1
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Nafus MG, Gray LN. Quantifying the importance of ontogeny and prey type in modeling top-down and bottom-up effects of an ectothermic predator. Sci Rep 2024; 14:21601. [PMID: 39285164 PMCID: PMC11405723 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61761-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Dietary decisions by predators can affect prey abundance and overall food web dynamics. Many predators do not forage on the same prey at the same frequency throughout their lives. Ontogenetic shifts in prey preference are not, however, often accounted for when modeling food web relationships, despite growing literature that suggests that stage specific dietary relationships may be an important consideration when modeling trophic interactions. We investigated the importance of considering size-structure of a predator population with ontogenetic diet shifts in evaluating relationships with prey response using a manipulative experiment with the brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) in Guam. After removing ~ 40% of the snake population via toxic mammal carrion, we measured the strength of the relationship between snake density and the response of two types of prey (lizards and mammals). We evaluated these relationships based on total population size or division of the population into stage specific size categories based on diet preference predictions. We hypothesized that the density of juvenile snakes would correlate more strongly with lizard detections, while adult snakes would better correlate to rodent detections. We also measured reproductive output following changes in rates of prey detection. As expected by known ontogenetic shifts in dietary preference, explicit stage-based models better predicted shifts in rates of observed prey items than did total predator density for both lizards and mammals. Additionally, rodent detections were predictive of one reproductive pulse from snakes, while lizard detections were not predictive or correlated. Our findings support that consideration of predatory species stage-based dietary preference can be meaningful for understanding food web dynamics, particularly when a predator has a broad diet or one that changes through time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melia G Nafus
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i, USA.
| | - Levi N Gray
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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2
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Prosser RS, Brain RA. Where have all the flowers gone? A systematic evaluation of factors driving native terrestrial plant decline in North America. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:48460-48483. [PMID: 39030455 PMCID: PMC11297832 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34349-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Prior to the arrival of Europeans in North America, forest and grasslands individually covered a 3rd of the conterminous United States; however, following the colonial and pioneer periods, respectively, these land cover categories were reduced to 70% and 50% of their original prominence. The dominant driving force for native land conversion was agriculture, which expanded exponentially from the Atlantic to the Pacific, comprising over half the total land area of America at its peak in 1950. However, farmland area has subsequently declined by 25%, so what has been driving native plant declines north of the 30th latitudinal parallel over the past 75 years? Analysis of recovery plans issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicates that of the over 900 plant species "listed" as threatened and endangered the primary driver of decline was invasive species, followed by habitat alteration, and development, which collectively accounted for 93.2% of the primary drivers for listed species. In Canada, these three drivers of decline were the primary drivers for 81% of listed species. Comparatively, herbicides were identified as the primary or secondary driver in 13 out of 1124 cases (1.2%). Given that agricultural land area is contracting in the U.S. and Canada, there appears to be a misconception that agrochemicals are the seminal cause of native plant decline. Here, we explore the individual contribution of drivers relative to the historical events of North America to provide context and perspective as well as focus and prioritize conservation efforts accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S Prosser
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
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3
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Kastner M, Goetz SM, Baker KM, Siers SR, Paxton EH, Nafus MG, Rogers HS. Gape-limited invasive predator frequently kills avian prey that are too large to swallow. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11598. [PMID: 39055774 PMCID: PMC11269886 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Gape-limited predators (e.g., snakes, many fish) are not generally expected to pose a predation threat to prey that are too large for them to swallow. However, the extent to which snakes predate on prey that exceed their gape limitation remains largely unknown. We conducted the first study to investigate the influence of both prey and predator sizes on the frequency of ingestion success by snakes in a natural system. We combined survival monitoring of an avian prey species (Aplonis opaca) via radio-telemetry with a survey of the size distribution of their major predator (Boiga irregularis) on Guam. This allowed us to assess (1) the frequency of unsuccessful ingestion by the predator, (2) whether the size of the prey predicts ingestion success, (3) whether the size of the predator predicts ingestion success, and (4) the relationship between prey and predator sizes in successful ingestion attempts. We found that nearly half (47.95%) of ingestion attempts by snakes on fledgling birds were unsuccessful, and no instances where unsuccessful ingestion caused the mortality of the snake. Attempts to consume smaller fledglings were as likely to be unsuccessful as attempts to swallow larger fledglings. However, snakes that successfully ingested fledglings were among the largest snakes in the population, and larger than average conspecifics attracted to endothermic prey. The smallest snakes that successfully ingested fledglings attained remarkably high relative prey mass values for their species, consuming prey weighing up to 79.9% of their own mass. Our study indicates that B. irregularis routinely predate prey that are too large for them to successfully ingest, which causes mortality to the prey but poses little risk to the predator. The potential reward for snakes in consuming oversized prey may outweigh the inherent risks, while instances of predation that do not result in consumption may have considerable impacts on prey populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kastner
- Department of Fish and Wildlife ConservationVirginia TechBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
| | - Scott M. Goetz
- U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Island Ecosystems Research CenterHawai'i National ParkVolcanoHawai'iUSA
| | - Kayla M. Baker
- Department of Fish and Wildlife ConservationVirginia TechBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
| | - Shane R. Siers
- United Stated Department of Agriculture National Wildlife Research CenterBarrigadaGuam
| | - Eben H. Paxton
- U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Island Ecosystems Research CenterHawai'i National ParkVolcanoHawai'iUSA
| | - Melia G. Nafus
- U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Island Ecosystems Research CenterHawai'i National ParkVolcanoHawai'iUSA
| | - Haldre S. Rogers
- Department of Fish and Wildlife ConservationVirginia TechBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
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4
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Sullivan LL, Shaw AK. Take me for a ride: Herbivores can facilitate plant reinvasions. Ecology 2023; 104:e4132. [PMID: 37376749 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Herbivores shape plant invasions through impacts on demography and dispersal, yet only demographic mechanisms are well understood. Although herbivores negatively impact demography by definition, they can affect dispersal either negatively (e.g., seed consumption), or positively (e.g., caching). Exploring the nuances of how herbivores influence spatial spread will improve the forecasting of plant movement on the landscape. Here, we aim to understand how herbivores impact how fast plant populations spread through varying impacts on plant demography and dispersal. We strive to determine whether, and under what conditions, we see net positive effects of herbivores, in order to find scenarios where herbivores can help to promote spread. We draw on classic invasion theory to develop a stage-structured integrodifference equation model that incorporates herbivore impacts on plant demography and dispersal. We simulate seven herbivore "syndromes" (combinations of demographic and/or dispersal effects) drawn from the literature to understand how increasing herbivore pressure alters plant spreading speed. We find that herbivores with solely negative effects on plant demography or dispersal always slow plant spreading speed, and that the speed slows monotonically as herbivore pressure increases. However, we also find that plant spreading speed can be hump shaped with respect to herbivore pressure: plants spread faster in the presence of herbivores (for low herbivore pressure) and then slower (for high herbivore pressure). This result is robust, occurring across all syndromes in which herbivores have a positive effect on plant dispersal, and is a sign that the positive effects of herbivores on dispersal can outweigh their negative effects on demography. For all syndromes we find that sufficiently high herbivore pressure results in population collapse. Thus, our findings show that herbivores can speed up or slow down plant spread. These insights allow for a greater understanding of how to slow invasions, facilitate native species recolonization, and shape range shifts with global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren L Sullivan
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, Michigan, USA
- Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Allison K Shaw
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
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5
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Rehling F, Jongejans E, Schlautmann J, Albrecht J, Fassbender H, Jaroszewicz B, Matthies D, Waldschmidt L, Farwig N, Schabo DG. Common seed dispersers contribute most to the persistence of a fleshy-fruited tree. Commun Biol 2023; 6:330. [PMID: 36973362 PMCID: PMC10043030 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04647-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutualistic interactions are by definition beneficial for each contributing partner. However, it is insufficiently understood how mutualistic interactions influence partners throughout their lives. Here, we used animal species-explicit, microhabitat-structured integral projection models to quantify the effect of seed dispersal by 20 animal species on the full life cycle of the tree Frangula alnus in Białowieża Forest, Eastern Poland. Our analysis showed that animal seed dispersal increased population growth by 2.5%. The effectiveness of animals as seed dispersers was strongly related to the interaction frequency but not the quality of seed dispersal. Consequently, the projected population decline due to simulated species extinction was driven by the loss of common rather than rare mutualist species. Our results support the notion that frequently interacting mutualists contribute most to the persistence of the populations of their partners, underscoring the role of common species for ecosystem functioning and nature conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Finn Rehling
- University of Marburg, Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, Marburg, Germany.
