Xiaoming Shao

GIANT PANDA HABITAT SELECTION IN FOPING NATURE RESERVE, CHINA

Abstract Little is known about habitat selection of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), especially about the relationship between giant panda presence and bamboo and tree structures. We presented data on giant panda habitat use and selection in Foping Nature Reserve (NR), China. We used 1,066 radiotracking locations for 6 collared individuals to analyze giant panda habitat selection, and we used 110 plots to reveal the structure of giant panda habitat and its relationship with giant panda presence. We found that (1) giant pandas in Foping NR selected mostly 3 habitats: conifer forest, deciduous broadleaf forest, and Fargesia bamboo groves. (2) In winter, giant pandas selected deciduous broadleaf forest within elevations of 1,600 to 1,800 m with a south-facing slope of 10 to 20 degrees. In summer, giant pandas selected conifer forest within elevations of 2,400 to 2,600 m and a slope of 20 to 30 degrees. (3) Giant pandas selected the Bashaina fargesii bamboo area with short and dense culms in winter, while they selected the Fargesia qinlingensis bamboo area with a high coverage of tall and thick culms in summer. We concluded that giant pandas in Foping NR do select their preferred habitats. These findings may be used to guide the human activities in the reserve with consideration of giant panda habitat conditions.

Hilpertia tibetica J.Kou, X.-M.Shao & C.Feng (Pottiaceae), a new species from Tibet, China

A new species, Hilpertia tibetica J.Kou, X.-M.Shao & C.Feng from Chara Mountain, Dagzê County, Tibet, China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to Hilpertia velenovskyi (Schiffn.) R.H.Zander, but its erect to erecto-patent leaves when moist, the quadrate to short-rectangular, strongly bulging ventral epidermal cells forming a bulliform ridge on the adaxial surface of the costa, not or slightly thickened superficial abaxial laminal cell walls, the annulus consisting of 2–3 rows of rectangular to elongate cells, much smaller spores and yellow-orange laminal KOH colour reaction, readily separate it from the latter. This new species is compared with closely related species and its ecology is discussed.

Tortula transcaspica and Stegonia latifolia var. pilifera new to China

Abstract: Kou, J., Song, S.-S., Feng, C., Yu, C.-Q., Yan, C.-X., Shao X.-M. & Bai, X.-L. 2015. Tortula transcaspica and Stegonia latifolia var. pilifera new to China. — Herzogia 28: 70–76. Two taxa, Tortula transcaspica and Stegonia latifolia var. pilifera (Pottiaceae) are added to the Chinese moss flora. Brief morphological descriptions, distributional remarks and photographs of the two species are provided.

A New Species Record of Tortula and Range Extension of One Species of Grimmia in China

Abstract Two species, Tortula brevissima Schiffn. and Grimmia indica (Dixon & P. de la Varde) Goffinet & Greven are added to the Chinese moss flora. The former is newly reported for China and East Asia. The latter has been found in Tibet for the first time. Brief morphological descriptions, distribution details, and digital photographs of the two species are provided.

Impacts of Environmental Heterogeneity on Moss Diversity and Distribution of Didymodon (Pottiaceae) in Tibet, China.

Tibet makes up the majority of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, often referred to as the roof of the world. Its complex landforms, physiognomy, and climate create a special heterogeneous environment for mosses. Each moss species inhabits its own habitat and ecological niche. This, in combination with its sensitivity to environmental change, makes moss species distribution a useful indicator of vegetation alteration and climate change. This study aimed to characterize the diversity and distribution of Didymodon (Pottiaceae) in Tibet, and model the potential distribution of its species. A total of 221 sample plots, each with a size of 10 × 10 m and located at different altitudes, were investigated across all vegetation types. Of these, the 181 plots in which Didymodon species were found were used to conduct analyses and modeling. Three noteworthy results were obtained. First, a total of 22 species of Didymodon were identified. Among these, Didymodon rigidulus var. subulatus had not previously been recorded in China, and Didymodon constrictus var. constrictus was the dominant species. Second, analysis of the relationships between species distributions and environmental factors using canonical correspondence analysis revealed that vegetation cover and altitude were the main factors affecting the distribution of Didymodon in Tibet. Third, based on the environmental factors of bioclimate, topography and vegetation, the distribution of Didymodon was predicted throughout Tibet at a spatial resolution of 1 km, using the presence-only MaxEnt model. Climatic variables were the key factors in the model. We conclude that the environment plays a significant role in moss diversity and distribution. Based on our research findings, we recommend that future studies should focus on the impacts of climate change on the distribution and conservation of Didymodon.

Bryoerythrophyllum latinervium New to China

Abstract: Song, S.-S., Kou, J., Feng, C., Yu, C.-Q., Shao, X.-M. & Bai, X.-L. 2015. Bryoerythrophyllum latinervium new to China. — Herzogia 28: 790–793. Bryoerythrophyllum latinervium (Pottiaceae) is added to the Chinese moss flora. Brief morphological description, distribution, digital photographs of the species are provided.

Didymodon alpinus (Pottiaceae), a new species from Tibet, China

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Past distribution of epiphyllous liverworts in China: The usability of historical data

Abstract Epiphyllous liverworts form a special group of bryophytes that primarily grow on the leaves of understory vascular plants in tropical and subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests. Being sensitive to moisture and temperature changes, epiphyllous liverworts are often considered to be good indicators of climate change and forest degradation. However, they are a poorly collected and taxonomically complicated group, with an only partly identified distribution pattern. In this study, we built four models based on 24 environmental variables at four different spatial resolutions (i.e., 1 km, 5 km, 10 km, and 15 km) to predict the past distribution of epiphyllous liverworts in China, using Maxent model and 63 historical location records (i.e., presence‐only data). Both area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) and true skill statistic (TSS) methods are used to assess the model performance. Results showed that the model with the predictors at a 15‐km resolution achieved the highest predictive accuracy (AUC=0.946; TSS=0.880), although there was no statistically significant difference between the four models (p > 0.05). The most significant environmental variables included aridity, annual precipitation, precipitation of wettest month, precipitation of wettest quarter, and precipitation of warmest quarter, annual mean NDVI, and minimum NDVI. The predicted suitable areas for epiphyllous liverworts were mainly located in the south of Yangtze River and seldom exceed 35°N, which were consistent with the museum and herbarium records, as well as the historical records in scientific literatures. Our study further demonstrated the value of historical data to ecological and evolutionary studies.