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Gelambi M, Whitehead SR. Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Fruit Secondary Metabolites Alter Bat Nutrient Absorption. J Chem Ecol 2024; 50:385-396. [PMID: 38758510 PMCID: PMC11399193 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-024-01503-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The ecological interaction between fleshy fruits and frugivores is influenced by diverse mixtures of secondary metabolites that naturally occur in the fruit pulp. Although some fruit secondary metabolites have a primary role in defending the pulp against antagonistic frugivores, these metabolites also potentially affect mutualistic interactions. The physiological impact of these secondary metabolites on mutualistic frugivores remains largely unexplored. Using a mutualistic fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata), we showed that ingesting four secondary metabolites commonly found in plant tissues affects bat foraging behavior and induces changes in the fecal metabolome. Our behavioral trials showed that the metabolites tested typically deter bats. Our metabolomic surveys suggest that secondary metabolites alter, either by increasing or decreasing, the absorption of essential macronutrients. These behavioral and physiological effects vary based on the specific identity and concentration of the metabolite tested. Our results also suggest that a portion of the secondary metabolites consumed is excreted by the bat intact or slightly modified. By identifying key shifts in the fecal metabolome of a mutualistic frugivore caused by secondary metabolite consumption, this study improves our understanding of the effects of fruit chemistry on frugivore physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Gelambi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Latham Hall RM 427, 220 Ag Quad Lane, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA.
- La Selva Biological Station, Organization for Tropical Studies, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, Heredia Province, Costa Rica.
| | - Susan R Whitehead
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Latham Hall RM 427, 220 Ag Quad Lane, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA
- La Selva Biological Station, Organization for Tropical Studies, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, Heredia Province, Costa Rica
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2
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Thon FM, Müller C, Wittmann MJ. The evolution of chemodiversity in plants-From verbal to quantitative models. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14365. [PMID: 38362774 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Plants harbour a great chemodiversity, that is diversity of specialised metabolites (SMs), at different scales. For instance, individuals can produce a large number of SMs, and populations can differ in their metabolite composition. Given the ecological and economic importance of plant chemodiversity, it is important to understand how it arises and is maintained over evolutionary time. For other dimensions of biodiversity, that is species diversity and genetic diversity, quantitative models play an important role in addressing such questions. Here, we provide a synthesis of existing hypotheses and quantitative models, that is mathematical models and computer simulations, for the evolution of plant chemodiversity. We describe each model's ingredients, that is the biological processes that shape chemodiversity, the scales it considers and whether it has been formalized as a quantitative model. Although we identify several quantitative models, not all are dynamic and many influential models have remained verbal. To fill these gaps, we outline our vision for the future of chemodiversity modelling. We identify quantitative models used for genetic variation that may be adapted for chemodiversity, and we present a flexible framework for the creation of individual-based models that address different scales of chemodiversity and combine different ingredients that bring this chemodiversity about.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frans M Thon
- Faculty of Biology, Theoretical Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Caroline Müller
- Faculty of Biology, Chemical Ecology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Joint Institute for Individualisation in a Changing Environment (JICE), University of Münster and Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Meike J Wittmann
- Faculty of Biology, Theoretical Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Joint Institute for Individualisation in a Changing Environment (JICE), University of Münster and Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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3
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Fell A, Silva T, Duthie AB, Dent D. A global systematic review of frugivorous animal tracking studies and the estimation of seed dispersal distances. