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Brandão MM, de Almeida Vieira F, Neves AGDS, dos Santos RM, de Carvalho D, Menezes EV, de Moreira PA, de Oliveira DA, Júnior AFDM, Royo VDA. Unraveling the genetic diversity of Ceiba pubiflora (Malvaceae) in isolated limestone outcrops: Conservation strategies. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299361. [PMID: 38557644 PMCID: PMC10984428 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) located on limestone outcrops are vulnerable to degradation caused by timber logging and limestone extraction for cement production. Some of these forests represent the last remnants of native vegetation cover, functioning as isolated islands. Ceiba pubiflora (Malvaceae) is a tree frequently found on limestone outcrops in the central region of Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and identify suitable populations for the establishment of Management Units (MUs) for conservation. Inter-simple sequence repeat markers were employed to assess the genetic diversity in ten populations sampled from the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest biomes. The species exhibited substantial genetic diversity (HT = 0.345; PLP = 97.89%). Populations SAH, JAN, and MON demonstrated elevated rates of polymorphic loci (> 84.2%) along with notable genetic diversity (He > 0.325). Additionally, these populations were the primary contributors to gene flow. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that most genetic variation occurs within populations (91.5%) than between them. In the Bayesian analysis, the ten populations were clustered into five groups, revealing the presence of at least three barriers to gene flow in the landscape: 1) the Central Plateau or Paranã River valley; 2) near the Espinhaço mountains or the São Francisco River valley; and 3) around the Mantiqueira mountain range, Chapada dos Veadeiros plateau, and disturbed areas. A positive and statistically significant correlation was observed between genetic (θB) and geographic distances (r = 0.425, p = 0.008). Based on these findings, we propose the establishment of Management Units in Minas Gerais state, encompassing the (1) southern region (MIN population), (2) central region (SAH population), and (3) north region (MON population), as well as in Goiás state, covering the (4) Central Plateau region. These units can significantly contribute to preserving the genetic diversity of these trees and protecting their habitat against ongoing threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murilo Malveira Brandão
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fábio de Almeida Vieira
- Academic Unit Specialized in Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Abidã Gênesis da Silva Neves
- Academic Unit Specialized in Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | | | - Dulcineia de Carvalho
- Department of Forest Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Elytania Veiga Menezes
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Abreu de Moreira
- Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Dario Alves de Oliveira
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Vanessa de Andrade Royo
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Yan Y, Jarvie S, Zhang Q. Habitat loss weakens the positive relationship between grassland plant richness and above-ground biomass. eLife 2024; 12:RP91193. [PMID: 38497752 PMCID: PMC10948147 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91193] [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: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Habitat loss and fragmentation per se have been shown to be a major threat to global biodiversity and ecosystem function. However, little is known about how habitat loss and fragmentation per se alters the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function (BEF relationship) in the natural landscape context. Based on 130 landscapes identified by a stratified random sampling in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China, we investigated the effects of landscape context (habitat loss and fragmentation per se) on plant richness, above-ground biomass, and the relationship between them in grassland communities using a structural equation model. We found that habitat loss directly decreased plant richness and hence decreased above-ground biomass, while fragmentation per se directly increased plant richness and hence increased above-ground biomass. Fragmentation per se also directly decreased soil water content and hence decreased above-ground biomass. Meanwhile, habitat loss decreased the magnitude of the positive relationship between plant richness and above-ground biomass by reducing the percentage of grassland specialists in the community, while fragmentation per se had no significant modulating effect on this relationship. These results demonstrate that habitat loss and fragmentation per se have inconsistent effects on BEF, with the BEF relationship being modulated by landscape context. Our findings emphasise that habitat loss rather than fragmentation per se can weaken the positive BEF relationship by decreasing the degree of habitat specialisation of the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhi Yan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
| | | | - Qing Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security (Jointly Supported by the Ministry of Education of China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region)HohhotChina
- Autonomous Region Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrated Management of Water Resources and Water Environment in the Inner Mongolia Reaches of the Yellow RiverHohhotChina
