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Ibalim S, Toko PS, Segar ST, Sagata K, Koane B, Miller SE, Novotny V, Janda M. Phylogenetic structure of moth communities (Geometridae, Lepidoptera) along a complete rainforest elevational gradient in Papua New Guinea. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0308698. [PMID: 39133743 PMCID: PMC11318904 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
We use community phylogenetics to elucidate the community assembly mechanisms for Geometridae moths (Lepidoptera) collected along a complete rainforest elevational gradient (200-3700 m a.s.l) on Mount Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea. A constrained phylogeny based on COI barcodes for 604 species was used to analyse 1390 species x elevation occurrences at eight elevational sites separated by 500 m elevation increments. We obtained Nearest Relatedness Index (NRI), Nearest Taxon Index (NTI) and Standardised Effect Size of Faith's Phylogenetic Diversity (SES.PD) and regressed these on temperature, plant species richness and predator abundance as key abiotic and biotic predictors. We also quantified beta diversity in the moth communities between elevations using the Phylogenetic Sorensen index. Overall, geometrid communities exhibited phylogenetic clustering, suggesting environmental filters, particularly at higher elevations at and above 2200 m a.s.l and no evidence of overdispersion. NRI, NTI and SES.PD showed no consistent trends with elevation or the studied biotic and abiotic variables. Change in community structure was driven by turnover of phylogenetic beta-diversity, except for the highest 2700-3200 m elevations, which were characterised by nested subsets of lower elevation communities. Overall, the elevational signal of geometrid phylogeny was weak-moderate. Additional insect community phylogeny studies are needed to understand this pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sentiko Ibalim
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Pagi S. Toko
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Simon T. Segar
- Department of Crop and Environment Sciences, Harper Adams University, Newport, United Kingdom
| | - Katayo Sagata
- PNG Institute of Biological Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Bonny Koane
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Scott E. Miller
- Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Vojtech Novotny
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Janda
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, México
- Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
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2
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Sam K, Jorge LR, Koane B, Hazell RJ, Shearman PL, Novotny V. Reorganization of bird communities along a rainforest elevation gradient during a strong El Niño event in Papua New Guinea. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10955. [PMID: 38751823 PMCID: PMC11094519 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10955] [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: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The El Niño 2015 event, most extreme since 1997, led to severe droughts in tropical wet Papua New Guinea (PNG), reducing May to October dry season rainfall by 75% in the lowlands and 25% in the highlands. Such droughts are likely to have significant effects on terrestrial ecosystems, but they have been poorly explored in Papua New Guinea. Here, we report changes in bird community composition prior to, during, and after the 2015 El Niño event along the elevational gradient ranging from 200 m to 2700 m a.s.l. at the Mt. Wilhelm rainforest in PNG. The abundance of birds in the lowlands dropped by 60% but increased by 40% at elevations above 1700 m during El Niño year. In the following year, the individual bird species reached mean population sizes similar to pre-El Niño years but did not fully recover. Species richness roughly followed the pattern of observed abundance and quickly and fully re-established after the event to the pre- El Niño values. Thus, at least some terrestrial birds seem to react quickly to the extreme droughts in lowlands and shift to less affected mountain habitats. We recorded upper elevational range limits to shifts by more than 500 m a.s.l. in 22 bird species (out of 237 recorded in total) during El Niño year, in contrast to their typical ranges. Our study suggests that a strong El Niño event can have strong but reversible effects on bird communities as long as they have an opportunity to move to more favorable sites through undisturbed habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Sam
- Institute of EntomologyBiology Centre of the Czech Academy of SciencesCeske BudejoviceCzech Republic
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaCeske BudejoviceCzech Republic
| | - Leonardo Ré Jorge
- Institute of EntomologyBiology Centre of the Czech Academy of SciencesCeske BudejoviceCzech Republic
| | - Bonny Koane
- The New Guinea Binatang Research CenterMadangPapua New Guinea
| | | | - Philip L. Shearman
- School of Botany and ZoologyThe Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
- UPNG Remote Sensing Centre, Biology DepartmentUniversity of Papua New GuineaPort MoresbyPapua New Guinea
| | - Vojtech Novotny
- Institute of EntomologyBiology Centre of the Czech Academy of SciencesCeske BudejoviceCzech Republic
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaCeske BudejoviceCzech Republic
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3
