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Astudillo-Clavijo V, Mankis T, López-Fernández H. Opening the Museum's Vault: Historical Field Records Preserve Reliable Ecological Data. Am Nat 2024; 203:305-322. [PMID: 38358812 DOI: 10.1086/728422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
AbstractMuseum specimens have long served as foundational data sources for ecological, evolutionary, and environmental research. Continued reimagining of museum collections is now also generating new types of data associated with but beyond physical specimens, a concept known as "extended specimens." Field notes penned by generations of naturalists contain firsthand ecological observations associated with museum collections and comprise a form of extended specimens with the potential to provide novel ecological data spanning broad geographic and temporal scales. Despite their data-yielding potential, however, field notes remain underutilized in research because of their heterogeneous, unstandardized, and qualitative nature. We introduce an approach for transforming descriptive ecological notes into quantitative data suitable for statistical analysis. Tests with simulated and real-world published data show that field notes and our transformation approach retain reliable quantitative ecological information under a range of sample sizes and evolutionary scenarios. Unlocking the wealth of data contained within field records could facilitate investigations into the ecology of clades whose diversity, distribution, or other demographic features present challenges to traditional ecological studies, improve our understanding of long-term environmental and evolutionary change, and enhance predictions of future change.
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2
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Selva N, Hobson KA, Zalewski A, Cortés-Avizanda A, Donázar JA. Mammal communities of primeval forests as sentinels of global change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17045. [PMID: 38014477 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17045] [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: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the drivers and consequences of global environmental change is crucial to inform predictions of effects on ecosystems. We used the mammal community of Białowieża Forest, the last lowland near-primeval forest in temperate Europe, as a sentinel of global change. We analyzed changes in stable carbon (δ13 C) and nitrogen (δ15 N) isotope values of hair in 687 specimens from 50 mammal species across seven decades (1946-2011). We classified mammals into four taxonomic-dietary groups (herbivores, carnivores, insectivores, and bats). We found a significant negative trend in hair δ15 N for the mammal community, particularly strong for herbivores. This trend is consistent with temporal patterns in nitrogen deposition from (15 N depleted) industrial fertilizers and fossil fuel emissions. It is also in line with global-scale declines in δ15 N reported in forests and other unfertilized, non-urban terrestrial ecosystems and with local decreases in N foliar concentrations. The global depletion of 13 C content in atmospheric CO2 due to fossil fuel burning (Suess effect) was detected in all groups. After correcting for this effect, the hair δ13 C trend became non-significant for both community and groups, except for bats, which showed a strong decline in δ13 C. This could be related to an increase in the relative abundance of freshwater insects taken by bats or increased use of methane-derived carbon in food webs used by bats. This work is the first broad-scale and long-term mammal isotope ecology study in a near-primeval forest in temperate Europe. Mammal communities from natural forests represent a unique benchmark in global change research; investigating their isotopic temporal variation can help identify patterns and early detections of ecosystem changes and provide more comprehensive and integrative assessments than single species approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
- Departamento de Ciencias Integradas, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Física, Matemáticas y Computación, Universidad de Huelva, Huelva, Spain
| | - Keith A Hobson
- University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Andrzej Zalewski
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Ainara Cortés-Avizanda
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Sevilla, Spain
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José Antonio Donázar
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Sevilla, Spain
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3
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Hallam J, Harris NC. What's going to be on the menu with global environmental changes? GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:5744-5759. [PMID: 37458101 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16866] [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: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing anthropogenic change is altering the planet at an unprecedented rate, threatening biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning. Species are responding to abiotic pressures at both individual and population levels, with changes affecting trophic interactions through consumptive pathways. Collectively, these impacts alter the goods and services that natural ecosystems will provide to society, as well as the persistence of all species. Here, we describe the physiological and behavioral responses of species to global changes on individual and population levels that result in detectable changes in diet across terrestrial and marine ecosystems. We illustrate shifts in the dynamics of food webs with implications for animal communities. Additionally, we highlight the myriad of tools available for researchers to investigate the dynamics of consumption patterns and trophic interactions, arguing that diet data are a crucial component of ecological studies on global change. We suggest that a holistic approach integrating the complexities of diet choice and trophic interactions with environmental drivers may be more robust at resolving trends in biodiversity, predicting food web responses, and potentially identifying early warning signs of diversity loss. Ultimately, despite the growing body of long-term ecological datasets, there remains a dearth of diet ecology studies across temporal scales, a shortcoming that must be resolved to elucidate vulnerabilities to changing biophysical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Hallam
- Applied Wildlife Ecology Lab, Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nyeema C Harris
- Applied Wildlife Ecology Lab, Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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4