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Chaturvedi RK, Pandey SK, Tripathi A, Goparaju L, Raghubanshi AS, Singh JS. Variations in the plasticity of functional traits indicate the differential impacts of abiotic and biotic factors on the structure and growth of trees in tropical dry forest fragments. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1181293. [PMID: 38333040 PMCID: PMC10851170 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1181293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Abiotic and biotic factors have considerable impact on the plasticity of plant functional traits, which influences forest structure and productivity; however, their inter-relationships have not been quantified for fragmented tropical dry forest (TDF) ecosystems. We asked the following questions: (1) what are the variations in the plasticity of functional traits due to soil moisture availability in TDF fragments? (2) what are the roles of soil nutrients and forest disturbances in influencing variations in the plasticity of functional traits in the TDF fragments? and (3) how do the variations in the plasticity of functional traits influence the structure and productivity of TDF fragments? Based on linear mixed-effects results, we observed significant variations among tree species for soil moisture content (SMC) under the canopy and selected functional traits across forest fragments. We categorized tree species across fragments by principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering on principal components (HCPC) analyses into three functional types, viz., low wood density high deciduous (LWHD), high wood density medium deciduous (HWMD), and high wood density low deciduous (HWLD). Assemblage of functional traits suggested that the LWHD functional type exhibits a drought-avoiding strategy, whereas HWMD and HWLD adopt a drought-tolerant strategy. Our study showed that the variations in functional trait plasticity and the structural attributes of trees in the three functional types exhibit contrasting affinity with SMC, soil nutrients, and disturbances, although the LWHD functional type was comparatively more influenced by soil resources and disturbances compared to HWMD and HWLD along the declining SMC and edge distance gradients. Plasticity in functional traits for the LWHD functional type exhibited greater variations in traits associated with the conservation of water and resources, whereas for HWMD and HWLD, the traits exhibiting greater plasticity were linked with higher productivity and water transport. The cumulative influence of SMC, disturbances, and functional trait variations was also visible in the relative abundance of functional types in large and small sized fragments. Our analysis further revealed the critical differences in the responses of functional trait plasticity of the coexisting tree species in TDF, which suggests that important deciduous endemic species with drought-avoiding strategies might be prone to strategic exclusion under expected rises in anthropogenic disturbances, habitat fragmentation, and resource limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Kant Chaturvedi
- Center for Integrative Conservation and Yunnan Key Laboratory for Conservation of Tropical Rainforests and Asian Elephant, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Yunnan, China
| | - Santosh Kumar Pandey
- Ecosystems Analysis Laboratory, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Anshuman Tripathi
- Training, Safety and Environment, National Mineral Development Corporation Limited, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, India
| | - Laxmi Goparaju
- Forest and Remote Sensing, Vindhyan Ecology and Natural History Foundation, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Akhilesh Singh Raghubanshi
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - J. S. Singh
- Ecosystems Analysis Laboratory, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Olán-González M, Briones-Fourzán P, Lozano-Álvarez E, Acosta-González G, Alvarez-Filip L. Similar functional composition of fish assemblages despite contrasting levels of habitat degradation on shallow Caribbean coral reefs. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0295238. [PMID: 38150437 PMCID: PMC10752542 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional trait-based approaches provide an opportunity to assess how changes in habitat affect the structure of associated communities. Global analyses have found a similarity in the composition of reef fish functional traits despite differences in species richness, environmental regimes, and habitat components. These large-scale patterns raised the question of whether this same stability can be observed at smaller spatial scales. Here, we compared the fish trait composition and their functional diversity in two Caribbean shallow coral reefs with contrasting levels of habitat degradation: Limones (>30% cover), constituted mainly by colonies of Acropora palmata and Bonanza, a reef with extensive areas of dead Acropora structures, dominated by algae. To characterize the functional structure of fishes on each reef, we calculated the community-weighted mean trait values (CWM), functional richness, functional evenness, functional dispersion, and functional originality. Despite the differences in habitat quality, reefs exhibited a similar proportion and common structure on fish functional traits. Functional richness and functional evenness differed significantly, but functional dispersion and functional originality did not show differences between reefs. The greater niche complexity driven by the high availability of microhabitats provided by A. palmata may explain the higher functional richness in Limones, whereas the reef degradation in Bonanza may contribute to a higher functional evenness because of a similar distribution of abundance per fish trait combinations. Our results suggest that widespread degradation on Caribbean reefs has limited the type, variety, and range of traits, which could lead to a functional homogenization of fish communities even at local scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Olán-González
- Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory. Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Patricia Briones-Fourzán
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Crustáceos. Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Enrique Lozano-Álvarez
