1
|
Li X, Bleisch WV, Hu W, Li Q, Wang H, Chen Z, Bai R, Jiang XL. Human disturbance increases spatiotemporal associations among mountain forest terrestrial mammal species. eLife 2024; 12:RP92457. [PMID: 38949865 PMCID: PMC11216745 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92457] [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] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Spatial and temporal associations between sympatric species underpin biotic interactions, structure ecological assemblages, and sustain ecosystem functioning and stability. However, the resilience of interspecific spatiotemporal associations to human activity remains poorly understood, particularly in mountain forests where anthropogenic impacts are often pervasive. Here, we applied context-dependent Joint Species Distribution Models to a systematic camera-trap survey dataset from a global biodiversity hotspot in eastern Himalayas to understand how prominent human activities in mountain forests influence species associations within terrestrial mammal communities. We obtained 10,388 independent detections of 17 focal species (12 carnivores and five ungulates) from 322 stations over 43,163 camera days of effort. We identified a higher incidence of positive associations in habitats with higher levels of human modification (87%) and human presence (83%) compared to those located in habitats with lower human modification (64%) and human presence (65%) levels. We also detected a significant reduction of pairwise encounter time at increasing levels of human disturbance, corresponding to more frequent encounters between pairs of species. Our findings indicate that human activities can push mammals together into more frequent encounters and associations, which likely influences the coexistence and persistence of wildlife, with potential far-ranging ecological consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xueyou Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - William V Bleisch
- China Exploration and Research Society, 2707-08 SouthMark, Wong Chuk HangHong KongChina
| | - Wenqiang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Quan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Hongjiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Zhongzheng Chen
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal UniversityWuhuChina
| | - Ru Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Xue-Long Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nicvert L, Donnet S, Keith M, Peel M, Somers MJ, Swanepoel LH, Venter J, Fritz H, Dray S. Using the multivariate Hawkes process to study interactions between multiple species from camera trap data. Ecology 2024; 105:e4237. [PMID: 38369779 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Interspecific interactions can influence species' activity and movement patterns. In particular, species may avoid or attract each other through reactive responses in space and/or time. However, data and methods to study such reactive interactions have remained scarce and were generally limited to two interacting species. At this time, the deployment of camera traps opens new opportunities but adapted statistical techniques are still required to analyze interaction patterns with such data. We present the multivariate Hawkes process (MHP) and show how it can be used to analyze interactions between several species using camera trap data. Hawkes processes use flexible pairwise interaction functions, allowing us to consider asymmetries and variations over time when depicting reactive temporal interactions. After describing the theoretical foundations of the MHP, we outline how its framework can be used to study interspecific interactions with camera trap data. We design a simulation study to evaluate the performance of the MHP and of another existing method to infer interactions from camera trap-like data. We also use the MHP to infer reactive interactions from real camera trap data for five species from South African savannas (impala Aepyceros melampus, greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros, lion Panthera leo, blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus and Burchell's zebra Equus quagga burchelli). The simulation study shows that the MHP can be used as a tool to benchmark other methods of interspecific interaction inference and that this model can reliably infer interactions when enough data are considered. The analysis of real data highlights evidence of predator avoidance by prey and herbivore-herbivore attraction. Lastly, we present the advantages and limits of the MHP and discuss how it can be improved to infer attraction/avoidance patterns more reliably. As camera traps are increasingly used, the multivariate Hawkes process provides a promising framework to decipher the complexity of interactions structuring ecological communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Nicvert
- Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1, LBBE, UMR 5558, CNRS, VAS, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Sophie Donnet
- Université Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech, INRAE, UMR MIA Paris-Saclay, Palaiseau, France
| | - Mark Keith
- Eugène Marais Chair of Wildlife Management, Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Mike Peel
- Agricultural Research Council, Animal Production Institute, Rangeland Ecology, Pretoria, South Africa
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystems Research Unit, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | - Michael J Somers
- Eugène Marais Chair of Wildlife Management, Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Lourens H Swanepoel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | - Jan Venter
- Department of Conservation Management, Faculty of Science, George Campus, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa
- REHABS, International Research Laboratory, CNRS-NMU-UCBL, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa
| | - Hervé Fritz
- REHABS, International Research Laboratory, CNRS-NMU-UCBL, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa
- Sustainability Research Unit, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa
| | - Stéphane Dray
- Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1, LBBE, UMR 5558, CNRS, VAS, Villeurbanne, France