- University of Marburg, Department of Biology, Animal Ecology, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Eelke Jongejans
- Radboud University, RIBES, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- NIOO-KNAW, Department of Animal Ecology, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Jan Schlautmann
- University of Marburg, Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Albrecht
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Hubert Fassbender
- University of Marburg, Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Bogdan Jaroszewicz
- University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology, Białowieża Geobotanical Station, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Diethart Matthies
- University of Marburg, Department of Biology, Plant Ecology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lina Waldschmidt
- University of Marburg, Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nina Farwig
- University of Marburg, Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Dana G Schabo
- University of Marburg, Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, Marburg, Germany
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6
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Buono CM, Lofaso J, Smisko W, Gerth C, Santare J, Prior KM. Historical forest disturbance results in variation in functional resilience of seed dispersal mutualisms. Ecology 2023; 104:e3978. [PMID: 36692005 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Mutualistic interactions provide essential ecosystem functions that contribute to promoting and maintaining diversity in ecosystems. Understanding if functionally important mutualisms are "resilient" (i.e., able to resist or recover) to anthropogenic disturbance is essential for revealing the capacity for diversity to recover. Animal-mediated seed dispersal supports plant population growth and influences community structure, and disturbance affecting seed dispersal can contribute to low resiliency of plant diversity. Ant-seed dispersal mutualisms are sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance, as they rely on one to a few high-quality dispersal partners. In North American eastern deciduous forests, ants in the genus Aphaenogaster are "keystone dispersers" of understory forbs adapted to dispersal by ants (myrmecochores), which make up more than one-third of the understory herbaceous community. The majority of forests within this region have regenerated from previous disturbance in the form of clearing for agriculture. Previous studies have revealed that myrmecochore diversity is not resilient to previous clearing. Here, we ask if seed dispersal mutualisms are resilient to historical forest disturbance and if decreases in mutualistic interactions with partners, Aphaenogaster sp., or increases in antagonistic interactions cause degradation of function. In a large-scale natural experiment (20 sites), we measured seed removal, the abundance of mutualistic partners and other invertebrates interacting with seeds, myrmecochore cover, and diversity, along with ant habitat and forest structure. We found lower and more variable seed removal in secondary forests compared with remnant forests. A path analysis of all forests revealed that the abundance of mutualists was the primary determinant of the variation in seed removal, and that seed damage by antagonists (invasive slugs) negatively affected dispersal and was higher in secondary forests. In a path analysis of remnant forests, the link between mutualist abundance and seed removal was absent, but present in the secondary forest path, suggesting that seed dispersal is more variable and dependent on the mutualist abundance in secondary forests and is stable and high in remnant forests. Our results suggest that functional resilience to disturbance is variable, where seed dispersal is low in some secondary forests and not others. This work provides key insights into the effects of disturbance on mutualistic interactions and how the resilience of critical ecosystem functions impacts the capacity for diversity resiliency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmela M Buono
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - Jesse Lofaso
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - Will Smisko
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - Carly Gerth
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - John Santare
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - Kirsten M Prior
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
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7
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Guzy JC, Falk BG, Smith BJ, Willson JD, Reed RN, Aumen NG, Avery ML, Bartoszek IA, Campbell E, Cherkiss MS, Claunch NM, Currylow AF, Dean T, Dixon J, Engeman R, Funck S, Gibble R, Hengstebeck KC, Humphrey JS, Hunter ME, Josimovich JM, Ketterlin J, Kirkland M, Mazzotti FJ, McCleery R, Miller MA, McCollister M, Parker MR, Pittman SE, Rochford M, Romagosa C, Roybal A, Snow RW, Spencer MM, Waddle JH, Yackel Adams AA, Hart KM. Burmese pythons in Florida: A synthesis of biology, impacts, and management tools. NEOBIOTA 2023. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.80.90439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are native to southeastern Asia, however, there is an established invasive population inhabiting much of southern Florida throughout the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. Pythons have severely impacted native species and ecosystems in Florida and represent one of the most intractable invasive-species management issues across the globe. The difficulty stems from a unique combination of inaccessible habitat and the cryptic and resilient nature of pythons that thrive in the subtropical environment of southern Florida, rendering them extremely challenging to detect. Here we provide a comprehensive review and synthesis of the science relevant to managing invasive Burmese pythons. We describe existing control tools and review challenges to productive research, identifying key knowledge gaps that would improve future research and decision making for python control.
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8
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Blanchard G, Munoz F. Revisiting extinction debt through the lens of multitrophic networks and meta‐ecosystems. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09435] [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]
Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire Blanchard
- AMAP, Univ. Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD Montpellier France
- AMAP, IRD, Herbier de Nouvelle Calédonie Nouméa Nouvelle Calédonie
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9
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Currylow AF, Falk BG, Yackel Adams AA, Romagosa CM, Josimovich JM, Rochford MR, Cherkiss MS, Nafus MG, Hart KM, Mazzotti FJ, Snow RW, Reed RN. Size distribution and reproductive phenology of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA. NEOBIOTA 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.78.93788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The design of successful invasive species control programs is often hindered by the absence of basic demographic data on the targeted population. Establishment of invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida USA has led to local precipitous declines (> 90%) of mesomammal populations and is also a major threat to native populations of reptiles and birds. Efforts to control this species are ongoing but are hampered by the lack of access to and information on the expected biological patterns of pythons in southern Florida. We present data from more than 4,000 wild Burmese pythons that were removed in southern Florida over 26 years (1995–2021), the most robust dataset representing this invasive population to date. We used these data to characterize Burmese python size distribution, size at maturity, clutch size, and seasonal demographic and reproductive trends. We broadened the previously described size ranges by sex and, based on our newly defined size-stage classes, showed that males are smaller than females at sexual maturity, confirmed a positive correlation between maternal body size and potential clutch size, and developed predictive equations to facilitate demographic predictions. We also refined the annual breeding season (approx.100 days December into March), oviposition timing (May), and hatchling emergence and dispersal period (July through October) using correlations of capture morphometrics with observations of seasonal gonadal recrudescence (resurgence) and regression. Determination of reproductive output and timing can inform population models and help managers arrest population growth by targeting key aspects of python life history. These results define characteristics of the species in Florida and provide an enhanced understanding of the ecology and reproductive biology of Burmese pythons in their invasive Everglades range.
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10
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Abstract
Invasive non-native predators negatively affect native species; however, some native species can survive the predation pressures of invasive species by using pre-existing antipredator strategies or evolving defenses against invasive predators. The American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus (Anura: Ranidae) has been intentionally introduced to many countries and regions, and has impacted native animals through direct predation. Bombardier beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) discharge chemicals at a temperature of approximately 100 °C from the tip of the abdomen when they are attacked by predators. This "bombing" can successfully repel predators. However, adults of a native bombardier beetle Pheropsophus (Stenaptinus) occipitalis jessoensis have been reportedly found in the gut contents of the introduced bullfrog L. catesbeianus in Japan. These records suggest that the invasive bullfrog L. catesbeianus attacks the native bombardier beetle P. occipitalis jessoensis under field conditions in Japan; however, the effectiveness of the bombing defense against invasive bullfrogs is unclear. To test the effectiveness of the bombing defense against bullfrogs, we investigated the behavioral responses of L. catesbeianus juveniles to P. occipitalis jessoensis adults under laboratory conditions. Contrary to previous gut content results, almost all the bullfrogs (96.3%) rejected bombardier beetles before swallowing them; 88.9% rejected the beetles after being bombed, and 7.4% stopped attacking the beetles before being bombed. Only 3.7% successfully swallowed and digested the beetle. All of the beetles collected from non-bullfrog-invaded sites could deter bullfrogs, suggesting that the pre-existing defenses of bombardier beetles played an essential role in repelling bullfrogs. When treated beetles that were unable to discharge hot chemicals were provided, 77.8% of bullfrogs successfully swallowed and digested the treated beetles. These results indicate that bombing is important for the successful defense of P. occipitalis jessoensis against invasive bullfrogs. Although invasive bullfrogs have reportedly impacted native insect species, P. occipitalis jessoensis has an existing defense mechanism strong enough to repel the invasive predators.
