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3,105 results for “Vegetation =”
Data from: Population genetic structure of the giant cactus Echinopsis terscheckii in northwestern Argentina is shaped by patterns of vegetation cover
Species inhabiting drylands commonly depend on the surrounding vegetation for recruitment under stress, while competition may affect populations in moister environments. Our objective was to analyze how different climates and vegetation affect the fine-scale spatial genetic structure (SGS) of the columnar cactus Echinopsis terscheckii. At four sites we estimated vegetation cover by digitized patches and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). We mapped 30 individuals per population and collected tissue for isozyme electrophoresis using 15 putative loci. Spatial autocorrelation between all possible genotype pairs and the number of genetically homogeneous groups and families were calculated for each population. Greater cover (66%) and average NDVI values were detected in the most humid habitat that consisted of fewer, larger, and more dispersed vegetation patches. All populations were genetically diverse and showed significant SGS. Positive correlations were found between the distance at which maximum autocorrelation and kinship values were reached and vegetation area and patch size. Also higher NDVI values were associated with lower number of patches. Populations exposed to higher precipitation and vegetation cover consisted of sparse individuals that clustered at larger distances whereas vegetation patches in arid climates produced groups of closely related genotypes at small distances. These results support the stress-gradient genetic hypothesis. Under water stress, facilitation promotes establishment underneath patchy vegetation resulting in fine-scale family structure. In moister xerophilous forests competition for resources, i.e. light, results in sparse individuals and thus coarse-scale neighborhoods. This information can guide conservation and/or restoration efforts, such as the spatial scale to be considered in germplasm collection.
Data from: Landscape structure influences urban vegetation vertical structure
Vegetation vertical structure is important for biodiversity and ecosystem service provision. In cities, however, while variation in the spatial extent and distribution of vegetation has been widely investigated, vertical vegetation structure and its potential drivers have not. Understanding how vegetation vertical structure varies across cities and identifying the potential drivers of this variation will improve the management of urban vegetation for biodiversity and ecosystem services. We used light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data to quantify the vertical structure of vegetation across Brisbane, Australia, at 1-km2 and 1-ha spatial scales and investigated how this structure varied in response to biophysical, socioeconomic, urban form and landscape structure variables. Using model selection techniques, we found that landscape structure variables related to tree cover (tree cover extent and spatial configuration) best explained the vegetation vertical structure at both spatial scales. Biophysical and urban form variables were also important, but only in combination with landscape structure. Mean vegetation vertical complexity, foliage projective cover and canopy height at a site all decreased as the treed proportion of the surrounding urban landscape decreased. In general, these vertical structure variables also increased where patches of vegetation were clustered together spatially. Synthesis and applications. Using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data and model selection techniques, we show that the extent and vertical structure of urban vegetation are not independent and that reduced extent and increased fragmentation of urban vegetation are associated with simplification of its vertical structure. If common, this relationship means that managing urban vegetation for biodiversity and ecosystem services should not focus solely on the amount of tree cover or green space present across cities, but also on identifying where interventions to improve vegetation vertical complexity are required. Our study provides important insights into where these locations may be in cities.