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Willert MS, France CAM, Baldwin CC, Hay ME. Historic trophic decline in New England's coastal marine ecosystem. Oecologia 2023:10.1007/s00442-023-05410-0. [PMID: 37335365 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05410-0] [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: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Overfishing is a worldwide occurrence that simplifies marine food webs, changes trophic patterns, and alters community structure, affecting not only the density of harvested species but also their trophic function. The northwestern Atlantic has a history of heavy fishing, and over the past century has also experienced destructive bottom fishing and harmful mobile fishing gear. After confirming that preservation solvent did not alter the nitrogen stable isotopes of preserved samples, we used museum specimens and modern samples to analyze nitrogen stable isotopes in tissues of two common demersal fishes pre-1950 (1850 to 1950) compared to 2021 to assess changes in trophic positions of coastal New England consumers over this time period. Both the mesopredator Centropristis striata (black sea bass) and the benthivore Stenotomus chrysops (scup) experienced significant declines in trophic position during this time. C. striata declined almost a full trophic level, S. chrysops declined half a trophic level, and these species are now occupying almost the same trophic position. Heavy fishing activities potentially shorten food chains, simplify trophic complexity, lessen the separation of trophic niches, and generally flatten food webs. The consequences of these within-species shifts are poorly investigated but could generate underappreciated cascading impacts on community structure and function. Archived natural-history collections are an invaluable resource for investigating ecological changes in natural communities through time. The evaluation of changing trophic positions via stable isotope analysis may allow fisheries managers to quantify large-scale effects of fishing on ecosystems and food webs over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison S Willert
- School of Biological Sciences and Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0230, USA
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20560, USA
| | - Christine A M France
- Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute, 4210 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland, MD, 20746, USA
| | - Carole C Baldwin
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20560, USA
| | - Mark E Hay
- School of Biological Sciences and Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0230, USA.
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5
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Wehi PM, Rogers KM, Jowett T, Sabadel AJM. Interpreting past trophic ecology of a threatened alpine parrot, kea Nestor notabilis, from museum specimens. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:273-284. [PMID: 35569094 PMCID: PMC10083992 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13742] [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: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
When ecosystems are under severe pressure or environments change, trophic position and intraspecific niche width may decrease or narrow, signalling that conservation action is required. In New Zealand, alpine and subalpine ecosystems have been extensively modified through farming since 19th-century European settlement, with consequences for indigenous species such as the kea Nestor notabilis. We investigated feather stable isotope values in the kea and predicted a lower trophic position in modern kea populations, to reflect reduced lowland habitat and a mixed diet with more plant material. We predicted that size and sex would influence trophic values in this sexually dimorphic species, with larger birds more likely to have a high protein diet. We examined potential dietary changes in 68 museum collected kea from 1880s to 2000s, first recording accession details including provenance and sex and measuring culmen length. We used bulk carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses (BSIAs) of feathers and a further feather subset using compound-specific stable isotope analyses of amino acids (CSIA-AA) to obtain isotopic values and estimate trophic position. BSIA showed δ15 N values in kea feathers declined through time and could indicate that early century kea were highly omnivorous, with δ15 N values on average higher than in modern kea. Variance in δ15 N values was greater after 1950, driven by a few individuals. Few differences between males and females were evident, although females in the south region had lower δ15 N values. There was a tendency for large male birds to have higher trophic values, perhaps reflecting dominant male bird behaviour noted in historical records. Nonetheless, CSIA-AA performed on a subset of the data suggested that variation in BSIA is likely due to baseline changes rather than relative trophic position which may be more homogenous than these data indicate. Although there was more variability in modern kea, we suggest caution in interpretation. Stable isotope data, particularly CSIA-AA, from museum specimens can reveal potential change in ecological networks as well as sexually dimorphic feeding patterns within species. The data can reveal temporal and regional variation in species trophic position and changes in ecosystem integrity to inform conservation decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla M Wehi
- Centre for Sustainability (CSAFE), University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Te Pūnaha Matatini Centre of Research Excellence in Complex Systems, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Karyne M Rogers
- National Isotope Centre, GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.,Institute of Quality Safety and Nutrition of Agricultural Products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tim Jowett
- Department of Maths and Statistics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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6
