Ecological opportunity and sexual selection together predict adaptive radiation

A fundamental challenge to our understanding of biodiversity is to explain why some groups of species undergo adaptive radiations, diversifying extensively into many and varied species, whereas others do not. Both extrinsic environmental factors (for example, resource availability, climate) and intrinsic lineage-specific traits (for example, behavioural or morphological traits, genetic architecture) influence diversification, but few studies have addressed how such factors interact. Radiations of cichlid fishes in the African Great Lakes provide some of the most dramatic cases of species diversification. However, most cichlid lineages in African lakes have not undergone adaptive radiations. Here we compile data on cichlid colonization and diversification in 46 African lakes, along with lake environmental features and information about the traits of colonizing cichlid lineages, to investigate why adaptive radiation does and does not occur. We find that extrinsic environmental factors related to ecological opportunity and intrinsic lineage-specific traits related to sexual selection both strongly influence whether cichlids radiate. Cichlids are more likely to radiate in deep lakes, in regions with more incident solar radiation and in lakes where there has been more time for diversification. Weak or negative associations between diversification and lake surface area indicate that cichlid speciation is not constrained by area, in contrast to diversification in many terrestrial taxa. Among the suite of intrinsic traits that we investigate, sexual dichromatism, a surrogate for the intensity of sexual selection, is consistently positively associated with diversification. Thus, for cichlids, it is the coincidence between ecological opportunity and sexual selection that best predicts whether adaptive radiation will occur. These findings suggest that adaptive radiation is predictable, but only when species traits and environmental factors are jointly considered.     

Genetic divergence, speciation and morphological stasis in a lineage of African cichlid fishes.

Since their discovery at the turn of the century, the species assemblages of cichlid fishes in the East African Lakes Victoria, Malawi and Tanganyika have fascinated evolutionary biologists. Many models have attempted to account for the 'explosive' evolution of several hundred species within these lakes. Here we report a case of surprisingly large genetic divergence among populations of the endemic Tropheus lineage of Lake Tanganyika. This lineage of six species contains twice as much genetic variation as the entire morphologically highly diverse cichlid assemblage of Lake Malawi and six times more variation than the Lake Victoria species flock. Although it is highly variable in coloration, this group of species and its closest relatives have not undergone appreciable morphological change. The observed geographic pattern of genetic variation suggests that major lake level fluctuations affected the distribution and speciation of this lineage of cichlid fishes.     

Sexual dimorphism and adaptive radiation in Anolis lizards

Sexual dimorphism is widespread and substantial throughout the animal world. It is surprising, then, that such a pervasive source of biological diversity has not been integrated into studies of adaptive radiation, despite extensive and growing attention to both phenomena. Rather, most studies of adaptive radiation either group individuals without regard to sex or focus solely on one sex. Here we show that sexual differences contribute substantially to the ecomorphological diversity produced by the adaptive radiations of West Indian Anolis lizards: within anole species, males and females occupy mostly non-overlapping parts of morphological space; the overall extent of sexual variation is large relative to interspecific variation; and the degree of variation depends on ecological type. Thus, when sexual dimorphism in ecologically relevant traits is substantial, ignoring its contribution may significantly underestimate the adaptive component of evolutionary radiation. Conversely, if sexual dimorphism and interspecific divergence are alternative means of ecological diversification, then the degree of sexual dimorphism may be negatively related to the extent of adaptive radiation.     

饥饿对中华倒刺鲃和慈鲷鱼群觅食行为的影响

探究种类和饥饿对不同生境和集群特征鱼类的群体觅食行为的影响。选取群体互动特征不同、生境和食物资源状况迥异的鲤科(Cyprinidae)鱼类中华倒刺鲃(Spinibarbus sinensis)和慈鲷科(Cichlidae)鱼类斑马拟丽鱼(Pseudotropheus zebra)(后简称慈鲷)幼鱼作为实验对象,采用六臂迷宫来设置觅食情景,分析比较了前期经历饥饿或维持日粮摄食(对照组)鱼群的探索强度、凝聚力指标(IC)、首次到达食物臂速度、食物臂时间占比等行为学参数。与中华倒刺鲃相比,慈鲷有更高的探索强度和更低的IC值。饥饿导致慈鲷探索强度下降、首次到达食物臂速度加快和食物臂时间占比上升;中华倒刺鲃经历饥饿后食物臂时间占比略有下降。慈鲷和中华倒刺鲃群体觅食行为存在种间差异,且仅有慈鲷在群体觅食行为上表现出对食物匮乏的适应性变化,这可能与2种鱼类生境、食物资源等条件不同有关。     

