LncRNA PSMB8-AS1 Instigates Vascular Inflammation to Aggravate Atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs play significant roles in vascular biology and disease development. One such long noncoding RNA, PSMB8-AS1, has been implicated in the development of tumors. Nevertheless, the precise role of PSMB8-AS1 in cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis, has not been thoroughly elucidated. Thus, the primary aim of this investigation is to assess the influence of PSMB8-AS1 on vascular inflammation and the initiation of atherosclerosis. METHODS: We generated PSMB8-AS1 knockin and Apoe (Apolipoprotein E) knockout mice (Apoe-/-PSMB8-AS1KI) and global Apoe and proteasome subunit-ß type-9 (Psmb9) double knockout mice (Apoe-/-Psmb9-/-). To explore the roles of PSMB8-AS1 and Psmb9 in atherosclerosis, we fed the mice with a Western diet for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Long noncoding RNA PSMB8-AS1 is significantly elevated in human atherosclerotic plaques. Strikingly, Apoe-/-PSMB8-AS1KI mice exhibited increased atherosclerosis development, plaque vulnerability, and vascular inflammation compared with Apoe-/- mice. Moreover, the levels of VCAM1 (vascular adhesion molecule 1) and ICAM1 (intracellular adhesion molecule 1) were significantly upregulated in atherosclerotic lesions and serum of Apoe-/-PSMB8-AS1KI mice. Consistently, in vitro gain- and loss-of-function studies demonstrated that PSMB8-AS1 induced monocyte/macrophage adhesion to endothelial cells and increased VCAM1 and ICAM1 levels in a PSMB9-dependent manner. Mechanistic studies revealed that PSMB8-AS1 induced PSMB9 transcription by recruiting the transcription factor NONO (non-POU domain-containing octamer-binding protein) and binding to the PSMB9 promoter. PSMB9 (proteasome subunit-ß type-9) elevated VCAM1 and ICAM1 expression via the upregulation of ZEB1 (zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1). Psmb9 deficiency decreased atherosclerotic lesion size, plaque vulnerability, and vascular inflammation in Apoe-/- mice in vivo. Importantly, endothelial overexpression of PSMB8-AS1-increased atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation were attenuated by Psmb9 knockout. CONCLUSIONS: PSMB8-AS1 promotes vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis via the NONO/PSMB9/ZEB1 axis. Our findings support the development of new long noncoding RNA-based strategies to counteract atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Spatial effects and heterogeneity analysis of the impact of environmental taxes on carbon emissions in China.

Environmental taxes are important means by which governments can address environmental pollution problems. Amid increasingly severe global warming, how should environmental taxes be used to better combat pollution and reduce emissions to promote sustainable socioeconomic development? This empirical analysis explores the influence of environmental taxes on CO2 emissions by utilizing a spatial Durbin model constructed with panel data from 2006 to 2020 encompassing 30 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities under the direct jurisdiction of China's central government. First, we found that a strong spatial auto-correlation exists between carbon emission intensity and environmental taxes at the geographic and economic levels in each province. The characteristics of high-high and low-low agglomeration are consistent with the actual situation where each province has a strong regional correlation. Second, the estimation results of environmental taxes' spatial effect on carbon emissions show that under the neighboring space weight matrix, environmental taxes and fees can not only better promote regional carbon emission reduction but also reduce the carbon emissions of neighboring regions. Under the economic distance weight matrix, environmental taxes' impact on reducing carbon emission intensity in the province is not significant, but it can promote the reduction of carbon emissions in the economically neighboring provinces. Additionally, the results of the sub-tax estimation of environmental taxes and carbon emission intensity show that differences exist in the impacts of different environmental taxes on carbon emission intensity under different weight matrices. Among them, environmental protection, resource, vehicle and vessel, and urban land use taxes are basically unfavorable in reducing carbon emission intensity in a region and its neighboring regions, while urban maintenance and construction and cultivated land occupation taxes enhance carbon emission reduction. Our findings suggest that efficiently promoting carbon emissions reduction requires effectively utilizing the spatial effects of environmental taxes and carbon emissions, establishing and improving the regional carbon emissions reduction linkage mechanism, including carbon dioxide in the scope of taxation to further strengthen environmental taxes' positive impact on carbon emission reduction, and focusing on the heterogeneity of environmental tax implementation to achieve emission reduction goals.