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Pitteloud C, Defossez E, Albouy C, Descombes P, Rasmann S, Pellissier L. DNA-based networks reveal the ecological determinants of plant-herbivore interactions along environmental gradients. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:6436-6448. [PMID: 35620937 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the ecological rules structuring the organization of species interactions is a prerequisite to predicting how ecosystems respond to environmental changes. While the ecological determinants of single networks have been documented, it remains unclear whether network ecological rules are conserved along spatial and environmental gradients. To address this gap, we reconstructed 48 plant-herbivore interaction networks along six elevation gradients in the Central European Alps in Switzerland, using DNA metabarcoding on orthoptera faeces. We developed hypotheses on the ecological mechanisms expected to structure interaction networks, based on plant phylogeny, plant abundance, leaf toughness, leaf nitrogen content and plant metabolomics. We show that plant phylogenetic relationships and species abundance have the greatest explanatory power regarding the structure of the ecological networks. Moreover, we found that leaf nitrogen content is a key determinant of interactions in warmer environments, while phenolic compounds and tannins are more important in colder environments, suggesting that determinants of species interactions can shift along environmental gradients. With this work, we propose an approach to study the mechanisms that structure the way species interact with each other between bioregions and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Pitteloud
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Unit of Land Change Science, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuel Defossez
- Functional Ecology Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Camille Albouy
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Unit of Land Change Science, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- DECOD (Ecosystem Dynamics and Sustainability), IFREMER, INRAE, Institut Agro - Agrocampus Ouest, Nantes cedex 3, France
| | - Patrice Descombes
- Unit of Land Change Science, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Rasmann
- Functional Ecology Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Loïc Pellissier
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Unit of Land Change Science, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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4
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Hazell RJ, Sam K, Sreekar R, Yama S, Koagouw W, Stewart AJA, Peck MR. Bird preferences for fruit size, but not color, vary in accordance with fruit traits along a tropical elevational gradient. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9835. [PMID: 36818525 PMCID: PMC9929344 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9835] [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: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Birds constitute one of the most important seed dispersal agents globally, especially in the tropics. The feeding preferences of frugivorous birds are, therefore, potentially of great ecological importance. A number of laboratory-based and observational studies have attempted to ascertain the preferences of certain bird species for certain fruit traits. However, little attention has been paid to community-wide preferences of frugivorous birds and the impact this may have on fruit traits on a broader scale. Here, we used artificial fruits of different colors and sizes to investigate community-wide fruit trait preferences of birds at three sites along an elevational gradient in Papua New Guinea. We recorded attack rates on artificial fruits as visible impressions made by a bird's beak during a feeding attempt. We also measured the colors and sizes of real fruits at each site, and the gape widths of frugivorous birds, allowing for comparisons between bird feeding preferences and bird and fruit traits. Regardless of elevation, red and purple fruits were universally preferred to green and attacked at similar rates to one another, despite strong elevational patterns in real fruit color. However, elevation had a significant effect on fruit size preferences. A weak, non-significant preference for large fruits was recorded at 700 m, while medium fruits were strongly preferred at 1700 m and small fruits at 2700 m. These patterns mirror those of both real fruit size and frugivorous bird gape width along the gradient, suggesting the potential for selective pressure of birds on fruit size at different elevations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J. Hazell
- Department of Evolution, Behaviour and Environment, School of Life SciencesUniversity of SussexBrightonUK
| | - Katerina Sam
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of SciencesInstitute of EntomologyCeske BudejoviceCzech Republic,Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaCeske BudejoviceCzech Republic
| | - Rachakonda Sreekar
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of SciencesInstitute of EntomologyCeske BudejoviceCzech Republic
| | - Samson Yama
- New Guinea Binatang Research CentreMadangPapua New Guinea
| | - Wulan Koagouw
- National Research and Innovation AgencyCentral JakartaIndonesia
| | - Alan J. A. Stewart
- Department of Evolution, Behaviour and Environment, School of Life SciencesUniversity of SussexBrightonUK
| | - Mika R. Peck
- Department of Evolution, Behaviour and Environment, School of Life SciencesUniversity of SussexBrightonUK
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5
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Nell CS, Pratt R, Burger J, Preston KL, Treseder KK, Kamada D, Moore K, Mooney KA. Consequences of arthropod community structure for an at-risk insectivorous bird. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281081. [PMID: 36763634 PMCID: PMC9917275 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Global declines in bird and arthropod abundance highlights the importance of understanding the role of food limitation and arthropod community composition for the performance of insectivorous birds. In this study, we link data on nestling diet, arthropod availability and nesting performance for the Coastal Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus sandiegensis), an at-risk insectivorous bird native to coastal southern California and Baja Mexico. We used DNA metabarcoding to characterize nestling diets and monitored 8 bird territories over two years to assess the relationship between arthropod and vegetation community composition and bird reproductive success. We document a discordance between consumed prey and arthropod biomass within nesting territories, in which Diptera and Lepidoptera were the most frequently