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Andreone F, Boero F, Bologna MA, Carpaneto GM, Castiglia R, Gippoliti S, Massa B, Minelli A. Reconnecting research and natural history museums in Italy and the need of a national collection biorepository. Zookeys 2022; 1104:55-68. [PMID: 36761931 PMCID: PMC9848790 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1104.79823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In Italy, differently from other countries, a national museum of natural history is not present. This absence is due, among other reasons, to its historical political fragmentation up to 1870, which led to the establishment of medium-sized museums, mostly managed by local administrations or universities. Moreover, a change of paradigm in biological research, at the beginning of the 20th century, contributed to privilege experimental studies in universities and facilitated the dismissal of descriptive and exploratory biology, which formed the basis of the taxonomic research carried out by natural history museums. Consequently, only a few museums have a provision of curatorial staff, space and material resources adequate to maintain their original mission of discovering the natural world, by conducting a regular research activity accompanied by field campaigns. The creation of a national research centre for the study of biodiversity, facilitating interconnections among the existing natural history museums could be a solution and is here supported, together with a centralised biorepository to host collections and vouchers, to the benefit of current and future taxonomic research and environmental conservation. Such an institution should find place and realisation within the recently proposed National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) planned within the National Plan of Recovery and Resilience (PNRR). Pending upon the creation of this new national centre, a network among the existing museums should coordinate their activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Andreone
- Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Via G. Giolitti, 36, I-10123 Torino, ItalyMuseo Regionale di Scienze NaturaliTorinoItaly
| | - Ferdinando Boero
- Università di Napoli Federico II, CNR-IAS, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, I-80121 Napoli, ItalyUniversità di Napoli Federico IINapoliItaly
| | - Marco A. Bologna
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi, 446, I-00146 Roma, ItalyUniversità Roma TreRomaItaly
| | - Giuseppe M. Carpaneto
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi, 446, I-00146 Roma, ItalyUniversità Roma TreRomaItaly
| | - Riccardo Castiglia
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Università “La Sapienza” di Roma, Via A. Borelli, 50, I-00161 Roma, ItalyUniversità “La Sapienza” di RomaRomaItaly
| | - Spartaco Gippoliti
- Società Italiana per la Storia della Fauna “Giuseppe Altobello”, Viale Liegi, 48A, I-00198 Roma, ItalySocietà Italiana per la Storia della Fauna “Giuseppe Altobello”RomeItaly
| | - Bruno Massa
- Dipartimento di Scienze agrarie, alimentari e forestali, Università di Palermo, Viale Scienze, 13, I-90128 Palermo, ItalyUniversità di PalermoPalermoItaly
| | - Alessandro Minelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Padova, Via Ugo Bassi, 58B, I-35131 Padova, ItalyUniversità di PadovaPadovaItaly
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7
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Marx M, Schumm YR, Kardynal KJ, Hobson KA, Rocha G, Zehtindjiev P, Bakaloudis D, Metzger B, Cecere JG, Spina F, Cianchetti-Benedetti M, Frahnert S, Voigt CC, Lormée H, Eraud C, Quillfeldt P. Feather stable isotopes (δ2Hf and δ13Cf) identify the Sub-Saharan wintering grounds of turtle doves from Europe. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-022-01567-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AbstractConservation of migratory birds requires knowledge of breeding and nonbreeding ranges and the connections between them. European turtle doves (Streptopelia turtur) are Palearctic-African long-distance migrants with wintering areas in the Sub-Saharan belt that are classed as vulnerable due to strong population declines. However, detailed non-breeding locations of individuals from different migratory flyways are unknown. To identify wintering regions of turtle doves, we measured stable isotopes of feathers grown on the wintering grounds and used a dual-isotope (hydrogen (δ2Hf) and carbon (δ13Cf)) probabilistic assignment to analyse origins of individuals migrating through the western and central/eastern flyways. The most probable wintering areas for turtle dove samples from both flyways were in the western and central Sub-Sahara. However, we found differences in δ2Hf and δ13Cf values between turtle doves following different migratory routes (western vs central/eastern flyway). This result suggests a higher likelihood of origins in the central Sub-Sahara for central and eastern migrants, while turtle doves using the western flyway originated primarily in the western Sub-Sahara, highlighting the importance of both regions for the future conservation of turtle doves from European breeding populations. The establishment of migratory connectivity of populations requires sampling from birds from the European as well as Asian continent; however, we provide important results that can be used to test hypotheses regarding population declines resulting from factors experienced over the full annual cycle for some populations.
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8
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Navarro AB, Magioli M, Moreira MZ, Silveira LF. Perspectives and challenges on isotopic ecology of terrestrial birds in Brazil. ZOOLOGIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1590/s1984-4689.v39.e21023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcelo Magioli
- Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Brazil; Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Brazil
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9
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Lenzi J, González-Bergonzoni I, Flaherty E, Hernández D, Machín E, Pijanowski B. The relationship between urban refuse with fecundity and nestlings' success of a generalist seabird in the Río de la Plata Estuary - Uruguay. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:113000. [PMID: 34634630 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Resource acquisition and allocation impacts individual fitness. Using pellet analysis of breeding adults and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen of down feathers of Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) nestlings, we evaluated the relationship between urban refuse (beef and chicken) and natural food (fish) consumption of individual females during the pre-incubation period, with fecundity and young nesting's success in the Río de la Plata Estuary in Uruguay. Assimilated urban refuse positively correlated with egg weight and negatively with young nestling's success. This suggests a possible impact of urban refuse foraged by females during the pre-incubation period on their immediate fecundity (positively) and young nestling's survival (negatively). Differences between studies at the individual and colony levels are also discussed in light of an "ecological fallacy" of interpretation and we thus argue for the need of additional research to evaluate this relationship further, considering potential confounding factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Lenzi
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States; Ecological Sciences and Engineering Program, Purdue University, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States; Centro de Investigación y Conservación Marina - CICMAR, Avenida Giannattasio Km 30.5, Canelones 15008, Uruguay.
