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Wood TJ, Müller A, Praz C, Michez D. Elevated rates of dietary generalization in eusocial lineages of the secondarily herbivorous bees. BMC Ecol Evol 2023; 23:67. [PMID: 37986035 PMCID: PMC10662511 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02175-1] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Within the Hymenoptera, bees are notable for their relationship with flowering plants, being almost entirely dependent on plant pollen and nectar. Though functionally herbivorous, as a result of their role as pollinators, bees have received comparatively little attention as models for insect herbivory. Bees often display dietary specialization, but quantitative comparison against other herbivorous insects has not previously been conducted. RESULTS In the most comprehensive analysis to date for 860 bee species, dietary specialization amounted to 50.1% of studied species collecting pollen from between 1 and 2 botanical families with a relatively long tail of dietary generalists, with 11.1% of species collecting from more than 10 botanical families. This distribution deviated from the truncated Pareto distribution of dietary breadth seen in other herbivorous insect lineages. However, this deviation was predominantly due to eusocial bee lineages, which show a range of dietary breadths that conformed to a normal distribution, while solitary bees show a typical truncated distribution not strongly different from other herbivorous insects. We hypothesize that the relatively low level of dietary specialization in bees as a whole reflects the relaxation of the constraints typically observed in herbivorous insects with a comparatively reduced importance of plant chemistry and comparatively increased importance of phenology and foraging efficiency. The long flight periods of eusocial bees that are necessary to allow overlapping generations both allows and necessitates the use of multiple flowering resources, whereas solitary bees with short flight periods have more limited access to varied resources within a constrained activity period. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, solitary bees show slightly lower specialization compared to other herbivorous insects, possibly due to their balanced relationship with plants, rather than direct antagonism such as seen in the direct consumption of plant tissues. An additional factor may be the mediocre diversity of bees at low latitudes combined with low levels of dietary specialization, whereas these areas typically display a high rate of specialization by herbivorous insects in general. Though the most important factors structuring dietary specialization in bees appear to differ from many other herbivorous insects, solitary bees show a surprisingly similar overall pattern of dietary specialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Wood
- University of Mons, Research Institute for Biosciences, Laboratory of Zoology, Place du parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium.
| | - A Müller
- ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Biocommunication and Entomology, Schmelzbergstrasse 9/LFO, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - C Praz
- University of Neuchâtel, Institute of Biology, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- InfoFauna - Swiss Zoological Records Center, Avenue de Bellevaux 51, 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - D Michez
- University of Mons, Research Institute for Biosciences, Laboratory of Zoology, Place du parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium
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Nakamura S, Taki H, Arai T, Funayama K, Furihata S, Furui Y, Ikeda T, Inoue H, Kagawa K, Kishimoto H, Kohyama M, Komatsu M, Konuma A, Nakada K, Nakamura S, Sawamura N, Sonoda S, Sueyoshi M, Toda S, Yaginuma K, Yamamoto S, Yoshida K, Yokoi T, Toyama M. Diversity and composition of flower-visiting insects and related factors in three fruit tree species. Biodivers Data J 2023; 11:e100955. [PMID: 37720662 PMCID: PMC10504601 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.11.e100955] [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: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal-mediated pollination is an essential ecosystem service for the production of many fruit trees. To reveal the community composition of flower-visiting wild insects which potentially contribute to fruit production and to examine the effects of geographic location, local meteorological conditions and locally introduced domesticated pollinators on them, we investigated the community composition of insects visiting the flowers (hereafter, "visitors") of apple, Japanese pear and Oriental persimmon for 1‒3 years at 20 sites around Japan. While most of the variation (82%) of the community composition was explained by tree species with a slight contribution by geographic distance (2%), maximum temperature and tree species contributed 62% and 41% of the variation in total abundance of the visitors, respectively. Though the dominant families of the visitors varied spatiotemporally, the community composition of the visitors of apple and Japanese pear clearly differed from that of Oriental persimmon. While Andrenidae and Syrphidae together accounted for 