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10638. [PMID: 37915807 PMCID: PMC10616751 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Seed dispersal is one of the most important ecosystem functions globally. It shapes plant populations, enhances forest succession, and has multiple, indirect benefits for humans, yet it is one of the most threatened processes in plant regeneration, worldwide. Seed dispersal distances are determined by the diets, seed retention times and movements of frugivorous animals. Hence, understanding how we can most effectively describe frugivore movement and behaviour with rapidly developing animal tracking technology is key to quantifying seed dispersal. To assess the current use of animal tracking in frugivory studies and to provide a baseline for future studies, we provide a comprehensive review and synthesis on the existing primary literature of global tracking studies that monitor movement of frugivorous animals. Specifically, we identify studies that estimate dispersal distances and how they vary with body mass and environmental traits. We show that over the last two decades there has been a large increase in frugivore tracking studies that determine seed dispersal distances. However, some taxa (e.g. reptiles) and geographic locations (e.g. Africa and Central Asia) are poorly studied. Furthermore, we found that certain morphological and environmental traits can be used to predict seed dispersal distances. We demonstrate that flight ability and increased body mass both significantly increase estimated seed dispersal mean and maximum distances. Our results also suggest that protected areas have a positive effect on mean seed dispersal distances when compared to unprotected areas. We anticipate that this review will act as a reference for future frugivore tracking studies, specifically to target current taxonomic and geographic data gaps, and to further explore how seed dispersal relates to key frugivore and fruit traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Fell
- Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of StirlingStirlingUK
| | - Thiago Silva
- Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of StirlingStirlingUK
| | - A. Bradley Duthie
- Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of StirlingStirlingUK
| | - Daisy Dent
- Department of Environmental Systems ScienceInstitute of Integrative Biology, ETH ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Max Planck Institute for Animal BehaviourKonstanzGermany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteBalboaPanama
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4
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Habeebur‐Rahman SP, Noni V, Khan FAA, Tan C. Detection of novel coronaviruses from dusky fruit bat (Penthetor lucasi) in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Vet Med Sci 2023; 9:2634-2641. [PMID: 37658663 PMCID: PMC10650259 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sarawak has one of the highest diversity of fruit bats species (family Pteropodidae) in Malaysia, with 19 species described. Most coronavirus (CoV) studies have mainly focused on insectivorous bats, resulting in a lack of information on CoVs present in frugivorous bats. In addition, bat CoV surveillance activities are lacking in Malaysia. OBJECTIVES Our study focuses on determining the presence of bat CoVs in dusky fruit bat (Penthetor lucasi). METHODS Guano samples belonging to P. lucasi were collected from Wind Cave Nature Reserve. The samples were screened for the presence of CoVs using validated hemi-nested consensus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase consensus primers. RESULTS The bat CoV positivity rate was 38.5% (n = 15/39), with the viruses belonging to two subgenera: Alphacoronavirus (α-CoV) and Betacoronavirus (β-CoV). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that CoVs from 14 samples of P. lucasi belong to the genus α-CoV and may represent previously described genetic lineages in insectivorous bats in Wind Cave. However, only one sample of P. lucasi was detected with β-CoV which is closely related to subgenus Nobecovirus, which is commonly seen in frugivorous bats. CONCLUSIONS This study provides the first available data on CoVs circulating in P. lucasi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sultana Parvin Habeebur‐Rahman
- Center for Tropical and Emerging DiseasesFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversiti Malaysia SarawakKota SamarahanSarawakMalaysia
| | - Vaenessa Noni
- Center for Tropical and Emerging DiseasesFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversiti Malaysia SarawakKota SamarahanSarawakMalaysia
| | - Faisal Ali Anwarali Khan
- Faculty of Resource Science and TechnologyUniversiti Malaysia SarawakKota SamarahanSarawakMalaysia
| | - Cheng‐Siang Tan
- Center for Tropical and Emerging DiseasesFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversiti Malaysia SarawakKota SamarahanSarawakMalaysia
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5
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Gelambi M, Whitehead SR. Multiscale variability in nutrients and secondary metabolites in a bat-dispersed neotropical fruit. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10453. [PMID: 37664504 PMCID: PMC10474796 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Ripe fleshy fruits contain not only nutrients but also a diverse array of secondary metabolites. Nutrients serve as a reward for mutualists, whereas defensive metabolites protect the fruit against pests and predators. The composition of these chemical traits is highly variable, both across different plants and even within repeating structures on the same individual plant. This intraspecific and intraindividual variation has important fitness consequences for both plants and animals, yet patterns of variation and covariation in nutrients and secondary metabolites are not well understood, especially at smaller scales. Here, we investigate the multiscale variation and covariation between nutrients and defensive metabolites in Piper sancti-felicis ripe fruits. Means and measures of variation of sugars, proteins, phenolics, and alkenylphenols vary greatly among plants, and at least 50% of the trait variation occurs at the intraindividual level. Also, we found that proteins, but not sugars, were correlated with phenolics and alkenylphenols at multiple scales, suggesting trait variation in protein content may be more constrained than sugars. Our findings emphasize the importance of examining patterns across scales and provide the groundwork to better understand how complex patterns of variation and covariation in nutrients and defensive metabolites shape ecological interactions surrounding fruits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Gelambi
