecological and geochemical techniques were applied on the Crotte Basse mire stratigraphy (2365 m asl, western Italy) to describe changes in vegetation composition, forest biomass, land use and fertilization between ca. 6400 - 1800 yrs cal BP. 3. Subalpine forests dominated by Pinus cembra occurred at very high-altitude up to ca. 5600 yrs cal BP, when a sharp contraction of woody vegetation took place. This major vegetation shift is matched by increasing charcoal input and markers of pastoral/grazing activities (pollen, dung spores, and forms of phosphorus) in the sediment sequence in this small basin. 4. Major phases of landscape change detected in our multiproxy record chronologically match intervals of cumulative probability density of 14C ages from nearby archaeological sites, suggesting that human activity was the factor leading to massive landscape change from the onset of the Copper Age (ca. 5600 yrs cal BP). The change may have been reinforced by climate variability in the period 5700 - 5300 years cal BP. 5. Sensitivity of woody species to fires was statistically explored (Appendix S3 in Supporting Information), revealing negative reactions of Pinus cembra and Betula to frequent fire episodes and positive reactions of Alnus viridis and Juniperus. Fire episodes do not affect Larix dynamics. 6. Synthesis: Mt. Fallère provides some of the oldest and consistent evidence so far available in the Alps for major anthropogenic pressure at the upper forest limit. As far back as 5600 cal years BP, high-elevation forest ecosystems were permanently disrupted and the alpine pastures were created. Palaeoecological data enable a clear distinction between a random and sporadic use of the alpine space, typical for Mesolithic and Neolithic societies, and an organized seasonal exploitation of natural resources, starting from the Copper Age onwards. The chronological comparison of independent climate proxies, paleoecological information and pollen-based temperature reconstructions sheds light on the relationships between climate and humans since prehistoric times.
Data from: Effects of UVB radiation on grazing of two cladocerans from high-altitude Andean lakes
Climate change and water extraction may result in increased exposition of the biota to ultraviolet-B radiation (UVB) in high-altitude Andean lakes. Although exposition to lethal doses in these lakes is unlikely, sub-lethal UVB doses may have strong impacts in key compartments such as zooplankton. Here, we aimed at determining the effect of sub-lethal UVB doses on filtration rates of two cladoceran species (Daphnia pulicaria and Ceriodaphnia dubia). We firstly estimated the Incipient Limiting Concentration (ILC) and the Gut Passage Time (GPT) for both species. Thereafter we exposed clones of each species to four increasing UVB doses (treatments): i) DUV-0 (Control), ii) DUV-1 (0.02 MJ m2), iii) DUV-2 (0.03 MJ m2) and iv) DUV-3 (0.15 MJ m2); and estimated their filtration rates using fluorescent micro-spheres. Our results suggest that increasing sub-lethal doses of UVB radiation may strongly disturb the structure and functioning of high-altitude Andean lakes. Filtration rates of D. pulicaria were not affected by the lowest dose applied (DUV-1), but decreased by 50% in treatments DUV-2 and DUV-3. Filtration rates for C. dubia were reduced by more than 80% in treatments DUV-1 and DUV-2 and 100 % of mortality occurred at the highest UVB dose applied (DUV-3).
Data from: Genetic and phenotypic divergence between low- and high-altitude populations of two recently diverged cinnamon teal subspecies
Spatial variation in the environment can lead to divergent selection between populations occupying different parts of a species' range, and ultimately lead to population divergence. The colonization of new areas can thus facilitate divergence in beneficial traits, yet with little differentiation at neutral genetic markers. We investigated genetic and phenotypic patterns of divergence between low- and high-altitude populations of cinnamon teal inhabiting normoxic and hypoxic regions in the Andes and adjacent lowlands of South America. Cinnamon Teal showed strong divergence in body size (PC1; PST = 0.56) and exhibited significant frequency differences in a single non-synonymous α-hemoglobin amino acid polymorphism (Asn/Ser-α9; FST = 0.60) between environmental extremes, despite considerable admixture of mtDNA and intron loci (FST = 0.004–0.168). Inferences of strong population segregation were further supported by the observation of few mismatched individuals in either environmental extreme. Coalescent analyses indicated that the highlands were most likely colonized from lowland regions but following divergence, gene flow has been asymmetric from the highlands into the lowlands. Multiple selection pressures associated with high altitude habitats, including cold and hypoxia, have likely shaped morphological and genetic divergence within South American cinnamon teal populations.