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Crustáceos. Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Gilberto Acosta-González
- Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C. Unidad de Ciencias del Agua, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory. Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
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Jin H, Xu J, Peng Y, Xin J, Peng N, Li Y, Huang J, Zhang R, Li C, Wu Y, Gong B, Wang R. Impacts of landscape patterns on plant species diversity at a global scale. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:165193. [PMID: 37406683 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Landscape patterns are important drivers of biodiversity. Owing to differences in vegetation types, sampling methods, diversity measures, spatial scales, and landscape levels, the impact of landscape patterns on biodiversity remains widely debated. Using a global standardized plant community database and land use and land cover maps at 30-m resolution, for the period 1990-2017, we calculated plant species α- and β-diversity, and landscape metrics at patch- and landscape-levels, and discerned the direct and indirect impacts of landscape patterns on plant species diversity based on environmental factors, namely climate, spatial features, and human disturbance. We found that landscape patterns exhibited the main indirect effects, whereas climate factors exhibited dominant direct effects on plant α-diversity via the direct effects of patch patterns and functional traits. With respect to β-diversity, landscape-level patterns exerted more direct than indirect effects. These effects are strongly dependent on scale. Landscape- and patch-level patterns had opposite effects on plant diversity, depending on their composition and spatial structure, demonstrating that their effects could be mediated by one another. The adaptation of plants to landscape patterns is mainly through variations in leaf area, plant height, specific leaf area, stem density, seed biomass, and other seed-dispersal traits, which vary across vegetation types. Our findings highlight the importance of functional traits and diversity in understanding the mechanism by which landscape patterns influence plant species diversity; accordingly, we recommend balancing the spatial structure of patch- and landscape-level patterns to enhance variation in functional traits, and, ultimately, to maintain global plant diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanni Jin
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jing Xu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yu Peng
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Jiaxun Xin
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Nanyi Peng
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yanyi Li
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jijiao Huang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Ruiqiang Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Chen Li
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yimeng Wu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Bingzhang Gong
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Ronghui Wang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
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Jiang X, Guo X, Lu H, Yang J, Li W, Hao Q. Distinct Community Assembly Mechanisms of Different Growth Stages in a Warm Temperate Forest. DIVERSITY 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/d15040507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Community phylogenetic structure and diversity analysis are useful complements to species-centric approaches in biodiversity studies by providing new insights into the processes that drive community assembly. In this study, we aimed to understand the differences in the relative importance of abiotic filtering, biotic interactions, and dispersal limitation on community assembly of trees at different vegetation growth stages. We also examined the influence of geographical distance, elevation, terrain, and soil. Thus, we examined the phylogenetic structures and β-diversities of saplings and adults along different abiotic gradients. The results of the net relatedness index (NRI) showed that, instead of being random, the phylogenetic structure of saplings tended to be convergent, whereas that of adults tended to be divergent. This result implies that the relative forces of abiotic filtering and biotic interactions change throughout vegetation growth. The results of generalized dissimilarity modelling (GDM) showed that dispersal limitation (geographical distance) and abiotic filtering influenced the community assembly of both adults and saplings. This result confirmed our hypothesis that both deterministic and stochastic processes were prevalent. The explanatory rates of geographic distance and environmental factor distance to phylogenetic β-diversity were quite different between adults and saplings, which meant that the relative force of dispersal limitation and abiotic filtering had also changed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Jiang
- School of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Xiao Guo
- School of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Huicui Lu
- School of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Jinming Yang
- School of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Wei Li
- School of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Qing Hao
- School of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
