1
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White JDM, Stevens N, Fisher JT, Reynolds C. Woody plant encroachment drives population declines in 20% of common open ecosystem bird species. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17340. [PMID: 38840515 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17340] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Grassy ecosystems cover more than 40% of the world's terrestrial surface, supporting crucial ecosystem services and unique biodiversity. These ecosystems have experienced major losses from conversion to agriculture with the remaining fragments threatened by global change. Woody plant encroachment, the increase in woody cover threatening grassy ecosystems, is a major global change symptom, shifting the composition, structure, and function of plant communities with concomitant effects on all biodiversity. To identify generalisable impacts of encroachment on biodiversity, we urgently need broad-scale studies on how species respond to woody cover change. Here, we make use of bird atlas, woody cover change data (between 2007 and 2016) and species traits, to assess: (1) population trends and woody cover responses using dynamic occupancy models; (2) how outcomes relate to habitat, diet and nesting traits; and (3) predictions of future occupancy trends, for 191 abundant, southern African bird species. We found that: (1) 63% (121) of species showed a decline in occupancy, with 18% (34) of species' declines correlated with increasing woody cover (i.e. losers). Only 2% (4) of species showed increasing population trends linked with increased woody cover (i.e. winners); (2) Open habitat specialist, invertivorous, ground nesting birds were the most frequent losers, however, we found no definitive evidence that the selected traits could predict outcomes; and (3) We predict open habitat loser species will take on average 52 years to experience 50% population declines with current rates of encroachment. Our results bring attention to concerning region-wide declining bird population trends and highlight woody plant encroachment as an important driver of bird population dynamics. Importantly, these findings should encourage improved management and restoration of our remaining grassy ecosystems. Furthermore, our findings show the importance of lands beyond protected areas for biodiversity, and the urgent need to mitigate the impacts of woody plant encroachment on bird biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D M White
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, WITS, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, UK
| | - Nicola Stevens
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, WITS, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jolene T Fisher
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, WITS, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Chevonne Reynolds
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, WITS, Johannesburg, South Africa
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
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2
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Luepold SB, Korner-Nievergelt F, Züst Z, Pasinelli G. It's about Her: Male Within-Season Movements Are Related to Mate Searching in a Songbird. Am Nat 2024; 203:562-575. [PMID: 38635362 DOI: 10.1086/729424] [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] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
AbstractIn species with resource-defense mating systems (such as most temperate-breeding songbirds), male dispersal is often considered to be limited in both frequency and spatial extent. When dispersal occurs within a breeding season, the favored explanation is ecological resource tracking. In contrast, movements of male birds associated with temporary emigration, such as polyterritoriality (i.e., defense of an additional location after attracting a female in the initial territory), are usually attributed to mate searching. We suggest that male dispersal and polyterritoriality are functionally related and that mate searching may be a unifying hypothesis for predicting the within-season movements of male songbirds. Here, we test three key predictions derived from this hypothesis in Wood Warblers (Phylloscopus sibilatrix). We collected data on the spatial behavior of 107 males between 2017 and 2019 and related male movements to a new territory (in both a dispersal and a polyterritorial context) to mating potential in the current territory. Most males dispersed from their territories within days or weeks after failing to attract a female, despite occupying territories in apparently suitable habitat. Probability of polyterritoriality by paired males increased after the peak fertile period of their mate. Males never dispersed following nest predation if the female remained to renest. Thus, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that both movement types are functionally related to mate searching.
