Changes in plant species richness distribution in Tibetan alpine grasslands under different precipitation scenarios

Species richness is the core of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) research. Nevertheless, it is difficult to accurately predict changes in plant species richness under different climate scenarios, especially in alpine biomes. In this study, we surveyed plant species richness from 2009 to 2017 in 75 alpine meadows (AM), 199 alpine steppes (AS), and 71 desert steppes (DS) in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, China. Along with 20 environmental factors relevant to species settlement, development, and survival, we first simulated the spatial pattern of plant species richness under current climate conditions using random forest modelling. Our results showed that simulated species richness matched well with observed values in the field, showing an evident decrease from meadows to steppes and then to deserts. Summer precipitation, which ranked first among the 20 environmental factors, was further confirmed to be the most critical driver of species richness distribution. Next, we simulated and compared species richness patterns under four different precipitation scenarios, increasing and decreasing summer precipitation by 20% and 10%, relative to the current species richness pattern. Our findings showed that species richness in response to altered precipitation was grassland-type specific, with meadows being sensitive to decreasing precipitation, steppes being sensitive to increasing precipitation, and deserts remaining resistant. In addition, species richness at low elevations was more sensitive to decreasing precipitation than to increasing precipitation, implying that droughts might have stronger influences than wetting on species composition. In contrast, species richness at high elevations (also in deserts) changed slightly under different precipitation scenarios, likely due to harsh physical conditions and small species pools for plant recruitment and survival. Finally, we suggest that policymakers and herdsmen pay more attention to alpine grasslands in central Tibet and at low elevations where species richness is sensitive to precipitation changes

Assessing Simulations of Imperial Dynamics and Conflict in the Ancient World

The development of models to capture large-scale dynamics in human history is one of the core contributions of cliodynamics. Most often, these models are assessed by their predictive capability on some macro-scale and aggregated measure and compared to manually curated historical data. In this report, we consider the model from Turchin et al. (2013), where the evaluation is done on the prediction of "imperial density": the relative frequency with which a geographical area belonged to large-scale polities over a certain time window. We implement the model and release both code and data for reproducibility. We then assess its behaviour against three historical data sets: the relative size of simulated polities vs historical ones; the spatial correlation of simulated imperial density with historical population density; the spatial correlation of simulated conflict vs historical conflict. At the global level, we show good agreement with population density ($R^2 < 0.75$), and some agreement with historical conflict in Europe ($R^2 < 0.42$). The model instead fails to reproduce the historical shape of individual polities. Finally, we tweak the model to behave greedily by having polities preferentially attacking weaker neighbours. Results significantly degrade, suggesting that random attacks are a key trait of the original model. We conclude by proposing a way forward by matching the probabilistic imperial strength from simulations to inferred networked communities from real settlement data

The Andes mountain range uplift as a vicariant event in the Pimeliinae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in southern South America

The Andes mountain range extends over 8500 km along the Pacific coast of South America. Its medium altitude is 3500 m, reaching more than 6000 m at different latitudes. The uplift of the Andes  split arid habitats creating very diverse ecosystems on both sides. The distribution of the Pimeliinae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) south of parallel 15º South is analysed, where the Andean mountain range separates xeric habitats both eastward and westward. The genera of Pimeliinae show four distribution patterns: endemic taxa east of the Andes, endemic taxa west of the Andes, taxa widely distributed on both sides of the Andes, and taxa inhabiting high altitudes in the Andes. Known phylogenies of genera and species of Pimeliinae are examined in terms of the Andean mountain uplift creating a vicariant event. A biogeographical track exhibited by certain genera of Pimeliinae connecting central Chile and southern Argentina is examined.La vaste étendue des Andes couvre plus que 8500 km le long de la côte pacifique de l’Amérique du sud. L’altitude moyenne est de 3500 m mais elle dépasse plus que 6000 m avec des écosystemes très variés des deux côtés. La distribution des Pimeliinae (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae) est examinée au sud du 15eme parallèlle où la formation des Andes a séparé des habitats désertiques à la fois vers l’est et vers l’ouest. Les genres de Pimeliinae montrent quatre modèles de distribution : espèces endémiques à l’ouest des Andes ; espèces endémiques à l’est des Andes ; espèces largement répandues les deux côtés des Andes et espèces habitant les hautes altitudes des Andes. La phylogénie connue de certaines espèces et genres est examinée pour événement vicariant à la suite de la formation des montagnes andines. Un chemin biogeographique démontré par quelques genres de Pimeliinae liant le Chile central et l’Argentine du sud est analysé.Fil: Flores, Gustavo Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Pizarro Araya, Jaime. Universidad de La Serena; Chil

Local extinctions in the small mammal's assemblages between late Holocene and historical times in Talagapa mountains (Patagonia, Argentina): The role of land use changes

The aim of this work was to evaluate possible changes in the small mammal composition in the Patagonian arid Extra-Andean steppes between the late Holocene and historical times. A bone sequence accumulated by the disintegration of owl pellets deposited inside a cave in the Talagapa mountains (Chubut province, Argentina) was analyzed. The paleontological sequence encompasses a time span since 2.857 ± 50 years BP and 2.285 ± 40 years BP and was covered by a thick and compact layer of sheep feces that set the boundaries of historical times. Rodent prey were identified and quantified on the basis of skulls and mandible pairs and Holocene and historical assemblages were compared with those recovered from modern owl pellets collected in the area. The sharpest change appears in recent times, after the modification in the land use in the area, with local extinction of Loxodontomys micropus, a species associated with mesic habitats, and the apparent modification in the frequencies of certain species. Hypotheses about climatic, anthropic, and environmental factors that may have influenced those variations are discussed.Fil: Andrade, Analia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto Patagónico de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Monjeau, Jorge Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Fundación Bariloche; Argentin

