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Lu K, Chen Z, He X, Wu H, He F. Slow recovery in trophic structure of restored wetlands in Northeast China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 952:175803. [PMID: 39197779 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175803] [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: 06/08/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
Restoration measures have been widely implemented in wetland ecosystems globally to bend the curve of biodiversity loss and restore associated ecological functions. However, assessments of the effectiveness of wetland restoration have predominantly focused on the recovery of taxonomic composition, while few studies have assessed the effectiveness of these efforts from a food web perspective. Here, we incorporated stable isotope approach to investigate trophic structure in natural and restored wetlands in Northeast China. The investigated consumers, including zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and fish, exhibited lower δ15N and higher δ13C values in restored wetlands than in natural wetlands. Natural wetlands exhibited higher trophic positions and a wider range of trophic levels compared to restored wetlands. Primary consumers in natural wetlands relied more on particulate organic matter (POM, 42.9 % ± 24.1 %), while those in restored wetlands were more dependent on substrate organic matter (SOM, 42.3 % ± 23.9 %). Compared to natural wetlands, isotopic richness was significantly lower in restored wetlands, with smaller isotopic variation (SEAs) in basal resources, aquatic invertebrates, and fish. Our findings reveal that the recovery of trophic structures in restored wetlands lags behind that of taxonomic composition. Future restoration efforts should prioritize enhancing habitat heterogeneity and resource availability to support a diverse range of trophic levels. Monitoring trophic dynamics is essential for assessing the progress of wetland restoration and should be integrated into monitoring schemes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangle Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130102, China; Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130102, China
| | - Zhanyan Chen
- Moutai Institute of Science and Technology, Zunyi, Guizhou 564501, China
| | - Xinhua He
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Haitao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130102, China; Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130102, China.
| | - Fengzhi He
- State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130102, China; Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130102, China
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2
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Cao J, Yang X, Guo M, Wu Y, Wang C. Reclamation of abandoned cropland switches fungal community assembly from deterministic to stochastic processes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 951:175494. [PMID: 39153623 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175494] [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: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Soil microbial communities are major drivers of cycling of soil nutrients that sustain plant growth and productivity. Yet, a holistic understanding of the impact of abandoned agricultural land reclamation on the soil microbe is still poorly understood, especially for the microbial community assembly mechanisms. Here, we investigated the influence of reclamation on the relative importance of stochastic and deterministic processes in shaping microbial community assembly. After reclaiming abandoned cropland for corn and soybean cultivation, the fungal community assembly was shifted to stochastic processes, while bacterial communities remained predominantly influenced by stochastic processes. Our study revealed that reclamation did not significantly affect bacterial diversity, community niche breadth, and community similarity. In contrast, fungal communities exhibited lower alpha diversity, narrower niche breadths, greater niche overlap and higher community similarity in corn and soybean cultivation treatment in response to reclamation. Moreover, soil pH and soil available phosphorus were the most important environmental factors influencing fungal richness, niche breadths, community assembly processes, and community similarity. Together, the reclamation of abandoned cropland promoted the transformation of the fungal community assembly from deterministic process to a stochastic process, leading to decreased fungal diversity and broader ecological niche width, ultimately resulting in greater similarity among fungal communities. This finding provides insight into the varied responses of microbial diversity and ecological process to abandoned cropland reclamation, offering valuable guidance for the conservation and sustainable management of abandoned cropland in future land-use practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Cao
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, PR China
| | - Xi Yang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, PR China
| | - Mengyao Guo
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, PR China
| | - Yafen Wu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, PR China
| | - Chong Wang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, PR China.
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3
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Akresh ME, Mandell D, Grima PP, King DI, Lauer K. Differential use of nest materials and niche space among avian species within a single ecological community. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70142. [PMID: 39315298 PMCID: PMC11419847 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70142] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Differential use of resources among bird species has been examined extensively in diet and nesting sites, but few studies have assessed this regarding avian nest materials. We assessed the structure and composition of nests in a group of co-existing passerine shrubland birds at a site in Massachusetts, USA. We found, measured, collected, and dissected nests, and then weighed nest materials in morphological groups (e.g., bark, twigs, feathers) to determine if our seven focal species were using different nest materials. Among species, we compared proportional material masses in complete nests, and also separately in the exterior, structural part of the nest and the interior, cup lining. We found that the proportional masses of all 17 material types that we examined in nests differed among species. The compositions of nests among all seven bird species were distinct in multivariate ordination space and only a few pairs of species had substantial niche overlap. Proportional masses of materials within discrete sections (exterior and interior) also varied among species. Although some differences in nest composition could be partially explained by bird species size, nest materials differed even within the three larger bodied species and within four smaller bodied species. Our study builds upon previous studies that have shown species-specificity in avian nest composition and supports the notion that birds using the same environment have distinct niches in relation to the materials placed in their nests. Niche partitioning due to interspecific competition could partially explain our findings, as certain materials are limited as resources, and searching for suitable nest materials is energetically costly. Additionally, other factors, such as partitioned nest sites, may have led to differential nest material use. We recommend further research to help elucidate underlying mechanisms of nest composition partitioning in birds and potentially other nest-building taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E. Akresh
- Department of Environmental StudiesAntioch University New EnglandKeeneNew HampshireUSA
- Department of Environmental ConservationUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstMassachusettsUSA
| | - David Mandell
- Department of Environmental StudiesAntioch University New EnglandKeeneNew HampshireUSA
| | | | - David I. King
- Department of Environmental ConservationUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstMassachusettsUSA
- U.S. Forest Service Northern Research StationUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstMassachusettsUSA
| | - Kathryn Lauer
- Department of Environmental StudiesAntioch University New EnglandKeeneNew HampshireUSA
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4
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Hurtado P, Aragón G, Vicente M, Dalsgaard B, Krasnov BR, Calatayud J. Generalism in species interactions is more the consequence than the cause of ecological success. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:1602-1611. [PMID: 39060479 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02484-8] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Generalism in resource use is commonly considered a critical driver of population success, species distribution and extinction risk. This idea can be questioned as generalism may be a result rather than the cause of species abundance and range size. We tested these contrasting causal hypotheses focusing on host use in three databases encompassing approximately 44,000 mutualistic (hummingbird-plant), commensalistic (lichen-plant) and parasitic (flea-mammal) interactions in 617 ecological communities across the Americas and Eurasia. Across all interaction types, our analyses indicated that range size and abundance influence the probability of encountering hosts and set the arena for species to express generalism potentials or adapt to new hosts. Hence, our findings support the hypothesis that generalism is a consequence of species ecological success. This highlights the importance of ecological opportunity in driving species characteristics considered key for their survival and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Hurtado
- DIFAR, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
- Department of Biology and Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Gregorio Aragón
- Department of Biology and Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
- Global Change Research Institute, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Vicente
- Department of Biology and Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bo Dalsgaard
- Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Boris R Krasnov
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Joaquín Calatayud
- Department of Biology and Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
- Global Change Research Institute, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
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5
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Lancaster LT. Generalism accumulates on the path to success. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:1569-1570. [PMID: 39060478 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02492-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
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6
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Senthilnathan A, D'Andrea R. Coexistence of Competing Plants Under Plant-Soil Feedback. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14503. [PMID: 39354908 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024]
Abstract
Plant-soil feedback (PSF), the reciprocal interaction between plants and their soil environment, is a fundamental ecological process that can influence coexistence and functional structure in plant communities. Current theory establishes that PSF may enhance diversity or lead to exclusion depending on whether soil conditioning disproportionately benefits heterospecific or conspecific individuals. However, a more complete picture of the impact of PSF requires understanding how PSF interacts with competition. To that end, here we propose an integrated mathematical model combining trait-based competition and soil-explicit PSF. Contrary to the current paradigm, we find that soil conditioning that disproportionately favours conspecific individuals can promote coexistence. Additionally, we show that priority effects are common when soil-conditioning species differ in their edaphic preferences. These effects can allow species with large differences in competitive ability to coexist under certain soil conditions. Our results provide testable predictions tying community-level functional patterns in plant communities to PSF and competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athmanathan Senthilnathan
- Department of Environmental Studies, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Rafael D'Andrea
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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7
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Valdés-Florido A, Valcárcel V, Maguilla E, Díaz-Lifante Z, Andrés-Camacho C, Zeltner L, Coca-de-la-Iglesia M, Medina NG, Arroyo J, Escudero M. The interplay between climatic niche evolution, polyploidy and reproductive traits explains plant speciation in the Mediterranean Basin: a case study in Centaurium (Gentianaceae). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1439985. [PMID: 39184574 PMCID: PMC11344271 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1439985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Speciation and diversification patterns in angiosperms are frequently shaped by niche evolution. Centaurium Hill is a Mediterranean genus with ca. 25 species, of which 60% are polyploids (tetra- and hexaploids), distributed mainly in the Mediterranean Basin and in areas with temperate and arid climates of Asia, Europe, North-Central Africa and North America. The evolutionary history of this genus has been studied using morphological, biogeographical and molecular approaches, but its climatic niche characterization and its relation with genome evolution (chromosome number and ploidy level) has not been addressed yet. Thus, this study aims to identify the role of the evolution of climatic niche, ploidy level, life cycle and floral traits in the diversification of Centaurium. Climatic niche characterization involved estimating present climate preferences using quantitative data and reconstructing ancestral niches to evaluate climatic niche shifts. The evolution of climatic niche towards selective optima determined by ploidy level (three ploidy levels) and different binary traits (polyploidy, floral size, floral display, herkogamy and life cycle) was addressed under the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model. Chromosome number evolution was inferred using the ChromoSSE model, testing if changes are clado- or anagenetic. Chromosome number evolution and its link with cladogenesis, life cycle and floral traits was modeled on the phylogeny. The reconstruction of the ancestral niches shows that Centaurium originated in a mild climate and diversified to both humid and cold as well as to dry and warmer climates. Niche conservatism was estimated in the climatic niche of the ancestors, while the climatic niche of the current taxa experienced transitions from their ancestors' niche. Besides, the evolution of climatic niche towards multiple selective optima determined by the studied traits was supported, life cycle optima receiving the highest support. The reconstruction of chromosome number transitions shows that the rate of speciation process resulting from chromosomal changes (chromosomal cladogenesis) is similar to that of non-chromosomal cladogenesis. Additionally, dependent evolution of floral size, floral display and herkogamy with chromosome number variation was supported. In conclusion, polyploidization is a crucial process in the Mediterranean region that assisted speciation and diversification into new areas with different climates, entailing niche shifts and evolution of reproductive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Valdés-Florido
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Virginia Valcárcel
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Enrique Maguilla
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain
| | - Zoila Díaz-Lifante
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Cristina Andrés-Camacho
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Louis Zeltner
- Laboratoire de Botanique Evolutive, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | | | - Nagore G. Medina
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Arroyo
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Marcial Escudero
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
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8