Data from: Modeling intraspecific adaptation of Abies sachalinensis to local altitude and responses to global warming, based on a 36-year reciprocal transplant experiment
Intraspecific adaptation in Abies sachalinensis was examined using models based on long-term monitoring data gathered during a reciprocal transplant experiment with eight seed source populations and six transplantation sites along an altitudinal gradient. The consequence of local adaptation was evaluated by testing the home-site advantage for upslope and downslope transplants at five ages. The populations' fitness-linked trait was set as their productivity (tree height ×survival rate) at each age. The effects of global warming were evaluated on the basis of the 36-year performance of downslope transplants. Evidence was found for adaptive genetic variation affecting both height and survival from an early age. Increasing the distance between seed source and planting site significantly reduced productivity for both upslope and downslope transplantation, demonstrating the existence of a significant home-site advantage. The decrease in productivity was most distinct for upslope transplantations, indicating strong local adaptation to high altitudes. Global warming is predicted to increase the productivity of high-altitude populations. However, due to their existing local adaptation, all tested populations exhibited lower productivity under warming than demes that were optimal for the new climate. These negative predictions should be considered when planning the management of locally-adapted plant species such as A. sachalinensis.
Data from: The Chirocopter: a UAV for recording sound and video of bats at altitude
1. Most recordings of bats are conducted with fixed equipment, which relies on opportunistic data collection. Unmanned aerial vehicles (such as drones) are considered inappropriate for recording bats due to ultrasound noise constraints. 2. We developed a UAV system that physically isolates UAV noise so we can record, with 3D maneuverability, ultrasonic audio and spatial thermal data of bat flight at altitude. 3. We tested the noise of our UAV with various payloads and microphone configurations to characterize the ultrasonic noise of our system, physically isolate drone noise from the microphone, and maximize UAV flight performance. 4. Over 84 minutes of recordings, we captured 3,847 echolocation signals from bats with corresponding thermal data of bat flight. Our system provides a feasible mechanism to capture both acoustic and video data of bats aloft at flexible locations and altitudes. 5. We include information on how to extend our method to apply to acoustic recordings in the audible (20 Hz-20 kHz) range for recording sounds of other taxa.
Data from: Spatial patterns along an elevation gradient in high altitude grasslands, Brazil
The Brazilian high altitude grasslands are important biodiversity centers that contribute to human well being far outside their boundaries. They host many vulnerable species that may go locally extinct as a result of small changes in the environment. Performing studies on local species distribution is important to achieve biodiversity conservation in these areas. This study intended to characterize a high altitude grassland plant community along an elevation gradient in Southeastern Brazil. Simple logistic regression, chi-squared tests and indicator species analysis were performed to investigate respectively whether: (i) the occurrence of botanical families was related to the altitude; (ii) the richness and abundance of life forms varied along the gradient and (iii) there were populations associated with specific altitudinal belts. Rubiaceae and Polygalaceae had higher occurrence probability in higher altitudes. Hemicryptophytes and chamaephytes seem to be the most favored life forms under local extreme conditions such as low temperatures and drought. Vegetation spectra varied significantly along the gradient, highlighting the major role of the turnover of habitats in a local scale in underlying patterns of species distribution. Upper elevations encompassed a high number of indicator species, and further identification of high altitude grasslands' indicator species will provide clues about adaptability of local species, which is important to be considered in ecosystem management and conservation.