Data from: Small-mammal isotope ecology tracks climate and vegetation gradients across western North America
Stable carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes have been used to infer aspects of species ecology and environment in both modern ecosystems and the fossil record. Compared to large mammals, stable isotopic studies of small-mammal ecology are limited; however, high species and ecological diversity within small mammals presents several advantages for quantifying resource use and organism–environment interactions using stable isotopes over various spatial and temporal scales. We analyzed the isotopic composition of hair from two heteromyid rodent species, Dipodomys ordii and Perognathus parvus, from localities across western North America in order to characterize dietary variation in relation to vegetation and climatic gradients. Significant correlations between the carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of these species and several climatic variables imply that seasonal temperature and precipitation control the composition and distribution of dietary resources (grass seeds). Our results also suggest a moisture influence on the nitrogen isotopic composition (δ15N) of heteromyid diets. Population- and species-level variation in δ13C and δ15N values record fine-scale habitat heterogeneity and significant differences in resource use between species. Using classification and regression-tree techniques, we modeled the geographic variation in heteromyid δ13Cdiet values based on 10 climatic variables and generated an isotope landscape model ('isoscape'). The isoscape predictions for δ13Cdiet differ from expectations based on observed C4 distributions and instead indicate that D. ordii and P. parvus record seasonally abundant grass resources, with additional model deviations potentially attributed to geographic variation in dietary selection. The oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition of D. ordii is enriched relative to local meteoric water and suggests that individuals rely on highly evaporated water sources, such as seed moisture. Based on the climatic influences on vegetation and diet documented in this study, the isotopic composition of small mammals has high potential for recording ecological responses to environmental changes over short and long time scales.
Data from: Turning down the heat: vegetation feedbacks limit fire regime responses to global warming
Climate change is projected to dramatically increase boreal wildfire activity, with broad ecological and socio-economic consequences. As global temperatures rise, periods with elevated fire weather are expected to increase in frequency and duration, which would be expected to increase the number and size of fires. Statistical forecasts or simulations of future fire activity often account for direct climatic effects only, neglecting other controls of importance, such as biotic feedbacks. This could result in overestimating the effects of climate change on fire activity, if the future distribution of vegetation or fuels were to change. We incorporated sensitivity to climate or fire weather and vegetation in a fire simulation model, and represented explicitly two key biotic feedbacks linked to succession and regeneration processes. We used this model to forecast annual fire activity from 2011 to 2099 over a large region of boreal forest in Québec, Canada, dominated by balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill) and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) or paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), with and without the biotic feedbacks. Our simulations show that vegetation changes triggered by fire disturbance altered future fire activity, and may even be as important a driver as climate change itself. Indeed, over the course of the century, vegetation changes were projected to offset much of the increase in fire activity that would be expected due to global warming as such. It follows that if biotic feedbacks are not included in statistical or simulation-based forecasts, the resultant projections of future fire activity could be biased upwards to a very considerable degree. For the case of end-of-century mean annual burn rate, we estimated this positive bias to be as high as 400%. Accounting for biotic feedbacks in simulation models is therefore necessary for accurate projection of future wildfire activity and associated vegetation changes. Purely statistical forecasts based on current vegetation cannot be relied upon, in the presence of biotic feedbacks. Our results further suggest that vegetation management could reduce fire risk in some systems by altering the abundance and distribution of the most highly flammable fuels, and thus mitigate the impact of climate change on fire activity.
Data from: Habitat connectivity and in-stream vegetation control temporal variability of benthic invertebrate communities
One of the key challenges to understanding patterns of β diversity is to disentangle deterministic patterns from stochastic ones. Stochastic processes may mask the influence of deterministic factors on community dynamics, hindering identification of the mechanisms causing variation in community composition. We studied temporal β diversity (among-year dissimilarity) of macroinvertebrate communities in near-pristine boreal streams across 14 years. To assess whether the observed β diversity deviates from that expected by chance, and to identify processes (deterministic vs. stochastic) through which different explanatory factors affect community variability, we used a null model approach. We observed that at the majority of sites temporal β diversity was low indicating high community stability. When stochastic variation was unaccounted for, connectivity was the only variable explaining temporal β diversity, with weakly connected sites exhibiting higher community variability through time. After accounting for stochastic effects, connectivity lost importance, suggesting that it was related to temporal β diversity via random colonization processes. Instead, β diversity was best explained by in-stream vegetation, community variability decreasing with increasing bryophyte cover. These results highlight the potential of stochastic factors to dampen the influence of deterministic processes, affecting our ability to understand and predict changes in biological communities through time.