Different responses of alpine plants to natural climate change reduced coexistence through phenological niche overlap.

Plant phenology is the bridge between climate change and ecosystem functions. Time coordination of interspecific and intraspecific phenology changes overlap or separate can be regarded as an important characteristic of species coexistence. To confirm the hypothesis that plant phenological niche promotes species coexistence, three key alpine plants, Kobresia humilis (sedge), Stipa purpurea (grass), and Astragalus laxmannii (forb) were investigated in this study in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Phenological niches represented as the duration of green up-flowering, flowering-fruiting, and fruiting-withering by 2-day intervals for phenological dynamics of three key alpine plants from 1997 to 2016. We found the role of precipitation on regulating the phenological niches of alpine plants was highlighted in the context of climate warming. The response of the intraspecific phenological niche of the three species to temperature and precipitation is different, and the phenological niche of Kobresia humilis and Stipa purpurea was separate, especially in the green up-flowering. But the overlapping degree of interspecific phenological niche of the three species has continued to increase in the past 20 years, reducing possibility of species coexistence. Our findings have profound implications for understanding the adaptation strategies of key alpine plants to climate change in the dimension of phenological niche.

Not the expected poleward migration: Impact of climate change scenarios on the distribution of two endemic evergreen broad-leaved Quercus species in China.

One of the key strategies for species to respond to climate change is range shift. It is commonly believed that species will migrate towards the poles and higher elevations due to climate change. However, some species may also shift in opposite directions (i.e., equatorward) to adapt to changes in other climatic variables beyond climatic isotherms. In this study, we focused on two evergreen broad-leaved Quercus species endemic to China and used ensemble species distribution models to project their potential distribution shifts and extinction risk under two shared socioeconomic pathways of six general circulation models for the years 2050 and 2070. We also investigated the relative importance of each climatic variable in explaining range shifts of these two species. Our findings indicate a sharp reduction in the habitat suitability for both species. Q. baronii and Q. dolicholepis are projected to experience severe range contractions, losing over 30 % and 100 % of their suitable habitats under SSP585 in the 2070s, respectively. Under the assumption of universal migration in future climate scenarios, Q. baronii is expected to move towards the northwest (~105 km), southwest (~73 km), and high elevation (180-270 m). The range shifts of both species are driven by temperature and precipitation variables, not only annual mean temperature. Specifically, precipitation seasonality and temperature annual range were the most crucial environmental variables, causing the contraction and expansion of Q. baronii and contraction of Q. dolicholepis, respectively. Our results highlight the importance of considering additional climatic variables beyond the annual mean temperature to explain species range shifts in multiple directions.

Electrochemical sensor for doping corticosteroids in sports / Sensor eletroquímico para corticosteróides dopantes nos esportes / Sensor electroquímico para el dopaje de corticoesteroides en los deportes

