The effect of environmental gradients on the remarkable diversity of mountain-associated plants and on the species’ abilities to cope with climate change transcends species-specific strategies. For instance, our understanding of the impact of thermal gradients on ecological divergences in populations of widely distributed species is limited, although it could provide important insights regarding species’ response to climate change. Here, we investigated whether populations of an endemic species broadly distributed across an elevation gradient employ unique or multiple divergent ecological strategies according to specific environmental conditions. We hypothesized that populations employ distinct strategies, producing a tolerance-avoidance trade-off related to the thermal conditions they experience across elevations. We conducted our research with 125 individuals of Pitcairnia flammea (Bromeliaceae) sampled from various elevations spanning from sea level to ~2,200 meters and cultivated under the same conditions. To assess specific ecological strategies of P. flammea populations across elevations, we examined leaf temperature, heat and cold tolerances, as well as other structural/morphological, optical, physiological, and biochemical leaf traits. We majorly observed that water-saving traits diminish as elevation increases while membrane fluidity, majorly associated with unsaturated and very-long-chain lipids, enhances. Low-elevation individuals of P. flammea invest in water storage tissues, which likely prevent excessive water loss through the intense transpiration rates under warming periods. Conversely, high-elevation plants exhibit increased membrane fluidity, a possible response to the stiffening induced by low temperature. Our results revealed a tolerance-avoidance trade-off related to thermal strategies of populations distributed across an elevation gradient. Low-elevation plants avoid excessive leaf temperature by investing in water-saving traits to maintain transpiration rates. High-elevation individuals, in turn, tend to invest in membrane properties to tolerate thermal variations, particularly cold events. Our findings challenge the conventional notion that plants' vulnerability to warming depends on species-specific thermal tolerance by showing diverse thermal strategies on populations across an elevation gradient.

Methods Plant sampling To characterize ecological strategies employed by distinct P. flammea populations, over two years, we collected ~20 individuals of P. flammea per population (according to population abundance) from eight localities along an elevation gradient from 0 to ~2,200 m a.s.l. (Fig. 2) for greenhouse cultivation, under the same environmental conditions. To acclimate the same genotype (genets) to warm and cold conditions for the thermal tolerance test (see the following subsection), we prioritized collecting individuals (i.e., genets) with at least two ramets. These genets were split and cultivated in a substrate mixture of equal parts of expanded clay and potting soil for at least one year in randomized blocks under sprinkler irrigation for five minutes, five times daily. The temperature inside the greenhouse during the cultivation averaged 19 °C, the air relative humidity averaged 57.7%, and the maximum photosynthetic photon flux density (PAR) was ~500 µmol m−2 s−1. Below, we outline the methods for evaluating the thermal sensitivity, thermal tolerance, and each plant trait. For methodological clarity, we have categorized the plant traits into biochemical (lipidome), structural/morphological, optical, and physiological groups (Table 1). Leaf temperature and thermal tolerance To test whether leaves from distinct P. flammea populations growing under the same conditions sense the environmental temperature and how this difference affects the plants, we selected five individuals per population to be maintained for one hour (at noon) under 30 °C inside a controlled temperature chamber. After, we measured, in a random order, the temperature of the youngest fully expanded leaf of each individual, using an infrared camera (thermal imaging camera, model 871, Testo, Germany), recording 7.5–14 µm infrared spectrum with a thermal sensitivity <0.08 °C (80 mK). We opted to exclusively measure the youngest leaves as they were developed under the greenhouse cultivation period. The leaf emissivity was set to 0.98 (Lopez et al., 2012). We estimated the leaf temperature from the thermal images considering the average temperature measured on the whole leaf using the IRSoft software v. 4.8 (Testo, Germany). To infer the thermal tolerance range of each sampled P. flammea population while avoiding possible variability depending on the time of day or the season of the year (e.g., Chaves et al., 2018), we measured the heat and cold tolerance of eight to 13 individuals per population (according to the availability of ramets split at the beginning of cultivation) during the summer and winter, respectively. Before the heat and cold tolerance tests, the selected plants were grown for three days inside a controlled chamber with a 12-hour photoperiod and continuous temperatures of 30 °C and 15 °C, respectively (~30% RH). To prevent daily variation in thermal tolerance measures (e.g., Chaves et al., 2018), we measured the heat and cold tolerances shortly after noon and after sunrise, respectively, following Godoy et al. (2011). Leaf discs of 1.5 cm² extracted from the middle of the youngest fully expanded leaf of each individual were adapted to dark for 10 min at room temperature (~25 °C). Then, we proceeded with the first measurement of the potential quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) using a pulse amplitude-modulated fluorometer (FMS1, Hansatech, UK). For heat tolerance, we exposed the samples to increasing temperatures from 27 to 60 °C, with a rate of 1 °C increase every 3 minutes, while performing Fv/Fm measurements every 3 °C of temperature increase. For cold tolerance, we put the samples within individual plastic bags, which were exposed to decreasing temperatures from 20 to -22 °C at a similar rate while performing Fv/Fm measurements every 5 °C of temperature decrease. Before the Fv/Fm measurements, samples were maintained at the target temperatures for about one minute, to equalize all leaf sample temperatures and to complete at least 10 min between each measurement. We used an ultra thermostatic water bath (2050, Thoth, Brazil) to increase and decrease temperature. To ensure accurate leaf sample temperatures, we attached K-type thermocouples connected to a digital thermometer to some samples (TH-096, Instrutherm, Brazil). To enable comparisons across populations, we first employed a sigmoid curve fitting approach to the acquired Fv/Fm measurements at each temperature using the 'drc' R-package (Ritz et al., 2015), following Knight and Ackerly (2003), Gimeno et al. (2009), and Godoy et al. (2011). This method allowed us to estimate critical temperatures (Tc) at which there was a significant decrease in Fv/Fm, as well as temperatures corresponding to 15% (T15) and 50% (T50) reduction of the maximum Fv/Fm (refer to Fig. 3A). Structural/morphological traits To characterize the leaf morphology, anatomical structure, and leaf surface, we measured 25 traits (see Table 1 for references) from 1.5 cm² leaf discs extracted from the base, middle, and top regions of the youngest fully expanded leaf from eight to 21 individuals per population, all of which were healthy genets. For leaf area (LA) measurement, in particular, we estimated the total area of the sampled leaves, using the WinRHIZO image analysis system (Expression 12000XL, Regent Instruments, Canada). Please refer to the Supplementary Information for details regarding the sample preparation for the measurement of leaf structure and surface. Physiological and optical traits To characterize the leaf spectrometry, gas exchange, and PSII photochemistry, we measured nine traits (see Table 1) at noon, from the mid-region of the youngest fully expanded leaf of four to 14 healthy individuals per population. For leaf spectrometry, we estimated the reflectance, absorbance, and transmittance at noon using a handheld portable spectroradiometer (SpectraPen SP 256, PSI, Czech Republic). For leaf gas exchange, we measured the transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs), photosynthetic rate (Pn), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) using an infrared gas analyzer (LI-6400F, LI-COR, USA), under the air CO2 concentration of ~400 μmol mol−1 and PAR of 800 μmol m−2 s−1. Lastly, we estimated the potential (Fv/Fm, after 15 min under dark conditions) and effective (ΦPS2, simultaneously to leaf gas exchange) quantum efficiency of PSII by using a modulated fluorometer (LCF6400–40, LI-COR, USA) attached to the LI-6400F system, following the pulse saturation method (λ = 630 nm, PAR ~6,000 µmol m-2 s-1, 0.8 s). Biochemical traits (lipidome) To characterize the lipid composition of P. flammea leaves, we harvested the mid-region of the youngest fully expanded leaves from five to seven healthy individuals per population in summer morning. This timing was chosen to ensure high air humidity and minimize the likelihood of individuals experiencing drought or thermal stress. The samples were immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and ground into a fine powder. We used the extraction method from Hummel et al. (2011) adjusted for P. flammea samples according to Matos et al. (2023). We performed ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry analysis operating a Thermo Scientific UltiMateTM 3000 RSLCnano system equipped with a Titan C18 column (100 mm x 2.1 mm x 1.9 µm particle size, Supelco Sigma-Aldrich, Bellefonte PA, USA), coupled to a Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Q-Exactive (Waltham MA, USA) mass spectrometer. We used MS full-scan followed by MS/MS analysis in the DDA mode for the five most intense peaks. We