consumed prey taxa but were relatively rare in the environment. In contrast other Orders (e.g., Hemiptera, Hymenoptera)were abundant in the environment but were absent from nestling diets. Accordingly, variation in bird reproductive success among territories was positively related to the relative abundance of Lepidoptera (but not Diptera), which were most abundant on 2 shrub species (Eriogonum fasciculatum, Sambucus nigra) of the 9 habitat elements characterized (8 dominant plant species and bare ground). Bird reproductive success was in turn negatively related to two invasive arthropods whose abundance was not associated with preferred bird prey, but instead possibly acted through harassment (Linepithema humile; Argentine ants) and parasite transmission or low nutritional quality (Armadillidium vulgare; "pill-bug"). These results demonstrate how multiple aspects of arthropod community structure can influence bird performance through complementary mechanisms, and the importance of managing for arthropods in bird conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cee S. Nell
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Center for Environmental Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Riley Pratt
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Center for Environmental Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
- California State Parks, San Clemente, CA, United States of America
| | - Jutta Burger
- Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Kathleen K. Treseder
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Center for Environmental Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Dana Kamada
- Natural Communities Coalition, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Karly Moore
- Natural Communities Coalition, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Kailen A. Mooney
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Center for Environmental Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
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6
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Scherler P, Witczak S, Aebischer A, van Bergen V, Catitti B, Grüebler MU. Determinants of departure to natal dispersal across an elevational gradient in a long-lived raptor species. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9603. [PMID: 36694544 PMCID: PMC9842906 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Attributes of natal habitat often affect early stages of natal dispersal. Thus, environmental gradients at mountain slopes are expected to result in gradients of dispersal behavior and to drive elevational differences in dispersal distances and settlement behavior. However, covariation of environmental factors across elevational gradients complicates the identification of mechanisms underlying the elevational patterns in dispersal behavior. Assuming a decreasing food availability with elevation, we conducted a food supplementation experiment of red kite (Milvus milvus) broods across an elevational gradient toward the upper range margin and we GPS-tagged nestlings to assess their start of dispersal. While considering timing of breeding and breeding density across elevation, this allowed disentangling effects of elevational food gradients from co-varying environmental gradients on the age at departure from the natal home range. We found an effect of food supplementation on age at departure, but no elevational gradient in the effect of food supplementation. Similarly, we found an effect of breeding density on departure age without an underlying elevational gradient. Supplementary-fed juveniles and females in high breeding densities departed at younger age than control juveniles and males in low breeding densities. We only found an elevational gradient in the timing of breeding. Late hatched juveniles, and thus individuals at high elevation, departed at earlier age compared to early hatched juveniles. We conclude that favorable natal food conditions, allow for a young departure age of juvenile red kites. We show that the elevational delay in breeding is compensated by premature departure resulting in an elevational gradient in departure age. Thus, elevational differences in dispersal behaviour likely arise due to climatic factors affecting timing of breeding. However, the results also suggest that spatial differences in food availability and breeding density affect dispersal behavior and that their large-scale gradients within the distributional range might result in differential natal dispersal patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Scherler
- Swiss Ornithological InstituteSempachSwitzerland,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Stephanie Witczak
- Swiss Ornithological InstituteSempachSwitzerland,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | | | | | - Benedetta Catitti
- Swiss Ornithological InstituteSempachSwitzerland,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
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7
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Sivault E, Amick PK, Armstrong KN, Novotny V, Sam K. Species richness and assemblages of bats along a forest elevational transect in Papua New Guinea. Biotropica 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elise Sivault
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Pita K. Amick
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Biological Science Division University of Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Papua New Guinea
- The New Guinea Binatang Research Centre Madang Papua New Guinea
- Amick Environmental Consulting Mt Hagen Papua New Guinea
| | - Kyle N. Armstrong
- University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
- South Australian Museum Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Vojtech Novotny
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Sam
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
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8
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Houska Tahadlova M, Mottl O, Jorge LR, Koane B, Novotny V, Sam K. Trophic cascades in tropical rainforests: Effects of vertebrate predator exclusion on arthropods and plants in Papua New Guinea. Biotropica 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marketa Houska Tahadlova