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Burgess SC, Turner AM, Johnston EC. Niche breadth and divergence in sympatric cryptic coral species ( Pocillopora spp.) across habitats within reefs and among algal symbionts. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13762. [PMID: 39100752 PMCID: PMC11294925 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
While the presence of morphologically cryptic species is increasingly recognized, we still lack a useful understanding of what causes and maintains co-occurring cryptic species and its consequences for the ecology, evolution, and conservation of communities. We sampled 724 Pocillopora corals from five habitat zones (the fringing reef, back reef, and fore reef at 5, 10, and 20 m) at four sites around the island of Moorea, French Polynesia. Using validated genetic markers, we identified six sympatric species of Pocillopora, most of which cannot be reliably identified based on morphology: P. meandrina (42.9%), P. tuahiniensis (25.1%), P. verrucosa (12.2%), P. acuta (10.4%), P. grandis (7.73%), and P. cf. effusa (2.76%). For 423 colonies (58% of the genetically identified hosts), we also used psbA ncr or ITS2 markers to identify symbiont species (Symbiodiniaceae). The relative abundance of Pocillopora species differed across habitats within the reef. Sister taxa P. verrucosa and P. tuahiniensis had similar niche breadths and hosted the same specialist symbiont species (mostly Cladocopium pacificum) but the former was more common in the back reef and the latter more common deeper on the fore reef. In contrast, sister taxa P. meandrina and P. grandis had the highest niche breadths and overlaps and tended to host the same specialist symbiont species (mostly C. latusorum). Pocillopora acuta had the narrowest niche breadth and hosted the generalist, and more thermally tolerant, Durusdinium gynnii. Overall, there was a positive correlation between reef habitat niche breadth and symbiont niche breadth-Pocillopora species with a broader habitat niche also had a broader symbiont niche. Our results show how fine-scale variation within reefs plays an important role in the generation and coexistence of cryptic species. The results also have important implications for how niche differences affect community resilience, and for the success of coral restoration practices, in ways not previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott C. Burgess
- Department of Biological ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Alyssa M. Turner
- Department of Biological ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Erika C. Johnston
- Department of Biological ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
- Present address:
Hawai‘i Institute of Marine BiologyKāne‘oheHawaiiUSA
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9
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Vazquez MS, La Sala LF, Scorolli AL, Caruso NC, Zalba SM. Pushing the boundaries: actual and potential distribution of thrushes expanding their ranges in South America. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17587. [PMID: 39080378 PMCID: PMC11289275 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68611-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The distribution of a species reflects its ecological adaptability and evolutionary history, which is shaped by the environment and represents a dynamic area subject to anthropogenic environmental change. We used the MaxEnt algorithm to construct ecological niche models for four thrush species within the Turdus genus; T. amaurochalinus, T. chiguanco, T. falcklandii and T. rufiventris. These models were used to predict the potential geographic distributions of these species that are expanding their ranges in South America. Using occurrence records, we estimated currently occupied areas for each species. We also identified suitable habitats and projected possible areas to be colonized by the four species at continental scale. Temperature annual range had the highest influence for T. falcklandii, while human modification was the main variable explaining the distribution of the other three species. The potential distribution area ranged from 2.5 million km2 for T. falcklandii to nearly seven million km2 for T. amaurochalinus. Large proportions of suitable area remain unoccupied by all four species, being 50% for T. amaurochalinus and T. rufiventris, and about 70% for T. chiguanco and T. falcklandii. Anthropogenic disturbances, such as habitat loss and ecosystem transformation, lead to non-random species extinction and biotic homogenization, highlighting the importance of predictive models as valuable tools for informing mitigation policies and conservation strategies. Thrushes are progressively expanding their ranges, and the colonization of new habitats could bring new challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Soledad Vazquez
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, GEKKO-Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo, Universidad Nacional del Sur. San Juan, 670 (8000), Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
| | - Luciano F La Sala
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, GEKKO-Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo, Universidad Nacional del Sur. San Juan, 670 (8000), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur (INBIOSUR), CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Alberto L Scorolli
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, GEKKO-Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo, Universidad Nacional del Sur. San Juan, 670 (8000), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Nicolas C Caruso
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur (INBIOSUR), CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Sergio M Zalba
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, GEKKO-Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo, Universidad Nacional del Sur. San Juan, 670 (8000), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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10
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Thierry M, Cote J, Bestion E, Legrand D, Clobert J, Jacob S. The interplay between abiotic and biotic factors in dispersal decisions in metacommunities. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230137. [PMID: 38913055 PMCID: PMC11391301 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Suitable conditions for species to survive and reproduce constitute their ecological niche, which is built by abiotic conditions and interactions with conspecifics and heterospecifics. Organisms should ideally assess and use information about all these environmental dimensions to adjust their dispersal decisions depending on their own internal conditions. Dispersal plasticity is often considered through its dependence on abiotic conditions or conspecific density and, to a lesser extent, with reference to the effects of interactions with heterospecifics, potentially leading to misinterpretation of dispersal drivers. Here, we first review the evidence for the effects of and the potential interplays between abiotic factors, biotic interactions with conspecifics and heterospecifics and phenotype on dispersal decisions. We then present an experimental test of these potential interplays, investigating the effects of density and interactions with conspecifics and heterospecifics on temperature-dependent dispersal in microcosms of Tetrahymena ciliates. We found significant differences in dispersal rates depending on the temperature, density and presence of another strain or species. However, the presence and density of conspecifics and heterospecifics had no effects on the thermal-dependency of dispersal. We discuss the causes and consequences of the (lack of) interplay between the different environmental dimensions and the phenotype for metacommunity assembly and dynamics. This article is part of the theme issue 'Diversity-dependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Thierry
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UAR 2029, CNRS , Moulis 09200, France
| | - Julien Cote
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (CRBE), UMR 5300 CNRS-IRD-TINP-UT3 Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, Bât. 4R1, 118 route de Narbonne , Toulouse Cedex 9 31062, France
| | - Elvire Bestion
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UAR 2029, CNRS , Moulis 09200, France
| | - Delphine Legrand
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UAR 2029, CNRS , Moulis 09200, France
| | - Jean Clobert
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UAR 2029, CNRS , Moulis 09200, France
| | - Staffan Jacob
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UAR 2029, CNRS , Moulis 09200, France
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11
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Zhu Y, Tu X, Bi Y, Song G, Mi W. Competition in the Periphytic Algal Community during the Colonization Process: Evidence from the World's Largest Water Diversion Project. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:2067. [PMID: 39124185 PMCID: PMC11314427 DOI: 10.3390/plants13152067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Periphytic algal colonization is common in aquatic systems, but its interspecific competition remains poorly understood. In order to fill the gap, the process of periphytic algal colonization in the Middle Route of the South to North Water Diversion Project was studied. The results showed that the process was divided into three stages: the initial colonization stage (T1, 3-6 days), community formation stage (T2, 12-18 days) and primary succession stage (T3, 24-27 days). In T1, the dominant species were Diatoma vulgaris (Bory), Navicula phyllepta (Kützing) and Fragilaria amphicephaloides (Lange-Bertalot) belonging to Heterokontophyta; these species boasted wide niche widths (NWs), low niche overlap (NO) and low ecological response rates (ERRs). In T2, the dominant species were Diatoma vulgaris, Cymbella affinis (Kützing), Navicula phyllepta, Fragilaria amphicephaloides, Gogorevia exilis (Kützing), Melosira varians (C.Agardh), Phormidium willei (N.L.Gardner) and Cladophora rivularis (Kuntze). These species displayed wider NWs, lower NO, and lower ERRs than those in T1. In T3, the dominant species were Diatoma vulgaris, Cymbella affinis, Navicula phyllepta, Fragilaria amphicephaloides, Achnanthes exigu (Grunow), etc. Among them, Heterokontophyta such as Diatoma vulgaris and Cymbella affinis had a competitive advantage based on NWs and ERRs. Cyanobacteria like Phormidium willei lost their dominant status due to the narrower NW and the increased NO. It could be concluded the interspecific competition became fiercer and shaped the colonization process; this study will be helpful in understanding the colonization of periphytic algal communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.B.); (G.S.)
| | - Xiaojie Tu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Resources and Eco-Environment Geology (Hubei Geological Bureau), Wuhan 430034, China;
| | - Yonghong Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.B.); (G.S.)
| | - Gaofei Song
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.B.); (G.S.)
| | - Wujuan Mi
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.B.); (G.S.)
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Jofré-Madariaga D, Aguilera Moya MA, Alves-de-Souza C, Arias RM, Gutow L, Jeldres Polanco RA, Macaya EC, Kappes MM, Ortiz Arancibia LN, Pino O, Rech S, Rothäusler E, Harrod C, Thiel M. Non-indigenous species and their realized niche in tidepools along the South-East Pacific coast. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 199:106541. [PMID: 38852493 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Non-indigenous species (NIS) have the potential to colonize and become established in a wide range of coastal habitats. Species with broad environmental tolerances can quickly adapt to local conditions and expand their niches along environmental gradients, and even colonize habitats with extreme abiotic conditions. Here we report and document the distribution of eight marine NIS (four seaweed and four invertebrate species) found in tidepools along a 3000 km latitudinal gradient along the Pacific coast of Chile (18.4°S to 41.9°S). The seaweed NIS Codium fragile, Capreolia implexa, Schottera nicaeensis and Mastocarpus latissimus were mostly distributed towards high latitudes (i.e., more southerly locations), where temperatures in tidepools were low. The invertebrate NIS Anemonia alicemartinae, Ciona robusta, Bugula neritina and Bugulina flabellata were more common towards low latitudes, where high temperatures were registered in the tidepools. Across the intertidal gradient, seaweed NIS were mostly found in pools in the mid and low intertidal zone, while invertebrate NIS occurred mostly in pools from the mid and upper intertidal zones. The realized niche spaces of NIS (based on the Outlying Mean Index, OMI) in the study area were mainly influenced by environmental conditions of temperature and salinity (along the latitudinal and intertidal gradients), while other tidepool characteristics (depth, surface area, exposition, and complexity) only had minor effects. Five of the eight NIS exhibited a realized niche space coinciding with the average tidepool environmental conditions, while marginal niches were occupied by species with affinities for specific temperatures and salinities along the latitudinal and intertidal gradients. Our results indicate that physiological tolerances to environmental factors play a fundamental role in the distribution of seaweed and invertebrate NIS in tidepools along the Chilean coast. This study confirms that tidepools offer suitable conditions for some seaweed and invertebrate NIS, potentially facilitating their invasion into new natural habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Jofré-Madariaga
- Departamento de Biologia Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Cátolica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Doctorado en Ciencias Aplicadas mención Sistemas Marinos Costeros, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Univ. de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Moisés A Aguilera Moya
- Departamento de Ciencias, Facultad de Artes Liberales, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile, Diagonal Las Torres, 2640, Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile
| | - Catharina Alves-de-Souza
- Departamento de Oceanografía, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile; Centro de Investigación Oceanográfica COPAS Coastal, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Rene Matías Arias
- Departamento de Biologia Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Cátolica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Lars Gutow
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Ricardo Antonio Jeldres Polanco
- Laboratorio de Estudios Algales (ALGALAB), Departamento de Oceanografía, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile; Centro FONDAP de Investigación en Dinámica de Ecosistemas Marinos de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL), Valdivia, Chile
| | - Erasmo C Macaya
- Laboratorio de Estudios Algales (ALGALAB), Departamento de Oceanografía, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile; Centro FONDAP de Investigación en Dinámica de Ecosistemas Marinos de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL), Valdivia, Chile
| | - Martín Munizaga Kappes
- Departamento de Biologia Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Cátolica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Leslie Nicole Ortiz Arancibia
- Departamento de Biologia Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Cátolica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Oscar Pino
- Departamento de Biologia Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Cátolica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Sabine Rech
- Departamento de Biologia Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Cátolica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Island (ESMOI), Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Eva Rothäusler
- Centro de Investigaciones Costeras (CIC - UDA), Universidad de Atacama, Copiapó, Chile
| | - Chris Harrod
- Universidad de Antofagasta Stable Isotope Facility, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile; Instituto de Ciencias Naturales Alexander Von Humboldt. Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile; Núcleo Milenio INVASAL, Concepción, Chile
| | - Martin Thiel
- Departamento de Biologia Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Cátolica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Island (ESMOI), Coquimbo, Chile; MarineGEO Program, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, USA.