Unmatched tempo of evolution in Southern African semi-desert ice plants

The Succulent Karoo is an arid region, situated along the west coast of southern Africa. Floristically this region is part of the Greater Cape Flora and is considered one of the Earth's 25 biodiversity hotspots. Of about 5,000 species occurring in this region, more than 40% are endemic. Aizoaceae (ice plants) dominate the Succulent Karoo both in terms of species numbers (1,750 species in 127 genera) and density of coverage. Here we show that a well-supported clade within the Aizoaceae, representing 1,563 species almost exclusively endemic to southern Africa, has diversified very recently and very rapidly. The estimated age for this radiation lies between 3.8 and 8.7 million years (Myr) ago, yielding a per-lineage diversification rate of 0.77-1.75 per million years. Both the number of species involved and the tempo of evolution far surpass those of any previously postulated continental or island plant radiation. Diversification of the group is closely associated with the origin of several morphological features and one anatomical feature. Because species-poor clades lacking these features occur over a very similar distribution area, we propose that these characteristics are key innovations that facilitated this radiation.     

Speciation through sensory drive in cichlid fish

Theoretically, divergent selection on sensory systems can cause speciation through sensory drive. However, empirical evidence is rare and incomplete. Here we demonstrate sensory drive speciation within island populations of cichlid fish. We identify the ecological and molecular basis of divergent evolution in the cichlid visual system, demonstrate associated divergence in male colouration and female preferences, and show subsequent differentiation at neutral loci, indicating reproductive isolation. Evidence is replicated in several pairs of sympatric populations and species. Variation in the slope of the environmental gradients explains variation in the progress towards speciation: speciation occurs on all but the steepest gradients. This is the most complete demonstration so far of speciation through sensory drive without geographical isolation. Our results also provide a mechanistic explanation for the collapse of cichlid fish species diversity during the anthropogenic eutrophication of Lake Victoria.     

Sympatric speciation in Nicaraguan crater lake cichlid fish

Sympatric speciation, the formation of species in the absence of geographical barriers, remains one of the most contentious concepts in evolutionary biology. Although speciation under sympatric conditions seems theoretically possible, empirical studies are scarce and only a few credible examples of sympatric speciation exist. Here we present a convincing case of sympatric speciation in the Midas cichlid species complex (Amphilophus sp.) in a young and small volcanic crater lake in Nicaragua. Our study includes phylogeographic, population-genetic (based on mitochondrial DNA, microsatellites and amplified fragment length polymorphisms), morphometric and ecological analyses. We find, first, that crater Lake Apoyo was seeded only once by the ancestral high-bodied benthic species Amphilophus citrinellus, the most common cichlid species in the area; second, that a new elongated limnetic species (Amphilophus zaliosus) evolved in Lake Apoyo from the ancestral species (A. citrinellus) within less than approximately 10,000 yr; third, that the two species in Lake Apoyo are reproductively isolated; and fourth, that the two species are eco-morphologically distinct.     

Monophyletic origin of Lake Victoria cichlid fishes suggested by mitochondrial DNA sequences

Lake Victoria, together with its satellite lakes, harbours roughly 200 endemic forms of cichlid fishes that are classified as 'haplochromines' and yet the lake system is less than a million years old. This 'flock' has attracted attention because of the possibility that it evolved within the lake from one ancestral species and that biologists are thus presented with a case of explosive evolution. Within the past decade, however, morphology has increasingly emphasized the view that the flock may be polyphyletic. We sequenced up to 803 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA from 14 representative Victorian species and 23 additional African species. The flock seems to be monophyletic, and is more akin to that from Lake Malawi than to species from Lake Tanganyika; in addition, it contains less genetic variation than does the human species, and there is virtually no sharing of mitochondrial DNA types among species. These results confirm that the founding event was recent.     