Data from: Dispersal versus environmental filtering in a dynamic system: drivers of vegetation patterns and diversity along stream riparian gradients
1. Both environmental filtering and dispersal filtering are known to influence plant species distribution patterns and biodiversity. Particularly in dynamic habitats, however, it remains unclear whether environmental filtering (stimulated by stressful conditions) or dispersal filtering (during re-colonization events) dominates in community assembly, or how they interact. Such a fundamental understanding of community assembly is critical to the design of biodiversity conservation and restoration strategies. 2. Stream riparian zones are species-rich dynamic habitats. They are characterized by steep hydrological gradients likely to promote environmental filtering, and by spatiotemporal variation in the arrival of propagules likely to promote dispersal filtering. We quantified the contributions of both filters by monitoring natural seed arrival (dispersal filter) and experimentally assessing germination, seedling survival and growth of 17 riparian plant species (environmental filter) along riparian gradients of three lowland streams that were excavated to bare substrate for restoration. Subsequently, we related spatial patterns in each process to species distribution and diversity patterns after 1 and 2 years of succession. 3. Patterns in initial seed arrival were very clearly reflected in species distribution patterns in the developing vegetation and were more significant than environmental filtering. However, environmental filtering intensified towards the wet end of the riparian gradient, particularly through effects of flooding on survival and growth, which strongly affected community diversity and generated a gradient in the vegetation. Strikingly, patterns in seed arrival foreshadowed the gradient that developed in the vegetation; seeds of species with adult optima at wetter conditions dominated seed arrival at low elevations along the riparian gradient while seeds of species with drier optima arrived higher up. Despite previous assertions suggesting a dominance of environmental filtering, our results demonstrate that nonrandom dispersal may be an important driver of early successional riparian vegetation zonation and biodiversity patterns as well. 4. Synthesis: Our results demonstrate (and quantify) the strong roles of both environmental and dispersal filtering in determining plant community assemblies in early successional dynamic habitats. Furthermore, we demonstrate that dispersal filtering can already initiate vegetation gradients, a mechanism that may have been overlooked along many environmental gradients where interspecific interactions are (temporarily) reduced.
The vegetation composition, structure and regeneration status of Gole Natural Forest, West Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
<p>This study was conducted in Gole natural forest (Dodola) West Arsi Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The study was intended to investigate the vegetation composition, structure, community types and the regeneration status. To collect the vegetation data, systematically 62 plots 20 m × 20 m (400 m<sup>2</sup>) were established at 100 m interval, starting from the top of the mountain. Tree and shrub species were counted and their cover abundance value was estimated. The data for herbaceous species were collected from five 2 m × 2 m sub-plots laid at the four corners each and one at the centre of the main plot. Height and diameter at breast height (DBH) of all woody species taller than 1.5 m and thicker than 2 cm were measured. R package was applied for cluster analysis. Indicator species analysis was performed in R Interpolated species accumulation curves. Estimate S 8.2 Software and Microsoft Excel were used to analyze the data. Rarefaction was applied to compare the species richness of the plant communities in the study area. Sorensen's similarity coefficient was used to detect similarities and dissimilarities among communities.</p> <p>A total of 114 plant species belonging to 57 families and 94 genera were identified. The most dominant families were Asteraceae, followed by Acanthaceae and Lamiaceaae. Out of 114 species 17 were endemic to Ethiopia. The study showed that high density was seen at lower height and DBH classes. Five plant community types were identified. The rarefaction revealed that there is difference in species richness among communities. The Sorensen's similarity index showed that, there was a difference in the distribution of plant species composition among the five plant communities.</p>
Data from: Vegetation phenology and nest survival: diagnosing heterogeneous effects through time
Birds should select nest sites that minimize predation risk, but understanding the influence of vegetation on nest survival has proven problematic. Specifically, the common practice of measuring vegetation on nest fate date can overestimate its effect on survival, simply because vegetation at hatched nests grows for a longer period of time than vegetation at nests that were depredated. Here, we sampled the literature to determine the prevalence of this bias in studies of duck breeding ecology. We then used survival data collected from ~2,800 duck nests to empirically evaluate evidence of bias in four different vegetation metrics: vegetation density measured when the nest was found, density when the nest was fated, and date-corrected regression residuals of these two. We also diagnosed the magnitude of vegetation effects on nest survival by restricting analysis to only nests which were fated contemporaneously (thereby removing potential bias in the timing of measurement). Finally, we examined whether systematic phenological differences exist between vegetation at hatched and depredated nests that have the potential to further obfuscate the relationship between vegetation and nest survival. We found evidence for a true positive effect of vegetation density on nest survival that appeared to be inflated when using raw vegetation measurements collected at fate date. However, taken in combination with the literature review, our results suggest that the majority of duck nesting studies have evaluated the role of vegetation on nest survival using a relatively less biased metric—vegetation density when the nest was found. Finally, we found that over the course of a nesting attempt, vegetation increased in density at successful nests, but decreased in density at depredated nests. This seasonal change potentially points to an important new metric for understanding predation risk, but further experimental research is required to fully eliminate potential biases in the timing of vegetation measurements.