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13
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Borkowski A. The Relationships between the Population Density of Fir Bark Beetles and Niche Breadth. INSECTS 2024; 15:422. [PMID: 38921137 PMCID: PMC11204340 DOI: 10.3390/insects15060422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Bark beetles are a significant link in the chain of diseases that lead to the accelerated dying of firs (Abies alba Mill.), a key species in the cultivation of stable mixed-tree stands. The aim of this work was to evaluate biotic interactions in populations of bark beetles that colonised natural traps made from firs. The tested hypothesis was that the niche breadth of the species increases with the increasing density of the population. The research was carried out in near-natural forests containing fir, growing in the Suchedniów-Oblęgorek Landscape Park in central Poland. Data were collected from 30 traps trees and 30 windfalls in the years 2010-2023. Cryphalus piceae Ratz. prefers heavily weakened trees, as shown by the fact that it colonised all of the natural traps, which lack any defensive reactions. The sampling method used in the study proved effective, as confirmed by the segregation of the niches of all of the bark beetles. Using nonlinear regression (linearisable model and piecewise linear regression), models were constructed that describe the niche breadths of the bark beetles. The niche parameter is correlated with the density of colonisation. The derived models explain around 77-84% of the variation in the niche breadth of bark beetles on natural traps. The mean relative errors of estimation do not exceed 20%. The niche breadth parameter obtained from the derived regression equations may be used in models that describe-for example-the impact of observed climate change on the population dynamics of bark beetles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Borkowski
- Department of Environmental Biology, Institute of Biology, Jan Kochanowski University, Uniwersytecka 7 Str, 25-406 Kielce, Poland
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Williamson JL, Gyllenhaal EF, Bauernfeind SM, Bautista E, Baumann MJ, Gadek CR, Marra PP, Ricote N, Valqui T, Bozinovic F, Singh ND, Witt CC. Extreme elevational migration spurred cryptic speciation in giant hummingbirds. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2313599121. [PMID: 38739790 PMCID: PMC11126955 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313599121] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The ecoevolutionary drivers of species niche expansion or contraction are critical for biodiversity but challenging to infer. Niche expansion may be promoted by local adaptation or constrained by physiological performance trade-offs. For birds, evolutionary shifts in migratory behavior permit the broadening of the climatic niche by expansion into varied, seasonal environments. Broader niches can be short-lived if diversifying selection and geography promote speciation and niche subdivision across climatic gradients. To illuminate niche breadth dynamics, we can ask how "outlier" species defy constraints. Of the 363 hummingbird species, the giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) has the broadest climatic niche by a large margin. To test the roles of migratory behavior, performance trade-offs, and genetic structure in maintaining its exceptional niche breadth, we studied its movements, respiratory traits, and population genomics. Satellite and light-level geolocator tracks revealed an >8,300-km loop migration over the Central Andean Plateau. This migration included a 3-wk, ~4,100-m ascent punctuated by upward bursts and pauses, resembling the acclimatization routines of human mountain climbers, and accompanied by surging blood-hemoglobin concentrations. Extreme migration was accompanied by deep genomic divergence from high-elevation resident populations, with decisive postzygotic barriers to gene flow. The two forms occur side-by-side but differ almost imperceptibly in size, plumage, and respiratory traits. The high-elevation resident taxon is the world's largest hummingbird, a previously undiscovered species that we describe and name here. The giant hummingbirds demonstrate evolutionary limits on niche breadth: when the ancestral niche expanded due to evolution (or loss) of an extreme migratory behavior, speciation followed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie L. Williamson
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14850
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14850
| | - Ethan F. Gyllenhaal
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
| | | | - Emil Bautista
- Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad, Lima15064, Peru
| | - Matthew J. Baumann
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
| | - Chauncey R. Gadek
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
- Environmental Stewardship, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM87545
| | - Peter P. Marra
- The Earth Commons Institute, Department of Biology, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC20057
| | - Natalia Ricote
- Facultad de Artes Liberales, Departamento de Ciencias, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago7941169, Chile
| | - Thomas Valqui
- Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad, Lima15064, Peru
- Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima15024, Peru
| | - Francisco Bozinovic
- Departamento de Ecología, Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago3542000, Chile
| | - Nadia D. Singh
- Department of Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR97403
| | - Christopher C. Witt
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
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15
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Sandretti-Silva G, Vannucchi FS, Teixeira L, Tan TY, Mori GM, Reinert BL, Bornschein MR. Short-term extinction predicted by population viability analysis for a Neotropical salt marsh endemic bird. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:520. [PMID: 38713379 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12618-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Salt marshes pose challenges for the birds that inhabit them, including high rates of nest flooding, tipping, and predation. The impacts of rising sea levels and invasive species further exacerbate these challenges. To assess the urgency of conservation and adequacy of new actions, researchers and wildlife managers may use population viability analyses (PVAs) to identify population trends and major threats. We conducted PVA for Formicivora acutirostris, which is a threatened neotropical bird species endemic to salt marshes. We studied the species' demography in different sectors of an estuary in southern Brazil from 2006 to 2023 and estimated the sex ratio, longevity, productivity, first-year survival, and mortality rates. For a 133-year period, starting in 1990, we modeled four scenarios: (1) pessimistic and (2) optimistic scenarios, including the worst and best values for the parameters; (3) a baseline scenario, with intermediate values; and (4) scenarios under conservation management, with increased recruitment and/or habitat preservation. Projections indicated population decline for all assessment scenarios, with a 100% probability of extinction by 2054 in the pessimistic scenario and no extinction in the optimistic scenario. The conservation scenarios indicated population stability with 16% improvement in productivity, 10% improvement in first-year survival, and stable carrying capacity. The disjunct distribution of the species, with remnants concentrated in a broad interface with arboreal habitats, may seal the population decline by increasing nest predation. The species should be considered conservation dependent, and we recommend assisted colonization, predator control, habitat recovery, and ex situ conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Sandretti-Silva
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, S/No, São Vicente, 11330-900, Brazil.
| | - Fabio Stucchi Vannucchi
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, S/No, São Vicente, 11330-900, Brazil
| | - Larissa Teixeira
- Mater Natura - Instituto de Estudos Ambientais, Rua Emiliano Perneta, 297, Conjunto 122, Curitiba, 80010-050, Brazil
| | - Tjui Yeuw Tan
- Wageningen University & Research, Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Korringaweg, 7, Yerseke, 4401 NT, The Netherlands
- Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen University & Research, De Elst, 1, Wageningen, 6708 WD, The Netherlands
| | - Gustavo Maruyama Mori
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, S/No, São Vicente, 11330-900, Brazil
| | - Bianca Luiza Reinert
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, S/No, São Vicente, 11330-900, Brazil
| | - Marcos R Bornschein
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Praça Infante Dom Henrique, S/No, São Vicente, 11330-900, Brazil.
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16
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Sopniewski J, Catullo R, Ward M, Mitchell N, Scheele BC. Niche-based approach to explore the impacts of environmental disturbances on biodiversity. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024:e14277. [PMID: 38660923 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Globally, species are increasingly at risk from compounding threatening processes, an increasingly prominent driver of which is environmental disturbances. To facilitate effective conservation efforts following such events, methods that evaluate potential impacts across multiple species and provide landscape-scale information are needed to guide targeted responses. Often, the geographic overlap between a disturbance and species' distribution is calculated and then used as a proxy for potential impact. However, such methods do not account for the important influence of environmental heterogeneity throughout species' ranges. To address this shortcoming, we quantified the effects of environmental disturbances on species' environmental niche space. Using the Australian 2019 and 2020 Black Summer fires as a case study, we applied a niche-centric approach to examine the potential impacts of these fires on 387 vertebrate species. We examined the utility of established and novel niche metrics to assess the potential impacts of large-scale disturbance events on species by comparing the potential effects of the fires as determined by our various niche measures to those derived from geographic-based measures of impact. We examined the quality of environmental space affected by the disturbance by quantifying the position in niche space where the disturbance occurred (center or margin), the uniqueness of the environmental space that was burned, and the degree to which the remaining, unburned portion of the niche differed from a species' original prefire niche. There was limited congruence between the proportion of geographic and niche space affected, which showed that geographic-based approaches in isolation may have underestimated the impact of the fires for 56% of modeled species. For each species, when combined, these metrics provided a greater indication of postdisturbance recovery potential than geographic-based measures alone. Accordingly, the integration of niche-based analyses into conservation assessments following large-scale disturbance events will lead to a more nuanced understanding of potential impacts and guide more informed and effective conservation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarrod Sopniewski
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Renee Catullo
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Michelle Ward
- WWF-Aus, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicola Mitchell
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Ben C Scheele
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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17
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Tedersoo L, Drenkhan R, Abarenkov K, Anslan S, Bahram M, Bitenieks K, Buegger F, Gohar D, Hagh‐Doust N, Klavina D, Makovskis K, Zusevica A, Pritsch K, Padari A, Põlme S, Rahimlou S, Rungis D, Mikryukov V. The influence of tree genus, phylogeny, and richness on the specificity, rarity, and diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2024; 16:e13253. [PMID: 38575147 PMCID: PMC10994715 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Partner specificity is a well-documented phenomenon in biotic interactions, yet the factors that determine specificity in plant-fungal associations remain largely unknown. By utilizing composite soil samples, we identified the predictors that drive partner specificity in both plants and fungi, with a particular focus on ectomycorrhizal associations. Fungal guilds exhibited significant differences in overall partner preference and avoidance, richness, and specificity to specific tree genera. The highest level of specificity was observed in root endophytic and ectomycorrhizal associations, while the lowest was found in arbuscular mycorrhizal associations. The majority of ectomycorrhizal fungal species showed a preference for one of their partner trees, primarily at the plant genus level. Specialist ectomycorrhizal fungi were dominant in belowground communities in terms of species richness and relative abundance. Moreover, all tree genera (and occasionally species) demonstrated a preference for certain fungal groups. Partner specificity was not related to the rarity of fungi or plants or environmental conditions, except for soil pH. Depending on the partner tree genus, specific fungi became more prevalent and relatively more abundant with increasing stand age, tree dominance, and soil pH conditions optimal for the partner tree genus. The richness of partner tree species and increased evenness of ectomycorrhizal fungi in multi-host communities enhanced the species richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi. However, it was primarily the partner-generalist fungi that contributed to the high diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi in mixed forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leho Tedersoo
- Mycology and Microbiology CenterUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
- Institute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
- College of ScienceKing Saud UniversityRiyadhSaudi Arabia
| | - Rein Drenkhan
- Institute of Forestry and EngineeringEstonian University of Life SciencesTartuEstonia
| | | | - Sten Anslan
- Institute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | - Mohammad Bahram
- Mycology and Microbiology CenterUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
- Department of EcologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Kriss Bitenieks
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’ (LSFRI Silava)SalaspilsLatvia
| | - Franz Buegger
- Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Research Unit Environmental SimulationNeuherbergGermany
| | - Daniyal Gohar
- Mycology and Microbiology CenterUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
- Institute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | - Niloufar Hagh‐Doust
- Mycology and Microbiology CenterUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
- Institute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | - Darta Klavina
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’ (LSFRI Silava)SalaspilsLatvia
| | - Kristaps Makovskis
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’ (LSFRI Silava)SalaspilsLatvia
| | - Austra Zusevica
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’ (LSFRI Silava)SalaspilsLatvia
| | - Karin Pritsch
- Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Research Unit Environmental SimulationNeuherbergGermany
| | - Allar Padari
- Institute of Forestry and EngineeringEstonian University of Life SciencesTartuEstonia
| | - Sergei Põlme
- Mycology and Microbiology CenterUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
- Natural History MuseumUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | - Saleh Rahimlou
- Mycology and Microbiology CenterUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | - Dainis Rungis
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’ (LSFRI Silava)SalaspilsLatvia
| | - Vladimir Mikryukov
- Mycology and Microbiology CenterUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
- Institute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
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18
