1
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Borderieux J, Gégout JC, Serra-Diaz JM. Extinction drives recent thermophilization but does not trigger homogenization in forest understorey. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:695-704. [PMID: 38472433 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02362-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The ongoing climate change is triggering plant community thermophilization. This selection process ought to shift community composition towards species adapted to warmer climates but may also lead to biotic homogenization. The link between thermophilization and homogenization and the community dynamics that drive them (colonization and extinction) remain unknown but is critical for understanding community responses under rapid environmental change. We used 14,167 pairs of plots to study shifts in plant community during 10 years of rising temperature in 80 forest ecoregions of France. We computed community mean thermal optimum (thermophilization) and Δβ-diversity (homogenization) for each ecoregion and partitioned these changes into extinction and colonization dynamics of cold- and warm-adapted species. Forest understorey communities thermophilized on average by 0.12 °C per decade and up to 0.20 °C per decade in warm ecoregions. This rate was entirely driven by extinction dynamics. Extinction of cold-adapted species was a driver of homogenization but it was compensated for by the colonization of rare species and the extinction of common species, resulting in the absence of an apparent homogenization trend. Here we show a dieback of present cold-adapted species rather than an adaptation of communities via the arrival of warm-adapted species, with a mutually cancelling effect on β-diversity. These results suggest that a future loss of biodiversity and delayed biotic homogenization should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Borderieux
- Université de Lorraine, AgroParisTech, INRAE, UMR Silva, Nancy, France.
| | | | - Josep M Serra-Diaz
- Université de Lorraine, AgroParisTech, INRAE, UMR Silva, Nancy, France
- Eversource Energy Center and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
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2
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Zobel M, Koorem K, Moora M, Semchenko M, Davison J. Symbiont plasticity as a driver of plant success. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:2340-2352. [PMID: 38308116 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19566] [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: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
We discuss which plant species are likely to become winners, that is achieve the highest global abundance, in changing landscapes, and whether plant-associated microbes play a determining role. Reduction and fragmentation of natural habitats in historic landscapes have led to the emergence of patchy, hybrid landscapes, and novel landscapes where anthropogenic ecosystems prevail. In patchy landscapes, species with broad niches are favoured. Plasticity in the degree of association with symbiotic microbes may contribute to broader plant niches and optimization of symbiosis costs and benefits, by downregulating symbiosis when it is unnecessary and upregulating it when it is beneficial. Plasticity can also be expressed as the switch from one type of mutualism to another, for example from nutritive to defensive mutualism with increasing soil fertility and the associated increase in parasite load. Upon dispersal, wide mutualistic partner receptivity is another facet of symbiont plasticity that becomes beneficial, because plants are not limited by the availability of specialist partners when arriving at new locations. Thus, under conditions of global change, symbiont plasticity allows plants to optimize the activity of mutualistic relationships, potentially allowing them to become winners by maximizing geographic occupancy and local abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Zobel
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, Tartu, 50409, Estonia
| | - Kadri Koorem
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, Tartu, 50409, Estonia
| | - Mari Moora
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, Tartu, 50409, Estonia
| | - Marina Semchenko
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, Tartu, 50409, Estonia
| | - John Davison
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, Tartu, 50409, Estonia
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3
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Brown MJM, Bachman SP, Nic Lughadha E. Three in four undescribed plant species are threatened with extinction. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:1340-1344. [PMID: 37583098 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
This article is part of the Special Collection ‘Global plant diversity and distribution’. See https://www.newphytologist.org/global-plant-diversity for more details.
