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Bergmark P, Hjältén J, Svensson J, Neumann W, Hekkala AM. Trait-environment interactions of saproxylic beetles as a guide to biodiversity conservation strategies. J Environ Manage 2024; 360:121080. [PMID: 38733839 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121080] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Conservation of biodiversity requires in-depth knowledge of trait-environment interactions to understand the influence the environment has on species assemblages. Saproxylic beetles exhibit a wide range of traits and functions in the forest ecosystems. Understanding their responses to surrounding environment thus improves our capacity to identify habitats that should be restored or protected. We investigated potential interactions between ecological traits in saproxylic beetles (feeding guilds and habitat preferences) and environmental variables (deadwood, type and age of surrounding forest). We sampled beetles from 78 plots containing newly created high stumps of Scots pine and Silver birch in boreal forest landscapes in Sweden for three consecutive years. Using a model based approach, our aim was to explore potential interactions between ecological traits and the surrounding environment at close and distant scale (20 m and 500 m radius). We found that broadleaf-preferring beetle species are positively associated with the local broadleaf-originated deadwood and broadleaf-rich forests in the surrounding landscapes. Conifer-preferring species are positively associated with the local amount of coniferous deadwood and young and old forests in the surrounding landscape. Fungivorous and predatory beetles are positively associated with old forests in the surrounding landscapes. Our results indicate that both local amounts of deadwood and types of forests in the landscape are important in shaping saproxylic beetle communities. We particularly highlight the need to increase deadwood amounts of various qualities in the landscape, exempt older forests from production and to increase broadleaf-rich habitats in order to meet different beetle species' habitat requirements. Trait responses among saproxylic beetles provide insights into the significance of broadleaf forest and dead wood as essential attributes in boreal forest restoration, which helps conservation planning and management in forest landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Bergmark
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Joakim Hjältén
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Johan Svensson
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Wiebke Neumann
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Anne-Maarit Hekkala
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden.
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2
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Worthy SJ, Umaña MN, Zhang C, Lin L, Cao M, Swenson NG. Intraspecific alternative phenotypes contribute to variation in species' strategies for growth. Oecologia 2024:10.1007/s00442-024-05553-8. [PMID: 38652293 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-024-05553-8] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Ecologists have historically sought to identify the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of local species diversity. High-dimensional trait-based relationships, such as alternative phenotypes, have been hypothesized as important for maintaining species diversity such that phenotypically dissimilar individuals compete less for resources but have similar performance in a given environment. The presence of alternative phenotypes has primarily been investigated at the community level, despite the importance of intraspecific variation to diversity maintenance. The aims of this research are to (1) determine the presence or absence of intraspecific alternative phenotypes in three species of tropical tree seedlings, (2) investigate if these different species use the same alternative phenotypes for growth success, and (3) evaluate how findings align with species co-occurrence patterns. We model species-specific relative growth rate with individual-level measurements of leaf mass per area (LMA) and root mass fraction (RMF), environmental data, and their interactions. We find that two of the three species have intraspecific alternative phenotypes, with individuals within species having different functional forms leading to similar growth. Interestingly, individuals within these species use the same trait combinations, high LMA × low RMF and low LMA × high RMF, in high soil nutrient environments to acquire resources for higher growth. This similarity among species in intraspecific alternative phenotypes and variables that contribute most to growth may lead to their negative spatial co-occurrence. Overall, we find that multiple traits or interactions between traits and the environment drive species-specific strategies for growth, but that individuals within species leverage this multi-dimensionality in different ways for growth success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Worthy
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - María N Umaña
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Caicai Zhang
- Institute of Eastern-Himalaya Biodiversity Research, Dali University, Dali, 671003, Yunnan, China
| | - Luxiang Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
- National Forest Ecosystem Research Station at Xishuangbanna, Mengla, 666303, Yunnan, China
| | - Min Cao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Nathan G Swenson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 46556, USA
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3
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Di Lorenzo T, Tabilio Di Camillo A, Mori E, Viviano A, Mazza G, Pontalti A, Rogora M, Fiasca B, Di Cicco M, Galassi DMP. Effects of a beaver dam on the benthic copepod assemblage of a Mediterranean river. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8956. [PMID: 38637569 PMCID: PMC11026539 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59456-y] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
As known "ecosystem engineers", beavers influence river hydrology, geomorphology, biochemistry, and biological assemblages. However, there is a lack of research regarding the effects of beaver activities on freshwater meiofauna. In this study, we investigated the taxonomic and functional composition of the benthic copepod assemblage of a segment of the Tiber River (Italy) where a beaver dam, created about 7 weeks before our survey, had formed a semi-lentic habitat upstream and a lotic habitat downstream of the dam. We also analyzed the copepod assemblage before and after a flood event that destroyed the beaver dam, providing a unique opportunity to observe changes in a naturally reversing scenario. Our analyses revealed that, while the taxonomic composition and functional traits of the copepod assemblage remained largely unchanged across the recently formed semi-lentic and lotic habitats, substantial differences were evident between the dammed and undammed states. The dammed state showed lower copepod abundances, biomass, and functionality than the undammed one. These results highlight the role of beaver dams in changing the composition and functionality of meiofaunal assemblages offering insights into the dynamic interactions within aquatic ecosystems.
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Grants
- Project code CN_00000033, Concession Decree No. 1034 of 17 June 2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, CUP B83C22002930006, Project title "National Biodiversity Future Center-NBFC National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4-Call for tender No. 3138 of 16 December 2021, rectified by Decree n.3175 of 18 December 2021 of the Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union-NextGenerationEU
- Project code CN_00000033, Concession Decree No. 1034 of 17 June 2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, CUP B83C22002930006, Project title "National Biodiversity Future Center-NBFC National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4-Call for tender No. 3138 of 16 December 2021, rectified by Decree n.3175 of 18 December 2021 of the Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union-NextGenerationEU
- Project code CN_00000033, Concession Decree No. 1034 of 17 June 2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, CUP B83C22002930006, Project title "National Biodiversity Future Center-NBFC National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4-Call for tender No. 3138 of 16 December 2021, rectified by Decree n.3175 of 18 December 2021 of the Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union-NextGenerationEU
- National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4-Call for tender No. 3138 of 16 December 2021, rectified by Decree n.3175 of 18 December 2021 of the Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union–NextGenerationEU
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Affiliation(s)
- T Di Lorenzo
- National Research Council of Italy, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CN-IRET), Florence, Italy.
- NBFC (National Biodiversity Future Center), 90133, Palermo, Italy.
| | - A Tabilio Di Camillo
- National Research Council of Italy, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CN-IRET), Florence, Italy
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - E Mori
- National Research Council of Italy, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CN-IRET), Florence, Italy
- NBFC (National Biodiversity Future Center), 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - A Viviano
- National Research Council of Italy, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CN-IRET), Florence, Italy
| | - G Mazza
- National Research Council of Italy, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CN-IRET), Florence, Italy
- NBFC (National Biodiversity Future Center), 90133, Palermo, Italy
- CREA Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA‑DC), Florence, Italy
| | - A Pontalti
- National Research Council of Italy, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CN-IRET), Florence, Italy
| | - M Rogora
- National Research Council of Italy, Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Verbania Pallanza, Italy
| | - B Fiasca
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - M Di Cicco
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - D M P Galassi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
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Tong S, Zhang J, Qiao X, Li B, Yang Q, Hu P, Yu S. Does local soil factor drive functional leaf trait variation? A test on Neilingding Island, South China. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:43. [PMID: 38600505 PMCID: PMC11005248 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02227-0] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Leaf traits were affected by soil factors and displayed varietal differences in forest. However, few examples have been reported on the Island ecosystems. We comprehensively investigated 9 leaf traits (leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, SLA, leaf fresh weight, leaf C content, leaf N content, leaf K content, leaf C:N ratio) of 54 main subtropical woody species and soil parameters (soil pH, total C content, total N content, total K content, available N content, available P content, available K content and soil moisture) in Neilingding Island, Shenzhen, southern China. Intra-and interspecific variation of leaf traits were measured and their correlations with soil parameters were explored. The interspecific variations of leaf C:N ratio, leaf N content and leaf fresh weight were higher than their intraspecific variations. The intraspecific variation of leaf K content was larger than that of interspecific one, accounting for 80.69% of the total variance. Positive correlations were found among intraspecific coefficients of variations in leaf morphological traits. The correlation analysis between the variation of intraspecific traits and the variation of soil parameters showed that changes in soil factors affected leaf morphology and stoichiometry. The interaction between soil moisture and soil available P content was the key factor on intraspecific variations of leaf traits including leaf area, leaf fresh weight, leaf C and leaf K content. We concluded that leaf traits of plants in the island were tightly related to soil parameters. Soil parameters, especially soil moisture and available P content, affected plant leaf morphology and stoichiometry at the local scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Tong
- Department of Ecology, School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, China
- Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University in Shenzhen, 518057, Shenzhen, China
| | - Juanjuan Zhang
- Department of Ecology, School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, China
- Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University in Shenzhen, 518057, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xueting Qiao
- Department of Ecology, School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, China
- Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University in Shenzhen, 518057, Shenzhen, China
| | - Buhang Li
- Department of Ecology, School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, China
- Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University in Shenzhen, 518057, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiong Yang
- Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve, 518040, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ping Hu
- Guangdong Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve, 518040, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shixiao Yu
- Department of Ecology, School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, China.
- Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University in Shenzhen, 518057, Shenzhen, China.
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Rauschkolb R, Bucher SF, Hensen I, Ahrends A, Fernández-Pascual E, Heubach K, Jakubka D, Jiménez-Alfaro B, König A, Koubek T, Kehl A, Khuroo AA, Lindstädter A, Shafee F, Mašková T, Platonova E, Panico P, Plos C, Primack R, Rosche C, Shah MA, Sporbert M, Stevens AD, Tarquini F, Tielbörger K, Träger S, Vange V, Weigelt P, Bonn A, Freiberg M, Knickmann B, Nordt B, Wirth C, Römermann C. Spatial variability in herbaceous plant phenology is mostly explained by variability in temperature but also by photoperiod and functional traits. Int J Biometeorol 2024; 68:761-775. [PMID: 38285109 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-024-02621-9] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Whereas temporal variability of plant phenology in response to climate change has already been well studied, the spatial variability of phenology is not well understood. Given that phenological shifts may affect biotic interactions, there is a need to investigate how the variability in environmental factors relates to the spatial variability in herbaceous species' phenology by at the same time considering their functional traits to predict their general and species-specific responses to future climate change. In this project, we analysed phenology records of 148 herbaceous species, which were observed for a single year by the PhenObs network in 15 botanical gardens. For each species, we characterised the spatial variability in six different phenological stages across gardens. We used boosted regression trees to link these variabilities in phenology to the variability in environmental parameters (temperature, latitude and local habitat conditions) as well as species traits (seed mass, vegetative height, specific leaf area and temporal niche) hypothesised to be related to phenology variability. We found that spatial variability in the phenology of herbaceous species was mainly driven by the variability in temperature but also photoperiod was an important driving factor for some phenological stages. In addition, we found that early-flowering and less competitive species characterised by small specific leaf area and vegetative height were more variable in their phenology. Our findings contribute to the field of phenology by showing that besides temperature, photoperiod and functional traits are important to be included when spatial variability of herbaceous species is investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Rauschkolb
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution with Herbarium Haussknecht and Botanical Garden, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
| | - Solveig Franziska Bucher
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution with Herbarium Haussknecht and Botanical Garden, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Isabell Hensen
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | | | - Katja Heubach
- Palmengarten and Botanical Garden Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Desiree Jakubka
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution with Herbarium Haussknecht and Botanical Garden, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Borja Jiménez-Alfaro
- Biodiversity Research Institute, IMIB (Univ.Oviedo-CSIC-Princ.Asturias), Mieres, Spain
| | - Andreas König
- Palmengarten and Botanical Garden Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Tomáš Koubek
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alexandra Kehl
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anzar A Khuroo
- Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Anja Lindstädter
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Department of Biodiversity Research/Systematic Botany with Botanical Garden, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Faizan Shafee
- Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Tereza Mašková
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Ecology and Conservation Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Patrizia Panico
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carolin Plos
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | - Christoph Rosche
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Manzoor A Shah
- Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Maria Sporbert
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | - Flavio Tarquini
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Katja Tielbörger
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sabrina Träger
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Vibekke Vange
- Ringve Botanical Garden, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Patrick Weigelt
- Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Campus Institute Data Science, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Aletta Bonn
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Freiberg
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Life Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Birgit Nordt
- Botanic Garden Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Wirth
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Life Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - Christine Römermann
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution with Herbarium Haussknecht and Botanical Garden, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
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6
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Tu Y, Zhu Y, Yang X, Eldridge DJ. Predicted changes in distribution and grazing value of Stipa-based plant communities across the Eurasian steppe. J Environ Manage 2024; 356:120757. [PMID: 38537472 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120757] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
The Eurasian steppe is one of the world's largest continuous areas of grassland and has an important role in supporting livestock grazing, the most ubiquitous land use on Earth. However, the Eurasian steppe is under threat, from irrational grazing utilization, climate change, and resource exploitation. We used an ensemble modeling approach to predict the current and future distribution of Stipa-dominated plant communities in three important steppe subregions; the Tibetan Alpine, Central Asian, and Black Sea-Kazakhstan subregions. We combined this with an assessment of the grazing value of 22 Stipa species, the dominant grassland species in the area, to predict how grazing value might change under future climate change predictions. We found that the effects of changing climates on grazing values differed across the three subregions. Grazing values increased in the Tibetan alpine steppe and to a lesser extent in Central Asia, but there were few changes in the Black Sea-Kazakhstan subregion. The response of different species to changing climates varied with environmental variables. Finally, our trait-based assessment of Stipa species revealed variations in grazing value, and this had major effects on the overall grazing value of the region. Our results reinforce the importance of trait-based characteristics of steppe plant species, how these traits affect grazing value, and how grazing values will change across different areas of the Eurasian steppe. Our work provides valuable insights into how different species will respond to changing climates and grazing, with important implications for sustainable management of different areas of the vast Eurasian steppe ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Tu
- Institute of Desertification Studies, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yuanjun Zhu
- Institute of Desertification Studies, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China.
| | - Xiaohui Yang
- Institute of Desertification Studies, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
| | - David J Eldridge
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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7
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Wang H, Zhao Y, Tu J, Liang D, Li M, Wu F. Comparative analysis of differential gene expression reveals novel insights into the heteroblastic foliage functional traits of Pinus massoniana seedlings. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 264:130762. [PMID: 38471608 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130762] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Pinus massoniana needles, rich in medicinal polysaccharides and flavonoids, undergo heteroblastic foliage, transitioning from primary needles (PN) to secondary needles (SN) during growth, resulting in altered functional traits. Despite its significance, the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing these traits remain unclear. This study employs Iso-Seq and RNA-Seq analyses to explore differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with functional traits throughout the main growth season of heteroblastic foliage. Co-expression network analysis identified 34 hub genes and 17 key transcription factors (TFs) influencing light-harvesting antenna, photosystem I and II, crucial in photosynthesis regulation. Additionally, 14 genes involved in polysaccharide metabolism pathways, synthesizing sucrose, glucose, UDP sugars, and xylan, along with four genes in flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, regulating p-coumaroyl-CoA, quercetin, galangin, and myricetin production, exhibited differential expression between PN and SN. Further analysis unveils a highly interconnected network among these genes, forming a pivotal cascade of TFs and DEGs. Therefore, heteroblastic changes significantly impact needle functional traits, potentially affecting the pharmacological properties of PN and SN. Thus, these genomic insights into understanding the molecular-level differences of heteroblastic foliage, thereby establishing a foundation for advancements in the pharmaceutical industry related to needle-derived products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyun Wang
- Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain of Guizhou Province, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Yuanxiang Zhao
- College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Jingjing Tu
- College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Daqu Liang
- College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Min Li
- College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Feng Wu
- Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain of Guizhou Province, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.
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8
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Barreto-Mendes L, Coppa M, Martin B, Ferlay A, Bouchon M, Blanc F. Dataset on productive functional traits at first lactation and productive longevity from a herd of 185 Montbéliarde and Holstein cows managed on a low-input mountain-area grassland farm. Data Brief 2024; 53:110205. [PMID: 38435733 PMCID: PMC10907151 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.110205] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The dataset available here comes from an experimental dairy cattle farm located in a mountain region in Central France, where the feeding systems are mostly pasture grazing combined with a period of indoor overwintering during the colder months. The dataset comprises individual productive and functional traits covering over 36 different variables in 185 primiparous Montbéliarde and Holstein cows, followed by data on productive longevity and reason for culling. The data was collected over a 20-year period during which animal husbandry and data collection protocols remained consistent. Potential re-users of the data are private-sector professionals, farmer associations, and researchers interested in developing statistical and mechanistic models and simulations of individual dairy cows under low-input grassland-based systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Barreto-Mendes
- INRAE, Université Clermont Auvergne, VetAgro Sup, UMR 1213 Herbivores, Saint-Genès-Champanelle 63122, France
| | - Mauro Coppa
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, Grugliasco, TO 10095, Italy
| | - Bruno Martin
- INRAE, Université Clermont Auvergne, VetAgro Sup, UMR 1213 Herbivores, Saint-Genès-Champanelle 63122, France
| | - Anne Ferlay
- INRAE, Université Clermont Auvergne, VetAgro Sup, UMR 1213 Herbivores, Saint-Genès-Champanelle 63122, France
| | | | - Fabienne Blanc
- INRAE, Université Clermont Auvergne, VetAgro Sup, UMR 1213 Herbivores, Saint-Genès-Champanelle 63122, France
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9
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Giacoletti A, Bosch-Belmar M, Mangano MC, Tantillo MF, Sarà G, Milisenda G. Predicting the effect of fouling organisms and climate change on integrated shellfish aquaculture. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 201:116167. [PMID: 38394793 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116167] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Aquaculture industry represents a continuously growing sector playing a fundamental role in pursuing United Nation's goals. Increasing sea-surface temperatures, the growth of encrusting species and current cage cleaning practices proved to affect the productivity of commercial species. Here, through a Dynamic Energy Budget application under two different IPCC scenarios, we investigate the long-term effects of Pennaria disticha fragments' on Mytilus galloprovincialis' functional traits as a result of cage cleaning practices. While Climate-Change did not exert a marked effect on mussels' Life-History traits, the simulated effect of cage cleanings highlighted a positive effect on total weight, fecundity and time to commercial size. West-Mediterranean emerged as the most affected sector, with Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey between the top-affected countries. These outcomes confirm the reliability of a DEB-approach in projecting at different spatial and temporal scale eco-physiological results, avoiding the limitation of short-term studies and the difficulties of long-term ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Giacoletti
- Dept. of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Dipartimento di Ecologia Marina Integrata (EMI), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (Complesso Roosevelt), 90142 Palermo, Italy.