| | - Iván González-Bergonzoni
- Polo de Ecología Fluvial, Departamento del Agua, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Ruta 3 Km 363, Paysandú 60000, Uruguay
| | - Elizabeth Flaherty
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States
| | - Daniel Hernández
- Laboratorio de Control Ambiental PET Arrayanes (UTU/CETP), Cno de los Arrayanes Km 7, Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Emanuel Machín
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Bryan Pijanowski
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States
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10
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Johansson NR, Kaasalainen U, Rikkinen J. Woodpeckers can act as dispersal vectors for fungi, plants, and microorganisms. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:7154-7163. [PMID: 34188803 PMCID: PMC8216901 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7648] [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] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Bird-mediated dispersal is presumed to be important in the dissemination of many different types of organisms, but concrete evidence remains scarce. This is especially true for biota producing microscopic propagules. Tree-dwelling birds, such as woodpeckers, would seem to represent ideal dispersal vectors for organisms growing on standing tree trunks such as epiphytic lichens and fungi. Here, we utilize bird natural history collections as a novel source of data for studying dispersal ecology of plants, fungi, and microorganisms. We screened freshly preserved specimens of three Finnish woodpecker species for microscopic propagules. Samples were taken from bird feet, and chest and tail feathers. Propagules were extracted using a sonication-centrifugation protocol, and the material obtained was studied using light microscopy. Diverse biological material was recovered from all specimens of all bird species, from all positions sampled. Most abundant categories of discovered biological material included bryophyte fragments, fungal spores, and vegetative propagules of lichens. Also, freshwater diatoms, bryophyte spores, algal cells, testate amebae, rotifers, nematodes, pollen, and insect scales were identified. The method developed here is applicable to living specimens as well, making it a versatile tool for further research. Our findings highlight the potential of bird-mediated dispersal for diverse organisms and showcase the use of natural history collections in ecological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niko R. Johansson
- Finnish Museum of Natural HistoryUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research ProgrammeFaculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | | | - Jouko Rikkinen
- Finnish Museum of Natural HistoryUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research ProgrammeFaculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
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11
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Peacock J, Tonra CM, King J, Davies GM. Restoration of gallery forest patches improves recruitment of motacú palms (Attalea princeps) while diversifying and increasing wildlife populations. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250183. [PMID: 33914765 PMCID: PMC8084217 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, forest-savanna mosaic landscapes are of significant conservation importance but have been widely impacted by human land-use. We studied how restoration, through cessation of long-term cattle grazing impacts (i) forest regeneration; (ii) forest understory structure and composition; and (iii) populations and diversity of large mammals and nocturnal birds, within naturally patchy gallery forests in the Beni Savannas of Bolivia. Comparing grazed and restored sites, we assessed the abundance and composition of tree functional types at different life stages (seedlings, saplings and adults), with focus on the region’s key palm species Attalea princeps (motacú). Additionally, we surveyed habitat structure and composition in the shrub and ground-layer, and monitored occurrence and encounter rates of large mammals and nocturnal birds along dusk and evening transects. We found evidence of lower recruitment of motacú palms on the grazed site and lower potential for natural motacú regeneration. Principal Components Analysis revealed forests on grazed sites had simpler, more open shrub-layers and altered ground-layer structure and composition including increased bare ground. Mammal species richness was greater on the restored site, and there were more declining, globally threatened and site-unique species. Species richness was similar for nocturnal birds within forests on both the grazed and restored site, but nearly all species tended to be encountered more frequently on the restored site. Our results suggest cattle negatively impact forest regeneration and alter the structure and composition of the shrub and ground layer with potential consequences for the diversity and abundance of wildlife. Our study represents one of only a handful completed in the Beni region of Bolivia to date. The Beni is currently under pressure from widespread, largely unregulated cattle ranching. Our results thus provide vital evidence to support development of restoration and conservation policy, and its integration with rangeland management in this threatened and critically understudied region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo Peacock
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Christopher M. Tonra
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Johnathan King
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - G. Matt Davies
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
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12
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Gómez C, Hobson KA, Bayly NJ, Rosenberg KV, Morales-Rozo A, Cardozo P, Cadena CD. Migratory connectivity then and now: a northward shift in breeding origins of a long-distance migratory bird wintering in the tropics. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210188. [PMID: 33849318 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Temporal variation in the connectivity of populations of migratory animals has not been widely documented, despite having important repercussions for population ecology and conservation. Because the long-distance movements of migratory animals link ecologically distinct and geographically distant areas of the world, changes in the abundance and migratory patterns of species may reflect differential drivers of demographic trends acting over various spatial scales. Using stable hydrogen isotope analyses (δ2H) of feathers from historical museum specimens and contemporary samples obtained in the field, we provide evidence for an approximately 600 km northward shift over 45 years in the breeding origin of a species of songbird of major conservation concern (blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata) wintering in the foothills of the eastern Andes of Colombia. Our finding mirrors predictions of range shifts for boreal-breeding species under warming climate scenarios and habitat loss in the temperate zone, and underscores likely drivers of widespread declines in populations of migratory birds. Our work also highlights the value of natural history collections to document the effects of global change on biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Gómez
