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Berberi I, Miller ET, Dakin R. The effect of sociality on competitive interactions among birds. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20221894. [PMID: 36855867 PMCID: PMC9975650 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sociality can provide many benefits, including increased foraging success, reproductive opportunities and defence against predation. How does sociality influence the dominance hierarchies of ecological competitors? Here, we address this question using a large citizen science dataset of competitive interactions among birds foraging at backyard feeders, representing a network of over 55 000 interactions among 68 common species. We first show that species differ in average group size (the number of conspecifics observed together) as a fundamental measure of sociality. When analysing heterospecific competition, we find that sociality is inversely related to dominance. On average, a single individual from a solitary species is more likely to displace a size-matched opponent than a single individual from a social species. Yet, we find that social species gain an increase in their competitive advantage when in the presence of their conspecifics, which may occur as a result of dynamics within their groups. Finally, we show that more social species have relatively fewer dominance interactions with heterospecifics, and more with conspecifics. Overall, these results demonstrate that sociality can influence competition in ecological networks. More social species have decreased competitive ability as individuals, but they may gain competitive ability in groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias Berberi
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Eliot T. Miller
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Roslyn Dakin
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Canada K1S 5B6
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Mallick S, Molleman F, Yguel B, Bailey R, Müller J, Jean F, Prinzing A. Ectophagous folivores do not profit from rich resources on phylogenetically isolated trees. Oecologia 2023; 201:1-18. [PMID: 36165922 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05260-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Resource use by consumers across patches is often proportional to the quantity or quality of the resource within these patches. In folivores, such proportional use of resources is likely to be more efficient when plants are spatially proximate, such as trees forming a forest canopy. However, resources provided by forest-trees are often not used proportionally. We hypothesised that proportional use of resources is reduced when host trees are isolated among phylogenetically distant neighbours that mask olfactory and visual search cues, and reduce folivore movement between trees. Such phylogenetically distant neighbourhoods might sort out species that are specialists, poor dispersers, or have poor access to information about leaf quality. We studied individual oaks, their leaf size and quality, their folivory and abundance of folivores (mostly Lepidopteran ectophages, gallers and miners), and parasitism of folivores. We found that leaf consumption by ectophages hardly increased with increasing leaf size when host trees were phylogenetically isolated. We found a similar effect on host use by parasitoids in 1 year. In contrast, we found no consistent effects in other folivore guilds. Relative abundances of specialists and species with wingless females declined with phylogenetic isolation. However, resource use within each of these groups was inconsistently affected by phylogenetic isolation. We suggest that phylogenetic isolation prevents ectophages from effectively choosing trees with abundant resources, and also sorts out species likely to recruit in situ on their host tree. Trees in phylogenetically distant neighbourhoods may be selected for larger leaves and greater reliance on induced defences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumen Mallick
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Rennes 1, Research Unit UMR 6553, Ecosystèmes Biodiversité Evolution (ECOBIO), Campus de Beaulieu, 35042, Rennes, France.
| | - Freerk Molleman
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, A. Mickiewicz University, Ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznan, Poland
| | - Benjamin Yguel
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Rennes 1, Research Unit UMR 6553, Ecosystèmes Biodiversité Evolution (ECOBIO), Campus de Beaulieu, 35042, Rennes, France.,Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO-UMR 7204), Sorbonne Universités-MNHN-CNRS-UPMC, CP51, 55-61rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Richard Bailey
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Rennes 1, Research Unit UMR 6553, Ecosystèmes Biodiversité Evolution (ECOBIO), Campus de Beaulieu, 35042, Rennes, France.,Department of Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Lodz, Poland
| | - Jörg Müller
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Glashüttenstraße 5, 96181, Rauhenebrach, Germany.,Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, 94481, Grafenau, Germany
| | - Frédéric Jean
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Rennes 1, Research Unit UMR 6553, Ecosystèmes Biodiversité Evolution (ECOBIO), Campus de Beaulieu, 35042, Rennes, France
| | - Andreas Prinzing
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Rennes 1, Research Unit UMR 6553, Ecosystèmes Biodiversité Evolution (ECOBIO), Campus de Beaulieu, 35042, Rennes, France
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Rodriguez-Morales R, Gonzalez-Lerma P, Yuiska A, Han JH, Guerra Y, Crisostomo L, Keene AC, Duboue ER, Kowalko JE. Convergence on reduced aggression through shared behavioral traits in multiple populations of Astyanax mexicanus. BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:116. [PMID: 36241984 PMCID: PMC9563175 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-02069-8] [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: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Results Conclusion Supplementary information
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Rodriguez-Morales
- grid.259029.50000 0004 1936 746XDepartment of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, 18015 Bethlehem, PA USA
| | - Paola Gonzalez-Lerma
- grid.255951.fDepartment of Integrative Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 33431 Boca Raton, FL USA
| | - Anders Yuiska
- grid.255951.fCharles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, 33431 Boca Raton, FL USA
| | - Ji Heon Han
- grid.255951.fCharles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, 33431 Boca Raton, FL USA ,grid.255951.fProgram in Integrative Biology and Neuroscience, Florida Atlantic University, 33458 Jupiter, FL USA
| | - Yolanda Guerra
- grid.255951.fHarriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, 33458 Jupiter, FL USA
| | - Lina Crisostomo
- grid.255951.fHarriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, 33458 Jupiter, FL USA
| | - Alex C. Keene
- grid.264756.40000 0004 4687 2082Department of Biology, Texas A&M, College Station, TX USA
| | - Erik R. Duboue
- grid.255951.fCharles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, 33431 Boca Raton, FL USA ,grid.255951.fHarriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, 33458 Jupiter, FL USA
| | - Johanna E. Kowalko
- grid.259029.50000 0004 1936 746XDepartment of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, 18015 Bethlehem, PA USA