| | - M Bosch-Belmar
- Dept. of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - M C Mangano
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Dipartimento di Ecologia Marina Integrata (EMI), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (Complesso Roosevelt), 90142 Palermo, Italy
| | - M F Tantillo
- Dept. of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - G Sarà
- Dept. of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - G Milisenda
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Dipartimento di Ecologia Marina Integrata (EMI), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (Complesso Roosevelt), 90142 Palermo, Italy
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10
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Villa-Rivera N, Castellanos-Barliza J, Mondragón-Botero A, Barranco-Pérez W. Effect of intraspecific seed trait variation on the germination of eight tropical dry forest species. Naturwissenschaften 2024; 111:19. [PMID: 38517488 PMCID: PMC10959815 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-024-01898-5] [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: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Functional traits can have intraspecific and interspecific variations essential in the structure and dynamics of natural communities. These traits may have implications in the germination and seedling establishment phases in seeds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of variations in mass, volume, and nutrient content (C, N, and P) on the germination of eight species representative of the tropical dry forest (TDF). Our results showed that seed size, both in terms of mass and volume, did not predict germination rates or percentages, nor were they related to nutrient content. In contrast, N content was the most important trait in the germination phase. Larger seeds did not germinate more or faster, but they could offer better resistance against desiccation, since they had higher C/N ratios in their tissues, a characteristic of orthodox seeds. The species A. guachapele, B. arborea, H. crepitans, and V. tortuosa presented a high biological potential in terms of their regeneration capacity, particularly, because the characteristics of their seeds, as well as the nutrient content, revealed consistent implications in their reproductive success, promoting high germination percentages in less time. In general, the results obtained in this study provide basic knowledge for future research, offering starting points for further exploration of species-specific adaptations and how they may be affected by the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Villa-Rivera
- Grupo de Investigación en Restauración Ecosistémica y Ecología Urbana, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Magdalena, Carrera 32#22-08, Santa Marta D.T.C.H., 470002, Magdalena, Colombia
| | - Jeiner Castellanos-Barliza
- Grupo de Investigación en Restauración Ecosistémica y Ecología Urbana, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Magdalena, Carrera 32#22-08, Santa Marta D.T.C.H., 470002, Magdalena, Colombia.
| | | | - Willinton Barranco-Pérez
- Grupo de Investigación en Restauración Ecosistémica y Ecología Urbana, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Magdalena, Carrera 32#22-08, Santa Marta D.T.C.H., 470002, Magdalena, Colombia
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11
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Liu B, Yao J, Xu Y, Huang J, Ding Y, Zang R. Latitudinal variation and driving factors of above-ground carbon proportion of large trees in old-growth forests across China. Sci Total Environ 2024; 917:170586. [PMID: 38301777 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170586] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Large trees play a vital role in forest carbon stocks, dominating the distribution of community biomass. However, climate change and deforestation are reducing large trees globally, resulting in regional differences in their contribution to carbon stocks. Here, we examined the latitudinal change pattern and drivers of large trees' contributions to stand carbon stocks. Above-ground carbon storage was calculated for 530 plots in old-growth forests across China. Linear regression was used to calculate latitudinal variation in the proportion of above-ground carbon in large trees (i.e., AGC proportion). Variance partitioning and multiple linear regression were used to calculate the relative importance of species diversity, stand structure, functional traits, and environmental factors to AGC proportion. The study found that AGC proportion decreased with increasing latitude, averaging at 64.44 %. Stand structure, particularly the coefficient of variation of DBH, was identified as the key drivers of the AGC proportion. The number of common species (Hill's 1D) had no direct effect on the AGC proportion, while wood density, maximum tree height, and leaf nitrogen-to‑phosphorus ratio showed negative effects. The mass-ratio effects on AGC proportion were stronger than diversity effects. Climate variables primarily affected the AGC proportion through stand variables. These results indicate that simultaneously managing high diversity and AGC proportion may pose challenges. Moreover, considering the substantial contribution of large trees to carbon stocks, their storage capacity and sensitivity to environmental changes exert significant control over forest carbon cycles. Therefore, preserving and enhancing the carbon sink function of old-growth forests in the face of climate change and disturbance may depend primarily on protecting existing large trees and soon-to-be large-diameter trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Jie Yao
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yue Xu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Jihong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yi Ding
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Runguo Zang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
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12
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Trigos-Peral G, Maák IE, Schmid S, Chudzik P, Czaczkes TJ, Witek M, Casacci LP, Sánchez-García D, Lőrincz Á, Kochanowski M, Heinze J. Urban abiotic stressors drive changes in the foraging activity and colony growth of the black garden ant Lasius niger. Sci Total Environ 2024; 915:170157. [PMID: 38242447 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170157] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Changes in habitat characteristics are known to have profound effects on biotic communities and their functional traits. In the context of an urban-rural gradient, urbanisation drastically alters abiotic characteristics, e.g., by increasing environmental temperatures and through light pollution. These abiotic changes significantly impact the functional traits of organisms, particularly insects. Furthermore, changes in habitat characteristics also drive changes in the behavioural traits of animals, allowing them to adapt and thrive in new environments. In our study, we focused on the synanthropic ant species Lasius niger as a model organism. We conducted nocturnal field observations and complemented them with laboratory experiments to investigate the influence of night warming (NW) associated with Urban Heat Islands (UHI), light pollution (ALAN), and habitat type on ant foraging behaviour. In addition, we investigated the influence of elevated temperatures on brood development and worker mortality. Our findings revealed that urban populations of L. niger were generally more active during the night compared to their rural counterparts, although the magnitude of this difference varied with specific city characteristics. In laboratory settings, higher temperatures and continuous illumination were associated with increased activity level in ants, again differing between urban and rural populations. Rural ants exhibited more locomotion compared to their urban counterparts when maintained under identical conditions, which might enable them to forage more effectively in a potentially more challenging environment. High temperatures decreased the developmental time of brood from both habitat types and increased worker mortality, although rural colonies were more strongly affected. Overall, our study provides novel insights into the influence of urban environmental stressors on the foraging activity pattern and colony development of ants. Such stressors can be important for the establishment and spread of synanthropic ant species, including invasive ones, and the biotic homogenization of anthropogenic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Trigos-Peral
- Museum and Institute of Zoology - Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - I E Maák
- Museum and Institute of Zoology - Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - S Schmid
- University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - P Chudzik
- Han University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - M Witek
- Museum and Institute of Zoology - Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - L P Casacci
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - D Sánchez-García
- Museum and Institute of Zoology - Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Á Lőrincz
- University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - J Heinze
- University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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13
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Douce P, Simon L, Colas F, Mermillod-Blondin F, Renault D, Sulmon C, Eymar-Dauphin P, Dubreucque R, Bittebiere AK. Warming drives feedback between plant phenotypes and ecosystem functioning in sub-Antarctic ponds. Sci Total Environ 2024; 914:169504. [PMID: 38145689 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169504] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Ample evidence indicates that warming affects individuals in plant communities, ultimately threatening biodiversity. Individual plants in communities are also exposed to plant-plant interaction that may affect their performance. However, trait responses to these two constraints have usually been studied separately, while they may influence processes at the ecosystem level. In turn, these ecological modifications may impact the phenotypes of plants through nutrient availability and uptake. We developed an experimental approach based on the macrophyte communities in the ponds of the sub-Antarctic Iles Kerguelen. Individuals of the species Limosella australis were grown under different temperature × plant-plant interaction treatments to assess their trait responses and create litters with different characteristics. The litters were then decomposed in the presence of individual plants at different temperatures to examine effects on ecosystem functioning and potential feedback affecting plant trait values. Leaf resource-acquisition- and -conservation-related traits were altered in the context of temperature × plant-plant interaction. At 13 °C, SLA and leaf C:N were higher under interspecific and intraspecific interactions than without interaction, whereas at 23 °C, these traits increased under intraspecific interaction only. These effects only slightly improved the individual performance, suggesting that plant-plant interaction is an additional selective pressure on individuals in the context of climate warming. The decay rate of litter increased with the Leaf Carbon Content at 13 °C and 18 °C, but decreased at 23 °C. The highest decay rate was recorded at 18 °C. Besides, we observed evidence of positive feedback of the decay rate alone, and in interaction with the temperature, respectively on the leaf C:N and Leaf Dry Matter Content, suggesting that variations in ecological processes affect plant phenotypes. Our findings demonstrate that warming can directly and indirectly affect the evolutionary and ecological processes occurring in aquatic ecosystems through plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Douce
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Laurent Simon
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Fanny Colas
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Florian Mermillod-Blondin
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - David Renault
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO [(Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution)], UMR 6553, F 35000 Rennes, France; Institut Universitaire de France, 1 Rue Descartes, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France.