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
- La Selva Biological StationOrganization for Tropical StudiesPuerto Viejo de SarapiquíHeredia ProvinceCosta Rica
| | - Susan R. Whitehead
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
- La Selva Biological StationOrganization for Tropical StudiesPuerto Viejo de SarapiquíHeredia ProvinceCosta Rica
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6
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Silva LA, Souza MFS, Torquetti CG, Freitas DCO, Moreira LGA, Carvalho TP, Santana CH, Thompson JR, Rosa DCO, Jesus TR, Paixão TA, Santos RL. Antigenic and molecular evidence of Brucella sp.-associated epididymo-orchitis in frugivorous ( Artibeus lituratus) and nectarivorous ( Glossophaga soricina) bats in Brazil. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1235299. [PMID: 37701528 PMCID: PMC10493303 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1235299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
This study included 47 free-ranging bats from the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Six bats (12.8%) had genital inflammatory lesions, and two of them (one Artibeus lituratus and one Glossophaga soricina, a frugivorous and a nectarivorous, respectively) were diagnosed with Brucella sp. infection through PCR, and antigens in intralesional macrophages were detected using immunohistochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laice A. Silva
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Monique F. S. Souza
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Camila G. Torquetti
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniele C. O. Freitas
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Larissa G. A. Moreira
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thaynara P. Carvalho
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Clarissa H. Santana
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Julia R. Thompson
- Sete Soluções e Tecnologia Ambiental, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniela C. O. Rosa
- Sete Soluções e Tecnologia Ambiental, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Tatiana R. Jesus
- Sete Soluções e Tecnologia Ambiental, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Tatiane A. Paixão
- Departamento de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Renato L. Santos
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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7
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Tian J, Sun J, Li D, Wang N, Wang L, Zhang C, Meng X, Ji X, Suchard MA, Zhang X, Lai A, Su S, Veit M. Emerging viruses: Cross-species transmission of coronaviruses, filoviruses, henipaviruses, and rotaviruses from bats. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110969. [PMID: 35679864 PMCID: PMC9148931 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases, especially if caused by bat-borne viruses, significantly affect public health and the global economy. There is an urgent need to understand the mechanism of interspecies transmission, particularly to humans. Viral genetics; host factors, including polymorphisms in the receptors; and ecological, environmental, and population dynamics are major parameters to consider. Here, we describe the taxonomy, geographic distribution, and unique traits of bats associated with their importance as virus reservoirs. Then, we summarize the origin, intermediate hosts, and the current understanding of interspecies transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), SARS-CoV-2, Nipah, Hendra, Ebola, Marburg virus, and rotaviruses. Finally, the molecular interactions of viral surface proteins with host cell receptors are examined, and a comparison of these interactions in humans, intermediate hosts, and bats is conducted. This uncovers adaptive mutations in virus spike protein that facilitate cross-species transmission and risk factors associated with the emergence of novel viruses from bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 678 Haping Road, Harbin 150069, China.
| | - Jiumeng Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Dongyan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ningning Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Lifang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, No. 17 Qinghua Donglu, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Chang Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiaorong Meng
- Institute for Virology, Center for Infection Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, Free University Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Xiang Ji
- Department of Mathematics, School of Science & Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St., Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Marc A Suchard
- Departments of Biomathematics, Human Genetics and Biostatistics, David Geffen School of Medicine and Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Geffen Hall 885 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Xu Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Alexander Lai
- School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, Kentucky State University, 400 East Main St., Frankfort, KY 40601, USA
| | - Shuo Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Michael Veit
- Institute for Virology, Center for Infection Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, Free University Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
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8