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,SELVA: Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotrópico, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Keith A Hobson
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Environment and Climate Change Canada, Wildlife Research Division, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Nicholas J Bayly
- SELVA: Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotrópico, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Kenneth V Rosenberg
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,American Bird Conservancy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Andrea Morales-Rozo
- Grupo de investigación ECOTONOS, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad de Los Llanos, Villavicencio, Colombia.,Grupo de investigación Ecología y conservación de fauna silvestre, Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Amazonia, Leticia, Colombia
| | - Paula Cardozo
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carlos Daniel Cadena
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
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13
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Cheeseman AE, Tanis BP, Finck EJ. Quantifying temporal variation in dietary niche to reveal drivers of past population declines. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian P. Tanis
- Department of Biological Sciences Fort Hays State University Hays KS USA
| | - Elmer J. Finck
- Department of Biological Sciences Fort Hays State University Hays KS USA
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14
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Deme S, Yeung LY, Sun T, Lee CTA. Stable isotope (C, N, O, and H) study of a comprehensive set of feathers from two Setophaga citrina. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0236536. [PMID: 33444336 PMCID: PMC7808661 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxygen, hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes were measured on a comprehensive sampling of feathers from two spring Hooded Warblers (Setophaga citrina) in Texas to evaluate isotopic variability between feathers and during molt. Isotopic homogeneity within each bird was found across all four isotopic systems, supporting the hypothesis that molt in these neotropical migrants is fully completed on the breeding grounds. This homogeneity suggests that the isotopic composition of a single feather is may be representative of the whole songbird. However, each bird was found to have one or two outlier feathers, which could signify regrowth of lost feathers after prebasic molt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samiksha Deme
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Laurence Y. Yeung
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Tao Sun
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Cin-Ty A. Lee
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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15
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Welicky RL, Rolfe T, Leazer K, Maslenikov KP, Tornabene L, Holtgrieve GW, Wood CL. Fluid-preserved fishes are one solution for assessing historical change in fish trophic level. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:415-426. [PMID: 33437439 PMCID: PMC7790622 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
There are few resources available for assessing historical change in fish trophic dynamics, but specimens held in natural history collections could serve as this resource. In contemporary trophic ecology studies, trophic and source information can be obtained from compound-specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids of nitrogen (CSIA-AA-N).We subjected whole Sebastes ruberrimus and Clupea pallasii to formalin fixation and 70% ethanol preservation. We extracted tissue samples from each fish pre-fixation, after each chemical change, and then in doubling time for 32-64 days once placed in the final preservative. All samples were subjected to CSIA-AA-N, and their glutamic acid and phenylalanine profiles and associated trophic position were examined for differences over time by species.Glutamic acid and phenylalanine values were inconsistent in direction and magnitude, particularly during formalin fixation, but stabilized similarly (in 70% ethanol) among conspecifics. In some cases, the amino acid values of our final samples were significantly different than our initial pre-preservation samples. Nonetheless, significant differences in glutamic acid, phenylalanine, and estimated trophic position were not detected among samples that were in 70% ethanol for >24 hr.Our results suggest that the relative trophic position of fluid-preserved specimens can be estimated using CSIA-AA-N, and CSIA-AA-N estimates for fluid-preserved specimens should only be reported as relative differences. Timelines of trophic position change can be developed by comparing specimens collected at different points in time, revealing trophic information of the past and cryptic ecosystem responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L. Welicky
- School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and ManagementNorth–West UniversityPotchefstroomSouth Africa
| | - Terry Rolfe
- School of OceanographyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
| | - Karrin Leazer
- School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
| | - Katherine P. Maslenikov
- School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
- Burke Museum of Natural History and CultureUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
| | - Luke Tornabene
- School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
- Burke Museum of Natural History and CultureUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
| | | | - Chelsea L. Wood
- School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
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16
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Torres‐Poché Z, Mora MA, Boutton TW, Morrow ME. Diet sources of the endangered Attwater's prairie‐chicken in Texas: evidence from δ
13
C, δ
15
N, and Bayesian mixing models. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zaria Torres‐Poché
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology Texas A&M University College Station Texas77843USA
| | - Miguel A. Mora
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology Texas A&M University College Station Texas77843USA
| | - Thomas W. Boutton
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology Texas A&M University College Station Texas77843USA
| | - Michael E. Morrow
- Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge PO Box 519 Eagle Lake Texas77434USA
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17
