1
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Martins LP, Stouffer DB, Blendinger PG, Böhning-Gaese K, Costa JM, Dehling DM, Donatti CI, Emer C, Galetti M, Heleno R, Menezes Í, Morante-Filho JC, Muñoz MC, Neuschulz EL, Pizo MA, Quitián M, Ruggera RA, Saavedra F, Santillán V, Schleuning M, da Silva LP, Ribeiro da Silva F, Tobias JA, Traveset A, Vollstädt MGR, Tylianakis JM. Birds optimize fruit size consumed near their geographic range limits. Science 2024; 385:331-336. [PMID: 39024457 DOI: 10.1126/science.adj1856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Animals can adjust their diet to maximize energy or nutritional intake. For example, birds often target fruits that match their beak size because those fruits can be consumed more efficiently. We hypothesized that pressure to optimize diet-measured as matching between fruit and beak size-increases under stressful environments, such as those that determine species' range edges. Using fruit-consumption and trait information for 97 frugivorous bird and 831 plant species across six continents, we demonstrate that birds feed more frequently on closely size-matched fruits near their geographic range limits. This pattern was particularly strong for highly frugivorous birds, whereas opportunistic frugivores showed no such tendency. These findings highlight how frugivore interactions might respond to stressful conditions and reveal that trait matching may not predict resource use consistently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas P Martins
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Daniel B Stouffer
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Pedro G Blendinger
- Instituto de Ecología Regional, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán and CONICET, CC 34, 4107 Tucumán, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Miguel Lillo 2005, 4000 Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Katrin Böhning-Gaese
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60439 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - José Miguel Costa
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - D Matthias Dehling
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Camila I Donatti
- Conservation International, Arlington, VA 22202, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5640, USA
| | - Carine Emer
- Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Research Institute, Rua Pacheco Leão 915, Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22460-030, Brazil
- Center for Reseach on Biodiversity and Climate Change (CBioClima), Department of Biodiversity, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Mauro Galetti
- Center for Reseach on Biodiversity and Climate Change (CBioClima), Department of Biodiversity, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP 13506-900, Brazil
- Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, Florida International University (FIU), Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Ruben Heleno
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ícaro Menezes
- Applied Conservation Ecology Lab, Santa Cruz State University, Rodovia Ilhéus- Itabuna, km 16, Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA 45662-000, Brazil
| | - José Carlos Morante-Filho
- Applied Conservation Ecology Lab, Santa Cruz State University, Rodovia Ilhéus- Itabuna, km 16, Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA 45662-000, Brazil
| | - Marcia C Muñoz
- Programa de Biología, Universidad de La Salle, Carrera 2 # 10-70, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Eike Lena Neuschulz
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marco Aurélio Pizo
- Center for Reseach on Biodiversity and Climate Change (CBioClima), Department of Biodiversity, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Marta Quitián
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Systematic Zoology Laboratory, Tokyo Metropolitan University TMU, Tokyo, 1-1 Minami-Osawa, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados (CSIC-UIB), Miquel Marqués 21, 07190 Esporles, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Roman A Ruggera
- Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas - Universidad Nacional de Jujuy), Canónigo Gorriti 237, Y4600 San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina
- Cátedra de Diversidad Biológica III, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Alberdi 47, Y4600 San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina
| | - Francisco Saavedra
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Instituto de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Puras y Naturales, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Vinicio Santillán
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Unidad Académica de Posgrado, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Av. de las Américas, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Matthias Schleuning
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Luís Pascoal da Silva
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Ribeiro da Silva
- Laboratory of Ecology and Management of Forest Ecosystems, University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Trindade, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Joseph A Tobias
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
| | - Anna Traveset
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados (CSIC-UIB), Miquel Marqués 21, 07190 Esporles, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Maximilian G R Vollstädt
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados (CSIC-UIB), Miquel Marqués 21, 07190 Esporles, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
- Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Oester Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Jason M Tylianakis
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, Aotearoa New Zealand
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Canterbury, Private bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, Aotearoa New Zealand
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2
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Wang Z, Tai W, Zhang X, Liu S, Niu Y, Chen W, Li N. Importance of plant and fruit traits on the structure of bird seed dispersal networks in different disturbed habitats. Integr Zool 2024; 19:753-762. [PMID: 38488176 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Species functional traits can influence seed dispersal processes and consequently affect species' role in the mutualistic network. Although the effect of animal traits on the structure of the seed dispersal network is well explored, it remains poorly understood how plant and fruit traits contribute to the structure. We here studied the effects of plant and fruit traits on the structure of bird seed dispersal networks across different disturbed habitats in the Meihua Mountain National Nature Reserve, Southeastern China. During the study period, 16, 20, 13, and 15 bird species were recorded foraging on 10, 11, 12, and 8 plant species, resulting in 511, 312, 265, and 201 foraging events in the protected forest, natural forest, village, and bamboo forest, respectively. The composition of these seed dispersal networks is not primarily influenced by a specific group of bulbul species, but rather by the presence of an endangered plant species, Taxus chinensis. As we expected, the structure of the four networks was different among the four disturbed habitats. Furthermore, our results also showed tree height and canopy density were the most important plant traits for structuring the seed dispersal network, while sugar, amylase, dry matter, and alkaloids were identified as significant fruit traits. Overall, our findings highlight the value of integrating trait-based ecology into the framework of the seed dispersal network and provide new insights for mutualistic network conservation in disturbed habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- College of Life Science, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Tai
- College of Life Science, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shouguo Liu
- College of Life Science, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yixing Niu
- College of Life Science, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenwen Chen
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Ning Li