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Fricke EC, Ordonez A, Rogers HS, Svenning JC. The effects of defaunation on plants' capacity to track climate change. Science 2022; 375:210-214. [PMID: 35025640 DOI: 10.1126/science.abk3510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Half of all plant species rely on animals to disperse their seeds. Seed dispersal interactions lost through defaunation and gained during novel community assembly influence whether plants can adapt to climate change through migration. We develop trait-based models to predict pairwise interactions and dispersal function for fleshy-fruited plants globally. Using interactions with introduced species as an observable proxy for interactions in future novel seed dispersal networks, we find strong potential to forecast their assembly and functioning. We conservatively estimate that mammal and bird defaunation has already reduced the capacity of plants to track climate change by 60% globally. This strong reduction in the ability of plants to adapt to climate change through range shifts shows a synergy between defaunation and climate change that undermines vegetation resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan C Fricke
- National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, University of Maryland, Annapolis, MD 21401, USA.,Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Alejandro Ordonez
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Haldre S Rogers
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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9
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Manuel Morales
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, INIBIOMA‐CONICET, Univ. Nacional del Comahue Bariloche Argentina
| | - Teresa Morán López
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, INIBIOMA‐CONICET, Univ. Nacional del Comahue Bariloche Argentina
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10
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Mahandran V, Murugan CM, Anisha PS, Wang G, Chen J, Nathan PT. Chemical components change along the ontogeny of a bat fruit (Neolamarckia cadamba) with ripening asynchrony in favour of its fruit selection and seed dispersal. Naturwissenschaften 2021; 108:46. [PMID: 34581964 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01756-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
An asynchronous fruit-ripening strategy can enhance the chance of seed dispersal by providing ripe fruits for an extended period to foragers. However, mechanisms associated with this strategy that can facilitate seed dispersal are understudied. This study aimed to investigate whether the chemical components (minerals and secondary metabolites) of a bat fruit with ripening asynchrony change along its ontogeny (Rubiaceae: Neolamarckia cadamba). We predicted that the seed-to-pulp ratio would increase along with fruit ripeness. The chemical components of the fruit were also predicted to change along their ontogenesis in favour of fruit selection and seed dispersal by fruit bats. Our study shows that the asynchronous fruiting strategy limited the number of ripe fruits daily so that fruits were available at a steady rate. As predicted, the seed-to-pulp ratio of each fruit increased along with fruit development. A fruit's mineral concentration also increased as fruit developed, with a sharp jump at full ripeness, when fruit colour also changed. In contrast, the concentration of secondary metabolite compositions decreased gradually during the process of ontogeny. Fruit bats (Pteropodidae: Pteropus giganteus and Cynopterus sphinx) were the only nocturnal frugivore visitors of these trees and their fruit selection was driven by fruit size and colour. Both bats preferably consumed ripe fruits, which had a higher concentration of attractants (essential minerals) and a lower concentration of deterrents (secondary metabolites), supplemented with a higher seed-to-pulp ratio. The bats exhibited different foraging patterns and home ranges resulting in dispersal (as measured by feeding roost location) occurring across different spatial scales. Our study shows that the chemical components involved in an asynchronous fruit-ripening process could select for extended fruit availability by intensifying the demand for each ripe fruit among legitimate seed dispersers, which increases the likelihood of fruits being dispersed away from parent crowns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valliyappan Mahandran
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303, Yunnan, China
| | | | | | - Gang Wang
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303, Yunnan, China
| | - Jin Chen
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, 666303, Yunnan, China
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11
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Fruit secondary metabolites shape seed dispersal effectiveness. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:1113-1123. [PMID: 34509316 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) play a central role in seed dispersal and fruit defense, with potential for large impacts on plant fitness and demography. Yet because PSMs can have multiple interactive functions across seed dispersal stages, we must systematically study their effects to determine the net consequences for plant fitness. To tackle this issue, we integrate the role of fruit PSMs into the seed dispersal effectiveness (SDE) framework. We describe PSM effects on the quantity and quality of animal-mediated seed dispersal, both in pairwise interactions and diverse disperser communities, as well as trade-offs that occur across dispersal stages. By doing so, this review provides structure to a rapidly growing field and yields insights into a critical process shaping plant populations.