Geographic barriers and Quaternary climate changes are two major forces driving the evolution, speciation, and genetic structuring of extant organisms. In this study, we used Pinus armandii and eleven other Asian white pines (subsection Strobus, subgenus Pinus) to explore the influences of geographic factors and Pleistocene climatic oscillations on species in South China, a region known to be centers of plant endemism and biodiversity hotspots. Range-wide patterns of genetic variation were investigated using chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA markers, with extensive sampling throughout the entire range of P. armandii. Both cpDNA and mtDNA revealed that P. armandii exhibits high levels of genetic diversity and significant population differentiation. Three geographically distinct subdivisions corresponding to the Qinling-Daba Mountains (QDM), Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains (HHM) and Yungui Plateau (YGP) were revealed in mainland China by cpDNA. Their break zone was located in the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). A series of massive mountains, induced by the QTP uplift, imposed significant geographic barriers to genetic exchange. The disjunct distribution patterns of ancestral haplotypes suggest that a large continuous population of the white pines may have existed from southwest to subtropical China. Repeated range shifts in response to the Pleistocene glaciations led to the isolation and diversification of the subtropical species. The two Taiwanese white pines share a common ancestor with the species in mainland China and obtain their chloroplasts via long-distance pollen dispersal from North Asian pines. Distinct genetic patterns were detected in populations from the Qinling-Daba Mountains, Yungui Plateau, Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains, and subtropical China, indicating significant contributions of geographic factors to the genetic differentiation in white pines. Our study depicts a clear picture of the evolutionary history of Chinese white pines and highlights the heterogeneous contributions of geography and Pleistocene climatic fluctuations to the extremely high plant species diversity and endemism in South China.

Organisms in mountainous areas are frequently exposed to climatic extremes and are among the most vulnerable to climate change. Long-term studies on birds along elevational gradients, which are vital in understanding species dynamics, are rare in tropical mountains, which limits the ability to understand their population trends in the face of climate change. We modelled local abundances of understorey bird species (N=18) over a 13-year period (2011–2023) in Mt. Kasigau, Kenya, using mist netting data collected along an elevational gradient. Our models show relatively stable bird abundances in the study period. However, we found two distinct population crashes that affected most species in 2015 and 2022, suggesting that changes in local dynamics may lead to heavy declines of bird populations in mountainous regions. Most species had stable local abundances in the study period, but parametric bootstrapping revealed a declining trend for a few species, including an endemic, threatened species. We highlight the importance of mountainous regions in maintaining relatively stable populations in the face of global environmental transformation such as posed by climate change, and the dynamism of bird species populations across relatively small spatial-temporal variations. While mountain ecosystems are viewed as potential refugia for biodiversity in the face of a warming climate, further studies are needed to understand the drivers of short and long-term declines in bird populations at higher elevations, especially in tropical Africa.

