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Wilkinson CE, Xu W, Luneng Solli A, Brashares JS, Chepkisich C, Osuka G, Kelly M. Social-ecological predictors of spotted hyena navigation through a shared landscape. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11293. [PMID: 38709888 PMCID: PMC11045923 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Human-wildlife interactions are increasing in severity due to climate change and proliferating urbanization. Regions where human infrastructure and activity are rapidly densifying or newly appearing constitute novel environments in which wildlife must learn to coexist with people, thereby serving as ideal case studies with which to infer future human-wildlife interactions in shared landscapes. As a widely reviled and behaviorally plastic apex predator, the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is a model species for understanding how large carnivores navigate these human-caused 'landscapes of fear' in a changing world. Using high-resolution GPS collar data, we applied resource selection functions and step selection functions to assess spotted hyena landscape navigation and fine-scale movement decisions in relation to social-ecological features in a rapidly developing region comprising two protected areas: Lake Nakuru National Park and Soysambu Conservancy, Kenya. We then used camera trap imagery and Barrier Behavior Analysis (BaBA) to further examine hyena interactions with barriers. Our results show that environmental factors, linear infrastructure, human-carnivore conflict hotspots, and human tolerance were all important predictors for landscape-scale resource selection by hyenas, while human experience elements were less important for fine-scale hyena movement decisions. Hyena selection for these characteristics also changed seasonally and across land management types. Camera traps documented an exceptionally high number of individual spotted hyenas (234) approaching the national park fence at 16 sites during the study period, and BaBA results suggested that hyenas perceive protected area boundaries' semi-permeable electric fences as risky but may cross them out of necessity. Our findings highlight that the ability of carnivores to flexibly respond within human-caused landscapes of fear may be expressed differently depending on context, scale, and climatic factors. These results also point to the need to incorporate societal factors into multiscale analyses of wildlife movement to effectively plan for human-wildlife coexistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine E. Wilkinson
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
- California Academy of SciencesSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Wenjing Xu
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Amalie Luneng Solli
- School of Veterinary ScienceUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Justin S. Brashares
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Gerald Osuka
- Department of Natural ResourcesEgerton UniversityNakuruKenya
| | - Maggi Kelly
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
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2
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Lear KM, Moore CT, King EG, Gómez‐Ruiz E, Flores Maldonado JJ, Ibarra Sanchez C, Castañeda Aguilera A, Prebyl TJ, Hepinstall‐Cymerman J. Agave distribution and floral display influence foraging rates of an endangered pollinating bat and implications for conservation. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11125. [PMID: 38495433 PMCID: PMC10941551 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Wildlife conservation involves making management decisions with incomplete knowledge of ecological relationships. Efforts to augment foraging resources for the endangered Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) are progressing despite limited knowledge about the species' foraging behavior and requirements. This study aimed to understand L. nivalis responses to floral resource availability, focusing on individual agave- and local-scale characteristics influencing visitation rates to flowering agaves. We observed bat visitation at 62 flowering agaves around two roosts in northeast Mexico on 46 nights in the summers of 2017 and 2018. We found visitation rate had positive relationships with two agave-scale characteristics: the number of umbels with open flowers and the lower vertical position on the stalk of those umbels (i.e., earlier phenological stages of flowering). However, these factors exhibited strong negative interaction: with few umbels with open flowers, the position of flowering umbels had little effect on visitation rate, but when umbels with open flowers were abundant, visitation rate was more strongly related to the lower flowering umbel position. We also found relationships between visitation rate and two local-scale characteristics: negative for the density of flowering conspecifics within 30 m of the focal agave and positive for the density of dead standing agave stalks within 30 m. Our findings suggest opportunities to augment foraging resources for L. nivalis in ways that are consistent with their foraging behavior, including: increasing the supply of simultaneously blooming flowers by planting agave species that tend to have more umbels with simultaneously open flowers; planting multiple species of agaves with different flowering times to increase the availability of agaves with open flowers on lower-positioned umbels throughout the period when bats are present in the region; planting agaves in clusters; and keeping dead standing agave stalks on the landscape. Our study points to useful management strategies that can be implemented and monitored as part of an adaptive management approach to aid in conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M. Lear
- Bat Conservation InternationalAustinTexasUSA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
- Integrative Conservation ProgramUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Clinton T. Moore
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
- Integrative Conservation ProgramUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Elizabeth G. King
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
- Integrative Conservation ProgramUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
- Odum School of EcologyUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Emma Gómez‐Ruiz
- Parque Ecológico Chipinque, A.B.P.San Pedro Garza GarcíaNuevo LeónMexico
| | | | | | | | - Thomas J. Prebyl
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Jeffrey Hepinstall‐Cymerman
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
- Integrative Conservation ProgramUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
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3
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Chege M, Sewalt B, Lesilau F, de Snoo G, Patterson BD, Kariuki L, Otiende M, Omondi P, de Iongh H, Vrieling K, Bertola LD. Genetic diversity of lion populations in Kenya: Evaluating past management practices and recommendations for future conservation actions. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13676. [PMID: 38505216 PMCID: PMC10950092 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The decline of lions (Panthera leo) in Kenya has raised conservation concerns about their overall population health and long-term survival. This study aimed to assess the genetic structure, differentiation and diversity of lion populations in the country, while considering the influence of past management practices. Using a lion-specific Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) panel, we genotyped 171 individuals from 12 populations representative of areas with permanent lion presence. Our results revealed a distinct genetic pattern with pronounced population structure, confirmed a north-south split and found no indication of inbreeding in any of the tested populations. Differentiation seems to be primarily driven by geographical barriers, human presence and climatic factors, but management practices may have also affected the observed patterns. Notably, the Tsavo population displayed evidence of admixture, perhaps attributable to its geographic location as a suture zone, vast size or past translocations, while the fenced populations of Lake Nakuru National Park and Solio Ranch exhibited reduced genetic diversity due to restricted natural dispersal. The Amboseli population had a high number of monomorphic loci likely reflecting a historical population decline. This illustrates that patterns of genetic diversity should be seen in the context of population histories and that future management decisions should take these insights into account. To address the conservation implications of our findings, we recommend prioritizing the maintenance of suitable habitats to facilitate population connectivity. Initiation of genetic restoration efforts and separately managing populations with unique evolutionary histories is crucial for preserving genetic diversity and promoting long-term population viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mumbi Chege
- Wildlife Research and Training InstituteNaivashaKenya
- Institute of Environmental Sciences CMLLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Bobbie Sewalt
- Institute of Biology IBLLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Francis Lesilau
- Institute of Environmental Sciences CMLLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Geert de Snoo
- Institute of Environmental Sciences CMLLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW)WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Bruce D. Patterson
- Negaunee Integrative Research CenterField Museum of Natural HistoryChicagoUnited States
| | | | - Moses Otiende
- Wildlife Research and Training InstituteNaivashaKenya
| | | | - Hans de Iongh
- Institute of Environmental Sciences CMLLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
- Department of Evolutionary EcologyUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
- Department BiologyUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - K. Vrieling
- Institute of Biology IBLLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
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4
