Projected impacts of climate change on the range and phenology of three culturally-important shrub species.

Climate change is shifting both the habitat suitability and the timing of critical biological events, such as flowering and fruiting, for plant species across the globe. Here, we ask how both the distribution and phenology of three food-producing shrubs native to northwestern North America might shift as the climate changes. To address this question, we compared gridded climate data with species location data to identify climate variables that best predicted the current bioclimatic niches of beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta), Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), and salal (Gaultheria shallon). We also developed thermal-sum models for the timing of flowering and fruit ripening for these species. We then used multi-model ensemble future climate projections to estimate how species range and phenology may change under future conditions. Modelling efforts showed extreme minimum temperature, climate moisture deficit, and mean summer precipitation were predictive of climatic suitability across all three species. Future bioclimatic niche models project substantial reductions in habitat suitability across the lower elevation and southern portions of the species' current ranges by the end of the 21st century. Thermal-sum phenology models for these species indicate that flowering and the ripening of fruits and nuts will advance an average of 25 days by the mid-21st century, and 36 days by the late-21st century under a high emissions scenario (RCP 8.5). Future changes in the climatic niche and phenology of these important food-producing species may alter trophic relationships, with cascading impacts on regional ecosystems.

[Studies on resources of ethnomedicine Gaultheria leucocarpa var. yunnanensis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the resources of G. leucocarpa var. yunnanensis for further development of this drug. METHOD: Field investigating, consulting with relevant experts and looking into available specimens. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: G. leucocarpa var. yunnanensis is widely distributed in the southern regions of the Yangtze River. The field investigation suggests that the distribution center is situated in Yunnan province, mainly in Kunming, Chuxiong and Dali counties. The climate in these areas is moderate and moist. G. leucocarpa var. yunnanensis is not a dominant species in this natural environment. In some places, it grows with other species of Gaultheria, such as G. fragrantissima, G. tetramera, G. griffithiana and G. leucocarpa var. cumingiana. It is distributed at altitudes from 400 m to 3,500 m. Accustomed to different sunshine conditions, G. leucocarpa var. yunnanensis prefers stronger sunlight and commonly grows on sunny slopes, seldom in dense forest, propagating itself by roots. As a folk medicine, G. leucocarpa var. yunnanensis is commonly used to treat rheumatic arthritis(RA), dazzling, suppressed menstruation, cold, cough, asthma, strain hematemesis, eczema, ascites, wound, amebic dysentery, acute and chronic prostatitis. It is suggested that further pharmacological and clinical researches of this plant be concentrated on the treatment of RA and relief of aches.