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Anderson TM, Hepler SA, Holdo RM, Donaldson JE, Erhardt RJ, Hopcraft JGC, Hutchinson MC, Huebner SE, Morrison TA, Muday J, Munuo IN, Palmer MS, Pansu J, Pringle RM, Sketch R, Packer C. Interplay of competition and facilitation in grazing succession by migrant Serengeti herbivores. Science 2024; 383:782-788. [PMID: 38359113 DOI: 10.1126/science.adg0744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Competition, facilitation, and predation offer alternative explanations for successional patterns of migratory herbivores. However, these interactions are difficult to measure, leaving uncertainty about the mechanisms underlying body-size-dependent grazing-and even whether succession occurs at all. We used data from an 8-year camera-trap survey, GPS-collared herbivores, and fecal DNA metabarcoding to analyze the timing, arrival order, and interactions among migratory grazers in Serengeti National Park. Temporal grazing succession is characterized by a "push-pull" dynamic: Competitive grazing nudges zebra ahead of co-migrating wildebeest, whereas grass consumption by these large-bodied migrants attracts trailing, small-bodied gazelle that benefit from facilitation. "Natural experiments" involving intense wildfires and rainfall respectively disrupted and strengthened these effects. Our results highlight a balance between facilitative and competitive forces in co-regulating large-scale ungulate migrations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Michael Anderson
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | - Staci A Hepler
- Department of Statistical Sciences, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | - Ricardo M Holdo
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Jason E Donaldson
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Robert J Erhardt
- Department of Statistical Sciences, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | - J Grant C Hopcraft
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Matthew C Hutchinson
- Department of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Sarah E Huebner
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Thomas A Morrison
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Jeffry Muday
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | - Issack N Munuo
- Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre, 2113 Lemara, Arusha, TZ
| | - Meredith S Palmer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Johan Pansu
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Robert M Pringle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Robert Sketch
- Department of Statistical Sciences, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | - Craig Packer
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Saltz JB, Palmer MS, Beaudrot L. Identifying the social context of single- and mixed-species group formation in large African herbivores. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220105. [PMID: 37066657 PMCID: PMC10107273 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0105] [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: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite continued interest in mixed-species groups, we still lack a unified understanding of how ecological and social processes work across scales to influence group formation. Recent work has revealed ecological correlates of mixed-species group formation, but the mechanisms by which concomitant social dynamics produce these patterns, if at all, is unknown. Here, we use camera trap data for six mammalian grazer species in Serengeti National Park. Building on previous work, we found that ecological variables, and especially forage quality, influenced the chances of species overlap over small spatio-temporal scales (i.e. on the scales of several metres and hours). Migratory species (gazelle, wildebeest and zebra) were more likely to have heterospecific partners available in sites with higher forage quality, but the opposite was true for resident species (buffalo, hartebeest and topi). These findings illuminate the circumstances under which mixed-species group formation is even possible. Next, we found that greater heterospecific availability was associated with an increased probability of mixed-species group formation in gazelle, hartebeest, wildebeest and zebra, but ecological variables did not further shape these patterns. Overall, our results are consistent with a model whereby ecological and social drivers of group formation are species-specific and operate on different spatio-temporal scales. This article is part of the theme issue 'Mixed-species groups and aggregations: shaping ecological and behavioural patterns and processes'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J. B. Saltz
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - M. S. Palmer
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - L. Beaudrot
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Refining the stress gradient hypothesis for mixed species groups of African mammals. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17715. [PMID: 36271133 PMCID: PMC9587046 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22593-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Species interactions such as facilitation and predation influence food webs, yet it is unclear how they are mediated by environmental gradients. Here we test the stress gradient hypothesis which predicts that positive species interactions increase with stress. Drawing upon spatially-explicit data of large mammals in an African savanna, we tested how predation risk and primary productivity mediate the occurrence of mixed species groups. Controlling for habitat structure, predation risk by lions and primary productivity affected the frequency of mixed species groups in species-specific ways, likely reflecting distinct stress perceptions. To test whether mixed species groups indicate positive interactions, we conducted network analyses for specific scenarios. Under predation risk, dyadic associations with giraffes were more pronounced and metrics of animal networks changed markedly. However, dyadic association and network metrics were weakly mediated by primary productivity. The composition of mixed species groups was associated with similarities in prey susceptibility but not with similarities in feeding habits of herbivores. Especially predation risk favoured the frequency of mixed species groups and pronounced dyadic associations which dilute predation risk and increase predator detection. While our results provide support for the stress gradient hypothesis, they also highlight that the relative importance of stressors is context-dependent.