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Chege M, Bertola LD, De Snoo GR, Ngene S, Otieno T, Amoke I, van 't Zelfde M, Dolrenry S, Broekhuis F, Tamis W, De Iongh HH, Elliot NB. Effect of ecological and anthropogenic factors on grouping patterns in African lions across Kenya. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10982. [PMID: 38362173 PMCID: PMC10867360 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Social carnivores frequently live in fission-fusion societies, where individuals that share a common territory or home range may be found alone, in subgroups, or altogether. Absolute group size and subgroup size is expected to vary according to resource distribution, but for species that are susceptible to anthropogenic pressures, other factors may be important drivers. African lions (Panthera leo) are the only truly social felid and lion prides are characterized by fission-fusion dynamics with social groups frequently splitting and reforming, and subgroup membership can change continuously and frequently. The number of individuals in a group can be reflective of social, ecological, and anthropogenic conditions. This dynamic behavior makes understanding lion grouping patterns crucial for tailoring conservation measures. The evolution of group living in lions has been the topic of numerous studies, and we drew on these to formulate hypotheses relating to group size and subgroup size variation. Based on data collected from 199 lion groups across eight sites in Kenya, we found that group sizes were smaller when lions were closer to human settlements, suggesting that edge effects are impacting lions at a national scale. Smaller groups were also more likely when they were far from water, and were associated with very low and very high levels of non-tree vegetation. We found significant differences between the study sites, with the Maasai Mara having the largest groups (mean ± SD = 7.7 ± 4.7, range = 1-19), and Amboseli conservation area the smallest (4.3 ± 3.5, range = 1-14). While long-term studies within a single site are well suited to thoroughly differentiate between absolute group size and subgroup size, our study provides unique insight into the correlates of grouping patterns in a vulnerable species at a national scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mumbi Chege
- Wildlife Research and Training InstituteNaivashaKenya
- Institute of Environmental Sciences CMLLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
| | | | - Geert R. De Snoo
- Institute of Environmental Sciences CMLLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW)WageningenThe Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Femke Broekhuis
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation GroupWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Will Tamis
- Institute of Environmental Sciences CMLLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Hans H. De Iongh
- Institute of Environmental Sciences CMLLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Department BiologyUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpenBelgium
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5
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Vicente-Santos A, Lock LR, Allira M, Dyer KE, Dunsmore A, Tu W, Volokhov DV, Herrera C, Lei GS, Relich RF, Janech MG, Bland AM, Simmons NB, Becker DJ. Serum proteomics reveals a tolerant immune phenotype across multiple pathogen taxa in wild vampire bats. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1281732. [PMID: 38193073 PMCID: PMC10773587 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1281732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Bats carry many zoonotic pathogens without showing pronounced pathology, with a few exceptions. The underlying immune tolerance mechanisms in bats remain poorly understood, although information-rich omics tools hold promise for identifying a wide range of immune markers and their relationship with infection. To evaluate the generality of immune responses to infection, we assessed the differences and similarities in serum proteomes of wild vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) across infection status with five taxonomically distinct pathogens: bacteria (Bartonella spp., hemoplasmas), protozoa (Trypanosoma cruzi), and DNA (herpesviruses) and RNA (alphacoronaviruses) viruses. From 19 bats sampled in 2019 in Belize, we evaluated the up- and downregulated immune responses of infected versus uninfected individuals for each pathogen. Using a high-quality genome annotation for vampire bats, we identified 586 serum proteins but found no evidence for differential abundance nor differences in composition between infected and uninfected bats. However, using receiver operating characteristic curves, we identified four to 48 candidate biomarkers of infection depending on the pathogen, including seven overlapping biomarkers (DSG2, PCBP1, MGAM, APOA4, DPEP1, GOT1, and IGFALS). Enrichment analysis of these proteins revealed that our viral pathogens, but not the bacteria or protozoa studied, were associated with upregulation of extracellular and cytoplasmatic secretory vesicles (indicative of viral replication) and downregulation of complement activation and coagulation cascades. Additionally, herpesvirus infection elicited a downregulation of leukocyte-mediated immunity and defense response but an upregulation of an inflammatory and humoral immune response. In contrast to our two viral infections, we found downregulation of lipid and cholesterol homeostasis and metabolism with Bartonella spp. infection, of platelet-dense and secretory granules with hemoplasma infection, and of blood coagulation pathways with T. cruzi infection. Despite the small sample size, our results suggest that vampire bats have a similar suite of immune mechanisms for viruses distinct from responses to the other pathogen taxa, and we identify potential biomarkers that can expand our understanding of pathogenesis of these infections in bats. By applying a proteomic approach to a multi-pathogen system in wild animals, our study provides a distinct framework that could be expanded across bat species to increase our understanding of how bats tolerate pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren R. Lock
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Meagan Allira
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Kristin E. Dyer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Annalise Dunsmore
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Weihong Tu
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Dmitriy V. Volokhov
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Claudia Herrera
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Guang-Sheng Lei
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Ryan F. Relich
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Michael G. Janech
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC, United States
- Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Alison M. Bland
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC, United States
- Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Nancy B. Simmons
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, United States
| | - Daniel J. Becker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
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6
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Brown KT, Genin A, Mello‐Athayde MA, Bergstrom E, Campili A, Chai A, Dove SG, Ho M, Rowell D, Sampayo EM, Radice VZ. Marine heatwaves modulate the genotypic and physiological responses of reef-building corals to subsequent heat stress. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10798. [PMID: 38099138 PMCID: PMC10719612 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Back-to-back marine heatwaves in 2016 and 2017 resulted in severe coral bleaching and mortality across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Encouragingly, some corals that survived these events exhibit increased bleaching resistance and may represent thermally tolerant populations that can better cope with ocean warming. Using the GBR as a natural laboratory, we investigated whether a history of minimal (Heron Island) or severe (Lizard Island) coral bleaching in 2016 and 2017 equates to stress tolerance in a successive heatwave (2020). We examined the genetic diversity, physiological performance, and trophic plasticity of juvenile (<10 cm) and adult (>25 cm) corals of two common genera (Pocillopora and Stylophora). Despite enduring greater cumulative heat stress (6.3°C week-1 vs. 5.6°C week-1), corals that experienced the third marine heatwave in 5 years (Lizard) exhibited twice as high survival and visual bleaching thresholds compared to corals that had not experienced significant bleaching in >10 years (Heron). Surprisingly, only one shared host-Symbiodiniaceae association was uncovered between locations (Stylophora pistillata-Cladocopium "C8 group") and there was no genetic overlap in Pocillopora-Cladocopium partnerships, suggesting turnover in species composition from recent marine heatwaves. Corals within the species complex Pocillopora that survived the 2016 and 2017 marine heatwaves at Lizard Island were the most resilient, exhibiting three times greater calcification rates than conspecifics at Heron Island. Further, surviving corals (Lizard) had distinct isotopic niches, lower host carbon, and greater host protein, while conspecifics that had not experienced recent bleaching (Heron) had two times greater symbiont carbon content, suggesting divergent trophic strategies that influenced survival (i.e., greater reliance on heterotrophy vs. symbiont autotrophy, respectively). Ultimately, while corals may experience less bleaching and survive repeated thermal stress events, species-specific trade-offs do occur, leaving open many questions related to the long-term health and recovery of coral reef ecosystems in the face of intensifying marine heatwaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen T. Brown
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Amatzia Genin
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences of EilatThe Hebrew University of JerusalemEilatIsrael
| | | | | | - Adriana Campili
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsville Mail CentreTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Aaron Chai
- Faculty of Science and EngineeringSouthern Cross UniversityEast LismoreNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Sophie G. Dove
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | | | - Devin Rowell
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Eugenia M. Sampayo
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Veronica Z. Radice
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
- Department of Biological SciencesOld Dominion UniversityNorfolkVirginiaUSA
