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de Bruin T, De Laender F, Jadoul J, Schtickzelle N. Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:47. [PMID: 38632521 PMCID: PMC11022343 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02241-2] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past decade, theory and observations have suggested intraspecific variation, trait-based differences within species, as a buffer against biodiversity loss from multiple environmental changes. This buffering effect can only occur when different populations of the same species respond differently to environmental change. More specifically, variation of demographic responses fosters buffering of demography, while variation of trait responses fosters buffering of functioning. Understanding how both responses are related is important for predicting biodiversity loss and its consequences. In this study, we aimed to empirically assess whether population-level trait responses to multiple environmental change drivers are related to the demographic response to these drivers. To this end, we measured demographic and trait responses in microcosm experiments with two species of ciliated protists. For three clonal strains of each species, we measured responses to two environmental change drivers (climate change and pollution) and their combination. We also examined if relationships between demographic and trait responses existed across treatments and strains. RESULTS We found different demographic responses across strains of the same species but hardly any interactive effects between the two environmental change drivers. Also, trait responses (summarized in a survival strategy index) varied among strains within a species, again with no driver interactions. Demographic and trait responses were related across all strains of both species tested in this study: Increasing intrinsic growth and self-limitation were associated with a shift in survival strategy from sit-and-wait towards flee. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the existence of a link between a population's demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers in two species of ciliate. Future work could dive deeper into the specifics of phenotypical trait values, and changes therein, related to specific life strategies in different species of ciliate and other zooplankton grazers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa de Bruin
- Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Biodiversity Research Center (BDIV), Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain‑La‑Neuve, Belgium.
| | - Frederik De Laender
- Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Institute of Life-Earth-Environment (ILEE), Namur Institute for Complex Systems (NAXYS), Université de Namur, Namur, Belgium
| | - Julie Jadoul
- Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Biodiversity Research Center (BDIV), Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain‑La‑Neuve, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Schtickzelle
- Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Biodiversity Research Center (BDIV), Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain‑La‑Neuve, Belgium
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2
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Herbivory, plant traits and nectar chemistry interact to affect the community of insect visitors and pollination in common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca. Oecologia 2023; 201:91-105. [PMID: 36456875 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05290-w] [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: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Herbivory can alter plant fitness directly through changing reproductive allocation and indirectly through changing pollinator identity or behavior. Common milkweed is a plant of conservation concern with an inducible chemical defense that is also an important nectar resource. In this study, we aim to understand how herbivory severity and plant traits, including morphology and nectar chemistry, interact to affect insect visitation and pod production in common milkweed. We conducted pollinator watches on plants with experimentally varied herbivory severity and quantified insect frequency and visit length as a response to nectar chemistry, ramet height, number of inflorescences, number of flowers per inflorescence and percent tissue removed. We also quantified pollinator effectiveness and importance. Increased herbivory severity reduced floral displays, including fewer inflorescences and fewer flowers per inflorescence. A reduced floral display was correlated with reduced sucrose, fructose and glucose and resulted in a reduced number and species richness of insect visitors. Fewer flowers per inflorescence reduced the frequency of bumble bee and fly visitors, which were two important pollinators. Although honeybees, flies, small bees, soldier beetles and bumble bees were equally effective pollinators, only bumble bee frequency was positively correlated with pod production. The differences in pollinator visitation have the potential to create diversifying selection on plant floral traits, many of which are also affected by herbivores. This research demonstrates potentially conflicting selection pressures between native and non-native pollinators as well as non-native herbivores.