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4
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Munschek M, Witt R, Kaltofen K, Segar J, Wirth C, Weigelt A, Engelmann RA, Staude IR. Putting conservation gardening into practice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12671. [PMID: 37652902 PMCID: PMC10471578 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39432-8] [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: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Conservation gardening (CG) represents a socio-ecological approach to address the decline of native plant species and transform the gardening industry into an innovative conservation tool. However, essential information regarding amenable plants, their ecological requirements for gardening, and commercial availability remains limited and not readily available. In this study, we present a workflow using Germany as a case study to bridge this knowledge gap. We synthesized the Red Lists of all 16 federal states in Germany, and text-mined a comprehensive platform for garden plants, as well as multiple German producers of native plants. To provide accessible information, we developed a user-friendly app ( https://conservation-gardening.shinyapps.io/app-en/ ) that offers region-specific lists of CG plants, along with practical guidance for planting and purchasing. Our findings reveal that a median of 845 plant species are red-listed across federal states (ranging from 515 to 1123), with 41% of these species amenable to gardening (ranging from 29 to 53%), resulting in a total of 988 CG species. Notably, 66% of these species (650) are already available for purchase. Additionally, we observed that many CG plants exhibit drought tolerance and require less fertilizer on average, with implications for long-term urban planning and climate adaptation. Collaborating with gardening experts, we present a selection of purchasable CG balcony plants for each federal state, highlighting the feasibility of CG even for individuals without gardens. With a multitude of declining plants amenable to gardening and the vital role of gardens as refuges and green corridors, CG holds substantial potential to catalyze transformative change in bending the curve of biodiversity loss.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Josiane Segar
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Wirth
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Botanical Garden of the University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexandra Weigelt
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rolf A Engelmann
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Botanical Garden of the University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ingmar R Staude
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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5
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Bergamo PJ, Rito KF, Viana BF, Garcia E, Lughadha EN, Maués MM, Rech AR, Silva FD, Varassin IG, Agostini K, Marques MC, Maruyama PK, Ravena N, Garibaldi LA, Knight TM, Oliveira PEM, Oppata AK, Saraiva AM, Tambosi LR, Tsukahara RY, Freitas L, Wolowski M. Integrating public engagement to intensify pollination services through ecological restoration. iScience 2023; 26:107276. [PMID: 37559905 PMCID: PMC10407755 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, human activities impose threats to nature and the provision of ecosystem services, such as pollination. In this context, ecological restoration provides opportunities to create managed landscapes that maximize biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture, e.g., via provision of pollination services. Managing pollination services and restoration opportunities requires the engagement of distinct stakeholders embedded in diverse social institutions. Nevertheless, frameworks toward sustainable agriculture often overlook how stakeholders interact and access power in social arenas. We present a perspective integrating pollination services, ecological restoration, and public engagement for biodiversity conservation and agricultural production. We highlight the importance of a comprehensive assessment of pollination services, restoration opportunities identification, and a public engagement strategy anchored in institutional analysis of the social arenas involved in restoration efforts. Our perspective can therefore guide the implementation of practices from local to country scales to enhance biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro J. Bergamo
- Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro 22460-030, Brazil
| | - Kátia F. Rito
- Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro 22460-030, Brazil
| | - Blandina F. Viana
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Studies in Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-210, Brazil
| | - Edenise Garcia
- Instituto de Conservação Ambiental the Nature Conservancy Brasil, São Paulo 01311-936, Brazil
| | - Eimear Nic Lughadha
- Conservation Science Department, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 9AE, UK
| | - Márcia M. Maués
- Laboratory of Entomology, Embrapa Eastern Amazon, Belém 66095-903, Brazil
| | - André R. Rech
- Centre of Advanced Studies on Functioning of Ecological Systems and Interactions (CAFESIN-MULTIFLOR), Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Diamantina 39100-000, Brazil
| | | | - Isabela G. Varassin
- Laboratório de Interações e Biologia Reprodutiva, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Kayna Agostini
- Department of Natural Science, Mathematics and Education, Federal University of São Carlos, Araras 13600-970, Brazil
| | | | - Pietro K. Maruyama
- Centre for Ecological Synthesis and Conservation, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Nirvia Ravena
- Centre of Amazonian Studies, Federal University of Pará, de Altos Estudos Amazônicos, Belém 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Lucas A. Garibaldi
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, San Carlos de Bariloche 8400, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto de Investigaciones em Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural, San Carlos de Bariloche 8400, Argentina
| | - Tiffany M. Knight
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig 04103 Germany
- Community Ecology Department, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Halle 06120, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle 06099, Germany
| | | | | | - Antônio M. Saraiva
- Polythecnic School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil
| | | | | | - Leandro Freitas
- Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro 22460-030, Brazil
| | - Marina Wolowski