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Barr K, Bossu CM, Bay RA, Anderson EC, Belthoff J, Trulio LA, Chromczak D, Wisinski CL, Smith TB, Ruegg KC. Genetic and environmental drivers of migratory behavior in western burrowing owls and implications for conservation and management. Evol Appl 2023; 16:1889-1900. [PMID: 38143900 PMCID: PMC10739168 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Migration is driven by a combination of environmental and genetic factors, but many questions remain about those drivers. Potential interactions between genetic and environmental variants associated with different migratory phenotypes are rarely the focus of study. We pair low coverage whole genome resequencing with a de novo genome assembly to examine population structure, inbreeding, and the environmental factors associated with genetic differentiation between migratory and resident breeding phenotypes in a species of conservation concern, the western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea). Our analyses reveal a dichotomy in gene flow depending on whether the population is resident or migratory, with the former being genetically structured and the latter exhibiting no signs of structure. Among resident populations, we observed significantly higher genetic differentiation, significant isolation-by-distance, and significantly elevated inbreeding. Among migratory breeding groups, on the other hand, we observed lower genetic differentiation, no isolation-by-distance, and substantially lower inbreeding. Using genotype-environment association analysis, we find significant evidence for relationships between migratory phenotypes (i.e., migrant versus resident) and environmental variation associated with cold temperatures during the winter and barren, open habitats. In the regions of the genome most differentiated between migrants and residents, we find significant enrichment for genes associated with the metabolism of fats. This may be linked to the increased pressure on migrants to process and store fats more efficiently in preparation for and during migration. Our results provide a significant contribution toward understanding the evolution of migratory behavior and vital insight into ongoing conservation and management efforts for the western burrowing owl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Barr
- Center for Tropical ResearchInstitute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Christen M. Bossu
- Department of BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Rachael A. Bay
- Department of Evolution and EcologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Eric C. Anderson
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science CenterNational Marine Fisheries ServiceSanta CruzCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Jim Belthoff
- Raptor Research Center and Department of Biological SciencesBoise State UniversityBoiseIdahoUSA
| | - Lynne A. Trulio
- Department of Environmental StudiesSan José State UniversitySan JoseCaliforniaUSA
| | - Debra Chromczak
- Burrowing Owl Researcher & ConsultantRiegelsvillePennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Thomas B. Smith
- Center for Tropical ResearchInstitute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kristen C. Ruegg
- Department of BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
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Morten JM, Buchanan PJ, Egevang C, Glissenaar IA, Maxwell SM, Parr N, Screen JA, Vigfúsdóttir F, Vogt‐Vincent NS, Williams DA, Williams NC, Witt MJ, Hawkes LA, Thurston W. Global warming and arctic terns: Estimating climate change impacts on the world's longest migration. Glob Chang Biol 2023; 29:5596-5614. [PMID: 37492997 PMCID: PMC10946559 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is one of the top three global threats to seabirds, particularly species that visit polar regions. Arctic terns migrate between both polar regions annually and rely on productive marine areas to forage, on sea ice for rest and foraging, and prevailing winds during flight. Here, we report 21st-century trends in environmental variables affecting arctic terns at key locations along their Atlantic/Indian Ocean migratory flyway during the non-breeding seasons, identified through tracking data. End-of-century climate change projections were derived from Earth System Models and multi-model means calculated in two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways: 'middle-of-the-road' and 'fossil-fuelled development' scenarios. Declines in North Atlantic primary production emerge as a major impact to arctic terns likely to affect their foraging during the 21st century under a 'fossil-fuelled development' scenario. Minimal changes are, however, projected at three other key regions visited by arctic terns (Benguela Upwelling, Subantarctic Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean). Southern Ocean sea ice extent is likely to decline, but the magnitude of change and potential impacts on tern survival are uncertain. Small changes (<1 m s-1 ) in winds are projected in both scenarios, but with minimal likely impacts on migration routes and duration. However, Southern Ocean westerlies are likely to strengthen and contract closer to the continent, which may require arctic terns to shift routes or flight strategies. Overall, we find minor effects of climate change on the migration of arctic terns, with the exception of poorer foraging in the North Atlantic. However, given that arctic terns travel over huge spatial scales and live for decades, they integrate minor changes in conditions along their migration routes such that the sum effect may be greater than the parts. Meeting carbon emission targets is vital to slow these end-of-century climatic changes and minimise extinction risk for a suite of polar species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne M. Morten
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life SciencesUniversity of Exeter, Hatherly LaboratoriesExeterUK
| | - Pearse J. Buchanan
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological SciencesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - C. Egevang
- Greenland Institute of Natural ResourcesNuukGreenland
| | - Isolde A. Glissenaar
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical SciencesUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Sara M. Maxwell
- School of Interdisciplinary Arts & SciencesUniversity of WashingtonBothellWashingtonUSA
| | - Nicole Parr
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life SciencesUniversity of Exeter, Hatherly LaboratoriesExeterUK
| | - James A. Screen
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Environment, Science and EconomyUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | | | | | - Daniel A. Williams
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Environment, Science and EconomyUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Ned C. Williams
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Environment, Science and EconomyUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Matthew J. Witt
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life SciencesUniversity of Exeter, Hatherly LaboratoriesExeterUK
| | - Lucy A. Hawkes
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life SciencesUniversity of Exeter, Hatherly LaboratoriesExeterUK
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9
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Mattila HR, Nguyen LT, Perrard A, Bain M, Otis GW. Biology of the southern giant hornet, Vespa soror: nest architecture, morphological differences among castes, and the genetic structure of colonies. Front Insect Sci 2023; 3:1136297. [PMID: 38469522 PMCID: PMC10926378 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2023.1136297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Giant hornets in the genus Vespa are apex predators that are known throughout Asia for their exceptional size and devastating group attacks on social insect colonies. The giant hornets include Vespa mandarinia, a well-studied and widespread temperate species, and Vespa soror, a poorly known sister species that is limited to subtropical and tropical regions of Southeast Asia. Both species have been recently documented on the west coast of North America, raising urgent questions about their potential impact in novel ecosystems. To better understand the biology of V. soror, we describe the nest architecture, caste morphology, and genetic structure of colonies collected in Vietnam. Comparisons of colony metrics between the two giant hornet species suggest important differences that are likely a consequence of the relatively warmer climate in which V. soror occurs. Like V. mandarinia, V. soror constructs large, underground nests of partially enveloped horizontal combs. However, compared to temperate V. mandarinia colonies, the longer nesting period of subtropical V. soror colonies likely resulted in relatively larger colony sizes and nests by the end of their annual cycle. Vespa soror workers and gynes were larger than males, distinguishable based on wing shape and body size (total length and measures of six body parts), and equivalent in size to female castes of V. mandarinia. We genotyped colony members from three mature nests, which revealed that males and females were offspring of singly mated queens. Two colonies were monogynous, but one colony was comprised of two unrelated matrilines. Polygyny has not been observed for V. mandarinia, but is more common in tropical hornet species. Our study sheds light on essential details about the biology of an understudied species of giant hornet, whose populous colonies and long nesting period suggest the potential for substantial ecological impact wherever they occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather R. Mattila
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, United States
| | - Lien T.P. Nguyen
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Adrien Perrard
- Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences-Paris (iEES-Paris), Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Universite Paris-Est Creteil (UPEC), Paris, France
- Sciences du vivant, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Maggie Bain
- College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Gard W. Otis
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Institute of Bee Health, University of Bern and Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland
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10
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Leong CM, Hui TY, Guénard B. The role of body mass in limiting post heat-coma recovery ability in terrestrial ectotherms. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10218. [PMID: 37361898 PMCID: PMC10288262 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Under global warming, animal species show shrinking body size responses, cascading deep changes in community structure and ecosystem functions. Although the exact physiological mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain unsolved, smaller individuals may benefit from warming climate more than larger ones. Heat-coma, a physiological state with severe consequences on locomotion ability, is often considered as an "ecological death" scenario under which individuals are unable to escape and exposed to predation, further heat injury, and other hazards. Species are expected to increasingly encounter heat-coma temperature thresholds under warming climate, and body size may be an important trait for thermoregulation in particular for ectotherms. The relationship between heat-coma and shrinking body size remains, however, unclear. Yet, recovery after short-term heat-coma is possible, but little is known about its importance in thermal adaptation and how organismal size correlates with post heat-coma recovery. Here, using ants as a model system, we firstly examined the fate of heat-comatose individuals under field conditions to quantify the ecological benefits of post heat-coma recovery. Then, we quantified ants' recovery ability after heat-coma using a dynamic thermal assay in the laboratory and asked if thermal resilience varies between species with different body mass. Our results confirm that heat-coma represents an inherent ecological death where individuals failed to recover from coma suffer strong predation pressure. Additionally, following phylogenetic signals inclusion, organisms with small mass were more likely to recover, supporting the temperature-size rule in thermal adaptation and recent studies showing a decrease in body size composition of ectotherm community under warmer climatic conditions. Body size as a fundamental trait in ecology thus affects ectotherm survival under thermal stress, which may drive species body size adaptations and community composition under future warming scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Man Leong
