101
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Griffith KA, Grinath JB. Interactive effects of precipitation and nitrogen enrichment on multi-trophic dynamics in plant-arthropod communities. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201219. [PMID: 30070991 PMCID: PMC6072000 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Patterns of precipitation and nitrogen (N) deposition are changing in ecosystems worldwide. Simultaneous increases in precipitation and N deposition can relieve co-limiting soil resource conditions for plants and result in synergistic plant responses, which may affect animals and plant responses to higher trophic levels. However, the potential for synergistic effects of precipitation and N deposition on animals and plant responses to herbivores and predators (via trophic cascades) is unclear. We investigated the influence of precipitation and N enrichment on ecological dynamics across three trophic levels, hypothesizing that herbivores and plants would exhibit synergistic responses to the combined influence of precipitation, N amendments and predators. To test this, we conducted a field experiment with arthropods on two model plant species, Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica. First, we characterized the plant-arthropod assemblages, finding that N. tabacum hosted greater abundances of caterpillars, while N. rustica hosted more sap-sucking herbivores. Next, we evaluated the effects of rainwater, soil N, and predatory spider manipulations for both plant-arthropod assemblages. On N. tabacum, water and N availability had an interactive effect on caterpillars, where caterpillars were most abundant with rainwater additions and least abundant when both rainwater and N were added. For N. rustica, foliar chemistry had a synergistic response to all three experimental factors. Compared to spider-absent conditions, leaf N concentration increased and C/N decreased when spiders were present, but this response only occurred under high water and N availability. Spiders indirectly altered plant chemistry via a facilitative effect of spiders on sap-sucking herbivores, potentially due to intra-guild predation, and a positive effect of sap-suckers on foliar N concentration. Our study suggests that predictions of the ecological impacts of altered precipitation and N deposition may need to account for the effects of resource co-limitation on dynamics across trophic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin A. Griffith
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
| | - Joshua B. Grinath
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States of America
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102
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Zhang J, Qian H, Girardello M, Pellissier V, Nielsen SE, Svenning JC. Trophic interactions among vertebrate guilds and plants shape global patterns in species diversity. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20180949. [PMID: 30051871 PMCID: PMC6083253 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Trophic interactions play critical roles in structuring biotic communities. Understanding variation in trophic interactions among systems provides important insights into biodiversity maintenance and conservation. However, the relative importance of bottom-up versus top-down trophic processes for broad-scale patterns in biodiversity is poorly understood. Here, we used global datasets on species richness of vascular plants, mammals and breeding birds to evaluate the role of trophic interactions in shaping large-scale diversity patterns. Specifically, we used non-recursive structural equation models to test for top-down and bottom-up forcing of global species diversity patterns among plants and trophic guilds of mammals and birds (carnivores, invertivores and herbivores), while accounting for extrinsic environmental drivers. The results show that trophic linkages emerged as being more important to explaining species richness than extrinsic environmental drivers. In particular, there were strong, positive top-down interactions between mammal herbivores and plants, and moderate to strong bottom-up and/or top-down interactions between herbivores/invertivores and carnivores. Estimated trophic interactions for separate biogeographical regions were consistent with global patterns. Our findings demonstrate that, after accounting for environmental drivers, large-scale species richness patterns in plant and vertebrate taxa consistently support trophic interactions playing a major role in shaping global patterns in biodiversity. Furthermore, these results suggest that top-down forces often play strong complementary roles relative to bottom-up drivers in structuring biodiversity patterns across trophic levels. These findings underscore the importance of integrating trophic forcing mechanisms into studies of biodiversity patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- Tiantong National Station for Forest Ecosystem Research & Center for Global Change and Ecological Forecasting, School of Ecological and Environmental Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Hong Qian
- Research and Collections Center, Illinois State Museum, 1011 East Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703, USA
| | - Marco Girardello
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Vincent Pellissier
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Scott E Nielsen
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H1
| | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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103
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McGraw JB, Chandler JL. Demographic hallmarks of an overbrowsed population state in American ginseng. Glob Ecol Conserv 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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104
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de Paula Mateus D, Groeneveld J, Fischer R, Taubert F, Martins VF, Huth A. Defaunation impacts on seed survival and its effect on the biomass of future tropical forests. OIKOS 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.05084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dantas de Paula Mateus
- Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ Leipzig; Dept of Ecological Modelling; PO Box 500136 DE-04301 Leipzig Germany
| | - Juergen Groeneveld
- Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ Leipzig; Dept of Ecological Modelling; PO Box 500136 DE-04301 Leipzig Germany
- Inst. of Forest Growth and Forest Computer Sciences; Technische Univ. Dresden; Tharandt Germany
| | - Rico Fischer
- Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ Leipzig; Dept of Ecological Modelling; PO Box 500136 DE-04301 Leipzig Germany
| | - Franziska Taubert
- Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ Leipzig; Dept of Ecological Modelling; PO Box 500136 DE-04301 Leipzig Germany
| | - Valéria F. Martins
- Dept of Natural Sciences, Maths and Education; Centre for Agrarian Sciences, Federal Univ. of Sao Carlos - UFSC; Araras SP Brazil
| | - Andreas Huth
- Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research - UFZ Leipzig; Dept of Ecological Modelling; PO Box 500136 DE-04301 Leipzig Germany
- Inst. of Environmental Systems Research; Univ. of Osnabrück; Osnabrück Germany
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105
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Loeuille N, Hauzy C. Multidimensionality of plant defenses and herbivore niches: Implications for eco-evolutionary dynamics. J Theor Biol 2018; 445:110-119. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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106
