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229 results for “latitudinal gradients”
Predation and parasitism on herbivorous insects change in opposite directions in a latitudinal gradient crossing a boreal forest zone
<ol> <li>The Latitudinal Biotic Interaction Hypothesis (LBIH) predicts that the strength of various biotic interactions decreases from low to high latitudes. Inconsistency between studies testing this hypothesis may result from variations among different types of interactions and among study systems. Therefore, exploration of multiple interactions within one system would help to disentangle latitudinal patterns across individual interactions and to evaluate latitudinal changes in the overall impact of enemies on prey.</li> <li>We tested the prediction based on the LBIH that the pressure of natural enemies on herbivorous insects decreases with an increase in latitude across the boreal forest zone. We also asked whether the impacts of major groups of these enemies exhibit similar latitudinal patterns and whether these patterns are consistent across study years. </li> <li>In 10 forest sites located from 60°N to 69°N in Northern Europe, each summer, from 2016–2019, we measured (i) mortality of three groups of leafmining insects caused by birds, ants, parasitoids, and unknown factors, (ii) bird attacks on caterpillar-shaped plasticine models, and (iii) birch foliar damage caused by defoliators and leafminers.</li> <li>Latitudinal patterns in both insect herbivory on birch and top-down pressure on herbivorous insects varied considerably and inconsistently among the four study years, so that only some of the year-specific correlations with latitude were statistically significant. Nevertheless, meta-analysis combining correlations across years, preys and enemies revealed general decreases in predation by birds (on both natural and model prey) and ants, but an increase in parasitism rates, from low to high latitudes.</li> <li>We found that the direction of latitudinal changes in the strength of biotic interactions was interaction-specific: predation and herbivory supported LBIH, whereas parasitism exhibited an opposite trend. Consequently, the overall impact of natural enemies on herbivorous insects did not change with latitude and was therefore an unlikely reason for the poleward decrease in herbivory observed in our gradient. Considerable among-year variation in the strength of the latitudinal patterns in all the studied interactions suggests that this variation is a widespread phenomenon. </li> </ol>
Data from: Drivers of bromeliad leaf and floral bract variation across a latitudinal gradient in the Atlantic Forest
<p>Aim: Understanding the complex interaction and relative contributions of factors involved in species and trait diversification is crucial to gain insights into the evolution of Neotropical biodiversity. Here, we investigated the drivers of morphological variation in bromeliads along a latitudinal gradient in a biodiversity hotspot.</p> <p>Location: Atlantic Forest, Brazil.</p> <p>Taxon: A species complex in the genus Vriesea (Bromeliaceae).</p> <p>Methods: We measured shape and size variation for 208 floral bracts and 176 leaves in individuals from 14 localities using geometric morphometrics. We compiled data for two chloroplast regions (matK and trnL-F) from 89 individuals to assess genetic diversity, population structure and phylogenetic relationships. We tested the influence of climate, altitude and genetic distance on morphological traits using linear statistical models.</p> <p>Results: Temperature seasonality is a main driver of floral bract shape. Together with precipitation, it also explains changes in leaf size across the latitudinal gradient. Shifts in morphological traits are correlated with genetic structure and partly support the recent taxonomic delimitation proposed for the species complex. The species started to diversify in the Pliocene ca. 5 Mya. We detected a phylogeographic break in species distribution into northern and southern clades between the Bocaina region and the southern portion of the Atlantic Forest.</p> <p>Main conclusions: We identify how geography and environmental changes through time shape floral bracts and leaves in similar ways. At highly seasonal sites with lower annual precipitation (in the southern subtropical portion of the Atlantic Forest), leaves are larger and floral bracts are wide-elliptic, making them better suited for increased water accumulation. In contrast, at less seasonal sites (in the tropical north, where rainfall is more abundant and temperatures are higher), leaves are narrower and floral bracts are lanceolate-shaped, facilitating water drainage. The biogeographical break we identified suggests a role of tectonic activity and climatic oscillations in promoting species divergence and diversification.</p>
Data from: Marine latitudinal diversity gradients, niche conservatism, and out of the tropics and Arctic: climatic sensitivity of small organisms