ABSTRACT Introduction: Identifying and measuring the concentration of Triamcinolone (TA) in biological fluids is essential, especially for patients receiving intensive antibiotic medication. Objective: Make a sensor for electrochemical detection of Triamcinolone (TA) as an anabolic steroid in sports using copper oxide nanomaterials-reduced graphene oxide nanoparticles (CuNPs/rGO). Method: After preparing rGO nanoparticles on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) using the modified Hummers technique, Cu NPs were deposited on rGO/GCE. The applicability of Cu NPs/rGO/GCE was investigated to determine the TA concentration in a real sample that had been prepared. Results: The deposited irregular Cu NPs evidenced a diameter of about 80 nm, in agreement with SEM morphological investigations. Amperometric studies revealed that the linear range, detection limits, and sensitivity of CuNPs/rGO/GCE as a TA sensor were 10 to 80 µM, 10nM, and 0.06584 µA/µM, respectively. Conclusion: The results revealed that the RSD and recovery values were valid, providing adequate quality and reliability for practical analysis of real samples using Cu NPS/rGO/GCE. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: É essencial identificar e medir a concentração de triamcinolona (TA) em fluidos biológicos, especialmente para pacientes que recebem medicação antibiótica intensiva. Objetivo: Confeccionar um sensor para detecção eletroquímica da triamcinolona como esteróides anabolizantes em esportes utilizando nanomateriais de óxido de cobre-nanopartículas de óxido de grafite reduzido (CuNPs/rGO). Métodos: Após a elaboração das nanopartículas rGO em eletrodo de carbono vítreo (GCE) utilizando a técnica Hummers modificada, os NPs Cu foram depositados no rGO/GCE. A fim de determinar a concentração de TA em uma amostra real que tinha sido preparada, foi investigada a aplicabilidade de Cu NPs/rGO/GCE. Resultados: Os Cu NPs irregulares depositados evidenciaram um diâmetro de cerca de 80 nm, de acordo com as investigações morfológicas do SEM. Estudos de amperometria revelaram que a faixa linear, limites de detecção e sensibilidade do CuNPs/rGO/GCE como sensor TA foram de 10 a 80 µM, 10nM e 0,06584 µA/µM, respectivamente. Conclusão: Os resultados revelaram que os valores de RSD e recuperação eram válidas, fornecendo qualidade e confiabilidade adequadas para análises práticas de amostras reais usando Cu NPs/rGO/GCE. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados de tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: Es esencial identificar y medir la concentración de triamcinolona (TA) en los fluidos biológicos, especialmente en los pacientes que reciben medicación antibiótica intensiva. Objetivo: Fabricar un sensor para la detección electroquímica de triamcinolona como esteroides anabólicos en el deporte utilizando nanomateriales de óxido de cobre-nanopartículas de óxido de grafeno reducido (CuNPs/rGO). Método: Tras la preparación de las nanopartículas de rGO sobre el electrodo de carbono vítreo (GCE) utilizando la técnica de Hummers modificada, se depositaron los NPs de Cu sobre el rGO/GCE. Para determinar la concentración de TA en una muestra real que había sido preparada, se investigó la aplicabilidad de los NPs de Cu/rGO/GCE. Resultados: Los NPs de Cu irregulares depositados presentaban un diámetro de unos 80 nm, de acuerdo con las investigaciones morfológicas del SEM. Los estudios amperométricos revelaron que el rango lineal, los límites de detección y la sensibilidad de Cu NPs/rGO/GCE como sensor de TA era de 10 a 80 µM, 10nM y 0,06584 µA/µM, respectivamente. Conclusión: Los resultados revelaron que los valores de RSD y recuperación eran válidos, proporcionando una calidad y fiabilidad adecuadas para el análisis práctico de muestras reales utilizando Cu NPs/rGO/GCE. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Air or soil temperature matters the responses of alpine plants in biomass accumulation to climate warming.

Climate change has substantially affected plant phenology and growth on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), while it remains unclear how plant phenology and growth impact the plant biomass under climate change. We used long-term data (from 1997 to 2017) for four plants, Stipa purpurea, Artemisia scoparia, Kobresia humilis and Astragalus laxmannii in the alpine meadow to examine the relationships among multiple climate factors, vegetative growth, reproductive growth, intrinsic growth rate and biomass. The order of returning to green determines the growth strategies of different plants, the earliest plants to green (p < 0.05) (e.g., Stipa purpurea and Artemisia scoparia) would choose the strategy of vegetative growth (p < 0.05); the earlier plants (p < 0.05) (e.g., Kobresia humilis) would be regulated by both vegetative growth and reproductive growth (p < 0.05); while the latest plant to green (p < 0.05) such as Astragalus laxmannii, would choose intrinsic growth rate rather than growing season (P < 0.05). Temperature was the most important drivers for key phenological phases and growth patterns of four species, different factors play a role in different stages of the growth period, i.e., in the early and late stage is the soil temperature, while in the middle stage is the average temperature or the maximum temperature, and all the optimum thresholds were >30 day. These findings provide the in-situ evidences of long-term changes in phenology and its associated growth on the biomass of alpine plants on the QTP in the era of climate change.