The Eastern Afromontane cloud forests occur as geographically distinct mountain exclaves. The conditions of these forests range from large to small and from fairly intact to strongly degraded. For this study, we sampled individuals of the forest bird species, the Montane White-eye Zosterops poliogaster from 16 sites and four mountain archipelagos. We analysed 12 polymorphic microsatellites and three phenotypic traits, and calculated Species Distribution Models (SDMs) to project past distributions and predict potential future range shifts under a scenario of climate warming. We found well-supported genetic and morphologic clusters corresponding to the mountain ranges where populations were sampled, with 43% of all alleles being restricted to single mountains. Our data suggest that large-scale and long-term geographic isolation on mountain islands caused genetically and morphologically distinct population clusters in Z. poliogaster. However, major genetic and biometric splits were not correlated to the geographic distances among populations. This heterogeneous pattern can be explained by past climatic shifts, as highlighted by our SDM projections. Anthropogenically fragmented populations showed lower genetic diversity and a lower mean body mass, possibly in response to suboptimal habitat conditions. On the basis of these findings and the results from our SDM analysis we predict further loss of genotypic and phenotypic uniqueness in the wake of climate change, due to the contraction of the species' climatic niche and subsequent decline in population size.

Aim: The study of the factors that influence population connectivity and spatial distribution of genetic variation is crucial for understanding speciation and for predicting the effects of landscape modification and habitat fragmentation, which are considered severe threats to global biodiversity. This dual perspective is obtained from analyses of subalpine mountain species, whose present distribution may have been shaped both by cyclical climate changes over ice ages and anthropogenic perturbations of their habitats. Here, we examine the phylogeography, population structure and genetic diversity of the lacertid lizard Iberolacerta monticola, an endemism considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in several populations. Location: Northwestern quadrant of the Iberian Peninsula. Methods: We analyzed the mtDNA variation at the control region (454 bp) and the cytochrome b (598 bp) loci, as well as at 10 nuclear microsatellite loci from 17 populations throughout the distribution range of the species. Results: According to nuclear markers, most sampling sites are defined as distinct, genetically differentiated populations, and many of them show traces of recent bottlenecks. Mitochondrial data identify a relatively old, geographically restricted lineage, and four to six younger geographically vicariant sister clades, whose origin may be traced back to the mid-Pleistocene revolution, with several subclades possibly associated to the mid-Bruhnes transition. Geographic range fragmentation of one of these clades, which includes lowland sites, is very recent, and most likely due to the accelerated loss of Atlantic forests by human intervention. Main Conclusions: Altogether, the data fit a "refugia within refugia" model, some lack of pattern uniformity notwithstanding, and suggest that these mountains might be the cradles of new species of Iberolacerta. However, the changes operated during the Holocene severely compromise the long-term survival of those genetic lineages more exposed to the anthropogenic perturbations of their habitats.

#Mise with caution and limitations of data use: * ** The report by Lesmerises and St-Laurent (2018) must be cited when using this file (see Literature section). ** * The distribution area of the mountain caribou population of Gaspesia in this file represents the state of knowledge on the use of land by montane caribou between 1988 and 2016. * Information on the distribution of the Gaspesie mountain caribou population in this file represents the state of knowledge on land use by montane caribou between 1988 and 2016. * Information on the distribution of the Gaspesie mountain caribou population in this file represents the state of knowledge on land use by montane caribou between 1988 and 2016. * Information on the distribution of the Gaspesie mountain caribou population in this file represents the state of knowledge on land use by montane caribou between 1988 and 2016. * Information on the distribution of the local population does not allow us to establish with certainty that caribou are absent in territories outside of this range. * The range is subject to change, depending on new telemetry data that will be acquired, the refinement of our local knowledge and changes in the patterns of land use by caribou. ## #Description of the range of the local population of woodland caribou, mountain ecotype, population of Gaspésie The data represent the range of woodland caribou, mountain ecotype, population of Gaspesie (hereinafter mountain caribou of Gaspesie). The file contains the polygon and the name assigned to the population, the period covered by the telemetry data used during the delimitation exercise, and the date of the last update. The information contained in the file of occurrences of species in a precarious situation of the Quebec Natural Heritage Data Center (CDPNQ) is also present in the file (CDPNQ occurrence number, French, English and scientific name of the species, the type of occurrence, the rank of precariousness (rank S) and the status under the Act Respecting Threatened or Vulnerable Species, see MELCCFP 2023 for a description of these fields.). ## #Contexte of the publication The Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (hereinafter MELCCFP) is responsible for the monitoring and management of mountain caribou in Gaspésie (Government of Quebec, 2021 a, b). The local population has been identified as the appropriate monitoring and management scale for this species since each population may face different threats depending on the habitat and socio-economic context in which it is found (Environment Canada, 2008). The local population is defined as a group of caribou occupying a defined territory that is spatially distinct from the territories occupied by other caribou groups. The dynamics of the local population are determined primarily by local factors influencing birth and mortality rates, rather than by the contributions or losses resulting from immigration or emigration between groups. As a result, the range of the local population of mountain caribou in Gaspésie is defined as the geographic area where a group of individuals exposed to similar factors influencing their demographics live and which meets the needs of their life cycle during a given period (e.g. calving, rutting, wintering). In 2018, Lesmerises and St-Laurent produced the report Influence of the rate of habitat disturbance, regional coyote abundance, and predator control on the demographic parameters of the Gaspesia-Atlantic caribou population report presented to the Canadian Wildlife Service (Environment Canada). One of the objectives of the report was to delineate the range of this population. The MELCCFP uses the distribution area delimited by Lesmerises and St-Laurent (2018) as part of the monitoring and management of mountain caribou in Gaspésie. For any questions related to the Lesmerises and St-Laurent report (2018), please contact Mr. St-Laurent (Martin-hugues_St-laurent@uqar.ca). ## #Méthodologie in a nutshell The methodology below is a summary of that described in Lesmerises and St-Laurent (2018). Telemetry data from three follow-ups carried out during different periods of time were used (1988-1991, 1998-2008 and 2013-2016). The caribou were equipped with VHF collars during the first two follow-ups. Aerial flights were carried out at various times in order to locate the caribou. During the follow-up from 2013 to 2016, the caribou were equipped with GPS/Argos collars programmed to acquire locations every 2 or 3 hours depending on the collar model used. The range of the mountain caribou population in Gaspesie was defined by estimating a minimum convex polygon comprising 99% of telemetry locations plus a 10 km buffer zone. Finally, the parts superimposed on the St. Lawrence River were removed. ## #Littérature Environment Canada. 2008. Scientific review for the identification of critical habitat for the boreal population of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Canada. August 2008. Ottawa: Environment Canada. 80 pp. + 192 pp. appendices. Government of Quebec. 2021 a. Monitoring system for forest caribou populations in Quebec and mountain caribou in Gaspésie 2020-2031: summary document, Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, Directorate of Expertise on Terrestrial Wildlife, Herpetofauna and Avifauna, 16 pp. Government of Quebec. 2021 b. Literature review on the factors involved in the decline of forest caribou populations in Quebec and mountain caribou in Gaspésie, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, Direction of expertise on terrestrial fauna, herpetofauna and avifauna, 244 pp. + 15p. appendices Lesmerises, F. and M.-H. St-Laurent. 2018. Influence of the rate of habitat disturbance, regional coyote abundance, and predator control on the demographic parameters of the caribou population in Gaspesia-Atlantique. Scientific report submitted to Environment Canada — Canadian Wildlife Service, Rimouski (Quebec). 22 pp. + 8 appendices. Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP). 2023. The Quebec Natural Heritage Data Center — Information document, Government of Quebec, Quebec, 32 pp.**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