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11
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Sandor ME, Elphick CS, Tingley MW. Extinction of biotic interactions due to habitat loss could accelerate the current biodiversity crisis. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2608. [PMID: 35366031 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2608] [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: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Habitat loss disrupts species interactions through local extinctions, potentially orphaning species that depend on interacting partners, via mutualisms or commensalisms, and increasing secondary extinction risk. Orphaned species may become functionally or secondarily extinct, increasing the severity of the current biodiversity crisis. While habitat destruction is a major cause of biodiversity loss, the number of secondary extinctions is largely unknown. We investigate the relationship between habitat loss, orphaned species, and bipartite network properties. Using a real seed dispersal network, we simulate habitat loss to estimate the rate at which species are orphaned. To be able to draw general conclusions, we also simulate habitat loss in synthetic networks to quantify how changes in network properties affect orphan rates across broader parameter space. Both real and synthetic network simulations show that even small amounts of habitat loss can cause up to 10% of species to be orphaned. More area loss, less connected networks, and a greater disparity in the species richness of the network's trophic levels generally result in more orphaned species. As habitat is lost to land-use conversion and climate change, more orphaned species increase the loss of community-level and ecosystem functions. However, the potential severity of repercussions ranges from minimal (no species orphaned) to catastrophic (up to 60% of species within a network orphaned). Severity of repercussions also depends on how much the interaction richness and intactness of the community affects the degree of redundancy within networks. Orphaned species could add substantially to the loss of ecosystem function and secondary extinction worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manette E Sandor
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- Northern Arizona University, Landscape Conservation Initiative, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA
| | - Chris S Elphick
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Morgan W Tingley
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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12
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Borden JB, San Antonio KM, Tomat-Kelly G, Clark T, Flory SL. Invasive grass indirectly alters seasonal patterns in seed predation. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20220095. [PMID: 35702984 PMCID: PMC9198778 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive species threaten ecosystems globally, but their impacts can be cryptic when they occur indirectly. Invader phenology can also differ from that of native species, potentially causing seasonality in invader impacts. Yet, it is unclear if invader phenology can drive seasonal patterns in indirect effects. We used a field experiment to test if an invasive grass (Imperata cylindrica) caused seasonal indirect effects by altering rodent foraging and seed predation patterns through time. Using seeds from native longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), we found seed predation was 25% greater, on average, in invaded than control plots, but this effect varied by season. Seed predation was 24-157% greater in invaded plots during spring and autumn months, but invasion had no effect on seed predation in other months. One of the largest effects occurred in October when longleaf pine seeds are dispersed, suggesting potential effects on tree regeneration. Thus, seasonal patterns in indirect effects from invaders may cause underappreciated impacts on ecological communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse B. Borden
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Kelly M. San Antonio
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | | | - Taylor Clark
- Agronomy Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - S. Luke Flory
- Agronomy Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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13
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Cogni R, Quental TB, Guimarães PR. Ehrlich and Raven escape and radiate coevolution hypothesis at different levels of organization: Past and future perspectives. Evolution 2022; 76:1108-1123. [PMID: 35262199 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The classic paper by Ehrlich and Raven on coevolution will soon be 60 years old. Although they were not the first to develop the idea of coevolution, their thought-provoking paper certainly popularized this idea and inspired several generations of scientists interested in coevolution. Here, we describe some of their main contributions, quantitatively measure the impact of their seminal paper on different fields of research, and discuss how ideas related to their original paper might push the study of coevolution forward. To guide our discussion, we explore their original hypothesis into three research fields that are associated with distinct scales/levels of organization: (1) the genetic mechanisms underlying coevolutionary interactions; (2) the potential association between coevolutionary diversification and the organization of ecological networks; and (3) the micro- and macroevolutionary mechanisms and expected patterns under their hypothesis. By doing so, we discuss potentially overlooked aspects and future directions for the study of coevolutionary dynamics and diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Cogni
- Department of Ecology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Tiago B Quental
- Department of Ecology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Paulo R Guimarães
- Department of Ecology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
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14
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Donoso I, Fricke EC, Hervías-Parejo S, Rogers HS, Traveset A. Drivers of Ecological and Evolutionary Disruptions in the Seed Dispersal Process: Research Trends and Biases. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.794481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As the sole opportunity for most plants to move, seed dispersal influences the biodiversity and functioning of plant communities. Global change drivers have the potential to disrupt seed dispersal processes, affecting plant communities and ecosystem functions. Even though much information is available on the effects of seed dispersal disruption (SDD), we still lack a comprehensive understanding of its main causes at a global scale, as well as the potential knowledge gaps derived from research biases. Here we present a systematic review of biotic and abiotic SDDs to ascertain the global change drivers addressed, dispersal modes impacted, plant processes affected, and spatial focus of existing research on this topic up-to-date. Although there are many modes of dispersal and global change drivers in temperate and tropical ecosystems worldwide, research efforts have predominantly addressed the effect of alien species for biotic seed dispersal in temperate systems and oceanic islands as well as how defaunation of bird or mammal dispersers has affected seed removal in the Neotropics. SDD studies were also biased toward forest ecosystems, with few in shrublands or grasslands. Finally, the effects of climate change, ecological consequences at the whole community level, and evolutionary changes were largely unrepresented in SDD studies. These trends are likely due to a combination of true geographic and ecological patterns in seed dispersal and global change and bias in research focus. We conclude that increased research investment in the less-studied systems and a better understanding of potential synergies and feedback between multiple global change drivers will be important to forecast the threats to plant biodiversity and those ecosystem functions derived from seed dispersal in the Anthropocene.
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15
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Nafus MG, Siers SR, Levine BA, Quiogue ZC, Yackel Adams AA. Demographic response of brown treesnakes to extended population suppression. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Melia G. Nafus
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins CO 80526 USA
| | - Shane R. Siers
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center Barrigada GU 96913 USA
| | - Brenna A. Levine
- Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology Kean University Union NJ 07083
| | | | - Amy A. Yackel Adams
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins CO 80526 USA
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16
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Piquet JC, López-Darias M. Invasive snake causes massive reduction of all endemic herpetofauna on Gran Canaria. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211939. [PMID: 34875190 PMCID: PMC8651408 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive snakes represent a serious threat to island biodiversity, being responsible for far-reaching impacts that are noticeably understudied, particularly regarding native reptiles. We analysed the impact of the invasive California kingsnake, Lampropeltis californiae-recently introduced in the Canary Islands-on the abundance of all endemic herpetofauna of the island of Gran Canaria. We quantified the density in invaded and uninvaded sites for the Gran Canaria giant lizard, Gallotia stehlini, the Gran Canaria skink, Chalcides sexlineatus, and Boettger's wall gecko, Tarentola boettgeri. We used spatially explicit capture-recapture and distance-sampling methods for G. stehlini and active searches under rocks for the abundance of the other two reptiles. The abundance of all species was lower in invaded sites, with a reduction in the number of individuals greater than 90% for G. stehlini, greater than 80% for C. sexlineatus and greater than 50% for T. boettgeri in invaded sites. Our results illustrate the severe impact of L. californiae on the endemic herpetofauna of Gran Canaria and highlight the need for strengthened measures to manage this invasion. We also provide further evidence of the negative consequences of invasive snakes on island reptiles and emphasize the need for further research on this matter on islands worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien C. Piquet
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Marta López-Darias
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
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17
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Sandor ME, Aslan CE, Pejchar L, Bronstein JL. A Mechanistic Framework for Understanding the Effects of Climate Change on the Link Between Flowering and Fruiting Phenology. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.752110] [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
Phenological shifts are a widely studied consequence of climate change. Little is known, however, about certain critical phenological events, nor about mechanistic links between shifts in different life-history stages of the same organism. Among angiosperms, flowering times have been observed to advance with climate change, but, whether fruiting times shift as a direct consequence of shifting flowering times, or respond differently or not at all to climate change, is poorly understood. Yet, shifts in fruiting could alter species interactions, including by disrupting seed dispersal mutualisms. In the absence of long-term data on fruiting phenology, but given extensive data on flowering, we argue that an understanding of whether flowering and fruiting are tightly linked or respond independently to environmental change can significantly advance our understanding of how fruiting phenologies will respond to warming climates. Through a case study of biotically and abiotically dispersed plants, we present evidence for a potential functional link between the timing of flowering and fruiting. We then propose general mechanisms for how flowering and fruiting life history stages could be functionally linked or independently driven by external factors, and we use our case study species and phenological responses to distinguish among proposed mechanisms in a real-world framework. Finally, we identify research directions that could elucidate which of these mechanisms drive the timing between subsequent life stages. Understanding how fruiting phenology is altered by climate change is essential for all plant species but is particularly critical to sustaining the large numbers of plant species that rely on animal-mediated dispersal, as well as the animals that rely on fruit for sustenance.