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3
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Giaimo S, Traulsen A. Age-specific sensitivity analysis of stable, stochastic and transient growth for stage-classified populations. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9561. [PMID: 36545365 PMCID: PMC9763023 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensitivity analysis in ecology and evolution is a valuable guide to rank demographic parameters depending on their relevance to population growth. Here, we propose a method to make the sensitivity analysis of population growth for matrix models solely classified by stage more fine-grained by considering the effect of age-specific parameters. The method applies to stable population growth, the stochastic growth rate, and transient growth. The method yields expressions for the sensitivity of stable population growth to age-specific survival and fecundity from which general properties are derived about the pattern of age-specific selective forces molding senescence in stage-classified populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Giaimo
- Department of Evolutionary TheoryMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary BiologyPlönGermany
| | - Arne Traulsen
- Department of Evolutionary TheoryMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary BiologyPlönGermany
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4
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Del Vecchio S, Sharma SK, Pavan M, Acosta ATR, Bacchetta G, de Bello F, Isermann M, Michalet R, Buffa G. Within-species variation of seed traits of dune engineering species across a European climatic gradient. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:978205. [PMID: 36035686 PMCID: PMC9403325 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.978205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Within-species variation is a key component of biodiversity and linking it to climatic gradients may significantly improve our understanding of ecological processes. High variability can be expected in plant traits, but it is unclear to which extent it varies across populations under different climatic conditions. Here, we investigated seed trait variability and its environmental dependency across a latitudinal gradient of two widely distributed dune-engineering species (Thinopyrum junceum and Calamagrostis arenaria). Seed germination responses against temperature and seed mass were compared within and among six populations exposed to a gradient of temperature and precipitation regimes (Spiekeroog, DE; Bordeaux, FR; Valencia, ES; Cagliari, IT, Rome, IT; Venice, IT). Seed germination showed opposite trends in response to temperature experienced during emergence in both species: with some expectation, in populations exposed to severe winters, seed germination was warm-cued, whereas in populations from warm sites with dry summer, seed germination was cold-cued. In C. arenaria, variability in seed germination responses disappeared once the seed coat was incised. Seed mass from sites with low precipitation was smaller than that from sites with higher precipitation and was better explained by rainfall continentality than by aridity in summer. Within-population variability in seed germination accounted for 5 to 54%, while for seed mass it was lower than 40%. Seed trait variability can be considerable both within- and among-populations even at broad spatial scale. The variability may be hardly predictable since it only partially correlated with the analyzed climatic variables, and with expectation based on the climatic features of the seed site of origin. Considering seed traits variability in the analysis of ecological processes at both within- and among-population levels may help elucidate unclear patterns of species dynamics, thereby contributing to plan adequate measures to counteract biodiversity loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Del Vecchio
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy
| | - Shivam Kumar Sharma
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Mario Pavan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy
| | | | - Gianluigi Bacchetta
- Sardinian Germplasm Bank (BG-SAR), Hortus Botanicus Karalitanus (HBK), University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesco de Bello
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CSIC-UV-GV), Valencia, Spain
| | - Maike Isermann
- Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park Authority, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | | | - Gabriella Buffa
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy
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5
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Li Y, Jiang Y, Zhao K, Chen Y, Wei W, Shipley B, Chu C. Exploring trait-performance relationships of tree seedlings along experimentally manipulated light and water gradients. Ecology 2022; 103:e3703. [PMID: 35357001 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
A foundational assumption of trait-based ecology is that individual performances should be predicted by its functional traits. However, the trait-performance relationships reported in literature were typically weak, probably due to the ignorance of interactions between traits and environments, intraspecific trait variability and hard traits (directly linked to physiological processes of interest). We conducted an experiment of planting 900 seedlings of six tree species separately (one seedling per pot) along experimentally manipulated light and water gradients, monitored their survival and growth, and measured their morphological, photosynthetic and hydraulic traits. Most trait-performance relationships depended on the environments, either marginally changing (weak trait × environment interaction) or even reversing (strong trait × environment interaction) along light or water gradients in our experiment. Such trait × environment interactions were more likely to be detected in growth models using individual-level traits than models using species mean traits, but seedling growth was not better modelled with individual-level traits than species mean traits. Additionally, none of the hard traits (photosynthetic and hydraulic traits) were better predictors than soft traits (morphological traits) modeling seedling growth and survival along light and water gradients. Our study highlights the necessities of considering trait × environment interactions when predicting response of plants to changing environments. The benefits of using individual-level traits or hard traits to predict plant performance might be reduced or even cancelled if their measurement errors are not well controlled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kangning Zhao
- School of Architecture, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Yang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bill Shipley
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Chengjin Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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6
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Klimeš A, Klimešová J, Janovský Z, Herben T. Demographic correction—A tool for inference from individuals to populations. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Klimeš
- Department of Botany Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Pruhonice Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Klimešová
- Department of Botany Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Pruhonice Czech Republic
| | - Zdeněk Janovský
- Department of Botany Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Pruhonice Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Herben
- Department of Botany Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Pruhonice Czech Republic
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7