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Darío Hernandes Córdoba O, Torres-Romero EJ, Villalobos F, Chapa-Vargas L, Santiago-Alarcon D. Energy input, habitat heterogeneity and host specificity drive avian haemosporidian diversity at continental scales. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232705. [PMID: 38444334 PMCID: PMC10915542 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2705] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The correct identification of variables affecting parasite diversity and assemblage composition at different spatial scales is crucial for understanding how pathogen distribution responds to anthropogenic disturbance and climate change. Here, we used a database of avian haemosporidian parasites to test how the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic structure of the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon from three zoogeographic regions are related to surrogate variables of Earth's energy input, habitat heterogeneity (climatic diversity, landscape heterogeneity, host richness and human disturbance) and ecological interactions (resource use), which was measured by a novel assemblage-level metric related to parasite niche overlap (degree of generalism). We found that different components of energy input explained variation in richness for each genus. We found that human disturbance influences the phylogenetic structure of Haemoproteus while the degree of generalism explained richness and phylogenetic structure of Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon genera. Furthermore, landscape attributes related to human disturbance (human footprint) can filter Haemoproteus assemblages by their phylogenetic relatedness. Finally, assembly processes related to resource use within parasite assemblages modify species richness and phylogenetic structure of Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon assemblages. Overall, our study highlighted the genus-specific patterns with the different components of Earth's energy budget, human disturbances and degree of generalism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erik Joaquín Torres-Romero
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Conservación de Fauna Silvestre, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Ciudad de México, DF, Mexico
- División de Biología, Tecnológico Nacional de México Campus Zacapoaxtla, Subdirección de Investigación y Posgrado, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Fabricio Villalobos
- Red de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, AC Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Leonardo Chapa-Vargas
- División de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, AC, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Diego Santiago-Alarcon
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 12037 USF Beard Drive, SCA 110, Tampa, FL, USA
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19
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Malanoski CM, Farnsworth A, Lunt DJ, Valdes PJ, Saupe EE. Climate change is an important predictor of extinction risk on macroevolutionary timescales. Science 2024; 383:1130-1134. [PMID: 38452067 DOI: 10.1126/science.adj5763] [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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change is increasing rapidly and already impacting biodiversity. Despite its importance in future projections, understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which climate mediates extinction remains limited. We present an integrated approach examining the role of intrinsic traits versus extrinsic climate change in mediating extinction risk for marine invertebrates over the past 485 million years. We found that a combination of physiological traits and the magnitude of climate change is necessary to explain marine invertebrate extinction patterns. Our results suggest that taxa previously identified as extinction resistant may still succumb to extinction if the magnitude of climate change is great enough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cooper M Malanoski
- Department of Earth Sciences, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3AN, UK
| | - Alex Farnsworth
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Daniel J Lunt
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Paul J Valdes
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Erin E Saupe
- Department of Earth Sciences, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3AN, UK
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20
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Rajapakshe RPVGSW, Tomlinson S, Tudor EP, Turner SR, Elliott CP, Lewandrowski W. Same, same, but different: dissimilarities in the hydrothermal germination performance of range-restricted endemics emerge despite microclimatic similarities. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 12:coae009. [PMID: 38487732 PMCID: PMC10939308 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coae009] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Seed germination responses for most narrow-range endemic species are poorly understood, imperilling their conservation management in the face of warming and drying terrestrial ecosystems. We quantified the realized microclimatic niches and the hydrothermal germination thresholds in four threatened taxa (Tetratheca erubescens, Tetratheca harperi, Tetratheca paynterae subsp. paynterae and Tetratheca aphylla subsp. aphylla) that are restricted to individual Banded Ironstone Formations in Western Australia. While T. aphylla subsp. aphylla largely failed to germinate in our trials, all other species demonstrated extended hydrothermal time accumulation (186-500°C MPa days), cool minimum temperatures (7.8-8.5°C), but broad base water potential thresholds (-2.46 to -5.41 MPa) under which germination occurred. These slow germination dynamics are suggestive of cool and wet winter months, where soil moisture is retained to a greater capacity in local microsites where these species occur, rather than the warmer and drier conditions in the surrounding arid environment. Hydrothermal time-to-event modelling showed that each species occupied unique hydrothermal germination niches, which correspond with the microclimatic differences the species are exposed to. Our results provide a baseline understanding for environmental and germination thresholds that govern the recruitment, and ultimately the population structure and persistence, of these short-range endemic plants. In addition, our results can aid future conservation, as well as restoration actions such as translocation to bolster population numbers and to mitigate against losses due to anthropogenic disturbance and global environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajapakshe P V G S W Rajapakshe
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, Australia
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, Australia
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park, 6005, Australia
| | - Sean Tomlinson
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
| | - Emily P Tudor
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Australia
| | - Shane R Turner
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, Australia
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, Australia
| | - Carole P Elliott
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Australia
| | - Wolfgang Lewandrowski
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Australia
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21
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Hällfors MH, Heikkinen RK, Kuussaari M, Lehikoinen A, Luoto M, Pöyry J, Virkkala R, Saastamoinen M, Kujala H. Recent range shifts of moths, butterflies, and birds are driven by the breadth of their climatic niche. Evol Lett 2024; 8:89-100. [PMID: 38370541 PMCID: PMC10872046 DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrad004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Species are altering their ranges as a response to climate change, but the magnitude and direction of observed range shifts vary considerably among species. The ability to persist in current areas and colonize new areas plays a crucial role in determining which species will thrive and which decline as climate change progresses. Several studies have sought to identify characteristics, such as morphological and life-history traits, that could explain differences in the capability of species to shift their ranges together with a changing climate. These characteristics have explained variation in range shifts only sporadically, thus offering an uncertain tool for discerning responses among species. As long-term selection to past climates have shaped species' tolerances, metrics describing species' contemporary climatic niches may provide an alternative means for understanding responses to on-going climate change. Species that occur in a broader range of climatic conditions may hold greater tolerance to climatic variability and could therefore more readily maintain their historical ranges, while species with more narrow tolerances may only persist if they are able to shift in space to track their climatic niche. Here, we provide a first-filter test of the effect of climatic niche dimensions on shifts in the leading range edges in three relatively well-dispersing species groups. Based on the realized changes in the northern range edges of 383 moth, butterfly, and bird species across a boreal 1,100 km latitudinal gradient over c. 20 years, we show that while most morphological or life-history traits were not strongly connected with range shifts, moths and birds occupying a narrower thermal niche and butterflies occupying a broader moisture niche across their European distribution show stronger shifts towards the north. Our results indicate that the climatic niche may be important for predicting responses under climate change and as such warrants further investigation of potential mechanistic underpinnings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria H Hällfors
- Research Centre for Environmental Change, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Nature solutions unit, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Risto K Heikkinen
- Nature solutions unit, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko Kuussaari
- Nature solutions unit, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aleksi Lehikoinen
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Miska Luoto
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Pöyry
- Nature solutions unit, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Raimo Virkkala
- Nature solutions unit, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marjo Saastamoinen
- Research Centre for Environmental Change, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heini Kujala
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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22
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Perret DL, Evans MEK, Sax DF. A species' response to spatial climatic variation does not predict its response to climate change. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2304404120. [PMID: 38109562 PMCID: PMC10769845 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304404120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The dominant paradigm for assessing ecological responses to climate change assumes that future states of individuals and populations can be predicted by current, species-wide performance variation across spatial climatic gradients. However, if the fates of ecological systems are better predicted by past responses to in situ climatic variation through time, this current analytical paradigm may be severely misleading. Empirically testing whether spatial or temporal climate responses better predict how species respond to climate change has been elusive, largely due to restrictive data requirements. Here, we leverage a newly collected network of ponderosa pine tree-ring time series to test whether statistically inferred responses to spatial versus temporal climatic variation better predict how trees have responded to recent climate change. When compared to observed tree growth responses to climate change since 1980, predictions derived from spatial climatic variation were wrong in both magnitude and direction. This was not the case for predictions derived from climatic variation through time, which were able to replicate observed responses well. Future climate scenarios through the end of the 21st century exacerbated these disparities. These results suggest that the currently dominant paradigm of forecasting the ecological impacts of climate change based on spatial climatic variation may be severely misleading over decadal to centennial timescales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L. Perret
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI02912
| | | | - Dov F. Sax
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI02912
- Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, RI02912
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23
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Davison J, Gerz M, Hiiesalu I, Moora M, Semchenko M, Zobel M. Niche types and community assembly. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14327. [PMID: 37819920 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14327] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Studies of niche differentiation and biodiversity often focus on a few niche dimensions due to the methodological challenge of describing hyperdimensional niche space. However, this may limit our understanding of community assembly processes. We used the full spectrum of realized niche types to study arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities: distinguishing abiotic and biotic, and condition and resource, axes. Estimates of differentiation in relation to different niche types were only moderately correlated. However, coexisting taxon niches were consistently less differentiated than expected, based on a regional null model, indicating the importance of habitat filtering at that scale. Nonetheless, resource niches were relatively more differentiated than condition niches, which is consistent with the effect of a resource niche-based coexistence mechanism. Considering niche types, and in particular distinguishing resource and condition niches, provides a more complete understanding of community assembly, compared with studying individual niche axes or the full niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Davison
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Maret Gerz
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Inga Hiiesalu
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mari Moora
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Marina Semchenko
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Martin Zobel
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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24
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Grether GF, Finneran AE, Drury JP. Niche differentiation, reproductive interference, and range expansion. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14350. [PMID: 38062899 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14350] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Understanding species distributions and predicting future range shifts requires considering all relevant abiotic factors and biotic interactions. Resource competition has received the most attention, but reproductive interference is another widespread biotic interaction that could influence species ranges. Rubyspot damselflies (Hetaerina spp.) exhibit a biogeographic pattern consistent with the hypothesis that reproductive interference has limited range expansion. Here, we use ecological niche models to evaluate whether this pattern could have instead been caused by niche differentiation. We found evidence for climatic niche differentiation, but the species that encounters the least reproductive interference has one of the narrowest and most peripheral niches. These findings strengthen the case that reproductive interference has limited range expansion and also provide a counterexample to the idea that release from negative species interactions triggers niche expansion. We propose that release from reproductive interference enables species to expand in range while specializing on the habitats most suitable for breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory F Grether
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ann E Finneran
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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25
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Kyogoku D. Evolution of realized niche breadth diversity driven by community dynamics. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14369. [PMID: 38247040 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14369] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Why many herbivorous insects are host plant specialists, with non-negligible exceptions, is a conundrum of evolutionary biology, especially because the host plants are not necessarily optimal larval diets. Here, I present a novel model of host plant preference evolution of two insect species. Because habitat preference evolution is contingent upon demographic dynamics, I integrate the evolutionary framework with the modern coexistence theory. The results show that the two insect species can evolve into a habitat specialist and generalist, when they experience both negative and positive frequency-dependent community dynamics. This happens because the joint action of positive and negative frequency dependence creates multiple (up to nine) eco-evolutionary equilibria. Furthermore, initial condition dependence due to positive frequency dependence allows specialization to poor habitats. Thus, evolved habitat preferences do not necessarily correlate with the performances. The model provides explanations for counterintuitive empirical patterns and mechanistic interpretations for phenomenological models of niche breadth evolution.