<ul> <li>Aim</li> </ul> <p>The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is a consequence of evolutionary and ecological mechanisms acting over long history, and thus is best investigated with organisms that have rich fossil records. However, combined neontological-paleontological investigations are mostly limited to large, shelled invertebrates, which keeps our mechanistic understanding of LDGs in its infancy. This paper aims to describe the modern meiobenthic ostracod LDG and to explore the possible controlling factors and the evolutionary mechanisms of this large-scale biodiversity pattern.</p> <ul> <li>Location</li> </ul> <p>Present-day Western North Atlantic</p> <ul> <li>Taxon</li> </ul> <p>Ostracoda</p> <ul> <li>Methods</li> </ul> <p>We compiled census data from ostracods living in shallow marine environments of the western North Atlantic Ocean. Using these data, we documented the marine LDG with multiple metrics of alpha, beta (nestedness and turnover), and gamma diversity, and we tested whether macroecological patterns could be governed by different environmental factors, including temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH and primary productivity. We also explored the geologic age distribution of ostracod genera to investigate the evolutionary mechanisms underpinning the LDG.</p> <ul> <li>Results</li> </ul> <p>Our results show that temperature and climatic niche conservatism are important in setting LDGs of these small, poorly-dispersing organisms. We also found evidence for some dispersal-driven spatial dynamics in the ostracod LDG. Compared to patterns observed in marine bivalves, however, dispersal dynamics were weaker and they were bi-directional, rather than following the "out-of-the-tropics" model.</p> <ul> <li>Main Conclusions</li> </ul> <p>Our detailed analyses revealed that meiobenthic organisms, which comprise two-thirds of marine diversity, do not always follow the same rules as larger, better-studied organisms. Our findings suggest that the under-studied majority of biodiversity may be more sensitive to climate than are well-studied, large organisms. This implies that the impacts of ongoing Anthropocene climatic change on marine ecosystems may be much more serious than presently thought.</p>
Data from: Seascape genomics of the sugar kelp Saccharina latissima along the North Eastern Atlantic latitudinal gradient
<p>Temperature is one of the most important range-limiting factors for many seaweeds. Driven by the recent climatic changes, rapid northward shifts of species' distribution ranges can potentially modify the phylogeographic signature of Last Glacial Maximum. We explored this question in detail in the cold-tolerant kelp species <i>Saccharina latissima</i>, using microsatellites and double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) derived single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to analyze the genetic diversity and structure in 11 sites spanning the entire European Atlantic latitudinal range of this species. In addition, we checked for statistical correlation between genetic marker allele frequencies and three environmental proxies (sea surface temperature, salinity, and water turbidity). Our findings revealed that genetic diversity was significantly higher for the northernmost locality (Spitsbergen) compared to the southern ones (Northern Iberia), which we discuss in light of the current state of knowledge on phylogeography of <i>S</i>. <i>latissima</i> and the potential influence of the recent climatic changes on the population structure of this species. Seven SNPs and 12 microsatellite alleles were found to be significantly associated with at least one of the three environmental variables. We speculate on the putative adaptive functions of the genes associated with the outlier markers and the importance of these markers for successful conservation and aquaculture strategies for <i>S. latissima</i> in this age of rapid global change.</p>
Common-garden experiment reveals clinal trends of bud phenology in black spruce populations from a latitudinal gradient in the boreal forest
<p>Climate warming is modifying the movement of air masses over Northern latitudes, producing warming and cooling events across the boreal regions. These new conditions changes may mismatch plant phenology from weather conditions, and affect the growing period of trees. Understanding the processes of local adaptation in bud phenology can help to predict the response of plants to these rapid and unexpected environmental changes.</p> <p>Our study monitored bud burst and bud set weekly during four growing seasons in black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] saplings planted in a common garden and originating from five provenances representing the whole latitudinal distribution of the closed boreal forest in Quebec, Canada. We compared the variance in bud phenology among populations and years, and analyzed the relationships with the temperatures at the origin sites.</p> <p>Bud burst and bud set occurred in mid-May and mid-July, respectively, with a large variability among provenances and between the study years. A delayed bud phenology was observed in the provenances from warmer sites, with bud burst and bud set being 1.1 and 1.4 days later for every additional degree in mean annual temperature at the origin site, respectively. Populations with earlier bud bursts also showed earlier bud sets, thus the growing season was similar among provenances. The heritability of bud set was higher than that of bud burst, with estimates of 0.26 and 0.21, respectively. On average, variance in bud phenology among provenances reached 5.3%, which was higher than that within provenances (2.6%). The factor year explained 37.7-69.7% of the variance in bud phenology.</p> <p>Synthesis. Results demonstrate the plastic response of bud burst to changing temperatures and suggest the effects of endogenous factors on bud set. The earlier growth reactivation due to global warming occurring under higher frost risks in spring are expected to produce damage to the developing buds. Meanwhile, the ability of bud phenology to match the inter-annual variability in weather could help to cope with the changing environmental conditions expected in the future.</p>