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DeLaMater DS, Couture JJ, Puzey JR, Dalgleish HJ. Range-wide variations in common milkweed traits and their effect on monarch larvae. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2021; 108:388-401. [PMID: 33792047 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Leaf economic spectrum (LES) theory has historically been employed to inform vegetation models of ecosystem processes, but largely neglects intraspecific variation and biotic interactions. We attempt to integrate across environment-plant trait-herbivore interactions within a species at a range-wide scale. METHODS We measured traits in 53 populations spanning the range of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and used a common garden to determine the role of environment in driving patterns of intraspecific variation. We used a feeding trial to determine the role of plant traits in monarch (Danaus plexippus) larval development. RESULTS Trait-trait relationships largely followed interspecific patterns in LES theory and persisted in a common garden when individual traits change. Common milkweed showed intraspecific variation and biogeographic clines in traits. Clines did not persist in a common garden. Larvae ate more and grew larger when fed plants with more nitrogen. A longitudinal environmental gradient in precipitation corresponded to a resource gradient in plant nitrogen, which produces a gradient in larval performance. CONCLUSIONS Biogeographic patterns in common milkweed traits can sometimes be predicted from LES, are largely driven by environmental conditions, and have consequences for monarch larval performance. Changes to nutrient dynamics of landscapes with common milkweed could potentially influence monarch population dynamics. We show how biogeographic trends in intraspecific variation can influence key ecological interactions, especially in common species with large distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S DeLaMater
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, 540 Landrum Drive, Williamsburg, VA, 23185, USA
| | - John J Couture
- Departments of Entomology and Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 170 S. University Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Joshua R Puzey
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, 540 Landrum Drive, Williamsburg, VA, 23185, USA
| | - Harmony J Dalgleish
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, 540 Landrum Drive, Williamsburg, VA, 23185, USA
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8
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Li Y, Jiang Y, Shipley B, Li B, Luo W, Chen Y, Zhao K, He D, Rodríguez-Hernández DI, Chu C. The complexity of trait-environment performance landscapes in a local subtropical forest. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 229:1388-1397. [PMID: 33073860 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
That functional traits should affect individual performance and, in turn, determine fitness and population growth, is a foundational assumption of trait-based ecology. This assumption is, however, not supported by a strong empirical base. Here, we measured simultaneously two individual performance metrics (survival and growth), seven traits and 10 environmental properties for each of 3981 individuals of 205 species in a 50-ha stem-mapped subtropical forest. We then modelled survival/growth as a function of traits, environments and trait × environment interactions, and quantified their relative importance at both the species and individual levels. We found evidence of alternative functional designs and multiple performance peaks along environmental gradients, indicating the presence of complicated trait × environment interactions. However, such interactions were relatively unimportant in our site, which had relatively low environmental variations. Moreover, individual performance was not better predicted, and trait × environment interactions were not more likely detected, at the individual level than at the species level. Although the trait × environment interactions might be safely ignored in relatively homogeneous environments, we encourage future studies to test the interactive effects of traits and environments on individual performances and lifelong fitness at larger spatial scales or along experimentally manipulated environmental gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhi Li
- Department of Ecology, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Yuan Jiang
- Department of Ecology, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Bill Shipley
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Buhang Li
- Department of Ecology, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Wenqi Luo
- Department of Ecology, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Yongfa Chen
- Department of Ecology, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Kangning Zhao
- School of Architecture, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Dong He
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Diego I Rodríguez-Hernández
- Department of Ecology, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Chengjin Chu
- Department of Ecology, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
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9
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Li Z, Wu J, Han Q, Nie K, Xie J, Li Y, Wang X, Du H, Wang D, Liu J. Nitrogen and litter addition decreased sexual reproduction and increased clonal propagation in grasslands. Oecologia 2021; 195:131-144. [PMID: 33491109 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04812-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The trade-offs between sexual reproduction and clonal propagation are of great significance in terms of ecology and evolution for clonal plants, and they vary with environmental change. Nitrogen (N) deposition can increase litter accumulation in grassland and promote litter decomposition and consequently increase nutrient availability. However, the response of plant reproduction to N and litter addition in grasslands remains unclear. We examined the combined effects of N addition and litter manipulation (i.e. initial litter, removal, addition) on sexual reproduction and clonal propagation of a perennial clonal grass, Leymus chinensis, at the population (total number) and individual (number per ramet) levels in an 11-year field experiment. Nitrogen addition and litter additionally decreased spike and seed number at the population level, and N addition reduced those at the individual level. Nitrogen addition and litter interactively affected bud number at the two levels, and N addition decreased bud number in the litter removal treatments and increased that in the litter addition treatments. The increased soil available N, rather than light and soil water content, explained the change in sexual reproduction and clonal propagation. The positive effects of litter addition on bud number in the treatments with N addition, suggested that the N deposition increased litter accumulation could intensify clonal propagation of perennial grasses and increase their dominance in grasslands. Grassland management that reduces litter accumulation, such as grazing and mowing, can therefore, help alleviate the negative effects of N deposition on plant diversity through decreasing clonal propagation of the dominant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zimeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Jinfeng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Qing Han
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Kunyan Nie
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiani Xie
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Yufei Li
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Haibo Du
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security of Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Deli Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Jushan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China.