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Brazil
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6
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Dornelas M, Chase JM, Gotelli NJ, Magurran AE, McGill BJ, Antão LH, Blowes SA, Daskalova GN, Leung B, Martins IS, Moyes F, Myers-Smith IH, Thomas CD, Vellend M. Looking back on biodiversity change: lessons for the road ahead. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220199. [PMID: 37246380 PMCID: PMC10225864 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Estimating biodiversity change across the planet in the context of widespread human modification is a critical challenge. Here, we review how biodiversity has changed in recent decades across scales and taxonomic groups, focusing on four diversity metrics: species richness, temporal turnover, spatial beta-diversity and abundance. At local scales, change across all metrics includes many examples of both increases and declines and tends to be centred around zero, but with higher prevalence of declining trends in beta-diversity (increasing similarity in composition across space or biotic homogenization) and abundance. The exception to this pattern is temporal turnover, with changes in species composition through time observed in most local assemblages. Less is known about change at regional scales, although several studies suggest that increases in richness are more prevalent than declines. Change at the global scale is the hardest to estimate accurately, but most studies suggest extinction rates are probably outpacing speciation rates, although both are elevated. Recognizing this variability is essential to accurately portray how biodiversity change is unfolding, and highlights how much remains unknown about the magnitude and direction of multiple biodiversity metrics at different scales. Reducing these blind spots is essential to allow appropriate management actions to be deployed. This article is part of the theme issue 'Detecting and attributing the causes of biodiversity change: needs, gaps and solutions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
- Guia Marine Laboratory, MARE, Faculdade de Ciencias da Universidade de Lisboa, Cascais 2750-374, Portugal
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Jonathan M. Chase
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig 04103, Germany
- Department of Computer Sciences, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg 06099, Germany
| | | | - Anne E Magurran
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
| | - Brian J McGill
- School of Biology and Ecology and Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Laura H. Antão
- Research Centre for Ecological Change, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki,Finland
| | - Shane A. Blowes
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig 04103, Germany
- Department of Computer Sciences, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg 06099, Germany
| | - Gergana N. Daskalova
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg 2361, Austria
| | - Brian Leung
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada H3A 1B1
| | - Inês S. Martins
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Faye Moyes
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
| | | | - Chris D Thomas
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Mark Vellend
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1K 2R1
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7
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Kortz AR, Moyes F, Pivello VR, Pyšek P, Dornelas M, Visconti P, Magurran AE. Elevated compositional change in plant assemblages linked to invasion. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222450. [PMID: 37161334 PMCID: PMC10170211 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2450] [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: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Alien species are widely linked to biodiversity change, but the extent to which they are associated with the reshaping of ecological communities is not well understood. One possible mechanism is that assemblages where alien species are found exhibit elevated temporal turnover. To test this, we identified assemblages of vascular plants in the BioTIME database for those assemblages in which alien species are either present or absent and used the Jaccard measure to compute compositional dissimilarity between consecutive censuses. We found that, although alien species are typically rare in invaded assemblages, their presence is associated with an increase in the average rate of compositional change. These differences in compositional change between invaded and uninvaded assemblages are not linked to differences in species richness but rather to species replacement (turnover). Rapid compositional restructuring of assemblages is a major contributor to biodiversity change, and as such, our results suggest a role for alien species in bringing this about.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra R. Kortz
- Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice CZ-25243, Czech Republic
- Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program, Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation group, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, Laxenburg 2361, Austria
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH, UK
- LEPaC, Ecology Department—IB, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, São Paulo, SP CEP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Faye Moyes
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH, UK
| | - Vânia R. Pivello
- LEPaC, Ecology Department—IB, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, São Paulo, SP CEP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Petr Pyšek
- Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice CZ-25243, Czech Republic
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague CZ-12844, Czech Republic
| | - Maria Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH, UK
| | - Piero Visconti
- Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program, Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation group, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, Laxenburg 2361, Austria
| | - Anne E. Magurran
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH, UK
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8
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Xu WB, Blowes SA, Brambilla V, Chow CFY, Fontrodona-Eslava A, Martins IS, McGlinn D, Moyes F, Sagouis A, Shimadzu H, van Klink R, Magurran AE, Gotelli NJ, McGill BJ, Dornelas M, Chase JM. Regional occupancy increases for widespread species but decreases for narrowly distributed species in metacommunity time series. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1463. [PMID: 36927847 PMCID: PMC10020147 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37127-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