46%‒64% of the visitors of apple and Japanese pear, Apidae represented 57% of the visitors of Oriental persimmon. The taxonomic richness, diversity and evenness of the visitors were best predicted by locally introduced domesticated pollinators and local meteorological conditions of wind speed and maximum temperature. Amongst these selected factors, locally introduced domesticated pollinators could have the largest impact. It seemed to be strongly related to the reduction of taxonomic richness, diversity and evenness of the visitors, accounting for 41‒89% of the variation. Results suggested that the community composition and total abundance of potential pollinators were predominantly determined by tree species and temperature, but locally introduced domesticated pollinators could have a determinantal pressure on the taxonomic diversity of the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoko Nakamura
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forest Research and Management Organization, Hachioji, JapanForestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forest Research and Management OrganizationHachiojiJapan
| | - Hisatomo Taki
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forest Research and Management Organization, Tsukuba, JapanForestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forest Research and Management OrganizationTsukubaJapan
| | - Tomonori Arai
- Institute for Plant Protection, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, JapanInstitute for Plant Protection, National Agriculture and Food Research OrganizationTsukubaJapan
| | - Ken Funayama
- Akita Fruit Tree Experiment Station, Yokote, JapanAkita Fruit Tree Experiment StationYokoteJapan
| | - Shunsuke Furihata
- Institute for Plant Protection, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, JapanInstitute for Plant Protection, National Agriculture and Food Research OrganizationTsukubaJapan
| | - Yuki Furui
- Tottori Prefecture Horticultural Research Center, Hokueicho, JapanTottori Prefecture Horticultural Research CenterHokueichoJapan
| | - Takamasa Ikeda
- Tohaku Agricultural Extension Center, Tottori Prefecture, Kotoura-cho, JapanTohaku Agricultural Extension Center, Tottori PrefectureKotoura-choJapan
| | - Hiromitsu Inoue
- Institute for Plant Protection, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Higashihiroshima, JapanInstitute for Plant Protection, National Agriculture and Food Research OrganizationHigashihiroshimaJapan
| | - Kiyohiko Kagawa
- School of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, JapanSchool of Agriculture, Utsunomiya UniversityUtsunomiyaJapan
| | - Hidenari Kishimoto
- Institute for Plant Protection, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Morioka, JapanInstitute for Plant Protection, National Agriculture and Food Research OrganizationMoriokaJapan
| | - Mitsuko Kohyama
- Fruit Tree Research Institute, Uki, JapanFruit Tree Research InstituteUkiJapan
| | - Michiyo Komatsu
- Semboku Regional Development Bureau, Akita Prefecture, Daisen, JapanSemboku Regional Development Bureau, Akita PrefectureDaisenJapan
| | - Akihiro Konuma
- Department of Business Development, National Agricultural Research Organization, Tsukuba, JapanDepartment of Business Development, National Agricultural Research OrganizationTsukubaJapan
| | - Ken Nakada
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tottori Prefecture, Higashimachi, JapanDepartment of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tottori PrefectureHigashimachiJapan
| | - Suguru Nakamura
- Fukushima Agricultural Technology Centre, Fruit Tree Research Centre, Fukushima, JapanFukushima Agricultural Technology Centre, Fruit Tree Research CentreFukushimaJapan
| | - Nobuo Sawamura
- Shimane Agricultural Technology Center, Izumo, JapanShimane Agricultural Technology CenterIzumoJapan
| | - Shoji Sonoda
- School of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, JapanSchool of Agriculture, Utsunomiya UniversityUtsunomiyaJapan
| | - Masahiro Sueyoshi
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forest Research and Management Organization, Tsukuba, JapanForestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forest Research and Management OrganizationTsukubaJapan
| | - Seishi Toda
- Tea Research Insutitute, Kumamoto Prefecture, Mifune, JapanTea Research Insutitute, Kumamoto PrefectureMifuneJapan
| | - Katsuhiko Yaginuma
- Institute of Fruit Tree and Tea Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Morioka, JapanInstitute of Fruit Tree and Tea Science, National Agriculture and Food Research OrganizationMoriokaJapan
| | - Shunsuke Yamamoto
- Eastern Shimane Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Promotion Center, Izumo, JapanEastern Shimane Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Promotion CenterIzumoJapan
| | - Koki Yoshida
- Fukushima Agricultural Technology Centre, Koriyama, JapanFukushima Agricultural Technology CentreKoriyamaJapan
| | - Tomoyuki Yokoi
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, JapanFaculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of TsukubaTsukubaJapan
| | - Masatoshi Toyama
- Institute for Plant Protection, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, JapanInstitute for Plant Protection, National Agriculture and Food Research OrganizationTsukubaJapan
