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Kriegel P, Vogel S, Angeleri R, Baldrian P, Borken W, Bouget C, Brin A, Bussler H, Cocciufa C, Feldmann B, Gossner MM, Haeler E, Hagge J, Hardersen S, Hartmann H, Hjältén J, Kotowska MM, Lachat T, Larrieu L, Leverkus AB, Macagno ALM, Mitesser O, Müller J, Obermaier E, Parisi F, Pelz S, Schuldt B, Seibold S, Stengel E, Sverdrup-Thygeson A, Weisser W, Thorn S. Ambient and substrate energy influence decomposer diversity differentially across trophic levels. Ecol Lett 2023. [PMID: 37156097 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The species-energy hypothesis predicts increasing biodiversity with increasing energy in ecosystems. Proxies for energy availability are often grouped into ambient energy (i.e., solar radiation) and substrate energy (i.e., non-structural carbohydrates or nutritional content). The relative importance of substrate energy is thought to decrease with increasing trophic level from primary consumers to predators, with reciprocal effects of ambient energy. Yet, empirical tests are lacking. We compiled data on 332,557 deadwood-inhabiting beetles of 901 species reared from wood of 49 tree species across Europe. Using host-phylogeny-controlled models, we show that the relative importance of substrate energy versus ambient energy decreases with increasing trophic levels: the diversity of zoophagous and mycetophagous beetles was determined by ambient energy, while non-structural carbohydrate content in woody tissues determined that of xylophagous beetles. Our study thus overall supports the species-energy hypothesis and specifies that the relative importance of ambient temperature increases with increasing trophic level with opposite effects for substrate energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kriegel
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology (Zoology III), Julius Maximilians University Würzburg, Rauhenebrach, Germany
| | - Sebastian Vogel
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology (Zoology III), Julius Maximilians University Würzburg, Rauhenebrach, Germany
- Bavarian Environment Agency, Biodiversitätszentrum Rhön, Bischofsheim in der Rhön, Germany
| | - Romain Angeleri
- School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL, Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH, Zollikofen, Switzerland
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution IEE - Conservation Biology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Petr Baldrian
- Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Praha 4, Czech Republic
| | - Werner Borken
- Department for Soil Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Christophe Bouget
- French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment INRAE, 'Forest Ecosystems' Research Unit, Nogent-sur-Vernisson, France
| | - Antoine Brin
- University of Toulouse, Engineering School of Purpan, UMR 1201 INRAE-INPT DYNAFOR, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Cristiana Cocciufa
- Arma dei Carabinieri CUFA, Projects, Conventions, Environmental Education Office, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Martin M Gossner
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Elena Haeler
- School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL, Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH, Zollikofen, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Forest Growth, Silviculture and Genetics, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests Natural Hazards and Landscape BFW, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jonas Hagge
- Forest Nature Conservation, Northwest German Forest Research Institute, Hann. Münden, Germany
- Department for Forest Nature Conservation, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sönke Hardersen
- Reparto Carabinieri Biodiversità di Verona, Centro Nazionale Carabinieri Biodiversità "Bosco Fontana", Marmirolo, Italy
| | - Henrik Hartmann
- Department of Biogeochemical Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
- Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Forest Protection, Quedlinburg, Germany
| | - Joakim Hjältén
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Martyna M Kotowska
- Department of Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thibault Lachat
- School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL, Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH, Zollikofen, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Larrieu
- University of Toulouse, INRAE, UMR 1201 DYNAFOR, Castanet-Tolosan, France
- CNPF-CRPF Occitanie, Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | | | - Anna L M Macagno
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Indiana, Bloomington, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Biostatistics Consulting Center, Indiana University, Indiana, Bloomington, USA
| | - Oliver Mitesser
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology (Zoology III), Julius Maximilians University Würzburg, Rauhenebrach, Germany
| | - Jörg Müller
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology (Zoology III), Julius Maximilians University Würzburg, Rauhenebrach, Germany
- Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Obermaier
- Ecological-Botanical Garden of the University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Francesco Parisi
- Department of Bioscience and Territory, Università degli Studi del Molise, Pesche, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Stefan Pelz
- Institute for Applied Science, University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg, Rottenburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schuldt