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26
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Kim EH, Hitchmough JD, Cameron RW, Schrodt F, Martin KWE, Cubey R. Applying the concept of niche breadth to understand urban tree mortality in the UK. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 902:166304. [PMID: 37619719 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166304] [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: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Accelerated climate change has raised concerns about heightened vulnerability of urban trees, spurring the need to reevaluate their suitability. The urgency has also driven the widespread application of climatic niche-based models. In particular, the concept of niche breadth (NB), the range of environmental conditions that species can tolerate, is commonly estimated based on species occurrence data over the selected geographic range to predict species response to changing conditions. However, in urban environments where many species are cultivated out of the NB of their natural distributions, additional empirical evidence beyond presence and absence is needed not only to test the true tolerance limits but also to evaluate species' adaptive capacity to future climate. In this research, mortality trends of Acer and Quercus species spanning a 21-year period (2000-2021) from tree inventories of three major UK botanic gardens - the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (KEW), Westonbirt, the National Arboretum (WESB), and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) - were analyzed in relation to their NB under long-term drought stress. As a result, Acer species were more responsive to drought and heat stress. For Acer, positioning below the lower limits of the precipitation of warmest quarter led to an increase in the probability of annual mortality by 1.2 and 1.3 % at KEW and RBGE respectively. In addition, the mean cumulative mortality rate increased corresponding to an increase in the number of niche positions below the lower limits of the selected bioclimatic variables. On the other hand, Quercus species in general exhibited comparable resilience regardless of their niche positions. Moreover, Mediterranean oaks were most tolerant, with cumulative mortality rates that were lower than those of native oaks in the UK. These findings further highlight the importance of incorporating ecological performance and recognizing species-specific adaptive strategies in climatic niche modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Hye Kim
- Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Sheffield, Arts Tower, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| | - James D Hitchmough
- Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Sheffield, Arts Tower, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Ross W Cameron
- Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Sheffield, Arts Tower, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Franziska Schrodt
- Department of Geography, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
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27
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Qiu L, Jacquemyn H, Burgess KS, Zhang LG, Zhou YD, Yang BY, Tan SL. Contrasting range changes of terrestrial orchids under future climate change in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:165128. [PMID: 37364836 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Climate change has impacted the distribution and abundance of numerous plant and animal species during the last century. Orchidaceae is one of the largest yet most threatened families of flowering plants. However, how the geographical distribution of orchids will respond to climate change is largely unknown. Habenaria and Calanthe are among the largest terrestrial orchid genera in China and around the world. In this paper, we modeled the potential distribution of eight Habenaria species and ten Calanthe species in China under the near-current period (1970-2000) and the future period (2081-2100) to test the following two hypotheses: 1) narrow-ranged species are more vulnerable to climate change than wide-ranged species; 2) niche overlap between species is positively correlated with their phylogenetic relatedness. Our results showed that most Habenaria species will expand their ranges, although the climatic space at the southern edge will be lost for most Habenaria species. In contrast, most Calanthe species will shrink their ranges dramatically. Contrasting range changes between Habenaria and Calanthe species may be explained by their differences in climate-adaptive traits such as underground storage organs and evergreen/deciduous habits. Habenaria species are predicted to generally shift northwards and to higher elevations in the future, while Calanthe species are predicted to shift westwards and to higher elevations. The mean niche overlap among Calanthe species was higher than that of Habenaria species. No significant relationship between niche overlap and phylogenetic distance was detected for both Habenaria and Calanthe species. Species range changes in the future was also not correlated with their near current range sizes for both Habenaria and Calanthe. The results of this study suggest that the current conservation status of both Habenaria and Calanthe species should be adjusted. Our study highlights the importance of considering climate-adaptive traits in understanding the responses of orchid taxa to future climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Qiu
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China
| | - Hans Jacquemyn
- KU Leuven, Department of Biology, Plant Conservation and Population Biology, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kevin S Burgess
- Department of Biology, College of Letters & Sciences, Columbus State University, University System of Georgia, Columbus, GA 31907-5645, USA
| | - Li-Guo Zhang
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecosystem Change and Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China
| | - Ya-Dong Zhou
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China
| | - Bo-Yun Yang
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China
| | - Shao-Lin Tan
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China.
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28
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Scheele BC, Heard GW, Cardillo M, Duncan RP, Gillespie GR, Hoskin CJ, Mahony M, Newell D, Rowley JJL, Sopniewski J. An invasive pathogen drives directional niche contractions in amphibians. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:1682-1692. [PMID: 37550511 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02155-0] [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: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Global change is causing an unprecedented restructuring of ecosystems, with the spread of invasive species being a key driver. While population declines of native species due to invasives are well documented, much less is known about whether new biotic interactions reshape niches of native species. Here we quantify geographic range and realized-niche contractions in Australian frog species following the introduction of amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a pathogen responsible for catastrophic amphibian declines worldwide. We show that chytrid-impacted species experienced proportionately greater contractions in niche breadth than geographic distribution following chytrid emergence. Furthermore, niche contractions were directional, with contemporary distributions of chytrid-impacted species characterized by higher temperatures, lower diurnal temperature range, higher precipitation and lower elevations. Areas with these conditions may enable host persistence with chytrid through lower pathogenicity of the fungus and/or greater demographic resilience. Nevertheless, contraction to a narrower subset of environmental conditions could increase host vulnerability to other threatening processes and should be considered in assessments of extinction risk and during conservation planning. More broadly, our results emphasize that biotic interactions can strongly shape species realized niches and that large-scale niche contractions due to new species interactions-particularly emerging pathogens-could be widespread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben C Scheele
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
- Macroevolution and Macroecology Group, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
| | - Geoffrey W Heard
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network and Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Marcel Cardillo
- Macroevolution and Macroecology Group, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Richard P Duncan
- Centre for Conservation Ecology and Genomics, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Graeme R Gillespie
- Science, Economics and Insights Division, Department of Planning and Environment, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Conrad J Hoskin
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael Mahony
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Newell
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jodi J L Rowley
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Ecosystem Science; School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jarrod Sopniewski
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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29
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Malard LA, Guisan A. Into the microbial niche. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:936-945. [PMID: 37236880 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The environmental niche concept describes the distribution of a taxon in the environment and can be used to understand community dynamics, biological invasions, and the impact of environmental changes. The uses and applications are still restricted in microbial ecology, largely due to the complexity of microbial systems and associated methodological limitations. The development of shotgun metagenomics and metatranscriptomics opens new ways to investigate the microbial niche by focusing on the metabolic niche within the environmental space. Here, we propose the metabolic niche framework, which, by defining the fundamental and realised metabolic niche of microorganisms, has the potential to not only provide novel insights into habitat preferences and the metabolism associated, but also to inform on metabolic plasticity, niche shifts, and microbial invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie A Malard
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Antoine Guisan
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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30
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Hausharter J, Rashid S, Wessely J, Strutzenberger P, Moser D, Gattringer A, Fiedler K, Hülber K, Dullinger S. Niche breadth explains the range size of European-centred butterflies, but dispersal ability does not. GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY : A JOURNAL OF MACROECOLOGY 2023; 32:1535-1548. [PMID: 38505836 PMCID: PMC10946795 DOI: 10.1111/geb.13717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Aim The breadth of ecological niches and dispersal abilities have long been discussed as important determinants of species' range sizes. However, studies directly comparing the relative effects of both factors are rare, taxonomically biased and revealed inconsistent results. Location Europe. Time Period Cenozoic. Major Taxa Butterflies, Lepidoptera. Methods We relate climate, diet and habitat niche breadth and two indicators of dispersal ability, wingspan and a dispersal tendency index, to the global range size of 369 European-centred butterfly species. The relative effects of these five predictors and their variation across the butterfly phylogeny were assessed by means of phylogenetic generalized least squares models and phylogenetically weighted regressions respectively. Results Climate niche breadth was the most important single predictor, followed by habitat and diet niche breadth, while dispersal tendency and wingspan showed no relation to species' range size. All predictors together explained 59% of the variation in butterfly range size. However, the effects of each predictor varied considerably across families and genera. Main Conclusions Range sizes of European-centred butterflies are strongly correlated with ecological niche breadth but apparently independent of dispersal ability. The magnitude of range size-niche breadth relationships is not stationary across the phylogeny and is often negatively correlated across the different dimensions of the ecological niche. This variation limits the generalizability of range size-trait relationships across broad taxonomic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Hausharter
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Sonia Rashid
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution (VDSEE)University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Johannes Wessely
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | | | - Dietmar Moser
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- Department of Biological Diversity and Nature ConservationEnvironment Agency AustriaViennaAustria
| | - Andreas Gattringer
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Konrad Fiedler
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Karl Hülber
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Stefan Dullinger
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
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31
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Gómez JM, González-Megías A, Armas C, Narbona E, Navarro L, Perfectti F. The role of phenotypic plasticity in shaping ecological networks. Ecol Lett 2023; 26 Suppl 1:S47-S61. [PMID: 37840020 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14192] [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: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Plasticity-mediated changes in interaction dynamics and structure may scale up and affect the ecological network in which the plastic species are embedded. Despite their potential relevance for understanding the effects of plasticity on ecological communities, these effects have seldom been analysed. We argue here that, by boosting the magnitude of intra-individual phenotypic variation, plasticity may have three possible direct effects on the interactions that the plastic species maintains with other species in the community: may expand the interaction niche, may cause a shift from one interaction niche to another or may even cause the colonization of a new niche. The combined action of these three factors can scale to the community level and eventually expresses itself as a modification in the topology and functionality of the entire ecological network. We propose that this causal pathway can be more widespread than previously thought and may explain how interaction niches evolve quickly in response to rapid changes in environmental conditions. The implication of this idea is not solely eco-evolutionary but may also help to understand how ecological interactions rewire and evolve in response to global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Gómez