- Laboratory of Multitrophic Interactions, Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Faculty of Sciences University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Mottl
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research University of Bergen Bergen Norway
| | - Leonardo R. Jorge
- Laboratory of Multitrophic Interactions, Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Bonny Koane
- The New Guinea Binatang Research Centre Madang Papua New Guinea
| | - Vojtech Novotny
- Laboratory of Multitrophic Interactions, Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Faculty of Sciences University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- The New Guinea Binatang Research Centre Madang Papua New Guinea
| | - Katerina Sam
- Laboratory of Multitrophic Interactions, Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Faculty of Sciences University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
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9
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Potapov AM, Beaulieu F, Birkhofer K, Bluhm SL, Degtyarev MI, Devetter M, Goncharov AA, Gongalsky KB, Klarner B, Korobushkin DI, Liebke DF, Maraun M, Mc Donnell RJ, Pollierer MM, Schaefer I, Shrubovych J, Semenyuk II, Sendra A, Tuma J, Tůmová M, Vassilieva AB, Chen T, Geisen S, Schmidt O, Tiunov AV, Scheu S. Feeding habits and multifunctional classification of soil‐associated consumers from protists to vertebrates. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1057-1117. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anton M. Potapov
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Frédéric Beaulieu
- Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada Ottawa ON K1A 0C6 Canada
| | - Klaus Birkhofer
- Department of Ecology Brandenburg University of Technology Karl‐Wachsmann‐Allee 6 03046 Cottbus Germany
| | - Sarah L. Bluhm
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
| | - Maxim I. Degtyarev
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Miloslav Devetter
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil Biology Na Sádkách 702/7 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Anton A. Goncharov
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Konstantin B. Gongalsky
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Bernhard Klarner
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
| | - Daniil I. Korobushkin
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Dana F. Liebke
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
| | - Mark Maraun
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
| | - Rory J. Mc Donnell
- Department of Crop and Soil Science Oregon State University Corvallis OR 97331 U.S.A
| | - Melanie M. Pollierer
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
| | - Ina Schaefer
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
| | - Julia Shrubovych
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil Biology Na Sádkách 702/7 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals PAS Slawkowska 17 Pl 31‐016 Krakow Poland
- State Museum Natural History of NAS of Ukraine Teatralna 18 79008 Lviv Ukraine
| | - Irina I. Semenyuk
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
- Joint Russian‐Vietnamese Tropical Center №3 Street 3 Thang 2, Q10 Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
| | - Alberto Sendra
- Colecciones Entomológicas Torres‐Sala, Servei de Patrimoni Històric, Ajuntament de València València Spain
- Departament de Didàctica de les Cièncias Experimentals i Socials, Facultat de Magisteri Universitat de València València Spain
| | - Jiri Tuma
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil Biology Na Sádkách 702/7 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology Branisovska 1160/31 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Michala Tůmová
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil Biology Na Sádkách 702/7 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Anna B. Vassilieva
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Ting‐Wen Chen
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil Biology Na Sádkách 702/7 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Stefan Geisen
- Department of Nematology Wageningen University & Research 6700ES Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Olaf Schmidt
- UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science University College Dublin Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland
| | - Alexei V. Tiunov
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninsky Prospect 33 119071 Moscow Russia
| | - Stefan Scheu
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen Germany
- Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use Büsgenweg 1 37077 Göttingen Germany
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10
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Bodawatta KH, Klečková I, Klečka J, Pužejová K, Koane B, Poulsen M, Jønsson KA, Sam K. Specific gut bacterial responses to natural diets of tropical birds. Sci Rep 2022; 12:713. [PMID: 35027664 PMCID: PMC8758760 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-04808-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The composition of gut bacterial communities is strongly influenced by the host diet in many animal taxa. For birds, the effect of diet on the microbiomes has been documented through diet manipulation studies. However, for wild birds, most studies have drawn on literature-based information to decipher the dietary effects, thereby, overlooking individual variation in dietary intake. Here we examine how naturally consumed diets influence the composition of the crop and cloacal microbiomes of twenty-one tropical bird species, using visual and metabarcoding-based identification of consumed diets and bacterial 16S rRNA microbiome sequencing. We show that diet intakes vary markedly between individuals of the same species and that literature-based dietary guilds grossly underestimate intraspecific diet variability. Furthermore, despite an effect of literature-based dietary guild assignment of host taxa, the composition of natural diets does not align with crop and cloacal microbiome similarity. However, host-taxon specific gut bacterial lineages are positively correlated with specific diet items, indicating that certain microbes associate with different diet components in specific avian hosts. Consequently, microbiome composition is not congruent with the overall consumed diet composition of species, but specific components of a consumed diet lead to host-specific effects on gut bacterial taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasun H Bodawatta