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3
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Ismaeel A, Tai APK, Santos EG, Maraia H, Aalto I, Altman J, Doležal J, Lembrechts JJ, Camargo JL, Aalto J, Sam K, Avelino do Nascimento LC, Kopecký M, Svátek M, Nunes MH, Matula R, Plichta R, Abera T, Maeda EE. Patterns of tropical forest understory temperatures. Nat Commun 2024; 15:549. [PMID: 38263406 PMCID: PMC10805846 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44734-0] [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: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Temperature is a fundamental driver of species distribution and ecosystem functioning. Yet, our knowledge of the microclimatic conditions experienced by organisms inside tropical forests remains limited. This is because ecological studies often rely on coarse-gridded temperature estimates representing the conditions at 2 m height in an open-air environment (i.e., macroclimate). In this study, we present a high-resolution pantropical estimate of near-ground (15 cm above the surface) temperatures inside forests. We quantify diurnal and seasonal variability, thus revealing both spatial and temporal microclimate patterns. We find that on average, understory near-ground temperatures are 1.6 °C cooler than the open-air temperatures. The diurnal temperature range is on average 1.7 °C lower inside the forests, in comparison to open-air conditions. More importantly, we demonstrate a substantial spatial variability in the microclimate characteristics of tropical forests. This variability is regulated by a combination of large-scale climate conditions, vegetation structure and topography, and hence could not be captured by existing macroclimate grids. Our results thus contribute to quantifying the actual thermal ranges experienced by organisms inside tropical forests and provide new insights into how these limits may be affected by climate change and ecosystem disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ismaeel
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Amos P K Tai
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Erone Ghizoni Santos
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heveakore Maraia
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Branisovska 31, CZ 370 05, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, CZ 370 05, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Iris Aalto
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
- School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XP, UK
| | - Jan Altman
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1, CZ-252 43, Průhonice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16521, Praha 6-Suchdol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Doležal
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, CZ 370 05, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1, CZ-252 43, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Jonas J Lembrechts
- Research Group Plants and Ecosystems, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - José Luís Camargo
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragment Project (BDFFP) - National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), CP 478, 69067-375, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Juha Aalto
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 503, FI-00101, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kateřina Sam
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Branisovska 31, CZ 370 05, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, CZ 370 05, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | | | - Martin Kopecký
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1, CZ-252 43, Průhonice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16521, Praha 6-Suchdol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Svátek
- Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Matheus Henrique Nunes
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Radim Matula
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16521, Praha 6-Suchdol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Plichta
- Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Temesgen Abera
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Environmental Informatics, Faculty of Geography, Philipps Universität-Marburg, Deutschhausstrasse, 12, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Eduardo Eiji Maeda
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 503, FI-00101, Helsinki, Finland.
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4
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Tourani M, Sollmann R, Kays R, Ahumada J, Fegraus E, Karp DS. Maximum temperatures determine the habitat affiliations of North American mammals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2304411120. [PMID: 38048469 PMCID: PMC10723132 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304411120] [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: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Addressing the ongoing biodiversity crisis requires identifying the winners and losers of global change. Species are often categorized based on how they respond to habitat loss; for example, species restricted to natural environments, those that most often occur in anthropogenic habitats, and generalists that do well in both. However, species might switch habitat affiliations across time and space: an organism may venture into human-modified areas in benign regions but retreat into thermally buffered forested habitats in areas with high temperatures. Here, we apply community occupancy models to a large-scale camera trapping dataset with 29 mammal species distributed over 2,485 sites across the continental United States, to ask three questions. First, are species' responses to forest and anthropogenic habitats consistent across continental scales? Second, do macroclimatic conditions explain spatial variation in species responses to land use? Third, can species traits elucidate which taxa are most likely to show climate-dependent habitat associations? We found that all species exhibited significant spatial variation in how they respond to land-use, tending to avoid anthropogenic areas and increasingly use forests in hotter regions. In the hottest regions, species occupancy was 50% higher in forested compared to open habitats, whereas in the coldest regions, the trend reversed. Larger species with larger ranges, herbivores, and primary predators were more likely to change their habitat affiliations than top predators, which consistently affiliated with high forest cover. Our findings suggest that climatic conditions influence species' space-use and that maintaining forest cover can help protect mammals from warming climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdieh Tourani
- Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT59812
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA95616
| | - Rahel Sollmann
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA95616
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin10315, Germany
| | - Roland Kays
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC27607
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC27601
| | - Jorge Ahumada
- Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, Arlington, VA22202
- Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, Julia Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ85281
| | - Eric Fegraus
- Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, Arlington, VA22202
| | - Daniel S. Karp
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA95616
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5