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Lorenz TJ, Kozma JM, Cunningham PG. The influence of climate and habitat on stable isotope signatures and the isotopic niche of nestling White-headed Woodpeckers ( Dryobates albolarvatus). Ecol Evol 2020; 10:9827-9840. [PMID: 33005347 PMCID: PMC7520219 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of landbird species feed their nestlings arthropods and variation in arthropod populations can impact reproductive outcomes in these species. Arthropod populations in turn are influenced by climate because temperature affects survival and reproduction, and larval development. Thus, climate factors have the potential to influence many bird species during their reproductive phases. In this study, we assessed climate factors that impact the diet of nestling White-headed Woodpecker (Dryobates albolarvatus), an at-risk keystone species in much of its range in western North America. To do this, we measured stable isotope signatures (δ13C and δ15N) in 152 nestlings across six years and linked variation in isotopic values to winter (December-February) and spring (June) precipitation and temperature using mixed effects models. We also explored habitat factors that may impact δ13C and δ15N and the relationship between δ15N and nest productivity. Last, we estimated isotopic niche width for nestlings in different watersheds and years using Bayesian standard ellipses, which allowed us to compare dietary niche width and overlap. We found that colder winter temperatures were associated with an increase in δ15N and δ15N levels had a weak positive relationship with nest productivity. We also found that sites with a more diverse tree community were associated with a broader isotopic niche width in nestlings. Our findings suggest that nestling diet is affected by climate, and under future warming climate scenarios, White-headed Woodpecker nestling diet may shift in favor of lower trophic level prey (prey with lower δ15N levels). The impact of such changes on woodpecker populations merits further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa J. Lorenz
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest ServicePacific Northwest Research StationOlympiaWAUSA
| | - Jeffrey M. Kozma
- Yakama Nation, Timber, Fish and Wildlife/Fisheries Resource ManagementToppenishWAUSA
| | - Patrick G. Cunningham
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest ServicePacific Northwest Research StationCorvallisORUSA
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18
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Miller SE, Barrow LN, Ehlman SM, Goodheart JA, Greiman SE, Lutz HL, Misiewicz TM, Smith SM, Tan M, Thawley CJ, Cook JA, Light JE. Building Natural History Collections for the Twenty-First Century and Beyond. Bioscience 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaa069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Natural history collections (NHCs) are important resources for a diverse array of scientific fields. Recent digitization initiatives have broadened the user base of NHCs, and new technological innovations are using materials generated from collections to address novel scientific questions. Simultaneously, NHCs are increasingly imperiled by reductions in funding and resources. Ensuring that NHCs continue to serve as a valuable resource for future generations will require the scientific community to increase their contribution to and acknowledgement of collections. We provide recommendations and guidelines for scientists to support NHCs, focusing particularly on new users that may be unfamiliar with collections. We hope that this perspective will motivate debate on the future of NHCs and the role of the scientific community in maintaining and improving biological collections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Miller
- Cornell University Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Ithaca, New York
| | - Lisa N Barrow
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and with the Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
| | - Sean M Ehlman
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Department, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, Saint Paul
| | - Jessica A Goodheart
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, in Santa Barbara, California
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Stephen E Greiman
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro Georgia
| | - Holly L Lutz
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Tracy M Misiewicz
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman
| | - Stephanie M Smith
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Milton Tan
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign, Champaign
| | - Christopher J Thawley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
- Department of Mathematics and Sciences, Neumann University, Aston, Pennsylvania
| | - Joseph A Cook
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and with the Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
| | - Jessica E Light
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station
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19
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Keppeler FW, Winemiller KO. Can ancestry and morphology be used as surrogates for species niche relationships? Ecol Evol 2020; 10:6562-6578. [PMID: 32724533 PMCID: PMC7381567 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Species interactions are difficult to quantify, and, consequently, many studies have used species traits and phylogeny as proxies under an assumption of niche conservatism (i.e., closely related and morphologically similar species should have similar niches). However, few studies have investigated whether niches actually are conserved within and across diverse communities. Here, we tested the degree to which phylogenetic relatedness and morphological similarity predict diets and stable isotopic ratios (δ 15N and δ 13C), two common descriptors of the trophic niche, in fish assemblages of two small streams in the Neotropics. We also tested the strength of the association between isotopic ratios and diet composition and found significant correlations implying that isotopic signals reveal trophic structure despite error associated with estimates of trophic enrichment and variation associated with tissue preservation, metabolism, and other factors affecting isotopic ratios. Morphological traits yielded a significant phylogenetic signal, and both morphological traits and phylogeny were correlated with diet composition, with morphological traits being a stronger predictor. We infer that functionally relevant morphological traits of fish can be used to infer trophic niches for certain kinds of questions and analyses when trophic data are lacking. However, we highlight that using phylogenetic and morphological data in combination with dietary and/or isotopic data can improve resolution of assemblage trophic structure and niche diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friedrich W. Keppeler
- Department of Ecology and Conservation BiologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Kirk O. Winemiller
- Department of Ecology and Conservation BiologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
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20