- Chair of Forest Botany, Institute of Forest Botany and Forest Zoology, Technical University of Dresden, Tharandt, Germany
- Chair of Ecophysiology and Vegetation Ecology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Seibold
- Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management Research Group, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Berchtesgaden National Park, Berchtesgaden, Germany
- Technische Universität Dresden, Forest Zoology, Tharandt, Germany
| | - Elisa Stengel
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology (Zoology III), Julius Maximilians University Würzburg, Rauhenebrach, Germany
| | - Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA), Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU, Ås, Norway
| | - Wolfgang Weisser
- Department for Life Science Systems, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Simon Thorn
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology (Zoology III), Julius Maximilians University Würzburg, Rauhenebrach, Germany
- Hessian Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology, Biodiversity Center, Gießen, Germany
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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von Hoermann C, Benbow ME, Rottler-Hoermann AM, Lackner T, Sommer D, Receveur JP, Bässler C, Heurich M, Müller J. Factors influencing carrion communities are only partially consistent with those of deadwood necromass. Oecologia 2023; 201:537-547. [PMID: 36697878 PMCID: PMC9943954 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05327-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Research on decomposer communities has traditionally focused on plant litter or deadwood. Even though carrion forms highly nutrient-rich necromass that enhance ecosystem heterogeneity, the factors influencing saprophytic communities remain largely unknown. For deadwood, experiments have shown that different drivers determine beetles (i.e., decay stage, microclimate, and space), fungi (i.e., decay stage and tree species) and bacteria (decay stage only) assemblages. To test the hypothesis that similar factors also structure carrion communities, we sampled 29 carcasses exposed for 30 days that included Cervus elaphus (N = 6), Capreolus capreolus (N = 18), and Vulpes vulpes (N = 5) in a mountain forest throughout decomposition. Beetles were collected with pitfall traps, while microbial communities were characterized using amplicon sequencing. Assemblages were determined with a focus from rare to dominant species using Hill numbers. With increasing focus on dominant species, the relative importance of carcass identity on beetles and space on bacteria increased, while only succession and microclimate remained relevant for fungi. For beetle and bacteria with focus on dominant species, host identity was more important than microclimate, which is in marked contrast to deadwood. We conclude that factors influencing carrion saprophytic assemblages show some consistency, but also differences from those of deadwood assemblages, suggesting that short-lived carrion and long-lasting deadwood both provide a resource pulse with different adaptions in insects and microbes. As with deadwood, a high diversity of carcass species under multiple decay stages and different microclimates support a diverse decomposer community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian von Hoermann
- grid.452215.50000 0004 7590 7184Department of Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, 94481 Grafenau, Germany
| | - M. Eric Benbow
- grid.17088.360000 0001 2150 1785Department of Entomology, Department of Osteopathic Specialties, AgBioResearch and Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
| | - Ann-Marie Rottler-Hoermann
- grid.6582.90000 0004 1936 9748Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Tomáš Lackner
- grid.452215.50000 0004 7590 7184Department of Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, 94481 Grafenau, Germany
| | - David Sommer
- grid.4491.80000 0004 1937 116XDepartment of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 12844 Prague, Czech Republic
- grid.15866.3c0000 0001 2238 631XDepartment of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Kamycka 1176, 16521 Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Joseph P. Receveur
- grid.17088.360000 0001 2150 1785Department of Entomology, Department of Osteopathic Specialties, AgBioResearch and Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
| | - Claus Bässler
- grid.7839.50000 0004 1936 9721Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Conservation Biology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- grid.452215.50000 0004 7590 7184Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, 94481 Grafenau, Germany
| | - Marco Heurich
- grid.452215.50000 0004 7590 7184Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring, Bavarian Forest National Park, 94481 Grafenau, Germany
- grid.5963.9Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Wildlife Management, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Forest and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Science, 2480 Koppang, Norway
| | - Jörg Müller
- grid.452215.50000 0004 7590 7184Department of Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, 94481 Grafenau, Germany
- grid.8379.50000 0001 1958 8658Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, 96181 Rauhenebrach, Germany
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Schwegmann S, Binder N, von Hoermann C, Bhardwaj M, Storch I. Evisceration residues from hunted roe deer as a resource for necrophagous insect fauna in the Black Forest, Germany: a preliminary study. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wlb3.01055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikolas Binder