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12
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Santana SE, Kaliszewska ZA, Leiser-Miller LB, Lauterbur ME, Arbour JH, Dávalos LM, Riffell JA. Fruit odorants mediate co-specialization in a multispecies plant-animal mutualism. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210312. [PMID: 34375556 PMCID: PMC8354748 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the widespread notion that animal-mediated seed dispersal led to the evolution of fruit traits that attract mutualistic frugivores, the dispersal syndrome hypothesis remains controversial, particularly for complex traits such as fruit scent. Here, we test this hypothesis in a community of mutualistic, ecologically important neotropical bats (Carollia spp.) and plants (Piper spp.) that communicate primarily via chemical signals. We found greater bat consumption is significantly associated with scent chemical diversity and presence of specific compounds, which fit multi-peak selective regime models in Piper. Through behavioural assays, we found Carollia prefer certain compounds, particularly 2-heptanol, which evolved as a unique feature of two Piper species highly consumed by these bats. Thus, we demonstrate that volatile compounds emitted by neotropical Piper fruits evolved in tandem with seed dispersal by scent-oriented Carollia bats. Specifically, fruit scent chemistry in some Piper species fits adaptive evolutionary scenarios consistent with a dispersal syndrome hypothesis. While other abiotic and biotic processes likely shaped the chemical composition of ripe fruit scent in Piper, our results provide some of the first evidence of the effect of bat frugivory on plant chemical diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharlene E. Santana
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | | | - M. Elise Lauterbur
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Jessica H. Arbour
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA
| | - Liliana M. Dávalos
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
- Center for Inter-Disciplinary Environmental Research, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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13
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Whitehead SR, Schneider GF, Dybzinski R, Nelson AS, Gelambi M, Jos E, Beckman NG. Fruits, frugivores, and the evolution of phytochemical diversity. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Susan R. Whitehead
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. Blacksburg VI USA
| | | | - Ray Dybzinski
- School of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola Univ. Chicago IL USA
| | - Annika S. Nelson
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. Blacksburg VI USA
| | - Mariana Gelambi
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. Blacksburg VI USA
| | - Elsa Jos
- Dept of Biology and Ecology Center, Utah State Univ. Logan UT USA
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14
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Chaber AL, Amstrong KN, Wiantoro S, Xerri V, Caraguel C, Boardman WSJ, Nielsen TD. Bat E-Commerce: Insights Into the Extent and Potential Implications of This Dark Trade. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:651304. [PMID: 34179158 PMCID: PMC8224922 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.651304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the global bat souvenir trade despite previous research efforts into bat harvest for bushmeat. We screened eBay listings of bats in Australia, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom and USA to assess the nature and extent of the online offers. A total of 237 listings were retrieved in between the 11th and 25th of May 2020 with a median price per item of US$38.50 (range: US$8.50–2,500.00). Items on offer were mostly taxidermy (61.2%) or skull (21.1%) specimens. Overall, 32 different species of bat were advertised, most of which (n = 28) are listed as “Least Concern” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. One species (Nycteris javanica) is classified as “Vulnerable” and one (Eidolon helvum) as “Near Threatened.” Pteropus spp. specimens were the most expensive specimens on offer and the conservations status of these species may range from “Critically Endangered” to “Data Deficient” by IUCN and the entire genus is listed in the Appendix II by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). However, the exact species concerned, and their respective conservation status, could not be confirmed based on the listings' photos. The sourcing of bat was restricted to mostly South-East Asian countries (a third of items sourced from Indonesia) and to two African countries. Our survey revealed that the online offer of bat products is diverse, abundant, and facilitated by worldwide sellers although most offered bats species are from South-East Asia. With a few exceptions, the species on offer were of little present conservation concern, however, many unknowns remain on the potential animal welfare, biosecurity, legal implications, and most importantly public health risks associated with this dark trade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Lise Chaber
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Kyle N Amstrong
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Sigit Wiantoro
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong, Indonesia
| | - Vanessa Xerri
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Charles Caraguel
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Wayne S J Boardman
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Torben D Nielsen
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
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15
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Sangavi D, Murugan CM, Mahandran V, Marimuthu G, Thiruchenthil Nathan P. Adaptive foraging tactics of greater short-nosed fruit bats on a spiny shrub and its effect on seed dispersal. J ETHOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-021-00711-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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16
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Dent DH, Estrada-Villegas S. Uniting niche differentiation and dispersal limitation predicts tropical forest succession. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:700-708. [PMID: 33966918 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tropical secondary forests are increasingly important for carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation worldwide; yet, we still cannot accurately predict community turnover during secondary succession. We propose that integrating niche differentiation and dispersal limitation will generate an improved theoretical explanation of tropical forest succession. The interaction between seed sources and dispersers regulates seed movement throughout succession, and recent technological advances in animal tracking and molecular analyses enable us to accurately monitor seed movement as never before. We propose a framework to bridge the gap between niche differentiation and dispersal limitation. The Source-Disperser Limitation Framework (SDLF) provides a way to better predict secondary tropical forest succession across gradients of landscape disturbance by integrating seed sources and frugivore behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy H Dent