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Interpreting random forest analysis of ecological models to move from prediction to explanation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3881. [PMID: 36890140 PMCID: PMC9995331 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30313-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
As modeling tools and approaches become more advanced, ecological models are becoming more complex. Traditional sensitivity analyses can struggle to identify the nonlinearities and interactions emergent from such complexity, especially across broad swaths of parameter space. This limits understanding of the ecological mechanisms underlying model behavior. Machine learning approaches are a potential answer to this issue, given their predictive ability when applied to complex large datasets. While perceptions that machine learning is a "black box" linger, we seek to illuminate its interpretive potential in ecological modeling. To do so, we detail our process of applying random forests to complex model dynamics to produce both high predictive accuracy and elucidate the ecological mechanisms driving our predictions. Specifically, we employ an empirically rooted ontogenetically stage-structured consumer-resource simulation model. Using simulation parameters as feature inputs and simulation output as dependent variables in our random forests, we extended feature analyses into a simple graphical analysis from which we reduced model behavior to three core ecological mechanisms. These ecological mechanisms reveal the complex interactions between internal plant demography and trophic allocation driving community dynamics while preserving the predictive accuracy achieved by our random forests.
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Flores S, Forister ML, Sulbaran H, Díaz R, Dyer LA. Extreme drought disrupts plant phenology: Insights from 35 years of cloud forest data in Venezuela. Ecology 2023; 104:e4012. [PMID: 36851834 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4012] [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: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
The potential effects of climate change on plant reproductive phenology include asynchronies with pollinators and reductions in plant fitness, leading to extinction and loss of ecosystem function. In particular, plant phenology is sensitive to extreme weather events, which are occurring with increasing severity and frequency in recent decades and are linked to anthropogenic climate change and shifts in atmospheric circulation. For 15 plant species in a Venezuelan cloud forest, we documented dramatic changes in monthly flower and fruit community composition over a 35-year time series, from 1983 to 2017, and these changes were linked directly to higher temperatures, lower precipitation, and decreased soil water availability. The patterns documented here do not mirror trends in temperate zones but corroborate results from the Asian tropics. More intense droughts are predicted to occur in the region, which will cause dramatic changes in flower and fruit availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saúl Flores
- Centro de Ecología, Laboratorio de Ecología de Suelos Ambiente y Agricultura del Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Matthew L Forister
- Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology and Biology Department, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Hendrik Sulbaran
- Centro de Ecología, Laboratorio de Ecología de Suelos Ambiente y Agricultura del Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Rodrigo Díaz
- Centro de Ecología, Laboratorio de Ecología de Suelos Ambiente y Agricultura del Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Lee A Dyer
- Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology and Biology Department, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
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Morozumi C, Loy X, Reynolds V, Schiffer A, Morrison B, Savage J, Brosi B. Simultaneous niche expansion and contraction in plant–pollinator networks under drought. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09265] [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)
- Connor Morozumi
- Program in Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Emory Univ. Atlanta GA USA
| | - Xingwen Loy
- Program in Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Emory Univ. Atlanta GA USA
- Southeastern Center for Conservation, Atlanta Botanical Garden Atlanta GA USA
| | - Victoria Reynolds
- School of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Queensland Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Annie Schiffer
- Dept of Environmental Sciences, Emory Univ. Atlanta GA USA
- Dept of Biology, Univ. of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | - Beth Morrison
- Dept of Environmental Sciences, Emory Univ. Atlanta GA USA
| | - Jade Savage
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Bishop's Univ. Sherbrooke QC Canada
| | - Berry Brosi
- Dept of Environmental Sciences, Emory Univ. Atlanta GA USA
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory Crested Butte CO USA
- Dept of Biology, Univ. of Washington Seattle WA USA
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