Data from: Altitude effects on spatial components of vascular plant diversity in a subarctic mountain tundra
Environmental gradients are caused by gradual changes in abiotic factors, which affect species abundances and distributions, and are important for the spatial distribution of biodiversity. One prominent environmental gradient is the altitude gradient. Understanding ecological processes associated with altitude gradients may help us to understand the possible effects climate change could have on species communities. We quantified vegetation cover, species richness, species evenness, beta diversity, and spatial patterns of community structure of vascular plants along altitude gradients in a subarctic mountain tundra in northern Sweden. Vascular plant cover and plant species richness showed unimodal relationships with altitude. However, species evenness did not change with altitude, suggesting that no individual species became dominant when species richness declined. Beta diversity also showed a unimodal relationship with altitude, but only for an intermediate spatial scale of 1 km. A lack of relationships with altitude for either patch or landscape scales suggests that any altitude effects on plant spatial heterogeneity occurred on scales larger than individual patches but were not effective across the whole landscape. We observed both nested and modular patterns of community structures, but only the modular patterns corresponded with altitude. Our observations point to biotic regulations of plant communities at high altitudes, but we found both scale dependencies and inconsistent magnitude of the effects of altitude on different diversity components. We urge for further studies evaluating how different factors influence plant communities in high altitude and high latitude environments, as well as studies identifying scale and context dependencies in any such influences.
Data from: Basal metabolism in tropical birds: latitude, altitude, and the "pace of life"
1. Life history varies across latitudes, with the 'pace of life' being 'slower' in tropical regions. Because life history is coupled to energy metabolism via allocation tradeoffs and links between performance capacity and energy use, low metabolic intensity is expected in tropical animals. Low metabolism has been reported for lowland tropical birds, but it is unclear if this is due to 'slow' life history or to a warm, stable environment. 2. We measured Basal Metabolic Rates (BMR) of 253 bird species across a 2.6 km altitude gradient in Peru. We predicted higher BMR at high altitude due to lower temperatures leading to elevated thermoregulatory costs. We also tested for BMR differences between widely separated tropical regions (Peru and Panama), and between tropical- and temperate-breeding birds. 3. We found no effect of altitude on BMR in Peruvian species and no difference in BMR between Peruvian and Panamanian birds, suggesting that BMR in Neotropical birds is consistent and independent of environmental temperature. In a dataset encompassing more than 500 species, tropical birds had significantly lower BMR than temperate-breeding birds. 4. In contrast to several recent analyses, we found higher BMR in passerine birds than in non-passerines, independent of breeding latitude. 5. Breeding latitude affects BMR, but diversity in avian life history within and between temperate and tropical regions may explain some of the residual variation in BMR after accounting for body mass and breeding latitude. Future studies of links between life history, metabolism, and environmental factors might benefit from examining these variables within individual species as well as across broad geographic contrasts.
Data from: Local adaptation with high gene flow: temperature parameters drive adaptation to altitude in the common frog (Rana temporaria)
Both environmental- and genetic-influences can result in phenotypic variation. Quantifying the relative contributions of local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity to phenotypes is key to understanding the effect of environmental variation on populations. Identifying the selective pressures that drive divergence is an important, but often lacking, next step. High gene flow between high- and low-altitude common frog (Rana temporaria) breeding sites has previously been demonstrated in Scotland. The aim of this study was to assess whether local adaptation occurs in the face of high gene flow and to identify potential environmental selection pressures that drive adaptation. Phenotypic variation in larval traits was quantified in R. temporaria from paired high- and low-altitude sites using three common temperature treatments. Local adaptation was assessed using QST-FST analyses, and quantitative phenotypic divergence was related to environmental parameters using Mantel tests. Although evidence of local adaptation was found for all traits measured, only variation in larval period and growth rate was consistent with adaptation to altitude. Moreover, this was only evident in the three mountains with the highest high-altitude sites. This variation was correlated with mean summer and winter temperatures, suggesting temperature parameters are potentially strong selective pressures maintaining local adaptation, despite high gene flow.