西藏盐湖生物与生态资源及其开发利用

 以科研团队多年工作成果为基础,对藏北209个湖泊进行面积、盐度分类,结合藏北的生态特征和生态需求,阐述了可开展西藏盐湖卤虫生态修复的湖泊水域资源潜力,发展盐湖农业的优势与意义,以及盐湖水系生物资源开发的生态保护原则。阐述了西藏湖泊水域的浮游植物、浮游动物、大型水生植物的物种资源及其分布特征,以及硅藻、卤虫、盐藻、水木耳（念珠藻）、轮藻、细叶眼子菜的资源及其科学与经济价值。阐述了西藏盐湖生态修复的生态意义和藏北高原盐湖卤虫生态修复的经济重要性,并从产业发展角度分析西藏拟溞、盐藻等的资源现状及其开发利用,提出以冷水鱼为特色产业的水域资源优势与发展前景。     

邛海水域变化对西昌气候的影响

湖泊气候是因湖泊（包括水库）水体的存在而造成异于周边地区的一种局地性气候。湖泊对周边气候的调节作 用巨大，可改变周边环境的气温和降水量等。湖泊的水域面积和水深在调节气候中起到重要作用，保护湖泊水域面积和水深 与保护其生态环境同等重要     

Ecological constraints on diversification in a model adaptive radiation

Taxonomic diversification commonly occurs through adaptive radiation, the rapid evolution of a single lineage into a range of genotypes or species each adapted to a different ecological niche. Radiation size (measured as the number of new types) varies widely between phylogenetically distinct taxa and between replicate radiations within a single taxon where the ecological opportunities available seem to be identical. Here we show how variation in energy input (productivity) and environmental disturbance combine to determine the extent of diversification in a single radiating lineage of Pseudomonas fluorescens adapting to laboratory conditions. Diversity peaked at intermediate rates of both productivity and disturbance and declined towards the extremes in a manner reminiscent of well-known ecological patterns. The mechanism responsible for the decrease in diversity arises from pleiotropic fitness costs associated with niche specialization, the effects of which are modulated by gradients of productivity and disturbance. Our results indicate that ecological gradients may constrain the size of adaptive radiations, even in the presence of the strong diversifying selection associated with ecological opportunity, by decoupling evolutionary diversification from ecological coexistence.     

安徽省县域湖泊生态环境整治及利用对策——以枞阳县为例

湖泊是县域经济的重要资源,对于区域经济社会的全面发展具有至关重要的作用．通过对安徽省枞阳县湖泊生态环境存在问题的分析,从推进退田还湖、调整湖区产业结构等方面提出了该县湖泊生态环境整治及利用对策,对于促进县域湖泊环境保护具有重要现实意义．     

洪湖的环境变迁及其生态对策

总结了洪湖的湖泊环境和生物资源在近几十年开发过程中所发生的改变,分析了目前洪湖所存在的水生物资源衰退、富营养化过程加速、养殖调蓄矛盾、过滤圈养和潜在污染威胁等主要生态问题,提出了合理规划、应用生态工程措施保护湖泊生物资源、综合治理洪湖的生态对策措施。     

Effect of aquaculture on world fish supplies

Global production of farmed fish and shellfish has more than doubled in the past 15 years. Many people believe that such growth relieves pressure on ocean fisheries, but the opposite is true for some types of aquaculture. Farming carnivorous species requires large inputs of wild fish for feed. Some aquaculture systems also reduce wild fish supplies through habitat modification, wild seedstock collection and other ecological impacts. On balance, global aquaculture production still adds to world fish supplies; however, if the growing aquaculture industry is to sustain its contribution to world fish supplies, it must reduce wild fish inputs in feed and adopt more ecologically sound management practices.     

菜子湖鱼类区系变动及其驱动力分析

2007～2008年对菜子湖鱼类多样性和渔业方式进行了调查,采集到鱼类8目18科68种,包括3种新记录.历史记录的13种洄游性鱼类本次仅见2种野生群,湖区野生洄游性鱼类经济绝灭.养殖鱼类产量占渔业总产的91.4%,成为渔业主体.杂食性鱼类物种丰富但产量甚微,相反人工放流的鲢、鳙等滤食性鱼类产量达鱼类总产的68.6%,为绝对优势种.湖区鱼类区系组成的特征变化与江湖阻隔和渔业养殖模式变革密切相关,因此江湖关系变动及渔业养殖当为菜子湖鱼类区系变动的关键驱动因子.     