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Kramer JMF, Zwiener VP, Müller SC. Biotic homogenization and differentiation of plant communities in tropical and subtropical forests. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14025. [PMID: 36285615 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity can lead to biotic homogenization (BH) and biotic differentiation (BD). BH is a process of increasing similarity in community composition (including taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic components), whereas BD is a process of decreasing similarity over space and time. Here, we conducted a systematic review of BH and BD in plant communities in tropical and subtropical forests to identify trends and knowledge gaps. Our bibliometric search in the Web of Science returned 1989 papers, of which 151 matched our criteria and were included in the analysis. The Neotropical region had the largest number of articles, and Brazil was the most represented country with 92 studies. Regarding the type of change, homogenization was more frequent than differentiation (noted in 69.6% of publications). The taxonomic diversity component was measured more often than functional and phylogenetic diversity components. Most studies (75.6%) assessed homogenization and differentiation based on a single observation in time; as opposed to few studies that monitored plant community over multiple years. Forest fragmentation was cited as the main determinant of homogenization and differentiation processes (57.2% of articles). Our results highlight the importance of evaluating community composition over time and more than taxonomic components (i.e., functional and phylogenetic) to advance understanding of homogenization and differentiation. Both processes were scale dependent and not mutually exclusive. As such, future research should consider differentiation as a potential transition phase to homogenization and that potential differences in both processes may depend on the spatial and temporal scale adopted. Understanding the complexity and causes of homogenization and differentiation is essential for biodiversity conservation in a world increasingly affected by anthropogenic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean M Freitag Kramer
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal (LEVEG), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Biogeografia de Plantas, Departamento de Biodiversidade, Setor Palotina, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Palotina, Brazil
| | - Victor P Zwiener
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Biogeografia de Plantas, Departamento de Biodiversidade, Setor Palotina, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Palotina, Brazil
| | - Sandra Cristina Müller
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal (LEVEG), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Meier ES, Lüscher G, Knop E. Disentangling direct and indirect drivers of farmland biodiversity at landscape scale. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:2422-2434. [PMID: 36134709 PMCID: PMC9826358 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
To stop the ongoing decline of farmland biodiversity there are increasing claims for a paradigm shift in agriculture, namely from conserving and restoring farmland biodiversity at field scale (α-diversity) to doing it at landscape scale (γ-diversity). However, knowledge on factors driving farmland γ-diversity is currently limited. Here, we quantified farmland γ-diversity in 123 landscapes and analysed direct and indirect effects of abiotic and land-use factors shaping it using structural equation models. The direction and strength of effects of factors shaping γ-diversity were only partially consistent with what is known about factors shaping α-diversity, and indirect effects were often stronger than direct effects or even opposite. Thus, relationships between factors shaping α-diversity cannot simply be up-scaled to γ-diversity, and also indirect effects should no longer be neglected. Finally, we show that local mitigation measures benefit farmland γ-diversity at landscape scale and are therefore a useful tool for designing biodiversity-friendly landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gisela Lüscher
- Research Division Agroecology and EnvironmentAgroscopeZürichSwitzerland
| | - Eva Knop
- Research Division Agroecology and EnvironmentAgroscopeZürichSwitzerland,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZürichSwitzerland
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de Jesus Silva J, Junghans TG, da Silva Ledo CA, de Lima Silva F, Souza EHD, Hongyu K, Souza FVD. Cryopreservation and germinative behavior of Passiflora spp. seeds. 3 Biotech 2022; 12:276. [PMID: 36110568 PMCID: PMC9468201 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-022-03329-6] [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: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryopreservation is an interesting strategy for the long-term conservation of the seeds of the majority of cultivated plants as well as many of the corresponding wild parents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of the seeds of different passion fruit species to cryopreservation, as well as to apply multivariate tools to better understand the germinative behavior after thawing, to support the application and repeatability of these methods with other Passiflora species. Seeds of P. coccinea, P. edulis, P. gibertii, P. maliformis, P. morifolia, P. setacea, P. suberosa and P. tenuifila were submitted to cryopreservation, and after thawing the following variables were analyzed: emergence percentage (%); mean emergence time (days); mean emergence speed (plantlets.day-1); uncertainty (bit); and synchrony (bit). We applied multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) to the data. The seeds of all the species withstood the freezing well, indicating that cryopreservation is a viable alternative for long-term conservation of Passiflora genetic material. The emergence percentage, average emergence speed and average emergence time were the variables that contributed the most to separation of the species in the first canonical discriminant function (Can1). The seeds of the species studied were found to be tolerant to desiccation because they remained viable even with low water content. The results showed that seeds could be cryopreserved successfully both with and without prior desiccation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jailton de Jesus Silva
- Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Rua Rui Barbosa, s/n, Campus de Cruz das Almas, Cruz das Almas, BA 44380-000 Brazil
| | - Tatiana Góes Junghans
- Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura, Rua Embrapa, s/n, Chapadinha, C.P. 007, Cruz das Almas, BA 44380-000 Brazil
| | | | - Fabiane de Lima Silva
- Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Rua Rui Barbosa, s/n, Campus de Cruz das Almas, Cruz das Almas, BA 44380-000 Brazil
| | - Everton Hilo de Souza
- Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Rua Rui Barbosa, s/n, Campus de Cruz das Almas, Cruz das Almas, BA 44380-000 Brazil
| | - Kuang Hongyu
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Av. Fernando Corrêa da Costa 2367, Boa Esperança, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso 78060-900 Brazil
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Colares LF, de Assis Montag LF, Dunck B. Habitat loss predicts the functional extinction of fish from Amazonian streams during the Anthropocene. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156210. [PMID: 35618116 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The evaluation of extinction risk has typically focused on individual species, although a shift to a focus on ecosystem functioning would appear to be an urgent priority for conservation planning, especially considering that a sixth mass extinction event has already begun. In the present study, we investigated how fish extinction driven by habitat loss may modify the functioning of freshwater Amazonian ecosystems. We sampled the fish and environmental conditions of 63 streams in the eastern Amazon and simulated extinction based on the vulnerability of the species to habitat loss, which is the principal threat to tropical biodiversity. The simulated extinction of vulnerable species led to a decrease in both the mean body size of the community and functional rarity and culminated in abrupt losses of ecosystem functions after 5% and 10% of extinction at local and regional scales. Our functional approach demonstrated the progressive loss of ecological functions in Amazon streams, which may collapse altogether following the extinction of functions related to protection against biological invasions, and associated alterations in nutrient cycling and water quality. We provide robust predictions on the modification of the ecosystem following the extinction of fish species, which is a major step toward the development of effective conservation measures that ensure the avoidance of the predicted processes, and help to prevent the loss of biodiversity and the potentially irreversible modifications to ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Ferreira Colares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Laboratório de Ecologia Teórica e Aplicada, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima, 1000 - Camobi, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Laboratório de Ecologia de Produtores, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Perimetral, 2651 - Terra Firme, Belém, PA, 66077-530, Brazil; Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Perimetral, 2651 - Terra Firme, Belém, PA 66077-530, Brazil.
| | - Luciano Fogaça de Assis Montag
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Perimetral, 2651 - Terra Firme, Belém, PA 66077-530, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Dunck
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Laboratório de Ecologia de Produtores, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Perimetral, 2651 - Terra Firme, Belém, PA, 66077-530, Brazil; Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Instituto Socioambiental e dos Recursos Hídricos, Avenida Perimetral, 660778-30 Belém, PA, Brazil
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Liccari F, Boscutti F, Bacaro G, Sigura M. Connectivity, landscape structure, and plant diversity across agricultural landscapes: novel insight into effective ecological network planning. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 317:115358. [PMID: 35636109 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Natural habitats in rural and urban areas are increasingly fragmented and altered by human impacts that are limiting the animal and plant dispersal process. Fragmentation and isolation can be reversed by restoring landscape connectivity through effective Ecological Network (EN) planning. However, most of the studies analyzing the influence of connectivity and landscape structure on biodiversity are focused on animals, while the understanding of their interplaying role on plant diversity remains limited. We studied the relationships between α and β diversity pattern and landscape structure and connectivity in the nodes of an EN developed in agricultural landscapes, as a part of regional landscape planning framework in Friuli Venezia Giulia region (North-East of Italy). As an innovation, the study aims at parsing the interacting effect of landscape structure, surrounding habitats and nodes, and structural connectivity on EN plant diversity at two specific scales of investigation i.e., the habitat and the node scale. The habitat was the basic ecological unit, while the node was the basic cartographical unit for the EN mapping (multi-habitat or mono-habitat nodes). A total of 443 plant species were collected across 219 sample plots, in 14 different habitats and 87 nodes of the EN. We found that high node connectivity leads to higher species richness (α-diversity) but also increases plant community similarity (i.e., low β-diversity) at both scales. The effect of landscape structure showed differing trends depending on the habitat. In general, landscape composition of semi-natural land cover (i.e., hedgerows, watercourses) showed a positive effect on species diversity as opposed to that of the configuration of anthropogenic elements on both scales. Our results provided crucial information on the landscape processes useful to improving biodiversity conservation by EN. Our findings suggest that i) improving connectivity within ENs favors α plant diversity ii) different habitats have different sensibility to landscape structure iii) semi-natural land cover around nodes improve plant diversity; iv) planning both mono-habitat and multi-habitats nodes, increases the biodiversity conserved therein; v) nodes with more compact shapes are to be preferred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Liccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, Udine, Italy; Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Francesco Boscutti