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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Zhang J, Wang B. Intraspecific variation in seed size is mediated by seed dispersal modes and animal dispersers - evidence from a global-scale dataset. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:461-470. [PMID: 37858964 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Seed dispersal mechanisms play a crucial role in driving evolutionary changes in seed and fruit traits. While previous studies have primarily focussed on the mean or maximum values of these traits, there is also significant intraspecific variation in them. Therefore, it is pertinent to investigate whether dispersal mechanisms can explain intraspecific variations in these traits. Taking seed size as a case study, we compiled a global dataset comprising 3424 records of intraspecific variation in seed size (IVSS), belonging to 691 plant species and 131 families. We provided the first comprehensive quantification of dispersal mechanism effects on IVSS. Biotic-dispersed species exhibited a larger IVSS than abiotic-dispersed species. Synzoochory species had a larger IVSS than endozoochory, epizoochory, and myrmecochory species. Vertebrate-dispersed species exhibited a larger IVSS than invertebrate-dispersed species, and species dispersed by birds exhibited a larger IVSS than mammal-dispersed species. Additionally, a clear negative correlation was detected between IVSS and disperser body mass. Our results prove that the IVSS is associated with the seed dispersal mechanism. This study advances our understanding of the dispersal mechanisms' crucial role in seed size evolution, encompassing not only the mean value but also the variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyu Zhang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
| | - Bo Wang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
- Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-Term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi, Anhui, 247230, China
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4
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Sun SJ, Dziuba MK, Jaye RN, Duffy MA. Temperature modifies trait-mediated infection outcomes in a Daphnia-fungal parasite system. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220009. [PMID: 36744571 PMCID: PMC9900708 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0009] [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: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
One major concern related to climate change is that elevated temperatures will drive increases in parasite outbreaks. Increasing temperature is known to alter host traits and host-parasite interactions, but we know relatively little about how these are connected mechanistically-that is, about how warmer temperatures impact the relationship between epidemiologically relevant host traits and infection outcomes. Here, we used a zooplankton-fungus (Daphnia dentifera-Metschnikowia bicuspidata) disease system to experimentally investigate how temperature impacted physical barriers to infection and cellular immune responses. We found that Daphnia reared at warmer temperatures had more robust physical barriers to infection but decreased cellular immune responses during the initial infection process. Infected hosts at warmer temperatures also suffered greater reductions in fecundity and lifespan. Furthermore, the relationship between a key trait-gut epithelium thickness, a physical barrier-and the likelihood of terminal infection reversed at warmer temperatures. Together, our results highlight the complex ways that temperatures can modulate host-parasite interactions and show that different defense components can have qualitatively different responses to warmer temperatures, highlighting the importance of considering key host traits when predicting disease dynamics in a warmer world. This article is part of the theme issue 'Infectious disease ecology and evolution in a changing world'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syuan-Jyun Sun
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- International Degree Program in Climate Change and Sustainable Development, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Marcin K. Dziuba
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Riley N. Jaye
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Meghan A. Duffy
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Higino GT, Banville F, Dansereau G, Forero Muñoz NR, Windsor F, Poisot T. Mismatch between IUCN range maps and species interactions data illustrated using the Serengeti food web. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14620. [PMID: 36793892 PMCID: PMC9924135 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Range maps are a useful tool to describe the spatial distribution of species. However, they need to be used with caution, as they essentially represent a rough approximation of a species' suitable habitats. When stacked together, the resulting communities in each grid cell may not always be realistic, especially when species interactions are taken into account. Here we show the extent of the mismatch between range maps, provided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and species interactions data. More precisely, we show that local networks built from those stacked range maps often yield unrealistic communities, where species of higher trophic levels are completely disconnected from primary producers. Methodology We used the well-described Serengeti food web of mammals and plants as our case study, and identify areas of data mismatch within predators' range maps by taking into account food web structure. We then used occurrence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) to investigate where data is most lacking. Results We found that most predator ranges comprised large areas without any overlapping distribution of their prey. However, many of these areas contained GBIF occurrences of the predator. Conclusions Our results suggest that the mismatch between both data sources could be due either to the lack of information about ecological interactions or the geographical occurrence of prey. We finally discuss general guidelines to help identify defective data among distributions and interactions data, and we recommend this method as a valuable way to assess whether the occurrence data that are being used, even if incomplete, are ecologically accurate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gracielle T. Higino
- Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Francis Banville
- University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada,University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada,Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gabriel Dansereau
- University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada,Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Norma Rocio Forero Muñoz
- University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada,Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Fredric Windsor
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Timothée Poisot
- University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada,Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Bhandary S, Deb S, Sharathi Dutta P. Rising temperature drives tipping points in mutualistic networks. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221363. [PMID: 36756070 PMCID: PMC9890100 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The effect of climate warming on species' physiological parameters, including growth rate, mortality rate and handling time, is well established from empirical data. However, with an alarming rise in global temperature more than ever, predicting the interactive influence of these changes on mutualistic communities remains uncertain. Using 139 real plant-pollinator networks sampled across the globe and a modelling approach, we study the impact of species' individual thermal responses on mutualistic communities. We show that at low mutualistic strength plant-pollinator networks are at potential risk of rapid transitions at higher temperatures. Evidently, generalist species play a critical role in guiding tipping points in mutualistic networks. Further, we derive stability criteria for the networks in a range of temperatures using a two-dimensional reduced model. We identify network structures that can ascertain the delay of a community collapse. Until the end of this century, on account of increasing climate warming many real mutualistic networks are likely to be under the threat of sudden collapse, and we frame strategies to mitigate this. Together, our results indicate that knowing individual species' thermal responses and network structure can improve predictions for communities facing rapid transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhendu Bhandary
- Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar 140 001, Punjab, India
| | - Smita Deb
- Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar 140 001, Punjab, India
| | - Partha Sharathi Dutta
- Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar 140 001, Punjab, India