Data from: Large scale variation in birth timing and synchrony of a large herbivore along the latitudinal and altitudinal gradients
<p>1. Hopkins' Bioclimatic Law predicts geographic patterns in phenological timing by establishing a correspondence between latitudinal and altitudinal gradients. First proposed for key phenological events of plants, such as leaf sprouting or flowering dates, this law has rarely been used to assess the geographical equivalence of key life history traits of mammals.</p> <p>2. We hypothesize that (H1) parturition dates of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) are delayed and more synchronized at higher latitudes and altitudes, (H2) parturition timing varies along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients in a way that matches the Hopkins' Bioclimatic Law, and (H3) females adjust parturition timing to match the period of high energy demand with peak resource availability.</p> <p>3. We used parturition dates of 7,444 European roe deer from Switzerland to assess altitudinal variation in birth timing and synchrony from 288 to 2,366 m a.s.l. We then performed a literature survey to compare altitudinal results with those from different populations along the species' latitudinal range of distribution. Finally, we performed spatial analysis combining our highly resolved altitudinal data on parturition dates with plant phenology data.</p> <p>4. As expected, parturition dates were delayed with increasing latitude and altitude. This delay matched the Bioclimatic Law, as the effect of 1º increase in latitude was similar to 120 m increase in altitude. However, while parturitions were more synchronized with increasing altitude, we did not detect any trend along the latitudinal gradient. Finally, plant phenology explained altitudinal variation in parturition timing better than a linear effect of altitude.</p> <p>5. Our findings clearly demonstrate the ability of a large herbivore to match parturition timing with phenological conditions across the altitudinal gradient, even at the smallest spatial scales. </p>
Latitudinal gradient in the intensity of biotic interactions in terrestrial ecosystems: Sources of variation and differences from the diversity gradient revealed by meta-analysis
<p>The Latitudinal Biotic Interaction Hypothesis (LBIH) states that the intensity of biotic interactions increases from high to low latitudes. This hypothesis, which may partly explain latitudinal gradients in biodiversity, remains hotly debated, largely due to variable outcomes of published studies. We used meta-analysis to identify the scope of the LBIH in terrestrial ecosystems. For this purpose, we explored the sources of variation in the strength of latitudinal changes in herbivory, carnivory, and parasitism (119 publications) and compared these gradients with gradients in the diversity of the respective groups of animals (102 publications). Overall, both herbivory and carnivory decreased towards the poles, while parasitism increased. The latitudinal gradient in herbivory and carnivory was threefold stronger above 50–60º than at lower latitudes and was significant due to interactions involving ectothermic consumers, studies using standardized prey (i.e. prey lacking local anti-predator adaptations) and studies aimed at testing LBIH. The poleward decrease in biodiversity did not differ between ectothermic and endothermic animals or among climate zones and was four-fold stronger than decrease in herbivory and carnivory. The discovered differences between the gradients in biotic interactions and biodiversity suggest that these two global macroecological patterns are likely shaped by different factors.</p>
Predicting the strength of urban-rural clines in a Mendelian polymorphism along a latitudinal gradient
Cities are emerging as models for addressing the fundamental question of whether populations evolve in parallel to similar environments. Here, we examine the environmental factors that drive the evolution of parallel urban-rural clines in a Mendelian trait—the cyanogenic antiherbivore defense of white clover (Trifolium repens). Previous work suggested urban-rural gradients in frost and snow depth could drive the evolution of reduced hydrogen cyanide (HCN) frequencies in urban populations. Here, we sampled over 700 urban and rural clover populations across 16 cities along a latitudinal transect in eastern North America. In each population, we quantified changes in the frequency of genotypes that produce HCN, and in a subset of the cities we estimated the frequency of the alleles at the two genes (CYP79D15 and Li) that epistatically interact to produce HCN. We then tested the hypothesis that cold climatic conditions are necessary for the evolution of cyanogenesis clines by comparing the strength of clines among cities located along a gradient of winter temperatures and frost exposure. Overall, half of the cities exhibited urban-rural clines in the frequency of HCN, whereby urban populations evolved lower HCN frequencies. Clines did not evolve in cities with the lowest temperatures and greatest snowfall, supporting the hypothesis that snow buffers plants against winter frost and constrains the formation of clines. By contrast, the strongest clines occurred in the warmest cities where snow and frost are rare, suggesting that alternative selective agents are maintaining clines in warmer cities. Some clines were driven by evolution at only CYP79D15, consistent with stronger and more consistent selection on this locus than on Li. Together, our results demonstrate that urban environments often select for similar phenotypes, but different selective agents and targets underlie the evolutionary response in different cities.