Mammalia, Didelphimorphia and Rodentia, southwest of the province of Mendoza, Argentina

We documented terrestrial micromammal assemblages at five localities of southwestern Mendoza province, Argentina. We added new localities for several of the most uncommon small mammal species of this region (e.g. Loxodontomys micropus and Tympanoctomys barrerae). Two main groups of terrestrial non-volant micromammals are represented in southwestern province of Mendoza: one group is related to the South American arid diagonal, and includes species typically adapted to the xeric environments of the Monte Desert; a second group includes Patagonian and High Andean species. Some Patagonian species reached in the study area their northernmost distributional records (e.g. Abrothrix longipilis, A. olivaceus, Chelemys macronyx, Loxodontomys micropus).Fil: Pardiñas, Ulises Francisco J.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Teta, Pablo Vicente. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Udrizar Sauthier, Daniel Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentin

Observations of the snow cover in the southern part of the Buryat Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic

The characteristics of the snow cover, as a function of various natural factors, in sectors of the southern part of the Buryat Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic were examined. The thawing process is also discussed

The Glacier Complexes of the Mountain Massifs of the North-West of Inner Asia and their Dynamics

The subject of this paper is the glaciation of the mountain massifs Mongun-Taiga, Tavan-Boghd-Ola, Turgeni- Nuru, and Harhira-Nuru. The glaciation is represented mostly by small forms that sometimes form a single complex of domeshaped peaks. According to the authors, the modern glaciated area of the mountain massifs is 21.2 km2 (Tavan-Boghd-Ola), 20.3 km2 (Mongun-Taiga), 42 km2 (Turgeni- Nuru), and 33.1 km2 (Harhira-Nuru). The area of the glaciers has been shrinking since the mid 1960’s. In 1995–2008, the rate of reduction of the glaciers’ area has grown considerably: valley glaciers were rapidly degrading and splitting; accumulation of morainic material in the lower parts of the glaciers accelerated. Small glaciers transformed into snowfields and rock glaciers. There has been also a degradation of the highest parts of the glaciers and the collapse of the glacial complexes with a single zone of accumulation into isolated from each other glaciers. Reduced snow cover area has led to a rise in the firn line and the disintegration of a common accumulation area of the glacial complex. In the of the Mongun-Taiga massif, in 1995– 2008, the firn line rose by 200–300 m. The reduction of the glaciers significantly lagged behind the change in the position of the accumulation area boundary. In the past two years, there has been a significant recovery of the glaciers that could eventually lead to their slower degradation or stabilization of the glaciers in the study area

New Data on Armadillos (Xenarthra: Dasypodidae) for Central Patagonia, Argentina

Armadillos represent the most diverse family of xenarthrans. Although many studies have been done on these mammals, several topics, such as their local distribution, natural history, behavioral ecology and conservation, remain poorly known. Chaetophractus villosus and Zaedyus pichiy are the most common armadillos in extra-Andean Patagonia, a vast area in southern Argentina and Chile that encompasses different ecosystems and has been modified by human activities, mainly by sheep grazing. In this work we present new data on the distribution, natural history, conservation, and ecology of C. villosus and Z. pichiy from central Patagonia (Chubut and Río Negro provinces, Argentina). We registered 60 localities for C. villosus and 35 for Z. pichiy that confirm their presence in wide sectors of central Patagonia. Furthermore, we confirmed that these two armadillo species suffer high rates of mortality due to their use as a protein source, hunting by dogs, road traffic, and poisoning, among others. We conclude that their populations are at risk of overexploitation and local extinction. The basic knowledge provided here will be a first step towards the conservation of these characteristic Patagonian mammals.Fil: Abba, Agustin Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Nabte, Marcela Janina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Udrizar Sauthier, Daniel Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentin

Assemblages of herb-dwelling spiders (Araneae) of various steppe types in Ukraine and the Central Chernozem region of Russia

A total of 107 spider species from 15 families were recorded in the herbaceous vegetation of the steppe ecosystems of Ukraine and the Central Chernozem region of Russia. Araneidae, Thomisidae, Salticidae and Theridiidae were the most species-rich. The species composition depended on the steppe type; adjacent forest habitats influenced steppe fauna in the forest-steppe and northern part of the steppe natural zone. The number of generalist, forest and wetland dwelling species in the steppe vegetation showed a tendency to decrease towards the south. Dominance of herb-dwelling spiders was specific to each steppe type; no single species was found to predominate in all the steppe habitats

Adhuc Tacfarinas: the causes of the Tiberian war in North Africa (AD ca. 15-24) and the impact of the conflict on Roman imperial policy

During the reign of Tiberius successive governors of Africa Proconsularis struggled to suppress a serious revolt by a number of semi-nomadic tribes led by Tacfarinas. The conflict can only be explained convincingly as an indigenous act of negative negotiation of the Roman administrative encroachment on tribal territory. An in-depth analysis of the literary, epigraphic and archaeological evidence, as well as modern migration patterns, indicates that the rebellion should be perceived as the outcome of cadastral activities, which entailed taxation and confiscations. The actual causes of this rebellion do not support the traditional view of antagonism between agriculturalist and pastoralist communities in North Africa