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Irena Klečková
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Klečka
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Pužejová
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Bonny Koane
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Knud A Jønsson
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katerina Sam
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
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11
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Bodawatta KH, Koane B, Maiah G, Sam K, Poulsen M, Jønsson KA. Species-specific but not phylosymbiotic gut microbiomes of New Guinean passerine birds are shaped by diet and flight-associated gut modifications. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210446. [PMID: 33878920 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal hosts have evolved intricate associations with microbial symbionts, where both depend on each other for particular functions. In many cases, these associations lead to phylosymbiosis, where phylogenetically related species harbour compositionally more similar microbiomes than distantly related species. However, evidence for phylosymbiosis is either weak or lacking in gut microbiomes of flying vertebrates, particularly in birds. To shed more light on this phenomenon, we compared cloacal microbiomes of 37 tropical passerine bird species from New Guinea using 16S rRNA bacterial gene sequencing. We show a lack of phylosymbiosis and document highly variable microbiomes. Furthermore, we find that gut bacterial community compositions are species-specific and tend to be shaped by host diet but not sampling locality, potentially driven by the similarities in habitats used by individual species. We further show that flight-associated gut modifications, coupled with individual dietary differences, shape gut microbiome structure and variation, contributing to the lack of phylosymbiosis. These patterns indicate that the stability of symbiosis may depend on microbial functional diversity rather than taxonomic composition. Furthermore, the more variable and fluid host-microbe associations suggest probable disparities in the potential for coevolution between bird host species and microbial symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasun H Bodawatta
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bonny Koane
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Gibson Maiah
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Katerina Sam
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Branisovska 31, 37005, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Branisovska 1760, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Knud A Jønsson
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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12
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Sam K, Koane B. Biomass, abundances, and abundance and geographical range size relationship of birds along a rainforest elevational gradient in Papua New Guinea. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9727. [PMID: 32923179 PMCID: PMC7457928 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The usually positive inter-specific relationship between geographical range size and the abundance of local bird populations comes with exceptions. On continents, the majority of these exceptions have been described from tropical montane areas in Africa, where geographically-restricted bird species are unusually abundant. We asked how the local abundances of passerine and non-passerine bird species along an elevational gradient on Mt. Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea relate to their geographical range size. We collected data on bird assemblages at eight elevations (200–3,700 m, at 500 m elevational increments). We used a standardized point-counts at 16 points at each elevational study site. We partitioned the birds into feeding guilds, and we obtained data on geographical range sizes from the Bird-Life International data zone. We observed a positive relationship between abundance and geographical range size in the lowlands. This trend changed to a negative one towards higher elevations. The total abundances of the assemblage showed a hump-shaped pattern along the elevational gradient, with passerine birds, namely passerine insectivores, driving the observed pattern. In contrast to abundances, the mean biomass of the bird assemblages decreased with increasing elevation. Our results show that montane bird species maintain dense populations which compensate for the decreased available area near the top of the mountain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Sam
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Entomology Institute, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Bonny Koane
- The New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea
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13
