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How do Snow Partridge (Lerwa lerwa) and Tibetan Snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus) coexist in sympatry under high-elevation conditions on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau?

ABSTRACT: The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) has the highest elevations of all biodiversity hotspots. Difficulties involved in fieldwork at high elevations cause challenges in researching mechanisms facilitating species coexistence. Herein, we investigated Snow Partridge (Lerwa lerwa) and Tibetan Snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus), the only two endemic Galliformes on the QTP, to understand species coexistence patterns and determine how they live in sympatry for the first time. We assembled occurrence data, estimated habitat suitability differences and the underlying factors between two species at different scales using ecological niche models. Niche overlap tests were used to investigate whether niche differences between these species allow for their coexistence. We found that elevation was the most important factor determining habitat suitability for both species. At the meso-scale, two species have similar ecological niches with their suitable habitats lying predominantly along ridge crests. However, ridge crests were more influential for habitat suitability by L. lerwa than for that of T. tibetanus because the latter species ranges further afield than ridge crests. Thus, differences in habitat suitability between these species lead to habitat partitioning, which allows stable coexistence. At the macro-scale, temperature and precipitation were major factors influencing habitat suitability differences between these species. Tetraogallus tibetanus extended into the hinterland of the QTP and occurred at higher elevations, where colder and drier alpine conditions are commonplace. Conversely, L. lerwa occurred along the southeastern margin of the QTP with a lower snow line, an area prone to rainy and humid habitats. Niche overlap analysis showed that habitat suitability differences between these species are not driven by niche differentiation. We concluded that the coexistence of these two pheasants under high-elevation conditions could be an adaption to different alpine conditions.

SUBMITTER: Yao H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8717327 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Soil microbial community composition and extracellular enzyme activity are two main drivers of biogeochemical cycling. Knowledge about their elevational patterns is of great importance for predicting ecosystem functioning in response to climate change. Nevertheless, there is no consensus on how soil microbial community composition and extracellular enzyme activity vary with elevation, and little is known about their elevational variations on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, a region sensitive to global change. We therefore investigated the soil microbial community composition using phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) analysis, and enzyme activities at 2,820 m (coniferous and broadleaved mixed forest), 3,160 m (dark coniferous forest), 3,420 m (alpine dwarf forest), and 4,280 m (alpine shrubland) above sea level. Our results showed that soil microbial community composition and extracellular enzyme activities changed significantly along the elevational gradient. Biomass of total microbes, bacteria, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at the highest elevation were the significantly lowest among the four elevations. In contrast, extracellular enzyme activities involved in carbon (C)-, nitrogen (N)-, and phosphorus (P)- acquiring exhibited the maximum values at the highest elevation. Total nutrients and available nutrients, especially P availability jointly explained the elevational pattern of soil microbial community, while the elevational variation of extracellular enzyme activities was dependent on total nutrients. Microbial metabolism was mainly C- and P-limited with an increasing C limitation but a decreasing P limitation along the elevational gradient, which was related significantly to mean annual temperature and total P. These results indicated a vital role of soil P in driving the elevational patterns of soil microbial community and metabolism. Overall, the study highlighted the contrasting responses of soil microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activities to elevation, possibly suggesting the differences in adaption strategy between population growth and resource acquisition responding to elevation. The results provide essential information for understanding and predicting the response of belowground community and function to climate change on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Dataset Information

How do Snow Partridge (Lerwa lerwa) and Tibetan Snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus) coexist in sympatry under high-elevation conditions on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau?

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