Data from: Developing state and transition models of floodplain vegetation dynamics as a tool for conservation decision-making: a case study of the Macquarie Marshes Ramsar wetland
1. Floodplain vegetation states (communities) exhibit spatiotemporal dynamics in vegetation structure and composition, which reflect unique hydrological and connectivity patterns. Shifts in inundation regimes can drive succession and establish new stable states, determined by the magnitude and duration of the hydrological perturbation. 2. We aimed to develop a modelling approach that is able to capture ecosystem dynamics, identify and quantify the main drivers of change, and provide a tool for conservation decision-making. We developed state and transition models for floodplain vegetation states based on surveys in 1991 and 2008 in the Macquarie Marshes (Australia), a Ramsar wetland of international importance. We used a Bayesian logistic regression approach to model state and transitions between vegetation states and investigated how flood frequency, distance to stream and fire frequency were associated with vegetation dynamics during this period. 3. During 1991–2008, significant transitions have occurred towards drier states. Semi-permanent wetland vegetation had the lowest persistence probability (ppsis = 0·456) and a significant threshold response of transitioning to terrestrial vegetation (ptran = 0·505). Transition to drier states was driven by lower inundation probabilities followed by increased fire probability, and distance to nearest stream. 4. Using developed models, we predicted persistence probabilities of vegetation states under an unregulated (i.e. no dams or diversions) and regulated water availability system. Under a regulated system, semi-permanent wetland vegetation had an average persistence of ppsis = 0. 67 and 0·08 in the northern and southern sections of the nature reserve, respectively. Under an unregulated system, the predicted persistence of semi-permanent wetland vegetation was considerably higher: ppsis = 0·87 and 0·38, respectively. 5. Synthesis and applications. Developing quantitative models of state transitions significantly improved our understanding of ecosystem dynamics, identifying sensitive indicators for monitoring and thus supporting conservation decision-making. This helps managers understand potential trajectories of change in ecosystems in response to management options. For example, increasing environmental flows in the Macquarie Marshes is predicted to shift the community towards more of a wetland than the terrestrial state, resulting from river regulation. State and transition models identified how key ecological assets respond to drivers of change, particularly where these can be managed. This is critical for ensuring that all ecosystem components are managed and that these do not shift into undesirable states.
FIGURE 6 in Hidden in the dry woods: Mapping the collection history and distribution of Gymnanthes boticario, a well-collected but very recently described species restricted to the dry vegetation of South America
FIGURE 6. Distributional map of Gymnanthes boticario in the semiarid Caatinga of Northeastern Brazil, showing that when the species was described in 2010 collections were already available for seven of the ten Brazilian states where Caatinga occurs, including five of its eight Ecorregions (sensu Velloso et al.2002). States where we recorded the species: PI- Piauí; CE: Ceará; RN: Rio Grande do Norte; PB: Paraíba; PE: Pernambuco; BA: Bahia; MG: Minas Gerais (Map elaboration: M.F. Moro).