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, UK; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama; Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Sergio Estrada-Villegas
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama; Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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17
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Maynard LD, Slinn HL, Glassmire AE, Matarrita-Carranza B, Dodson CD, Nguyen TT, Burroughs MJ, Dyer LA, Jeffrey CS, Whitehead SR. Secondary metabolites in a neotropical shrub: spatiotemporal allocation and role in fruit defense and dispersal. Ecology 2020; 101:e03192. [PMID: 32892339 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Deciphering the ecological roles of plant secondary metabolites requires integrative studies that assess both the allocation patterns of compounds and their bioactivity in ecological interactions. Secondary metabolites have been primarily studied in leaves, but many are unique to fruits and can have numerous potential roles in interactions with both mutualists (seed dispersers) and antagonists (pathogens and predators). We described 10 alkenylphenol compounds from the plant species Piper sancti-felicis (Piperaceae), quantified their patterns of intraplant allocation across tissues and fruit development, and examined their ecological role in fruit interactions. We found that unripe and ripe fruit pulp had the highest concentrations and diversity of alkenylphenols, followed by flowers; leaves and seeds had only a few compounds at detectable concentrations. We observed a nonlinear pattern of alkenylphenol allocation across fruit development, increasing as flowers developed into unripe pulp then decreasing as pulp ripened. This pattern is consistent with the hypothesis that alkenylphenols function to defend fruits from pre-dispersal antagonists and are allocated based on the contribution of the tissue to the plant's fitness, but could also be explained by non-adaptive constraints. To assess the impacts of alkenylphenols in interactions with antagonists and mutualists, we performed fungal bioassays, field observations, and vertebrate feeding experiments. In fungal bioassays, we found that alkenylphenols had a negative effect on the growth of most fungal taxa. In field observations, nocturnal dispersers (bats) removed the majority of infructescences, and diurnal dispersers (birds) removed a larger proportion of unripe infructescences. In feeding experiments, bats exhibited an aversion to alkenylphenols, but birds did not. This observed behavior in bats, combined with our results showing a decrease in alkenylphenols during ripening, suggests that alkenylphenols in fruits represent a trade-off (defending against pathogens but reducing disperser preference). These results provide insight into the ecological significance of a little studied class of secondary metabolites in seed dispersal and fruit defense. More generally, documenting intraplant spatiotemporal allocation patterns in angiosperms and examining mechanisms behind these patterns with ecological experiments is likely to further our understanding of the evolutionary ecology of plant chemical traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren D Maynard
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA
| | - Heather L Slinn
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Andrea E Glassmire
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
| | | | - Craig D Dodson
- Department of Chemistry, Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, 89557, USA
| | | | - Megan J Burroughs
- Department of Chemistry, Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, 89557, USA
| | - Lee A Dyer
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, 89557, USA
| | - Christopher S Jeffrey
- Department of Chemistry, Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, 89557, USA
| | - Susan R Whitehead
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA
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18
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Nevo O, Schmitt MH, Ayasse M, Valenta K. Sweet tooth: Elephants detect fruit sugar levels based on scent alone. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:11399-11407. [PMID: 33144973 PMCID: PMC7593167 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to assess food quality is crucial to all organisms. Fleshy fruits are a major source of nutrients to various animals, and unlike most food sources, have evolved to be attractive and to be consumed by animals to promote seed dispersal. It has recently been established that fruit scent-the bouquet of volatile chemicals emitted by ripe fruit-is an evolved communication system between plants and animals. Further, it has been argued that chemicals that are synthesized from sugar and its products may be an honest signal for sugar content and fruit quality. Elephants are important seed dispersers for numerous species and possess an olfactory system that is likely to outperform most other animals. We tested the hypothesis that fruit scent signifies sugar content and that elephants are capable of assessing fruit sugar levels based on scent alone. Using a paired-choice test of marula fruits (Sclerocarya birrea) by semitame African elephants, we show that elephants are capable of identifying more sugar-rich fruits based on scent alone and that this is likely based on two chemical compounds: ethanol and ethyl acetate, both downstream products of sugar fermentation. These results shed light on the mechanisms driving elephant feeding ecology, plant signaling, and the coevolutionary process between angiosperms and animal seed dispersers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omer Nevo
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation GenomicsUlm UniversityUlmGermany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Institute of BiodiversityFriedrich Schiller University JenaJenaGermany
| | - Melissa H. Schmitt
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
- South African Environmental Observation NetworkNdlovu NodePhalaborwaSouth Africa
| | - Manfred Ayasse
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation GenomicsUlm UniversityUlmGermany
| | - Kim Valenta
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
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