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Univ. of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Christian von Hoermann
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Univ. of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- Dept of Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest National Park Grafenau Germany
| | - Manisha Bhardwaj
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Univ. of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Ilse Storch
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Univ. of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
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von Hoermann C, Weithmann S, Sikorski J, Nevo O, Szpila K, Grzywacz A, Grunwald JE, Reckel F, Overmann J, Steiger S, Ayasse M. Linking bacteria, volatiles and insects on carrion: the role of temporal and spatial factors regulating inter-kingdom communication via volatiles. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220555. [PMID: 36061525 PMCID: PMC9428529 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Multi-kingdom community complexity and the chemically mediated dynamics between bacteria and insects have recently received increased attention in carrion research. However, the strength of these inter-kingdom interactions and the factors that regulate them are poorly studied. We used 75 piglet cadavers across three forest regions to survey the relationship between three actors (epinecrotic bacteria, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and flies) during the first 4 days of decomposition and the factors that regulate this interdependence. The results showed a dynamic bacterial change during decomposition (temperature-time index) and across the forest management gradient, but not between regions. Similarly, VOC emission was dynamic across a temperature-time index and the forest management gradient but did not differ between regions. However, fly occurrence was dynamic across both space and time. The strong interdependence between the three actors was mainly regulated by the temperature-time index and the study regions, thereby revealing regulation at temporal and spatial scales. Additionally, the actor interdependence was stable across a gradient of forest management intensity. By combining different actors of decomposition, we have expanded our knowledge of the holistic mechanisms regulating carrion community dynamics and inter-kingdom interactions, an important precondition for better describing food web dynamics and entire ecosystem functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian von Hoermann
- Department of Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany
| | - Sandra Weithmann
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Johannes Sikorski
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research, Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Omer Nevo
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Krzysztof Szpila
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
| | - Andrzej Grzywacz
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
| | - Jan-Eric Grunwald
- Bavarian State Criminal Police Office, SG 204, Microtraces/Biology, 80636 Munich, Germany
| | - Frank Reckel
- Bavarian State Criminal Police Office, SG 204, Microtraces/Biology, 80636 Munich, Germany
| | - Jörg Overmann
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research, Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Sandra Steiger
- Department of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Manfred Ayasse
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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Diverse Effects of Climate, Land Use, and Insects on Dung and Carrion Decomposition. Ecosystems 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-022-00764-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractLand-use intensification and climate change threaten ecosystem functions. A fundamental, yet often overlooked, function is decomposition of necromass. The direct and indirect anthropogenic effects on decomposition, however, are poorly understood. We measured decomposition of two contrasting types of necromass, rat carrion and bison dung, on 179 study sites in Central Europe across an elevational climate gradient of 168–1122 m a.s.l. and within both local and regional land uses. Local land-use types included forest, grassland, arable fields, and settlements and were embedded in three regional land-use types (near-natural, agricultural, and urban). The effects of insects on decomposition were quantified by experimental exclusion, while controlling for removal by vertebrates. We used generalized additive mixed models to evaluate dung weight loss and carrion decay rate along elevation and across regional and local land-use types. We observed a unimodal relationship of dung decomposition with elevation, where greatest weight loss occurred between 600 and 700 m, but no effects of local temperature, land use, or insects. In contrast to dung, carrion decomposition was continuously faster with both increasing elevation and local temperature. Carrion reached the final decomposition stage six days earlier when insect access was allowed, and this did not depend on land-use effect. Our experiment identified different major drivers of decomposition on each necromass form. The results show that dung and carrion decomposition are rather robust to local and regional land use, but future climate change and decline of insects could alter decomposition processes and the self-regulation of ecosystems.