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Present address:
Environmental Science Programme, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and TechnologyBeijing Normal University‐Hong Kong Baptist University United International CollegeZhuhaiChina
| | - Tin Yan Hui
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- The Swire Institute of Marine ScienceThe University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Present address:
Science UnitLingnan UniversityHong Kong SARChina
| | - Benoit Guénard
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
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11
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Rutagarama VP, Ireri PM, Sibomana C, Omufwoko KS, Martin SH, ffrench‐Constant RH, Eckardt W, Kaplin BK, Smith DAS, Gordon I. African Queens find mates when males are rare. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9956. [PMID: 37021082 PMCID: PMC10067808 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In butterflies and moths, male‐killing endosymbionts are transmitted from infected females via their eggs, and the male progeny then perish. This means that successful transmission of the parasite relies on the successful mating of the host. Paradoxically, at the population level, parasite transmission also reduces the number of adult males present in the final population for infected females to mate with. Here we investigate if successful female mating when males are rare is indeed a likely rate‐limiting step in the transmission of male‐killing Spiroplasma in the African Monarch, Danaus chrysippus. In Lepidoptera, successful pairings are hallmarked by the transfer of a sperm‐containing spermatophore from the male to the female during copulation. Conveniently, this spermatophore remains detectable within the female upon dissection, and thus, spermatophore counts can be used to assess the frequency of successful mating in the field. We used such spermatophore counts to examine if altered sex ratios in the D. chrysippus do indeed affect female mating success. We examined two different field sites in East Africa where males were often rare. Surprisingly, mated females carried an average of 1.5 spermatophores each, regardless of male frequency, and importantly, only 10–20% remained unmated. This suggests that infected females will still be able to mate in the face of either Spiroplasma‐mediated male killing and/or fluctuations in adult sex ratio over the wet–dry season cycle. These observations may begin to explain how the male‐killing mollicute can still be successfully transmitted in a population where males are rare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent P. Rutagarama
- Department of Biology, College of Science and TechnologyUniversity of RwandaKigaliRwanda
| | - Piera M. Ireri
- International Centre for Insect Physiology and EcologyNairobiKenya
| | - Constantin Sibomana
- Department of Biology, College of Science and TechnologyUniversity of RwandaKigaliRwanda
| | - Kennedy S. Omufwoko
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | - Simon H. Martin
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | | | | | - Beth K. Kaplin
- Department of Biology, College of Science and TechnologyUniversity of RwandaKigaliRwanda
- Center of Excellence in Biodiversity & Natural Resource ManagementUniversity of RwandaButareRwanda
| | | | - Ian Gordon
- Department of Biology, College of Science and TechnologyUniversity of RwandaKigaliRwanda
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12
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Deem SL, Rivera S, Nieto‐Claudin A, Emmel E, Cabrera F, Blake S. Temperature along an elevation gradient determines Galapagos tortoise sex ratios. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10008. [PMID: 37091568 PMCID: PMC10116026 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change threatens endemic island ectothermic reptiles that display small population sizes and temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Studies of captive Galapagos tortoises demonstrate type A TSD with warmer incubation temperatures producing females. However, there are few published data from free-living Galapagos tortoises on incubation temperature regimes, and none on hatchling sex ratios in the wild or the potential impacts of climate change on future sex ratios. We sought to address these deficits by quantifying incubation temperatures of nests and sex ratios of juvenile tortoises along an elevation gradient on Santa Cruz Island. We focused on three geographically separated nesting zones with mean elevations of 14 m (lower), 57 m (middle), and 107 m (upper) above sea level. Nest temperatures in 54 nests distributed across the three nesting zones were measured every 4 h throughout the incubation period using iButton thermochrons. We used coelioscopy to conduct visual exams of gonads to determine the sex of 40 juvenile tortoises from the three nesting zones. During the middle trimester of incubation, the period during which sex is determined in turtles, mean nest temperatures were 25.75°C (SD = 1.08) in the upper zone, and 27.02°C (SD = 1.09), and 27.09°C (SD = 0.85) in the middle and lower zones, respectively. The proportion of juveniles that was male increased from 11.1% in the lower zone and 9.5% in the middle zone, to 80% in the upper zone. A ca. 50 m increase in elevation induced a decrease of >1.25°C in mean nest temperature during the second trimester of incubation. Over the same elevation change, the proportion of males in the juvenile tortoise population increased by ca. 70%. Temperatures on Galapagos are predicted to increase by 1-4°C over the next 50 years, which is likely to increase the frequency of female tortoises across the archipelago.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon L. Deem
- One Government DriveSaint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Charles Darwin FoundationSanta CruzGalapagos IslandsEcuador
| | - Sam Rivera
- Department of Animal HealthZoo AtlantaAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Ainoa Nieto‐Claudin
- One Government DriveSaint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Charles Darwin FoundationSanta CruzGalapagos IslandsEcuador
| | - Evan Emmel
- The Maritime Aquarium at NorwalkNorwalkConnecticutUSA
| | - Freddy Cabrera
- Charles Darwin FoundationSanta CruzGalapagos IslandsEcuador
| | - Stephen Blake
- Charles Darwin FoundationSanta CruzGalapagos IslandsEcuador
- Department of BiologySaint Louis UniversitySt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Max Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorRadolfzellGermany
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13
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Jobin V, Das A, Harikrishnan CP, Chanda R, Lawrence S, Robin VV. Patterns of understory invasion in invasive timber stands of a tropical sky island. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9995. [PMID: 37066061 PMCID: PMC10099487 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Current climate and land cover change threaten global mountaintops with increased spread of invasive species. Long-established plantations of invasive trees on these mountaintops can alter their surroundings, further increasing invader-facilitated invasion. Identifying the ecological conditions promoting such associations can help develop better management interventions. The Western Ghats's Shola Sky Islands (>1400 m MSL) host vast stretches of invasive tree plantations that sustain the colonization of other invasive woody, herbaceous, and fern species in their understories. Here, we analyzed vegetation and landscape variables from 232 systematically placed plots in randomly selected grids using non-metric multidimensional scaling and Phi coefficient approaches to examine patterns of association (positive interactions) between understory invasive species with specific invasive overstory species. We also conducted GLMM with zero inflation to determine the influence of environmental variables where such associations occur. We find that understory invasion of multiple species under the canopy of other invasives is widespread across the Shola Sky Islands. Stands of Eucalyptus host the colonization of 70% of non-native invasive species surveyed across the Shola Sky Islands. In particular, the Lantana camara invasion is strongly associated with Eucalyptus stands. We also found that climatic variables affect the colonization of understory woody invasive species, while invasion by exotic herbaceous species is associated with the density of road networks. Canopy cover impacts all invasives negatively, while fire incidence was negatively associated with invasion by Lantana spp. and the Pteridium spp. While the restoration of natural habitats primarily targets the highly invasive Acacia, less invasive Eucalyptus and Pinus are often not included. Our study suggests that retaining such invasive species in natural habitats, particularly protected areas, can hinder ongoing grassland restoration efforts by facilitating further invasions by multiple woody and herbaceous species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varughese Jobin
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) TirupatiKarakambadi RoadTirupatiIndia
| | - Arundhati Das
- National Centre for Biological SciencesBengaluruIndia
| | - C. P. Harikrishnan
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) TirupatiKarakambadi RoadTirupatiIndia
| | - Ritobroto Chanda
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) TirupatiKarakambadi RoadTirupatiIndia
- Present address:
Centre for Ecological SciencesIndian Institute of ScienceCV Raman RoadBengaluru560012India
| | - Swapna Lawrence
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) TirupatiKarakambadi RoadTirupatiIndia
- Present address:
Wildlife Institute of IndiaWildlife Institute Rd, ChandrabaniDehradunUttarakhand248001India
| | - V. V. Robin
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) TirupatiKarakambadi RoadTirupatiIndia
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14