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Meier AR, Hunter MD. Mycorrhizae Alter Toxin Sequestration and Performance of Two Specialist Herbivores. Front Ecol Evol 2018. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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107
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Parejo D, Avilés JM, Expósito-Granados M. Receivers matter: the meaning of alarm calls and competition for nest sites in a bird community. Oecologia 2018; 187:707-717. [PMID: 29637297 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4139-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Animal communities may constitute information networks where individuals gain information on predation risk by eavesdropping on alarm calls of other species. However, communities include species in different trophic levels, and it is not yet known how the trophic level of the receiver influences the informative value of a call. Furthermore, no empirical study has yet tested how increased competition may influence the value of alarm calls for distinct receivers. Here, we identify the importance of alarm calls emitted by a small owl, the little owl (Athene noctua), on the structure of a cavity-nesting bird community including mesopredators and primary prey under variable levels of competition for nest holes. Competitors sharing top predators with the callers and prey of the callers interpreted alarm and non-alarm calls differently. Competitors chose preferentially alarm and non-alarm patches over control patches to breed, while prey selected alarm patches. In contrast, competition for nest sites affected habitat selection of prey species more than that of competitors of the callers. This study provides support for a changing value of alarm calls and competition for nest sites for distinct receivers related to niche overlapping among callers and eavesdroppers, therefore, calling attention to possible cascading effects by the use of information in natural communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deseada Parejo
- Department of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology, University of Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain. .,Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, EEZA-CSIC, 04120, Almería, Spain.
| | - Jesús M Avilés
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, EEZA-CSIC, 04120, Almería, Spain
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108
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Prather CM, Belovsky GE, Cantrell SA, González G. Tropical herbivorous phasmids, but not litter snails, alter decomposition rates by modifying litter bacteria. Ecology 2018; 99:782-791. [PMID: 29603190 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Revised: 01/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Consumers can alter decomposition rates through both feces and selective feeding in many ecosystems, but these combined effects have seldom been examined in tropical ecosystems. Members of the detrital food web (litter-feeders or microbivores) should presumably have greater effects on decomposition than herbivores, members of the green food web. Using litterbag experiments within a field enclosure experiment, we determined the relative effects of common litter snails (Megalomastoma croceum) and herbivorous walking sticks (Lamponius portoricensis) on litter composition, decomposition rates, and microbes in a Puerto Rican rainforest, and whether consumer effects were altered by canopy cover presence. Although canopy presence did not alter consumers' effects, focal organisms had unexpected influences on decomposition. Decomposition was not altered by litter snails, but herbivorous walking sticks reduced leaf decomposition by about 50% through reductions in high quality litter abundance and, consequently, lower bacterial richness and abundance. This relatively unexplored but potentially important link between tropical herbivores, detritus, and litter microbes in this forest demonstrates the need to consider autotrophic influences when examining rainforest ecosystem processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelse M Prather
- Department of Biological Sciences, Galvin Life Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, 46656, USA.,Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Site, Río Grande, PR 00745, Puerto Rico.,Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, USA
| | - Gary E Belovsky
- Department of Biological Sciences, Galvin Life Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, 46656, USA.,Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Site, Río Grande, PR 00745, Puerto Rico
| | - Sharon A Cantrell
- Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Site, Río Grande, PR 00745, Puerto Rico.,Department of Biology, Universidad del Turabo Gurabo, Gurabo, PR 00778, Puerto Rico
| | - Grizelle González
- Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Site, Río Grande, PR 00745, Puerto Rico.,USDA Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, Jardín Botánico Sur, 1201 Calle Ceiba, Río Piedras, PR 00926, Puerto Rico
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109
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Mustin K, Arroyo B, Beja P, Newey S, Irivine RJ, Kestler J, Redpath SM. Consequences of game bird management for non-game species in Europe. J Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Mustin
- James Hutton Institute; Aberdeen Scotland
- Institute of Biological & Environmental Sciences; University of Aberdeen; Aberdeen Scotland
| | - Beatriz Arroyo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM); Ciudad Real Spain
| | - Pedro Beja
- InBIO/CIBIO; Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos; Universidade do Porto; Vairão Portugal
- Centro de Ecologia Aplicada “Professor Baeta Neves”; CEABN/InBio; Instituto Superior de Agronomia; Universidade de Lisboa; Lisboa Portugal
| | | | | | - Julia Kestler
- Institute of Biological & Environmental Sciences; University of Aberdeen; Aberdeen Scotland
| | - Steve M. Redpath
- Institute of Biological & Environmental Sciences; University of Aberdeen; Aberdeen Scotland
- Department of Ecology; Grimso Wildlife Research Station; Swedish University of Agricultural Science; Riddarhyttan Sweden
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110
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Thomsen MS, Altieri AH, Angelini C, Bishop MJ, Gribben PE, Lear G, He Q, Schiel DR, Silliman BR, South PM, Watson DM, Wernberg T, Zotz G. Secondary foundation species enhance biodiversity. Nat Ecol Evol 2018; 2:634-639. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-018-0487-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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111
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Moral RA, Hinde J, Demétrio CGB, Reigada C, Godoy WAC. Models for Jointly Estimating Abundances of Two Unmarked Site-Associated Species Subject to Imperfect Detection. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICS 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s13253-017-0316-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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112