| | - Cécile Sulmon
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO [(Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution)], UMR 6553, F 35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Pauline Eymar-Dauphin
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Roman Dubreucque
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Anne-Kristel Bittebiere
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France.
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14
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Tao M, Zhang C, Zhang Z, Zuo Z, Zhao H, Lv T, Li Y, Yu H, Liu C, Yu D. Species-specific functional trait responses of canopy-forming and rosette-forming macrophytes to nitrogen loading: Implications for water-sediment interactions. Environ Int 2024; 185:108557. [PMID: 38458117 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108557] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Globally intensified lake eutrophication, attributed to excessive anthropogenic nitrogen loading, emerges as a significant driver of submerged vegetation degradation. Consequently, the impact of nitrogen on the decline of submerged macrophytes has received increasing attention. However, a functional trait-based approach to exploring the response of submerged macrophytes to nitrogen loading and its environmental feedback mechanism was unclear. Our study utilized two different growth forms of submerged macrophytes (canopy-forming Myriophyllum spicatum, and rosette-forming Vallisneria natans) to established "submerged macrophytes-water-sediment" microcosms. We assessed the influence of nitrogen loading, across four targeted total nitrogen concentrations (original control, 2, 5, 10 mg/L), on plant traits, water parameters, sediment properties, enzyme activities, and microbial characteristics. Our findings revealed that high nitrogen (10 mg/L) adversely impacted the relative growth rate of fresh biomass and total chlorophyll content in canopy-forming M. spicatum, while the chlorophyll a/b and free amino acid content increased. On the contrary, the growth and photosynthetic traits of resource-conservative V. natans were not affected by nitrogen loading. Functional traits (growth, photosynthetic, and stoichiometric) of M. spicatum but not V. natans exhibited significant correlations with environmental variables. Nitrogen loading significantly increased the concentration of nitrogen components in overlying water and pore water. The presence of submerged macrophytes significantly reduced the ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen both in overlying water and pore water, and decreased total organic carbon in pore water. Nitrogen loading significantly inhibited sediment extracellular enzyme activities, but the planting of submerged macrophytes mitigated their negative effects. Furthermore, rhizosphere bacterial interactions were less compact compared to bare control, while eukaryotic communities exhibited increased complexity and connectivity. Path modeling indicated that submerged macrophytes mitigated the direct effects of nitrogen loading on overlying water and amplified the indirect effects on pore water, while also attenuating the direct negative effects of pore water on extracellular enzymes. The findings indicated that the restoration of submerged vegetation can mitigate eutrophication resulting from increased nitrogen loading through species-specific changes in functional traits and direct or indirect feedback mechanisms in the water-sediment system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Tao
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem of Liangzi Lake, College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Chang Zhang
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem of Liangzi Lake, College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhang
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem of Liangzi Lake, College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Zhenjun Zuo
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem of Liangzi Lake, College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Haocun Zhao
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem of Liangzi Lake, College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Tian Lv
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem of Liangzi Lake, College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Yang Li
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem of Liangzi Lake, College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Haihao Yu
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem of Liangzi Lake, College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Chunhua Liu
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem of Liangzi Lake, College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.
| | - Dan Yu
- The National Field Station of Freshwater Ecosystem of Liangzi Lake, College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.
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15
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Sheng W, Liu L, Wu Y, Yin M, Yu Q, Guo X, Song H, Guo W. Exploring salt tolerance and indicator traits across four temperate lineages of the common wetland plant, Phragmites australis. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:169100. [PMID: 38086483 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169100] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Common reed (Phragmites australis) is a widely utilized plant for wetland restoration and construction, facing challenges posed by high salinity as a stressor. Among the diverse P. australis lineages, functional traits variation provides a valuable genetic resource for identifying salt-tolerant individuals. However, previous investigations on P. australis salt tolerance have been restricted to regional scales, hindering the identification of key functional traits associated with salt tolerance in natural habitats. To address this gap, we conducted a greenhouse experiment to assess and compare the salt tolerance of four major temperate P. australis lineages worldwide. We utilized the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) as a health indicator, while final biomass and wilt status served as indicators of salt tolerance across lineages. Our findings revealed significant differentiation in plant functional traits among different lineages, but no significant effect of interaction between salinity and lineage on most traits. Correlation analyses between salt-tolerance indicators and functional traits in the control group indicated that biomass, leaf width, and relative leaf water content are potential predictors of salt tolerance. However, ecological strategies, physiological traits, and latitudinal origin did not exhibit significant correlations with salt tolerance. Our study provides valuable indicator traits for effectively screening salinity-tolerant genotypes of P. australis in field settings, and holds significant potential for enhancing wetland construction and biomass production in marginal lands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyi Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Prewarning, Protection and Restoration of Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Lele Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Prewarning, Protection and Restoration of Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Yiming Wu
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Prewarning, Protection and Restoration of Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Meiqi Yin
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Prewarning, Protection and Restoration of Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Qing Yu
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Prewarning, Protection and Restoration of Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China; Shandong Land Development Group Co., Ltd, 2688 Aotixi Road, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Xiao Guo
- College of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, 700 Changcheng Road, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Huijia Song
- National Natural History Museum of China, 126 Tianqiao South Street, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Weihua Guo
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Prewarning, Protection and Restoration of Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China.
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16
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Mohd Nasir N, Barnes DKA, Wan Hussin WMR. Benthic functionality under climate-induced environment changes offshore on the Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf. Mar Environ Res 2024; 194:106341. [PMID: 38183736 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106341] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Marine ecosystems in Antarctica are thought to be highly vulnerable to aspects of dynamic global climate change, such as warming. In deep-water ecosystems, there has been little physico-chemical change in seawater there for millions of years. Thus, some benthic organisms are likely to include strong potential indicators of environmental changes and give early warnings of ecosystem vulnerability. In 2017 we sampled deep-water benthic assemblages across a continental shelf trough in outer Marguerite Bay, West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). This region is one of the hotspots of climate-related physical change on Earth in terms of seasonal sea ice loss. Video and images of the seabed were captured at 5 stations, each with 20 replicates. From these, we identified substratum types and biota to functional groups to assess variability in benthic composition and diversity. We also collected coincident environmental information on depth, temperature, salinity, oxygen and chlorophyll-a (using a CTD). Climax sessile suspension feeders were the most spatially dominant group, comprising 539 individuals (39% of total abundance) that included Porifera, Brachiopoda and erect Bryozoa. ST5, the shallowest station was functionally contrasting with other stations. This functional difference was also influenced by hard substrata of ST5, which is typically preferred by climax sessile suspension feeders. Depth (or an associated driver) and hard substrates were the most apparent key factor which functionally characterised the communities, shown by the abundance of climax sessile suspension feeders. Our study showed that non-invasive, low taxonomic skill requirement, functional group approach is not only valuable in providing functional perspective on environment status, but such groupings also proved to be sensitive to environmental variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najib Mohd Nasir
- Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - David K A Barnes
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, UKRI, High Cross, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Wan Mohd Rauhan Wan Hussin
- Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; National Antarctic Research Centre (NARC) - UMT, ICAMB Building, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
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17
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Kühn P, Proß T, Römermann C, Wesche K, Bruelheide H. Using near-infrared spectroscopy to predict nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of herbarium specimens under different storage conditions. Plant Methods 2024; 20:19. [PMID: 38303074 PMCID: PMC10835964 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-024-01146-x] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Herbaria are becoming increasingly important as archives of biodiversity, and play a central role in taxonomic and biogeographic studies. There is also an ongoing interest in functional traits and the way they mediate interactions between a plant species and its environment. Herbarium specimens allow tracking trait values over time, and thus, capturing consequences of anthropogenic activities such as eutrophication. Here, we present an open, reproducible, non-destructive workflow to collect leaf trait data from herbarium specimens using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and a proof of concept for the reliability of this approach. RESULTS We carried out three experiments to test the suitability of non-destructive NIRS methods to predict leaf traits both for fresh and dried leaves: (1) With a fertilization experiment, we studied whether NIRS was able to capture changes in leaf N and leaf P during a fertilization experiment and we compared contents predicted by NIRS with results obtained from regular wet lab methods. Calibration models for leaf nitrogen and phosphorus contents had a quality of R2 = 0.7 and 0.5, respectively. We fitted calibration models for NIRS readings on fresh and dried leaf samples, both of which produced equally precise predictions compared to results from wet lab analyses. (2) We tested the effect of herbarium conservation on NIRS readings by simulating them through the application of six treatments combining freezing, drying and pesticide spraying in a factorial scheme and comparing these with untreated samples. No consistent changes were observed in the spectra quality before and after the simulated herbarium conditions. (3) Finally, we studied the effect of specimen storage duration using specimens from a 2018 study which were re-analyzed and compared with spectra obtained in 2021. No consistent changes in spectra were observed after the storage period. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate the reliability of NIRS to measure leaf N and P on herbarium samples. Together with the calibration method and dataset presented here, they provide a toolset allowing researchers to study the development of leaf traits and their response to environmental changes over decades and even centuries in a fast and non-destructive manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Kühn
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 16, 07743, Jena, Germany.