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Warret Rodrigues C, Roth JD. Feast to famine: Sympatric predators respond differently to seasonal prey scarcity on the low Arctic tundra. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9951. [PMID: 36993144 PMCID: PMC10041551 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Resource fluctuation is a major driver of animal movement, influencing strategic choices such as residency vs nomadism, or social dynamics. The Arctic tundra is characterized by strong seasonality: Resources are abundant during the short summers but scarce in winters. Therefore, expansion of boreal-forest species onto the tundra raises questions on how they cope with winter-resource scarcity. We examined a recent incursion by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) onto the coastal tundra of northern Manitoba, an area historically occupied by Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) that lacks access to anthropogenic foods, and compared seasonal shifts in space use of the two species. We used 4 years of telemetry data following 8 red foxes and 11 Arctic foxes to test the hypothesis that the movement tactics of both species are primarily driven by temporal variability of resources. We also predicted that the harsh tundra conditions in winter would drive red foxes to disperse more often and maintain larger home ranges year-round than Arctic foxes, which are adapted to this environment. Dispersal was the most frequent winter movement tactic in both fox species, despite its association with high mortality (winter mortality was 9.4 times higher in dispersers than residents). Red foxes consistently dispersed toward the boreal forest, whereas Arctic foxes primarily used sea ice to disperse. Home range size of red and Arctic foxes did not differ in summer, but resident red foxes substantially increased their home range size in winter, whereas home range size of resident Arctic foxes did not change seasonally. As climate changes, abiotic constraints on some species may relax, but associated declines in prey communities may lead to local extirpation of many predators, notably by favoring dispersal during resource scarcity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James D. Roth
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegManitobaCanada
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15
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Chanover NJ, Uckert K, Voelz DG, Boston P. The Development and Demonstration of the Portable Acousto-Optic Spectrometer for Astrobiology in Cave Environments. Earth Space Sci 2023; 10:e2022EA002370. [PMID: 37033405 PMCID: PMC10078596 DOI: 10.1029/2022ea002370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Planetary caves are desirable environments for the search for biosignatures corresponding to extant or extinct extraterrestrial life due to the protection they offer from surface-level solar radiation and ionizing particles. Near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy is one of a multitude of techniques that, when taken together, can provide a comprehensive understanding of the geomicrobiology in planetary subsurface regions. To that end, we developed two portable NIR spectrometers that employ acousto-optic tunable filters and demonstrated them in three geochemically distinct cave environments. The instruments were deployed both as stand-alone spectrometers positioned against the targets manually and as a component of an instrument payload mounted on a quadruped robot capable of vertical excursions of several meters. In situ measurements of calcium carbonates, sulfates, metal oxides, and microbial colonies and mats revealed spectral signatures that enable a distinction between the targets of interest and the underlying substrates. The ruggedness and portability of the instruments, and their low size, weight, and power, spectral agility, and active illumination make AOTF-based spectrometers ideally suited for studies of planetary caves.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. J. Chanover
- Astronomy DepartmentNew Mexico State UniversityLas CrucesNMUSA
| | - K. Uckert
- Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - D. G. Voelz
- Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer EngineeringNew Mexico State UniversityLas CrucesNMUSA
| | - P. Boston
- NASA Ames Research CenterMoffett FieldCAUSA
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16
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Colón Carrión N, Troche CL, Arnold AE. Communities of endophytic fungi in a Puerto Rican rainforest vary along a gradient of disturbance due to Hurricane Maria. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9618. [PMID: 36532133 PMCID: PMC9750846 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Increases in the frequency and intensity of hurricanes influence the structure, function, and resilience of Caribbean forests. Trees in such forests harbor diverse fungal endophytes within leaves and roots. Fungal endophytes often are important for plant health and stress responses, but how their communities are impacted by hurricanes is not well known. We measured forest disturbance in Carite State Forest in Puerto Rico ca. 16 months after the passage of Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 storm. In three sites, each comprising three plots representing a local gradient of hurricane disturbance, we evaluated soil chemistry and used culture-free analyses to measure richness, phylogenetic diversity, and composition of endophyte communities in leaves and roots. We found that endophyte richness did not vary significantly among plant families or as a function of soil chemistry. Instead, leaf endophytes peaked in richness and decreased in phylogenetic diversity at intermediate levels of disturbance. Root endophytes did not show such variation, but both leaf- and root endophyte communities differed in species composition as a function of disturbance across the forest. Locations with less disturbance typically hosted distinctive assemblages of foliar endophytes, whereas more disturbed locations had more regionally homogeneous endophyte communities. Together, our results show that changes in endophyte richness and phylogenetic diversity can be detected in aboveground tissues more than a year after major storms. In turn, pervasive shifts in endophyte community composition both aboveground and belowground suggest a subtle and lasting effect of hurricanes that merits further study, potentially contributing to the promotion of spatially heterogeneous endophyte assemblages at a landscape scale in these diverse island forests.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - A. Elizabeth Arnold
- School of Plant SciencesUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
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17
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Pascoe P, Houghton M, Jones HP, Weldrick C, Trebilco R, Shaw J. The effect of seabird presence and seasonality on ground-active spider communities across temperate islands. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9570. [PMID: 36479030 PMCID: PMC9719043 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Seabirds influence island ecosystems through nutrient additions and physical disturbance. These influences can have opposing effects on an island's invertebrate predator populations. Spiders (order: Araneae) are an important predator in many terrestrial island ecosystems, yet little is known about how seabird presence influences spider communities at the intraisland scale, or how they respond to seasonality in seabird colony attendance.We investigated the effects of seabird presence and seasonality on ground-active spider community structure (activity-density, family-level richness, age class, and sex structure) and composition at the family-level across five short-tailed shearwater breeding islands around south-eastern Tasmania, Australia. Using 75 pitfall traps (15 per island), spiders were collected inside, near, and outside seabird colonies on each island, at five different stages of the short-tailed shearwater breeding cycle over a year. Pitfall traps were deployed for a total of 2674 days, capturing 1592 spiders from 26 families with Linyphiidae and Lycosidae the most common. Spider activity-density was generally greater inside than outside seabird colonies, while family-level richness was generally higher outside seabird colonies. For these islands, seabird breeding stage did not affect activity-densities, but there were some seasonal changes in age class and sex structures with more adult males captured during winter. Our results provide some of the first insights into the spatial and temporal influences seabirds have on spider communities. We also provide some of the first records of spider family occurrences for south-eastern Tasmanian islands, which will provide an important baseline for assessing future change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope Pascoe
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesUniversity of TasmaniaBattery PointTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Melissa Houghton
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment TasmaniaNew TownNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Holly P. Jones
- Biological Sciences and Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and EnergyNorthern Illinois UniversityDeKalbIllinoisUSA
| | - Christine Weldrick
- Australian Antarctic Program PartnershipUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | | | - Justine Shaw
- School of Biology and Environmental SciencesQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
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18
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Kynoch C, Fuentes MMPB, Dutton PH, LaCasella EL, Silver‐Gorges I. Origins of juvenile green sea turtles (
Chelonia mydas
) in the Bahamas: A comparison of recent and historical rookery contributions. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9548. [PMCID: PMC9702569 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Camille Kynoch
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | | | - Peter H. Dutton
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries ServiceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Erin L. LaCasella
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries ServiceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ian Silver‐Gorges
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric ScienceFlorida State UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
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19