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Toju H, Baba YG. DNA metabarcoding of spiders, insects, and springtails for exploring potential linkage between above- and below-ground food webs. ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS 2018; 4:4. [PMID: 29468086 PMCID: PMC5815251 DOI: 10.1186/s40851-018-0088-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding feedback between above- and below-ground processes of biological communities is a key to the effective management of natural and agricultural ecosystems. However, as above- and below-ground food webs are often studied separately, our knowledge of material flow and community dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems remains limited. RESULTS We developed a high-throughput sequencing method for examining how spiders link above- and below-ground food webs as generalist predators. To overcome problems related to DNA-barcoding-based analyses of arthropod-arthropod interactions, we designed spider-specific blocking primers and Hexapoda-specific primers for the selective PCR amplification of Hexapoda prey sequences from spider samples. By applying the new DNA metabarcoding framework to spider samples collected in a temperate secondary forest in Japan, we explored the structure of a food web involving 15 spider species and various taxonomic groups of Hexapoda prey. These results support the hypothesis that multiple spider species in a community can prey on both above- and below-ground prey species, potentially coupling above- and below-ground food-web dynamics. CONCLUSIONS The PCR primers and metabarcoding pipeline described in this study are expected to accelerate nuclear marker-based analyses of food webs, illuminating poorly understood trophic interactions in ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirokazu Toju
- Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Hirano 2-509-3, Otsu, Shiga 520-2113 Japan
- Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency, Honcho 4-1-8, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012 Japan
| | - Yuki G. Baba
- Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, NARO, Kannondai 3-1-3, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8604 Japan
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113
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Does urbanization explain differences in interactions between an insect herbivore and its natural enemies and mutualists? Urban Ecosyst 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-017-0727-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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114
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Lindegren M, Checkley DM, Koslow JA, Goericke R, Ohman MD. Climate-mediated changes in marine ecosystem regulation during El Niño. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:796-809. [PMID: 29156088 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The degree to which ecosystems are regulated through bottom-up, top-down, or direct physical processes represents a long-standing issue in ecology, with important consequences for resource management and conservation. In marine ecosystems, the role of bottom-up and top-down forcing has been shown to vary over spatio-temporal scales, often linked to highly variable and heterogeneously distributed environmental conditions. Ecosystem dynamics in the Northeast Pacific have been suggested to be predominately bottom-up regulated. However, it remains unknown to what extent top-down regulation occurs, or whether the relative importance of bottom-up and top-down forcing may shift in response to climate change. In this study, we investigate the effects and relative importance of bottom-up, top-down, and physical forcing during changing climate conditions on ecosystem regulation in the Southern California Current System (SCCS) using a generalized food web model. This statistical approach is based on nonlinear threshold models and a long-term data set (~60 years) covering multiple trophic levels from phytoplankton to predatory fish. We found bottom-up control to be the primary mode of ecosystem regulation. However, our results also demonstrate an alternative mode of regulation represented by interacting bottom-up and top-down forcing, analogous to wasp-waist dynamics, but occurring across multiple trophic levels and only during periods of reduced bottom-up forcing (i.e., weak upwelling, low nutrient concentrations, and primary production). The shifts in ecosystem regulation are caused by changes in ocean-atmosphere forcing and triggered by highly variable climate conditions associated with El Niño. Furthermore, we show that biota respond differently to major El Niño events during positive or negative phases of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), as well as highlight potential concerns for marine and fisheries management by demonstrating increased sensitivity of pelagic fish to exploitation during El Niño.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Lindegren
- Centre for Ocean Life, c/o National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - David M Checkley
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Julian A Koslow
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ralf Goericke
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mark D Ohman
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
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115
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Plant diversity effects on arthropods and arthropod-dependent ecosystem functions in a biodiversity experiment. Basic Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2017.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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116
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Morris T, Letnic M. Removal of an apex predator initiates a trophic cascade that extends from herbivores to vegetation and the soil nutrient pool. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.0111. [PMID: 28490624 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It is widely assumed that organisms at low trophic levels, particularly microbes and plants, are essential to basic services in ecosystems, such as nutrient cycling. In theory, apex predators' effects on ecosystems could extend to nutrient cycling and the soil nutrient pool by influencing the intensity and spatial organization of herbivory. Here, we take advantage of a long-term manipulation of dingo abundance across Australia's dingo-proof fence in the Strzelecki Desert to investigate the effects that removal of an apex predator has on herbivore abundance, vegetation and the soil nutrient pool. Results showed that kangaroos were more abundant where dingoes were rare, and effects of kangaroo exclusion on vegetation, and total carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus in the soil were marked where dingoes were rare, but negligible where dingoes were common. By showing that a trophic cascade resulting from an apex predator's lethal effects on herbivores extends to the soil nutrient pool, we demonstrate a hitherto unappreciated pathway via which predators can influence nutrient dynamics. A key implication of our study is the vast spatial scale across which apex predators' effects on herbivore populations operate and, in turn, effects on the soil nutrient pool and ecosystem productivity could become manifest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Morris
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Mike Letnic
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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117
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Northfield TD, Laurance SGW, Mayfield MM, Paini DR, Snyder WE, Stouffer DB, Wright JT, Lach L. Native turncoats and indirect facilitation of species invasions. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2017.1936. [PMID: 29367390 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