FIGURE 1 in Hidden in the dry woods: Mapping the collection history and distribution of Gymnanthes boticario, a well-collected but very recently described species restricted to the dry vegetation of South America
FIGURE 1. Number of collections per year of Gymnanthes boticario up to 2010, when the species was described.
FIGURE 7 in Hidden in the dry woods: Mapping the collection history and distribution of Gymnanthes boticario, a well-collected but very recently described species restricted to the dry vegetation of South America
FIGURE 7. Mapped distribution of Gymnanthes boticario in South America, a species typical of dry forests, including the first recorded occurrences to Bolivia, in the Chiquitano dry forests, to Paraguay, in the Cerro Léon, and to Mato Grosso do Sul, in the Pantanal (Map elaboration: M.F. Moro).
FIGURE 3 in Hidden in the dry woods: Mapping the collection history and distribution of Gymnanthes boticario, a well-collected but very recently described species restricted to the dry vegetation of South America
FIGURE 3. Number of duplicates of Gymnanthes boticario available in the consulted herbaria up to 2010, when the species was described
Land surface modeling over the Dry Chaco: the impact of model structures, and soil, vegetation and land cover parameters
<p>The datasets archived here include simulation results shown in the paper, “Land surface modeling over the Dry Chaco: the impact of model structures, and soil, vegetation and land cover parameters”, published in Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (Maertens et al., 2021). The simulations were conducted over the South-American Dry Chaco and output on the different water budget components was produced with three land surface models (CLM2.0, CLSM-F2.5, and Noah3.6) embedded in the NASA Land Information System (LIS). The default LIS parameters were revised with (i) improved soil parameters, (ii) satellite-based interannually varying vegetation indices (leaf area index and green vegetation fraction), and (iii) yearly land cover information. For each experiment described in the manuscript, we provide daily netcdf files (0.125° resolution, period Jan 1992 – Dec 2015). The conducted experiments are simulations with (i) default LIS parameters (BL), (ii) updated soil parameters (REV<sub>s</sub>) and (iii) interannualy varying vegetation and land cover parameters (REV<sub>SV</sub>).<br> For details, please refer to</p> <p>Maertens, M., De Lannoy, G. J. M., Apers, S., Kumar, S. V., and Mahanama, S. P. P.: Land Surface modeling over the Dry Chaco: the impact of model structures, and soil, vegetation and land cover parameters, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences.</p> <p>Please contact Michiel Maertens (michiel.maertens@kuleuven.be) or Gabriëlle De Lannoy (gabrielle.delannoy@kuleuven.be) for any questions.</p>
Data from: Temperature and vegetation complexity structure mixed-species flocks along a gradient of elevation in the tropical Andes
<p>Mixed-species flocks constitute community modules that can help test mechanisms driving changes to community composition across environmental gradients. Here, we examined elevational patterns of flock diversity (species richness, taxonomic diversity, species and guild composition) and asked if these patterns were reflections of the full bird community at a given elevation (open-membership hypothesis), or if they were instead structured by environmental variables. We surveyed both the overall avian community and mixed-species flocks across an undisturbed elevational gradient (~1350 – 3550 m) in the Bolivian Andes. We then tested for the role of temperature (a surrogate for abiotic stress), resource diversity (arthropods, fruits) and foraging niche diversity (vegetation vertical complexity) in structuring these patterns. Patterns for the overall and flocking communities were similar, supporting our open-membership hypothesis that Andean flocks represent dynamic, unstructured aggregations. Membership openness and the resulting flock composition, however, also varied