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Wu X, Niklas KJ, Sun S. Climate change affects detritus decomposition rates by modifying arthropod performance and species interactions. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 47:62-66. [PMID: 34033945 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change can indirectly affect ecosystem functions including detritus decomposition by modifying physiological traits, feeding behavior, and species interactions (including consumptive and non-consumptive top-down cascading effects) of decomposing arthropods. It is known that the effect of climate change on decomposition can be negative, neutral, or positive, and that it is highly context-dependent, depending on detritus quality, species identity, species interactions, and ecosystem type. Thus, ongoing climate change will undoubtedly influence the effects of arthropods on decomposition rates. More comprehensive studies are urgently needed to elucidate the effect of climate change on arthropod-detritus decomposers, particularly in the context of the decomposition of animal droppings and carrion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwei Wu
- Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Karl J Niklas
- Department of Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Shucun Sun
- Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
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Alvarado‐Montero S, Boesing AL, Metzger JP, Jaffé R. Higher forest cover and less contrasting matrices improve carrion removal service by scavenger insects in tropical landscapes. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Alvarado‐Montero
- Department of Ecology University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
- Costa Rica Wildlife Foundation San José Costa Rica
| | | | | | - Rodolfo Jaffé
- Department of Ecology University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
- Vale Institute of Technology – Sustainable Development Rua Boaventura da Silva Belém Brazil
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Carcasses at Fixed Locations Host a Higher Diversity of Necrophilous Beetles. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12050412. [PMID: 34064338 PMCID: PMC8147763 DOI: 10.3390/insects12050412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Whereas vertebrate scavengers have a higher diversity reported at randomly placed carcasses, the drivers of insect diversity on carrion, such as the exposure type (fixed versus random) or the carrion species, are still incompletely understood. We analyzed beetle diversity at differently exposed carcasses in the low-range mountain forest of the Bavarian Forest National Park in Germany. We tested if scavenging beetles, similarly to vertebrate scavengers, show a higher diversity at randomly placed carcasses compared to easily manageable fixed places. Ninety-two beetle species at 29 exposed wildlife carcasses (roe, red deer, and red foxes) were detected. Beetle diversity was higher at fixed locations possessing extended highly nutrient-rich cadaver decomposition islands as important refuges for threatened red-listed species, such as Necrobia violacea (Coleoptera: Cleridae). Particularly noticeable in our insect traps were the following two rare species, the “primitive” carrion beetle Necrophilus subterraneus (Coleoptera: Agyrtidae) and the false clown beetle Sphaerites glabratus (Coleoptera: Sphaeritidae). In Europe, only the species S. glabratus out of the genus Sphaerites is present. This emphasizes the importance of carrion for biodiversity conservation. We clearly show the relevance of leaving and additional providing wildlife carcasses in a dedicated place in protected forests for preserving very rare and threatened beetle species as essential members of the decomposing community. Abstract In contrast to other necromass, such as leaves, deadwood, or dung, the drivers of insect biodiversity on carcasses are still incompletely understood. For vertebrate scavengers, a richer community was shown for randomly placed carcasses, due to lower competition. Here we tested if scavenging beetles similarly show a higher diversity at randomly placed carcasses compared to easily manageable fixed places. We sampled 12,879 individuals and 92 species of scavenging beetles attracted to 17 randomly and 12 at fixed places exposed and decomposing carcasses of red deer, roe deer, and red foxes compared to control sites in a low range mountain forest. We used rarefaction-extrapolation curves along the Hill-series to weight diversity from rare to dominant species and indicator species analysis to identify differences between placement types, the decay stage, and carrion species. Beetle diversity decreased from fixed to random locations, becoming increasingly pronounced with weighting of dominant species. In addition, we found only two indicator species for exposure location type, both representative of fixed placement locations and both red listed species, namely Omosita depressa and Necrobia violacea. Furthermore, we identified three indicator species of Staphylinidae (Philonthus marginatus and Oxytelus laqueatus) and Scarabaeidae (Melinopterus prodromus) for larger carrion and one geotrupid species Anoplotrupes stercorosus for advanced decomposition stages. Our study shows that necrophilous insect diversity patterns on carcasses over decomposition follow different mechanisms than those of vertebrate scavengers with permanently established carrion islands as important habitats for a diverse and threatened insect fauna.