At local scales, native species can resist invasion by feeding on and competing with would-be invasive species. However, this relationship tends to break down or reverse at larger scales. Here, we consider the role of native species as indirect facilitators of invasion and their potential role in this diversity-driven 'invasion paradox'. We coin the term 'native turncoats' to describe native facilitators of non-native species and identify eight ways they may indirectly facilitate species invasion. Some are commonly documented, while others, such as indirect interactions within competitive communities, are largely undocumented in an invasion context. Therefore, we use models to evaluate the likelihood that these competitive interactions influence invasions. We find that native turncoat effects increase with the number of resources and native species. Furthermore, our findings suggest the existence, abundance and effectiveness of native turncoats in a community could greatly influence invasion success at large scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobin D Northfield
- Centre for Tropical, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
| | - Susan G W Laurance
- Centre for Tropical, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
| | - Margaret M Mayfield
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Dean R Paini
- CSIRO, Black Mountain Laboratories, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - William E Snyder
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6382, USA
| | - Daniel B Stouffer
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, University of Canterbury, School of Biological Sciences, Christchurch, Canterbury 8041, New Zealand
| | - Jeffrey T Wright
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Lori Lach
- Centre for Tropical, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
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118
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Kawatsu K. Ecological effects of sex differ with trophic positions in a simple food web. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:1239-1246. [PMID: 29375794 PMCID: PMC5773336 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual differences in parental investment, predation pressure, and foraging efforts are common in nature and affect the trophic flow in food webs. Specifically, the sexual differences in predator and prey behavior change in trophic inflow and outflow, respectively, while those in parental investment alter the reproductive allocation of acquired resources in the population. Consequently, these factors may play an important role in determining the system structure and persistence. However, few studies have examined how sexual differences in trophic flow affect food web dynamics. In this study, I show the ecological role of sex by explicitly incorporating sexual differences in trophic flow into a three‐species food web model. The results demonstrated that the ecological waste of males, that is, the amount of trophic inflow into males with less parental investment, plays an important role in system persistence and structure. In particular, the synergy between sexual differences in parental investment and trophic inflows and outflows is important in determining web persistence: Significant impacts of male‐biased trophic flows require the condition of anisogamy. In addition, the dynamic effects of the ecological waste of males differ with trophic level: The coexistence of a food web occurs more frequently with biased inflows into predator males, but occurs less frequently with biased inflows into consumer males. The model analysis indicates that investigating the pattern of sexual differences among trophic positions can enrich our understanding of food web persistence and structure in the real world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazutaka Kawatsu
- Department of Environmental Solution Technology Faculty of Science and Technology Ryukoku University Otsu Japan
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119
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Gordon TAC, Neto-Cerejeira J, Furey PC, O'Gorman EJ. Changes in feeding selectivity of freshwater invertebrates across a natural thermal gradient. Curr Zool 2018; 64:231-242. [PMID: 30402064 PMCID: PMC5905579 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental warming places physiological constraints on organisms, which may be mitigated by their feeding behavior. Theory predicts that consumers should increase their feeding selectivity for more energetically valuable resources in warmer environments to offset the disproportionate increase in metabolic demand relative to ingestion rate. This may also result in a change in feeding strategy or a shift towards a more specialist diet. This study used a natural warming experiment to investigate temperature effects on the feeding selectivity of three freshwater invertebrate grazers: the snail Radix balthica, the blackfly larva Simulium aureum, and the midgefly larva Eukiefferiella minor. Chesson’s Selectivity Index was used to compare the proportional abundance of diatom species in the guts of each invertebrate species with corresponding rock biofilms sampled from streams of different temperature. The snails became more selective in warmer streams, choosing high profile epilithic diatoms over other guilds and feeding on a lower diversity of diatom species. The blackfly larvae appeared to switch from active collector gathering of sessile high profile diatoms to more passive filter feeding of motile diatoms in warmer streams. No changes in selectivity were observed for the midgefly larvae, whose diet was representative of resource availability in the environment. These results suggest that key primary consumers in freshwater streams, which constitute a major portion of invertebrate biomass, can change their feeding behavior in warmer waters in a range of different ways. These patterns could potentially lead to fundamental changes in the flow of energy through freshwater food webs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A C Gordon
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, UK.,Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Joana Neto-Cerejeira
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Paula C Furey
- Department of Biology, Saint Catherine University, St Paul, MN 55105, USA
| | - Eoin J O'Gorman
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, UK
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120
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Cruz J, Windels SK, Thogmartin WE, Crimmins SM, Grim LH, Zuckerberg B. Managing individual nests promotes population recovery of a top predator. J Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennyffer Cruz
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin – Madison Madison WI USA
| | | | - Wayne E. Thogmartin
- U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center La Crosse WI USA
| | - Shawn M. Crimmins
- College of Natural Resources University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Stevens Point WI USA
| | | | - Benjamin Zuckerberg
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin – Madison Madison WI USA
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121
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Myrvold KM, Kennedy BP. Shifts in Great Blue Heron Habitat use Following Nest Site Usurpation: Implications for Salmonids. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2018. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-179.1.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian Patrick Kennedy
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, and Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow 83844
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122
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123
