Pollen morphology and its in systematic and ecological significance in Rheum (Polygonaceae) from China

Pollen morphology of 40 species of Rheum, belonging to eight sections, was investigated under LM and SEM. Four new exine patterns were found in the species: a) microcchinate-foveolate, b) rugulate, c) verrucate-perforate, and d) verrucaterugulate ornamentation. In addition, two patterns, the Rheum-type pollens with microechinate-perforate and fine-reticulate, as previously described, were also confirmed in the present study. Based on above study the evolution trends of pollen morphology in the taxa involved were discussed phylogenetically as below. As microechinate-perforate exine pattern existed commonly, the pattern is, therefore, regarded as the most primitive among all the six types. The fine-reticulate type was thought as a derivative type, deriving from the basic micro echinate-foveolate-perforate pattern, and followed by the rugulate and verrucate-perforate ornamentation. The verrucate-rugulate ornamentation should be the most advanced. More than one pollen type often exist in most of the sections in Rheum. The pollen morphology of Rheum was strongly correlated with its geographical and ecological distribution. Three medicinally important species R. officinale, R. palmation and R. tanguticum can be palynologically distinguished by their ornamentations.

Ecological basis of Alpine meadow ecosystem management in Tibet: Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station

Alpine meadow and shrub are the main pasture types on the Tibetan Plateau, and they cover about 35% of the total land area. In order to understand the structural and functional aspects of the alpine ecosystem and to promote a sustainable animal production system, the Haibei Alpine Meadow Research Station was established in 1976. A series of intensive studies on ecosystem structure and function, including the energy flow and nutrient cycling of the ecosystem, were the main tasks during the first 10 years. Meanwhile, studies with 5 different grazing intensities on both summer and winter pasture have been conducted. In the early years of the 1990s, the research station started to focus its research work on global warming, biodiversity and sustainable animal production systems in pastoral areas. Various methods for improving degraded pasturelands have been developed in the region.

Social and ecological influences on dispersal and philopatry in the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae)

Benefits and costs of dispersal and philopatry of the social plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) were studied on the Tibetan plateau for 3 years. Although short-lived, plateau pikas live in cohesive family groups that occupy burrow systems in sedge meadow habitat Most (57.8%) plateau pikas were philopatric, and dispersal movements were extremely restricted. No juvenile females or adult pikas moved more than two family ranges between years; the greatest observed dispersal distances were by two juvenile males that moved five family ranges from the family of their birth. Traversing unfamiliar habitat was not a cost of pika dispersal because most dispersers settled in families that they could easily visit before dispersal. Dispersal movements appeared to result in equalization of density among pika families, an expected result if competition for environmental resources influenced dispersal. Males did not disperse to gain advantages in competition for mates, as evidenced by their moving to families with significantly fewer females. Females, however, moved to families with significantly more males. Males provide abundant paternal care, and significantly more offspring per female survived to become adults from families with more adult males per adult female. Evidence concerning the influence of inbreeding avoidance on natal dispersal was indirect. Some males exhibited natal philopatry; thus some families had opportunity for close inbreeding. Males and females that dispersed had no opposite-sex relatives in their new families. Philopatric pikas may have benefited by remaining in families that exhibited low local densities, and philopatric females might have benefited from social cooperation with relatives.