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Garg KM, Chattopadhyay B, Koane B, Sam K, Rheindt FE. Last Glacial Maximum led to community-wide population expansion in a montane songbird radiation in highland Papua New Guinea. BMC Evol Biol 2020; 20:82. [PMID: 32652951 PMCID: PMC7353695 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01646-z] [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: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quaternary climate fluctuations are an engine of biotic diversification. Global cooling cycles, such as the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), are known to have fragmented the ranges of higher-latitude fauna and flora into smaller refugia, dramatically reducing species ranges. However, relatively less is known about the effects of cooling cycles on tropical biota. RESULTS We analyzed thousands of genome-wide DNA markers across an assemblage of three closely related understorey-inhabiting scrubwrens (Sericornis and Aethomyias; Aves) from montane forest along an elevational gradient on Mt. Wilhelm, the highest mountain of Papua New Guinea. Despite species-specific differences in elevational preference, we found limited differentiation within each scrubwren species, but detected a strong genomic signature of simultaneous population expansions at 27-29 ka, coinciding with the onset of the LGM. CONCLUSION The remarkable synchronous timing of population expansions of all three species demonstrates the importance of global cooling cycles in expanding highland habitat. Global cooling cycles have likely had strongly different impacts on tropical montane areas versus boreal and temperate latitudes, leading to population expansions in the former and serious fragmentation in the latter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kritika M. Garg
- Department of Biological Science, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543 Singapore
| | - Balaji Chattopadhyay
- Department of Biological Science, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543 Singapore
| | - Bonny Koane
- The New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Katerina Sam
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, Branisovska 1760, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Frank E. Rheindt
- Department of Biological Science, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543 Singapore
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14
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Morelli F, Benedetti Y, Pape Møller A. Diet specialization and brood parasitism in cuckoo species. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:5097-5105. [PMID: 32551085 PMCID: PMC7297776 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Brood parasitism is a breeding strategy adopted by many species of cuckoos across the world. This breeding strategy influences the evolution of life histories of brood parasite species.In this study, we tested whether the degree on diet specialization is related to the breeding strategy in cuckoo species, by comparing brood parasite and nonparasite species. We measured the gradient of diet specialization of cuckoos, by calculating the Gini coefficient, an index of inequality, on the multiple traits describing the diet of species. The Gini coefficient is a measure of statistical dispersion on a scale between 0 and 1, reflecting a gradient from low to high specialization, respectively. First, we tested the strength of the phylogenetic signal of diet specialization index among cuckoo species worldwide. Then, we ran phylogenetic generalized least square (PGLS) models to compare diet specialization, distribution range, and body mass of parasitic and nonparasitic cuckoo species, considering the phylogenetic signal of data.After adjusting for the phylogenetic signal of the data and considering both, species distribution range and species body mass, brood parasitic cuckoos were characterized by higher diet specialization than nonbrood parasitic species. Brood parasitic species were also characterized by a larger breeding distribution range than nonparasitic species.The findings of this study provide an additional understanding of the cuckoos' ecology, relating diet and breeding strategies, information that could be important in conservation ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Morelli
- Faculty of Environmental SciencesDepartment of Applied Geoinformatics and Spatial PlanningCzech University of Life Sciences PragueCzech Republic
- Faculty of Biological SciencesUniversity of Zielona GóraZielona GóraPoland
| | - Yanina Benedetti
- Faculty of Environmental SciencesDepartment of Applied Geoinformatics and Spatial PlanningCzech University of Life Sciences PragueCzech Republic
| | - Anders Pape Møller
- Ecologie Systématique EvolutionUniversité Paris‐SudCNRSUniversité SaclayOrsay CedexFrance
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15
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Schumm M, White AE, Supriya K, Price TD. Ecological Limits as the Driver of Bird Species Richness Patterns along the East Himalayan Elevational Gradient. Am Nat 2020; 195:802-817. [PMID: 32364787 DOI: 10.1086/707665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Variation in species richness across environmental gradients results from a combination of historical nonequilibrium processes (time, speciation, extinction) and present-day differences in environmental carrying capacities (i.e., ecological limits affected by species interactions and the abundance and diversity of resources). In a study of bird richness along the subtropical east Himalayan elevational gradient, we test the prediction that species richness patterns are consistent with ecological limits using data on morphology, phylogeny, elevational distribution, and arthropod resources. Species richness peaks at midelevations. Occupied morphological volume is roughly constant from low elevations to midelevations, implying that more species are packed into the same space at midelevations compared with low elevations. However, variance in beak length and differences in beak length between close relatives decline with elevation, which is a consequence of the addition of many small insectivores at midelevations. These patterns are predicted from resource distributions: arthropod size diversity declines from low elevations to midelevations, largely because many more small insects are present at midelevations. Weak correlations of species mean morphological traits with elevation also match predictions based on resources and habitats. Elevational transects in the tropical Andes, New Guinea, and Tanzania similarly show declines in mean arthropod size and mean beak length and, in these cases, likely contribute to declining numbers of insectivorous bird species richness along these gradients. The results imply that conditions for ecological limits are met, although historical nonequilibrium processes are likely to also contribute to the pattern of species richness.