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Elliott KH, Betini GS, Norris DR. Fear creates an Allee effect: experimental evidence from seasonal populations. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:rspb.2017.0878. [PMID: 28659452 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Allee effects driven by predation can play a strong role in the decline of small populations but are conventionally thought to occur when generalist predators target specific prey (i.e. type II functional response). However, aside from direct consumption, fear of predators could also increase vigilance and reduce time spent foraging as population size decreases, as has been observed in wild mammals living in social groups. To investigate the role of fear on fitness in relation to population density in a species with limited sociality, we exposed varying densities of Drosophila melanogaster to mantid predators either during an experimental breeding season or non-breeding season. The presence of mantids in either season decreased the reproductive performance of individuals but only at low breeding densities, providing evidence for an Allee effect. We then used our experimental results to parametrize a mathematical model to examine the population consequences of fear at low densities. Fear tended to destabilize population dynamics and increase the risk of extinction up to sevenfold. Our study provides unique experimental evidence that the indirect effects of the presence of predators can cause an Allee effect and has important consequences for our understanding of the dynamics of small populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle H Elliott
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 .,Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X 3V9
| | - Gustavo S Betini
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - D Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
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124
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Implications of earlier sea ice melt for phenological cascades in arctic marine food webs. FOOD WEBS 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2016.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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125
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Morrant DS, Wurster CM, Johnson CN, Butler JRA, Congdon BC. Prey use by dingoes in a contested landscape: Ecosystem service provider or biodiversity threat? Ecol Evol 2017; 7:8927-8935. [PMID: 29152188 PMCID: PMC5677475 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 07/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In Australia, dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) have been implicated in the decline and extinction of a number of vertebrate species. The lowland Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia is a biologically rich area with many species of rainforest-restricted vertebrates that could be threatened by dingoes; however, the ecological impacts of dingoes in this region are poorly understood. We determined the potential threat posed by dingoes to native vertebrates in the lowland Wet Tropics using dingo scat/stomach content and stable isotope analyses of hair from dingoes and potential prey species. Common mammals dominated dingo diets. We found no evidence of predation on threatened taxa or rainforest specialists within our study areas. The most significant prey species were northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus), canefield rats (Rattus sordidus), and agile wallabies (Macropus agilis). All are common species associated with relatively open grass/woodland habitats. Stable isotope analysis suggested that prey species sourced their nutrients primarily from open habitats and that prey choice, as identified by scat/stomach analysis alone, was a poor indicator of primary foraging habitats. In general, we find that prey use by dingoes in the lowland Wet Tropics does not pose a major threat to native and/or threatened fauna, including rainforest specialists. In fact, our results suggest that dingo predation on "pest" species may represent an important ecological service that outweighs potential biodiversity threats. A more targeted approach to managing wild canids is needed if the ecosystem services they provide in these contested landscapes are to be maintained, while simultaneously avoiding negative conservation or economic impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian S Morrant
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) James Cook University Cairns QLD Australia.,College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Cairns QLD Australia
| | - Christopher M Wurster
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) James Cook University Cairns QLD Australia.,College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Cairns QLD Australia
| | | | - James R A Butler
- Adaptive Social and Economic Systems Program CSIRO Land and Water Flagship Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Bradley C Congdon
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) James Cook University Cairns QLD Australia.,College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Cairns QLD Australia
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126
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Landuse Change in Savannas Disproportionately Reduces Functional Diversity of Invertebrate Predators at the Highest Trophic Levels: Spiders as an Example. Ecosystems 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-017-0194-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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127
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Hertzog LR, Ebeling A, Weisser WW, Meyer ST. Plant diversity increases predation by ground-dwelling invertebrate predators. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lionel R. Hertzog
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group; Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management; Center for Food and Life Sciences Weihenstephan; Technische Universität München; Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2 DE-85354 Freising Germany
| | - Anne Ebeling
- Institute for Ecology; Friedrich-Schiller University Jena; Dornburger Strasse 159 DE-07743 Jena Germany
| | - Wolfgang W. Weisser
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group; Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management; Center for Food and Life Sciences Weihenstephan; Technische Universität München; Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2 DE-85354 Freising Germany
| | - Sebastian T. Meyer
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group; Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management; Center for Food and Life Sciences Weihenstephan; Technische Universität München; Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2 DE-85354 Freising Germany
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128
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Piovia-Scott J, Yang LH, Wright AN. Temporal Variation in Trophic Cascades. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2017. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-121415-032246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The trophic cascade has emerged as a key paradigm in ecology. Although ecologists have made progress in understanding spatial variation in the strength of trophic cascades, temporal variation remains relatively unexplored. Our review suggests that strong trophic cascades are often transient, appearing when ecological conditions support high consumer abundance and rapidly growing, highly edible prey. Persistent top-down control is expected to decay over time in the absence of external drivers, as strong top-down control favors the emergence of better-defended resources. Temporal shifts in cascade strength—including those driven by contemporary global change—can either stabilize or destabilize ecological communities. We suggest that a more temporally explicit approach can improve our ability to explain the drivers of trophic cascades and predict the impact of changing cascade strength on community dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonah Piovia-Scott