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Weithmann S, von Hoermann C, Degasperi G, Brandt K, Steiger S, Ayasse M. Temporal variability of the rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) community on small vertebrate carrion and its potential use for forensic entomology. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 323:110792. [PMID: 33895634 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) are one of the most important colonizers of vertebrate cadavers. We have previously investigated carrion-associated rove beetle communities across various forests and demonstrated that the study regions are the main drivers of the local rove beetle species pool that is, in turn, able to colonize a carcass. Nevertheless, little is known about their temporal variation in community composition during the decomposition process. The aim of our study has been to analyze the temporal changes of the composition of the rove beetle community and to identify new, potentially useful candidate species for forensic entomological evaluations. We determined 80 rove beetle species that were attracted to 60 piglet cadavers across various forest stands in Germany. Both the abundance and the community composition changed over the decomposition process, independently of the species-specific geographical variation across study regions. In the region Schorfheide-Chorin, species from the genus Philonthus proved to be a suitable group for future forensic entomological investigations. They appeared in markedly high numbers at piglet cadavers from the bloated stage until the advanced decay stage. For the study region Schwäbische Alb, we newly describe the species Omalium septentrionis as a member of the carrion-associated rove beetle fauna. Based on the geographical variation in rove beetle community compositions, we have filtered out several species that might contribute to advances in postmortem interval estimations or other applied fields in forensic entomological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Weithmann
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany.
| | - Christian von Hoermann
- Department of Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest National Park, 94481 Grafenau, Germany.
| | - Gregor Degasperi
- Department for Ecology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Katharina Brandt
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany.
| | - Sandra Steiger
- Department of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany.
| | - Manfred Ayasse
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany.
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10
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Local and Landscape Effects on Carrion-Associated Rove Beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) Communities in German Forests. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11120828. [PMID: 33255456 PMCID: PMC7760899 DOI: 10.3390/insects11120828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Increasing forest management practices by humans are threatening inherent insect biodiversity and thus important ecosystem services provided by them. One insect group which reacts sensitively to habitat changes are the rove beetles contributing to the maintenance of an undisturbed insect succession during decomposition by mainly hunting fly maggots. However, little is known about carrion-associated rove beetles due to poor taxonomic knowledge. In our study, we unveiled the human-induced and environmental drivers that modify rove beetle communities on vertebrate cadavers. At German forest sites selected by a gradient of management intensity, we contributed to the understanding of the rove beetle-mediated decomposition process. One main result is that an increasing human impact in forests changes rove beetle communities by promoting generalist and more open-habitat species coping with low structural heterogeneity, whereas species like Philonthus decorus get lost. Our results are not solely important for carrion ecological, but also for forensic entomological assessments on crime scenes, e.g., postmortem body relocation, because little information is available until now about rove beetles as one of the most important insect groups on bodies. Abstract Intensification of anthropogenic land use is a major threat to biodiversity and thus to essential ecosystem services provided by insects. Rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), which react sensitively to habitat changes, are species-rich colonizers of vertebrate cadavers and contribute to the important ecosystem service of carrion decomposition. The unveiling of anthropogenic and environmental drivers that modify carrion-associated rove beetle communities should improve our understanding of the plasticity of cadaver decay. We report the presence of 80 rove beetle species on 65 decomposing piglet cadavers at forest sites characterized by a gradient of management intensity across three geographic regions in Germany. Local and landscape drivers were revealed that shape beetle abundance, diversity, and community composition. Forest management and regions affect rove beetle abundance, whereas diversity is influenced by local habitat parameters (soil pH, litter cover) and regions. The community composition of rove beetles changes with management intensification by promoting generalist species. Regarding single species, Philonthus decorus and Anotylus mutator are linked to unmanaged forests and Ontholestes tessellatus to highly used forest stands. The spatial information provided about carrion-associated rove beetle communities in German forests is not only of carrion-ecological but also of forensic entomological interest.