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain
- Research Unit Modeling Nature, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Adela González-Megías
- Research Unit Modeling Nature, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Cristina Armas
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain
| | - Eduardo Narbona
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Luis Navarro
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ciencias del Suelo, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Francisco Perfectti
- Research Unit Modeling Nature, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
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Hernandez DJ, Kiesewetter KN, Almeida BK, Revillini D, Afkhami ME. Multidimensional specialization and generalization are pervasive in soil prokaryotes. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:1408-1418. [PMID: 37550510 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02149-y] [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: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Habitat specialization underpins biological processes from species distributions to speciation. However, organisms are often described as specialists or generalists based on a single niche axis, despite facing complex, multidimensional environments. Here, we analysed 236 environmental soil microbiomes across the United States and demonstrate that 90% of >1,200 prokaryotes followed one of two trajectories: specialization on all niche axes (multidimensional specialization) or generalization on all axes (multidimensional generalization). We then documented that this pervasive multidimensional specialization/generalization had many ecological and evolutionary consequences. First, multidimensional specialization and generalization are highly conserved with very few transitions between these two trajectories. Second, multidimensional generalists dominated communities because they were 73 times more abundant than specialists. Lastly, multidimensional specialists played important roles in community structure with ~220% more connections in microbiome networks. These results indicate that multidimensional generalization and specialization are evolutionarily stable with multidimensional generalists supporting larger populations and multidimensional specialists playing important roles within communities, probably stemming from their overrepresentation among pollutant detoxifiers and nutrient cyclers. Taken together, we demonstrate that the vast majority of soil prokaryotes are restricted to one of two multidimensional niche trajectories, multidimensional specialization or multidimensional generalization, which then has far-reaching consequences for evolutionary transitions, microbial dominance and community roles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Daniel Revillini
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
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Rolls RJ, Deane DC, Johnson SE, Heino J, Anderson MJ, Ellingsen KE. Biotic homogenisation and differentiation as directional change in beta diversity: synthesising driver-response relationships to develop conceptual models across ecosystems. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1388-1423. [PMID: 37072381 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Biotic homogenisation is defined as decreasing dissimilarity among ecological assemblages sampled within a given spatial area over time. Biotic differentiation, in turn, is defined as increasing dissimilarity over time. Overall, changes in the spatial dissimilarities among assemblages (termed 'beta diversity') is an increasingly recognised feature of broader biodiversity change in the Anthropocene. Empirical evidence of biotic homogenisation and biotic differentiation remains scattered across different ecosystems. Most meta-analyses quantify the prevalence and direction of change in beta diversity, rather than attempting to identify underlying ecological drivers of such changes. By conceptualising the mechanisms that contribute to decreasing or increasing dissimilarity in the composition of ecological assemblages across space, environmental managers and conservation practitioners can make informed decisions about what interventions may be required to sustain biodiversity and can predict potential biodiversity outcomes of future disturbances. We systematically reviewed and synthesised published empirical evidence for ecological drivers of biotic homogenisation and differentiation across terrestrial, marine, and freshwater realms to derive conceptual models that explain changes in spatial beta diversity. We pursued five key themes in our review: (i) temporal environmental change; (ii) disturbance regime; (iii) connectivity alteration and species redistribution; (iv) habitat change; and (v) biotic and trophic interactions. Our first conceptual model highlights how biotic homogenisation and differentiation can occur as a function of changes in local (alpha) diversity or regional (gamma) diversity, independently of species invasions and losses due to changes in species occurrence among assemblages. Second, the direction and magnitude of change in beta diversity depends on the interaction between spatial variation (patchiness) and temporal variation (synchronicity) of disturbance events. Third, in the context of connectivity and species redistribution, divergent beta diversity outcomes occur as different species have different dispersal characteristics, and the magnitude of beta diversity change associated with species invasions also depends strongly on alpha and gamma diversity prior to species invasion. Fourth, beta diversity is positively linked with spatial environmental variability, such that biotic homogenisation and differentiation occur when environmental heterogeneity decreases or increases, respectively. Fifth, species interactions can influence beta diversity via habitat modification, disease, consumption (trophic dynamics), competition, and by altering ecosystem productivity. Our synthesis highlights the multitude of mechanisms that cause assemblages to be more or less spatially similar in composition (taxonomically, functionally, phylogenetically) through time. We consider that future studies should aim to enhance our collective understanding of ecological systems by clarifying the underlying mechanisms driving homogenisation or differentiation, rather than focusing only on reporting the prevalence and direction of change in beta diversity, per se.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Rolls
- School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia
| | - David C Deane
- School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Sarah E Johnson
- Natural Resources Department, Northland College, Ashland, WI, 54891, USA
| | - Jani Heino
- Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 8000, Oulu, FI-90014, Finland
| | - Marti J Anderson
- New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study (NZIAS), Massey University, Albany Campus, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kari E Ellingsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Fram Centre, P.O. Box 6606 Langnes, Tromsø, 9296, Norway
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Skeels A, Boschman LM, McFadden IR, Joyce EM, Hagen O, Jiménez Robles O, Bach W, Boussange V, Keggin T, Jetz W, Pellissier L. Paleoenvironments shaped the exchange of terrestrial vertebrates across Wallace's Line. Science 2023; 381:86-92. [PMID: 37410831 DOI: 10.1126/science.adf7122] [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: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Faunal turnover in Indo-Australia across Wallace's Line is one of the most recognizable patterns in biogeography and has catalyzed debate about the role of evolutionary and geoclimatic history in biotic interchanges. Here, analysis of more than 20,000 vertebrate species with a model of geoclimate and biological diversification shows that broad precipitation tolerance and dispersal ability were key for exchange across the deep-time precipitation gradient spanning the region. Sundanian (Southeast Asian) lineages evolved in a climate similar to the humid "stepping stones" of Wallacea, facilitating colonization of the Sahulian (Australian) continental shelf. By contrast, Sahulian lineages predominantly evolved in drier conditions, hampering establishment in Sunda and shaping faunal distinctiveness. We demonstrate how the history of adaptation to past environmental conditions shapes asymmetrical colonization and global biogeographic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Skeels
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia
| | - L M Boschman
- Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - I R McFadden
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, 1090 GE Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - E M Joyce
- Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 80331 Munich, Germany
| | - O Hagen
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - O Jiménez Robles
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia
- Institute of Biology, École Normale Supérieure, 75005 Paris, France
| | - W Bach
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - V Boussange
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - T Keggin
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - W Jetz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - L Pellissier
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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Carscadden KA, Doak DF, Oldfather MF, Emery NC. Demographic responses of hybridizing cinquefoils to changing climate in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10097. [PMID: 37449020 PMCID: PMC10336340 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10097] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hybridization between taxa generates new pools of genetic variation that can lead to different environmental responses and demographic trajectories over time than seen in parental lineages. The potential for hybrids to have novel environmental tolerances may be increasingly important in mountainous regions, which are rapidly warming and drying due to climate change. Demographic analysis makes it possible to quantify within- and among-species responses to variation in climate and to predict population growth rates as those conditions change. We estimated vital rates and population growth in 13 natural populations of two cinquefoil taxa (Potentilla hippiana and P. pulcherrima) and their hybrid across elevation gradients in the Southern Rockies. Using three consecutive years of environmental and demographic data, we compared the demographic responses of hybrid and parental taxa to environmental variation across space and time. All three taxa had lower predicted population growth rates under warm, dry conditions. However, the magnitude of these responses varied among taxa and populations. Hybrids had consistently lower predicted population growth rates than P. hippiana. In contrast, hybrid performance relative to P. pulcherrima varied with population and climate, with the hybrid maintaining relatively stable growth rates while populations of P. pulcherrima shrank under warm, dry conditions. Our findings demonstrate that hybrids in this system are neither intrinsically unfit nor universally more vigorous than parents, suggesting that the demographic consequences of hybridization are context-dependent. Our results also imply that shifts to warmer and drier conditions could have particularly negative repercussions for P. pulcherrima, which is currently the most abundant taxon in the study area, possibly as a legacy of more favorable historical climates. More broadly, the distributions of these long-lived taxa are lagging behind their demographic trajectories, such that the currently less common P. hippiana could become the most abundant of the Potentilla taxa as this region continues to warm and dry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly A. Carscadden
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Daniel F. Doak
- Department of Environmental StudiesUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Meagan F. Oldfather
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Nancy C. Emery
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
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Rodríguez‐Arribas C, Martínez I, Aragón G, Zamorano‐Elgueta C, Cavieres L, Prieto M. Specialization patterns in symbiotic associations: A community perspective over spatial scales. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10296. [PMID: 37441095 PMCID: PMC10333671 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Specialization, contextualized in a resource axis of an organism niche, is a core concept in ecology. In biotic interactions, specialization can be determined by the range of interacting partners. Evolutionary and ecological factors, in combination with the surveyed scale (spatial, temporal, biological, and/or taxonomic), influence the conception of specialization. This study aimed to assess the specialization patterns and drivers in the lichen symbiosis, considering the interaction between the principal fungus (mycobiont) and the associated Nostoc (cyanobiont), from a community perspective considering different spatial scales. Thus, we determined Nostoc phylogroup richness and composition of lichen communities in 11 Nothofagus pumilio forests across a wide latitudinal gradient in Chile. To measure specialization, cyanobiont richness, Simpson's and d' indices were estimated for 37 mycobiont species in these communities. Potential drivers that might shape Nostoc composition and specialization measures along the environmental gradient were analysed. Limitations in lichen distributional ranges due to the availability of their cyanobionts were studied. Turnover patterns of cyanobionts were identified at multiple spatial scales. The results showed that environmental factors shaped the Nostoc composition of these communities, thus limiting cyanobiont availability to establish the symbiotic association. Besides, specialization changed with the spatial scale and with the metric considered. Cyanolichens were more specialized than cephalolichens when considering partner richness and Simpson's index, whereas the d' index was mostly explained by mycobiont identity. Little evidence of lichen distributional ranges due to the distribution of their cyanobionts was found. Thus, lichens with broad distributional ranges either associated with several cyanobionts or with widely distributed cyanobionts. Comparisons between local and regional scales showed a decreasing degree of specialization at larger scales due to an increase in cyanobiont richness. The results support the context dependency of specialization and how its consideration changes with the metric and the spatial scale considered. Subsequently, we suggest considering the entire community and widening the spatial scale studied as it is crucial to understand factors determining specialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Rodríguez‐Arribas
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Research Group of “Ecología, sistemática y evolución de hongos y líquenes (ESEFUNLICH)”, Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, ESCETUniversidad Rey Juan CarlosMóstolesSpain
| | - Isabel Martínez