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Feyrer LJ, Zhao ST, Whitehead H, Matthews CJD. Prolonged maternal investment in northern bottlenose whales alters our understanding of beaked whale reproductive life history. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235114. [PMID: 32574188 PMCID: PMC7310684 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Nursing and weaning periods are poorly understood in cetaceans due to the difficulty of assessing underwater behaviour in the wild. However, the onset and completion of weaning are critical turning points for individual development and survival, with implications for a species' life history including reproductive potential. δ15N and δ13C deposited in odontocete teeth annuli provide a lifetime record of diet, offering an opportunity to investigate variation and trends in fundamental biology. While available reproductive parameters for beaked whales have largely been inferred from single records of stranded or hunted animals and extrapolated across species, here we examine the weaning strategy and nursing duration in northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) by measuring stable isotopes deposited in dentine growth layer groups (GLGs). Using a collection of H. ampullatus teeth taken from whales killed during the whaling era (N = 48) and from two stranded specimens, we compared ontogenetic variation of δ15N and δ13C found in annual GLGs across all individuals, by sex and by region. We detected age-based trends in both δ15N and δ13C that are consistent across regions and males and females, and indicate that nursing is prolonged and weaning does not conclude until whales are 3-4 years old, substantially later than previous estimates of 1 year. Incorporating a prolonged period of maternal care into H. ampullatus life history significantly reduces their reproductive potential, with broad implications for models of beaked whale life history, energetics and the species' recovery from whaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Joan Feyrer
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Shu ting Zhao
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Hal Whitehead
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Cory J. D. Matthews
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
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21
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Cox AR, Robertson RJ, Lendvai ÁZ, Everitt K, Bonier F. Rainy springs linked to poor nestling growth in a declining avian aerial insectivore ( Tachycineta bicolor). Proc Biol Sci 2020; 286:20190018. [PMID: 30862285 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
As species shift their ranges and phenology to cope with climate change, many are left without a ready supply of their preferred food source during critical life stages. Food shortages are often assumed to be driven by reduced total food abundance, but here we propose that climate change may cause short-term food shortages for foraging specialists without affecting overall food availability. We frame this hypothesis around the special case of birds that forage on flying insects for whom effects mediated by their shared food resource have been proposed to cause avian aerial insectivores' decline worldwide. Flying insects are inactive during cold, wet or windy conditions, effectively reducing food availability to zero even if insect abundance remains otherwise unchanged. Using long-term monitoring data from a declining population of tree swallows ( Tachycineta bicolor), we show that nestlings' body mass declined substantially from 1977 to 2017. In 2017, nestlings had lower body mass if it rained during the preceding 3 days, though females increased provisioning rates, potentially in an attempt to compensate. Adult body mass, particularly that of the males, has also declined over the long-term study. Mean rainfall during the nestling period has increased by 9.3 ± 0.3 mm decade-1, potentially explaining declining nestling body mass and population declines. Therefore, we suggest that reduced food availability, distinct from food abundance, may be an important and previously overlooked consequence of climate change, which could be affecting populations of species that specialize on foraging on flying insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia R Cox
- 1 Department of Biology, Queen's University , Kingston, Ontario , Canada
| | | | - Ádám Z Lendvai
- 2 Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen , Debrecen , Hungary.,3 Department of Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Kennedy Everitt
- 1 Department of Biology, Queen's University , Kingston, Ontario , Canada
| | - Frances Bonier
- 1 Department of Biology, Queen's University , Kingston, Ontario , Canada
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22
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Bell JR, Blumgart D, Shortall CR. Are insects declining and at what rate? An analysis of standardised, systematic catches of aphid and moth abundances across Great Britain. INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY 2020; 13:115-126. [PMID: 32215052 PMCID: PMC7079554 DOI: 10.1111/icad.12412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Although we have known anecdotally that insects have been declining in Great Britain for more than 100 years, insect declines have only been statistically estimated over the last 20 years. Estimation of the rate of those declines is still hotly debated, fuelled by a lack of standardised, systematically collected data.More than 24 million individual moths and aphids collected from 112 light traps and 25 12.2 m suction-traps, respectively, were analysed using mixed models. Our objective was to estimate the long-term trends in both groups based on annual totals recorded every year between 1969 and 2016.The models showed that two paradigms existed: Over 47 years, long-term linear trends showed that moths had declined significantly by -31%, but short-term trends indicated that there were periods of significant decline and recovery in most decades since the 1960s. Conversely, despite aphid annual totals fluctuating widely, this group was in a steady state over the long-term, with a non-significant decline of -7.6%. Sensitivity analysis revealed that moth trends were not driven by a group of abundant species, but the sign of the overall aphid trends may have been driven by three of the most abundant species.The spatial extent of moth trends suggests that they are extremely heterogeneous. Uniquely, moth declines were different among several habitat types, with robust significant declines found in coastal, urban and woodland habitats, but notably not in agricultural, parkland and scrubland habitats. Conversely, aphid trends showed spatial synchrony extending to 338 km, albeit with local variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R. Bell
- Rothamsted Insect Survey, Rothamsted Research, West CommonHarpendenUK
| | - Dan Blumgart
- Rothamsted Insect Survey, Rothamsted Research, West CommonHarpendenUK
| | - Chris R. Shortall
- Rothamsted Insect Survey, Rothamsted Research, West CommonHarpendenUK
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23
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Bolzonella C, Lucchetta M, Teo G, Boatto V, Zanella A. Is there a way to rate insecticides that is less detrimental to human and environmental health? Glob Ecol Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
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24