While human activities are known to elicit rapid turnover in species composition through time, the properties of the species that increase or decrease their spatial occupancy underlying this turnover are less clear. Here, we used an extensive dataset of 238 metacommunity time series of multiple taxa spread across the globe to evaluate whether species that are more widespread (large-ranged species) differed in how they changed their site occupancy over the 10-90 years the metacommunities were monitored relative to species that are more narrowly distributed (small-ranged species). We found that on average, large-ranged species tended to increase in occupancy through time, whereas small-ranged species tended to decrease. These relationships were stronger in marine than in terrestrial and freshwater realms. However, in terrestrial regions, the directional changes in occupancy were less extreme in protected areas. Our findings provide evidence for systematic decreases in occupancy of small-ranged species, and that habitat protection could mitigate these losses in the face of environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu-Bing Xu
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Department of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
| | - Shane A Blowes
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Viviana Brambilla
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
| | - Cher F Y Chow
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
| | - Ada Fontrodona-Eslava
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
| | - Inês S Martins
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Berrick Saul Second Floor, University of York, York, UK
| | - Daniel McGlinn
- Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Faye Moyes
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
| | - Alban Sagouis
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Hideyasu Shimadzu
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK
- Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Roel van Klink
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Anne E Magurran
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
| | | | - Brian J McGill
- School of Biology and Ecology and Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Maria Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Berrick Saul Second Floor, University of York, York, UK
- MARE, Guia Marine Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Cascais, Portugal
| | - Jonathan M Chase
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Department of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
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9
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Deane DC, Hui C, McGeoch M. Two dominant forms of multisite similarity decline - Their origins and interpretation. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9859. [PMID: 36911316 PMCID: PMC9994616 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9859] [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: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of species shared by two or more sites is a fundamental measure of spatial variation in species composition. As more sites are included in the comparison of species composition, the average number of species shared across them declines, with a rate increasingly dependent on only the most widespread species. In over 80% of empirical communities, models of decline in shared species across multiple sites (multisite similarity decline) follow one of two distinct forms. An exponential form is assumed to reflect stochastic assembly and a power law form niche-based sorting, yet these explanations are largely untested, and little is known of how the two forms arise in nature. Using simulations, we first show that the distribution of the most widespread species largely differentiates the two forms, with the power law increasingly favored where such species occupy more than ~75% of sites. We reasoned the less cosmopolitan distribution of widespread species within exponential communities would manifest as differences in community biodiversity properties, specifically more aggregated within-species distributions, less even relative abundance distributions, and weaker between-species spatial associations. We tested and largely confirmed these relationships using 80 empirical datasets, suggesting that the form of multisite similarity decline offers a basis to predict how landscape-scale loss or gain of widespread species is reflected in different local-scale community structures. Such understanding could, for example, be used to predict changes in local-scale competitive interactions following shifts in widespread species' distributions. We propose multiple explanations for the origin of exponential decline, including high among-site abiotic variation, sampling of highly specialized (narrow niche width) taxa, and strong dispersal limitation. We recommend these are evaluated as alternative hypotheses to stochastic assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Deane
- Department of Environment and Genetics, Research Centre for Future Landscapes La Trobe University Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Cang Hui
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Centre for Invasion Biology Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa.,Biodiversity Informatics Unit African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Cape Town South Africa
| | - Melodie McGeoch
- Department of Environment and Genetics, Research Centre for Future Landscapes La Trobe University Melbourne Victoria Australia
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10