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Tobias Proß
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Christine Römermann
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 16, 07743, Jena, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Senckenberg Institute of Plant Form and Function Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Karsten Wesche
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Botany Department, Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz, Am Museum 1, 02826, Görlitz, Germany
- International Institute Zittau, Technische Universität Dresden, Am Grünen Graben 23, 02826, Görlitz, Germany
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
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Hernández-Andreu R, Félix-Hackradt FC, Schiavetti A, S Texeira JL, Hackradt CW. Marine protected areas are a useful tool to protect coral reef fishes but not representative to conserve their functional role. J Environ Manage 2024; 351:119656. [PMID: 38042082 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119656] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic actions have direct and indirect impacts on natural systems, leading to significant alterations in marine ecosystems worldwide. One of the most notable problems is species loss, as the disappearance of species from an area can compromise ecological functions. This is at the core of a severe biodiversity crisis. To address and reverse these processes, marine protected areas (MPAs) have been utilized as a crucial tool to mitigate species loss, increase biomass, and serve as a fisheries management tool. However, there is a lack of information assessing MPAs from the perspective of their contribution to maintaining ecological functions. In recent decades, functional diversity (FD) indices have been widely used to assess ecosystem functioning. In this paper, we conducted an assessment using a global database of reef fish abundance to analyze the effect of No-Take Zones (NTZ) on the FD and "true" diversity (TD) indices of tropical reef fish assemblages in seven tropical biogeographic regions. We found a significant protective effect for some indices, although these responses were dependent on the bioregion. At the bioregional level, NTZs included lower numbers of species and functional entities than open access areas. Consequently, the functional richness protected within these zones partially represented the functional diversity in each biogeographic province. However, smaller-scale functional diversity indices responded to NTZ protection depending on the bioregion. Therefore, these results reinforce that the assessed NTZs are responsive to the protection of functional diversity, although they are not sufficient for safeguarding ecosystem functions in tropical reefs. This highlights the importance of expanding the number of protection entities worldwide with management strategies focused on coral reef fish functionality, as well as effective local/regional assessments. Thus, a new paradigm is necessary in the planning and creation of MPAs to safeguard ecosystem functions, with a priority given to the protection of ecosystem functions and habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramón Hernández-Andreu
- Marine Ecology and Conservation Lab. Centre for Environmental Sciences, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Rod. Joel Maers, BR 367, km 10, CEP: 45810-000, Porto Seguro, BA, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod Ilhéus/Itabuna Km-16 s/n, CEP: 45662-000, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil; Ethnoconservation and Protected Areas Laboratory, Department of Agrarian and Environmental Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod Ilhéus/Itabuna Km-16 s/n, CEP: 45662-000, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil.
| | - Fabiana C Félix-Hackradt
- Marine Ecology and Conservation Lab. Centre for Environmental Sciences, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Rod. Joel Maers, BR 367, km 10, CEP: 45810-000, Porto Seguro, BA, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Schiavetti
- Ethnoconservation and Protected Areas Laboratory, Department of Agrarian and Environmental Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod Ilhéus/Itabuna Km-16 s/n, CEP: 45662-000, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Jessyca L S Texeira
- Marine Ecology and Conservation Lab. Centre for Environmental Sciences, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Rod. Joel Maers, BR 367, km 10, CEP: 45810-000, Porto Seguro, BA, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod Ilhéus/Itabuna Km-16 s/n, CEP: 45662-000, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Carlos W Hackradt
- Marine Ecology and Conservation Lab. Centre for Environmental Sciences, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Rod. Joel Maers, BR 367, km 10, CEP: 45810-000, Porto Seguro, BA, Brazil
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19
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Dumack K, Lara E, Duckert C, Ermolaeva E, Siemensma F, Singer D, Krashevska V, Lamentowicz M, Mitchell EAD. It's time to consider the Arcellinida shell as a weapon. Eur J Protistol 2024; 92:126051. [PMID: 38194835 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126051] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
The shells of testate amoebae are morphologically diverse and persistent in the environment. Accordingly, the examination of the morphology and composition of shells became a standard tool in ecological, palaeoecological, and evolutionary studies. However, so far the function of the shell remains poorly understood and, although based on limited evidence, the shell was considered as a defense mechanism. Based on recent evidence, we propose that the shell of arcellinid testate amoebae is a crucial component facilitating the amoebae's attack of large prey. Accordingly, the shell is not purely protective, but must be considered also as a weapon. This change in perspective opens up numerous new avenues in protistology and will lead to a substantial change in ecological, palaeoecological, and evolutionary research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Dumack
- Terrestrial Ecology, Zülpicher Straße 47b, University of Cologne, Germany.
| | - Enrique Lara
- Real Jardín Botánico-CSIC, C. Moyano 1 28014, Madrid, Spain
| | - Clément Duckert
- Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile Argand 11 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Elizaveta Ermolaeva
- Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile Argand 11 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | | | - David Singer
- Soil Science and Environment Group, Changins, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Nyon, Switzerland
| | - Valentyna Krashevska
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Functional Environmental Genomics, Senckenberganlage 25 60325, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Mariusz Lamentowicz
- Climate Change Ecology Research Unit, Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Bogumiła Krygowskiego 10 61-680, Poznan, Poland
| | - Edward A D Mitchell
- Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile Argand 11 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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Wang X, Liu Y, Qing C, Zeng J, Dong J, Xia P. Analysis of diversity and function of epiphytic bacterial communities associated with macrophytes using a metagenomic approach. Microb Ecol 2024; 87:37. [PMID: 38286834 PMCID: PMC10824801 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02346-7] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Epiphytic bacteria constitute a vital component of aquatic ecosystems, pivotal in regulating elemental cycling. Despite their significance, the diversity and functions of epiphytic bacterial communities adhering to various submerged macrophytes remain largely unexplored. In this study, we employed a metagenomic approach to investigate the diversity and function of epiphytic bacterial communities associated with six submerged macrophytes: Ceratophyllum demersum, Hydrilla verticillata, Myriophyllum verticillatum, Potamogeton lucens, Stuckenia pectinata, and Najas marina. The results revealed that the predominant epiphytic bacterial species for each plant type included Pseudomonas spp., Microbacterium spp., and Stenotrophomonas rhizophila. Multiple comparisons and linear discriminant analysis effect size indicated a significant divergence in the community composition of epiphytic bacteria among the six submerged macrophytes, with 0.3-1% of species uniquely identified. Epiphytic bacterial richness associated with S. pectinata significantly differed from that of both C. demersum and H. verticillata, although no significant differences were observed in diversity and evenness. Functionally, notable variations were observed in the relative abundances of genes associated with carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling within epiphytic bacterial communities on the submerged macrophyte hosts. Among these communities, H. verticillata exhibited enrichment in genes related to the 3-hydroxypropionate bicycle and nitrogen assimilation, translocation, and denitrification. Conversely, M. verticillatum showcased enrichment in genes linked to the reductive citric acid cycle (Arnon-Buchanan cycle), reductive pentose phosphate cycle (Calvin cycle), polyphosphate degradation, and organic nitrogen metabolism. In summary, our findings offer valuable insights into the diversity and function of epiphytic bacteria on submerged macrophyte leaves, shedding light on their roles in lake ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Guizhou Province Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Areas and Protection of Ecological Environment, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Guizhou Caohai National Nature Reserve Management Committee, Weining, 55310, China
| | - Chun Qing
- Guizhou Province Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Areas and Protection of Ecological Environment, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Jin Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institutie of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Science, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Jixing Dong
- Guizhou Province Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Areas and Protection of Ecological Environment, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Pinhua Xia
- Guizhou Province Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Areas and Protection of Ecological Environment, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
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21
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Silva Rocha B, Jamoneau A, Logez M, Laplace-Treyture C, Reynaud N, Argillier C. Measuring biodiversity vulnerability in French lakes - The IVCLA index. Sci Total Environ 2024; 908:168205. [PMID: 37918736 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168205] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Assessing the vulnerability of ecosystems to biodiversity loss has become increasingly crucial in conservation and ecology research. This study proposed a methodology for measuring lake vulnerability to biodiversity loss employing an established framework that combines three components. For this, we measured the resilience (functional redundancy) and sensitivity (an index considering three characteristics of rarity) components for fish and phytoplankton communities. We also measured the exposure component of the main stressors in lakes. We then combined the three components and calculated the vulnerability index (IVCLA) using data from 255 French lakes. We found that all lakes exhibited low levels of resilience, elevated sensitivity regarding average values for fish and phytoplankton groups, and medium exposure to stressors associated with human activities. In addition, there were some discrepancies in resilience and sensitivity patterns between fish and phytoplankton groups, emphasizing the importance of considering information from multiple biological groups when assessing ecosystem vulnerability. Hydrological alterations and low water quality were key stressors related to higher lake vulnerability. Most French lakes have been classified as exhibiting moderate vulnerability. It is crucial to emphasize the potential increase in exposure risks, which could lead to even higher vulnerability levels and, subsequently, biodiversity loss in the future. The IVCLA index offers several advantages, including integrating multiple taxa groups and stressors. We recommend incorporating additional data, such as the resilience and sensitivity of the entire food web, and considering temporal responses to stressors to improve accuracy and predictive power. The IVCLA was developed with the purpose of serving as an effective tool for guiding environmental managers in designing conservation strategies and making informed decisions for lake ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbbara Silva Rocha
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR RECOVER, 3275 Route Cézanne, 13182 Aix-en-Provence, France; Pôle R&D ECLA, 13182 Aix-en-Provence, France.