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18
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Sayol F, Cooke RSC, Pigot AL, Blackburn TM, Tobias JA, Steinbauer MJ, Antonelli A, Faurby S. Loss of functional diversity through anthropogenic extinctions of island birds is not offset by biotic invasions. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabj5790. [PMID: 34757780 PMCID: PMC8580305 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj5790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Human impacts reshape ecological communities through the extinction and introduction of species. The combined impact of these factors depends on whether non-native species fill the functional roles of extinct species, thus buffering the loss of functional diversity. This question has been difficult to address, because comprehensive information about past extinctions and their traits is generally lacking. We combine detailed information about extinct, extant, and established alien birds to quantify historical changes in functional diversity across nine oceanic archipelagos. We found that alien species often equal or exceed the number of anthropogenic extinctions yet apparently perform a narrower set of functional roles as current island assemblages have undergone a substantial and ubiquitous net loss in functional diversity and increased functional similarity among assemblages. Our results reveal that the introduction of alien species has not prevented anthropogenic extinctions from reducing and homogenizing the functional diversity of native bird assemblages on oceanic archipelagos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferran Sayol
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Robert S. C. Cooke
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Alex L. Pigot
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tim M. Blackburn
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, UK
| | - Joseph A. Tobias
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London Silwood Park, Ascot, UK
| | - Manuel J. Steinbauer
- University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research and Sport Ecology, Department of Sport Science, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Alexandre Antonelli
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, UK
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Søren Faurby
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
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19
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Rogers HS, Donoso I, Traveset A, Fricke EC. Cascading Impacts of Seed Disperser Loss on Plant Communities and Ecosystems. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND SYSTEMATICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-012221-111742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Seed dispersal is key to the persistence and spread of plant populations. Because the majority of plant species rely on animals to disperse their seeds, global change drivers that directly affect animals can cause cascading impacts on plant communities. In this review, we synthesize studies assessing how disperser loss alters plant populations, community patterns, multitrophic interactions, and ecosystem functioning. We argue that the magnitude of risk to plants from disperser loss is shaped by the combination of a plant species’ inherent dependence on seed dispersal and the severity of the hazards faced by their dispersers. Because the factors determining a plant species’ risk of decline due to disperser loss can be related to traits of the plants and dispersers, our framework enables a trait-based understanding of change in plant community composition and ecosystem functioning. We discuss how interactions among plants, among dispersers, and across other trophic levels also mediate plant community responses, and we identify areas for future research to understand and mitigate the consequences of disperser loss on plants globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haldre S. Rogers
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Isabel Donoso
- Global Change Research Group, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, 07190 Esporles, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Anna Traveset
- Global Change Research Group, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, 07190 Esporles, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Evan C. Fricke
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
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20
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Levine BA, Yackel Adams AA, Douglas MR, Douglas ME, Nafus MG. Female persistence during toxicant treatment predicts survival probability of offspring in invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis). Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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21
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Hensel MJS, Silliman BR, van de Koppel J, Hensel E, Sharp SJ, Crotty SM, Byrnes JEK. A large invasive consumer reduces coastal ecosystem resilience by disabling positive species interactions. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6290. [PMID: 34725328 PMCID: PMC8560935 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26504-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive consumers can cause extensive ecological damage to native communities but effects on ecosystem resilience are less understood. Here, we use drone surveys, manipulative experiments, and mathematical models to show how feral hogs reduce resilience in southeastern US salt marshes by dismantling an essential marsh cordgrass-ribbed mussel mutualism. Mussels usually double plant growth and enhance marsh resilience to extreme drought but, when hogs invade, switch from being essential for plant survival to a liability; hogs selectively forage in mussel-rich areas leading to a 50% reduction in plant biomass and slower post-drought recovery rate. Hogs increase habitat fragmentation across landscapes by maintaining large, disturbed areas through trampling of cordgrass during targeted mussel consumption. Experiments and climate-disturbance recovery models show trampling alone slows marsh recovery by 3x while focused mussel predation creates marshes that may never recover from large-scale disturbances without hog eradication. Our work highlights that an invasive consumer can reshape ecosystems not just via competition and predation, but by disrupting key, positive species interactions that underlie resilience to climatic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc J. S. Hensel
- grid.266685.90000 0004 0386 3207Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA USA ,grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Nicholas School for the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Brian R. Silliman
- grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Nicholas School for the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Johan van de Koppel
- grid.5477.10000000120346234NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands ,grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Enie Hensel
- grid.40803.3f0000 0001 2173 6074Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | - Sean J. Sharp
- grid.214458.e0000000086837370School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Sinead M. Crotty
- grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Jarrett E. K. Byrnes
- grid.266685.90000 0004 0386 3207Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA USA
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22
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Thierry H, Rose E, Rogers H. Landscape configuration and frugivore identity affect seed rain during restoration. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Thierry
- Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State Univ. Ames IA USA
| | - Ethan Rose
- Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State Univ. Ames IA USA
| | - Haldre Rogers
- Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State Univ. Ames IA USA
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23
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Nafus MG, Xiong PX, Paxton EH, Yackel Adams AA, Goetz SM. Foraging behavior in a generalist snake (brown treesnake, Boiga irregularis) with implications for avian reintroduction and recovery. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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24
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Razafindratsima OH, Raoelinjanakolona NN, Heriniaina RR, Nantenaina RH, Ratolojanahary TH, Dunham AE. Simplified Communities of Seed-Dispersers Limit the Composition and Flow of Seeds in Edge Habitats. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.655441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Edge effects, driven by human modification of landscapes, can have critical impacts on ecological processes such as species interactions, with cascading impacts on biodiversity as a whole. Characterizing how edges affect vital biotic interactions such as seed dispersal by frugivores is important for better understanding potential mechanisms that drive species coexistence and diversity within a plant community. Here, we investigated how differences between frugivore communities at the forest edge and interior habitats of a diverse tropical rainforest relate to patterns of animal-mediated seed dispersal and early seedling recruitment. We found that the lemur communities across the forest edge-interior gradient in this system showed the highest species richness and variability in body sizes at intermediate distances; the community of birds showed the opposite pattern for species richness. Three large-bodied frugivores, known to be effective dispersers of large seeds, tended to avoid the forest edge. As result, the forest edges received a lower rate of animal-mediated seed dispersal compared to the interior habitats. In addition, we also found that the seeds that were actively dispersed by animals in forest edge habitats were smaller in size than seeds dispersed in the forest interior. This pattern was found despite a similarity in seed size of seasonally fruiting adult trees and shrubs between the two habitats. Despite these differences in dispersal patterns, we did not observe any differences in the rates of seedling recruitment or seed-size distribution of successful recruit species. Our results suggest that a small number of frugivores may act as a potential biotic filter, acting on seed size, for the arrival of certain plant species to edge habitats, but other factors may be more important for driving recruitment patterns, at least in the short term. Further research is needed to better understand the potential long-term impacts of altered dispersal regimes relative to other environmental factors on the successional dynamics of edge communities. Our findings are important for understanding potential ecological drivers of tree community changes in forest edges and have implications for conservation management and restoration of large-seeded tree species in disturbed habitats.