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10
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Scogings PF, De Fortier A. Severe simulated herbivory constrains
Sclerocarya birrea
saplings regardless of resource availability. AUSTRAL ECOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter F. Scogings
- School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu‐Natal Private Bag X01 Scottsville3209South Africa
| | - An De Fortier
- Department of Zoology University of Zululand Kwadlangezwa South Africa
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11
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Song YB, Shen-Tu XL, Dong M. Intraspecific Variation of Samara Dispersal Traits in the Endangered Tropical Tree Hopea hainanensis (Dipterocarpaceae). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:599764. [PMID: 33281856 PMCID: PMC7691252 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.599764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Propagule dispersal is a crucial life history stage, which affects population recruitment and regeneration as well as community structure and functions. The windborne process of samara dispersal is affected not only by samara traits and other plant traits, but also by environmental factors. Therefore, studying samara traits related to its dispersal and intraspecific variation in relation to other plant traits and environmental factors could help to understand population distribution and dynamics. Hopea hainanensis, a Dipterocarpaceae tree species dominant in lowland rainforests in Hainan (China) but endangered due to anthropogenic disturbances, is dispersed mainly by wind because of its sepal-winged samara. Here, we measured dispersal-related intraspecific samara traits of H. hainanensis, and analyzed their variation and correlation in relation to plant height, DBH (diameter at breast height), and elevation plant location. Great variations in the samara traits existed, and the variations were larger within than among individuals, which indicated a "bet-hedging" strategy of this species. Plant height, DBH, and elevation explained slight variation in the samara traits. Samara dispersal potential is mainly affected by the samara mass and morphological traits. Samara settling velocity was significantly positively correlated with fruit mass, seed mass, length and width, as well as samara wing loading, and negatively correlated with wing mass ratio, wing area, and wing aspect ratio. Substantial proportions of intraspecific variation in samara dispersal are explained by the samara mass and morphological traits. Natural regeneration with human-aided dispersal is necessary for recovering the H. hainanensis population. This finding contributes to the generalization of trait-based plant ecology, modeling of seed dispersal in tropical forests, and conservation and recovery of rare and endangered species such as H. hainanensis.
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Cator LJ, Johnson LR, Mordecai EA, Moustaid FE, Smallwood TRC, LaDeau SL, Johansson MA, Hudson PJ, Boots M, Thomas MB, Power AG, Pawar S. The Role of Vector Trait Variation in Vector-Borne Disease Dynamics. Front Ecol Evol 2020; 8:189. [PMID: 32775339 PMCID: PMC7409824 DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many important endemic and emerging diseases are transmitted by vectors that are biting arthropods. The functional traits of vectors can affect pathogen transmission rates directly and also through their effect on vector population dynamics. Increasing empirical evidence shows that vector traits vary significantly across individuals, populations, and environmental conditions, and at time scales relevant to disease transmission dynamics. Here, we review empirical evidence for variation in vector traits and how this trait variation is currently incorporated into mathematical models of vector-borne disease transmission. We argue that mechanistically incorporating trait variation into these models, by explicitly capturing its effects on vector fitness and abundance, can improve the reliability of their predictions in a changing world. We provide a conceptual framework for incorporating trait variation into vector-borne disease transmission models, and highlight key empirical and theoretical challenges. This framework provides a means to conceptualize how traits can be incorporated in vector borne disease systems, and identifies key areas in which trait variation can be explored. Determining when and to what extent it is important to incorporate trait variation into vector borne disease models remains an important, outstanding question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren J. Cator
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, United Kingdom
| | - Leah R. Johnson
- Department of Statistics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Erin A. Mordecai
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Fadoua El Moustaid
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- BresMed America Inc, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | | | - Shannon L. LaDeau
- The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, United States
| | | | - Peter J. Hudson
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics and Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Michael Boots
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Matthew B. Thomas
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Alison G. Power
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Samraat Pawar
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, United Kingdom
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