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Bello C, Schleuning M, Graham CH. Analyzing trophic ecosystem functions with the interaction functional space. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:424-434. [PMID: 36599738 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying the vulnerability of ecosystems to global change requires a better understanding of how trophic ecosystem functions emerge. So far, trophic ecosystem functions have been studied from the perspective of either functional diversity or network ecology. To integrate these two perspectives, we propose the interaction functional space (IFS) a conceptual framework to simultaneously analyze the effects of traits and interactions on trophic functions. We exemplify the added value of our framework for seed dispersal and wood decomposition and show how species interactions influence the relationship between functional trait diversity and trophic functions. We propose future applications for a range of functions where the IFS can help to elucidate mechanisms underpinning trophic functions and facilitate understanding of functional changes in ecosystems amidst global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Bello
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland; Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Matthias Schleuning
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Catherine H Graham
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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8
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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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9
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Rehling F, Schlautmann J, Jaroszewicz B, Schabo DG, Farwig N. Forest degradation limits the complementarity and quality of animal seed dispersal. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220391. [PMID: 35611541 PMCID: PMC9130786 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Forest degradation changes the structural heterogeneity of forests and species communities, with potential consequences for ecosystem functions including seed dispersal by frugivorous animals. While the quantity of seed dispersal may be robust towards forest degradation, changes in the effectiveness of seed dispersal through qualitative changes are poorly understood. Here, we carried out extensive field sampling on the structure of forest microhabitats, seed deposition sites and plant recruitment along three characteristics of forest microhabitats (canopy cover, ground vegetation and deadwood) in Europe's last lowland primeval forest (Białowieża, Poland). We then applied niche modelling to study forest degradation effects on multi-dimensional seed deposition by frugivores and recruitment of fleshy-fruited plants. Forest degradation was shown to (i) reduce the niche volume of forest microhabitat characteristics by half, (ii) homogenize the spatial seed deposition within and among frugivore species, and (iii) limit the regeneration of plants via changes in seed deposition and recruitment. Our study shows that the loss of frugivores in degraded forests is accompanied by a reduction in the complementarity and quality of seed dispersal by remaining frugivores. By contrast, structure-rich habitats, such as old-growth forests, safeguard the diversity of species interactions, forming the basis for high-quality ecosystem functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Finn Rehling
- Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Jan Schlautmann
- Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Bogdan Jaroszewicz
- Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Białowieża Geobotanical Station, PL-17-230 Białowieża, Poland
| | - Dana G. Schabo
- Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Nina Farwig
- Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
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10
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Characteristics of Plant Community and Its Relationship with Groundwater Depth of the Desert Riparian Zone in the Lower Reaches of the Ugan River, Northwest China. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14101663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The vegetation in the desert riparian zone represents a critical barrier in the maintenance of the ecosystem’s balance. However, in recent years, the vegetation degradation of the riparian zone has seriously hindered economic development and ecological environment conservation. Based on a field investigation and literature, the mechanisms of vegetation degradation in the lower reaches of the Ugan River are discussed in this study through the analysis of plant coverage, diversity, substitution rate, distribution pattern, grey correlation analysis, and the relationship with groundwater depth. The results showed that the vegetation coverage in this region is relatively low when the water depth exceeds 4 m. Furthermore, the Shannon–Wiener index, the Simpson index, and the Pielou index all decreased with increases in water depth. Woody plants are the main species maintaining the ecological balance of the region with an aggregation distribution pattern. The degradation of vegetation is the result of the lack of water sources and the intense water consumption caused by human activities (especially agricultural). To promote ecological balance and vegetation restoration, the relative optimal water depth range should be maintained within 2 to 5 m as well as proper control of human activities. In addition, the degraded vegetation can gradually be restored using point and surface (i.e., flowering in the center and spreading to the surrounding areas). The results can provide a scientific basis for vegetation restoration and ecological conservation in the lower reaches of China’s Ugan River.
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11
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Zhao Y, Chen X, Kim J, Williams M. Effects of temperature and precipitation on litterfall phenology in four evergreen broad‐leaved forests of southern China. Biotropica 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zhao
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education College of Urban and Environmental Sciences Peking University Beijing China
- School of GeoSciences University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
| | - Xiaoqiu Chen
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education College of Urban and Environmental Sciences Peking University Beijing China
| | - Jin‐Soo Kim
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Mathew Williams
- School of GeoSciences University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
- National Centre for Earth Observation University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
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12
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Wang B, He Y, Zhao Y, Cui Y. Distribution and Assemblage Variation of Benthic Macroinvertebrates: A Uniform Elevational Biodiversity Pattern Among Different Groups? Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.817708] [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
Biodiversity patterns along the elevational gradient of vertebrates have been widely focused on in previous studies, but they are still insufficient on invertebrates in lakes to a wide elevational extent. Based on field samplings and literature, we compared biodiversity patterns among different taxonomic groups of benthic macroinvertebrates in 104 lakes of China and India along an elevational gradient of 2–5,010 m a.s.l. and revealed the key driving factors, and then, we discussed the key mechanisms underlying elevational biodiversity patterns. We found that elevational biodiversity patterns of different taxonomic groups were not uniform, e.g., an exponentially decreasing pattern of Bivalvia, a first horizontal and then decreasing pattern of Gastropoda, and a linear decreasing pattern of Oligochaeta and Insecta. Elevation and elevation-controlled variables (temperature and salinity) were the key driving factors to biodiversity patterns. Their effects were strongest on Bivalvia and less on Gastropoda, whereas they were relatively weak on Oligochaeta and Insecta. Finally, we discussed three important mechanisms that shaped elevational biodiversity patterns and assemblage variations of benthic macroinvertebrates by linking our results with the classic hypotheses about biodiversity patterns, including climate/productivity, environmental heterogeneity, and dispersal/history. These results could improve our understanding of biodiversity patterns and biodiversity conservation.