Pteroceltis tatarinowii, a relic tree endemic to China, is mainly distributed in limestone mountains and has a wide geographical range. In this study, 12 microsatellite primer pairs were assayed to analyse the genetic pattern and gene flow among 461 individuals sampled from 23 wild populations of P. tatarinowii. A high level of genetic diversity was detected based on high values of total alleles (159), the number of alleles (NA = 6.373), expected heterozygosity (HE = 0.696) and observed heterozygosity (HO = 0.679). The high genetic diversity in this species was attributed to its long-life history, large-scale geographical distribution and wind dispersal breeding system. Low genetic differentiation (GST = 0.137, FST = 0.138) was found among the populations of P. tatarinowii. The genetic variation occurred mostly within the populations. Gene flow was estimated to be 1.562. This moderate level of gene flow could decrease interpopulation differentiation by buffering against genetic drift and improving gene exchange. The spatial genetic structure of P. tatarinowii occurred at the whole-region scale (r = 0.311, P < 0.05) and in the region of South China (r = 0.453, P < 0.05), which might be related to terrain heterogeneity and the demographic history of P. tatarinowii. The distinct east-west high mountains distributed in South China might serve as physical barriers to seed and pollen flow. The isolation and local adaptation of different refugia could further limit normal gene flow. In addition, far-apart populations might fail to effectively disperse pollen and seeds. Based on the above-mentioned results, some tentative suggestions for protection are presented for this species.

China is a vast and diverse country and population density in different regions varies greatly. In 2023, the estimated population density of the administrative area of Shanghai municipality reached about 3,922 inhabitants per square kilometer, whereas statistically only around three people were living on one square kilometer in Tibet. Population distribution in China China's population is unevenly distributed across the country: while most people are living in the southeastern half of the country, the northwestern half – which includes the provinces and autonomous regions of Tibet, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia – is only sparsely populated. Even the inhabitants of a single province might be unequally distributed within its borders. This is significantly influenced by the geography of each region, and is especially the case in the Guangdong, Fujian, or Sichuan provinces due to their mountain ranges. The Chinese provinces with the largest absolute population size are Guangdong in the south, Shandong in the east and Henan in Central China. Urbanization and city population Urbanization is one of the main factors which have been reshaping China over the last four decades. However, when comparing the size of cities and urban population density, one has to bear in mind that data often refers to the administrative area of cities or urban units, which might be much larger than the contiguous built-up area of that city. The administrative area of Beijing municipality, for example, includes large rural districts, where only around 200 inhabitants are living per square kilometer on average, while roughly 20,000 residents per square kilometer are living in the two central city districts. This is the main reason for the huge difference in population density between the four Chinese municipalities Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing shown in many population statistics.