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Garrabou J, Gómez‐Gras D, Medrano A, Cerrano C, Ponti M, Schlegel R, Bensoussan N, Turicchia E, Sini M, Gerovasileiou V, Teixido N, Mirasole A, Tamburello L, Cebrian E, Rilov G, Ledoux J, Souissi JB, Khamassi F, Ghanem R, Benabdi M, Grimes S, Ocaña O, Bazairi H, Hereu B, Linares C, Kersting DK, la Rovira G, Ortega J, Casals D, Pagès‐Escolà M, Margarit N, Capdevila P, Verdura J, Ramos A, Izquierdo A, Barbera C, Rubio‐Portillo E, Anton I, López‐Sendino P, Díaz D, Vázquez‐Luis M, Duarte C, Marbà N, Aspillaga E, Espinosa F, Grech D, Guala I, Azzurro E, Farina S, Cristina Gambi M, Chimienti G, Montefalcone M, Azzola A, Mantas TP, Fraschetti S, Ceccherelli G, Kipson S, Bakran‐Petricioli T, Petricioli D, Jimenez C, Katsanevakis S, Kizilkaya IT, Kizilkaya Z, Sartoretto S, Elodie R, Ruitton S, Comeau S, Gattuso J, Harmelin J. Marine heatwaves drive recurrent mass mortalities in the Mediterranean Sea. Glob Chang Biol 2022; 28:5708-5725. [PMID: 35848527 PMCID: PMC9543131 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves (MHWs) and mass mortality events (MMEs) of marine organisms are one of their main ecological impacts. Here, we show that during the 2015-2019 period, the Mediterranean Sea has experienced exceptional thermal conditions resulting in the onset of five consecutive years of widespread MMEs across the basin. These MMEs affected thousands of kilometers of coastline from the surface to 45 m, across a range of marine habitats and taxa (50 taxa across 8 phyla). Significant relationships were found between the incidence of MMEs and the heat exposure associated with MHWs observed both at the surface and across depths. Our findings reveal that the Mediterranean Sea is experiencing an acceleration of the ecological impacts of MHWs which poses an unprecedented threat to its ecosystems' health and functioning. Overall, we show that increasing the resolution of empirical observation is critical to enhancing our ability to more effectively understand and manage the consequences of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim Garrabou
- Institut de Ciències del Mar‐CSICBarcelonaSpain
- Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIOAix Marseille UnivMarseilleFrance
| | - Daniel Gómez‐Gras
- Institut de Ciències del Mar‐CSICBarcelonaSpain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Alba Medrano
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Carlo Cerrano
- Dept of Life and Environmental SciencesPolytechnic University of MarcheAnconaItaly
- Fano Marine CentreFanoItaly
| | - Massimo Ponti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
- CoNISMaRomeItaly
| | - Robert Schlegel
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de VillefrancheSorbonne, Université, CNRSVillefranche‐sur‐merFrance
| | - Nathaniel Bensoussan
- Institut de Ciències del Mar‐CSICBarcelonaSpain
- Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIOAix Marseille UnivMarseilleFrance
| | - Eva Turicchia
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
- CoNISMaRomeItaly
| | - Maria Sini
- Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of the AegeanMytileneGreece
| | - Vasilis Gerovasileiou
- Department of Environment, Faculty of EnvironmentIonian UniversityZakynthosGreece
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR)Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC)HeraklionGreece
| | - Nuria Teixido
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de VillefrancheSorbonne, Université, CNRSVillefranche‐sur‐merFrance
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine EcologyIschia Marine CentreNaplesItaly
| | - Alice Mirasole
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine EcologyIschia Marine CentreNaplesItaly
| | - Laura Tamburello
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine EcologyIschia Marine CentreNaplesItaly
| | - Emma Cebrian
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)GironaSpain
| | - Gil Rilov
- National Institute of OceanographyIsrael Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR)HaifaIsrael
| | - Jean‐Baptiste Ledoux
- Institut de Ciències del Mar‐CSICBarcelonaSpain
- CIIMAR‐Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental ResearchUniversity of PortoMatosinhosPortugal
| | - Jamila Ben Souissi
- National Agronomic Institute of TunisiaTunis University of CarthageTunisTunisia
- Biodiversity, Biotechnology and Climate Change Laboratory‐LR11ES09University of Tunis El ManarTunisTunisia
| | - Faten Khamassi
- National Agronomic Institute of TunisiaTunis University of CarthageTunisTunisia
| | - Raouia Ghanem
- Biodiversity, Biotechnology and Climate Change Laboratory‐LR11ES09University of Tunis El ManarTunisTunisia
| | | | - Samir Grimes
- Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Sciences de la Mer et de l'Aménagement (ENSSMAL)AlgerAlgeria
| | | | - Hocein Bazairi
- Laboratory 'Biodiversity, Ecology and Genome', Faculty of SciencesMohamed V University in RabatRabatMorocco
| | - Bernat Hereu
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Cristina Linares
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Diego Kurt Kersting
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Graciel la Rovira
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Júlia Ortega
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - David Casals
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Marta Pagès‐Escolà
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Núria Margarit
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Pol Capdevila
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | | | - Alfonso Ramos
- Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología AplicadaUniversidad de AlicanteAlicanteSpain
| | | | - Carmen Barbera
- Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología AplicadaUniversidad de AlicanteAlicanteSpain
| | | | | | | | - David Díaz
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO‐CSIC)Palma de MallorcaSpain
| | | | - Carlos Duarte
- Red Sea Research CenterKing Abudllah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis AvançatsMallorcaSpain
| | - Nuria Marbà
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis AvançatsMallorcaSpain
| | | | - Free Espinosa
- Laboratorio de Biología MarinaUniversidad de SevillaSevillaSpain
| | | | - Ivan Guala
- IMC—International Marine CentreOristanoItaly
| | - Ernesto Azzurro
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine EcologyIschia Marine CentreNaplesItaly
- CNR‐IRBIM, NR‐IRBIM, National Research CouncilInstitute of Biological Resources and Marine BiotechnologiesAnconaItaly
| | - Simone Farina
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Deptartment of Integrative Marine EcologyGenoa Marine CentreGenoaItaly
| | | | - Giovanni Chimienti
- CoNISMaRomeItaly
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Bari Aldo MoroBariItaly
| | - Monica Montefalcone
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life SciencesUniversity of GenoaGenoaItaly
| | - Annalisa Azzola
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life SciencesUniversity of GenoaGenoaItaly
| | | | - Simonetta Fraschetti
- CoNISMaRomeItaly
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Naples Federico IINaplesItaly
| | | | - Silvija Kipson
- SEAFANZagrebCroatia
- Faculty of Science, Department of BiologyUniversity of ZagrebZagrebCroatia
| | | | - Donat Petricioli
- D.I.I.V. Ltd for Marine, Freshwater and Subterranean EcologySaliCroatia
| | - Carlos Jimenez
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research CentreNicosiaCyprus
- The Cyprus Institute Energy Environment and Water Research CenterAglantziaCyprus
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Sandrine Ruitton
- Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIOAix Marseille UnivMarseilleFrance
| | - Steeve Comeau
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de VillefrancheSorbonne, Université, CNRSVillefranche‐sur‐merFrance
| | - Jean‐Pierre Gattuso
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de VillefrancheSorbonne, Université, CNRSVillefranche‐sur‐merFrance
- Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations. Sciences PoParisFrance
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20
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Hackel J, Henkel TW, Moreau P, De Crop E, Verbeken A, Sà M, Buyck B, Neves M, Vasco‐Palacios A, Wartchow F, Schimann H, Carriconde F, Garnica S, Courtecuisse R, Gardes M, Manzi S, Louisanna E, Roy M. Biogeographic history of a large clade of ectomycorrhizal fungi, the Russulaceae, in the Neotropics and adjacent regions. New Phytol 2022; 236:698-713. [PMID: 35811430 PMCID: PMC9795906 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The biogeography of neotropical fungi remains poorly understood. Here, we reconstruct the origins and diversification of neotropical lineages in one of the largest clades of ectomycorrhizal fungi in the globally widespread family Russulaceae. We inferred a supertree of 3285 operational taxonomic units, representing worldwide internal transcribed spacer sequences. We reconstructed biogeographic history and diversification and identified lineages in the Neotropics and adjacent Patagonia. The ectomycorrhizal Russulaceae have a tropical African origin. The oldest lineages in tropical South America, most with African sister groups, date to the mid-Eocene, possibly coinciding with a boreotropical migration corridor. There were several transatlantic dispersal events from Africa more recently. Andean and Central American lineages mostly have north-temperate origins and are associated with North Andean uplift and the general north-south biotic interchange across the Panama isthmus, respectively. Patagonian lineages have Australasian affinities. Diversification rates in tropical South America and other tropical areas are lower than in temperate areas. Neotropical Russulaceae have multiple biogeographic origins since the mid-Eocene involving dispersal and co-migration. Discontinuous distributions of host plants may explain low diversification rates of tropical lowland ectomycorrhizal fungi. Deeply diverging neotropical fungal lineages need to be better documented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Hackel
- Royal Botanic Gardens, KewRichmond‐upon‐ThamesTW9 3AEUK
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (UMR 5174)Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier/CNRS/IRD31062Toulouse cedex 9France
| | - Terry W. Henkel
- Department of Biological SciencesCalifornia State Polytechnic University, HumboldtArcataCA95521USA
| | - Pierre‐Arthur Moreau
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Laboratoire des Sciences Végétales et Fongiques (LGCgE, ER4)Université de Lille59006LilleFrance
| | - Eske De Crop
- Department of BiologyGhent University9000GentBelgium
| | | | - Mariana Sà
- Centro Universitário de João PessoaPB 58053‐000João PessoaBrazil
| | - Bart Buyck
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRSSorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles75231Paris cedex 05France
| | - Maria‐Alice Neves
- Departamento de BotânicaUniversidade Federal de Santa CatarinaSC 88040‐900FlorianópolisBrazil
| | - Aída Vasco‐Palacios
- Microbiología Ambiental–School of Microbiology, Laboratory of Taxonomy and Ecology of Fungi–Institute of BiologyUniversity of Antioquia050010MedellínColombia
| | - Felipe Wartchow
- Departamento de Sistemática e EcologiaUniversidade Federal da ParaíbaPB 58051‐970João PessoaBrazil
| | - Heidy Schimann