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13
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Tobias JA. A bird in the hand: Global-scale morphological trait datasets open new frontiers of ecology, evolution and ecosystem science. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:573-580. [PMID: 35199920 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Tobias
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
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14
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Klomberg Y, Tropek R, Mertens JEJ, Kobe IN, Hodeček J, Raška J, Fominka NT, Souto-Vilarós D, Janečková P, Janeček Š. Spatiotemporal variation in the role of floral traits in shaping tropical plant-pollinator interactions. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:839-850. [PMID: 35006639 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The pollination syndrome hypothesis predicts that plants pollinated by the same pollinator group bear convergent combinations of specific floral functional traits. Nevertheless, some studies have shown that these combinations predict pollinators with relatively low accuracy. This discrepancy may be caused by changes in the importance of specific floral traits for different pollinator groups and under different environmental conditions. To explore this, we studied pollination systems and floral traits along an elevational gradient on Mount Cameroon during wet and dry seasons. Using Random Forest (Machine Learning) models, allowing the ranking of traits by their relative importance, we demonstrated that some floral traits are more important than others for pollinators. However, the distribution and importance of traits vary under different environmental conditions. Our results imply the need to improve our trait-based understanding of plant-pollinator interactions to better inform the debate surrounding the pollination syndrome hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Klomberg
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Robert Tropek
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Jan E J Mertens
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ishmeal N Kobe
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jiří Hodeček
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,Swiss Human Institute of Forensic Taphonomy, University Centre of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jan Raška
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Nestoral T Fominka
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | | | - Petra Janečková
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Štěpán Janeček
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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15
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Onditi KO, Song WY, Li XY, Chen ZZ, Li Q, He SW, Musila S, Kioko E, Jiang XL. Patterns and Predictors of Small Mammal Phylogenetic and Functional Diversity in Contrasting Elevational Gradients in Kenya. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.742524] [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
Mountains of the Afrotropics are global biodiversity hotspots and centers of speciation and endemism; however, very few studies have focused on the phylogenetic and functional dimensions of Afromontane small mammals. We investigated the patterns and mechanisms of small mammal phylogenetic and functional diversity and assembly along elevational gradients in Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa, and a contrasting low mountain range, Chyulu Hills. We sampled 24 200-m interval transects in both sites; 18 in Mt. Kenya (9 each in the windward side, Chogoria, and the leeward side, Sirimon) and 6 in Chyulu. We extracted the mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene to reconstruct a time-calibrated species tree for estimating phylogenetic diversity indices [phylogenetic richness (PD), mean nearest taxon distance (PDMNTD), and nearest taxon index (PDNTI)]. A functional trait data set was compiled from the field-recorded measurements and published data sets for estimating functional diversity indices [functional richness (FD), mean nearest taxon distance (FDMNTD), and nearest taxon index (FDNTI)]. Several environmental variables representing water-energy availability, primary habitat productivity, and topographic heterogeneity were used to estimate the predictive power of abiotic conditions on diversity variances using generalized linear and generalized additive regression models. The PD and FD peaked around mid-elevations in Mt. Kenya, unimodally increased or decreased in Chogoria and Sirimon, and monotonically increased in Chyulu. The divergence and community structure indices—PDMNTD, FDMNTD, and PDNTI and FDNTI—were relatively weakly associated with elevation. Overall, the tendency of assemblages to be phylogenetically and functionally closely related than expected by chance decreased with elevation in Mt. Kenya but increased in Chyulu. Across the indices, the annual precipitation and topographic ruggedness were the strongest predictors in Mt. Kenya, evapotranspiration and temperature seasonality were the strongest predictors in Chyulu, while temperature seasonality and terrain ruggedness overlapped as the strongest predictors in Chogoria and Sirimon in addition to annual precipitation in the latter and normalized difference vegetation index in the former. The observed contrasting trends in diversity distribution and the strongest predictors between elevational gradients are integral to the sustainable management of the high faunal biodiversity in tropical Afromontane ecosystems.
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16
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Marjakangas E, Muñoz G, Turney S, Albrecht J, Neuschulz EL, Schleuning M, Lessard J. Trait‐based inference of ecological network assembly: a conceptual framework and methodological toolbox. ECOL MONOGR 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emma‐Liina Marjakangas
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
- Finnish Museum of Natural History University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Gabriel Muñoz
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal Quebec Canada
| | - Shaun Turney
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal Quebec Canada
| | - Jörg Albrecht
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F), Senckenberganlage 25 Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Eike Lena Neuschulz
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F), Senckenberganlage 25 Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Matthias Schleuning
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F), Senckenberganlage 25 Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Jean‐Philippe Lessard
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal Quebec Canada
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17
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Byamungu RM, Schleuning M, Ferger SW, Helbig‐Bonitz M, Hemp A, Neu A, Vogeler A, Böhning‐Gaese K, Tschapka M, Albrecht J. Abiotic and biotic drivers of functional diversity and functional composition of bird and bat assemblages along a tropical elevation gradient. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Modest Byamungu
- Sokoine University of Agriculture Morogoro Tanzania
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F) Frankfurt am Main Germany
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics University of Ulm Ulm Germany
| | - Matthias Schleuning
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F) Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Stefan W. Ferger
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F) Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Maria Helbig‐Bonitz
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics University of Ulm Ulm Germany
| | - Andreas Hemp
- Department of Plant Systematics University of Bayreuth Bayreuth Germany
| | - Alexander Neu
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F) Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Anna Vogeler
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics University of Ulm Ulm Germany
| | - Katrin Böhning‐Gaese
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F) Frankfurt am Main Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences Goethe‐University Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Marco Tschapka
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics University of Ulm Ulm Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Balboa Ancón Panamá
| | - Jörg Albrecht
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F) Frankfurt am Main Germany
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18