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Lauck KS, Ke A, Olimpi EM, Paredes D, Hood K, Phillips T, Anderegg WRL, Karp DS. Agriculture and hot temperatures interactively erode the nest success of habitat generalist birds across the United States. Science 2023; 382:290-294. [PMID: 37856579 DOI: 10.1126/science.add2915] [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: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Habitat conversion and climate change are fundamental drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide but are often analyzed in isolation. We used a continental-scale, decades-long database of more than 150,000 bird nesting attempts to explore how extreme heat affects avian reproduction in forests, grasslands, and agricultural and developed areas across the US. We found that in forests, extreme heat increased nest success, but birds nesting in agricultural settings were much less likely to successfully fledge young when temperatures reached anomalously high levels. Species that build exposed cup nests and species of higher conservation concern were particularly vulnerable to maximum temperature anomalies in agricultural settings. Finally, future projections suggested that ongoing climate change may exacerbate the negative effects of habitat conversion on avian nesting success, thereby compromising conservation efforts in human-dominated landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S Lauck
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Alison Ke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Elissa M Olimpi
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Daniel Paredes
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Environmental Analysis Group, Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Extremadura, Extremadura, Spain
| | - Kees Hood
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Phillips
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - William R L Anderegg
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Daniel S Karp
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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6
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McGinn KA, Zuckerberg B, Pauli JN, Zulla CJ, Berigan WJ, Wilkinson ZA, Barry JM, Keane JJ, Gutiérrez RJ, Peery MZ. Older forests function as energetic and demographic refugia for a climate-sensitive species. Oecologia 2023; 202:831-844. [PMID: 37642742 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05442-6] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
More frequent and extreme heat waves threaten climate-sensitive species. Structurally complex, older forests can buffer these effects by creating cool microclimates, although the mechanisms by which forest refugia mitigate physiological responses to heat exposure and subsequent population-level consequences remain relatively unexplored. We leveraged fine-scale movement data, doubly labeled water, and two decades of demographic data for the California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) to (1) assess the role of older forest characteristics as potential energetic buffers for individuals and (2) examine the subsequent value of older forests as refugia for a core population in the Sierra Nevada and a periphery population in the San Bernardino Mountains. Individuals spent less energy moving during warmer sampling periods and the presence of tall canopies facilitated energetic conservation during daytime roosting activities. In the core population, where tall-canopied forest was prevalent, temperature anomalies did not affect territory occupancy dynamics as warmer sites were both less likely to go extinct and less likely to become colonized, suggesting a trade-off between foraging opportunities and temperature exposure. In the peripheral population, sites were more likely to become unoccupied following warm summers, presumably because of less prevalent older forest conditions. While individuals avoided elevated energetic expenditure associated with temperature exposure, behavioral strategies to conserve energy may have diverted time and energy from reproduction or territory defense. Conserving older forests, which are threatened due to fire and drought, may benefit individuals from energetic consequences of exposure to stressful thermal conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate A McGinn
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.
| | - Benjamin Zuckerberg
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
| | - Jonathan N Pauli
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
| | - Ceeanna J Zulla
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
| | - William J Berigan
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
| | - Zachary A Wilkinson
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
| | - Josh M Barry
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
| | - John J Keane
- U.S. Forest Service - Pacific Southwest Research Station, Davis, CA, USA
| | - R J Gutiérrez
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
| | - M Zachariah Peery
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
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7
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Pradhan K, Ettinger AK, Case MJ, Hille Ris Lambers J. Applying climate change refugia to forest management and old-growth restoration. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:3692-3706. [PMID: 37029763 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16714] [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: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies highlight the potential of climate change refugia (CCR) to support the persistence of biodiversity in regions that may otherwise become unsuitable with climate change. However, a key challenge in using CCR for climate resilient management lies in how CCR may intersect with existing forest management strategies, and subsequently influence how landscapes buffer species from negative impacts of warming climate. We address this challenge in temperate coastal forests of the Pacific Northwestern United States, where declines in the extent of late-successional forests have prompted efforts to restore old-growth forest structure. One common approach for doing so involves selectively thinning forest stands to enhance structural complexity. However, dense canopy is a key forest feature moderating understory microclimate and potentially buffering organisms from climate change impacts, raising the possibility that approaches for managing forests for old-growth structure may reduce the extent and number of CCR. We used remotely sensed vegetation indices to identify CCR in an experimental forest with control and thinned (restoration) treatments, and explored the influence of biophysical variables on buffering capacity. We found that remotely sensed vegetation indices commonly used to identify CCR were associated with understory temperature and plant community composition, and thus captured aspects of landscape buffering that might instill climate resilience and be of interest to management. We then examined the interaction between current restoration strategies and CCR, and found that selective thinning for promoting old-growth structure had only very minor, if any, effects on climatic buffering. In all, our study demonstrates that forest management approaches aimed at restoring old-growth structure through targeted thinning do not greatly decrease buffering capacity, despite a known link between dense canopy and CCR. More broadly, this study illustrates the value of using remote sensing approaches to identify CCR, facilitating the integration of climate change adaptation with other forest management approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavya Pradhan
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Janneke Hille Ris Lambers
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Plant Ecology, Institute of Integrative Biology, d-USYS, Zürich, Switzerland
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8
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Cooper WJ, McShea WJ, Songer M, Huang Q, Luther DA. Harmonizing spatial scales and ecological theories to predict avian richness and functional diversity within forest ecosystems. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230742. [PMID: 37339746 PMCID: PMC10281808 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0742] [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: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Classic ecological theory has proven that temperature, precipitation and productivity organize ecosystems at broad scales and are generalized drivers of biodiversity within different biomes. At local scales, the strength of these predictors is not consistent across different biomes. To better translate these theories to localized scales, it is essential to determine the links between drivers of biodiversity. Here we harmonize existing ecological theories to increase the predictive power for species richness and functional diversity. We test the relative importance of three-dimensional habitat structure as a link between local and broad-scale patterns of avian richness and functional diversity. Our results indicate that habitat structure is more important than precipitation, temperature and elevation gradients for predicting avian species richness and functional diversity across different forest ecosystems in North America. We conclude that forest structure, influenced by climatic drivers, is essential for predicting the response of biodiversity with future shifts in climatic regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. Justin Cooper