| | - Aurélien Jamoneau
- INRAE, EABX, 50 avenue de Verdun, 33612 Cestas, France; Pôle R&D ECLA, 33612 Cestas, France
| | - Maxime Logez
- INRAE, RIVERLY, F-69625 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | | | - Nathalie Reynaud
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR RECOVER, 3275 Route Cézanne, 13182 Aix-en-Provence, France; Pôle R&D ECLA, 13182 Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Christine Argillier
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR RECOVER, 3275 Route Cézanne, 13182 Aix-en-Provence, France; Pôle R&D ECLA, 13182 Aix-en-Provence, France
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22
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Wang Y, Zhang C, Xiao X, Wu H, Zhang J. Water-use strategies and functional traits explain divergent linkages in physiological responses to simulated precipitation change. Sci Total Environ 2024; 908:168238. [PMID: 37939960 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168238] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
As a part of global climate change, precipitation patterns in arid regions will change significantly, and the different responses of desert plants to these changes will lead to alterations in community composition, thereby impacting ecosystem stability. Thus, understanding the mechanism underlying the associations among physiological response variables considering changing precipitation is crucial. Here, water-use strategies, functional traits, and physiological processes (e.g., photosynthesis (An), transpiration (Tr), leaf water potential (Ψl), stomatal conductance (gs), and soil respiration (Rs)) were measured in a precipitation experiment with two coexisting desert riparian species to determine how water-use strategies and functional traits operate together in generating physiological response mechanisms. The results showed that the two species exhibited divergent response pathways of physiological processes following rainfall events, although both were identified as isohydric plants with stringent stomatal regulation. For the shallow-rooted species N. sphaerocarpa, gs was sensitive to changes in both surface soil moisture (Swc) and Ψl, and Swc was the primary factor influencing Rs. These results were supported by the preference for shallow water and predominance of functional traits associated with drought avoidance. For the deep-rooted species R. soongorica, variations in gs were decoupled from Swc and directly influenced by enhanced Ψl, An was the main factor affecting Rs, while Ψl negatively affected Rs. These correlations could be attributed to the preference for deep water and functional traits associated with drought tolerance. These findings suggest that R. soongorica had a stronger tolerance to environmental water deficits and may expand extensively under drier climatic conditions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot 010022, China; Key Laboratory of Biodiversity conservation and Sustainable utilization in Mongolian Plateau for College and University of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010022, China.; Key Laboratory of Infinite-dimensional Hamiltonian System and Its Algorithm Application, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot 010022, China..
| | - Cicheng Zhang
- College of Geographic Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.
| | - Xiong Xiao
- College of Geographic Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.
| | - Huawu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
| | - Jinghui Zhang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China.
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23
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Tang H, Liu Y, Lou Y, Yu D, Zhou M, Lu X, Jiang M. Nitrogen availability affects the responses of marsh grass and sedge plants (Phragmites australis and Bolboschoenus planiculmis) to flooding time. Sci Total Environ 2024; 908:168008. [PMID: 37914133 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168008] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Flooding time and external nitrogen (N) input have been projected to be the main threats to marsh ecosystems in the scenario of more intense flooding events and N deposition. How flooding and N addition experienced at different growth stages interact in determining phenotypic change remains scarce. We established a controlled experiment (3 flooding time treatments x 5 N addition levels) using two herbaceous marsh species (Phragmites australis and Bolboschoenus planiculmis) to assess the responses of six key traits to environmental changes and the indication of plant performance. Early flooding reduced plant height and aboveground biomass of P. australis and below/aboveground biomass ratio of B. planiculmis and increased below/aboveground biomass ratio of P. australis and root biomass of B. planiculmis, whereas late flooding reduced root biomass of P. australis and ramet number and aboveground biomass of B. planiculmis. The combination of flooding and high N (16 and 32 g N m-2) exerted negative effects on ramet number of both plant species. The interaction of early flooding and low-medium N (8 and 16 g N m-2) inhibited clonal/belowground biomass ratio of both plant species. The combination of early flooding and low N (0, 4 and 8 g N m-2) promoted root biomass and below/aboveground biomass ratio of P. australis. Ramet number, plant height, and root biomass explained 80-90 % of aboveground biomass variation of both plant species, and the contribution of ramet number was greater than that of the other two traits. These results highlight that the influence of flooding time and external N input on the performance of marsh plants depends on species identity. Meanwhile, the ramet number-plant height-root biomass (RHR) strategy is supposed to be the adaptation strategy of wetland clonal plants to environmental changes, and clonal reproductive traits should be incorporated into vegetation dynamics models for marsh plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Tang
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment & Jilin Provincial Joint Key Laboratory of Changbai Mountain Wetland and Ecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ying Liu
- The Three Gorges Institute of Ecological Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China
| | - Yanjing Lou
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment & Jilin Provincial Joint Key Laboratory of Changbai Mountain Wetland and Ecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China.
| | - Dongjia Yu
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment & Jilin Provincial Joint Key Laboratory of Changbai Mountain Wetland and Ecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China
| | - Mengdie Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment & Jilin Provincial Joint Key Laboratory of Changbai Mountain Wetland and Ecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xianguo Lu
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment & Jilin Provincial Joint Key Laboratory of Changbai Mountain Wetland and Ecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China
| | - Ming Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment & Jilin Provincial Joint Key Laboratory of Changbai Mountain Wetland and Ecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China
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24
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Sharma MK, Hopak NE, Chawla A. Alpine plant species converge towards adopting elevation-specific resource-acquisition strategy in response to experimental early snow-melting. Sci Total Environ 2024; 907:167906. [PMID: 37858830 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167906] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Snow-melt is one of the important factors limiting growth and survival of alpine plants. Changes in snow-melt timing have profound effects on eco-physiological characteristics of alpine plant species through alterations in growing season length. Here, we conducted a field experiment and studied species response to experimentally induced early snow-melting (ES) (natural vs. early) at an alpine site (Rohtang) in the western Himalaya region. Eco-physiological response of eight snow-bed restricted alpine plant species from different elevations (lower: 3850 m and upper: 4150 m amsl) and belonging to contrasting resource acquisition strategies (conservative and acquisitive) were studied after 2-years (2019 & 2020) of initiating ES field experiment. We estimated the functional traits related to leaf economic spectrum and physiological performance and assessed their pattern of phenotypic plasticity. Analysis by linear mixed effect model showed that both the 'conservative' and 'acquisitive' species had responded to ES with significant effects on species specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf thickness, leaf water content and sugar content. Our results also revealed that ES treatment induced significant increase in leaf C/N ratio (10.57 % to 13.65 %) and protein content (15.85 % to 20.76 %) at both the elevations, irrespective of species groups. The phenotypic plasticity was found to be low and was essentially species-specific. However, for leaf protein content, the upper elevation species exhibited a higher phenotypic plasticity (0.43 ± 0.18) than the lower elevation species (0.31 ± 0.21). Interestingly, we found that irrespective of species unique functional strategy, species adapt to perform more conservative at lower elevation and more acquisitive at upper elevation, in response to ES. We conclude that plants occurring at contrasting elevations respond differentially to ES. However, species showed capacity for short-term acclimation to future environmental conditions, but may be vulnerable, if their niche is occupied by new species with greater phenotypic plasticity and a superior competitive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish K Sharma
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh 176 061, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India; Centre for High Altitude Biology (CeHAB), Research Centre of CSIR-IHBT, Ribling, P.O. Tandi, District Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh 175132, India
| | - Nang Elennie Hopak
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh 176 061, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India; Centre for High Altitude Biology (CeHAB), Research Centre of CSIR-IHBT, Ribling, P.O. Tandi, District Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh 175132, India
| | - Amit Chawla
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh 176 061, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India; Centre for High Altitude Biology (CeHAB), Research Centre of CSIR-IHBT, Ribling, P.O. Tandi, District Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh 175132, India.