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Motivans Švara E, Ştefan V, Sossai E, Feldmann R, Aguilon DJ, Bontsutsnaja A, E‐Vojtkó A, Kilian IC, Lang P, Mõtlep M, Prangel E, Viljur M, Knight TM, Neuenkamp L. Effects of different types of low-intensity management on plant-pollinator interactions in Estonian grasslands. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:16909-16926. [PMID: 34938481 PMCID: PMC8668793 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In the face of global pollinator decline, extensively managed grasslands play an important role in supporting stable pollinator communities. However, different types of extensive management may promote particular plant species and thus particular functional traits. As the functional traits of flowering plant species (e.g., flower size and shape) in a habitat help determine the identity and frequency of pollinator visitors, they can also influence the structures of plant-pollinator interaction networks (i.e., pollination networks). The aim of this study was to examine how the type of low-intensity traditional management influences plant and pollinator composition, the structure of plant-pollinator interactions, and their mediation by floral and insect functional traits. Specifically, we compared mown wooded meadows to grazed alvar pastures in western Estonia. We found that both management types fostered equal diversity of plants and pollinators, and overlapping, though still distinct, plant and pollinator compositions. Wooded meadow pollination networks had significantly higher connectance and specialization, while alvar pasture networks achieved higher interaction diversity at a standardized sampling of interactions. Pollinators with small body sizes and short proboscis lengths were more specialized in their preference for particular plant species and the specialization of individual pollinators was higher in alvar pastures than in wooded meadows. All in all, the two management types promoted diverse plant and pollinator communities, which enabled the development of equally even and nested pollination networks. The same generalist plant and pollinator species were important for the pollination networks of both wooded meadows and alvar pastures; however, they were complemented by management-specific species, which accounted for differences in network structure. Therefore, the implementation of both management types in the same landscape helps to maintain high species and interaction diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Motivans Švara
- Department of Community EcologyHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZHalle (Saale)Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Institute of BiologyMartin Luther University Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
| | - Valentin Ştefan
- Department of Community EcologyHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZHalle (Saale)Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | - Esther Sossai
- Department of Community EcologyHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZHalle (Saale)Germany
| | - Reinart Feldmann
- Department of Community EcologyHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZHalle (Saale)Germany
| | - Dianne Joy Aguilon
- Doctoral School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of SzegedSzegedHungary
- Department of Forest Biological SciencesCollege of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of the Philippines Los BañosLagunaPhilippines
- Department of EcologyUniversity of SzegedSzegedHungary
| | - Anna Bontsutsnaja
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental SciencesEstonian University of Life SciencesTartuEstonia
| | - Anna E‐Vojtkó
- Department of BotanyFaculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
- Institute of BotanyCzech Academy of SciencesTřeboňCzech Republic
| | - Isabel C. Kilian
- Zoological Research Museum Alexander KoenigLeibniz Institute for Animal BiodiversityBonnGermany
- Agroecology and Organic Farming Group (INRES‐AOL)University of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Piret Lang
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental SciencesEstonian University of Life SciencesTartuEstonia
| | - Marilin Mõtlep
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental SciencesEstonian University of Life SciencesTartuEstonia
| | - Elisabeth Prangel
- Department of BotanyInstitute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | - Mari‐Liis Viljur
- Department of ZoologyInstitute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | - Tiffany M. Knight
- Department of Community EcologyHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZHalle (Saale)Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Institute of BiologyMartin Luther University Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
| | - Lena Neuenkamp
- Department of BotanyInstitute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
- Institute of Plant SciencesUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
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19
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Luna P, Villalobos F, Escobar F, Neves FS, Dáttilo W. Global trends in the trophic specialisation of flower-visitor networks are explained by current and historical climate. Ecol Lett 2021; 25:113-124. [PMID: 34761496 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Trophic specialisation is known to vary across space, but the environmental factors explaining such variation remain elusive. Here we used a global dataset of flower-visitor networks to evaluate how trophic specialisation varies between latitudinal zones (tropical and temperate) and across elevation gradients, while considering the environmental variation inherent in these spatial gradients. Specifically, we assessed the role of current (i.e., net primary productivity, temperature, and precipitation) and historical (i.e., temperature and precipitation stability) environmental factors in structuring the trophic specialisation of floral visitors. Spatial variations in trophic specialisation were not explained by latitudinal zones or elevation. Moreover, regardless of network location on the spatial gradient, there was a tendency for higher trophic specialisation in sites with high productivity and precipitation, whereas historical temperature stability was related to lower trophic specialisation. We highlight that both energetic constraints in animal foraging imposed by climate and resource availability may drive the global variation in trophic specialisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Luna
- Red de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Fabricio Villalobos
- Red de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Federico Escobar
- Red de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Frederico S Neves
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Wesley Dáttilo
- Red de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
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20
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Strydom T, Catchen MD, Banville F, Caron D, Dansereau G, Desjardins-Proulx P, Forero-Muñoz NR, Higino G, Mercier B, Gonzalez A, Gravel D, Pollock L, Poisot T. A roadmap towards predicting species interaction networks (across space and time). Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20210063. [PMID: 34538135 PMCID: PMC8450634 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Networks of species interactions underpin numerous ecosystem processes, but comprehensively sampling these interactions is difficult. Interactions intrinsically vary across space and time, and given the number of species that compose ecological communities, it can be tough to distinguish between a true negative (where two species never interact) from a false negative (where two species have not been observed interacting even though they actually do). Assessing the likelihood of interactions between species is an imperative for several fields of ecology. This means that to predict interactions between species-and to describe the structure, variation, and change of the ecological networks they form-we need to rely on modelling tools. Here, we provide a proof-of-concept, where we show how a simple neural network model makes accurate predictions about species interactions given limited data. We then assess the challenges and opportunities associated with improving interaction predictions, and provide a conceptual roadmap forward towards predictive models of ecological networks that is explicitly spatial and temporal. We conclude with a brief primer on the relevant methods and tools needed to start building these models, which we hope will guide this research programme forward. This article is part of the theme issue 'Infectious disease macroecology: parasite diversity and dynamics across the globe'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Strydom
- Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H2V 0B3
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
| | - Michael D. Catchen
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Francis Banville
- Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H2V 0B3
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Dominique Caron