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Altamiranda-Saavedra M, Osorio-Olvera L, Yáñez-Arenas C, Marín-Ortiz JC, Parra-Henao G. Geographic abundance patterns explained by niche centrality hypothesis in two Chagas disease vectors in Latin America. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241710. [PMID: 33147272 PMCID: PMC7641389 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecoepidemiological scenarios for Chagas disease transmission are complex, so vector control measures to decrease human–vector contact and prevent infection transmission are difficult to implement in all geographic contexts. This study assessed the geographic abundance patterns of two vector species of Chagas disease: Triatoma maculata (Erichson, 1848) and Rhodnius pallescens (Barber, 1932) in Latin America. We modeled their potential distribution using the maximum entropy algorithm implemented in Maxent and calculated distances to their niche centroid by fitting a minimum-volume ellipsoid. In addition, to determine which method would accurately explain geographic abundance patterns, we compared the correlation between population abundance and the distance to the ecological niche centroid (DNC) and between population abundance and Maxent environmental suitability. The potential distribution estimated for T. maculata showed that environmental suitability covers a large area, from Panama to Northern Brazil. R. pallescens showed a more restricted potential distribution, with environmental suitability covering mostly the coastal zone of Costa Rica and some areas in Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize and the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, northern Colombia, Acre, and Rondônia states in Brazil, as well as a small region of the western Brazilian Amazon. We found a negative slope in the relationship between population abundance and the DNC in both species. R. pallecens has a more extensive potential latitudinal range than previously reported, and the distribution model for T. maculata corroborates previous studies. In addition, population abundance increases according to the niche centroid proximity, indicating that population abundance is limited by the set of scenopoetic variables at coarser scales (non-interactive variables) used to determine the ecological niche. These findings might be used by public health agencies in Latin America to implement actions and support programs for disease prevention and vector control, identifying areas in which to expand entomological surveillance and maintain chemical control, in order to decrease human–vector contact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano Altamiranda-Saavedra
- Centro de Investigación en Salud para el Trópico (CIST), Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Santa Marta, Colombia
- Politécnico Colombiano Jaime Isaza Cadavid, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
- * E-mail:
| | - Luis Osorio-Olvera
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Carlos Yáñez-Arenas
- Laboratorio de Ecología Geográfica, Unidad de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, UMDI-Sisal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Juan Carlos Marín-Ortiz
- Departamento de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Gabriel Parra-Henao
- Centro de Investigación en Salud para el Trópico (CIST), Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Santa Marta, Colombia
- National Health Institute (Instituto Nacional de Salud), Bogotá, Colombia
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Chemnitz J, von Hoermann C, Ayasse M, Steiger S. The Impact of Environmental Factors on the Efficacy of Chemical Communication in the Burying Beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2020; 20:5870645. [PMID: 32658275 PMCID: PMC7357268 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieaa061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that a wide range of insect sex pheromones are condition dependent and play a fundamental role in mate choice. However, the effectiveness of pheromonal communication might not only depend on internal factors of the sender, but also on attributes of the microhabitat, in which the signaler chooses to emit its chemical signal. For example, the degree of anthropogenic land use might affect how successful the signal is transmitted, as land use has been shown to affect animal communities and the complexity of biotic interactions. To test the hypothesis that parameters of the microenvironment determine males' ability to attract females via their sex pheromone, we used the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides Herbst (Coleoptera: Silphidae) as our model system. We exposed 144 males across differently managed forest stands and analyzed the impact of 29 environmental parameters. Our data revealed that human land use intensity had no effect on a male's attractiveness. However, the harvested tree biomass positively affected the proportion of competitors attracted. Furthermore, we found that soil characteristics were important factors determining the amount and body size of females a male was able to attract. Consequently, we present evidence that the environmental context of a signaling male influences the effectiveness of chemical signaling either because it affects the transmission process or the prevailing abundance of potential signal receivers. Thus, our results demonstrate that males need to make careful decisions about the location where they emit their pheromone, as this choice of microhabitat has an impact on their fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Chemnitz