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Crossley MS, Meehan TD, Moran MD, Glassberg J, Snyder WE, Davis AK. Opposing global change drivers counterbalance trends in breeding North American monarch butterflies. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:4726-4735. [PMID: 35686571 PMCID: PMC9542617 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16282] [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: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Many insects are in clear decline, with monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) drawing particular attention as a flagship species. It is well documented that, among migratory populations, numbers of overwintering monarchs have been falling across several decades, but trends among breeding monarchs are less clear. Here, we compile >135,000 monarch observations between 1993 and 2018 from the North American Butterfly Association's annual butterfly count to examine spatiotemporal patterns and potential drivers of adult monarch relative abundance trends across the entire breeding range in eastern and western North America. While the data revealed declines at some sites, particularly the US Northeast and parts of the Midwest, numbers in other areas, notably the US Southeast and Northwest, were unchanged or increasing, yielding a slightly positive overall trend across the species range. Negative impacts of agricultural glyphosate use appeared to be counterbalanced by positive effects of annual temperature, particularly in the US Midwest. Overall, our results suggest that population growth in summer is compensating for losses during the winter and that changing environmental variables have offsetting effects on mortality and/or reproduction. We suggest that density-dependent reproductive compensation when lower numbers arrive each spring is currently able to maintain relatively stable breeding monarch numbers. However, we caution against complacency since accelerating climate change may bring growing threats. In addition, increases of summer monarchs in some regions, especially in California and in the south, may reflect replacement of migratory with resident populations. Nonetheless, it is perhaps reassuring that ubiquitous downward trends in summer monarch abundance are not evident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. Crossley
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife EcologyUniversity of DelawareNewarkDelawareUSA
| | | | - Matthew D. Moran
- Department of Biology and Health SciencesHendrix CollegeConwayArkansasUSA
| | - Jeffrey Glassberg
- North American Butterfly AssociationMorristownNew JerseyUSA
- Rice UniversityHoustonTexasUSA
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Alaidrous W, Villa SM, de Roode JC, Majewska AA. Crowding does not affect monarch butterflies’ resistance to a protozoan parasite. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8791. [PMID: 35414899 PMCID: PMC8986514 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Host density is an important factor when it comes to parasite transmission and host resistance. Increased host density can increase contact rate between individuals and thus parasite transmission. Host density can also cause physiological changes in the host, which can affect host resistance. Yet, the direction in which host density affects host resistance remains unresolved. It is also unclear whether food limitation plays a role in this effect. We investigated the effect of larval density in monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, on the resistance to their natural protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha under both unlimited and limited food conditions. We exposed monarchs to various density treatments as larvae to mimic high densities observed in sedentary populations. Data on infection and parasite spore load were collected as well as development time, survival, wing size, and melanization. Disease susceptibility under either food condition or across density treatments was similar. However, we found high larval density impacted development time, adult survival, and wing morphology when food was limited. This study aids our understanding of the dynamics of environmental parasite transmission in monarch populations, which can help explain the increased prevalence of parasites in sedentary monarch populations compared to migratory populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wajd Alaidrous
- Department of Biology Emory University Atlanta Georgia USA
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) King Abdullah University for Science and Technology Thuwal Saudi Arabia
| | - Scott M. Villa
- Department of Biology Emory University Atlanta Georgia USA
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A resource-poor developmental diet reduces adult aggression in male Drosophila melanogaster. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021; 75:110. [PMID: 34720349 PMCID: PMC8549984 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03050-z] [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: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Aggressive behaviours occur throughout the animal kingdom and agonistic contests often govern access to resources. Nutrition experienced during development has the potential to influence aggressive behaviours in adults through effects on growth, energy budgets and an individual’s internal state. In particular, resource-poor developmental nutrition might decrease adult aggression by limiting growth and energy budgets, or alternatively might increase adult aggression by enhancing motivation to compete for resources. However, the direction of this relationship—and effects of developmental nutrition experienced by rivals—remains unknown in most species, limiting understanding of how early-life environments contribute to variation in aggression. We investigated these alternative hypotheses by assessing male-male aggression in adult fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, that developed on a low-, medium- or high-resource diet, manipulated via yeast content. We found that a low-resource developmental diet reduced the probability of aggressive lunges in adults, as well as threat displays against rivals that developed on a low-resource diet. These effects appeared to be independent of diet-related differences in body mass. Males performed relatively more aggression on a central food patch when facing rivals of a low-resource diet, suggesting that developmental diet affects aggressive interactions through social effects in addition to individual effects. Our finding that resource-poor developmental diets reduce male-male aggression in D. melanogaster is consistent with the idea that resource budgets mediate aggression and in a mass-independent manner. Our study improves understanding of the links between nutrition and aggression. Significance statement Early-life nutrition can influence social behaviours in adults. Aggression is a widespread social behaviour with important consequences for fitness. Using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, we show that a poor developmental diet reduces aspects of adult aggressive behaviour in males. Furthermore, males perform more aggression near food patches when facing rivals of poor nutrition. This suggests that early-life nutrition affects aggressive interactions through social effects in addition to individual effects.
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Walton A, Toth AL. Resource limitation, intra‐group aggression and brain neuropeptide expression in a social wasp. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Walton
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames IA USA
| | - Amy L. Toth
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames IA USA
- Department of Entomology Iowa State University Ames IA USA
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