The Plant Interspecific Association in the Revegetated Alpine Grasslands Determines the Productivity Stability of Plant Community Across Restoration Time on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Grassland cultivation is the key measure for restoring "Black Beach," the extremely degraded alpine meadow in the Three River Headwater Area of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. In this study, we examined the inter-specific relationship in the vegetation community of cultivated grasslands with different restoration times through the network analysis method. The results showed that with the extension of restoration time, the development of cultivated grassland would lead to increasing neutral interactions among the plant species. The proportion of species with positive and negative associations in the community decreased, while the number of species-independent pairs increased significantly. The complexity of plant interspecific association (species network density) had more influence on community stability with the extension of recovery time, which can be used to quantify the characteristics of community structure.

Synchronous Responses of Plant Functional Traits to Nitrogen Deposition From Dominant Species to Functional Groups and Whole Communities in Alpine Grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Nitrogen deposition is recognized as one of the major threats to the ecosystem function of alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). However, few studies have documented the gradient responses of plant species, functional groups, and communities in alpine grassland ecosystems to various levels of N deposition on the QTP. We applied eight linear mixed-effect models combing acidification, eutrophication, and phosphorus availability to explore if the responses of functional traits (particularly plant height and specific leaf area) of plants from dominant species to functional groups and whole communities in different types of grassland to nitrogen deposition were consistent with the same or different models. We found that the specific leaf area of Stipa capillata, non-forb, and community-weighted mean value in the alpine steppe were synchronous and related to acidification with nitrogen addition; the height of Stipa capillata, non-forb, and community-weighted mean value in the alpine steppe was synchronous and related to acidification, eutrophication, and phosphorus availability with nitrogen addition; the height and specific leaf area of Elymus breviaristatus to functional groups and community-weighted mean value in cultivated grasslands (CGs) were synchronous and related to acidification, eutrophication, and phosphorus availability with nitrogen addition. Most of the responses of functional traits of plants to acidification, eutrophication, and phosphorus availability associated with nitrogen deposition in the alpine steppe and the CG were synchronous, while only the response of the specific leaf area of forb functional groups to eutrophication associated with N deposition in the alpine steppe was asynchronous.

Eco-physiological processes are more sensitive to simulated N deposition in leguminous forbs than non-leguminous forbs in an alpine meadow of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Increased nitrogen (N) deposition can affect ecosystem processes and thus influence plant eco-physiological processes in grasslands. However, how N deposition affects eco-physiological processes of leguminous and non-leguminous forbs in alpine grasslands is understudied. A long-term field experiment using a range of simulated N deposition rates (0, 8, 24, 40, 56, and 72 kg N ha-1 year-1) was established to examine the effects of N deposition on various eco-physiological parameters in leguminous and non-leguminous forbs in an alpine meadow of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We found that the responses of leguminous and non-leguminous forbs to simulated N deposition varied. Net photosynthetic rate of leguminous and non-leguminous forbs exhibited different response patterns, but chronic increases in simulated N deposition rates may lead to negative effects in both functional groups. Neither functional group responded differently in aboveground biomass under the highest N addition level (72 kg N ha-1 year-1) compared to the control. Differences in aboveground biomass of leguminous forbs were observed at intermediate N levels. Short-term simulated N deposition significantly promoted N uptake of both functional groups. In leguminous forbs, simulated N deposition affected net photosynthetic rates (PN) and aboveground biomass (AGB) mainly via stomatal conductance (gs), water use efficiency (WUE), and plant N uptake. In non-leguminous forbs, simulated N deposition affected PN and AGB mainly through WUE and plant N uptake. Our findings suggest that leguminous and non-leguminous forbs have differential response mechanisms to N deposition, and compared with non-leguminous forbs, leguminous forbs are more sensitive to continuing increased N deposition. The obvious decline trend in photosynthetic capacity in leguminous forbs is likely to exacerbate the already divergent ecological processes between leguminous and non-leguminous forbs. More importantly, these changes are likely to alter the future composition, function, and stability of alpine meadow ecosystems.