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Dong L, Li MX, Li S, Yue LX, Ali M, Han JR, Lian WH, Hu CJ, Lin ZL, Shi GY, Wang PD, Gao SM, Lian ZH, She TT, Wei QC, Deng QQ, Hu Q, Xiong JL, Liu YH, Li L, Abdelshafy OA, Li WJ. Aridity drives the variability of desert soil microbiomes across north-western China. Sci Total Environ 2024; 907:168048. [PMID: 37890638 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Dryland covers >35 % of the terrestrial surface and the global extent of dryland increases due to the forecasted increase in aridity driven by climate change. Due to the climate change-driven aridity ecosystems, deserts provide one of the most hostile environments for microbial life and survival. Therefore, a detailed study was carried out to explore the deserts with different aridity levels (exposed to severe climate change) influence on microbial (bacteria, fungi, and protist) diversity patterns, assembly processes, and co-occurrence. The results revealed that the aridity (semi-arid, arid, and hyper-arid) patterns caused distinct changes in environmental heterogeneity in desert ecosystems. Similarly, microbial diversities were also reduced with increasing the aridity pattern, and it was found that environmental heterogeneity is highly involved in affecting microbial diversities under different ecological niches. Interestingly, it was found that certain microbes, including bacterial (Firmicutes), fungal (Sordariomycetes), and protistan (Ciliophora) abundance increased with increasing aridity levels, indicating that these microbes might possess the capability to tolerate the environmental stress conditions. Moreover, microbial community turnover analysis revealed that bacterial diversities followed homogenous selection, whereas fungi and protists were mostly driven by the dispersal limitation pattern. Co-occurrence network analysis showed that hyper-arid and arid conditions tightened the bacterial and fungal communities and had more positive associations compared to protistan. In conclusion, multiple lines of evidence were provided to shed light on the habitat specialization impact on microbial (bacteria, fungi, and protists) communities and composition under different desert ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Mei-Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Shuai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Ling-Xiang Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Mukhtiar Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Jia-Rui Han
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Wen-Hui Lian
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Chao-Jian Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China; School of Ecology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, PR China
| | - Zhi-Liang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Guo-Yuan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Pan-Deng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China; School of Ecology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, PR China
| | - Shao-Ming Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Zheng-Han Lian
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Ting-Ting She
- School of Biology and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Qi-Chuang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Qi-Qi Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Qian Hu
- School of Biology and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Jia-Liang Xiong
- School of Biology and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Yong-Hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, PR China
| | - Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, PR China
| | - Osama Abdalla Abdelshafy
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, PR China
| | - Wen-Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, PR China.
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Li X, Song Z, Hu Y, Qiao J, Chen Y, Wang S, Yue P, Chen M, Ke Y, Xu C, Yu Q, Zuo X. Drought intensity and post-drought precipitation determine vegetation recovery in a desert steppe in Inner Mongolia, China. Sci Total Environ 2024; 906:167449. [PMID: 37832659 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167449] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Extreme drought events are expected to increase in frequency and severity, posing significant threats to ecosystems worldwide. While considerable research has been concentrated on the effects of climate extremes on the stability of grasslands, the process by which grassland productivity may recover after extreme drought events are still not well understood. Here, we conducted a four-year (2019-2022) recovery investigation after four-year's (2015-2018) extreme drought treatments of different intensities (control, press and pulse) to explore the vegetation recovery of desert-grassland ecosystems Inner Mongolia, China. Press drought involved a 66 % reduction in natural precipitation from May to August, while pulse drought reduced it by 100 % during June and July. We found that both press and pulse droughts led to a sharp decrease in aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) after four years, primarily due to reduced growth, density, and productivity of annual and perennial plants. However, ANPP under pulse drought could recover fully after four years of stopping of drought treatment, and it could not under press drought. Additionally, community structure (i.e., species richness, plant density, and height) fully recovered within 1 year after the end of the two extreme drought treatments. Both plant density and height contributed to the ANPP recovery after press and pulse droughts. Structural equation modeling (SEM) results further revealed that the reduction in ANPP during the extreme drought was primarily due to a decrease in plant density caused by reduced soil water content. The recovery of ANPP in pulse drought was directly caused by increased soil water content in the post-extreme drought. These results suggest that drought intensity and precipitation determine ANPP recovery in a degraded desert steppe. Our findings are crucial for deepening understanding of the processes and mechanisms of ecosystem recovery after extreme drought, as well as for the successful management and protection of grassland ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyun Li
- Urat Desert-grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Region, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhaobin Song
- Urat Desert-grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Region, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ya Hu
- Urat Desert-grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Region, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jingjuan Qiao
- Urat Desert-grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Region, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yuheng Chen
- Ecology and Biodiversity Group, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Shaokun Wang
- Urat Desert-grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China; Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Region, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ping Yue
- Urat Desert-grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China; Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Region, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Min Chen
- Urat Desert-grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China; Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Region, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yuguang Ke
- Hulunber Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081 Beijing, China
| | - Chong Xu
- Hulunber Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081 Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Yu
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 10008, China
| | - Xiaoan Zuo
- Urat Desert-grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China; Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Region, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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Lammerant R, Norkko A, Gustafsson C. A functional perspective on the factors underpinning biomass-bound carbon stocks in coastal macrophyte communities. Mar Environ Res 2024; 193:106289. [PMID: 38048659 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106289] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Coastal ecosystems have received international interest for their possible role in climate change mitigation, highlighting the importance of being able to assess and predict how changes in habitat distributions and their associated communities may impact the greenhouse gas sink potential of these vegetated seascapes. Importantly, the range and diversity of macrophytes within the vegetated seascape have different capacities to store C within their biomass and potentially sequester C depending on their functional trait characteristics. To bridge the present knowledge gaps in linking macrophyte traits to C storage in tissue, we (1) quantified biomass-bound C stocks within diverse macrophyte communities, separately for soft and hard bottom habitats and (2) explored the links between various traits of both vascular plants and macroalgae and their respective biomass-bound C stocks using structural equation modeling (SEM). We conducted a field survey where we sampled 6 soft bottom locations dominated by aquatic vascular plants and 6 hard bottom locations dominated by the brown algae Fucus vesiculosus in the Finnish archipelago. Macrophyte carbon stocks of hard bottom locations were an order of magnitude higher than those found in soft bottom locations. Biodiversity was associated with aquatic plant carbon stocks through mass ratio effects, highlighting that carbon stocks were positively influenced by the dominance of species with more acquisitive resource strategies, whereas age was the main driver of carbon in the mono-specific macroalgal communities. Overall, our results demonstrate that habitat type and dominating life-history strategies influenced the size of the organism-bound carbon stocks. Moreover, we showed the importance of accounting for the diversity of different traits to determine the drivers underpinning carbon storage in heterogenous seascapes composed of macrophyte communities with high functional diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roel Lammerant
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland.