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16
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Montoya-Ciriaco N, Gómez-Acata S, Muñoz-Arenas LC, Dendooven L, Estrada-Torres A, Díaz de la Vega-Pérez AH, Navarro-Noya YE. Dietary effects on gut microbiota of the mesquite lizard Sceloporus grammicus (Wiegmann, 1828) across different altitudes. MICROBIOME 2020; 8:6. [PMID: 31980039 PMCID: PMC6982387 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-0783-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-altitude ecosystems are extreme environments that generate specific physiological, morphological, and behavioral adaptations in ectotherms. The shifts in gut microbiota of the ectothermic hosts as an adaptation to environmental changes are still largely unknown. We investigated the food ingested and the bacterial, fungal, and protistan communities in feces of the lizard Sceloporus grammicus inhabiting an altitudinal range using metabarcoding approaches. RESULTS The bacterial phyla Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, and the genera Bacteroides and Parabacteroides dominated the core fecal bacteriome, while Zygomycota and Ascomycota, and the species Basidiobolus ranarum and Basidiobolus magnus dominated the core fecal mycobiome. The diet of S. grammicus included 29 invertebrate families belonging to Arachnida, Chilopoda, and Insecta. The diversity and abundance of its diet decreased sharply at high altitudes, while the abundance of plant material and Agaricomycetes was significantly higher at the highest site. The composition of the fecal microbiota of S. grammicus was different at the three altitudes, but not between females and males. Dietary restriction in S. grammicus at 4150 m might explain the high fecal abundance of Akkermansia and Oscillopira, bacteria characteristic of long fasting periods, while low temperature favored B. magnus. A high proportion of bacterial functions were digestive in S. grammicus at 2600 and 3100, while metabolism of aminoacids, vitamins, and key intermediates of metabolic pathways were higher at 4150 m. Different assemblages of fungal species in the lizard reflect differences in the environments at different elevations. Pathogens were more prevalent at high elevations than at the low ones. CONCLUSIONS Limiting food resources at high elevations might oblige S. grammicus to exploit other food resources and its intestinal microbiota have degradative and detoxifying capacities. Sceloporus grammicus might have acquired B. ranarum from the insects infected by the fungus, but its commensal relationship might be established by the quitinolytic capacities of B. ranarum. The mycobiome participate mainly in digestive and degradative functions while the bacteriome in digestive and metabolic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Montoya-Ciriaco
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas, Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México
| | | | - Ligia Catalina Muñoz-Arenas
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas, Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México
| | - Luc Dendooven
- Laboratory of Soil Ecology, Cinvestav, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Arturo Estrada-Torres
- Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México
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17
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Elliott TF, Jusino MA, Trappe JM, Lepp H, Ballard GA, Bruhl JJ, Vernes K. A global review of the ecological significance of symbiotic associations between birds and fungi. FUNGAL DIVERS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13225-019-00436-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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18
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Souto‐Vilarós D, Machac A, Michalek J, Darwell CT, Sisol M, Kuyaiva T, Isua B, Weiblen GD, Novotny V, Segar ST. Faster speciation of fig‐wasps than their host figs leads to decoupled speciation dynamics: Snapshots across the speciation continuum. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:3958-3976. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Souto‐Vilarós
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Antonin Machac
- Center for Theoretical Study Charles University and Czech Academy of Sciences Prague Czech Republic
- Department of Ecology Charles University Prague Czech Republic
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate Natural History Museum of Denmark University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
- Biodiversity Research Centre University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Jan Michalek
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | | | - Mentap Sisol
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre Madang Papua New Guinea
| | - Thomas Kuyaiva
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre Madang Papua New Guinea
| | - Brus Isua
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre Madang Papua New Guinea
| | - George D. Weiblen
- Institute on the Environment University of Minnesota Saint Paul MN USA
| | - Vojtech Novotny
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology České Budějovice Czech Republic
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre Madang Papua New Guinea
| | - Simon T. Segar
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Department of Crop and Environment Sciences Harper Adams University Newport UK
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19
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Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate to Ficus hahliana attracts predators of insects along an altitudinal gradient in Papua New Guinea. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467419000117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIn many plants, the defence systems against herbivores are induced, and may be involved in recruiting the natural enemies of herbivores. We used methyl jasmonate, a well-known inducer of plant defence responses, to manipulate the chemistry of Ficus hahliana along a tropical altitudinal gradient in order to test its ability to attract the enemies of herbivores. We examined whether chemical signals from MeJA-treated trees (simulating leaf damage by herbivores) attracted insect enemies in the complex settings of a tropical forest; and how this ability changes with altitude, where the communities of predators differ naturally. We conducted the research at four study sites (200, 700, 1700 and 2700 m asl) of Mt Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea. Using dummy plasticine caterpillars to assess predation on herbivorous insect, we showed that, on average, inducing plant defences with jasmonic acid in this tropical forest increases predation twofold (i.e. caterpillars exposed on MeJA-sprayed trees were attacked twice as often as caterpillars exposed on control trees). The predation rate on control trees decreased with increasing altitude from 20.2% d−1 at 200 m asl to 4.7% d−1 at 2700 m asl. Predation on MeJA-treated trees peaked at 700 m (52.3% d−1) and decreased to 20.8% d−1 at 2700 m asl. Arthropod predators (i.e. ants and wasps) caused relatively more attacks in the lowlands (200–700 m asl), while birds became the dominant predators above 1700 m asl. The predation pressure from birds and arthropods corresponded with their relative abundances, but not with their species richness. Our study found a connection between chemically induced defence in plants and their attractivity to predators of herbivorous insect in the tropics.