Different responses of multifaceted plant diversities of alpine meadow and alpine steppe to nitrogen addition gradients on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), >4000 m known as the "third pole of the earth" and is highly sensitive to nitrogen (N) deposition, understanding the effects of N deposition on multifaceted plant diversity (taxonomy diversity, functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity) in the alpine grasslands of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are vital for the conservation of alpine plant diversity and the sustainability of alpine grasslands ecosystem services. We added N of different gradients to test the effects of soil acidification, soil eutrophication, and phosphorus limitation independently, and interactively on the multifaceted plant richness and evenness in both an alpine meadow and an alpine steppe of the QTP. We found that all the p-value of taxonomy diversity, functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity were >0.05 and values of R2 of fixed factors by nitrogen addition gradients was low (<0.10). In contrast to the alpine steppe, diversity of alpine meadow is more sensitive to soil factors than alpine steppe. Soil acidification caused by nitrogen deposition changed taxonomic evenness (p < 0.05), while eutrophication associated with nitrogen deposition altered taxonomic richness and phylogenetic evenness (p < 0.05) in the alpine meadow and functional richness (p < 0.05) in the alpine steppe. These findings suggest that the effects of N deposition on the multifaceted plant diversity (taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity) varied with N deposition gradients and ecosystem types. Rational adaptation and mitigation techniques should be considered for different types of alpine grasslands on the QTP according to their different responses to the nitrogen deposition gradients in the future.

Effects of simulated N deposition on photosynthesis and productivity of key plants from different functional groups of alpine meadow on Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.

Nitrogen (N) deposition may alter physiological process of plants in grassland ecosystem. However, little is known about the response mechanism of individual plants in alpine regions to N deposition. We conducted a field experiment, and three treatments including 0 kg Nha-1year-1 (CK), 8 kgNha-1year-1 (Low N), and 72 kg N ha-1 year-1 (High N) were established to simulate N deposition in alpine meadow of Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. Our objectives were to determine the influence of N deposition on photosynthesis of different functional types of herbage species in alpine meadow, and finally characterize the links of plant productivity and photosynthesis with soil nutrients. The results showed that responses of alpine plants were species-specific under N deposition. Compared with grass species Agropyron cristatum and forb species Thalictrum aquilegifolium, the sedge species Carex melanantha was much more sensitive to N deposition; a lower N load (8 kgNha-1year-1) can cause a negative effect on its photosynthesis and productivity. Additionally, N deposition can promote plant N uptake and significantly decreased the C (carbon)/N (nitrogen) ratio. Compared with CK and low N deposition, high N deposition inhibited the photosynthesis and growth of the forb species Thalictrum aquilegifolium and sedge species Carex melanantha. In all three functional types of herbage species, the grass species A. cristatum tended to show a much higher photosynthetic capacity and better growth potential; thus, suggesting that grass species A. cristatum will be a more adaptative alpine plants under N deposition. Our findings suggested that plant photosynthetic responses to N deposition were species-specific, low N deposition was not beneficial for all the herbage species, and N deposition may change plant composition by the differential photosynthetic responses among species in alpine grassland. Plant composition shift to grass-dorminant in alpine regions might be attributed to a much higher photosynthetic potential and N use efficiency of grass species.

Effects of Warming and N Deposition on the Physiological Performances of Leymus secalinus in Alpine Meadow of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Warming and Nitrogen (N) deposition are key global changes that may affect eco-physiological process of territorial plants. In this paper, we examined the effects of warming, N deposition, and their combination effect on the physiological performances of Leymus secalinus. Four treatments were established in an alpine meadow of Qinghai-Tibetan plateau: control (CK), warming (W), N deposition (N), and warming plus N deposition (NW). Warming significantly decreased the photosynthetic rate (Anet ), stomatal conductance (gs ), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci ), and transpiration rate (Tr ), while N deposition and warming plus N deposition significantly increased those parameters of L. secalinus. Warming significantly increased the VPD and Ls , while N deposition and warming plus N deposition had a significant positive effect. Warming negatively reduced the leaf N content, Chla, Chlb, and total Chl content, while N deposition significantly promoted these traits. Warming, N deposition, and their combination significantly increased the activity of SOD, POD, and CAT. Besides, warming and warming plus N deposition significantly increased the MDA content, while N deposition significantly decreased the MDA content. N deposition and warming plus N deposition significantly increased the Rubisco activity, while warming showed no significant effect on Rubisco activity. N deposition and warming plus N deposition significantly increased the Fv/Fm, ΦPSII, qP, and decreased NPQ, while warming significantly decreased the Fv/Fm, ΦPSII, qP, and increased NPQ. N deposition strengthened the relations between gs , Chl, Chla, Chlb, Rubisco activity, and Anet . Under warming, only gs showed a significantly positive relation with Anet . Our findings suggested that warming could impair the photosynthetic potential of L. secalinus enhanced by N deposition. Additionally, the combination of warming and N deposition still tend to lead positive effects on L. secalinus.

