摘要: Biotic and abiotic factors can act as filters for determining the species composition of biological communities. We aimed to identify abiotic factors driving the assembly of bat communities in Eastern Mediterranean pine plantations along a north-south climatic gradient, as they are crucial forest habitats for the assessment and conservation of these communities. We expected that bat communities are predominantly shaped by environmental filtering. We conducted acoustic sampling in 35 pine plantations in Israel and analyzed recordings for species identification. We used the ESLTP analysis, an extension of the three-table ordination (RLQ analysis), to explore relationships between environmental characteristics, species occurrences, and functional traits of species while accounting for phylogenetic relationships between species and spatial distribution of the communities. Communities showed phylogenetic and trait clustering. Climatic conditions and forest vegetation composition shaped communities of bats, affecting the distribution of traits related to foraging behaviors, vegetation clutter, and the ability of bats to maneuver in it. Maneuverable species were associated with the northern Mediterranean climatic zone, with a scarce cover of drought-tolerant small shrubs and grassland. Fast flyers were associated with the center-south semi-arid area, with abundant drought-tolerant small shrubs and grassland. These forces might have a predominant role in the assembly of these communities, presumably due to the stressful climatic conditions of the study area. The ESLTP approach can be extended to other taxa and environments to predict species responses to disturbance and environmental changes and give insights into environmental management. Bat communities along a natural gradient of temperature and precipitation in pine forests were studied. Bat communities showed phylogenetic and trait clustering. These communities are shaped by climate conditions and forest vegetation composition. The field and the modeling approach can be extended to other taxa and environments to predict species responses to disturbance and environmental changes.image

摘要: The intestinal microbiota help regulate hibernation in vertebrates. However, it needs to be established how hibernation modulates the gut microbiome and intestinal metabolism. In the present study, we used an artificial hibernation model to examine the responses of the gut microbiota of the Strauchbufo raddei to the environmental changes associated with this behavior. Hibernation significantly lowered the diversity of the microbiota and altered the microbial community of the gut. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota were the major bacterial phyla in the intestines of S. raddei. However, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria predominated in the gut of active and hibernating S. raddei, respectively. Certain bacterial genera such as Pseudomonas, Vibrio, Ralstonia, and Rhodococcus could serve as biomarkers distinguishing hibernating and non-hibernating S. raddei. The gut microbiota was more resistant to environmental stress in hibernating than active S. raddei. Moreover, metabolomics revealed that metabolites implicated in fatty acid biosynthesis were highly upregulated in the intestines of hibernating S. raddei. The metabolites that were enriched during hibernation enabled S. raddei to adapt to the low temperatures and the lack of exogenous food that are characteristic of hibernation. A correlation analysis of the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites revealed that the gut microbiota might participate in the metabolic regulation of hibernating S. raddei. The present study clarified the modifications that occur in the intestinal bacteria and their symbiotic relationship with their host during hibernation. These findings are indicative of the adaptive changes in the metabolism of amphibians under different environmental conditions.

摘要: The East Zhejiang Canal is an artificial waterway located in the plains of East China. Because of its role in providing social services, it is frequently subjected to human activities affecting its health. To improve the water resource management and condition of this canal, assessment of its ecological health is necessary. We measured water quality variables and benthic diatom and macroinvertebrate assemblages to evaluate the ecological status of the canal. We found that the canal was eutrophic with an average chemical trophic level index of 64.3 and an average trophic diatom index of 68.1 (with Nitzschia palea, Melosira varians, and Navicula rostellata, Encyonema minutum abundant). Macroinvertebrate assemblages also showed that the canal was eutrophic based on the dominance of Limnodrilus sp. A low BMWP (Biological Monitoring Working Party) score further indicated the poor water quality of the canal. Correlation analysis indicated that phosphorus was the main driver of eutrophication in the canal. Consequently, more attention should be paid to reduce phosphorus loadings.