Description of the distribution areas of local populations of woodland caribou, forest ecotype, in Quebec The data represent the ranges of the 13 local populations and two areas of knowledge acquisition of woodland caribou, a forest ecotype in Quebec (hereinafter forest caribou). The file contains the polygons and the name assigned to each population or knowledge acquisition sector, the period covered by the telemetry data used during the delimitation exercise, and the date these boundaries were last updated. The information contained in the file of occurrences of species in a precarious situation of the Quebec Natural Heritage Data Center (CDPNQ) is also present in the file (CDPNQ occurrence number, French, English and scientific name of the species, the type of occurrence, the rank of precariousness [rank S] and the status under the Act Respecting Threatened or Vulnerable Species, see MELCCFP 2023 for a description of these fields.). ## #Contexte The Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (hereinafter MELCCFP) is responsible for the monitoring and management of forest caribou in Quebec (Government of Quebec, 2021 a). In 2017-2018, the MELCCFP improved its monitoring activities in order to obtain an accurate and up-to-date portrait of the situation of the various populations on its territory (see Literature review on the factors involved in the decline of caribou populations in Quebec, Government of Quebec, 2021 b). The local population has been identified as the appropriate monitoring and management scale for this species since each population may face different threats depending on the habitat and socio-economic context in which it is found (Environment Canada, 2008). It is within this framework that the work to identify and delimit the distribution areas of forest caribou populations carried out in 2021-2022 is part of. The local population is defined as a group of caribou occupying a defined territory that is spatially distinct from the territories occupied by other caribou groups. The dynamics of the local population are determined primarily by local factors influencing birth and mortality rates, rather than by the contributions or losses resulting from immigration or emigration between groups. Therefore, the ranges of local forest caribou populations in this file are defined as the geographic area where a group of individuals exposed to similar factors influencing their demographics live and which meets the needs of their life cycle over a given period of time (e.g. calving, rutting, wintering). Note that for the two knowledge acquisition sectors, Baie-James and Matamec, the number of caribou monitored and the temporal scale of monitoring do not allow to date clearly conclude that they are distinct local populations or to associate these caribou with an adjacent population. ## #Méthodologie in short The forest caribou populations in Charlevoix and Val-d'Or were excluded from the following manipulations, as their geographic isolation is sufficient to demonstrate that they are local populations distinct from other caribou groups. A minimal convex polygon was made using 100% of telemetry data from 2004-2012 and 2017-2021 for the population of Charlevoix and from 1986 to 2020 for that of Val-d'Or. For other forest caribou populations, telemetry data from collars placed on caribou by the MELCCFP and various partners (Université Laval, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Hydro-Québec, Government of Ontario and Government of Ontario and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador) were used to identify and delimit the distribution areas of local populations. The data ranges from 2001 to 2021, but the period covered by the data varies by sector of study (see field: Layer tempo for information). Forest caribou populations in Quebec were identified by assigning caribou monitored by telemetry to a population using the fuzzy classification method (c-mean fuzzy clustering; Schaefer et al., 2001; Schaefer et al., 2001; Schaefer and Wilson, 2002). This method aims to unite individuals into groups in order to maximize the distance between members of distinct groups and to minimize the distance between members of the same group. Centroids from individual home ranges were used in this analysis. The ranges were delineated by creating minimal convex polygons including 100% of caribou locations (100% MCP) assigned to a population. For the Baie-James sector, the area was delimited by removing the overlaps between the area inventoried in 2020 (Szor and Gingras, 2020) and the distribution areas of the surrounding local populations. For the Matamec sector, the area represents the non-overlap between the distribution area of the local population of the Lower North Shore and a minimal convex polygon encompassing all telemetry data for caribou in the Matamec sector and the local Lower North Shore population. The acquisition of knowledge on the distribution of caribou and the presence of distinct populations continues in the Baie-James sector (Nord-du-Québec) and the Matamec sector (Côte-Nord). The last update was made in 2021-2022. ## #Mise on guard and limitations of data use: * The ranges of forest caribou populations in Quebec in this file represent the state of knowledge on land use by caribou between 2001 and 2021. * The ranges of the Detour and Nottaway populations overlap both the province of Quebec and that of Ontario, while the ranges of the populations Caniapiscau, Lower North Shore, Lac Joseph and Joir River also straddle the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Only the portion of the ranges of forest caribou populations in the province of Quebec is presented in the file. * Information on the ranges of local populations does not make it possible to establish with certainty that caribou is absent in territories outside the ranges. * The ranges represent areas where it is likely to find caribou belonging to the same population. They do not make it possible to identify the sectors used more or less strongly by caribou in this population or the sectors used by caribou to move within the range or from one population to another (connectivity sectors). * The ranges are subject to change, depending on the new telemetry data that will be acquired, the refinement of our local knowledge and the modifications of land use patterns by caribou. ## #Littérature Environment Canada. 2008. Scientific review for the identification of critical habitat for the boreal population of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Canada. August 2008. Ottawa: Environment Canada. 80 pp. + 192 p. appendices Government of Quebec. 2021 a. Monitoring system for forest caribou populations in Quebec and mountain caribou in Gaspésie 2020-2031: summary document, Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, Directorate of Expertise on Terrestrial Wildlife, Herpetofauna and Avifauna, 16 pp. Government of Quebec. 2021 b. Literature review on the factors involved in the decline of forest caribou populations in Quebec and mountain caribou in Gaspésie, Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, Directorate of Expertise on Terrestrial Wildlife, Herpetofauna and Avifauna, 244 pp. + 15p. appendices Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP). 2023. The Quebec Natural Heritage Data Center — Information document, Government of Quebec, Quebec, 32 pp. Schaefer, J.A., Veitch, A.M., Harrington, F.H., Harrington, F.H., Brown, W.K., Theberge, J.B., & Luttich, S.N. 2001. Fuzzy structure and spatial dynamics of a declining woodland caribou population. Oecologia, 126 (4), 507—514. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004420000555 Schaefer, J.A., & Wilson, C. C. 2002. The fuzzy structure of populations. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 80 (12), 2235—2241. https://doi.org/10.1139/z02-184 Szor, G, and G. Gingras. 2020. Aerial inventory of forest caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the James Bay, Rupert and La Grande sectors, Nord-du-Québec, in winter 2020, Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, Direction de la gestion de la fauna du Nord-du-Québec, 31 p.This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents the median household income across different racial categories in Mountain Home. It portrays the median household income of the head of household across racial categories (excluding ethnicity) as identified by the Census Bureau. The dataset can be utilized to gain insights into economic disparities and trends and explore the variations in median houshold income for diverse racial categories.