Data from: Temperature shapes opposing latitudinal gradients of plant taxonomic and phylogenetic β diversity
Latitudinal and elevational richness gradients have received much attention from ecologists but there is little consensus on underlying causes. One possible proximate cause is increased levels of species turnover, or β diversity, in the tropics compared to temperate regions. Here, we leverage a large botanical dataset to map taxonomic and phylogenetic β diversity, as mean turnover between neighboring 100 × 100 km cells, across the Americas and determine key climatic drivers. We find taxonomic and tip‐weighted phylogenetic β diversity is higher in the tropics, but that basal‐weighted phylogenetic β diversity is highest in temperate regions. Supporting Janzen's 'mountain passes' hypothesis, tropical mountainous regions had higher β diversity than temperate regions for taxonomic and tip‐weighted metrics. The strongest climatic predictors of turnover were average temperature and temperature seasonality. Taken together, these results suggest β diversity is coupled to latitudinal richness gradients and that temperature is a major driver of plant community composition and change.
Data from: Explaining global variation in the latitudinal diversity gradient: meta-analysis confirms known patterns and uncovers new ones
Aim: The pattern of increasing biological diversity from high latitudes to the equator [latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG)] has been recognized for > 200 years. Empirical studies have documented this pattern across many different organisms and locations. Our goal was to quantify the evidence for the global LDG and the associated spatial, taxonomic and environmental factors. We performed a meta-analysis on a large number of individual LDGs that have been published in the 14 years since Hillebrand's ground-breaking meta-analysis of the LDG, using meta-analysis and meta-regression approaches largely new to the fields of ecology and biogeography. Location: Global. Time period: January 2003–September 2015. Major taxa studied: Bacteria, protists, plants, fungi and animals. Methods: We synthesized the outcomes of 389 individual cases of LDGs from 199 papers published since 2003, using hierarchical mixed-effects meta-analysis and multiple meta-regression. Additionally, we re-analysed Hillebrand's original dataset using modern methods. Results: We confirmed the generality of the LDG, but found the pattern to be weaker than was found in Hillebrand's study. We identified previously unreported variation in LDG strength and slope across longitude, with evidence that the LDG is strongest in the Western Hemisphere. Locational characteristics, such as habitat and latitude range, contributed significantly to LDG strength, whereas organismal characteristics, including taxonomic group and trophic level, did not. Modern meta-analytical models that incorporate hierarchical structure led to more conservative and sometimes contrasting effect size estimates relative to Hillebrand's initial analysis, whereas meta-regression revealed underlying patterns in Hillebrand's dataset that were not apparent with a traditional analysis. Main conclusions: We present evidence of global latitudinal, longitudinal and habitat-based patterns in the LDG, which are apparent across both marine and terrestrial realms and over a broad taxonomic range of organisms, from bacteria to plants and vertebrates.