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25
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Piquet JC, Warren DL, Saavedra Bolaños JF, Sánchez Rivero JM, Gallo-Barneto R, Cabrera-Pérez MÁ, Fisher RN, Fisher SR, Rochester CJ, Hinds B, Nogales M, López-Darias M. Could climate change benefit invasive snakes? Modelling the potential distribution of the California Kingsnake in the Canary Islands. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 294:112917. [PMID: 34119983 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The interaction between climate change and biological invasions is a global conservation challenge with major consequences for invasive species management. However, our understanding of this interaction has substantial knowledge gaps; this is particularly relevant for invasive snakes on islands because they can be a serious threat to island ecosystems. Here we evaluated the potential influence of climate change on the distribution of invasive snakes on islands, using the invasion of the California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) in Gran Canaria. We analysed the potential distribution of L. californiae under current and future climatic conditions in the Canary Islands, with the underlying hypothesis that the archipelago might be suitable for the species under these climate scenarios. Our results indicate that the Canary Islands are currently highly suitable for the invasive snake, with increased suitability under the climate change scenarios tested here. This study supports the idea that invasive reptiles represent a substantial threat to near-tropical regions, and builds on previous studies suggesting that the menace of invasive reptiles may persist or even be exacerbated by climate change. We suggest future research should continue to fill the knowledge gap regarding invasive reptiles, in particular snakes, to clarify their potential future impacts on global biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien C Piquet
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), 38206, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Dan L Warren
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Frankfurt, Germany; Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Jorge Fernando Saavedra Bolaños
- Área de Medio Ambiente. Gestión y Planeamiento Territorial y Ambiental (GESPLAN S. A.), 35002, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - José Miguel Sánchez Rivero
- Área de Medio Ambiente. Gestión y Planeamiento Territorial y Ambiental (GESPLAN S. A.), 35002, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Ramón Gallo-Barneto
- Área de Medio Ambiente. Gestión y Planeamiento Territorial y Ambiental (GESPLAN S. A.), 35002, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Cabrera-Pérez
- Servicio de Biodiversidad, Dirección General de Protección de la Naturaleza, Gobierno de Canarias, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Robert N Fisher
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Carlton J Rochester
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Brian Hinds
- Herpetological Education and Research Project, Whittier, CA, USA
| | - Manuel Nogales
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), 38206, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Marta López-Darias
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), 38206, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
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26
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Haubrock PJ, Turbelin AJ, Cuthbert RN, Novoa A, Taylor NG, Angulo E, Ballesteros-Mejia L, Bodey TW, Capinha C, Diagne C, Essl F, Golivets M, Kirichenko N, Kourantidou M, Leroy B, Renault D, Verbrugge L, Courchamp F. Economic costs of invasive alien species across Europe. NEOBIOTA 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.67.58196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Biological invasions continue to threaten the stability of ecosystems and societies that are dependent on their services. Whilst the ecological impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) have been widely reported in recent decades, there remains a paucity of information concerning their economic impacts. Europe has strong trade and transport links with the rest of the world, facilitating hundreds of IAS incursions, and largely centralised decision-making frameworks. The present study is the first comprehensive and detailed effort that quantifies the costs of IAS collectively across European countries and examines temporal trends in these data. In addition, the distributions of costs across countries, socioeconomic sectors and taxonomic groups are examined, as are socio-economic correlates of management and damage costs. Total costs of IAS in Europe summed to US$140.20 billion (or €116.61 billion) between 1960 and 2020, with the majority (60%) being damage-related and impacting multiple sectors. Costs were also geographically widespread but dominated by impacts in large western and central European countries, i.e. the UK, Spain, France, and Germany. Human population size, land area, GDP, and tourism were significant predictors of invasion costs, with management costs additionally predicted by numbers of introduced species, research effort and trade. Temporally, invasion costs have increased exponentially through time, with up to US$23.58 billion (€19.64 billion) in 2013, and US$139.56 billion (€116.24 billion) in impacts extrapolated in 2020. Importantly, although these costs are substantial, there remain knowledge gaps on several geographic and taxonomic scales, indicating that these costs are severely underestimated. We, thus, urge increased and improved cost reporting for economic impacts of IAS and coordinated international action to prevent further spread and mitigate impacts of IAS populations.
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27
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Van Cauwenberghe J, Santamaría RI, Bustos P, Juárez S, Ducci MA, Figueroa Fleming T, Etcheverry AV, González V. Spatial patterns in phage-Rhizobium coevolutionary interactions across regions of common bean domestication. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:2092-2106. [PMID: 33558688 PMCID: PMC8245606 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-00907-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages play significant roles in the composition, diversity, and evolution of bacterial communities. Despite their importance, it remains unclear how phage diversity and phage-host interactions are spatially structured. Local adaptation may play a key role. Nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria, known as rhizobia, have been shown to locally adapt to domesticated common bean at its Mesoamerican and Andean sites of origin. This may affect phage-rhizobium interactions. However, knowledge about the diversity and coevolution of phages with their respective Rhizobium populations is lacking. Here, through the study of four phage-Rhizobium communities in Mexico and Argentina, we show that both phage and host diversity is spatially structured. Cross-infection experiments demonstrated that phage infection rates were higher overall in sympatric rhizobia than in allopatric rhizobia except for one Argentinean community, indicating phage local adaptation and host maladaptation. Phage-host interactions were shaped by the genetic identity and geographic origin of both the phage and the host. The phages ranged from specialists to generalists, revealing a nested network of interactions. Our results suggest a key role of local adaptation to resident host bacterial communities in shaping the phage genetic and phenotypic composition, following a similar spatial pattern of diversity and coevolution to that in the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannick Van Cauwenberghe
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autonóma de México, Mexico, Mexico.
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Rosa I Santamaría
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autonóma de México, Mexico, Mexico
| | - Patricia Bustos
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autonóma de México, Mexico, Mexico
| | - Soledad Juárez
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autonóma de México, Mexico, Mexico
| | - Maria Antonella Ducci
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Argentina
| | | | | | - Víctor González
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autonóma de México, Mexico, Mexico.
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28
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Campagnoli ML, Christianini AV. Temporal consistency in interactions among birds, ants, and plants in a neotropical savanna. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana L. Campagnoli
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Univ. Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) São Carlos São Paulo Brazil
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29
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Kerr AM, Sablan JD, Williams MK, Galsim F, Guerrero PC, Townsend AL, Davis JK, Borja GC, Oleksy RZ, Furey JF, Benavente DL, Derrington EM, Gawel AM. Long-term, low incidence of web-decorating by spiders in the Mariana Islands, Micronesia. Ecology 2021; 102:e03433. [PMID: 34105775 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Kerr
- The Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam, 96923, USA
| | - Joanne D Sablan
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam, 96923, USA
| | - Michelle K Williams
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam, 96923, USA
| | - Ferdinand Galsim
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam, 96923, USA
| | - Philip C Guerrero
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam, 96923, USA
| | - Abram L Townsend
- The Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam, 96923, USA
| | - J Kawika Davis
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam, 96923, USA
| | - Gregorio C Borja
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam, 96923, USA
| | - Ryszard Z Oleksy
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| | - John F Furey
- Asia Pacific Academy of Sciences, Science Education, and Environmental Management, Saipan, MP 96950, Northern Mariana Islands
| | - David L Benavente
- Division of Coastal Resources Management, Bureau of Environmental & Coastal Quality, Saipan, MP 96950, Northern Mariana Islands
| | - Erin M Derrington
- Asia Pacific Academy of Sciences, Science Education, and Environmental Management, Saipan, MP 96950, Northern Mariana Islands
| | - Ann Marie Gawel
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
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30
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Dent DH, Estrada-Villegas S. Uniting niche differentiation and dispersal limitation predicts tropical forest succession. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:700-708. [PMID: 33966918 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tropical secondary forests are increasingly important for carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation worldwide; yet, we still cannot accurately predict community turnover during secondary succession. We propose that integrating niche differentiation and dispersal limitation will generate an improved theoretical explanation of tropical forest succession. The interaction between seed sources and dispersers regulates seed movement throughout succession, and recent technological advances in animal tracking and molecular analyses enable us to accurately monitor seed movement as never before. We propose a framework to bridge the gap between niche differentiation and dispersal limitation. The Source-Disperser Limitation Framework (SDLF) provides a way to better predict secondary tropical forest succession across gradients of landscape disturbance by integrating seed sources and frugivore behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy H Dent
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, UK; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama; Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Sergio Estrada-Villegas
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama; Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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31
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Aziz SA, McConkey KR, Tanalgo K, Sritongchuay T, Low MR, Yong JY, Mildenstein TL, Nuevo-Diego CE, Lim VC, Racey PA. The Critical Importance of Old World Fruit Bats for Healthy Ecosystems and Economies. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.641411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive documentation of the ecological and economic importance of Old World fruit bats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) and the many threats they face from humans, negative attitudes towards pteropodids have persisted, fuelled by perceptions of bats as being pests and undesirable neighbours. Such long-term negativity towards bats is now further exacerbated by more recent disease-related concerns, particularly associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic. There remains an urgent need to investigate and highlight the positive and beneficial aspects of bats across the Old World. While previous reviews have summarised these extensively, numerous new studies conducted over the last 36 years have provided further valuable data and insights which warrant an updated review. Here we synthesise research on pteropodid-plant interactions, comprising diet, ecological roles, and ecosystem services, conducted during 1985-2020. We uncovered a total of 311 studies covering 75 out of the known 201 pteropodid species (37%), conducted in 47 countries. The majority of studies documented diet (52% of all studies; 67 pteropodid species), followed by foraging movement (49%; 50 pteropodid species), with fewer studies directly investigating the roles played by pteropodids in seed dispersal (24%; 41 pteropodid species), pollination (14%; 19 pteropodid species), and conflict with fruit growers (12%; 11 pteropodid species). Pteropodids were recorded feeding on 1072 plant species from 493 genera and 148 families, with fruits comprising the majority of plant parts consumed, followed by flowers/nectar/pollen, leaves, and other miscellaneous parts. Sixteen pteropodid species have been confirmed to act as pollinators for a total of 21 plant species, and 29 pteropodid species have been confirmed to act as seed dispersers for a total of 311 plant species. Anthropogenic threats disrupting bat-plant interactions in the Old World include hunting, direct persecution, habitat loss/disturbance, invasive species, and climate change, leading to ecosystem-level repercussions. We identify notable research gaps and important research priorities to support conservation action for pteropodids.