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Gabriel Dansereau
- Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H2V 0B3
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
| | - Philippe Desjardins-Proulx
- Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H2V 0B3
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
| | - Norma R. Forero-Muñoz
- Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H2V 0B3
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
| | | | - Benjamin Mercier
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Andrew Gonzalez
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Dominique Gravel
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Laura Pollock
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
- McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Timothée Poisot
- Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada H2V 0B3
- Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montréal, Canada
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21
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Zhao YH, Lázaro A, Li HD, Tao ZB, Liang H, Zhou W, Ren ZX, Xu K, Li DZ, Wang H. Morphological trait-matching in plant-Hymenoptera and plant-Diptera mutualisms across an elevational gradient. J Anim Ecol 2021; 91:196-209. [PMID: 34668568 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Morphological trait-matching and species abundance are thought to be the main factors affecting the frequency and strength of mutualistic interactions. However, the relative importance of trait-matching and species abundance in shaping species interactions across environmental gradients remains poorly understood, especially for plant-insect mutualisms involving generalist species. Here, we characterised variation in species and trait composition and the relative importance of trait-matching and species abundance in shaping plant-Hymenoptera and plant-Diptera mutualisms in four meadows across an elevational gradient (2,725-3,910 m) in Yulong Snow Mountain, Southwest China. We also evaluated the effects of morphological traits of flower visitors and plant composition on their foraging specialisation (d' and normalised degree). There was a high degree of dissimilarity in the composition of Hymenoptera and Diptera visitors and their visited plants between communities. This variation was mainly driven by the spatial replacement of species. Both for plant-Hymenoptera and plant-Diptera networks, trait-matching between nectar tube depth and proboscis length was a stronger predictor of the interactions between temporally co-occurring plants and flower visitors than species abundance. Fourth-corner analyses revealed statistically significant trait-matching between nectar tube depth and proboscis length in plant-Hymenoptera networks at all sites, suggesting that Hymenoptera consistently foraged on plant species with nectar tube depths matching their proboscis lengths. By contrast, significant trait-matching in plant-Diptera networks was only observed at the two lower elevation sites. The species-level specialisation d' of flower visitors increased significantly as the proboscis length and the difference in nectar tube depth between the plant community and the plants visited by flower visitors increased. Our results highlight that the importance of trait-matching in shaping pairwise interactions and niche partitioning depends on the specific features (e.g. species composition and trait availability) of the plant-pollinator system. For specialised plant-Hymenoptera systems, trait-matching is an important determinant of species interactions, whereas for generalist plant-Diptera systems, trait-matching is relatively unimportant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Hui Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Amparo Lázaro
- Global Change Research Group, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (UIB-CSIC), Esporles, Spain
| | - Hai-Dong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Bin Tao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Huan Liang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Plant Germplasm and Genomics Center, Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Zong-Xin Ren
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Kun Xu
- Lijiang Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - De-Zhu Li
- Plant Germplasm and Genomics Center, Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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22
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Species richness is more important for ecosystem functioning than species turnover along an elevational gradient. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:1582-1593. [PMID: 34545216 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01550-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Many experiments have shown that biodiversity enhances ecosystem functioning. However, we have little understanding of how environmental heterogeneity shapes the effect of diversity on ecosystem functioning and to what extent this diversity effect is mediated by variation in species richness or species turnover. This knowledge is crucial to scaling up the results of experiments from local to regional scales. Here we quantify the diversity effect and its components-that is, the contributions of variation in species richness and species turnover-for 22 ecosystem functions of microorganisms, plants and animals across 13 major ecosystem types on Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Environmental heterogeneity across ecosystem types on average increased the diversity effect from explaining 49% to 72% of the variation in ecosystem functions. In contrast to our expectation, the diversity effect was more strongly mediated by variation in species richness than by species turnover. Our findings reveal that environmental heterogeneity strengthens the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and that species richness is a stronger driver of ecosystem functioning than species turnover. Based on a broad range of taxa and ecosystem functions in a non-experimental system, these results are in line with predictions from biodiversity experiments and emphasize that conserving biodiversity is essential for maintaining ecosystem functioning.
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23
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Rehling F, Jaroszewicz B, Braasch LV, Albrecht J, Jordano P, Schlautmann J, Farwig N, Schabo DG. Within-Species Trait Variation Can Lead to Size Limitations in Seed Dispersal of Small-Fruited Plants. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.698885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The inability of small-gaped animals to consume very large fruits may limit seed dispersal of the respective plants. This has often been shown for large-fruited plant species that remain poorly dispersed when large-gaped animal species are lost due to anthropogenic pressure. Little is known about whether gape-size limitations similarly influence seed dispersal of small-fruited plant species that can show a large variation in fruit size within species. In this study, fruit sizes of 15 plant species were compared with the gape sizes of their 41 animal dispersers in the temperate, old-growth Białowieża Forest, Poland. The effect of gape-size limitations on fruit consumption was assessed at the plant species level, and for a subset of nine plant species, also at the individual level, and subindividual level (i.e., fruits of the same plant individual). In addition, for the species subset, fruit-seed trait relationships were investigated to determine whether a restricted access of small-gaped animals to large fruits results in the dispersal of fewer or smaller seeds per fruit. Fruit sizes widely varied among plant species (74.2%), considerably at the subindividual level (17.1%), and to the smallest extent among plant individuals (8.7%). Key disperser species should be able to consume fruits of all plant species and all individuals (except those of the largest-fruited plant species), even if they are able to consume only 28-55% of available fruits. Fruit and seed traits were positively correlated in eight out of nine plant species, indicating that gape size limitations will result in 49% fewer (in one) or 16–21% smaller seeds (in three plant species) dispersed per fruit by small-gaped than by large-gaped main dispersers, respectively. Our results show that a large subindividual variation in fruit size is characteristic for small-fruited plant species, and increases their connectedness with frugivores at the level of plants species and individuals. Simultaneously, however, the large variation in fruit size leads to gape-size limitations that may induce selective pressures on fruit size if large-gaped dispersers become extinct. This study emphasizes the mechanisms by which gape-size limitation at the species, individual and subindividual level shape plant-frugivore interactions and the co-evolution of small-fruited plants.