- Biology Department, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - William J. McShea
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Melissa Songer
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Qiongyu Huang
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - David A. Luther
- Biology Department, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
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9
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Tosa MI, Lesmeister DB, Allen JM, Levi T. Multi‐locus
DNA
metabarcoding reveals seasonality of foraging ecology of western spotted skunks in the Pacific Northwest. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marie I. Tosa
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - Damon B. Lesmeister
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
- Pacific Northwest Research Station U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - Jennifer M. Allen
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - Taal Levi
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
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10
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Shutt JD, Bell SC, Bell F, Castello J, El Harouchi M, Burgess MD. Territory‐level temperature influences breeding phenology and reproductive output in three forest passerine birds. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jack D. Shutt
- Piedfly.Net, Yarner Wood Bovey Tracey Devon UK
- Dept of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan Univ. Manchester UK
| | | | - Fraser Bell
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Cornwall Campus, Univ. of Exeter Penryn Cornwall UK
| | - Joan Castello
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Univ. of Exeter Exeter Devon UK
| | | | - Malcolm D. Burgess
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Univ. of Exeter Exeter Devon UK
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge Sandy Bedfordshire UK
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11
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De Lombaerde E, Vangansbeke P, Lenoir J, Van Meerbeek K, Lembrechts J, Rodríguez-Sánchez F, Luoto M, Scheffers B, Haesen S, Aalto J, Christiansen DM, De Pauw K, Depauw L, Govaert S, Greiser C, Hampe A, Hylander K, Klinges D, Koelemeijer I, Meeussen C, Ogée J, Sanczuk P, Vanneste T, Zellweger F, Baeten L, De Frenne P. Maintaining forest cover to enhance temperature buffering under future climate change. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 810:151338. [PMID: 34748832 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Forest canopies buffer macroclimatic temperature fluctuations. However, we do not know if and how the capacity of canopies to buffer understorey temperature will change with accelerating climate change. Here we map the difference (offset) between temperatures inside and outside forests in the recent past and project these into the future in boreal, temperate and tropical forests. Using linear mixed-effect models, we combined a global database of 714 paired time series of temperatures (mean, minimum and maximum) measured inside forests vs. in nearby open habitats with maps of macroclimate, topography and forest cover to hindcast past (1970-2000) and to project future (2060-2080) temperature differences between free-air temperatures and sub-canopy microclimates. For all tested future climate scenarios, we project that the difference between maximum temperatures inside and outside forests across the globe will increase (i.e. result in stronger cooling in forests), on average during 2060-2080, by 0.27 ± 0.16 °C (RCP2.6) and 0.60 ± 0.14 °C (RCP8.5) due to macroclimate changes. This suggests that extremely hot temperatures under forest canopies will, on average, warm less than outside forests as macroclimate warms. This knowledge is of utmost importance as it suggests that forest microclimates will warm at a slower rate than non-forested areas, assuming that forest cover is maintained. Species adapted to colder growing conditions may thus find shelter and survive longer than anticipated at a given forest site. This highlights the potential role of forests as a whole as microrefugia for biodiversity under future climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jonathan Lenoir
- Ecologie et dynamique des systèmes anthropisés (EDYSAN), UMR CNRS 7058, Amiens, France
| | | | - Jonas Lembrechts
- Research Group Plants and Ecosystems, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | | | - Miska Luoto
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Brett Scheffers
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
| | - Stef Haesen
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Juha Aalto
- Weather and Climate Change Impact Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Karen De Pauw
- Forest and Nature Lab, Ghent University, Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Leen Depauw
- Forest and Nature Lab, Ghent University, Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Sanne Govaert
- Forest and Nature Lab, Ghent University, Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Caroline Greiser
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arndt Hampe
- BIOGECO, INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, Cestas, France
| | - Kristoffer Hylander
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - David Klinges
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
| | - Irena Koelemeijer
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Jerome Ogée
- INRAE, Bordeaux Science Agro, ISPA, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Pieter Sanczuk
- Forest and Nature Lab, Ghent University, Gontrode, Belgium
| | | | - Florian Zellweger
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Lander Baeten
- Forest and Nature Lab, Ghent University, Gontrode, Belgium
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12
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Landscape Genetics and Species Delimitation in the Andean Palm Rocket Frog (Aromobatidae, Rheobates). J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/6774225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The complex topography of the species-rich northern Andes creates heterogeneous environmental landscapes that are hypothesized to have promoted population fragmentation and diversification by processes such as vicariance or local adaptation. Previous phylogenetic work on the palm rocket frog (Anura: Aromobatidae: Rheobates spp.), endemic to midelevation forests of Colombia, suggested that valleys were important in promoting divergence between lineages. In this study, we first evaluated previous hypotheses of species-level diversity, then fitted an isolation-with-migration (IM) historical demographic model, and tested two landscape genetic models to explain genetic divergence within Rheobates: isolation by distance and isolation by environment. The data consisted of two mitochondrial and four nuclear genes from 24 samples covering most of the geographic range of the genus. Species delimitation by Bayesian Phylogenetics and Phylogeography recovered five highly divergent genetic lineages within Rheobates, among which few to no migrants are exchanged according to IM. We found that isolation by environment provided the only variable significantly correlated with genetic distances for both mitochondrial and nuclear genes, suggesting that local adaptation may have a role in driving the genetic divergence within this frog genus. Thus, genetic divergence in Rheobates may be driven more by variation among the local environments where these frogs live rather than by geographic distance.