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32
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Kurle CM, Zilliacus KM, Sparks J, Curl J, Bock M, Buckelew S, Williams JC, Wolf CA, Holmes ND, Plissner J, Howald GR, Tershy BR, Croll DA. Indirect effects of invasive rat removal result in recovery of island rocky intertidal community structure. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5395. [PMID: 33686134 PMCID: PMC7940711 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84342-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Eleven years after invasive Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) were eradicated from Hawadax Island, in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, the predicted three-level trophic cascade in the rocky intertidal, with native shorebirds as the apex predator, returned, leading to a community resembling those on rat-free islands with significant decreases in invertebrate species abundances and increases in fleshy algal cover. Rats had indirectly structured the intertidal community via their role as the apex predator in a four-level trophic cascade. Our results are an excellent example of an achievable and relatively short-term community-level recovery following removal of invasive animals. These conservation successes are especially important for islands as their disproportionately high levels of native biodiversity are excessively threatened by invasive mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn M Kurle
- Division of Biological Sciences, Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution Section, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92023, USA.
| | - Kelly M Zilliacus
- Conservation Action Lab, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Jenna Sparks
- Conservation Action Lab, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.,Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge, PO Box 2570, Santa Cruz, CA, 95063, USA
| | - Jen Curl
- Island Conservation, 2100 Delaware Ave, Suite 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.,Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, 1300 College Rd, Fairbanks, AK, 99701, USA
| | - Mila Bock
- Conservation Action Lab, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.,Great Basin Institute, 16750 Mt. Rose Highway, Reno, NV, 89511, USA
| | - Stacey Buckelew
- Island Conservation, 2100 Delaware Ave, Suite 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.,Axiom Data Science, 1016 W 6th Ave, Ste. 105, Anchorage, AK, 99501, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Williams
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, 95 Sterling Highway, Suite 1, Homer, AK, 99603, USA
| | - Coral A Wolf
- Island Conservation, 2100 Delaware Ave, Suite 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Nick D Holmes
- Island Conservation, 2100 Delaware Ave, Suite 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.,The Nature Conservancy, 201 Mission Street #4, San Francisco, CA, 94105, USA
| | - Jonathan Plissner
- Island Conservation, 2100 Delaware Ave, Suite 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Gregg R Howald
- Island Conservation, 2100 Delaware Ave, Suite 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.,FreshWater Life, Telluride, CO, USA
| | - Bernie R Tershy
- Conservation Action Lab, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Donald A Croll
- Conservation Action Lab, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.
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33
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Roche MD, Pearse IS, Bialic-Murphy L, Kivlin SN, Sofaer HR, Kalisz S. Negative effects of an allelopathic invader on AM fungal plant species drive community-level responses. Ecology 2020; 102:e03201. [PMID: 32970846 PMCID: PMC7816256 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3201] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms causing invasive species impact are rarely empirically tested, limiting our ability to understand and predict subsequent changes in invaded plant communities. Invader disruption of native mutualistic interactions is a mechanism expected to have negative effects on native plant species. Specifically, disruption of native plant‐fungal mutualisms may provide non‐mycorrhizal plant invaders an advantage over mycorrhizal native plants. Invasive Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) produces secondary chemicals toxic to soil microorganisms including mycorrhizal fungi, and is known to induce physiological stress and reduce population growth rates of native forest understory plant species. Here, we report on a 11‐yr manipulative field experiment in replicated forest plots testing if the effects of removal of garlic mustard on the plant community support the mutualism disruption hypothesis within the entire understory herbaceous community. We compare community responses for two functional groups: the mycorrhizal vs. the non‐mycorrhizal plant communities. Our results show that garlic mustard weeding alters the community composition, decreases community evenness, and increases the abundance of understory herbs that associate with mycorrhizal fungi. Conversely, garlic mustard has no significant effects on the non‐mycorrhizal plant community. Consistent with the mutualism disruption hypothesis, our results demonstrate that allelochemical producing invaders modify the plant community by disproportionately impacting mycorrhizal plant species. We also demonstrate the importance of incorporating causal mechanisms of biological invasion to elucidate patterns and predict community‐level responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan D Roche
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA.,U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526, USA
| | - Ian S Pearse
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526, USA
| | - Lalasia Bialic-Murphy
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
| | - Stephanie N Kivlin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
| | - Helen R Sofaer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526, USA
| | - Susan Kalisz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA
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34
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Fricke EC, Svenning JC. Accelerating homogenization of the global plant-frugivore meta-network. Nature 2020; 585:74-78. [PMID: 32879498 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2640-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Introductions of species by humans are causing the homogenization of species composition across biogeographic barriers1-3. The ecological and evolutionary consequences of introduced species derive from their effects on networks of species interactions4,5, but we lack a quantitative understanding of the impacts of introduced species on ecological networks and their biogeographic patterns globally. Here we address this data gap by analysing mutualistic seed-dispersal interactions from 410 local networks, encompassing 24,455 unique pairwise interactions between 1,631 animal and 3,208 plant species. We show that species introductions reduce biogeographic compartmentalization of the global meta-network, in which nodes are species and links are interactions observed within any local network. This homogenizing effect extends across spatial scales, decreasing beta diversity among local networks and modularity within networks. The prevalence of introduced interactions is directly related to human environmental modifications and is accelerating, having increased sevenfold over the past 75 years. These dynamics alter the coevolutionary environments that mutualists experience6, and we find that introduced species disproportionately interact with other introduced species. These processes are likely to amplify biotic homogenization in future ecosystems7 and may reduce the resilience of ecosystems by allowing perturbations to propagate more quickly and exposing disparate ecosystems to similar drivers. Our results highlight the importance of managing the increasing homogenization of ecological complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan C Fricke
- National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), University of Maryland, Annapolis, MD, USA.
| | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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35
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Infestation by pollination-disrupting alien ants varies temporally and spatially and is worsened by alien plant invasion. Biol Invasions 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02272-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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36
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Fuster F, Kaiser-Bunbury CN, Traveset A. Pollination effectiveness of specialist and opportunistic nectar feeders influenced by invasive alien ants in the Seychelles. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2020; 107:957-969. [PMID: 32592166 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Opportunistic nectar-feeders may act as effective pollinators; nonetheless, we still lack information on whether these opportunistic species differ in their pollination effectiveness from specialized nectarivorous vertebrates and insects. Many nectar specialists have coevolved with the plants on which they feed; therefore, we would expect higher pollination effectiveness in specialists than in opportunistic feeders. Here, we assessed quantity and quality components of pollination effectiveness in specialist and opportunistic vertebrate nectarivores and insects, focusing on three plants from the Seychelles: Thespesia populnea, Polyscias crassa, and Syzygium wrightii. METHODS We determined the quantity component (QNC) of pollination effectiveness with pollinator observations, and the quality component (QLC) by measuring fruit and seed set resulting from single visits by each pollinator. To detect potential negative effects of invasive ants on native plant-pollinator interactions, we classified pollinator visits (quantity component) as disturbed (>6 ants/30 min) vs. undisturbed. RESULTS All focal plants were visited by insects, and vertebrate specialist and opportunist nectarivores, yet their pollination effectiveness differed. Flying insects were the most effective pollinators of T. populnea. The other two plants were most effectively pollinated by vertebrates; i.e., sunbirds (nectar specialists) in S. wrightii and Phelsuma geckos (nectar opportunists) in P. crassa, despite marked variation in QNC and QLC. Ant presence was associated with lower pollinator visitation rate in P. crassa and S. wrightii. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights the importance of all pollinator guilds, including opportunist nectarivorous vertebrates as pollinators of island plants, and the vulnerability of such interactions to disruption by nonnative species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Fuster
- Global Change Research Group, Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (CSIC-UIB), Miquel Marqués 21, 07190, Esporles, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Christopher N Kaiser-Bunbury
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Anna Traveset
- Global Change Research Group, Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (CSIC-UIB), Miquel Marqués 21, 07190, Esporles, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
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Thierry H, Rogers H. Where to rewild? A conceptual framework to spatially optimize ecological function. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20193017. [PMID: 32126955 PMCID: PMC7126074 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.3017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Rewilding is an approach aiming at restoring ecosystems to a self-sustaining state by restoring ecological function through active reintroductions or passive management. Locations for most rewilding-through-reintroduction efforts today are selected based on the suitability of the habitat for the reintroduced species, often with little consideration of where the ecological function is most needed. We developed the Spatial Planning of Rewilding Effort (Spore) framework to identify priority locations for rewilding projects through simultaneous consideration of habitat suitability and provisioning of ecological function. We use the island of Guam as a case study for a potential rewilding project, as the island has functionally lost all native seed dispersers as a result of the invasive brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis). The Såli (Micronesian starling, Aplonis opaca) is a good candidate for rewilding to restore ecological function, because it is an effective seed disperser with a localized remnant population. Using Spore, we identify three priority areas for the restoration of seed dispersal, each subdivided into management units. By recognizing the influence of landscape structure and the behaviour of the reintroduced species on the spatial pattern of the function provided by that species, this approach should lead to improved ecological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Thierry
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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38
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Såli (Micronesian starling –Aplonis opaca) as a key seed dispersal agent across a tropical archipelago. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467419000361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSeed dispersal is an important ecological process that structures plant communities and influences ecosystem functioning. Loss of animal dispersers therefore poses a serious threat to forest ecosystems, particularly in the tropics where zoochory predominates. A prominent example is the near-total extinction of seed dispersers on the tropical island of Guam following the accidental introduction of the invasive brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis), negatively impacting seedling recruitment and forest regeneration. We investigated frugivory by a remnant population of Såli (Micronesian starling –Aplonis opaca) on Guam and two other island populations (Rota, Saipan) to evaluate their ecological role as a seed disperser in the Mariana archipelago. Using a combination of behavioural observations, nest contents and fecal samples, we documented frugivory of 37 plant species. Native plants comprised the majority (66%) of all species and 90% of all seeds identified in fecal and nest contents. Diet was highly similar across age classes and sampling years. In addition, plant species consumed by Såli comprised 88% of bird-dispersed adult trees and 54% of all adult trees in long-term forest monitoring plots, demonstrating the Såli’s broad diet and potential for restoring native forests. Overall, we provide the most comprehensive assessment to date of frugivory by the Såli and confirm its importance as a seed disperser on Guam and throughout the Marianas.