with elevation in response to temperature and vegetation complexity. We found a mid-elevation peak in flock species richness, size, and Shannon's diversity at ~2300 m. The transition of flocking behavior towards a more open-membership system at this elevation may explain a similar peak in the proportion of insectivores joining flocks. At high elevations, increasing abiotic stress and decreasing fruit diversity led more generalist, gregarious tanagers (Thraupidae) to join flocks, resulting in larger yet more even flocks alongside a loss of vegetation structure. At lower elevations, flock species richness increased with greater vegetation complexity, but a greater diversity of foraging niches resulted in flocks that were more segregated into separate canopy and understory sub-types. This segregation likely results from increased costs of interspecific competition and activity matching (i.e., constraints on movement and foraging rate) for insectivores. Mid-elevation flocks (~2300 m) seemed, therefore, to benefit from both the open-membership composition of high-elevation flocks and the high vegetation complexity of mid- and low-elevation forests.</p>
FIGURE 21. Riella mediterranea. A–B. General habit. A. Female plant. B. male plant. C. Vegetative scale. D. Panduriform propaguliferous scale. E in Taxonomic revision of Riella subgenus Trabutiella (Riellaceae, Sphaerocarpales)
FIGURE 21. Riella mediterranea. A–B. General habit. A. Female plant. B. male plant. C. Vegetative scale. D. Panduriform propaguliferous scale. E. Detail of cells from margin of thallus wing. F. Female involucre. G. Transverse section of female involucre. H. Spore in distal view. I. Spines from distal face. J. Spines from proximal face. (A–I from 9.246 VAL-Briof., J from 9.245 VAL- Briof.).
FIGURE 17. Riella cossoniana. A–B. General habit. A. Female plant. B. Male plant. C–D. Panduriform propaguliferous scales. E. Vegetative scale. F in Taxonomic revision of Riella subgenus Trabutiella (Riellaceae, Sphaerocarpales)
FIGURE 17. Riella cossoniana. A–B. General habit. A. Female plant. B. Male plant. C–D. Panduriform propaguliferous scales. E. Vegetative scale. F. Detail of cells from margin of thallus wing. G. Female involucre. H. Transverse section of female involucre. I. Spore in distal view. J. Spines from distal face. (All from 9.226 VAL-Briof.).
FIGURE 19. Riella echinata. A-B. General habit. A. Female plant. B. Male plant. C. Vegetative scales. D. Gemmaling. E in Taxonomic revision of Riella subgenus Trabutiella (Riellaceae, Sphaerocarpales)
FIGURE 19. Riella echinata. A-B. General habit. A. Female plant. B. Male plant. C. Vegetative scales. D. Gemmaling. E. Detail of cells from margin of thallus wing. F. Female involucre. G. Transverse section of female involucre. H. Spore in distal view. I. Spines from distal face. (A–G from 9.232 VAL-Briof., H from 04003558 JE, I from 006621 Herb. Dirkse).
FIGURE 15. Riella affinis. A. General habit. B. Vegetative scale. C. Panduriform propaguliferous scale. D in Taxonomic revision of Riella subgenus Trabutiella (Riellaceae, Sphaerocarpales)
FIGURE 15. Riella affinis. A. General habit. B. Vegetative scale. C. Panduriform propaguliferous scale. D. Detail of cells from margin of thallus wing. E. Female involucre. F. Transverse section of female involucre. G. Spore in distal view. H. Detail of spines from distal face. I. Detail of spines from equatorial row. J. Detail of spines from proximal face. (A–F from 7.372 VAL-Briof., G, H, J from 1375 TFC-Bry., I from Krypto-S B177457).
FIGURE 2 in One century of vegetation change on Isla Persa, a nunatak in the Bernina massif in the Swiss Alps
FIGURE 2. Map of Russia and its six subunits as used in this catalogue. SR: Southern European Russia. CR: Central European Russia. NR: Northern European Russia. WS: Western Siberia. ES: Eastern Siberia. FS: Far Eastern Siberia. Map adapted from Lelej (2002).
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Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.
DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.