Key observations

Based on our analysis of the distribution of Mountain Home population by race & ethnicity, the population is predominantly White. This particular racial category constitutes the majority, accounting for 73.75% of the total residents in Mountain Home. Notably, the median household income for White households is $60,296. Interestingly, despite the White population being the most populous, it is worth noting that Asian households actually reports the highest median household income, with a median income of $83,472. This reveals that, while Whites may be the most numerous in Mountain Home, Asian households experience greater economic prosperity in terms of median household income.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Racial categories include:

• White
• Black or African American
• American Indian and Alaska Native
• Asian
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
• Some other race
• Two or more races (multiracial)

Variables / Data Columns

• Race of the head of household: This column presents the self-identified race of the household head, encompassing all relevant racial categories (excluding ethnicity) applicable in Mountain Home.
• Median household income: Median household income, adjusting for inflation, presented in 2023-inflation-adjusted dollars

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Mountain Home median household income by race. You can refer the same here

Tianshan Mountain provides a model for studying biological evolution and speciation. Here we assess the evolutionary history of the Ostrinia furnacalis and Ostrinia nubilalis, which are sympatric in the Yili River Valley in Xinjiang, China.

Our study is based on the historical gene flow analyses of two species by using three mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA, COI & COII & Cytb) and four nuclear DNA (nuDNA, EF-1α & Wingless & RPS5 & CAD) markers obtained from representatives of HC (Huocheng), YN (Yining), XY (Xinyuan) and MNS (Manasi).

Our results reveal that there is a strong asymmetrical gene flow pattern between the four populations. The population migratory pathways between these different populations show inflow into HC and YN, outflow from XY, and that MNS maintained a flow balance. Bayesian divergence time dating based on the COI gene suggest the genetic divergence between the two species in this area may have occurred in the late-Pleistocene (0.003–0.0127 Mya). Neutrality tests (Tajima's D, Fu's Fs) and mismatch distribution test results suggest that population expansion events may not have occurred in the recent past, which may follow the 'mountain isolation' hypothesis. The ML and BI trees of the mtDNA haplotype dataset show that ECB haplotypes are clustered together in a distinct clade and are clearly separate from ACB haplotypes. However, the geographical pattern of haplotype distribution is less clear and there is no strong correspondence between haplotypes and their geographical pattern for both ACB and ECB, implying that there has been frequent gene flow among the geographic populations in the Tianshan Mountains.

These findings confirm that geological factors play an important role in driving genetic patterns.

Eastern collared lizards (Crotophytus collaris collaris) were a Missouri state endangered species when this study began in 1982 due to massive local extinction on glades in the Ozarks in central North America. Translocation coupled with glade restoration was initiated in the 1980's, including reintroductions starting in 1984 on Stegall Mountain in southern Missouri. The translocated populations underwent three distinct demographic phases: 1) an isolate phase with no net growth in population size, no colonization of nearby glades, and almost no dispersal among populations, 2) a colonizing phase of high dispersal, colonization of new glades, and population growth that started with the onset of prescribed woodland burning, and 3) a stable metapopulation phase established by 2000 on Stegall Mountain in which the number of occupied glades, total population size, and measures of genetic variation were roughly constant. The data in this dryad submission are association with an in press paper (2022) in Animal Conservation that used these data to infer the age of 1162 marked individuals on the basis of distinct color phases and to assign age-probabilities to 391 marked individuals first captured with adult coloration based on time-of-capture within the field season and snout-vent length, as calibrated from following 529 individuals first captured as hatchlings. Age structure differed significantly between phases. The isolate phase was characterized by an old age structure. The colonization phase had a younger age structure and much more recruitment. The stable metapopulation phase had an intermediate age structure. These dynamic age structure attributes show that species cannot be regarded as static units, and ignoring this dynamism can result in poor conservation practice. These results also validate age-structure as a monitoring device for a conservation program and a tool to identify significant shifts in the environment or management that have a conservation impact, in this case prescribed woodland burning.

Better knowledge of genetic relationships between the Fortymile caribou herd and its neighbors is needed for conservation decision-making in Canada. Here, we contribute the first fine-scale analysis of genetic population structure in nine contiguous caribou herds at the geographic boundaries between Barren-ground and Northern Mountain caribou, and at the Alaska-Yukon border. Using pairwise differentiation metrics, STRUCTURE, and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) to analyze 15 microsatellite loci in 379 caribou, we found complex patterns of genetic differentiation. The Fortymile was the only herd assigned to more than one genetic cluster, indicative of its history as a larger herd whose range expansions and gene flow to other herds were likely important to maintaining diversity across a functioning genetic metapopulation. Some small herds (Chisana, Klaza, and White Mountains) were genetically distinct, while others (Hart River, Clear Creek, Mentasta) exhibited little differentiation from herds they occasionally overlap, including herds assigned to different conservation units (DUs). This genetic connectivity does not result from demographic connectivity, as episodic contact during rut, rather than herd switching, is the likely mechanism. Unusually, one small herd (White Mountains) maintained genetic differentiation despite rut overlap with Fortymile. Our data reveal that some herds with different ecological and behavioral attributes are demographically independent but nonetheless genetically connected. Thus, we suggest that managing caribou for an appropriate level of genetic connectivity, while also supporting herd persistence, will be essential to conserve caribou genetic diversity in the region.