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39
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Siers SR, Shiels AB, Barnhart PD. Invasive Snake Activity Before and After Automated Aerial Baiting. J Wildl Manage 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shane R. Siers
- USDA APHIS Wildlife ServicesNational Wildlife Research Center c/o Wildlife Services Guam State Office, 233 Pangelinan Way Barrigada GU 96913 USA
| | - Aaron B. Shiels
- USDA APHIS Wildlife ServicesNational Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Patrick D. Barnhart
- USDA APHIS Wildlife ServicesNational Wildlife Research Center PO Box 10880 Hilo HI 96721 USA
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40
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Siers SR, Shiels AB, Payne CG, Chlarson FM, Clark CS, Mosher SM. Photographic validation of target versus nontarget take of brown treesnake baits. WILDLIFE SOC B 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shane R. Siers
- U.S. Department of Agriculture—Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service—Wildlife Services—National Wildlife Research Center P.O. Box 10880 Hilo HI 96721 USA
| | - Aaron B. Shiels
- U.S. Department of Agriculture—Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service—Wildlife Services—National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Cynthia G. Payne
- U.S. Department of Agriculture—Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service—Wildlife Services—National Wildlife Research Center P.O. Box 10880 Hilo HI 96721 USA
| | - Francine M. Chlarson
- U.S. Department of Agriculture—Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service—Wildlife Services 233 Pangelinan Way Barrigada GU 96913 USA
| | - Craig S. Clark
- U.S. Department of Agriculture—Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service—Wildlife Services 233 Pangelinan Way Barrigada GU 96913 USA
| | - Stephen M. Mosher
- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas PSC 455, Box 195, FPO AP 96540 USA
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41
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Traveset A, Escribano‐Avila G, Gómez JM, Valido A. Conflicting selection on
Cneorum tricoccon
(Rutaceae) seed size caused by native and alien seed dispersers. Evolution 2019; 73:2204-2215. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Traveset
- Global Change Research GroupInstitut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (CSIC‐UIB) 07190 Esporles Mallorca Balearic Islands Spain
| | - Gema Escribano‐Avila
- Global Change Research GroupInstitut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (CSIC‐UIB) 07190 Esporles Mallorca Balearic Islands Spain
| | - José María Gómez
- Departamento Ecología Funcional y EvolutivaEstación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA‐CSIC) 04120 Almería Spain
| | - Alfredo Valido
- Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA‐CSIC) 38206 La Laguna Tenerife Islas Canarias Spain
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42
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Rogers HS, Beckman NG, Hartig F, Johnson JS, Pufal G, Shea K, Zurell D, Bullock JM, Cantrell RS, Loiselle B, Pejchar L, Razafindratsima OH, Sandor ME, Schupp EW, Strickland WC, Zambrano J. The total dispersal kernel: a review and future directions. AOB PLANTS 2019; 11:plz042. [PMID: 31579119 PMCID: PMC6757349 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plz042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The distribution and abundance of plants across the world depends in part on their ability to move, which is commonly characterized by a dispersal kernel. For seeds, the total dispersal kernel (TDK) describes the combined influence of all primary, secondary and higher-order dispersal vectors on the overall dispersal kernel for a plant individual, population, species or community. Understanding the role of each vector within the TDK, and their combined influence on the TDK, is critically important for being able to predict plant responses to a changing biotic or abiotic environment. In addition, fully characterizing the TDK by including all vectors may affect predictions of population spread. Here, we review existing research on the TDK and discuss advances in empirical, conceptual modelling and statistical approaches that will facilitate broader application. The concept is simple, but few examples of well-characterized TDKs exist. We find that significant empirical challenges exist, as many studies do not account for all dispersal vectors (e.g. gravity, higher-order dispersal vectors), inadequately measure or estimate long-distance dispersal resulting from multiple vectors and/or neglect spatial heterogeneity and context dependence. Existing mathematical and conceptual modelling approaches and statistical methods allow fitting individual dispersal kernels and combining them to form a TDK; these will perform best if robust prior information is available. We recommend a modelling cycle to parameterize TDKs, where empirical data inform models, which in turn inform additional data collection. Finally, we recommend that the TDK concept be extended to account for not only where seeds land, but also how that location affects the likelihood of establishing and producing a reproductive adult, i.e. the total effective dispersal kernel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haldre S Rogers
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- Corresponding author’s e-mail address:
| | - Noelle G Beckman
- Department of Biology and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Florian Hartig
- Theoretical Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jeremy S Johnson
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Gesine Pufal
- Department of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katriona Shea
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Damaris Zurell
- Geography Department, Humboldt-University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Dynamic Macroecology, Department of Landscape Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - James M Bullock
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Benson Lane, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | | | - Bette Loiselle
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation & Center for Latin American Studies, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Liba Pejchar
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Manette E Sandor
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Eugene W Schupp
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - W Christopher Strickland
- Department of Mathematics and Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Jenny Zambrano
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman WA, USA
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43
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Kierepka EM, Juarez R, Turner K, Smith J, Hamilton M, Lyons P, Hall MA, Beasley JC, Rhodes OE. Population Genetics of Invasive Brown Tree Snakes (Boiga irregularis) on Guam, USA. HERPETOLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.1655/d-18-00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. Kierepka
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Rebeca Juarez
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Kelsey Turner
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Joshua Smith
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Matthew Hamilton
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Phillip Lyons
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Marc A. Hall
- NAVFAC MAR, PSC 455, Box 195, Honolulu, HI 96540-2937, USA
| | - James C. Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Olin E. Rhodes
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
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44
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Fricke EC, Tewksbury JJ, Rogers HS. Linking intra‐specific trait variation and plant function: seed size mediates performance tradeoffs within species. OIKOS 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.06494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Evan C. Fricke
- National Socio‐Environmental Synthesis Center, Univ. of Maryland Annapolis MD 21401 USA
| | - Joshua J. Tewksbury
- Colorado Global Hub, Future Earth Boulder CO USA
- Sustainability, Energy and Environment Complex, Univ. of Colorado Boulder CO USA
| | - Haldre S. Rogers
- Dept of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State Univ Ames IA USA
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45
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Yackel Adams AA, Nafus MG, Klug PE, Lardner B, Mazurek MJ, Savidge JA, Reed RN. Contact rates with nesting birds before and after invasive snake removal: estimating the effects of trap-based control. NEOBIOTA 2019. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.49.35592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Invasive predators are responsible for almost 60% of all vertebrate extinctions worldwide with the most vulnerable faunas occurring on islands. The brown treesnake (Boigairregularis) is a notorious invasive predator that caused the extirpation or extinction of most native forest birds on Guam. The success of avian reintroduction efforts on Guam will depend on whether snake-control techniques sufficiently reduce contact rates between brown treesnakes and reintroduced birds. Mouse-lure traps can successfully reduce brown treesnake populations at local scales. Over a 22-week period both with and without active snake removal, we evaluated snake-trap contact rates for mouse- and bird-lure traps. Bird-lure traps served as a proxy for reintroduced nesting birds. Overall, mouse-lure traps caught more snakes per trap night than did bird-lure traps. However, cameras revealed that bird-lure traps had a snake contact rate almost 15 times greater than the number of successfully captured snakes. Snakes that entered bird-lure traps tended to be larger and in better body condition and were mostly captured in bird-lure traps, despite numerous adjacent mouse-lure traps. Traps placed along grid edges caught more snakes than interior traps, suggesting continuous immigration into the trapping grid within which bird-lure traps were located. Contact between snakes and bird-lure traps was equivalent before and after snake removal, suggesting mouse-lure traps did not adequately reduce the density of snakes that posed a risk to birds, at least at the timescale of this project. This study provides evidence that some snakes exhibit prey selectivity for live birds over live mouse lures. Reliance on a single control tool and lure may be inadequate for support of avian reintroductions and could lead to unintended harvest-driven trait changes of this invasive predator.