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, Udine, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bacaro
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, Trieste, Italy
| | - Maurizia Sigura
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, Udine, Italy
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12
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Habitat fragmentation rather than habitat amount or habitat split reduces the diversity and abundance of ground-dwelling anurans within forest remnants of the Brazilian Cerrado. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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13
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Lueder S, Narasimhan K, Olivo J, Cabrera D, Jurado JG, Greenstein L, Karubian J. Functional Traits, Species Diversity and Species Composition of a Neotropical Palm Community Vary in Relation to Forest Age. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.678125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors that shape the diversity and composition of biotic communities in natural and human-modified landscapes remains a key issue in ecology. Here, we evaluate how functional traits, species diversity and community composition of palm species vary in relation to biogeographic variables and forest age in northwest Ecuador. Functional traits capture essential aspects of species’ ecological tradeoffs and roles within an ecosystem, making them useful in determining the ecological consequences of environmental change, but they have not been used as commonly as more traditional metrics of species diversity and community composition. We inventoried palm communities in 965 10 × 10 m plots arrayed in linear transects placed in forests of varying age. Adult palms in forests of younger regeneration stages were characterized by species with greater maximum stem height, greater maximum stem diameter, and solitary stems. The shift in functional features could indicate that shade tolerant palms are more common in old-growth forest. The shift could also reflect the legacy of leaving canopy palms as remnants in areas that were cleared and then allowed to regrow. Moreover, younger forest age was associated with decreased abundance and altered species composition in both juvenile and adult palms, and decreased species richness in adults. These results highlight the importance of retaining intact, old-growth forest to preserve functional and species diversity and highlight the importance of considering multiple aspects of diversity in studies of vegetation communities.
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Paganeli B, Toussaint A, Bueno CG, Fujinuma J, Reier Ü, Pärtel M. Dark diversity at home describes the success of cross‐continent tree invasions. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Paganeli
- Department of Botany Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | - Aurèle Toussaint
- Department of Botany Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | - Carlos Guillermo Bueno
- Department of Botany Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | - Junichi Fujinuma
- Department of Botany Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | - Ülle Reier
- Department of Botany Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | - Meelis Pärtel
- Department of Botany Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
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15
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Leong RC, Bugnot AB, Marzinelli EM, Figueira WF, Erickson KR, Poore AGB, Gribben PE. Variation in the density and body size of a threatened foundation species across multi‐spatial scales. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rick C. Leong
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation University of New South Wales Sydney Kensington New South Wales 2052 Australia
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre University of New South Wales Sydney Kensington New South Wales 2052 Australia
| | - Ana B. Bugnot
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation University of New South Wales Sydney Kensington New South Wales 2052 Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2006 Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science 19 Chowder Bay Road Mosman New South Wales 2088 Australia
| | - Ezequiel M. Marzinelli
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2006 Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science 19 Chowder Bay Road Mosman New South Wales 2088 Australia
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering Nanyang Technological University, 637551 Singapore
| | - Will F. Figueira
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2006 Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science 19 Chowder Bay Road Mosman New South Wales 2088 Australia
| | - Katherine R. Erickson
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation University of New South Wales Sydney Kensington New South Wales 2052 Australia
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre University of New South Wales Sydney Kensington New South Wales 2052 Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2006 Australia
| | - Alistair G. B. Poore
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation University of New South Wales Sydney Kensington New South Wales 2052 Australia
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre University of New South Wales Sydney Kensington New South Wales 2052 Australia
| | - Paul E. Gribben