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13
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Finn DS, Johnson SL, Gerth WJ, Arismendi I, Li JL. Spatiotemporal patterns of emergence phenology reveal complex species‐specific responses to temperature in aquatic insects. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Debra S. Finn
- Department of Biology Missouri State University Springfield Missouri USA
| | - Sherri L. Johnson
- U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - William J. Gerth
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - Ivan Arismendi
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - Judith L. Li
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
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14
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Ceresa F, Kranebitter P, S Monrós J, Rizzolli F, Brambilla M. Disentangling direct and indirect effects of local temperature on abundance of mountain birds and implications for understanding global change impacts. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12560. [PMID: 34950536 PMCID: PMC8647716 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Unravelling the environmental factors driving species distribution and abundance is crucial in ecology and conservation. Both climatic and land cover factors are often used to describe species distribution/abundance, but their interrelations have been scarcely investigated. Climatic factors may indeed affect species both directly and indirectly, e.g., by influencing vegetation structure and composition. We aimed to disentangle the direct and indirect effects (via vegetation) of local temperature on bird abundance across a wide elevational gradient in the European Alps, ranging from montane forests to high-elevation open areas. In 2018, we surveyed birds by using point counts and collected fine-scale land cover and temperature data from 109 sampling points. We used structural equation modelling to estimate direct and indirect effects of local climate on bird abundance. We obtained a sufficient sample for 15 species, characterized by a broad variety of ecological requirements. For all species we found a significant indirect effect of local temperatures via vegetation on bird abundance. Direct effects of temperature were less common and were observed in seven woodland/shrubland species, including only mountain generalists; in these cases, local temperatures showed a positive effect, suggesting that on average our study area is likely colder than the thermal optimum of those species. The generalized occurrence of indirect temperature effects within our species set demonstrates the importance of considering both climate and land cover changes to obtain more reliable predictions of future species distribution/abundance. In fact, many species may be largely tracking suitable habitat rather than thermal niches, especially among homeotherm organisms like birds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Mattia Brambilla
- Museo delle Scienze, Trento, Italia.,Fondazione Lombardia per l'Ambiente, Milano, Italia.,Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italia
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15
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De Frenne P, Lenoir J, Luoto M, Scheffers BR, Zellweger F, Aalto J, Ashcroft MB, Christiansen DM, Decocq G, De Pauw K, Govaert S, Greiser C, Gril E, Hampe A, Jucker T, Klinges DH, Koelemeijer IA, Lembrechts JJ, Marrec R, Meeussen C, Ogée J, Tyystjärvi V, Vangansbeke P, Hylander K. Forest microclimates and climate change: Importance, drivers and future research agenda. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:2279-2297. [PMID: 33725415 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Forest microclimates contrast strongly with the climate outside forests. To fully understand and better predict how forests' biodiversity and functions relate to climate and climate change, microclimates need to be integrated into ecological research. Despite the potentially broad impact of microclimates on the response of forest ecosystems to global change, our understanding of how microclimates within and below tree canopies modulate biotic responses to global change at the species, community and ecosystem level is still limited. Here, we review how spatial and temporal variation in forest microclimates result from an interplay of forest features, local water balance, topography and landscape composition. We first stress and exemplify the importance of considering forest microclimates to understand variation in biodiversity and ecosystem functions across forest landscapes. Next, we explain how macroclimate warming (of the free atmosphere) can affect microclimates, and vice versa, via interactions with land-use changes across different biomes. Finally, we perform a priority ranking of future research avenues at the interface of microclimate ecology and global change biology, with a specific focus on three key themes: (1) disentangling the abiotic and biotic drivers and feedbacks of forest microclimates; (2) global and regional mapping and predictions of forest microclimates; and (3) the impacts of microclimate on forest biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the face of climate change. The availability of microclimatic data will significantly increase in the coming decades, characterizing climate variability at unprecedented spatial and temporal scales relevant to biological processes in forests. This will revolutionize our understanding of the dynamics, drivers and implications of forest microclimates on biodiversity and ecological functions, and the impacts of global changes. In order to support the sustainable use of forests and to secure their biodiversity and ecosystem services for future generations, microclimates cannot be ignored.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan Lenoir
- UMR 7058 CNRS "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés" (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Miska Luoto
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Brett R Scheffers
- Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Juha Aalto
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Weather and Climate Change Impact Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael B Ashcroft
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Ditte M Christiansen
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Guillaume Decocq
- UMR 7058 CNRS "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés" (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Karen De Pauw
- Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Sanne Govaert
- Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Caroline Greiser
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eva Gril
- UMR 7058 CNRS "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés" (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Arndt Hampe
- INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, BIOGECO, Cestas, France
| | - Tommaso Jucker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - David H Klinges
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Irena A Koelemeijer
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Ronan Marrec
- UMR 7058 CNRS "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés" (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | | | - Jérôme Ogée
- INRAE, Bordeaux Science Agro, ISPA, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Vilna Tyystjärvi
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Weather and Climate Change Impact Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Kristoffer Hylander
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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16
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Within-season movements of Alpine songbird distributions are driven by fine-scale environmental characteristics. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5747. [PMID: 32238868 PMCID: PMC7113314 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62661-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Information about distribution and habitat use of organisms is crucial for conservation. Bird distribution within the breeding season has been usually considered static, but this assumption has been questioned. Within-season movements may allow birds to track changes in habitat quality or to adjust site choice between subsequent breeding attempts. Such movements are especially likely in temperate mountains, given the substantial environmental heterogeneity and changes occurring during bird breeding season. We investigated the within-season movements of breeding songbirds in the European Alps in spring-summer 2018, using repeated point counts and dynamic occupancy models. For all the four species for which we obtained sufficient data, changes in occupancy during the season strongly indicated the occurrence of within-season movements. Species occupancy changed during the season according to fine-scale vegetation/land-cover types, while microclimate (mean temperature) affected initial occupancy in two species. The overall occupancy rate increased throughout the season, suggesting the settlement of new individuals coming from outside the area. A static distribution cannot be assumed during the breeding season for songbirds breeding in temperate mountains. This needs to be considered when planning monitoring and conservation of Alpine birds, as within-season movements may affect the proportion of population/distribution interested by monitoring or conservation programs.
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17
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Duclos TR, DeLuca WV, King DI. Direct and indirect effects of climate on bird abundance along elevation gradients in the Northern Appalachian mountains. DIVERS DISTRIB 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R. Duclos
- Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst Massachusetts
| | - William V. DeLuca
- Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst Massachusetts
| | - David I. King
- Northern Research Station USDA Forest Service Amherst Massachusetts
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18
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Bátori Z, Vojtkó A, Maák IE, Lőrinczi G, Farkas T, Kántor N, Tanács E, Kiss PJ, Juhász O, Módra G, Tölgyesi C, Erdős L, Aguilon DJ, Keppel G. Karst dolines provide diverse microhabitats for different functional groups in multiple phyla. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7176. [PMID: 31073136 PMCID: PMC6509348 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43603-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Fine-scale topographic complexity creates important microclimates that can facilitate species to grow outside their main distributional range and increase biodiversity locally. Enclosed depressions in karst landscapes (‘dolines’) are topographically complex environments which produce microclimates that are drier and warmer (equator-facing slopes) and cooler and moister (pole-facing slopes and depression bottoms) than the surrounding climate. We show that the distribution patterns of functional groups for organisms in two different phyla, Arthropoda (ants) and Tracheophyta (vascular plants), mirror this variation of microclimate. We found that north-facing slopes and bottoms of solution dolines in northern Hungary provided key habitats for ant and plant species associated with cooler and/or moister conditions. Contrarily, south-facing slopes of dolines provided key habitats for species associated with warmer and/or drier conditions. Species occurring on the surrounding plateau were associated with intermediate conditions. We conclude that karst dolines provide a diversity of microclimatic habitats that may facilitate the persistence of taxa with diverse environmental preferences, indicating these dolines to be potential safe havens for multiple phyla under local and global climate oscillations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltán Bátori
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary.