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christian von Hoermann
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany
| | - Manfred Ayasse
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sandra Steiger
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
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von Hoermann C, Weithmann S, Deißler M, Ayasse M, Steiger S. Forest habitat parameters influence abundance and diversity of cadaver-visiting dung beetles in Central Europe. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:191722. [PMID: 32269801 PMCID: PMC7137943 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Dung beetles provide crucial ecosystem services and serve as model organisms for various behavioural, ecological and evolutionary studies. However, dung beetles have received little attention as consumers of large cadavers. In this study, we trapped copronecrophagous dung beetles on above-ground exposed piglet cadavers in 61 forest plots distributed over three geographically distinct regions in Germany, Central Europe. We examined the effects of land use intensity, forest stand, soil characteristics, vascular plant diversity and climatic conditions on dung beetle abundance, species richness and diversity. In all three regions, dung beetles, represented mainly by the geotrupid species Anoplotrupes stercorosus and Trypocopris vernalis, were attracted to the cadavers. High beetle abundance was associated with higher mean ambient temperature. Furthermore, A. stercorosus and T. vernalis were more abundant in areas where soil contained higher proportions of fine sand. Additionally, an increased proportion of forest understorey vegetation and vascular plant diversity positively affected the species richness and diversity of dung beetles. Thus, even in warm dry monocultured forest stands exploited for timber, we found thriving dung beetle populations when a diverse understorey was present. Therefore, forestry practices that preserve the understorey can sustain stable dung beetle populations and ensure their important contribution to nutrient cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian von Hoermann
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, 94481 Grafenau, Germany
| | - Sandra Weithmann
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Markus Deißler
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Manfred Ayasse
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Sandra Steiger
- Department of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
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Probst C, Gethmann J, Amendt J, Lutz L, Teifke JP, Conraths FJ. Estimating the Postmortem Interval of Wild Boar Carcasses. Vet Sci 2020; 7:vetsci7010006. [PMID: 31948042 PMCID: PMC7157510 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci7010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge on the postmortem interval (PMI) of wild boar (Sus scrofa) carcasses is crucial in the event of an outbreak of African swine fever in a wild boar population. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the decomposition process of this species in different microhabitats is necessary. We describe the decomposition process of carcasses exposed in cages. Trial 1 compared a wild boar and a domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) under similar conditions; Trial 2 was performed with three wild boar piglets in the sunlight, shade, or in a wallow, and Trial 3 with two adult wild boar in the sun or shade. The wild boar decomposed more slowly than the domestic pig, which shows that standards derived from forensic studies on domestic pigs are not directly applicable to wild boar. The carcasses exposed to the sun decomposed faster than those in the shade did, and the decomposition of the carcass in the wallow took longest. To assess the state of decomposition, we adapted an existing total body scoring system originally developed for humans. Based on our studies, we propose a checklist tailored to wild boar carcasses found in the field that includes the most important information for a reliable PMI estimation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Probst
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (J.G.); (F.J.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Jörn Gethmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (J.G.); (F.J.C.)
| | - Jens Amendt
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe-University, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (J.A.); (L.L.)
| | - Lena Lutz
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe-University, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (J.A.); (L.L.)
| | - Jens Peter Teifke
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management,17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
| | - Franz J. Conraths
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (J.G.); (F.J.C.)
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