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Uhey D, Haubensak K, Hofstetter R. Mid-elevational Peaks in Diversity of Ground-dwelling Arthropods with High Species Turnover on the Colorado Plateau. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 50:337-347. [PMID: 33459773 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvaa166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Patterns of biodiversity along elevational gradients elucidate how climate shapes biological communities and help predict ecosystem responses to environmental change. Arid elevational gradients are particularly interesting because temperature limitations at high elevations and precipitation limitations at low elevations cause mid-elevation peaks in diversity. Ground-dwelling arthropods form highly diverse communities but few studies document elevational patterns of their full diversity. Here we investigate the elevational patterns of ground-dwelling arthropods in northern Arizona on the Colorado Plateau, an arid and understudied region in the United States. We sampled seven sites along an elevation gradient from 1,566 to 2,688 m corresponding to a difference of 6.5°C average annual temperature and 620 mm average annual precipitation. We captured 16,942 specimens comprising 169 species, mostly ants and beetles, and discovered a new ant species. First- and second-order elevation terms significantly correlated to multiple measures of arthropod α and β diversity. Arthropod abundance, richness, and Shannon-Wiener diversity index peaked at mid-elevations, with functional groups (i.e., omnivores, predators, detritivores, and herbivores) showing similar patterns. Community composition varied significantly across the gradient, correlated with changes in elevation, and was driven by shifts of ants dominating low- to mid-elevations, to beetles dominating high-elevations. Dissimilarity among sites was driven by high species turnover with 59% of species exclusive to a single site, whereas nestedness among sites was low except at the lowest elevation site. High rates of turnover and elevation-dependent communities suggest that ground-dwelling arthropods are highly vulnerable to environmental change, particularly at lower elevations in arid regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Uhey
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, 200 E. Pine Knoll Dr., Flagstaff, AZ
| | - Karen Haubensak
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
| | - Richard Hofstetter
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, 200 E. Pine Knoll Dr., Flagstaff, AZ
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25
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A research framework for projecting ecosystem change in highly diverse tropical mountain ecosystems. Oecologia 2021; 195:589-600. [PMID: 33515062 PMCID: PMC7940296 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04852-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Tropical mountain ecosystems are threatened by climate and land-use changes. Their diversity and complexity make projections how they respond to environmental changes challenging. A suitable way are trait-based approaches, by distinguishing between response traits that determine the resistance of species to environmental changes and effect traits that are relevant for species' interactions, biotic processes, and ecosystem functions. The combination of those approaches with land surface models (LSM) linking the functional community composition to ecosystem functions provides new ways to project the response of ecosystems to environmental changes. With the interdisciplinary project RESPECT, we propose a research framework that uses a trait-based response-effect-framework (REF) to quantify relationships between abiotic conditions, the diversity of functional traits in communities, and associated biotic processes, informing a biodiversity-LSM. We apply the framework to a megadiverse tropical mountain forest. We use a plot design along an elevation and a land-use gradient to collect data on abiotic drivers, functional traits, and biotic processes. We integrate these data to build the biodiversity-LSM and illustrate how to test the model. REF results show that aboveground biomass production is not directly related to changing climatic conditions, but indirectly through associated changes in functional traits. Herbivory is directly related to changing abiotic conditions. The biodiversity-LSM informed by local functional trait and soil data improved the simulation of biomass production substantially. We conclude that local data, also derived from previous projects (platform Ecuador), are key elements of the research framework. We specify essential datasets to apply this framework to other mountain ecosystems.
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26
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Theodorou P, Herbst SC, Kahnt B, Landaverde-González P, Baltz LM, Osterman J, Paxton RJ. Urban fragmentation leads to lower floral diversity, with knock-on impacts on bee biodiversity. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21756. [PMID: 33303909 PMCID: PMC7730174 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78736-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bees and flowering plants are two closely interacting groups of organisms. Habitat loss and fragmentation associated with urbanisation are major threats to both partners. Yet how and why bee and floral richness and diversity co-vary within the urban landscape remain unclear. Here, we sampled bees and flowering plants in urban green spaces to investigate how bee and flowering plant species richness, their phylogenetic diversity and pollination-relevant functional trait diversity influence each other in response to urban fragmentation. As expected, bee abundance and richness were positively related to flowering plant richness, with bee body size (but not bee richness and diversity) increasing with nectar-holder depth of flowering plants. Causal modelling indicated that bottom-up effects dictated patterns of bee-flower relationships, with urban fragmentation diminishing flowering plants richness and thereby indirectly reducing bee species richness and abundance. The close relationship between bees and flowering plants highlights the risks of their parallel declines in response to land-use change within the urban landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Theodorou
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany.
| | - Sarah-Christine Herbst
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Belinda Kahnt
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Patricia Landaverde-González
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Unidad para el Conocimiento, Uso y Valoración de la Biodiversidad, Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas-CECON-, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Avenida La Reforma 0-63 zona 10, 01010, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Lucie M Baltz
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Julia Osterman
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ Leipzig, ESCALATE, Department of Computational Landscape Ecology, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Robert J Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
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Sorensen MC, Donoso I, Neuschulz EL, Schleuning M, Mueller T. Community‐wide seed dispersal distances peak at low levels of specialisation in size‐structured networks. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marjorie C. Sorensen
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Frankfurt Germany
- Dept of Integrative Biology, Univ. of Guelph Guelph ON Canada
| | - Isabel Donoso
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Frankfurt Germany
| | | | | | - Thomas Mueller
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Frankfurt Germany
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Goethe Univ. Frankfurt Frankfurt Germany
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28
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Feng K, Wang S, Wei Z, Wang Z, Zhang Z, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Deng Y. Niche width of above- and below-ground organisms varied in predicting biodiversity profiling along a latitudinal gradient. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1890-1902. [PMID: 32299139 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Biodiversity is the foundation of all ecosystems across the planet, and having a better understanding of its global distribution mechanism could be important for biodiversity conservation under global change. A niche width model, combined with metabolic theory, has successfully predicted the increase of α-diversity and decrease of β-diversity in the below-ground microbial community along an altitudinal mountain gradient. In this study, we evaluated this niche width model of above-ground plants (mainly trees and shrubs) and below-ground bulk soil microbial communities (i.e., bacteria and archaea) along a latitudinal gradient of forests in China. The niche widths of both plants and microbes increased with increasing temperature and precipitation, and with proximity to circumneutral pH. However, the α- and β-diversities (observed richness and Bray-Curtis dissimilarity, respectively) could not be accurately predicted by a single niche width model alone, either temperature, precipitation or pH. Considering the interactions among different niche width models, all three niche width models were combined to predict biodiversity at the community level using structural equation modelling. The results showed that the niche width model of circumneutral pH was most important in predicting diversity profiling (i.e., α- and β-diversity) for both plants and microbes, while niche width of precipitation and temperature showed both direct and indirect importance for microbe and plant biodiversity, respectively. Because the current niche width model neglects several scenarios related to taxon and environmental attributes, it still needs to be treated with caution in predicting biodiversity trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Feng
