Multiple insect pollination contributes to differential phenotypic selection on floral traits in Stellera chamaejasme.

Background: Flower morphology is believed to be primarily shaped by the most important pollinators when more than one pollinating species visits the flowers. However, floral adaptation to the selection mediated by multiple pollinators has received little attention. The plant Stellera chamaejasme has evolved a pollination syndrome matching both lepidopteran and thrips.

Effects of Micro-Topography and Vegetation on Soil Moisture on Fixed Sand Dunes in Tengger Desert, China.

Soil moisture is a key factor in arid ecosystems, with local variations influenced by topography and vegetation. Understanding this relationship is crucial for combating desertification. Employing ANOVA, Mean Decrease Accuracy (MDA) analysis from random forest modeling and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this study investigates the distribution of soil moisture and its associations with topographic and vegetative factors across four micro-geomorphic units in the Tengger Desert, China.