Evolutionary history and functional traits determine the spatial pattern of multifaceted plant diversity in a typical temperate desert disturbed by an expressway.

Temperate desert is one of the globally important biomes with unique and valuable biodiversity, which might be threatened by environmental stresses and human disturbance associated with rapid development. However, few studies have documented the spatial distribution of the multifaceted plant diversity of the temperate desert and their relationships with external impacting factors. We sampled multifaceted plant species diversity including taxonomic diversity, functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity in the Alashan Desert along Beijing-Xinjiang Expressway (G6) in Northern China to identify the key factors and process which regulate the multifaceted plant diversity of the temperate desert. We found that the dynamics of species richness, functional richness, and phylogenetic richness along the elevational gradient corresponded to the unimodal model. Species phylogenetic development shifted from aggregation to divergence, while species functional traits were the opposite along the elevational gradient. The sites at an elevation around 1200-1400 m were the key habitats for the occurrence of high plant diversity including species richness, functional richness and phylogenetic richness. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in plant diversity at different distances from the road (500 m, 1000 m and 1500 m) and human disturbances (the distance from the nearest human settlements). Temperature, temperature variability, precipitation, precipitation variability, soil physical and chemistry properties showed no significant effects on plant diversity. It was concluded that evolutionary history and functional traits, not environmental or anthropogenic factors were the key determinants of the pattern of multifaceted plant diversity.

Investigating distribution pattern of species in a warm-temperate conifer-broadleaved-mixed forest in China for sustainably utilizing forest and soils.

The maintaining mechanisms and potential ecological processes of species diversity in warm temperate- conifer-broadleaved-mixed forest are far from clear understanding. In this paper, the relative neighborhood density Ω was used to analyze the spatial distribution patterns of 34 species with ≥11 individuals in a warm- temperate-conifer-broadleaved-mixed forest, northern China. Then we used canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and Torus-translation test (TTT) to explain the distribution of observed species. Our results show that aggregated distribution is the dominant pattern in warm-temperate natural forest and four species regular distribution at the spatial scale >30m. The aggregated percentage and intensity decline with spatial scale, abundance and size classes increasing. Rare species are aggregated more than intermediate and abundant species. These results prove sufficiently the effects existence of scale separation, self-thinning and Janzen-Connell hypothesis. In addition, functional traits (dispersal modes and shade tolerance) also have a significant influence on distribution of species. The results of CCA confirm that slope and convexity are the most important factors affecting the distribution of tree species distribution, elevation and slope of shrub species though the combination of topographic variables only explained 1% of distribution of tree species and 2% of shrub species. Most species don't have habitat preference; however 47.1% (16/34) species including absolutely dominant tree (Pinus tabulaeformis and Quercus wutaishanica) and shrub species (Rosa xanthina) and most other species with important value in the front, are strongly positively or negatively associated with at least one habitat. The valley and ridge are most distinct habitat with association of 12 species in the plot. However, high elevation slope with 257 quadrats is the most extensive habitat with only four species. Therefore, there is obvious evidence that habitat heterogeneity play an important role on shaping spatial distribution of species in warm temperate forest. Our research results provide significant evidence that dispersal limitation and habitat heterogeneity have a contribution jointly to regulating the spatial distribution pattern of species in warm-temperate-forest in China.