- CAS Key Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shang Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ziyan Wei
- Institute for Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhujun Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaojing Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute for Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yueni Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuguang Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of State Forestry Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Ye Deng
- CAS Key Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute for Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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29
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Valenta K, Nevo O. The dispersal syndrome hypothesis: How animals shaped fruit traits, and how they did not. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kim Valenta
- Department of Anthropology University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Omer Nevo
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics Ulm University Ulm Germany
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Classen A, Eardley CD, Hemp A, Peters MK, Peters RS, Ssymank A, Steffan‐Dewenter I. Specialization of plant-pollinator interactions increases with temperature at Mt. Kilimanjaro. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:2182-2195. [PMID: 32128148 PMCID: PMC7042760 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Species differ in their degree of specialization when interacting with other species, with significant consequences for the function and robustness of ecosystems. In order to better estimate such consequences, we need to improve our understanding of the spatial patterns and drivers of specialization in interaction networks. METHODS Here, we used the extensive environmental gradient of Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania, East Africa) to study patterns and drivers of specialization, and robustness of plant-pollinator interactions against simulated species extinction with standardized sampling methods. We studied specialization, network robustness and other network indices of 67 quantitative plant-pollinator networks consisting of 268 observational hours and 4,380 plant-pollinator interactions along a 3.4 km elevational gradient. Using path analysis, we tested whether resource availability, pollinator richness, visitation rates, temperature, and/or area explain average specialization in pollinator communities. We further linked pollinator specialization to different pollinator taxa, and species traits, that is, proboscis length, body size, and species elevational ranges. RESULTS We found that specialization decreased with increasing elevation at different levels of biological organization. Among all variables, mean annual temperature was the best predictor of average specialization in pollinator communities. Specialization differed between pollinator taxa, but was not related to pollinator traits. Network robustness against simulated species extinctions of both plants and pollinators was lowest in the most specialized interaction networks, that is, in the lowlands. CONCLUSIONS Our study uncovers patterns in plant-pollinator specialization along elevational gradients. Mean annual temperature was closely linked to pollinator specialization. Energetic constraints, caused by short activity timeframes in cold highlands, may force ectothermic species to broaden their dietary spectrum. Alternatively or in addition, accelerated evolutionary rates might facilitate the establishment of specialization under warm climates. Despite the mechanisms behind the patterns have yet to be fully resolved, our data suggest that temperature shifts in the course of climate change may destabilize pollination networks by affecting network architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Classen
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical BiologyBiocenterUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | - Connal D. Eardley
- Unit of Environmental Sciences and ManagementNorth West UniversityPotchefstroomSouth Africa
| | - Andreas Hemp
- Department of Plant SystematicsUniversity of BayreuthBayreuthGermany
| | - Marcell K. Peters
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical BiologyBiocenterUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | - Ralph S. Peters
- Department ArthropodaZoological Research Museum Alexander KoenigBonnGermany
| | | | - Ingolf Steffan‐Dewenter
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical BiologyBiocenterUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
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31
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Schleuning M, Neuschulz EL, Albrecht J, Bender IMA, Bowler DE, Dehling DM, Fritz SA, Hof C, Mueller T, Nowak L, Sorensen MC, Böhning-Gaese K, Kissling WD. Trait-Based Assessments of Climate-Change Impacts on Interacting Species. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 35:319-328. [PMID: 31987640 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Plant-animal interactions are fundamentally important in ecosystems, but have often been ignored by studies of climate-change impacts on biodiversity. Here, we present a trait-based framework for predicting the responses of interacting plants and animals to climate change. We distinguish three pathways along which climate change can impact interacting species in ecological communities: (i) spatial and temporal mismatches in the occurrence and abundance of species, (ii) the formation of novel interactions and secondary extinctions, and (iii) alterations of the dispersal ability of plants. These pathways are mediated by three kinds of functional traits: response traits, matching traits, and dispersal traits. We propose that incorporating these traits into predictive models will improve assessments of the responses of interacting species to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Schleuning
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Eike Lena Neuschulz
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jörg Albrecht
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Irene M A Bender
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Biology, Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06108 Halle, Germany
| | - Diana E Bowler
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - D Matthias Dehling
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Susanne A Fritz
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department of Biological Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christian Hof
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Thomas Mueller
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department of Biological Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Larissa Nowak
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department of Biological Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marjorie C Sorensen
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department of Biological Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd. E., Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Katrin Böhning-Gaese
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department of Biological Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - W Daniel Kissling
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94240, 1090, GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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32
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Nowak L, Kissling WD, Bender IMA, Dehling DM, Töpfer T, Böhning‐Gaese K, Schleuning M. Projecting consequences of global warming for the functional diversity of fleshy‐fruited plants and frugivorous birds along a tropical elevational gradient. DIVERS DISTRIB 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Nowak
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F) Frankfurt (Main) Germany
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution & Diversity Goethe University Frankfurt Frankfurt (Main) Germany
| | - W. Daniel Kissling
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Irene M. A. Bender
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F) Frankfurt (Main) Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Leipzig Germany
- Institute of Biology, Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin‐Luther‐University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle Germany
| | - D. Matthias Dehling
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Biological Sciences University of Canterbury Christchurch New Zealand
| | - Till Töpfer
- Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK) Bonn Germany
| | - Katrin Böhning‐Gaese
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F) Frankfurt (Main) Germany
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution & Diversity Goethe University Frankfurt Frankfurt (Main) Germany
| | - Matthias Schleuning
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F) Frankfurt (Main) Germany
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Zhou Y, Wang S, Njogu AW, Ochola AC, Boru BH, Mwachala G, Hu G, Wang Q. Spatial Congruence or Mismatch Between Phylogenetic and Functional Structure of Seed Plants Along a Tropical Elevational Gradient: Different Traits Have Different Patterns. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
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