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Kramer JMF, Zwiener VP, Müller SC. Biotic homogenization and differentiation of plant communities in tropical and subtropical forests. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14025. [PMID: 36285615 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14025] [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: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity can lead to biotic homogenization (BH) and biotic differentiation (BD). BH is a process of increasing similarity in community composition (including taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic components), whereas BD is a process of decreasing similarity over space and time. Here, we conducted a systematic review of BH and BD in plant communities in tropical and subtropical forests to identify trends and knowledge gaps. Our bibliometric search in the Web of Science returned 1989 papers, of which 151 matched our criteria and were included in the analysis. The Neotropical region had the largest number of articles, and Brazil was the most represented country with 92 studies. Regarding the type of change, homogenization was more frequent than differentiation (noted in 69.6% of publications). The taxonomic diversity component was measured more often than functional and phylogenetic diversity components. Most studies (75.6%) assessed homogenization and differentiation based on a single observation in time; as opposed to few studies that monitored plant community over multiple years. Forest fragmentation was cited as the main determinant of homogenization and differentiation processes (57.2% of articles). Our results highlight the importance of evaluating community composition over time and more than taxonomic components (i.e., functional and phylogenetic) to advance understanding of homogenization and differentiation. Both processes were scale dependent and not mutually exclusive. As such, future research should consider differentiation as a potential transition phase to homogenization and that potential differences in both processes may depend on the spatial and temporal scale adopted. Understanding the complexity and causes of homogenization and differentiation is essential for biodiversity conservation in a world increasingly affected by anthropogenic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean M Freitag Kramer
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal (LEVEG), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Biogeografia de Plantas, Departamento de Biodiversidade, Setor Palotina, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Palotina, Brazil
| | - Victor P Zwiener
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Biogeografia de Plantas, Departamento de Biodiversidade, Setor Palotina, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Palotina, Brazil
| | - Sandra Cristina Müller
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal (LEVEG), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
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11
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Abstract
Ungulate populations are increasing across Europe with important implications for forest plant communities. Concurrently, atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition continues to eutrophicate forests, threatening many rare, often more nutrient-efficient, plant species. These pressures may critically interact to shape biodiversity as in grassland and tundra systems, yet any potential interactions in forests remain poorly understood. Here, we combined vegetation resurveys from 52 sites across 13 European countries to test how changes in ungulate herbivory and eutrophication drive long-term changes in forest understorey communities. Increases in herbivory were associated with elevated temporal species turnover, however, identities of winner and loser species depended on N levels. Under low levels of N-deposition, herbivory favored threatened and small-ranged species while reducing the proportion of non-native and nutrient-demanding species. Yet all these trends were reversed under high levels of N-deposition. Herbivores also reduced shrub cover, likely exacerbating N effects by increasing light levels in the understorey. Eutrophication levels may therefore determine whether herbivory acts as a catalyst for the "N time bomb" or as a conservation tool in temperate forests.
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Auffret AG, Svenning JC. Climate warming has compounded plant responses to habitat conversion in northern Europe. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7818. [PMID: 36535960 PMCID: PMC9763501 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35516-7] [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: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Serious concerns exist about potentially reinforcing negative effects of climate change and land conversion on biodiversity. Here, we investigate the tandem and interacting roles of climate warming and land-use change as predictors of shifts in the regional distributions of 1701 plant species in Sweden over 60 years. We show that species associated with warmer climates have increased, while grassland specialists have declined. Our results also support the hypothesis that climate warming and vegetation densification through grazing abandonment have synergistic effects on species distribution change. Local extinctions were related to high levels of warming but were reduced by grassland retention. In contrast, colonisations occurred more often in areas experiencing high levels of both climate and land-use change. Strong temperature increases were experienced by species across their ranges, indicating time lags in expected warming-related local extinctions. Our results highlight that the conservation of threatened species relies on both reduced greenhouse gas emissions and the retention and restoration of valuable habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair G. Auffret
- grid.6341.00000 0000 8578 2742Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7044, SE-75 007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- grid.7048.b0000 0001 1956 2722Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE) & Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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Schwaiger H, Lenzer B, Essl F. No species loss, but pronounced species turnover in grasslands in the Northern Alps over 25 years. APPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE 2022; 25:e12700. [PMID: 37082134 PMCID: PMC10107162 DOI: 10.1111/avsc.12700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The abandonment of marginally productive habitats and the intensification of land use on productive sites have caused transformative changes in vegetation composition in Central Europe. In this study, after 25 years we resurveyed a total of 145 grassland relevés from the mid-1990s in a grassland-dominated valley of the Northern Alps of Upper Austria. We studied changes in richness and composition, and related these to underlying drivers. We found that the average species number in plots increased from 46 in the first survey period to 49 in the second one. Median species richness across sites significantly increased from 1995 to 2020 for Festuco-Brometea (55-61 species) and Galio-Urticetea (24-32 species), but did not show any significant change for the other classes. Further, we recorded substantial species turnover, with winners consisting mostly of species that prefer nutrient-rich sites, while losers were predominantly species of nutrient-poor