上海城区小型河道生物组成特征及食物链结构分析

2007年11月-2008年10月对上海市城区4条小型河道(曹杨环浜、午潮港、横港和朝阳河)中的生物组成进行了调查分析.结果共鉴得浮游植物268种,浮游动物157种,大型底栖动物21种,高等植物10种,鱼类13种.浮游植物包括绿、裸、硅、蓝、黄、隐、甲和金藻8个类群,其中以绿、裸、硅和蓝藻数量最多;浮游动物中原生动物、轮虫、枝角类和桡足类分别为94种(不含植鞭毛虫)、44种、13种和6种;底栖动物中软体动物14种,环节动物3种,甲壳动物和水生昆虫幼体各2种;鱼类包括7科,分别为鲤科、鳉科、塘鳢科、斗鱼科、(?)虎鱼科、鳢科和合鳃鱼科,其中鲤科最为丰富,占全部鱼种的53.8%;高等植物包括沉水植物4种、挺水植物4种及浮叶植物2种.曹杨环浜的浮游植物、浮游动物、底栖动物、鱼类和高等植物的种类均最为丰富,且浮游植物和鱼类的组成较均一,无明显优势种,高等植被密度大,以沉水植物为主;横港浮游生物种类最少,脊椎动物仅见外来小型鱼类食蚊鱼,高等植物则以挺水植物为主,分布区域较为集中;午潮港和朝阳河的浮游植物以蓝绿藻为优势种,高等植物分别仅1和2种,且密度小、覆盖率低.4条河道的生物食物链结构都趋于简单化,且能量输出方式较为单一.鉴于上述情况,建议在今后的生态修复中要因河道而异,适当改善底栖动物、鱼类和水生高等植物的组成结构,增加物种丰富度,促进食物链结构复杂化.     

信阳鱼类资源调查

通过调查研究发现，河南省信阳鱼类共有8目15科52属75种，鲤形目鱼类最多，共54种，占总数的72％，其中鲤科为51种；鲇形目为8种，占总数的10.7%；鲈形目有7种，占总数的9.3%；其余各目共6种，占总数的8％，信阳鱼类可划分为江河平原复合体、古代第三纪复合体、印度平原复合体、中印山区复合体、南方热带复合体、北方山区复合体和海水区系复合体。     

Niche lability in the evolution of a Caribbean lizard community

Niche conservatism--the tendency for closely related species to be ecologically similar--is widespread. However, most studies compare closely related taxa that occur in allopatry; in sympatry, the stabilizing forces that promote niche conservatism, and thus inhibit niche shifts, may be countered by natural selection favouring ecological divergence to minimize the intensity of interspecific interactions. Consequently, the relative importance of niche conservatism versus niche divergence in determining community structure has received little attention. Here, we examine a tropical lizard community in which species have a long evolutionary history of ecological interaction. We find that evolutionary divergence overcomes niche conservatism: closely related species are no more ecologically similar than expected by random divergence and some distantly related species are ecologically similar, leading to a community in which the relationship between ecological similarity and phylogenetic relatedness is very weak. Despite this lack of niche conservatism, the ecological structuring of the community has a phylogenetic component: niche complementarity only occurs among distantly related species, which suggests that the strength of ecological interactions among species may be related to phylogeny, but it is not necessarily the most closely related species that interact most strongly.     

长白山天池水系常量离子和氢氧同位素地球化学示踪

采集天池火山区的温泉水、地下水和地表水,进行了常量离子和氢氧同位素指标测试,进行了水体来源分析。结果发现:1水体的氢氧同位素数据表明各类水体均来源于大气降水;2温泉水的氚含量指示其年龄为50~60年;3各类水体中离子含量和氚含量的变化特征表明天池火山区的温泉水主要汇入天池水和北坡水系之中,仅有少量进入西坡和南坡水系,天池火山区地下水呈现出由南向北运移的特点。     

鄱阳湖水利枢纽工程对水生生物影响的探讨

鄱阳湖水利枢纽工程是鄱阳湖生态经济区一个重要组成部分,是坚持生态立省的一项重大战略举措。水利枢纽工程方案实施后,仍有长达半年多的"江湖"隔断时间,其水位将常年维持在16.0 m左右,这将直接淹没16.0 m以下的在天然状态下随着枯洪季节而变化形成的草滩、沼泽和浅水洼地等独特湿地自然景观,湖泊水域面积增大,洲滩湿地面积减少,从而对鄱阳湖水生生物环境带来不确定的影响。通过工程可能对浮游生物、底栖生物、水生植物、鱼类及珍稀生物的影响进行分析和探讨,认为工程实施后,一方面整个湖区水体初级生产力提高,饵料生物资源量较建坝前会有较大的增加,水生维管束植物会发生结构调整和生物量变化,底栖生物有增大的趋势。枯水期的蓄水可使鄱阳湖多年平均浅层水面扩大;内湖水位稳定,有利于湖区鱼类资源可持续发展和生态环境保护。江湖季节性连通有利于保持长江与鄱阳湖物种遗传与生态的联系。