Data from: Fitness surfaces and local thermal adaptation in Drosophila along a latitudinal gradient
<p><span>Local adaptation is commonly cited to explain species distribution, but how fitness varies along continuous geographical gradients is not well understood. Here we combine thermal biology and life-history theory to demonstrate that <em>Drosophila </em>populations along a 2,500 km latitudinal cline are adapted to local conditions. We measured how heat tolerance and viability rate across 8 populations vary with temperature in the laboratory, and then simulated their expected cumulative Darwinian fitness employing high-resolution temperature data from their 8 collection sites. Simulations indicate a trade-off between annual survival and cumulative viability, as both mortality and the recruitment of new flies are predicted to increase in warmer regions. Importantly, populations are locally adapted and exhibit the optimal combination of both traits to maximize fitness where they live. In conclusion, our method is able to reconstruct fitness surfaces employing empirical life-history estimates and reconstructs peaks representing locally adapted populations, allowing to study geographic adaptation <em>in silico</em>.</span></p>
Plant-mycorrhizal associations may explain the latitudinal gradient of plant community assembly
<p>Biogeographical variation in community assembly processes forms the basis of the latitudinal gradient of biodiversity by driving b-diversity. Classical studies on community assembly predict environmental filtering affecting b-diversity more strongly at higher latitudes, where productivity is lower and abiotic stress is stronger. Contrary to this prediction, recent evidence indicates that plant community composition at higher latitudes exhibits more spatially clustered distributions independently of background environments, suggesting the importance of spatial processes, such as priority effects. In this study, we propose a hypothesis that resolves this paradox by considering plant-soil feedback and biogeographic variations in the dominant mycorrhizal type: we predict that the increasing prevalence of ectomycorrhizal (EcM) trees with latitude contributes to the spatially clustered distribution of plants, as EcM trees tend to exhibit positive plant-soil feedback. We analyzed a large-scale standardized dataset of Japanese forests covering a latitudinal gradient of >10º and found that (i) the proportion of EcM trees was higher at higher latitudes, and (ii) EcM tree-rich communities exhibited more spatially clustered distributions likely due to positive plant-soil feedback. Consequently, (iii) tree species composition at higher latitudes was better explained by spatial variables suggesting the importance of priority effects. Consistent with the predictions of the plant-soil feedback theory, these patterns were more pronounced in understory than in canopy communities. Taken together, our results lend support to our hypothesis that biogeographic variation in tree community assembly patterns is defined by mycorrhizal types and plant-soil feedback, thereby resolving a paradox in the latitudinal gradient of plant community assembly. Our work highlights that plant mycorrhizal type underlies the determinants of b-diversity which is a critical component of the latitudinal gradient of diversity.</p>
Patterns and determinants of lichen abundance and diversity across a subarctic to arctic latitudinal gradient
<p>Macrolichen abundance at the species level in 42 sites across a subarctic (56°N) to arctic (62°N) latitudinal gradient in Nunavik (Québec, Canada). Data was collected in the dominant vegetation types of six regions sampled along this gradient.</p>
Tree canopy accession strategy changes along the latitudinal gradient of temperate Northeast Asia
<p>Aim: Understanding how natural forest disturbances control tree regeneration is key to predict the consequences of globally accelerating forest diebacks on carbon stocks and forest biodiversity. Tropical cyclones (TCs) are important drivers of forest dynamics in Eastern Asia and it is predicted that their importance will increase. However, little is known about TC impact on forest regeneration.</p> <p>Location: Latitudinal gradient from south Korea (33°N) to the Russian Far East (45°N).</p> <p>Time period: Last 300 years.</p> <p>Major taxa studied: <i>Quercus mongolica</i>, <i>Abies nephrolepis</i> and <i>Pinus koraiensis</i>.</p> <p>Methods: We explore the effects of TC activity on canopy accession strategies derived from long-term tree radial growth patterns along a 1500-km latitudinal gradient of decreasing TC activity. We analyzed canopy accession strategies for more than 800 trees of three widely distributed tree species by dividing them into gap trees (GTs) that established immediately after gap formation, and released trees (RTs) that accessed the upper canopy after a period of competitive suppression.</p> <p>Results: We found a substantial decrease in GTs and increase in RTs proportionally along the gradient of decreasing TC activity. <i>P. koraiensis</i> and <i>A. nephrolepis</i> exhibited high variability in the proportions of the individual canopy accession strategies along the latitudinal gradient, while it was more stable for <i>Q. mongolica</i>. We identified the gradient of TC activity as the main driver influencing canopy dynamics and thus changes in life history traits for <i>P. koraiensis</i> and <i>Q. mongolica</i>, while maximal growth rate was the main driver for <i>A. nephrolepis</i>.</p> <p>Main conclusions: Flexibility in growth strategies enabled the studied species to cover extensive areas and indicates that they will be able to cope with shifts in disturbance regimes induced by the poleward migration of TCs and increasing TC intensity. Our results highlight the canopy accession strategy as an ecological indicator of past disturbance activity.</p>