Little information exists regarding demographic rates and abundance of elk in the Marble Mountains in California. In the early 1990s and 2000s, elk were reintroduced from Oregon into the Marble Mountain area (CDFW, 2018). Since then, elk have reestablished throughout much of the area, but GPS collar data and information on movement are limited. Current research examines how fire influences elk occupancy in the area. Elk were collared from 2006 to 2013, at sites in the Klamath National Forest and Marble Mountain Wilderness in the north, and close to Cecilville in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in the south. After collaring, elk were separated into three distinct sub-herds (north: Ukonom, central: Wooley Creek, and south: South Fork) due to non-overlapping GPS data points within these areas. The Marble Mountain elk do not migrate between traditional summer and winter seasonal ranges. Instead, the herd contains short-distance elevation-based migrants that display a nomadic migratory tendency, moving up or down elevational gradients. Some elk used higher elevation areas throughout the summer, though this pattern was not ubiquitous. Therefore, annual home ranges were modeled using year-round GPS data to demarcate high use areas in lieu of modeling the specific winter ranges commonly seen in other ungulate analyses in California. More collars are being deployed in collaboration with the Karuk Tribe, but these data are not included here. These mapping layers show the location of the annual ranges for elk (Cervus canadensis) in the Marble Mountain population in California. They were developed from 12 sequences collected from a sample size of 11 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2-10 hours.

Agrilus mali Matsumura is a wood-boring beetle that aggressively attacks species of the genus Malus, that has recently caused serious damage to the wild apple tree M. sieversii (Lebed.) in the western Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang. It was first detected there in the early 1990s and spread rapidly, being thus considered a regional invasive pest. To explore the possible outbreak mechanism of the local population and characterize the genetic differentiation of A. mali across different regions of China, we used three mitochondrial genes (COI, COII, and CytB) to investigate the genetic diversity and genetic structure of 17 A. mali populations containing 205 individuals collected from five Chinese provinces. Among them, nine populations were from the western Tianshan Mountains. Ultimately, of the 136 pairwise Fst comparisons, 99 showed high genetic differentiation among overall populations, and Tianshan populations exhibited significant differentiation with most of the non-Tianshan populations. Furthermore, A. mali populations represented relatively abundant haplotypes (54 haplotypes). Nine populations from the Tianshan Mountains showed 32 haplotypes (26 of which were unique), displaying relatively high genetic diversity. Additionally, the Mantel test revealed population genetic differentiation among either overall populations or the Tianshan Mountains populations, likely caused by geographical isolation. Phylogenic relationships showed that all populations clustered into three clades, and Tianshan Mountains populations, including CY, occupied one of the three clades. These results suggest that A. mali in the western Tianshan region has possibly been present in the area for a long period, and may not have been introduced recently. Highly frequent gene flows within Tianshan populations are possibly caused by human activities and may enhance the adaptability of A. mali along the western Tianshan Mountains, leading to periodic outbreaks. These findings enhance our understanding of jewel beetle population genetics and provide valuable information for pest management.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents the detailed breakdown of the count of individuals within distinct income brackets, categorizing them by gender (men and women) and employment type - full-time (FT) and part-time (PT), offering valuable insights into the diverse income landscapes within Cajah'S Mountain. The dataset can be utilized to gain insights into gender-based income distribution within the Cajah'S Mountain population, aiding in data analysis and decision-making..

Key observations

• Employment patterns: Within Cajah'S Mountain, among individuals aged 15 years and older with income, there were 886 men and 1,010 women in the workforce. Among them, 515 men were engaged in full-time, year-round employment, while 433 women were in full-time, year-round roles.
• Annual income under $24,999: Of the male population working full-time, 11.46% fell within the income range of under $24,999, while 43.88% of the female population working full-time was represented in the same income bracket.
• Annual income above $100,000: 9.13% of men in full-time roles earned incomes exceeding $100,000, while 2.54% of women in full-time positions earned within this income bracket.
• Refer to the research insights for more key observations on more income brackets ( Annual income under $24,999, Annual income between $25,000 and $49,999, Annual income between $50,000 and $74,999, Annual income between $75,000 and $99,999 and Annual income above $100,000) and employment types (full-time year-round and part-time)

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Income brackets:

• $1 to $2,499 or loss
• $2,500 to $4,999
• $5,000 to $7,499
• $7,500 to $9,999
• $10,000 to $12,499
• $12,500 to $14,999
• $15,000 to $17,499
• $17,500 to $19,999
• $20,000 to $22,499
• $22,500 to $24,999
• $25,000 to $29,999
• $30,000 to $34,999
• $35,000 to $39,999
• $40,000 to $44,999
• $45,000 to $49,999
• $50,000 to $54,999
• $55,000 to $64,999
• $65,000 to $74,999
• $75,000 to $99,999
• $100,000 or more

Variables / Data Columns

• Income Bracket: This column showcases 20 income brackets ranging from $1 to $100,000+..
• Full-Time Males: The count of males employed full-time year-round and earning within a specified income bracket
• Part-Time Males: The count of males employed part-time and earning within a specified income bracket
• Full-Time Females: The count of females employed full-time year-round and earning within a specified income bracket
• Part-Time Females: The count of females employed part-time and earning within a specified income bracket

Employment type classifications include:

• Full-time, year-round: A full-time, year-round worker is a person who worked full time (35 or more hours per week) and 50 or more weeks during the previous calendar year.
• Part-time: A part-time worker is a person who worked less than 35 hours per week during the previous calendar year.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Cajah'S Mountain median household income by race. You can refer the same here

The alpine species Dryas octopetala is present in the northern part of Greece, where it forms isolated populations in three mountainous regions: Falakron, Tzena and Orvilos. This study aimed at estimating the intrapopulation genetic diversity and the overall genetic structure of these southernmost European populations. A total of 20 Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used for studying the genetic patterns of populations. RAPD marker profiles revealed population differentiation, with Orvilos being the most differentiated population, indicating either genetic divergence or different lineage. Intrapopulation genetic diversity indices were relatively low in all populations. Findings emphasized the need for designing ex situ conservation management plans for conserving isolated alpine D. octopetala populations in the face of climate change.