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Billerman SM, Walsh J. Historical DNA as a tool to address key questions in avian biology and evolution: A review of methods, challenges, applications, and future directions. Mol Ecol Resour 2019; 19:1115-1130. [PMID: 31336408 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Museum specimens play a crucial role in addressing key questions in systematics, evolution, ecology, and conservation. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing technologies, specimens that have long been the foundation of important biological discoveries can inform new perspectives as sources of genomic data. Despite the many possibilities associated with analyzing DNA from historical specimens, several challenges persist. Using avian systems as a model, we review DNA extraction protocols, sequencing technologies, and capture methods that are helping researchers overcome some of these difficulties. We highlight empirical examples in which researchers have used these technologies to address fundamental questions related to avian conservation and evolution. Increasing accessibility to new sequencing technologies will provide researchers with tools to tap into the wealth of information contained within our valuable natural history collections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn M Billerman
- Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer Walsh
- Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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25
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Kharouba HM, Lewthwaite JMM, Guralnick R, Kerr JT, Vellend M. Using insect natural history collections to study global change impacts: challenges and opportunities. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 374:20170405. [PMID: 30455219 PMCID: PMC6282079 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, natural history collections (NHCs) have played an increasingly prominent role in global change research, but they have still greater potential, especially for the most diverse group of animals on Earth: insects. Here, we review the role of NHCs in advancing our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary responses of insects to recent global changes. Insect NHCs have helped document changes in insects' geographical distributions, phenology, phenotypic and genotypic traits over time periods up to a century. Recent work demonstrates the enormous potential of NHCs data for examining insect responses at multiple temporal, spatial and phylogenetic scales. Moving forward, insect NHCs offer unique opportunities to examine the morphological, chemical and genomic information in each specimen, thus advancing our understanding of the processes underlying species' ecological and evolutionary responses to rapid, widespread global changes.This article is part of the theme issue 'Biological collections for understanding biodiversity in the anthropocene'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Kharouba
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 9B4
| | - Jayme M M Lewthwaite
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6
| | - Rob Guralnick
- Department of Natural History and the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Jeremy T Kerr
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 9B4
| | - Mark Vellend
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada J1 K 2R1
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26
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Schmitt CJ, Cook JA, Zamudio KR, Edwards SV. Museum specimens of terrestrial vertebrates are sensitive indicators of environmental change in the Anthropocene. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 374:20170387. [PMID: 30455205 PMCID: PMC6282080 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural history museums and the specimen collections they curate are vital scientific infrastructure, a fact as true today as it was when biologists began collecting and preserving specimens over 200 years ago. The importance of museum specimens in studies of taxonomy, systematics, ecology and evolutionary biology is evidenced by a rich and abundant literature, yet creative and novel uses of specimens are constantly broadening the impact of natural history collections on biodiversity science and global sustainability. Excellent examples of the critical importance of specimens come from their use in documenting the consequences of environmental change, which is particularly relevant considering the alarming rate at which we now modify our planet in the Anthropocene. In this review, we highlight the important role of bird, mammal and amphibian specimens in documenting the Anthropocene and provide examples that underscore the need for continued collection of museum specimens.This article is part of the theme issue 'Biological collections for understanding biodiversity in the Anthropocene'.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Jonathan Schmitt
- Museum of Comparative Zoology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Joseph A Cook
- Museum of Southwestern Biology & Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Kelly R Zamudio
- Museum of Vertebrates and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Scott V Edwards
- Museum of Comparative Zoology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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27
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Guiry E, Buckley M. Urban rats have less variable, higher protein diets. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.1441. [PMID: 30333207 PMCID: PMC6234891 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past 1000 years, rats (Rattus spp.) have become one of the most successful and prolific pests in human society. Despite their cosmopolitan distribution across six continents and ubiquity throughout the world's cities, rat urban ecology remains poorly understood. We investigate the role of human foods in brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) diets in urban and rural areas over a 100 year period (ca AD 1790–1890) in Toronto, Canada using stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope analyses of archaeological remains. We found that rat diets from urban sites were of higher quality and were more homogeneous and stable over time. By contrast, in rural areas, they show a wide range of dietary niche specializations that directly overlap, and probably competed, with native omnivorous and herbivorous species. These results demonstrate a link between rodent diets and human population density, providing, to our knowledge, the first long-term dietary perspective on the relative value of different types of human settlements as rodent habitat. This study highlights the potential of using the historical and archaeological record to provide a retrospective on the urban ecology of commensal and synanthropic animals that could be useful for improving animal management and conservation strategies in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Guiry
- Department of Anthropology, Trent University, 1600 W Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9 J 0G2 .,Department of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, 6303 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z1
| | - M Buckley
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
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