Extreme environments filter functionally rich communities of Atlantic Forest treefrogs along altitudinal and latitudinal gradients
<p>Understanding how environmental filtering and biotic interactions structure communities across elevational and latitudinal gradients is still a matter of debate. To provide insight into their relative importance, we explore the mismatch between three dimensions of biodiversity (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic), and compare their patterns to null models of random community assembly. We focus on a highly diverse tropical group: the tree frogs (hylids) of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. For that, we combined geographic distribution data with phylogenetic and trait information for 158 species to produce maps of the three dimensions of diversity. We show that communities of tree frogs of the Hylidae family tend to have high functional richness along the Atlantic Forest, potentially driven by niche partitioning. However, environmental filtering gains importance in extreme environments, both at high elevations and higher latitudes. In these areas of the forest, clustering of both functional and phylogenetic diversity is observed. Trait overdispersion is found in areas of contact between vegetation types, or of adjacent biomes, reflecting the encounter of amphibian species adapted to distinct environmental conditions and landscape configurations. Considering all three dimensions of diversity along with multiple axes of environmental variation allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the processes shaping amphibian community assembly in this biodiversity hotspot.</p>
Latitudinal resource gradient shapes multi-variate defense strategies in a long-lived shrub
<p>Herein lies the data and R code for the analyses for the manuscript titled, "Latitudinal resource gradient shapes multi-variate defense strategies in a long-lived shrub", published in <em>Ecology.</em></p>
Genetic diversity and differentiation of populations of Anthyllis vulneraria along elevational and latitudinal gradients
<p>The abundant centre model (ACM) predicts that the suitability of environmental conditions for a species decreases from the centre of its distribution towards its range periphery and consequently its populations will become scarcer, smaller and more isolated, resulting in lower genetic diversity and increased differentiation. However, little is known about whether genetic diversity shows similar patterns along elevational and latitudinal gradients with similar changes in important environmental conditions. Using microsatellite markers we studied the genetic diversity and structure of 20 populations each of <em>Anthyllis vulneraria </em>along elevational gradients in the Alps from the valleys to the elevational limit (2500 m), and along a latitudinal gradient (2500 km) from Central Europe to the range margin in northern Scandinavia. Both types of gradients corresponded to a 11.5 °C difference in mean annual temperature. Genetic diversity strongly declined and differentiation increased with latitude in line with the predictions of the ACM. However, as population size did not decline with latitude and genetic diversity was not related to population size in <em>A. vulneraria</em>, this pattern is not likely to be due to less favourable conditions in the North, but due to serial founder effects during the post-glacial recolonization process. Genetic diversity was not related to elevation, but we found significant isolation by distance along both gradients, although the elevational gradient was shorter by orders of magnitude. Subarctic populations differed genetically from alpine populations indicating that the northern populations did not originate from high elevational Alpine ones. Our results support the notion that postglacial latitudinal colonization over large distances resulted in a larger loss of genetic diversity than elevational range shifts. The lack of genetic diversity in subarctic populations may threaten their long-term persistence in the face of climate change, whereas alpine populations could benefit from gene flow from low-elevation populations.</p>
Climate disequilibrium of fishes along elevation and latitudinal gradients: implications for climate tracking