Data from: Lizards at the peak: physiological plasticity does not maintain performance in lizards transplanted to high altitude
Warming climates are facilitating the range expansion of many taxa to habitats that were formerly thermally inhospitable, including to higher latitudes and elevations. The potential for such colonization, however, varies widely among taxa. Since environmental factors may interact to affect colonization potential, an understanding of underlying physiological and behavioural mechanisms is necessary to predict how species will respond to potentially suitable habitats. For example, temperature and oxygen availability will interact to shape physiological and performance traits. Our model species, the wall lizard Podarcis muralis, is a widely distributed ectotherm that continues to expand its range in Europe despite being limited by cold temperatures at high elevations and latitudes. To test the potential for organisms to expand to warming high-altitude environments, we conducted a transplant experiment to quantify the within-individual effects of high-altitude hypoxia on physiological and performance traits. Transplanted lizards maintained individual differences in physiological traits related to oxygen capacity and metabolism (haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, and peak post-exhaustion metabolic rate) as well as performance traits tied to fitness (sprint speed and running endurance). Although lizards altered blood biochemistry to increase oxygen-carrying capacity, their performance was reduced at high altitude. Furthermore, lizards at high altitude suffered a rapid loss of body condition over the six-week experiment, potentially indicating an energetic cost to hypoxia. Taken together, this demonstrates a limited potential for within-individual plasticity to facilitate colonization of novel high-altitude environments.
Data from: Increase in light interception cost and metabolic mass component of leaves are coupled for efficient resource use in the high altitude vegetation
Global syntheses of leaf trait scaling relationships report an increase in light interception costs or 'diminishing returns' with increase in leaf area. However, variation in light interception costs across ecological gradients and plant strategies to cope up with these costs are not adequately understood. We analyzed leaf area (A) - leaf dry mass (M), leaf water mass (W) - M and W - A scaling relationships in plants occurring in a high altitude region of western Himalaya across environmental gradients to understand changes in light interception cost and metabolic mass component. M represents light interception cost, whereas, W is considered as a proxy of metabolic mass component for liquid phase being the ultimate source of metabolic activity. Trait values were measured from 9278 leaves belonging to 136 dominant species occurring at different sites, slope aspects, elevations and habitat types. Overall, light interception cost increased with increasing A (scaling exponent (α) <1 in A-M relationship) and metabolic mass component increased disproportionately high with increasing M and A. We found significant differences in scaling exponents of leaf trait relationship between sites, elevations, slope aspects and habitat types, indicating that increase in light interception cost was more evident at higher elevations, southern slopes and open habitats. Further, with increase in light interception cost, metabolic mass component also increased (α>1 in W-M and W-A relationships). The changes in scaling exponents of various leaf trait relationships across ecological gradients indicated that vegetation of different regions have differences in light interception cost and metabolic mass component. Moreover, increasing light interception cost (increase in mechanical and hydraulic tissues) with increasing A and increasing metabolic mass (leaf thickness) with increasing A and M are favored in high altitude vegetation. This could be a key strategy of high altitude plants for efficient resource capture and use in harsh environments.
FIGURES 266–268. The South American transition zone. 266 in Leaf-mining Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from record high altitudes: documenting an entire new fauna in the Andean páramo and puna
FIGURES 266–268. The South American transition zone. 266, the Neotropical and Ando-Patagonian regions; 267, high Andean Nepticulidae species were described from two biogeographical provinces: the Páramo and Puna; 268, The South American transition zone (after Morrone 2014, 2015) which, following Morrone (2015), includes the Páramo, Puna, Nazca (or Desert sensu Morrone 2015), Atacama, Prepuna and Monte provinces but in our monograph was considered as belonging to the Ando-Patagonian Region (the Andean region sensu Morrone 2015).
FIGURES 250–255 in Leaf-mining Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from record high altitudes: documenting an entire new fauna in the Andean páramo and puna
FIGURES 250–255. Bionomics of Stigmella calceolarifoliae Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 250, 251, host-plant Calceolaria sp. (Calceolariaceae); 252–255, leaf-mines.
FIGURES 245–249 in Leaf-mining Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from record high altitudes: documenting an entire new fauna in the Andean páramo and puna
FIGURES 245–249. Stigmella calceolarifoliae Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 245, holotype, male adult; 246, holotype, male genitalia, slide no. AD650, phallus; 247, same, capsule with phallus removed; 248, same, focused from ventral to more dorsal view; 249, paratype, female genitalia, slide no. AD649 (ZMUC).
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