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation University of New South Wales Sydney Kensington New South Wales 2052 Australia
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre University of New South Wales Sydney Kensington New South Wales 2052 Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science 19 Chowder Bay Road Mosman New South Wales 2088 Australia
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16
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Bulafu C, Mucunguzi P, Sabakaki PZ. Species richness and distribution of terrestrial ferns in tropical forest fragments in and around Kampala central, Uganda. Afr J Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Collins Bulafu
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology Makerere University Kampala Uganda
| | - Patrick Mucunguzi
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology Makerere University Kampala Uganda
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17
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Uroy L, Mony C, Ernoult A, Alignier A. Increasing habitat connectivity in agricultural landscapes as a weed management strategy reconciling ecology and agronomy. Basic Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Urziceanu M, Anastasiu P, Rozylowicz L, Sesan TE. Local-scale impact of wind energy farms on rare, endemic, and threatened plant species. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11390. [PMID: 34055481 PMCID: PMC8140595 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Wind energy farms have become a popular solution to produce green energy worldwide. Their development within protected areas has increased dramatically in the past decade, and the effects on the rare, endemic and threatened plant species (i.e., protected plant species), essential for habitat conservation and management, are little known. Only a few studies directly quantify the impacts of wind energy farms on them. Our study analyzes the impact of wind energy farms on rare, endemic, and threatened plant species in steppic habitats and their recovery potential over a ten-year period on a wind energy farm within the Dealurile Agighiolului Natura 2000 site (Dobrogea Region, SE Romania). Methods We surveyed the rare, endemic, and threatened plant species within a radius of approximately 50 m around each of the 17 wind towers during the wind farm operational phase. We selected 34 plots to allow the investigation of two types of areas: (1) a disturbed area overlapping the technological platform, where the vegetation was removed before construction, and (2) an adjacent undisturbed area. To understand the effects of the wind energy farm on the rare, endemic, and threatened plant species diversity and the differences between the disturbed and undisturbed areas, we calculated under both conditions: (1) plant species richness; (2) sample-size-based rarefaction and extrapolation with Hill numbers parameterized by species richness; (3) non-metric multidimensional scaling of Jaccard dissimilarity index; (4) functional diversity; (5) beta-diversity (including replacement and nestedness of species). Results As a result of the disturbances caused by the wind energy farm's development, we identified a sharp contrast between the diversity of rare, endemic, and threatened plants inhabiting disturbed and undisturbed areas near the wind towers. Our research showed that less than 40% of the total inventoried rare, endemic, and threatened species colonized the disturbed sites. Species turnover within undisturbed plots was higher than disturbed plots, implying that the plant community's heterogeneity was high. However, a higher richness in rare, endemic, and threatened plant species was found in the plots around the wind towers in grasslands of primary type. Sample-size-based rarefaction and extrapolation with Hill numbers by observed species richness indicated an accurate estimation of species richness in disturbed habitats, demonstrating that recovery after wind energy farm construction was incomplete after ten years of low-intensity plant restoration and conservation activities. Thus, we consider that operating activities must be reconfigured to allow the complete recovery of the communities with rare, endemic, and threatened plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Urziceanu
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.,Botanic Garden "D. Brandza", University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Paulina Anastasiu
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.,Botanic Garden "D. Brandza", University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Laurentiu Rozylowicz
- Center for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Tatiana Eugenia Sesan
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.,Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry, Bucharest, Romania
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Lecoq L, Ernoult A, Mony C. Past landscape structure drives the functional assemblages of plants and birds. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3443. [PMID: 33564051 PMCID: PMC7873185 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82851-8] [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: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Landscape structure is a major driver of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. However, the response of biodiversity can be delayed after landscape changes. This study aimed to determine the effect of current and past landscape structure on plant and bird assemblages. We used a trait-based approach to understand their responses to landscape simplification and habitat fragmentation. We quantified landscape structure at three different years (1963, 1985, 2000) and sampled current plant and bird assemblages in twenty 1 km2 landscape windows located along the Seine Valley (France). For each window, we calculated plant and bird species richness, Community Weighted Variance (CWV), and Community Weighted Mean (CWM) of five functional traits related to dispersal capacity, reproduction, and life-cycle. We detected non-random patterns of traits for both taxa. Plant and bird species richness was lower in simple landscapes. The functional variance of plant traits was higher in landscapes simple in configuration. Both plant and bird assemblages strongly responded to past landscapes, especially their traits related to reproduction and life-cycle. It suggests that landscapes of the Seine valley will face a functional extinction debt. Further research is needed to better predict the delayed response of biodiversity expected to occur after landscape structure changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Lecoq