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Vancouver, Washington
| | - Louie H. Yang
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, California
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129
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Messas YF, Souza HS, Gonzaga MO, Vasconcellos-Neto J. Population dynamics of the bark-dwelling spider Eustala perfida Mello-Leitão, 1947 (Araneidae). J NAT HIST 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2017.1388859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Fanchini Messas
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Herbert Silva Souza
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo O. Gonzaga
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Joao Vasconcellos-Neto
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
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130
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Vandegehuchte ML, Schütz M, Schaetzen F, Risch AC. Mammal‐induced trophic cascades in invertebrate food webs are modulated by grazing intensity in subalpine grassland. J Anim Ecol 2017; 86:1434-1446. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martijn L. Vandegehuchte
- Research Unit Community EcologySwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research Birmensdorf Switzerland
- Terrestrial Ecology UnitDepartment of BiologyGhent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Martin Schütz
- Research Unit Community EcologySwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research Birmensdorf Switzerland
| | - Frederic Schaetzen
- PXL‐TechPXL University College Hasselt Belgium
- Institute of Environmental EngineeringDepartment of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic EngineeringETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Anita C. Risch
- Research Unit Community EcologySwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research Birmensdorf Switzerland
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131
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Allen BL, Allen LR, Andrén H, Ballard G, Boitani L, Engeman RM, Fleming PJ, Ford AT, Haswell PM, Kowalczyk R, Linnell JD, David Mech L, Parker DM. Can we save large carnivores without losing large carnivore science? FOOD WEBS 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2017.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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132
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133
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Hickerson CAM, Anthony CD, Walton BM. Eastern Red-backed Salamanders Regulate Top-Down Effects in a Temperate Forest-Floor Community. HERPETOLOGICA 2017. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-16-00081.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carl D. Anthony
- Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH 44118, USA
| | - B. Michael Walton
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA
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134
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Trophic cascades and dingoes in Australia: Does the Yellowstone wolf–elk–willow model apply? FOOD WEBS 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2016.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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135
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Sirén APK, Pekins PJ, Kilborn JR, Kanter JJ, Sutherland CS. Potential influence of high-elevation wind farms on carnivore mobility. J Wildl Manage 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexej P. K. Sirén
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment; University of New Hampshire; Durham NH 03824 USA
| | - Peter J. Pekins
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment; University of New Hampshire; Durham NH 03824 USA
| | | | - John J. Kanter
- New Hampshire Fish and Game Department; Concord; NH 03301 USA
| | - Chris S. Sutherland
- Department of Environmental Conservation; University of Massachusetts; Amherst MA 01003 USA
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136
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Fagundes R, Dáttilo W, Ribeiro SP, Rico-Gray V, Jordano P, Del-Claro K. Differences among ant species in plant protection are related to production of extrafloral nectar and degree of leaf herbivory. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R Fagundes
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira, Acarape, Ceará, Brasil
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brasil
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - W Dáttilo
- Red de Ecoetologia, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz, México
| | - S P Ribeiro
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - V Rico-Gray
- Instituto de Neuroetologia, Univesidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, México
| | - P Jordano
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, EDB-CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - K Del-Claro
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brasil
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137
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Flores-Mejia S, Fournier V, Cloutier C. Performance of a tri-trophic food web under different climate change scenarios. FOOD WEBS 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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138
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Sánchez Meador A, Springer JD, Huffman DW, Bowker MA, Crouse JE. Soil functional responses to ecological restoration treatments in frequent-fire forests of the western United States: a systematic review. Restor Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Sánchez Meador
- Ecological Restoration Institute; Northern Arizona University; PO Box 15017 Flagstaff AZ 86011 U.S.A
- School of Forestry; Northern Arizona University; PO Box 15018 Flagstaff AZ 86011 U.S.A
| | - Judith D. Springer
- Ecological Restoration Institute; Northern Arizona University; PO Box 15017 Flagstaff AZ 86011 U.S.A
| | - David W. Huffman
- Ecological Restoration Institute; Northern Arizona University; PO Box 15017 Flagstaff AZ 86011 U.S.A
| | - Matthew A. Bowker
- School of Forestry; Northern Arizona University; PO Box 15018 Flagstaff AZ 86011 U.S.A
| | - Joseph E. Crouse
- Ecological Restoration Institute; Northern Arizona University; PO Box 15017 Flagstaff AZ 86011 U.S.A
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139
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Pirie TJ, Thomas RL, Fellowes MDE. Increasing game prices may alter farmers' behaviours towards leopards ( Panthera pardus) and other carnivores in South Africa. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3369. [PMID: 28584709 PMCID: PMC5452990 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-carnivore conflict occurs globally, particularly in regions where large carnivores predate livestock. Retaliatory killings do occur, and although predation of livestock by carnivores happens, losses from other factors such as disease or injury can be misattributed because of landowner perceptions. Game farming for both trophy hunting and eco-tourism is becoming increasingly common in South Africa, and there has been a rapid increase in the cost of game animals (in some species as much as five-fold) between 2010 and 2015. This could result in an increase in conflict between commercial game farmers and carnivores. We conducted two questionnaire surveys of farmers in 2010 and 2015 to investigate this. We asked if there had been changes in farming practices, perceived predator activity, perceived amount of livestock and commercial game losses, and actions taken towards carnivores in a South African farming community. We found no significant change in farming types in the area or losses of livestock between the years. However, there was a significant increase in perceived commercial game losses reported, even though protection of game had increased. Actions taken towards carnivores by livestock/game farmers were also significantly more negative in 2015 compared to farmers growing crops, but there was no such difference in 2010. We suggest that these changes could be a result of the increase in game prices over that period, leading to greater financial losses when an animal is predated, which in turn could increase the likelihood of retaliatory killings of carnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara J Pirie