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Research Group of “Ecología, sistemática y evolución de hongos y líquenes (ESEFUNLICH)”, Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, ESCETUniversidad Rey Juan CarlosMóstolesSpain
| | - Gregorio Aragón
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Research Group of “Ecología, sistemática y evolución de hongos y líquenes (ESEFUNLICH)”, Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, ESCETUniversidad Rey Juan CarlosMóstolesSpain
| | - Carlos Zamorano‐Elgueta
- Universidad de AysénCoyhaiqueChile
- CR2‐Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR)2SantiagoChile
| | - Lohengrin Cavieres
- Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y OceanográficasUniversidad de ConcepciónConcepciónChile
| | - María Prieto
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Research Group of “Ecología, sistemática y evolución de hongos y líquenes (ESEFUNLICH)”, Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, ESCETUniversidad Rey Juan CarlosMóstolesSpain
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Blejwas K, Beard L, Buchanan J, Lausen CL, Neubaum D, Tobin A, Weller TJ. COULD WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME MANIFEST DIFFERENTLY IN MYOTIS LUCIFUGUS IN WESTERN VERSUS EASTERN REGIONS OF NORTH AMERICA? A REVIEW OF FACTORS. J Wildl Dis 2023; 59:381-397. [PMID: 37270186 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-22-00050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
White-nose syndrome (WNS) has notably affected the abundance of Myotis lucifugus (little brown myotis) in North America. Thus far, substantial mortality has been restricted to the eastern part of the continent where the cause of WNS, the invasive fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has infected bats since 2006. To date, the state of Washington is the only area in the Western US or Canada (the Rocky Mountains and further west in North America) with confirmed cases of WNS in bats, and there the disease has spread more slowly than it did in Eastern North America. Here, we review differences between M. lucifugus in western and eastern parts of the continent that may affect transmission, spread, and severity of WNS in the West and highlight important gaps in knowledge. We explore the hypothesis that western M. lucifugus may respond differently to WNS on the basis of different hibernation strategies, habitat use, and greater genetic structure. To document the effect of WNS on M. lucifugus in the West most effectively, we recommend focusing on maternity roosts for strategic disease surveillance and monitoring abundance. We further recommend continuing the challenging work of identifying hibernation and swarming sites to better understand the microclimates, microbial communities, and role in disease transmission of these sites, as well as the ecology and hibernation physiology of bats in noncavernous hibernacula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Blejwas
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, PO Box 110024, Juneau, Alaska 99811, USA
- Except for the first author, all others are listed in alphabetical order
| | - Laura Beard
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, 260 Buena Vista, Lander, Wyoming 82520, USA
| | - Joseph Buchanan
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 43200, Olympia, Washington 98501, USA
| | - Cori L Lausen
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, 202 B Avenue, Kaslo, British Columbia V0G 1M0, Canada
| | - Daniel Neubaum
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 711 Independent Ave., Grand Junction, Colorado 81507, USA
| | - Abigail Tobin
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 43200, Olympia, Washington 98501, USA
| | - Theodore J Weller
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 1700 Bayview Drive, Arcata, California 95521, USA
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Leclerc C, Reynaud N, Danis PA, Moatar F, Daufresne M, Argillier C, Usseglio-Polatera P, Verneaux V, Dedieu N, Frossard V, Sentis A. Temperature, productivity, and habitat characteristics collectively drive lake food web structure. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:2450-2465. [PMID: 36799515 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
While many efforts have been devoted to understand variations in food web structure among terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the environmental factors influencing food web structure at large spatial scales remain hardly explored. Here, we compiled biodiversity inventories to infer food web structure of 67 French lakes using an allometric niche-based model and tested how environmental variables (temperature, productivity, and habitat) influence them. By applying a multivariate analysis on 20 metrics of food web topology, we found that food web structural variations are represented by two distinct complementary and independent structural descriptors. The first is related to the overall trophic diversity, whereas the second is related to the vertical structure. Interestingly, the trophic diversity descriptor was mostly explained by habitat size (26.7% of total deviance explained) and habitat complexity (20.1%) followed by productivity (dissolved organic carbon: 16.4%; nitrate: 9.1%) and thermal variations (10.7%). Regarding the vertical structure descriptor, it was mostly explained by water thermal seasonality (39.0% of total deviance explained) and habitat depth (31.9%) followed by habitat complexity (8.5%) and size (5.5%) as well as annual mean temperature (5.6%). Overall, we found that temperature, productivity, and habitat characteristics collectively shape lake food web structure. We also found that intermediate levels of productivity, high levels of temperature (mean and seasonality), as well as large habitats are associated with the largest and most complex food webs. Our findings, therefore, highlight the importance of focusing on these three components especially in the context of global change, as significant structural changes in aquatic food webs could be expected under increased temperature, pollution, and habitat alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Leclerc
- INRAE, Aix-Marseille Univ., RECOVER, Aix-en-Provence, France
- Pôle R&D Écosystèmes Lacustres (ECLA), OFB-INRAE-USMB, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Nathalie Reynaud
- INRAE, Aix-Marseille Univ., RECOVER, Aix-en-Provence, France
- Pôle R&D Écosystèmes Lacustres (ECLA), OFB-INRAE-USMB, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Pierre-Alain Danis
- Pôle R&D Écosystèmes Lacustres (ECLA), OFB-INRAE-USMB, Aix-en-Provence, France
- OFB, Service ECOAQUA, DRAS, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Florentina Moatar
- RiverLy, INRAE, Centre de Lyon-Grenoble Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Martin Daufresne
- INRAE, Aix-Marseille Univ., RECOVER, Aix-en-Provence, France
- Pôle R&D Écosystèmes Lacustres (ECLA), OFB-INRAE-USMB, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Christine Argillier
- INRAE, Aix-Marseille Univ., RECOVER, Aix-en-Provence, France
- Pôle R&D Écosystèmes Lacustres (ECLA), OFB-INRAE-USMB, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | | | - Valérie Verneaux
- UMR CNRS 6249, Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Nicolas Dedieu
- UMR CNRS 6249, Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Victor Frossard
- Pôle R&D Écosystèmes Lacustres (ECLA), OFB-INRAE-USMB, Aix-en-Provence, France
- Université Savoie Mont-Blanc, INRAE, CARRTEL, Thonon-les-Bains, France
| | - Arnaud Sentis
- INRAE, Aix-Marseille Univ., RECOVER, Aix-en-Provence, France
- Pôle R&D Écosystèmes Lacustres (ECLA), OFB-INRAE-USMB, Aix-en-Provence, France
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von Meijenfeldt FAB, Hogeweg P, Dutilh BE. A social niche breadth score reveals niche range strategies of generalists and specialists. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:768-781. [PMID: 37012375 PMCID: PMC10172124 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02027-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Generalists can survive in many environments, whereas specialists are restricted to a single environment. Although a classical concept in ecology, niche breadth has remained challenging to quantify for microorganisms because it depends on an objective definition of the environment. Here, by defining the environment of a microorganism as the community it resides in, we integrated information from over 22,000 environmental sequencing samples to derive a quantitative measure of the niche, which we call social niche breadth. At the level of genera, we explored niche range strategies throughout the prokaryotic tree of life. We found that social generalists include opportunists that stochastically dominate local communities, whereas social specialists are stable but low in abundance. Social generalists have a more diverse and open pan-genome than social specialists, but we found no global correlation between social niche breadth and genome size. Instead, we observed two distinct evolutionary strategies, whereby specialists have relatively small genomes in habitats with low local diversity, but relatively large genomes in habitats with high local diversity. Together, our analysis shines data-driven light on microbial niche range strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- F A Bastiaan von Meijenfeldt
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Science for Life, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel, the Netherlands
| | - Paulien Hogeweg
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Science for Life, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Bas E Dutilh
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Science for Life, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Institute of Biodiversity, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
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Price-Christenson G, Yannarell A. Use of Ecological Theory to Understand the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Multistrain Biological Control. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2023; 113:381-389. [PMID: 36656290 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-04-22-0115-rvw] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Since the 1970s, over 6,500 articles have been published about microbial biocontrols and over 200 microbial isolates have been registered for commercial use. However, many of these solutions have seen limited use due to limitations with their in-field efficacy. Even when multiple biocontrol agents are combined to create multistrain biocontrols, the resulting combinations can be less effective than the individual agents. One likely contributor is due to how multistrain microbial biocontrols are created. Multistrain microbial biocontrols are generally produced under controlled settings that are divorced from the ecological conditions they will need to function under. Traditionally, researchers culture, identify, and screen isolates for pathogen suppression traits. Then these researchers will combine the most promising isolates in an attempt to create more effective solutions. This approach, while effective for identifying suppressive isolates and determining the mechanisms of pathogen suppression, does not take into consideration the variability of natural environments, nor the complex ecological interactions that occur between plant hosts, pathogens, and component biocontrol agents, thus limiting the range of circumstances that these multistrain solutions can reliably succeed. To address these limitations, we suggest the application of relevant ecological theory to determine which isolates should be combined to create more reliable multistrain biocontrols. In this synthesis, we build on prior work focused on addressing plant pathogens through the use of multistrain microbial biocontrols, but we argue that viewing this work through the lens of ecology reveals key "design principles" from natural communities that are stable, functioning, and comprise multiple species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Price-Christenson
- Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Earnest Agriculture, Rantoul, IL 61866
- Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Anthony Yannarell
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
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41
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Viral and Bacterial Communities Collaborate through Complementary Assembly Processes in Soil to Survive Organochlorine Contamination. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0181022. [PMID: 36809072 PMCID: PMC10056961 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01810-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The ecological drivers that direct the assembly of viral and host bacterial communities are largely unknown, even though viral-encoded accessory genes help host bacteria survive in polluted environments. To understand the ecological mechanism(s) of viruses and hosts synergistically surviving under organochlorine pesticide (OCP) stress, we investigated the community assembly processes of viruses and bacteria at the taxon and functional gene levels in clean and OCP-contaminated soils in China using a combination of metagenomics/viromics and bioinformatics approaches. We observed a decreased richness of bacterial taxa and functional genes but an increased richness of viral taxa and auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) in OCP-contaminated soils (from 0 to 2,617.6 mg · kg-1). In OCP-contaminated soils, the assembly of bacterial taxa and genes was dominated by a deterministic process, of which the relative significance was 93.0% and 88.7%, respectively. In contrast, the assembly of viral taxa and AMGs was driven by a stochastic process, which contributed 83.1% and 69.2%, respectively. The virus-host prediction analysis, which indicated Siphoviridae was linked to 75.0% of bacterial phyla, and the higher migration rate of viral taxa and AMGs in OCP-contaminated soil suggested that viruses show promise for the dissemination of functional genes among bacterial communities. Taken together, the results of this study indicated that the stochastic assembly processes of viral taxa and AMGs facilitated bacterial resistance to OCP stress in soils. Moreover, our findings provide a novel avenue for understanding the synergistic interactions between viruses and bacteria from the perspective of microbial ecology, highlighting the significance of viruses in mediating bioremediation of contaminated soils. IMPORTANCE The interaction between viral communities and microbial hosts has been studied extensively, and the viral community affects host community metabolic function through AMGs. Microbial community assembly is the process by which species colonize and interact to establish and maintain communities. This is the first study that aimed to understand the assembly process of bacterial and viral communities under OCP stress. The findings of this study provide information about microbial community responses to OCP stress and reveal the collaborative interactions between viral and bacterial communities to resist pollutant stress. Thereby, we highlight the importance of viruses in soil bioremediation from the perspective of community assembly.