- UMR Ecologie des Forêts de GuyaneAgroParisTech/CIRAD/CNRS/Université des Antilles/Université de la Guyane/INRA97379Kourou cedexFrench Guiana
| | - Fabian Carriconde
- Institut Agronomique néo‐Calédonien (IAC), Equipe Sol & Végétations (SolVeg)BP1823998848NouméaNew Caledonia
| | - Sigisfredo Garnica
- Instituto de Bioquímica y MicrobiologíaUniversidad Austral de Chile5049000ValdiviaChile
| | - Régis Courtecuisse
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Laboratoire des Sciences Végétales et Fongiques (LGCgE, ER4)Université de Lille59006LilleFrance
| | - Monique Gardes
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (UMR 5174)Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier/CNRS/IRD31062Toulouse cedex 9France
| | - Sophie Manzi
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (UMR 5174)Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier/CNRS/IRD31062Toulouse cedex 9France
| | - Eliane Louisanna
- UMR Ecologie des Forêts de GuyaneAgroParisTech/CIRAD/CNRS/Université des Antilles/Université de la Guyane/INRA97379Kourou cedexFrench Guiana
| | - Mélanie Roy
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (UMR 5174)Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier/CNRS/IRD31062Toulouse cedex 9France
- Instituto Franco‐Argentino para el Estudio del Clima y sus Impactos (UMI IFAECI/CNRS‐CONICET‐UBA‐IRD)Universidad de Buenos AiresC1428EGACiudad Autonoma de Buenos AiresArgentina
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21
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Paudel RP, Kadariya R, Lamichhane BR, Subedi N, Sashika M, Shimozuru M, Tsubota T. Habitat occupancy of sloth bear Melursus ursinus in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8699. [PMID: 35342572 PMCID: PMC8928908 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammals have experienced a massive decline in their populations and geographic ranges worldwide. The sloth bear, Melursus ursinus (Shaw, 1791), is one of many species facing conservation threats. Despite being endangered in Nepal, decades of inattention to the situation have hindered their conservation and management. We assessed the distribution and patterns of habitat use by sloth bears in Chitwan National Park (CNP), Nepal. We conducted sign surveys from March to June, 2020, in 4 × 4 km grids (n = 45). We collected detection/non-detection data along a 4-km trail that was divided into 20 continuous segments of 200 m each. We obtained environmental, ecological, and anthropogenic covariates to understand determinants of sloth bear habitat occupancy. The data were analyzed using the single-species single-season occupancy method, with a spatially correlated detection. Using repeated observations, these models accounted for the imperfect detectability of the species to provide robust estimates of habitat occupancy. The model-averaged occupancy estimate for the sloth bear was 69% and the detection probability was 0.25. The probability of habitat occupancy by sloth bears increased with the presence of termites and fruits and in rugged, dry, open, undisturbed habitats. Our results indicate that the sloth bear is elusive, functionally unique, and widespread in CNP. Future conservation interventions and action plans aimed at sloth bear management must adequately consider their habitat requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajan Prasad Paudel
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and MedicineDepartment of Environmental Veterinary ScienceGraduate School of Veterinary MedicineHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | | | | | | | - Mariko Sashika
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and MedicineDepartment of Environmental Veterinary ScienceGraduate School of Veterinary MedicineHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Michito Shimozuru
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and MedicineDepartment of Environmental Veterinary ScienceGraduate School of Veterinary MedicineHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Toshio Tsubota
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and MedicineDepartment of Environmental Veterinary ScienceGraduate School of Veterinary MedicineHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
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22
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Boschin F, Columbu A, Spagnolo V, Crezzini J, Bahain J, FalguèRes C, Benazzi S, Boscato P, Ronchitelli A, Moroni A, Martini I. Human occupation continuity in southern Italy towards the end of the Middle Palaeolithic: a palaeoenvironmental perspective from Apulia. J Quat Sci 2022; 37:204-216. [PMID: 35874299 PMCID: PMC9291488 DOI: 10.1002/jqs.3319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
After the last interglacial [Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e] Europe was affected by several harsh climatic oscillations. In this context southern Italy acted, like the rest of peninsular Mediterranean Europe, as a 'glacial refugium', allowing the survival of various species, and was involved in the spread of 'cold taxa' (e.g. woolly mammoth and woolly rhino) only during the coldest phases (MIS 4 and MIS 2). Both late Mousterian and early Upper Palaeolithic sites testify to a human occupation continuity in southern Italy and especially in Apulia in this time span. Here we present a focus on three key Apulian Palaeolithic sequences (Grotta di Santa Croce, Riparo L'Oscurusciuto and Grotta del Cavallo - layers F-E) jointly spanning from the late MIS 4 to the demise of Neanderthals around 43 ka. Novel chronological, sedimentological and zooarchaeological data are discussed for the first time in the light of the palaeoenvironmental information provided by recent analyses carried out on a speleothem from Pozzo Cucù cave (Bari) and the results of the magnetic susceptibility analysis from Riparo L'Oscurusciuto. This integrated reading allows a better understanding of the role played by the Apulian region as both a refugium for late Neaderthals and a suitable habitat for the early settling of modern humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Boschin
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra, e dell'AmbienteUniversità Degli Studi di SienaSienaItaly
- Centro Studi sul QuaternarioSansepolcroArezzoItaly
| | - Andrea Columbu
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e AmbientaliUniversità di BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Vincenzo Spagnolo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra, e dell'AmbienteUniversità Degli Studi di SienaSienaItaly
- Centro Studi sul QuaternarioSansepolcroArezzoItaly
| | - Jacopo Crezzini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra, e dell'AmbienteUniversità Degli Studi di SienaSienaItaly
- Centro Studi sul QuaternarioSansepolcroArezzoItaly
| | - Jean‐Jacques Bahain
- HNHP, UMR7194 ‘Histoire naturelle de l'Homme préhistorique’MNHN‐CNRS‐UPVD, Département Homme et Environnement du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle 1ParisFrance
| | - Christophe FalguèRes
- HNHP, UMR7194 ‘Histoire naturelle de l'Homme préhistorique’MNHN‐CNRS‐UPVD, Département Homme et Environnement du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle 1ParisFrance
| | - Stefano Benazzi
- Dipartimento di Beni CulturaliUniversità di BolognaRavennaItaly
| | - Paolo Boscato
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra, e dell'AmbienteUniversità Degli Studi di SienaSienaItaly
| | - Annamaria Ronchitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra, e dell'AmbienteUniversità Degli Studi di SienaSienaItaly
| | - Adriana Moroni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra, e dell'AmbienteUniversità Degli Studi di SienaSienaItaly
- Centro Studi sul QuaternarioSansepolcroArezzoItaly
| | - Ivan Martini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra, e dell'AmbienteUniversità Degli Studi di SienaSienaItaly
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23
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Arnberg MP, Frank SC, Blaalid R, Davey ML, Eycott AE, Steyaert SMJG. Directed endozoochorous dispersal by scavengers facilitate sexual reproduction in otherwise clonal plants at cadaver sites. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8503. [PMID: 35127028 PMCID: PMC8794756 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The regeneration niche of many plant species involves spatially and temporally unpredictable disturbances, called recruitment windows of opportunity. However, even species with clear dispersal adaptations such as fleshy berries may not successfully reach such elusive regeneration microsites. Ericaceous, berry-producing species in the northern hemisphere demonstrate this dispersal limitation. They are said to display a reproductive paradox owing to their lack of regeneration in apparently suitable microsites despite considerable investment in producing large quantities of berries.Cadavers generate vegetation-denuded and nutrient-rich disturbances termed cadaver decomposition islands (CDIs). Cadavers attract facultative scavengers with considerable capacity for endozoochorous seed dispersal. We hypothesize that CDIs facilitate recruitment in berry-producing ericaceous species due to endozoochorous dispersal directed toward favorable microsites with low competition.We examined seedling establishment within a permanent, semi-regular 10 × 10 m grid across an ungulate mass die-off on the Hardangervidda plateau in southeastern Norway. Competing models regarding the relative importance of factors governing recruitment were evaluated, specifically cadaver location (elevated seed rain) and microsite conditions (competition).We found that CDIs did facilitate seedling establishment, as cadaver density was the best predictor of seedling distribution. Other important factors governing seedling establishment such as percentage cover of soil and vascular plants alone were inadequate to explain seedling establishment. Synthesis: This study provides a novel understanding of sexual reproduction in species with cryptic generative reproduction. The directed nature of endozoochorous dispersal combined with long-distance dispersal abilities of medium to large vertebrate scavengers toward cadavers allows plants to exploit the advantageous but ephemeral resource provided by CDIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mie Prik Arnberg
- Faculty of Biosciences and AquacultureNord UniversitySteinkjerNorway
| | | | - Rakel Blaalid
- Department of Natural HistoryUniversity Museum of BergenBergenNorway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature ResearchTrondheimNorway
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24