| | - András Vojtkó
- Department of Botany, Eszterházy Károly University of Applied Sciences, Eszterházy tér 1, H-3300, Eger, Hungary
| | - István Elek Maák
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary.,Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza street 64, 00-679, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Gábor Lőrinczi
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Tünde Farkas
- Aggtelek National Park Directorate, Tengerszem oldal 1, H-3758, Jósvafő, Hungary
| | - Noémi Kántor
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Eszter Tanács
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány út 2-4, H-2163, Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Péter János Kiss
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary.,Doctoral School of Environmental Sciences, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, H-6720, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Juhász
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary.,Doctoral School in Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Módra
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary.,Doctoral School of Environmental Sciences, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, H-6720, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Csaba Tölgyesi
- MTA-DE Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - László Erdős
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány út 2-4, H-2163, Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Dianne Joy Aguilon
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary.,Doctoral School of Environmental Sciences, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, H-6720, Szeged, Hungary.,Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, 4031, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Gunnar Keppel
- Natural and Built Environments Research Centre, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia.,Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia.,Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography Group, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
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19
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Northrup JM, Rivers JW, Yang Z, Betts MG. Synergistic effects of climate and land-use change influence broad-scale avian population declines. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:1561-1575. [PMID: 30810257 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Climate and land-use changes are expected to be the primary drivers of future global biodiversity loss. Although theory suggests that these factors impact species synergistically, past studies have either focused on only one in isolation or have substituted space for time, which often results in confounding between drivers. Tests of synergistic effects require congruent time series on animal populations, climate change and land-use change replicated across landscapes that span the gradient of correlations between the drivers of change. Using a unique time series of high-resolution climate (measured as temperature and precipitation) and land-use change (measured as forest change) data, we show that these drivers of global change act synergistically to influence forest bird population declines over 29 years in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Nearly half of the species examined had declined over this time. Populations declined most in response to loss of early seral and mature forest, with responses to loss of early seral forest amplified in landscapes that had warmed over time. In addition, birds declined more in response to loss of mature forest in areas that had dried over time. Climate change did not appear to impact populations in landscapes with limited habitat loss, except when those landscapes were initially warmer than the average landscape. Our results provide some of the first empirical evidence of synergistic effects of climate and land-use change on animal population dynamics, suggesting accelerated loss of biodiversity in areas under pressure from multiple global change drivers. Furthermore, our findings suggest strong spatial variability in the impacts of climate change and highlight the need for future studies to evaluate multiple drivers simultaneously to avoid potential misattribution of effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Northrup
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - James W Rivers
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
| | - Zhiqiang Yang
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
- USDA Forest Service, RMRS Research Station, Ogden, Utah
| | - Matthew G Betts
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
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20
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Bakx TRM, Koma Z, Seijmonsbergen AC, Kissling WD. Use and categorization of Light Detection and Ranging vegetation metrics in avian diversity and species distribution research. DIVERS DISTRIB 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tristan R. M. Bakx
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Zsófia Koma
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Arie C. Seijmonsbergen
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - W. Daniel Kissling
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
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21
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Metcalf OC, Ewen JG, McCready M, Williams EM, Rowcliffe JM. A novel method for using ecoacoustics to monitor post‐translocation behaviour in an endangered passerine. Methods Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver C. Metcalf
- Department of Science and EngineeringManchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK
- Department of Life SciencesImperial College London Berkshire UK
| | | | - Mhairi McCready
- ZSL Institute of Zoology London UK
- Rotokare Scenic Reserve Eltham New Zealand
| | - Emma M. Williams
- Matuku Ecology Christchurch New Zealand
- Wildlife Ecology GroupMassey University Palmerston North New Zealand
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22
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Moriarty KM, Verschuyl J, Kroll AJ, Davis R, Chapman J, Hollen B. Describing vegetation characteristics used by two rare forest-dwelling species: Will established reserves provide for coastal marten in Oregon? PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210865. [PMID: 30703124 PMCID: PMC6354973 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Forest management guidelines for rare or declining species in the Pacific Northwest, USA, include both late successional reserves and specific vegetation management criteria. However, whether current management practices for well-studied species such as northern spotted owls (Strix occidentallis caurina) can aid in conserving a lesser known subspecies-Humboldt martens (Martes caurina humboldtensis)-is unclear. To address the lack of information for martens in coastal Oregon, USA, we quantified vegetation characteristics at locations used by Humboldt martens and spotted owls in two regions (central and southern coast) and at two spatial scales (the site level summarizing extensive vegetation surveys and regionally using remotely sensed vegetation and estimated habitat models). We estimated