- grid.410368.80000 0001 2191 9284UMR CNRS ECOBIO, University of Rennes 1, Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Aude Ernoult
- grid.410368.80000 0001 2191 9284UMR CNRS ECOBIO, University of Rennes 1, Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Cendrine Mony
- grid.410368.80000 0001 2191 9284UMR CNRS ECOBIO, University of Rennes 1, Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
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21
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Zambrano J, Cordeiro NJ, Garzon-Lopez C, Yeager L, Fortunel C, Ndangalasi HJ, Beckman NG. Investigating the direct and indirect effects of forest fragmentation on plant functional diversity. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235210. [PMID: 32614922 PMCID: PMC7331995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation alter the functional diversity of forests. Generalising the magnitude of change in functional diversity of fragmented landscapes and its drivers is challenging because of the multiple scales at which landscape fragmentation takes place. Here we propose a multi-scale approach to determine whether fragmentation processes at the local and landscape scales are reducing functional diversity of trees in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. We employ a structural equation modelling approach using five key plant traits (seed length, dispersal mode, shade tolerance, maximum tree height, and wood density) to better understand the functional responses of trees to fragmentation at multiple scales. Our results suggest both direct and indirect effects of forest fragmentation on tree functional richness, evenness and divergence. A reduction in fragment area appears to exacerbate the negative effects resulting from an increased amount of edge habitat and loss of shape complexity, further reducing richness and evenness of traits related to resource acquisition and favouring tree species with fast growth. As anthropogenic disturbances affect forests around the world, we advocate to include the direct and indirect effects of forest fragmentation processes to gain a better understanding of shifts in functional diversity that can inform future management efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Zambrano
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Norbert J. Cordeiro
- Department of Biology (mc WB 816), Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Science & Education, The Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Carol Garzon-Lopez
- Grupo de Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Departamento de Ciencias biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Lauren Yeager
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Claire Fortunel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- AMAP (botAnique et Modélisation de l’Architecture des Plantes et des végétations), Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Noelle G. Beckman
- Department of Biology & Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States of America
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Amini Tehrani N, Naimi B, Jaboyedoff M. Toward community predictions: Multi-scale modelling of mountain breeding birds' habitat suitability, landscape preferences, and environmental drivers. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:5544-5557. [PMID: 32607173 PMCID: PMC7319251 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Across a large mountain area of the western Swiss Alps, we used occurrence data (presence-only points) of bird species to find suitable modelling solutions and build reliable distribution maps to deal with biodiversity and conservation necessities of bird species at finer scales. We have performed a multi-scale method of modelling, which uses distance, climatic, and focal variables at different scales (neighboring window sizes), to estimate the efficient scale of each environmental predictor and enhance our knowledge on how birds interact with their complex environment. To identify the best radius for each focal variable and the most efficient impact scale of each predictor, we have fitted univariate models per species. In the last step, the final set of variables were subsequently employed to build ensemble of small models (ESMs) at a fine spatial resolution of 100 m and generate species distribution maps as tools of conservation. We could build useful habitat suitability models for the three groups of species in the national red list. Our results indicate that, in general, the most important variables were in the group of bioclimatic variables including "Bio11" (Mean Temperature of Coldest Quarter), and "Bio 4" (Temperature Seasonality), then in the focal variables including "Forest", "Orchard", and "Agriculture area" as potential foraging, feeding and nesting sites. Our distribution maps are useful for identifying the most threatened species and their habitat and also for improving conservation effort to locate bird hotspots. It is a powerful strategy to improve the ecological understanding of the distribution of bird species in a dynamic heterogeneous environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Babak Naimi
- Department of Geosciences and GeographyUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Michel Jaboyedoff
- Institute of Earth SciencesUniversity of Lausanne1015 LausanneSwitzerland
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