Monarch butterflies are known for their spectacular annual migration in eastern North America, with millions of monarchs flying up to 4,500 kilometers to overwintering sites in central Mexico. Monarchs also live west of the Rocky Mountains, where they travel shorter distances to overwinter along the Pacific Coast. Monarch numbers have recently dwindled, and monarch migration may be on the brink of extinction. It is often assumed that eastern and western monarchs form distinct evolutionary units that require specific protection, but genomic studies to support this notion are lacking. We used a tethered flight mill to show that migratory eastern monarchs have greater flight performance than western monarchs. However, analyzing more than 20 million SNPs in 43 monarch genomes, we found no evidence for genomic differentiation between eastern and western monarchs, suggesting the existence of one panmictic migratory population. Our genomic analysis also showed identical and low levels of genetic diversity, and a lack of singleton alleles, indicating a shared history of decline of eastern and western monarchs. Gene expression analysis of a subset of candidate genes during active flight revealed differential gene expression related to non-muscular motor activity. Our results demonstrate that North American monarchs form one panmictic and declining population, and that differences in migration distance and destination are therefore likely driven by environmentally induced differential gene expression. Our study indicates that eastern and western monarchs do not form distinct genetic populations, suggesting that preservation of eastern monarchs could potentially rescue western migration and vice versa.

Populations of species with large spatial distributions are shaped by complex forces that differ throughout their ranges. To maintain the genetic diversity of species, genepool-based subsets of widespread species must be considered in conservation assessments. In this study, the population genetics of the lichenized fungus Lobaria pulmonaria and its algal partner, Symbiochloris reticulata , were investigated to determine population structure, genetic diversity, and degree of congruency in eastern and western North America. Data loggers measuring temperature and humidity were deployed at selected populations in eastern North America to test for climatic adaptation. To better understand the role Pleistocene glaciations played in shaping population patterns, a North American, range-wide species distribution model was constructed and hindcast to 22,000 years before present and at 500-year time slices from then to the present. The presence of two gene pools with minimal admixture was supported, one in the Pacific Northwest and one in eastern North America. Western populations were significantly more genetically diverse than eastern populations. There was no evidence for climatic adaptation among eastern populations, though there was evidence for range-wide adaptation to evapotranspiration rates. Hindcast distribution models suggest that observed genetic diversity may be due to a drastic Pleistocene range restriction in eastern North America, whereas a substantial coastal refugial area is inferred in the west. Taken together the results show different, complex population histories of L. pulmonaria in eastern and western North America, and suggest that conservation planning for each gene pool should be considered separately. Methods Methods

Sample Collection and Data Logger Deployment

A total of 19 sites and 369 individuals of L. pulmonaria were sampled across North America (Table 1). Twelve sites were in eastern North America, including one site in Newfoundland and 11 sites in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains. Seven sites were in the Pacific Northwest, including along the coast and in the Cascade Mountains. At each site, small pieces of lichen material were taken from up to three individual thalli per tree, from a maximum of ten trees, for an optimal total of 30 individuals per site. However, some sites had too few individuals to reach the optimal sample size, in which case, small pieces were taken from all detected thalli. The total number of individuals sampled per location is provided in Table 1. HOBO U23 Pro v2 Temperature/Relative Humidity Data Loggers (ONSET, Bourne, Massachusetts, USA) were deployed at five sites. The devices logged temperature and humidity every 30 minutes for one year (November 15, 2015 – November 15, 2016). Three loggers were deployed at each of the four sites in North Carolina: vicinity of the Chattooga River, Highlands Biological Station, Rough Butt Bald, and Roan Mountain. Five loggers were deployed in Newfoundland on the Avalon Peninsula near the settlement of Markland.

Molecular Methods

Samples were cleaned of debris, lyophilized, and DNA was extracted from whole thallus fragments using the DNeasy 96 Plant Kit (Qiagen, Hombrechtikon, Switzerland) according to the manufacturer protocol. Remaining lichen material was archived in cold storage. Eight fungal microsatellite loci (LPu03, LPu09, LPu15, LPu23, LPu24, LPu25, LPu28, and MS4) and nine green algal microsatellite loci (6825(1), 7007(2), 6816, 6819, 6820, 6863, 6828(2), 6861(3), 7000(2), LPu16, LPu19, LPu20, LPu26, and LPu27) were amplified according to previously established methods (Widmer et al., 2010; Dal Grande et al., 2012) using a PTC-100 thermal cycler (MJ Research, Poway, California, USA). A 3730 DNA Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA) was used for fragment analysis with LIZ-500 (Applied Biosystems, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA) as an internal size standard. GENEMAPPER 3.7 (Life Technologies) was used for genotyping.

Assessments of population genetic structure and demographic history have traditionally been based on neutral markers while explicitly excluding adaptive markers. In this study, we compared the utility of putatively adaptive and neutral single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for inferring mountain pine beetle population structure across its geographic range. Both adaptive and neutral SNPs, and their combination, allowed range-wide structure to be distinguished and delimited a population that has recently undergone range expansion across northern British Columbia and Alberta. Using an equal number of both adaptive and neutral SNPs revealed that adaptive SNPs resulted in a stronger correlation between sampled populations and inferred clustering. Our results suggest that adaptive SNPs should not be excluded prior to analysis from neutral SNPs as a combination of both marker sets resulted in better resolution of genetic differentiation between populations than either marker set alone. These results demonstrate the utility of adaptive loci for resolving population genetic structure in a nonmodel organism.