- People and Wildlife Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom.,Ingwe Leopard Research, Lydenburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa
| | - Rebecca L Thomas
- People and Wildlife Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom.,School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Mark D E Fellowes
- People and Wildlife Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
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140
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Strength of a Trophic Cascade Between an Apex Predator, Mammalian Herbivore and Grasses in a Desert Ecosystem Does Not Vary with Temporal Fluctuations in Primary Productivity. Ecosystems 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-017-0141-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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141
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Smith HM, Dickman CR, Banks PB. Exotic black rats increase invertebrate Ordinal richness in urban habitat remnants. Biol Invasions 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-016-1340-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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142
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Birkhofer K, Bylund H, Dalin P, Ferlian O, Gagic V, Hambäck PA, Klapwijk M, Mestre L, Roubinet E, Schroeder M, Stenberg JA, Porcel M, Björkman C, Jonsson M. Methods to identify the prey of invertebrate predators in terrestrial field studies. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:1942-1953. [PMID: 28331601 PMCID: PMC5355183 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Predation is an interaction during which an organism kills and feeds on another organism. Past and current interest in studying predation in terrestrial habitats has yielded a number of methods to assess invertebrate predation events in terrestrial ecosystems. We provide a decision tree to select appropriate methods for individual studies. For each method, we then present a short introduction, key examples for applications, advantages and disadvantages, and an outlook to future refinements. Video and, to a lesser extent, live observations are recommended in studies that address behavioral aspects of predator–prey interactions or focus on per capita predation rates. Cage studies are only appropriate for small predator species, but often suffer from a bias via cage effects. The use of prey baits or analyses of prey remains are cheaper than other methods and have the potential to provide per capita predation estimates. These advantages often come at the cost of low taxonomic specificity. Molecular methods provide reliable estimates at a fine level of taxonomic resolution and are free of observer bias for predator species of any size. However, the current PCR‐based methods lack the ability to estimate predation rates for individual predators and are more expensive than other methods. Molecular and stable isotope analyses are best suited to address systems that include a range of predator and prey species. Our review of methods strongly suggests that while in many cases individual methods are sufficient to study specific questions, combinations of methods hold a high potential to provide more holistic insights into predation events. This review presents an overview of methods to researchers that are new to the field or to particular aspects of predation ecology and provides recommendations toward the subset of suitable methods to identify the prey of invertebrate predators in terrestrial field research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Birkhofer
- Department of Biology, Biodiversity and Conservation Science Lund University Lund Sweden; Chair of Ecology Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg Germany
| | - Helena Bylund
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Peter Dalin
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Olga Ferlian
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig Leipzig Germany; Institute of Biology Leipzig University Leipzig Germany
| | - Vesna Gagic
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden; CSIRO Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Peter A Hambäck
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences Stockholm University Stockholm Sweden
| | - Maartje Klapwijk
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Laia Mestre
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden; Ecosystem Analysis Institute for Environmental Sciences University of Koblenz-Landau Landau Germany
| | - Eve Roubinet
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Martin Schroeder
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Johan A Stenberg
- Department of Plant Protection Biology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Alnarp Sweden
| | - Mario Porcel
- Department of Plant Protection Biology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Alnarp Sweden
| | - Christer Björkman
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Mattias Jonsson
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
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143
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Smith-Ramesh LM. Invasive plant alters community and ecosystem dynamics by promoting native predators. Ecology 2017; 98:751-761. [PMID: 28035682 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Placing invasion in a more complete food web context expands our understanding of species invasions to reflect the inherent complexity of ecological networks. Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) has traditionally been predicted to dominate native communities through mechanisms embodied in popular hypotheses such as direct plant-plant interactions (allelopathy) and plant-herbivore interactions (enemy escape). However, garlic mustard also interacts directly with native predators by providing habitat for web-building spiders, which colonize the dry fruit structures (siliques) that garlic mustard leaves behind after it senesces. This interaction may lead to altered food web structure, resulting previously unexamined invasion consequences. This idea was tested in a field experiment including three treatments in which garlic mustard siliques were left intact (S+), removed (S-), or native species dominated and garlic mustard was absent (N). When siliques were intact, estimated insect abundance was locally reduced in invaded plots compared to native plots, but this relationship disappeared when siliques were removed. Phosphorus availability and the growth of one native plant species were both elevated in invaded plots where siliques were intact compared to plots where siliques were removed. Results indicate that garlic mustard's close association with web-building spiders initiates cascading invader impacts on the native community and ecosystem properties. This work supports recent theory suggesting that taking a broader food web perspective may help predict invasion impacts in different environmental contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Smith-Ramesh
- Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511, USA