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Senthilnathan A, D'Andrea R. Niche theory for positive plant-soil feedbacks. Ecology 2023; 104:e3993. [PMID: 36788733 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Interactions between plants and the soil are an important ecological process in terrestrial ecosystems as they affect plant community structure: when and where we find different plant species. Those interactions are typically thought of as one-directional: local soil conditions filter through dispersing species to produce a community of locally adapted plants. However, plants can modify local physicochemical soil conditions via their roots and associations with soil microbes. These may in turn affect the local fitness of other plants, making plant-soil interactions bidirectional. In order to understand how they differ from other ecological processes that structure plant communities, we need a theory connecting these individual-level plant-soil feedbacks to community-level patterns. Here, we build this theory with a mathematical model of plant community dynamics in which soil conditioning is explicitly modeled over time and depends on the density of the plants. We analyze this model to describe the long-term composition and spatial distribution of the plant community. Our main result is that positive plant-soil feedbacks will create clustering of species with similar soil preferences. The composition of these clusters is further influenced by niche width and conditioning strength. In contrast with competitive dynamics driven by niche overlap, only species belonging to the same cluster can maintain high relative abundance in the community. Spatial heterogeneity in the form of an environmental gradient generates patches, each representing a single cluster. However, such patchiness is disfavored when species differ in dispersal ability. We show that stronger dispersers cannot take over the habitat as long as an exogenous driver favors soil conditions that benefit the other species. If exogenous drivers supersede soil conditioning by plants, we retrieve classic habitat filtering, where species are selected based on their suitability to the local environment. Overall, we provide a novel mathematical model for positive plant-soil feedback that we use to describe the spatial patterns of plant abundance and traits related to soil preference and conditioning ability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafael D'Andrea
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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Grainger R, Raoult V, Peddemors VM, Machovsky-Capuska GE, Gaston TF, Raubenheimer D. Integrating isotopic and nutritional niches reveals multiple dimensions of individual diet specialisation in a marine apex predator. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:514-534. [PMID: 36421071 PMCID: PMC10107186 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13852] [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: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Dietary specialisations are important determinants of ecological structure, particularly in species with high per-capita trophic influence like marine apex predators. These species are, however, among the most challenging in which to establish spatiotemporally integrated diets. We introduce a novel integration of stable isotopes with a multidimensional nutritional niche framework that addresses the challenges of establishing spatiotemporally integrated nutritional niches in wild populations, and apply the framework to explore individual diet specialisation in a marine apex predator, the white shark Carcharodon carcharias. Sequential tooth files were sampled from juvenile white sharks to establish individual isotopic (δ-space; δ13 C, δ15 N, δ34 S) niche specialisation. Bayesian mixing models were then used to reveal individual-level prey (p-space) specialisation, and further combined with nutritional geometry models to quantify the nutritional (N-space) dimensions of individual specialisation, and their relationships to prey use. Isotopic and mixing model analyses indicated juvenile white sharks as individual specialists within a broader, generalist, population niche. Individual sharks differed in their consumption of several important mesopredator species, which suggested among-individual variance in trophic roles in either pelagic or benthic food webs. However, variation in nutrient intakes was small and not consistently correlated with differences in prey use, suggesting white sharks as nutritional specialists and that individuals could use functionally and nutritionally different prey as complementary means to achieve a common nutritional goal. We identify how degrees of individual specialisation can differ between niche spaces (δ-, p- or N-space), the physiological and ecological implications of this, and argue that integrating nutrition can provide stronger, mechanistic links between diet specialisation and its intrinsic (fitness/performance) and extrinsic (ecological) outcomes. Our time-integrated framework is adaptable for examining the nutritional consequences and drivers of food use variation at the individual, population or species level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Grainger
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vincent Raoult
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Victor M Peddemors
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gabriel E Machovsky-Capuska
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Nutri Lens, East Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Troy F Gaston
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Raubenheimer
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Lozano-Peña JP, Polo-Silva CJ, Delgado-Huertas A, Sanjuan-Muñoz A. Isotopic niche partitioning between an invasive fish and two native mesopredators in the Colombian Caribbean. FOOD WEBS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2023.e00272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Ornelas JF. Sex‐specific flower resource use in hummingbird communities. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:2158-2162. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Isabwe A, Yao H, Zhang S, Jiang Y, Breed MF, Sun X. Spatial assortment of soil organisms supports the size-plasticity hypothesis. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:102. [PMID: 37938741 PMCID: PMC9723746 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00185-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
The size-plasticity hypothesis posits that larger size organisms are less plastic in their metabolic rates and, therefore, are more strongly environmental-filtered than smaller organisms. Many studies have supported this hypothesis by evaluating the relative roles of environmental filtration and dispersal for different taxonomic groups of soil organisms. Most observations are made at large spatial scales, which are assumed to have a wide array of varying habitats. However, since urbanization causes habitat fragmentation at smaller regional scales, testing the size-plasticity hypothesis at this scale would help better understand the spatial assortment of urban soil organisms which, in turn, would help to develop improved management and conservation strategies for urban soil health. Here, we used DNA metabarcoding on five groups of soil biota (bacteria, fungi, protists, nematodes, and invertebrates) to assess the relative importance of dispersal and environmental filters to examine the size-plasticity hypothesis at this spatial scale in an urban environment. We observed strong distance-decay of community similarities associated with higher levels of stochastic changes in bacteria, nematode, and protist communities but not fungal or invertebrate communities. Bacterial communities occupied the widest niche followed by protists and nematodes, potentially because of their higher dispersal abilities compared to the larger soil organisms. Null deviation of communities varied with taxonomic groups where bacteria and nematodes were mainly driven by homogenizing dispersal, protists and fungi by drift, and soil invertebrates by environmental selection. We further identified a small percentage of locally-adapted taxa (2.1%) that could be focal taxa for conservation and restoration efforts by, for example, restoring their habitats and enhancing their regional connectivity. These results support the size-plasticity hypothesis at the relatively unexplored regional scale in an urbanization context, and provide new information for improving urban soil health and sustainable city models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Isabwe
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo, 315830, China
| | - Haifeng Yao
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Key Laboratory of Mollisols Agroecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130102, China
| | - Shixiu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mollisols Agroecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130102, China
| | - Yuji Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Martin F Breed
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia
| | - Xin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China.
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo, 315830, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Bühlmann I, Gossner MM. Invasive Drosophila suzukii outnumbers native controphics and causes substantial damage to fruits of forest plants. NEOBIOTA 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.77.87319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Impacts of biological invasions are diverse and can have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems. The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, is a major invasive pest of fruits, which negatively affects fruit and wine production. However, little is known about the ecological impact of this fly species on more natural ecosystems it has invaded, such as forests. In this study, we investigated the use of potential host plants by D. suzukii at 64 sites in different forest communities in Switzerland from mid-June to mid-October 2020. We examined more than 12,000 fruits for egg deposits of D. suzukii to assess its direct impact on the plants. We recorded symptoms of fruit decay after egg deposition to determine if D. suzukii attacks trigger fruit decay. In addition, we monitored the drosophilid fauna with cup traps baited with apple cider vinegar, as we expected that D. suzukii would outnumber and potentially outcompete native controphics, especially other drosophilids. Egg deposits of D. suzukii were found on the fruits of 31 of the 39 potential host plant species studied, with 18 species showing an attack rate > 50%. Overall, fruits of Cotoneaster divaricatus (96%), Atropa bella-donna (91%), Rubus fruticosus corylifolius aggr. (91%), Frangula alnus (85%) and Sambucus nigra (83%) were attacked particularly frequently, resulting also in high predicted attack probabilities that varied among forest communities. Later and longer fruiting, black fruit colour, larger fruit size and higher pulp pH all positively affected attack rates. More than 50% of the plant species showed severe symptoms of decay after egg deposition, with higher pulp sugar content leading to more severe symptoms. The high fruit attack rate observed was reflected in a high abundance and dominance of D. suzukii in trap catches, independent of forest community and elevation. Drosophila suzukii was by far the most abundant species, accounting for 86% (81,395 individuals) of all drosophilids. The abundance of D. suzukii was negatively associated with the abundance of the native drosophilids. Our results indicate that the invasive D. suzukii competes strongly with other frugivorous species and that its presence might have far-reaching ecosystem-level consequences. The rapid decay of fruits attacked by D. suzukii leads to a loss of resources and may disrupt seed-dispersal mutualisms through the reduced consumption of fruits by dispersers such as birds.
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Coughlin AO, Wooliver R, Sheth SN. Populations of western North American monkeyflowers accrue niche breadth primarily via genotypic divergence in environmental optima. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9434. [PMID: 36284518 PMCID: PMC9587463 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9434] [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: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Niche breadth, the range of environments that individuals, populations, and species can tolerate, is a fundamental ecological and evolutionary property, yet few studies have examined how niche breadth is partitioned across biological scales. We use a published dataset of thermal performance for a single population from each of 10 closely related species of western North American monkeyflowers (genus Mimulus) to investigate whether populations achieve broad thermal niches through general purpose genotypes, specialized genotypes with divergent environmental optima, and/or variation among genotypes in the degree of generalization. We found the strongest relative support for the hypothesis that populations with greater genetic variation for thermal optimum had broader thermal niches, and for every unit increase in among-family variance in thermal optimum, population-level thermal breadth increased by 0.508°C. While the niche breadth of a single genotype represented up to 86% of population-level niche breadth, genotype-level niche breadth had a weaker positive effect on population-level breadth, with every 1°C increase in genotypic thermal breadth resulting in a 0.062°C increase in population breadth. Genetic variation for thermal breadth was not predictive of population-level thermal breadth. These findings suggest that populations of Mimulus species have achieved broad thermal niches primarily through genotypes with divergent thermal optima and to a lesser extent via general-purpose genotypes. Future work examining additional biological hierarchies would provide a more comprehensive understanding of how niche breadth partitioning impacts the vulnerabilities of individuals, populations, and species to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aeran O. Coughlin
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
- Present address:
Department of BiologyDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Rachel Wooliver
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
- Present address:
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil ScienceUniversity of TennesseeKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Seema N. Sheth
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
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Heckford TR, Leroux SJ, Vander Wal E, Rizzuto M, Balluffi‐Fry J, Richmond IC, Wiersma YF. Ecoregion and community structure influences on the foliar elemental niche of balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) and white birch ( Betula papyrifera Marshall). Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9244. [PMID: 36110871 PMCID: PMC9465200 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9244] [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: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in foliar elemental niche properties, defined by axes of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) concentrations, reflect how species allocate resources under different environmental conditions. For instance, elemental niches may differ in response to large-scale latitudinal temperature and precipitation regimes that occur between ecoregions and small-scale differences in nutrient dynamics based on species co-occurrences at a community level. At a species level, we compared foliar elemental niche hypervolumes for balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) and white birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall) between a northern and southern ecoregion. At a community level, we grouped our focal species using plot data into conspecific (i.e., only one focal species is present) and heterospecific groups (i.e., both focal species are present) and compared their foliar elemental concentrations under these community conditions across, within, and between these ecoregions. Between ecoregions at the species and community level, we expected niche hypervolumes to be different and driven by regional biophysical effects on foliar N and P concentrations. At the community level, we expected niche hypervolume displacement and expansion patterns for fir and birch, respectively-patterns that reflect their resource strategy. At the species level, foliar elemental niche hypervolumes between ecoregions differed significantly for fir (F = 14.591, p-value = .001) and birch (F = 75.998, p-value = .001) with higher foliar N and P in the northern ecoregion. At the community level, across ecoregions, the foliar elemental niche hypervolume of birch differed significantly between heterospecific and conspecific groups (F = 4.075, p-value = .021) but not for fir. However, both species displayed niche expansion patterns, indicated by niche hypervolume increases of 35.49% for fir and 68.92% for birch. Within the northern ecoregion, heterospecific conditions elicited niche expansion responses, indicated by niche hypervolume increases for fir of 29.04% and birch of 66.48%. In the southern ecoregion, we observed a contraction response for birch (niche hypervolume decreased by 3.66%) and no changes for fir niche hypervolume. Conspecific niche hypervolume comparisons between ecoregions yielded significant differences for fir and birch (F = 7.581, p-value = .005 and F = 8.038, p-value = .001) as did heterospecific comparisons (F = 6.943, p-value = .004, and F = 68.702, p-value = .001, respectively). Our results suggest species may exhibit biogeographical specific elemental niches-driven by biophysical differences such as those used to describe ecoregion characteristics. We also demonstrate how a species resource strategy may inform niche shift patterns in response to different community settings. Our study highlights how biogeographical differences may influence foliar elemental traits and how this may link to concepts of ecosystem and landscape functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis R. Heckford
- British Columbia GovernmentMinistry of Forests, Cariboo Natural Resource RegionWilliams LakeBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Shawn J. Leroux
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
| | - Eric Vander Wal
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
| | - Matteo Rizzuto
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
| | - Juliana Balluffi‐Fry
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
| | - Isabella C. Richmond
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
| | - Yolanda F. Wiersma
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
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