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Johnson JS, Cantrell RS, Cosner C, Hartig F, Hastings A, Rogers HS, Schupp EW, Shea K, Teller BJ, Yu X, Zurell D, Pufal G. Rapid changes in seed dispersal traits may modify plant responses to global change. AOB PLANTS 2019; 11:plz020. [PMID: 31198528 PMCID: PMC6548345 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plz020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
When climatic or environmental conditions change, plant populations must either adapt to these new conditions, or track their niche via seed dispersal. Adaptation of plants to different abiotic environments has mostly been discussed with respect to physiological and demographic parameters that allow local persistence. However, rapid modifications in response to changing environmental conditions can also affect seed dispersal, both via plant traits and via their dispersal agents. Studying such changes empirically is challenging, due to the high variability in dispersal success, resulting from environmental heterogeneity, and substantial phenotypic variability of dispersal-related traits of seeds and their dispersers. The exact mechanisms that drive rapid changes are often not well understood, but the ecological implications of these processes are essential determinants of dispersal success, and deserve more attention from ecologists, especially in the context of adaptation to global change. We outline the evidence for rapid changes in seed dispersal traits by discussing variability due to plasticity or genetics broadly, and describe the specific traits and biological systems in which variability in dispersal is being studied, before discussing some of the potential underlying mechanisms. We then address future research needs and propose a simulation model that incorporates phenotypic plasticity in seed dispersal. We close with a call to action and encourage ecologists and biologist to embrace the challenge of better understanding rapid changes in seed dispersal and their consequences for the reaction of plant populations to global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy S Johnson
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Dorena Genetic Resource Center, USDA Forest Service, Cottage Grove, OR, USA
| | | | - Chris Cosner
- Department of Mathematics, The University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Florian Hartig
- Theoretical Ecology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Alan Hastings
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Haldre S Rogers
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Eugene W Schupp
- Department of Wildland Resources & Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Katriona Shea
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Brittany J Teller
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Xiao Yu
- Department of Mathematics, The University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Damaris Zurell
- Department of Geography, Humboldt-University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Land Change and Science, Swiss Federal Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Gesine Pufal
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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47
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Muñoz-Gallego R, Fedriani JM, Traveset A. Non-native Mammals Are the Main Seed Dispersers of the Ancient Mediterranean Palm Chamaerops humilis L. in the Balearic Islands: Rescuers of a Lost Seed Dispersal Service? Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
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48
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Sousa R, Nogueira JG, Ferreira A, Carvalho F, Lopes-Lima M, Varandas S, Teixeira A. A tale of shells and claws: The signal crayfish as a threat to the pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera in Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 665:329-337. [PMID: 30772562 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera is a highly threatened species in Europe. Several mechanisms may be responsible for the decline in distribution and abundance of European pearl mussel populations, but almost no quantitative data exists about the possible negative impacts of invasive alien species (IAS). In this study, we clearly demonstrate that the invasive signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus predates pearl mussels, using a laboratorial experiment followed by in situ validation in four rivers in the North of Portugal (Mente, Rabaçal, Tuela and Baceiro Rivers; Douro Basin). In the laboratory, the crayfish had a clear preference for small-sized pearl mussels but no differences in predation were found in mesocosms with and without sediment. In addition, we clearly demonstrated that the signal crayfish predates pearl mussels in natural conditions and detected a significant density dependent effect (i.e., sites with more crayfish presented higher number of pearl mussel shells with marks of predation). Given the recent introduction of the signal crayfish and the potential negative impacts on pearl mussel populations we also investigated its autoecology (distribution, abundance, size structure and sex-ratio) in the four studied rivers. Significant differences in average abundance and size of the crayfish were detected between sites and the sex-ratio was highly skewed to females. In view of the widespread distribution of signal crayfish (and other invasive crayfish species) in Europe, future management actions devoted to the conservation of pearl mussels should take in consideration the possible negative effects of these predators, especially on juveniles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronaldo Sousa
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Joana Garrido Nogueira
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - André Ferreira
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Francisco Carvalho
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; IB-S - Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Manuel Lopes-Lima
- CIBIO/InBIO - Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Simone Varandas
- CITAB-UTAD - Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Forestry Department, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Amílcar Teixeira
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
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Kotta J, Vanhatalo J, Jänes H, Orav-Kotta H, Rugiu L, Jormalainen V, Bobsien I, Viitasalo M, Virtanen E, Sandman AN, Isaeus M, Leidenberger S, Jonsson PR, Johannesson K. Integrating experimental and distribution data to predict future species patterns. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1821. [PMID: 30755688 PMCID: PMC6372580 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-38416-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Predictive species distribution models are mostly based on statistical dependence between environmental and distributional data and therefore may fail to account for physiological limits and biological interactions that are fundamental when modelling species distributions under future climate conditions. Here, we developed a state-of-the-art method integrating biological theory with survey and experimental data in a way that allows us to explicitly model both physical tolerance limits of species and inherent natural variability in regional conditions and thereby improve the reliability of species distribution predictions under future climate conditions. By using a macroalga-herbivore association (Fucus vesiculosus - Idotea balthica) as a case study, we illustrated how salinity reduction and temperature increase under future climate conditions may significantly reduce the occurrence and biomass of these important coastal species. Moreover, we showed that the reduction of herbivore occurrence is linked to reduction of their host macroalgae. Spatial predictive modelling and experimental biology have been traditionally seen as separate fields but stronger interlinkages between these disciplines can improve species distribution projections under climate change. Experiments enable qualitative prior knowledge to be defined and identify cause-effect relationships, and thereby better foresee alterations in ecosystem structure and functioning under future climate conditions that are not necessarily seen in projections based on non-causal statistical relationships alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonne Kotta
- Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, Mäealuse 14, EE-12618, Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Jarno Vanhatalo
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics and Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Holger Jänes
- Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, Mäealuse 14, EE-12618, Tallinn, Estonia
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Melbourne, Victoria, 3125, Australia
| | - Helen Orav-Kotta
- Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, Mäealuse 14, EE-12618, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Luca Rugiu
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FIN-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Veijo Jormalainen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FIN-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Ivo Bobsien
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Elina Virtanen
- Finnish Environment Institute, FIN-00251, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Martin Isaeus
- AquaBiota Water Research, Löjtnantsgatan 25, SE-11550, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sonja Leidenberger
- Ecological Modelling Group, School of Bioscience, University of Skövde, SE-54128, Skövde, Sweden
| | - Per R Jonsson
- Department of Marine Sciences - Tjärnö, University of Gothenburg, Tjärnö, SE-45296, Strömstad, Sweden
| | - Kerstin Johannesson
- Department of Marine Sciences - Tjärnö, University of Gothenburg, Tjärnö, SE-45296, Strömstad, Sweden
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50
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Interaction strength promotes robustness against cascading effects in mutualistic networks. Sci Rep 2019; 9:676. [PMID: 30679559 PMCID: PMC6345762 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35803-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Perturbations, such as fluctuations in abundance, can ripple across species assemblages through ecological interactions. Furthermore, the way in which ecological interactions are organized into a network and the interaction strengths connecting species may be important for cascading effects. Previous work revealed that network structure determines how cascading effects spread across species assemblages. A next step is to understand how interaction strengths influence cascading effects. Here, we assume that perturbations have negative effects, and we evaluate whether interaction strength affects network robustness to cascading effects in mutualistic interactions, and examine the role of network structure in mediating perturbation cascades when interaction strength is incorporated. We combine empirical data on 18 mutualistic networks, two simulations scenarios, and network theory, to investigate how network structure affects perturbation spreading time, a proxy of network robustness to cascading effects. Simulations in which we included interaction strength presented higher mean spreading time, indicating that interaction strength increases network robustness. Richness, modularity, and nestedness had a strong, positive effect, on mean perturbation spreading time regardless of the interaction strengths. We found that network structure and the distribution of interaction strengths affected communities’ robustness to perturbation spreading. Our results contribute to the discussion on the danger that ecosystems face when species, and interactions alike, become extinct.
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