amount of predicted habitat for both species in established reserves. If predicted overlap in established reserves was low, then we reported vegetation characteristics to inform potential locations for reserves or management opportunities. In the Central Coast, very little overlap existed in vegetation characteristics between Humboldt martens and spotted owls at either the site or regional level. Humboldt martens occurred in young forests composed of small diameter trees with few snags or downed logs. Humboldt martens were also found in areas with very dense vegetation when overstory canopy and shrub cover percentages were combined. In the South Coast, Humboldt martens occurred in forests with smaller diameter trees than spotted owl sites on average. Coastal Humboldt martens may use stands of predicted high quality spotted owl habitat in the Pacific Northwest. Nonetheless, our observations suggest that coastal Humboldt martens exist in areas that include a much higher diversity of conifer size classes as long as extensive dense shrub cover, predominantly in the form of high salal and evergreen huckleberry, are available. We suggest that managers consider how structural characteristics (e.g., downed logs, shrub cover, patch size), are associated with long-term species persistence rather than relying on reserves based on broad cover types. Describing vegetation may partially describe suitability, but available prey or predation risk ultimately influence likelihood of individual Humboldt marten use. Guidelines for diversifying vegetation management, and retaining or restoring appropriate habitat conditions at both the stand level and regionally, may increase management flexibility and identify forest conditions that support both spotted owls and Humboldt martens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie M. Moriarty
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Olympia, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jake Verschuyl
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Western Sustainable Forestry Program, Anacortes, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - Raymond Davis
- USDA Forest Service, Region 6, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Joshua Chapman
- USDA Forest Service, Region 6 Regional Office, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Bruce Hollen
- USDI Bureau of Land Management, Regional Office, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
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23
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Ward SE, Schulze M, Roy B. A long‐term perspective on microclimate and spring plant phenology in the Western Cascades. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Ward
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution 335 Pacific Hall, 5289 University of Oregon Eugene Oregon 97403 USA
| | - Mark Schulze
- H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest P.O. Box 300, 91991 Blue River Reservoir Road Blue River Oregon 97413 USA
| | - Bitty Roy
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution 335 Pacific Hall, 5289 University of Oregon Eugene Oregon 97403 USA
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24
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Translating MC2 DGVM Results into Ecosystem Services for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. CLIMATE 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/cli6010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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25
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Betts MG, Phalan B, Frey SJK, Rousseau JS, Yang Z. Old‐growth forests buffer climate‐sensitive bird populations from warming. DIVERS DISTRIB 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew G. Betts
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
| | - Ben Phalan
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
- Conservation Science Group Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Sarah J. K. Frey
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
| | - Josée S. Rousseau
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
| | - Zhiqiang Yang
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
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26
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Keppel G, Anderson S, Williams C, Kleindorfer S, O’Connell C. Microhabitats and canopy cover moderate high summer temperatures in a fragmented Mediterranean landscape. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183106. [PMID: 28806772 PMCID: PMC5555690 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Extreme heat events will become more frequent under anthropogenic climate change, especially in Mediterranean ecosystems. Microhabitats can considerably moderate (buffer) the effects of extreme weather events and hence facilitate the persistence of some components of the biodiversity. We investigate the microclimatic moderation provided by two important microhabitats (cavities formed by the leaves of the grass-tree Xanthorrhoea semiplana F.Muell., Xanthorrhoeaceae; and inside the leaf-litter) during the summer of 2015/16 on the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia. We placed microsensors inside and outside these microhabitats, as well as above the ground below the forest canopy. Grass-tree and leaf-litter microhabitats significantly buffered against high temperatures and low relative humidity, compared to ground-below-canopy sensors. There was no significant difference between grass-tree and leaf-litter temperatures: in both microhabitats, daily temperature variation was reduced, day temperatures were 1–5°C cooler, night temperatures were 0.5–3°C warmer, and maximum temperatures were up to 14.4°C lower, compared to ground-below-canopy sensors. Grass-tree and leaf-litter microhabitats moderated heat increase at an average rate of 0.24°C temperature per 1°C increase of ambient temperature in the ground-below-canopy microhabitat. The average daily variation in temperature was determined by the type (grass-tree and leaf-litter versus ground-below-canopy) of microhabitat (explaining 67%), the amount of canopy cover and the area of the vegetation fragment (together explaining almost 10% of the variation). Greater canopy cover increased the amount of microclimatic moderation provided, especially in the leaf-litter. Our study highlights the importance of microhabitats in moderating macroclimatic conditions. However, this moderating effect is currently not considered in species distribution modelling under anthropogenic climate change nor in the management of vegetation. This shortcoming will have to be addressed to obtain realistic forecasts of future species distributions and to achieve effective management of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunnar Keppel
- School of Natural and Built Environments and Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Sharolyn Anderson
- School of Natural and Built Environments and Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Craig Williams
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Sonia Kleindorfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Christopher O’Connell
- School of Natural and Built Environments and Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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