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Mansor MS, Abdullah NA, Abdullah Halim MR, Md. Nor S, Ramli R. Diet of tropical insectivorous birds in lowland Malaysian rainforest. J NAT HIST 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2018.1534015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Saiful Mansor
- School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nurul Ashikin Abdullah
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Shukor Md. Nor
- School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rosli Ramli
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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21
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Bodawatta KH, Sam K, Jønsson KA, Poulsen M. Comparative Analyses of the Digestive Tract Microbiota of New Guinean Passerine Birds. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1830. [PMID: 30147680 PMCID: PMC6097311 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The digestive tract microbiota (DTM) plays a plethora of functions that enable hosts to exploit novel niches. However, our understanding of the DTM of birds, particularly passerines, and the turnover of microbial communities along the digestive tract are limited. To better understand how passerine DTMs are assembled, and how the composition changes along the digestive tract, we investigated the DTM of seven different compartments along the digestive tract of nine New Guinean passerine bird species using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA. Overall, passerine DTMs were dominated by the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. We found bird species-specific DTM assemblages and the DTM of different compartments from the same species tended to cluster together. We also found a notable relationship between gut community similarity and feeding guilds (insectivores vs. omnivores). The dominant bacterial genera tended to differ between insectivores and omnivores, with insectivores mainly having lactic acid bacteria that may contribute to the breakdown of carbohydrates. Omnivorous DTMs were more diverse than insectivores and dominated by the bacterial phyla Proteobacteria and Tenericutes. These bacteria may contribute to nitrogen metabolism, and the diverse omnivorous DTMs may allow for more flexibility with varying food availability as these species have wider feeding niches. In well-sampled omnivorous species, the dominant bacterial genera changed along the digestive tracts, which was less prominent for insectivores. In conclusion, the DTMs of New Guinean passerines seem to be species specific and, at least in part, be shaped by bird diet. The sampling of DTM along the digestive tract improved capturing of a more complete set of members, with implications for our understanding of the interactions between symbiont and gut compartment functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasun H Bodawatta
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Section for Biosystematics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katerina Sam
- Biology Centre AS CR v. v. i., Faculty of Science, Institute of Entomology and University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Knud A Jønsson
- Section for Biosystematics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Nyffeler M, Şekercioğlu ÇH, Whelan CJ. Insectivorous birds consume an estimated 400-500 million tons of prey annually. THE SCIENCE OF NATURE - NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN 2018; 105:47. [PMID: 29987431 PMCID: PMC6061143 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-018-1571-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we present an estimate of the predation impact of the global population of insectivorous birds based on 103 (for the most part) published studies of prey consumption (kg ha-1 season-1) of insectivorous birds in seven biome types. By extrapolation-taking into account the global land cover of the various biomes-an estimate of the annual prey consumption of the world's insectivorous birds was obtained. We estimate the prey biomass consumed by the world's insectivorous birds to be somewhere between 400 and 500 million metric tons year-1, but most likely at the lower end of this range (corresponding to an energy consumption of ≈ 2.7 × 1018 J year-1 or ≈ 0.15% of the global terrestrial net primary production). Birds in forests account for > 70% of the global annual prey consumption of insectivorous birds (≥ 300 million tons year-1), whereas birds in other biomes (savannas and grasslands, croplands, deserts, and Arctic tundra) are less significant contributors (≥ 100 million tons year-1). Especially during the breeding season, when adult birds feed their nestlings protein-rich prey, large numbers of herbivorous insects (i.e., primarily in the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera) supplemented by spiders are captured. The estimates presented in this paper emphasize the ecological and economic importance of insectivorous birds in suppressing potentially harmful insect pests on a global scale-especially in forested areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Nyffeler
- Section of Conservation Biology, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Çağan H Şekercioğlu
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
- College of Sciences, Koç University, Rumelifeneri, Istanbul, Sariyer, Turkey
| | - Christopher J Whelan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
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