sites. In particular, using Ellenberg Indicator Values for calculating community indices, we found an indication for ongoing eutrophication in vegetation types of nutrient-poor vegetation classes (Festuco-Brometea and Calluno-Ulicetea), and in wet habitats (Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae). Community indices of wet habitats also showed clear signs of becoming more mesic. Thermophilization of community indices was evident across several vegetation classes. Further, alien species that were very rare in the mid-1990s became more abundant in the resurveyed plots, although the level of invasion is still low. Finally, community values for nutrients of plots that are located in a protected area that has been established in 2014 did not increase significantly, while this was the case in plots outside the protected area, indicating that the management of the protected area has positive effects in halting eutrophication. We conclude that despite overall species richness changing only moderately between both surveys, substantial changes in community composition toward more nitrophilic and thermophilic conditions occurred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Schwaiger
- BioInvasions, Global Change, Macroecology Group, Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Bernd Lenzer
- BioInvasions, Global Change, Macroecology Group, Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Franz Essl
- BioInvasions, Global Change, Macroecology Group, Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
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Hatfield JH, Davis KE, Thomas CD. Lost, gained, and regained functional and phylogenetic diversity of European mammals since 8000 years ago. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:5283-5293. [PMID: 35748709 PMCID: PMC9540530 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Mammals have experienced high levels of human-mediated extirpations but have also been widely introduced to new locations, and some have recovered from historic persecution. Both of these processes-losses and gains-have resulted in concern about functional losses and changes in ecological communities as new ecological states develop. The question of whether species turnover inevitably leads to declines in functional and phylogenetic diversity depends, however, on the traits and phylogenetic distinctiveness of the species that are lost, gained, or regained. Comparing ~8000 years ago with the last century, we show that extirpations and range retractions have indeed reduced the functional and phylogenetic diversity of mammals in most European regions (countries and island groups), but species recoveries and the introduction of non-native species have increased functional and phylogenetic diversity by equivalent or greater amounts in many regions. Overall, across Europe, species richness increased in 41 regions over the last 8000 years and declined in 1; phylogenetic diversity increased in 33 and declined in 12, while functional diversity results showed 20 increases and 25 decreases. The balance of losses (extirpations) and gains (introductions, range expansions) has, however, led to net increases in functional diversity on many islands, where the original diversity was low, and across most of western Europe. Historically extirpated mega- and mesofaunal species have recolonized or been reintroduced to many European regions, contributing to recent functional and phylogenetic diversity recovery. If conservation rewilding projects continue to reintroduce regionally extirpated species and domestic descendants of "extinct" species to provide replacement grazing, browsing, and predation, there is potential to generate net functional and phylogenetic diversity gains (relative to 8000 years ago) in most European regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack H. Hatfield
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene BiodiversityUniversity of YorkYorkUK
- Department of BiologyUniversity of YorkYorkUK
| | | | - Chris D. Thomas
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene BiodiversityUniversity of YorkYorkUK
- Department of BiologyUniversity of YorkYorkUK
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Changes in Species and Functional Diversity of the Herb Layer of Riparian Forest despite Six Decades of Strict Protection. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13050747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The herb layer of temperate forests contributes to long-term forest ecosystem functioning and provisioning of ecosystem services. Therefore, a thorough understanding of its dynamics in the face of environmental changes is essential. This paper focuses on the species and functional diversity of the herb layer of riparian forests to verify how these two community components changed over time and under strict protection. The understory vegetation was surveyed on 42 semi-permanent plots in three time periods between 1960 and 2020. The overall pattern in vegetation changes that related to species richness and diversity, functional structure, and habitat conditions was analyzed using ordination and permutation techniques. We found significant changes in species composition and the functional structure of herbaceous vegetation over the last six decades. Forests were enriched with nutrient-demanding and alien species. A significant increase in functional diversity and the proportion of species with high SLA and canopy height was also observed, whereas changes in habitat conditions were insignificant. The observed trends indicate that the strict protection of forest communities within small and isolated reserves does not fully protect their species composition. Forest reserves should be surrounded by unmanaged forests and spatially connected to allow species mobility.
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Li Y, Gao Y, van Kleunen M, Liu Y. Herbivory may mediate the effects of nutrients on the dominance of alien plants. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yanjun Li
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130102 China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology Northeast Normal University Changchun 130024 China
| | - Yingzhi Gao
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology Northeast Normal University Changchun 130024 China
| | - Mark van Kleunen
- Ecology, Department of Biology University of Konstanz 78464 Konstanz Germany
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Taizhou University Taizhou 318000 China
| | - Yanjie Liu
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130102 China
- Ecology, Department of Biology University of Konstanz 78464 Konstanz Germany
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