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Rabideau‐Childers R, Angier KIW, Dean BZM, Blumstein M, Darling WS, Kennedy‐Yoon A, Ziemke CH, Perez‐Martinez CA, Wu D, Ye W, Yekwayo I, Kimuyu DM, Martins DJ, Pierce NE. Evidence of nutrient translocation in response to smoke exposure by the East African ant acacia, Vachellia drepanolobium. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8244. [PMID: 35126997 PMCID: PMC8794709 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Fire is a major selective force on arid grassland communities, favoring traits such as the smoke-induced seed germination response seen in a wide variety of plant species. However, little is known about the relevance of smoke as a cue for plants beyond the seedling stage.We exposed a fire-adapted savanna tree, Vachellia (=Acacia) drepanolobium, to smoke and compared nutrient concentrations in leaf and root tissues to unexposed controls. Experiments were performed on three age cohorts: 2-year-old, 9-month-old, and 3-month-old plants.For the 2-year-old plants exposed to smoke, carbon and nitrogen concentrations were lower in the leaves and higher in the roots than controls. Less pronounced trends were found for boron and magnesium.In contrast, smoke-exposed 3-month-old plants had lower root nitrogen concentrations than controls. No significant differences were found in the 9-month-old plants, and no significant shifts in other nutrient concentrations were observed between plant tissues for any of the three age cohorts. Synthesis: Our findings are consistent with smoke-induced translocation of nutrients from leaves to roots in 2-year-old V. drepanolobium. This could represent a novel form of fire adaptation, with variation over the course of plant development. The translocation differences between age cohorts highlight the need to investigate smoke response in older plants of other species. Accounting for this adaptation could better inform our understanding of savanna community structure and nutrient flows under fire regimes altered by anthropogenic land use and climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Rabideau‐Childers
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Katherine I. W. Angier
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Brendan Z. M. Dean
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Meghan Blumstein
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringMITCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Walker S. Darling
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Annina Kennedy‐Yoon
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Clayton H. Ziemke
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Christian A. Perez‐Martinez
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMissouriUSA
| | - Donghao Wu
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- College of Life SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Wenqing Ye
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- College of Life SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Inam Yekwayo
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- School of Biology and Environmental SciencesUniversity of MpumalangaMbombelaSouth Africa
| | - Duncan M. Kimuyu
- Department of Natural ResourcesKaratina UniversityKaratinaKenya
- Mpala Research CentreNanyukiKenya
| | - Dino J. Martins
- Mpala Research CentreNanyukiKenya
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | - Naomi E. Pierce
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative ZoologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
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25
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Smyshlyaeva OI, Severova EE, Krylovich OA, Kuzmicheva EA, Savinetsky AB, Dixie W, Hatfield V. Ornithogenic vegetation: How significant has the seabird influence been on the Aleutian Island vegetation during the Holocene? Ecol Evol 2021; 11:14088-14100. [PMID: 34707842 PMCID: PMC8525163 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In the Aleutian Islands during the Holocene, terrestrial predators were actually absent; as a result, large seabird colonies thrived along the coasts or across entire islands. Bird guano enriches the soil with nitrogen, which can lead to the formation of highly modified ornithogenic (bird-formed) ecosystems. For a more detailed investigation of avian influence, we reconstructed more than 10,000-year-old vegetation dynamics of the coast of Shemya Island (Near Islands) by pollen analysis. At the initial stages of vegetation development (10,000-4,600 cal year BP), sedge-heather tundra grew in the studied area. A seabird colony existed on Shemya from 4,600 to 2,400 cal year BP according to stable isotope analysis. During a period of at least 2,200 years, nitrogen enrichment led to the development of ornithogenic herb meadows with a high presence of Apiaceae. A long-term increase in δ15N above 9-10‰ led to radical shifts in vegetation. Noticeable reduction of seabird colonies due to human hunting led to grass-meadows spreading. After a prolonged decrease δ15N below 9-10‰ (2,400 cal year BP to present), there was a shift toward less productive sedge-tundra communities. However, the significant enrichment of guano affected only the coastal vegetation and did not alter the inland Shemya Island.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olesya Igorevna Smyshlyaeva
- Laboratory of Historical EcologySevertsov Institute of Ecology and EvolutionRussian Academy of SciencesMoscowRussia
| | - Elena Erastovna Severova
- Biology FacultyDepartment of Higher PlantsLomonosov Moscow State UniversityMoscowRussia
- Faculty of Biology and BiotechnologiesNational Research University Higher School of EconomicsMoscowRussia
| | - Olga Aleksandrovna Krylovich
- Laboratory of Historical EcologySevertsov Institute of Ecology and EvolutionRussian Academy of SciencesMoscowRussia
| | | | - Arkady Borisovich Savinetsky
- Laboratory of Historical EcologySevertsov Institute of Ecology and EvolutionRussian Academy of SciencesMoscowRussia
| | - West Dixie
- Biodiversity InstituteUniversity of KansasLawrenceKSUSA
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Miller‐ter Kuile A, Apigo A, Young HS. Effects of consumer surface sterilization on diet DNA metabarcoding data of terrestrial invertebrates in natural environments and feeding trials. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:12025-12034. [PMID: 34522358 PMCID: PMC8427582 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA metabarcoding is an emerging tool used to quantify diet in environments and consumer groups where traditional approaches are unviable, including small-bodied invertebrate taxa. However, metabarcoding of small taxa often requires DNA extraction from full body parts (without dissection), and it is unclear whether surface contamination from body parts alters presumed diet presence or diversity.We examined four different measures of diet (presence, rarefied read abundance, richness, and species composition) for a terrestrial invertebrate consumer (the spider Heteropoda venatoria) both collected in its natural environment and fed an offered diet item in contained feeding trials using DNA metabarcoding of full body parts (opisthosomas). We compared diet from consumer individuals surface sterilized to remove contaminants in 10% commercial bleach solution followed by deionized water with a set of unsterilized individuals.We found that surface sterilization did not significantly alter any measure of diet for consumers in either a natural environment or feeding trials. The best-fitting model predicting diet detection in feeding trial consumers included surface sterilization, but this term was not statistically significant (β = -2.3, p-value = .07).Our results suggest that surface contamination does not seem to be a significant concern in this DNA diet metabarcoding study for consumers in either a natural terrestrial environment or feeding trials. As the field of diet DNA metabarcoding continues to progress into new environmental contexts with various molecular approaches, we suggest ongoing context-specific consideration of the possibility of surface contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Miller‐ter Kuile
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
| | - Austen Apigo
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
| | - Hillary S. Young
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
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Nekaris KA, Campera M, Watkins AR, Weldon AV, Hedger K, Morcatty TQ. Aposematic signaling and seasonal variation in dorsal pelage in a venomous mammal. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:11387-11397. [PMID: 34429927 PMCID: PMC8366853 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, colouration patterns are often related to concealment, intraspecific communication, including aposematic signals, and physiological adaptations. Slow lorises (Nycticebus spp.) are arboreal primates native to Southeast Asia that display stark colour contrast, are highly territorial, regularly enter torpor, and are notably one of only seven mammal taxa that possess venom. All slow loris species display a contrasting stripe that runs cranial-caudally along the median sagittal plane of the dorsum. We examine whether these dorsal markings facilitate background matching, seasonal adaptations, and intraspecific signaling. We analyzed 195 images of the dorsal region of 60 Javan slow loris individuals (Nycticebus javanicus) from Java, Indonesia. We extracted greyscale RGB values from dorsal pelage using ImageJ software and calculated contrast ratios between dorsal stripe and adjacent pelage in eight regions. We assessed through generalized linear mixed models if the contrast ratio varied with sex, age, and seasonality. We also examined whether higher contrast was related to more aggressive behavior or increased terrestrial movement. We found that the dorsal stripe of N. javanicus changed seasonally, being longer and more contrasting in the wet season, during which time lorises significantly increased their ground use. Stripes were most contrasting in younger individuals of dispersal age that were also the most aggressive during capture. The dorsal stripe became less contrasting as a loris aged. A longer stripe when ground use is more frequent can be related to disruptive colouration. A darker anterior region by younger lorises with less fighting experience may allow them to appear larger and fiercer. We provide evidence that the dorsum of a cryptic species can have multimodal signals related to concealment, intraspecific communication, and physiological adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Anne‐Isola Nekaris
- Nocturnal Primate Research GroupFaculty of Humanities and Social SciencesOxford Brookes UniversityOxfordUK
- Little Fireface ProjectCipagantiJavaIndonesia
| | - Marco Campera
- Nocturnal Primate Research GroupFaculty of Humanities and Social SciencesOxford Brookes UniversityOxfordUK
- Little Fireface ProjectCipagantiJavaIndonesia
| | - Anna R. Watkins
- Nocturnal Primate Research GroupFaculty of Humanities and Social SciencesOxford Brookes UniversityOxfordUK
| | - Ariana V. Weldon
- Nocturnal Primate Research GroupFaculty of Humanities and Social SciencesOxford Brookes UniversityOxfordUK
| | | | - Thais Q. Morcatty
- Nocturnal Primate Research GroupFaculty of Humanities and Social SciencesOxford Brookes UniversityOxfordUK
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