<p>Aim: Differences in realized and fundamental thermal niches can reveal how temperature constrains species distributions. Because climate-induced range shifts assume that temperature influences distribution limits (i.e., climate equilibrium assumption), understanding the factors that determine the realized thermal niche of species is critical for understanding their climate tracking abilities.</p> <p>Location: Thermal niches were evaluated for two scales: Globally (n = 95 species) and across the Great Plains – Rocky Mountain region, U.S.A (n = 28 species)</p> <p>Taxon: Marine and freshwater fishes</p> <p>Results: First, freshwater species were not more likely than marine species to underfill their latitudinal cold-edge limit, despite restricted dispersal in freshwater environments from biogeographic barriers. Second, biological traits of dispersal ability were not associated with patterns of overfilling or underfilling along latitudinal gradients, aside from migratory species being more likely to overfill their cold-edge limits. Third, similar biological traits were not associated with freshwater fishes overfilling or underfilling their cold-edge, elevation limit with respect to their cold-edge latitudinal limit. Fourth, 78% of freshwater fish species (22 of 28) were observed underfilling their elevation limit relative to their latitudinal limit.</p> <p>Main conclusions: Our results reveal that the climate equilibrium assumption is not satisfied for half of marine and freshwater fishes along thermal-spatial gradients and is largely unrelated to dispersal and movement. Freshwater fishes appear particularly limited in their distribution potential along elevation gradients, given the strong patterns of elevation underfilling.</p>
Data from: Changes in the foliar fungal community between oak leaf flushes along a latitudinal gradient in Europe
<p><strong>Aim:</strong> To advance our understanding of how foliar fungal communities are structured and assembled, we assessed to what extent leaf flush and latitude can explain the within- and among-tree variation in the foliar fungal community in a foundation tree species, the pedunculate oak <em>Quercus robur</em>.</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> A latitudinal gradient spanning <em>c</em>. 20 degrees in latitude in Europe.</p> <p><strong>Major taxa studied:</strong> The foliar fungal community on <em>Quercus robur.</em></p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> We examined the main and interactive effects of leaf flush and latitude on the foliar fungal community by sampling 20 populations of the pedunculate oak <em>Quercus robur</em> across the tree's range, spanning <em>c</em>. 20 degrees in latitude.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Species composition, but not species richness, differed between leaf flushes. Across the latitudinal gradient, species richness was highest in the central part of the oak's distributional range, and foliar fungal community composition shifted along the latitudinal gradient. Among fungal guilds, the relative abundance of plant pathogens and mycoparasites was lower on the first leaf flush, and the relative abundance of plant pathogens and saprotrophs decreased with latitude.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Changes in community composition between leaf flushes and along the latitudinal gradient were mostly a result of species turnover. Overall, our findings demonstrate that leaf flush and latitude explain 5-22% of the small- and large-scale spatial variation in the foliar fungal community on a foundation tree within the temperate region, with major consequences for plant health, species interactions and ecosystem dynamics.</p>
Clinal variation in quantitative traits but not in evolutionary potential along elevational and latitudinal gradients in the widespread Anthyllis vulneraria
<p><strong>Premise of the study</strong></p> <p>Strong elevational and latitudinal gradients allow the study of genetic differentiation in response to similar environmental changes. However, it is uncertain whether the environmental changes along the two types of gradients result in similar genetically based changes in quantitative traits. Peripheral arctic and alpine populations are thought to have a lower evolutionary potential than more central ones. </p> <p><strong>Methods </strong></p> <p>We studied quantitative traits of the widespread <em>Anthyllis vulneraria</em> in a common garden. Plants originated from 20 populations along a 2000 m elevational gradient from the lowlands to the elevational limit of the species in the Alps, and from 20 populations along a 2400 km latitudinal gradient from the centre of the distribution of the species in Central Europe to its northern distributional margin.</p> <p><strong>Key results</strong></p> <p>Several traits showed similar clinal variation with elevation and latitude of origin. Higher Q<sub>ST</sub>-values than F<sub>ST</sub>-values in some traits indicated divergent selection. The same traits were subject to strongly diversifying selection among populations (high Q<sub>ST</sub>) and strong stabilising selection within populations (low evolvability). Genetic diversity of most quantitative traits and neutral molecular markers was only weakly correlated. Plasticity in response to benign conditions declined with both increasing elevation and latitude of origin, but the evolvability of most traits did not.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions </strong></p> <p>The clinal variation suggests adaptive differentiation of quantitative traits along the two gradients. Our results indicate that the evolutionary potential of peripheral populations is not necessarily reduced. However, lower plasticity may threaten their survival under rapidly changing climatic conditions.</p>
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Allen Brain Atlas
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Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
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