Collapse
|
6
|
Jhun Sim H, Ngai Lam W, Chisholm RA, Yan Chong K. Downstream Resource Leakage a Necessary Condition for the Stress-Gradient Hypothesis in Processing Chain Commensalisms. J Theor Biol 2022; 538:111043. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2022.111043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
7
|
Adams AE, Besozzi EM, Shahrokhi G, Patten MA. A case for associational resistance: Apparent support for the stress gradient hypothesis varies with study system. Ecol Lett 2021; 25:202-217. [PMID: 34775662 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
According to the stress gradient hypothesis (SGH), ecological interactions between organisms shift positively as environmental stress increases. In the case of associational resistance, habitat is modified to ameliorate stress, benefitting other organisms. The SGH is contentious due to conflicting evidence and theoretical perspectives, so we adopted a meta-analytic approach to determine if it is widely supported across a variety of contexts, including different kingdoms, ecosystems, habitats, interactions, stressors, and life history stages. We developed an extensive list of Boolean search criteria to search the published ecological literature and successfully detect studies that both directly tested the hypothesis, and those that were relevant but never mentioned it. We found that the SGH is well supported by studies that feature bacteria, plants, terrestrial ecosystems, interspecific negative interactions, adults, survival instead of growth or reproduction, and drought, fire, and nutrient stress. We conclude that the SGH is indeed a broadly relevant ecological hypothesis that is currently held back by cross-disciplinary communication barriers. More SGH research is needed beyond the scope of interspecific plant competition, and more SGH research should feature multifactor stress. There remains a need to account for positive interactions in scientific pursuits, such as associational resistance in tests of the SGH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy E Adams
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | | | - Golya Shahrokhi
- Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Michael A Patten
- Ecology Research Group, Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Steinkjer, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
García‐Navas V, Sattler T, Schmid H, Ozgul A. Bird species co‐occurrence patterns in an alpine environment supports the stress‐gradient hypothesis. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vicente García‐Navas
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
- Dept of Integrative Ecology, Doñana Biological Station CSIC Seville Spain
| | | | - Hans Schmid
- Swiss Ornithological Inst. Sempach Switzerland
| | - Arpat Ozgul
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Girardeau AR, Foley BR, Saltz JB. Comparing single- and mixed-species groups in fruit flies: differences in group dynamics, but not group formation. J Hered 2021; 113:16-25. [PMID: 34453172 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esab041] [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: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mixed-species groups describe active associations among individuals of 2 or more species at the same trophic level. Mixed-species groups are important to key ecological and evolutionary processes such as competition and predation, and research that ignores the presence of other species risks ignoring a key aspect of the environment in which social behavior is expressed and selected. Despite the defining emphasis of active formation for mixed-species groups, surprisingly little is known about the mechanisms by which mixed-species groups form. Furthermore, insects have been almost completely ignored in the study of mixed-species groups, despite their taxonomic importance and relative prominence in the study of single-species groups. Here, we measured group formation processes in Drosophila melanogaster and its sister species, Drosophila simulans. Each species was studied alone, and together, and one population of D. melanogaster was also studied both alone and with another, phenotypically distinct D. melanogaster population, in a nested-factorial design. This approach differs from typical methods of studying mixed-species groups in that we could quantitatively compare group formation between single-population, mixed-population, and mixed-species treatments. Surprisingly, we found no differences between treatments in the number, size, or composition of groups that formed, suggesting that single- and mixed-species groups form through similar mechanisms of active attraction. However, we found that mixed-species groups showed elevated interspecies male-male interactions, relative to interpopulation or intergenotype interactions in single-species groups. Our findings expand the conceptual and taxonomic study of mixed-species groups while raising new questions about the mechanisms of group formation broadly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brad R Foley
- Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Beaudrot L, Palmer MS, Anderson TM, Packer C. Mixed-species groups of Serengeti grazers: a test of the stress gradient hypothesis. Ecology 2020; 101:e03163. [PMID: 32799323 PMCID: PMC7685109 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the role of species interactions within communities is a central focus of ecology. A key challenge is to understand variation in species interactions along environmental gradients. The stress gradient hypothesis posits that positive interactions increase and competitive interactions decrease with increasing consumer pressure or environmental stress. This hypothesis has received extensive attention in plant community ecology, but only a handful of tests in animals. Furthermore, few empirical studies have examined multiple co‐occurring stressors. Here we test predictions of the stress gradient hypothesis using the occurrence of mixed‐species groups in six common grazing ungulate species within the Serengeti‐Mara ecosystem. We use mixed‐species groups as a proxy for potential positive interactions because they may enhance protection from predators or increase access to high‐quality forage. Alternatively, competition for resources may limit the formation of mixed‐species groups. Using more than 115,000 camera trap observations collected over 5 yr, we found that mixed‐species groups were more likely to occur in risky areas (i.e., areas closer to lion vantage points and in woodland habitat where lions hunt preferentially) and during time periods when resource levels were high. These results are consistent with the interpretation that stress from high predation risk may contribute to the formation of mixed‐species groups, but that competition for resources may prevent their formation when food availability is low. Our results are consistent with support for the stress gradient hypothesis in animals along a consumer pressure gradient while identifying the potential influence of a co‐occurring stressor, thus providing a link between research in plant community ecology on the stress gradient hypothesis, and research in animal ecology on trade‐offs between foraging and risk in landscapes of fear.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Beaudrot
- BioSciences Department, Program in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Rice University, W100 George R. Brown Hall, 6100 Main Street, MS-140, Houston, Texas, 77005, USA
| | - Meredith S Palmer
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, 08544, USA
| | - T Michael Anderson
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Drive, Winston-Salem, Northern California, 27109, USA
| | - Craig Packer
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| |
Collapse
|