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Hinton JW, Ashley AK, Dellinger JA, Gittleman JL, van Manen FT, Chamberlain MJ. Using diets of Canis breeding pairs to assess resource partitioning between sympatric red wolves and coyotes. J Mammal 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyw233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
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145
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Rosenheim JA, Gratton C. Ecoinformatics (Big Data) for Agricultural Entomology: Pitfalls, Progress, and Promise. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 62:399-417. [PMID: 27912246 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-031616-035444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Ecoinformatics, as defined in this review, is the use of preexisting data sets to address questions in ecology. We provide the first review of ecoinformatics methods in agricultural entomology. Ecoinformatics methods have been used to address the full range of questions studied by agricultural entomologists, enabled by the special opportunities associated with data sets, nearly all of which have been observational, that are larger and more diverse and that embrace larger spatial and temporal scales than most experimental studies do. We argue that ecoinformatics research methods and traditional, experimental research methods have strengths and weaknesses that are largely complementary. We address the important interpretational challenges associated with observational data sets, highlight common pitfalls, and propose some best practices for researchers using these methods. Ecoinformatics methods hold great promise as a vehicle for capitalizing on the explosion of data emanating from farmers, researchers, and the public, as novel sampling and sensing techniques are developed and digital data sharing becomes more widespread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay A Rosenheim
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, California 95616;
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Claudio Gratton
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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146
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Start D, Gilbert B. Predator personality structures prey communities and trophic cascades. Ecol Lett 2017; 20:366-374. [PMID: 28120366 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Revised: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Intraspecific variation is central to our understanding of evolution and population ecology, yet its consequences for community ecology are poorly understood. Animal personality - consistent individual differences in suites of behaviours - may be particularly important for trophic dynamics, where predator personality can determine activity rates and patterns of attack. We used mesocosms with aquatic food webs in which the top predator (dragonfly nymphs) varied in activity and subsequent attack rates on zooplankton, and tested the effects of predator personality. We found support for four hypotheses: (1) active predators disproportionately reduce the abundance of prey, (2) active predators select for predator-resistant prey species, (3) active predators strengthen trophic cascades (increase phytoplankton abundance) and (4) active predators are more likely to cannibalise one another, weakening all other trends when at high densities. These results suggest that intraspecific variation in predator personality is an important determinant of prey abundance, community composition and trophic cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denon Start
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3B3
| | - Benjamin Gilbert
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3B3
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147
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Gounand I, Harvey E, Ganesanandamoorthy P, Altermatt F. Subsidies mediate interactions between communities across space. OIKOS 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.03922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Gounand
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies; Univ. of Zurich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Eric Harvey
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies; Univ. of Zurich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Pravin Ganesanandamoorthy
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology; Dept of Aquatic Ecology; Dübendorf Switzerland
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies; Univ. of Zurich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057 Zürich Switzerland
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148
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Birtel J, Matthews B. Grazers structure the bacterial and algal diversity of aquatic metacommunities. Ecology 2016; 97:3472-3484. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Birtel
- Department of Aquatic Ecology; Eawag; Seestrasse 79, 6047 Kastanienbaum Luzern Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Sciences (D-USYS); Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH); Zürich Switzerland
| | - Blake Matthews
- Department of Aquatic Ecology; Eawag; Seestrasse 79, 6047 Kastanienbaum Luzern Switzerland
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149
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150
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Estes JA, Dayton PK, Kareiva P, Levin SA, Lubchenco J, Menge BA, Palumbi SR, Power ME, Terborgh J. A keystone ecologist: Robert Treat Paine, 1933-2016. Ecology 2016; 97:2905-2909. [PMID: 27870047 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Revised: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Robert T. Paine, who passed away on 13 June 2016, is among the most influential people in the history of ecology. Paine was an experimentalist, a theoretician, a practitioner, and proponent of the "ecology of place," and a deep believer in the importance of natural history to ecological understanding. His scientific legacy grew from the discovery of a link between top-down forcing and species diversity, a breakthrough that led to the ideas of both keystone species and trophic cascades, and to our early understanding of the mosaic nature of biological communities, causes of zonation across physical gradients, and the intermediate-disturbance hypothesis of species diversity. Paine's influence as a mentor was equally important to the growth of ecological thinking, natural resource conservation, and policy. He served ecology as an Ecological Society of America president, an editor of the Society's journals, a member of and contributor to the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council, and an in-demand advisor to various state and federal agencies. Paine's broad interests, enthusiasm, charisma, and humor deeply affected our lives and the lives of so many others.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Estes
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, USA
| | - Paul K Dayton
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA
| | - Peter Kareiva
- Institute of Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095, USA
| | - Simon A Levin
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, 08544, USA
| | - Jane Lubchenco
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA
| | - Bruce A Menge
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA
| | - Stephen R Palumbi
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, 93950, USA
| | - Mary E Power
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA
| | - John Terborgh
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27708, USA
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