Impact of climatic factors on the genetic diversity-species area relationship of birds

doi:10.17520/biods.2025072

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: Understanding the link between genetic diversity and species distribution is crucial for biodiversity conservation. Genetic diversity facilitates species’ adaptation to climate change, whereas area size results from the combined effects of climate change and species’ adaptive capacity. Under this context, climatic factors can be considered a pivotal link between genetic diversity and area size, exerting a regulatory influence on their relationship.

Methods: To assess the above hypothesis, the current study examined the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene fragment in avian species, exploring the influence of 8 climatic factors (annual temperature, annual temperature range, annual precipitation, annual precipitation range, precipitation seasonality, precipitation seasonality range, temperature seasonality, temperature seasonality range) on the relationships between haplotype diversity and area size, as well as nucleotide diversity and area size. Haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity were utilized as principal indicators of genetic diversity in this analysis.

Results: Results show that the overall nucleotide diversity of birds was 0.008 ± 0.001(mean ± SE), and the haplotype diversity was 0.699 ± 0.011. Additionally, the results revealed that climatic factor differentially affect the relationship between genetic diversity and area size. Notably, climatic factor predominantly influence the relationship between haplotype diversity and area size indirectly by altering the area size (df = 6, χ²= 10.77, AIC = 2,231.8, BIC = 2,270.5). In contrast, for nucleotide diversity, the climatic factor exert a dual impact, affecting both the area size and nucleotide diversity, thereby mediating the relationship between nucleotide diversity and area size in a more complex manner (df = 0, χ² = 0, AIC = 2,155.0, BIC = 2,219.6).

Conclusion: Our results recommend that multiple genetic diversity indices should be considered when examining the effects of climate change on genetic diversity. Additionally, more targeted biodiversity conservation strategies should be developed to effectively address the challenges posed by future climate change.

Key words: climatic factors, birds, genetic diversity-species area relationship, mediate

Ping Fan, Huan Wang, Zhixin Wen, Gang Song, Fuming Lei. Impact of climatic factors on the genetic diversity-species area relationship of birds[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(8): 25072.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2025072

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2025/V33/I8/25072

Figures/Tables 5

References 49

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	模型 Models	df	χ²	P	AIC	BIC
单倍型多样性 Haplotype diversity	模型1 Model 1	6	10.77	> 0.05	2,231.8	2,270.5
单倍型多样性 Haplotype diversity	模型2 Model 2	0	0	1	2,233.0	2,297.5
核苷酸多样性 Nucleotide diversity	模型1 Model 1	6	87.809	< 0.05	2,230.8	2,269.6
核苷酸多样性 Nucleotide diversity	模型2 Model 2	0	0	1	2,155.0	2,219.6

	模型 Models	df	χ²	P	AIC	BIC
单倍型多样性 Haplotype diversity	模型1 Model 1	6	10.77	> 0.05	2,231.8	2,270.5
单倍型多样性 Haplotype diversity	模型2 Model 2	0	0	1	2,233.0	2,297.5
核苷酸多样性 Nucleotide diversity	模型1 Model 1	6	87.809	< 0.05	2,230.8	2,269.6
核苷酸多样性 Nucleotide diversity	模型2 Model 2	0	0	1	2,155.0	2,219.6

	生态类群 Ecological groups	模型1 Model 1					模型2 Model 2
	生态类群 Ecological groups	df	χ²	P	AIC	BIC	df	χ²	P	AIC	BIC
单倍型多样性 Haplotype diversity	游禽 Natatores (n = 34)	6	10.075	> 0.05	148.732	162.469	0	0	1	150.657	173.552
	涉禽 Wading birds (n = 40)	6	10.986	> 0.05	172.220	187.420	0	0	1	173.234	198.568
	陆禽 Landfowl (n = 30)	6	4.882	> 0.05	143.666	156.277	0	0	1	150.784	171.802
	攀禽 Climbing birds ( n = 73)	6	10.601	> 0.05	327.464	348.078	0	0	1	328.863	363.220
	猛禽 Raptors (n = 32)	6	6.707	> 0.05	130.392	143.584	0	0	1	135.685	157.671
	鸣禽 Songbirds (n = 377)	6	5.264	> 0.05	1,392.849	1,427.849	0	0	1	399.585	1,456.752
核苷酸多样性 Nucleotide diversity	游禽 Natatores (n = 34)	6	6.020	> 0.05	151.392	165.129	0	0	1	157.372	180.268
	涉禽 Wading birds (n = 40)	6	11.259	> 0.05	170.348	185.548	0	0	1	171.089	196.422
	陆禽 Landfowl (n = 30)	6	8.130	> 0.05	138.462	151.073	0	0	1	142.332	163.350
	攀禽 Climbing birds (n = 73)	6	21.202	> 0.05	327.575	348.189	0	0	1	318.373	352.730
	猛禽 Raptors (n = 32)	6	10.006	> 0.05	129.977	143.169	0	0	1	131.972	153.958
	鸣禽 Songbirds (n = 377)	6	71.636	> 0.05	1,395.794	1,430.094	0	0	1	1,336.158	1,393.325

	生态类群 Ecological groups	模型1 Model 1					模型2 Model 2
	生态类群 Ecological groups	df	χ²	P	AIC	BIC	df	χ²	P	AIC	BIC
单倍型多样性 Haplotype diversity	游禽 Natatores (n = 34)	6	10.075	> 0.05	148.732	162.469	0	0	1	150.657	173.552
	涉禽 Wading birds (n = 40)	6	10.986	> 0.05	172.220	187.420	0	0	1	173.234	198.568
	陆禽 Landfowl (n = 30)	6	4.882	> 0.05	143.666	156.277	0	0	1	150.784	171.802
	攀禽 Climbing birds ( n = 73)	6	10.601	> 0.05	327.464	348.078	0	0	1	328.863	363.220
	猛禽 Raptors (n = 32)	6	6.707	> 0.05	130.392	143.584	0	0	1	135.685	157.671
	鸣禽 Songbirds (n = 377)	6	5.264	> 0.05	1,392.849	1,427.849	0	0	1	399.585	1,456.752
核苷酸多样性 Nucleotide diversity	游禽 Natatores (n = 34)	6	6.020	> 0.05	151.392	165.129	0	0	1	157.372	180.268
	涉禽 Wading birds (n = 40)	6	11.259	> 0.05	170.348	185.548	0	0	1	171.089	196.422
	陆禽 Landfowl (n = 30)	6	8.130	> 0.05	138.462	151.073	0	0	1	142.332	163.350
	攀禽 Climbing birds (n = 73)	6	21.202	> 0.05	327.575	348.189	0	0	1	318.373	352.730
	猛禽 Raptors (n = 32)	6	10.006	> 0.05	129.977	143.169	0	0	1	131.972	153.958
	鸣禽 Songbirds (n = 377)	6	71.636	> 0.05	1,395.794	1,430.094	0	0	1	1,336.158	1,393.325