| | - Alf Norkko
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
| | - Camilla Gustafsson
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
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28
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Ang SBH, Lam WN, Png GK, Tan SKB, Lee BPYH, Khoo M, Luskin MS, Wardle DA, Slade EM. Isopod mouthpart traits respond to a tropical forest recovery gradient. Oecologia 2024; 204:147-159. [PMID: 38151651 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05494-8] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Functional trait ecology has the potential to provide generalizable and mechanistic predictions of ecosystem function from data of species distributions and traits. The traits that are selected should both respond to environmental factors and influence ecosystem functioning. Invertebrate mouthpart traits fulfill these criteria, but are seldom collected, lack standardized measurement protocols, and have infrequently been investigated in response to environmental factors. We surveyed isopod species that consume plant detritus, and tree communities in 58 plots across primary and secondary forests in Singapore. We measured body dimensions (body size traits), pereopod and antennae lengths (locomotory traits), dimensions of mandible structures (morphological mouthpart traits), and mechanical advantages generated by mandible shape (mechanical mouthpart traits) for six isopod species found in these plots and investigated if these traits respond to changes in tree community composition, tree diversity, and forest structure. Morphological mouthpart traits responded to a tree compositional gradient reflecting forest recovery degree. Mouthpart features associated with greater consumption of litter (broader but less serrated/rugose lacinia mobilis [an important cutting and chewing structure on the mandible]) were most prevalent in abandoned plantation and young secondary forests containing disturbance-associated tree species. Feeding strategies associated with fungi grazing (narrower and more serrated/rugose lacinia mobilis) were most prevalent in late secondary forests containing later successional tree species. Since morphological mouthpart traits likely also predict consumption and excretion rates of isopods, these traits advance our understanding of environment-trait-ecosystem functioning relationships across contrasting tropical forest plots that vary in composition, disturbance history, and post-disturbance recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn B H Ang
- The Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Republic of Singapore
| | - Weng Ngai Lam
- The Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Republic of Singapore.
| | - G Kenny Png
- The Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Republic of Singapore
| | - Sylvia K B Tan
- The Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Republic of Singapore
| | - Benjamin P Y-H Lee
- Singapore Botanic Gardens, National Parks Board 1 Cluny Road, Singapore, 259569, Republic of Singapore
| | - Max Khoo
- Wildlife Management Division, National Parks Board, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore, 259569, Republic of Singapore
| | - Matthew S Luskin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - David A Wardle
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Eleanor M Slade
- The Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Republic of Singapore
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Wei L, Gosselin F. Untangling the impact of plantation type and functional traits on ecosystem nutrient stocks in an experimentally restored forest ecosystem. Sci Total Environ 2023; 905:167602. [PMID: 37806574 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167602] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
The primary objective of ecological restoration is recovering biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. While a functional trait-based approach can help understand community assembly and ecosystem function recovery during ecological restoration, there still exists a knowledge gap in assessing how functional traits indicate the mediating roles of the plant community in response to forest restoration effects on ecosystem functions. This study applied the "response-effect trait" framework to investigate experimentally whether the treatment of plantation type has an impact on community trait compositions, which in turn could affect forest ecosystem nutrient stocks - here, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stocks in tree, understory, litter and soil pools at an experimental station in subtropical China. We used structural equation models (SEMs) to examine the relationships among plantation type, community weighted mean of traits, and nutrient stocks in each pool. Our results show that most of the tree and understory traits studied were response traits to plantation type. Moreover, certain traits played a significant role in mediating plantation-type effects on C, N and P stocks for understory pool (e.g., understory stem specific density and specific leaf area, tree leaf phosphorus content), and for litter and soil pools (e.g., tree leaf carbon or phosphorus content, understory specific leaf area, leaf nitrogen or phosphorus content), known as "response-effect traits". For the tree pool, only effect traits, and no "response-effect" tree traits, were found for the N stock. Total effects of SEMs indicated that, understory or tree traits can have a greater impact than plantation type on understory or litter C, N or P stocks. After approximately 35 years of natural restoration, exotic plantations exhibited a different community trait characteristic from native plantations. The important roles of traits in mediating the effects of plantation type on non-tree pool C, N and P stocks were highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Wei
- CAS Engineering Laboratory for Vegetation Ecosystem Restoration on Islands and Coastal Zones, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
| | - Frédéric Gosselin
- INRAE, UR EFNO, Domaine des Barres, F-45290 Nogent-sur-Vernisson, France
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Islam T, Hamid M, Khuroo AA, Nawchoo IA. Functional trait diversity and aboveground biomass of herbaceous vegetation in temperate forests of Kashmir Himalaya. Environ Monit Assess 2023; 196:60. [PMID: 38110625 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12215-4] [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: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Studying functional trait diversity can provide crucial clues about the adaptive survival strategies of regional plant species pool. Despite large-scale trait datasets available worldwide, the plant trait data from many biodiversity hotpot regions, like the Himalaya is still scarce. In this study, we aimed to investigate the plant functional traits and aboveground biomass of understory herbaceous vegetation in temperate forests of Overa-Aru wildlife sanctuary of Kashmir Himalaya. We also investigate how these functional traits correlate and what is the magnitude of trait-biomass relationship across the herbaceous species pool. For this, we conducted field sampling and measured leaf functional traits and aboveground biomass of 38 plant species in the study region during peak growing season (July-August) in the year 2021. The results revealed a significant interspecific trait variability among the species studied. We observed a high variability in leaf size and type spectra of the species, with nanophyll and simple leaf lamina, respectively, the most common types among the species studied. The correlation analysis revealed that plant height was positively correlated with aboveground biomass. The variation partitioning analysis revealed that the plant height explained the maximum fraction of variation in aboveground biomass, while least by specific leaf area. Overall, the findings from the present study provide useful insights in understanding trait-trait relationship and trait-environment interaction at the regional scale and can also help in recognizing adaptive functional traits of plant species that determine plant survival under the changing climate in this Himalayan region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tajamul Islam
- Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 006, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
- Plant Reproductive Biology, Genetic Diversity and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 006, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
| | - Maroof Hamid
- Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Anzar Ahmad Khuroo
- Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Irshad A Nawchoo
- Plant Reproductive Biology, Genetic Diversity and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190 006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
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Sheng X, Qiying C, Shifeng S, Liu Yizhen, Bicai G, Lan W, Gang G. The trait co-variation regulates the response of bryophytes to nitrogen deposition: A meta-analysis. Environ Pollut 2023; 339:122739. [PMID: 37852313 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122739] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The nitrogen deposition has the potential to alter the trait composition of plant communities by affecting the fitness and physiological adaptation of species, consequently exerting an influence on ecosystem processes. Despite the importance of bryophytes in nutrient and carbon dynamics across different ecosystems, there is a lack of research examining the relationship between nitrogen deposition and the co-variation of bryophyte traits. To address this gap, a meta-analysis was conducted using data from 27 independent studies to investigate potential associations between trait co-variation of bryophytes and nitrogen deposition. The results revealed that interspecific variability regulates the influence of nitrogen deposition on bryophytes by affecting trait co-variation. Multiple correspondence analysis identified six combinations of closely related traits. For example, species with unbranched main stems frequently exhibit robust leaf midribs, leading to leaf wrinkling and leaf clasping around the stem as a response to water loss. Some weft or mat species tend to obtain resources (nitrogen) through their scale hairs on the main stem. Some species with narrow leaves require leaf teeth to maintain a normal leaf shape. The subgroup analyses indicated that certain traits, including unbranched main stem, changes in leaf morphology, robust leaf midrib, main stem without scale hairs, narrow leaf, leaf margin with teeth, undeveloped apophysis, and erect capsule minimize interaction with pollutants and represent a resource strategy. Conversely, functional traits representing a resource acquisition strategy, such as branched main stem, no changes in leaf morphology, short and weak leaf midrib, main stem with scale hairs, broad leaf, leaf margin without teeth, developed apophysis, and non-erect capsule increase pollutant exposure. Overall, our results suggest that anthropogenic global change may significantly impact bryophytes due to changes in their individual physiology and colony ecological indicators caused by increased nitrogen deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Sheng
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Cai Qiying
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Sun Shifeng
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Liu Yizhen
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Guan Bicai
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Wu Lan
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China; Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Ge Gang
- School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China; Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
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Avalos G, Cambronero M, Alvarez-Vergnani C. Divergence in functional traits in seven species of neotropical palms of different forest strata. Oecologia 2023; 203:323-333. [PMID: 37875736 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05466-y] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Functional traits are morphological and physiological characteristics that determine growth, reproduction, and survival strategies. The leaf economics spectrum proposes two opposing life history strategies: species with an "acquisitive" strategy grow fast and exploit high-resource environments, while species with a "conservative" strategy emphasize survival and slow growth under low resource conditions. We analyzed intra and interspecific variation in nine functional traits related to biomass allocation and tissue quality in seven Neotropical palm species from understory and canopy strata. We expected that the level of resources of a stratum that a species typically exploits would determine the dominance of either the exploitative or conservative strategy, as well as degree of divergence in functional traits between species. If this is correct, then canopy species will show an acquisitive strategy emphasizing traits targeting a larger size, whereas understory species will show a conservative strategy with traits promoting efficient biomass allocation and survival in the shade. Two principal components (57.22% of the variation) separated palm species into: (a) canopy species whose traits were congruent with the acquisitive strategy and emphasized large size (i.e., diameter, height, carbon content, and leaf area), and (b) understory species whose traits were associated with efficient biomass allocation (i.e., dry mass fraction -DMF- and tissue density). As we unravel the variation in functional traits in palms, which make up a substantial proportion of the tropical flora, we gain a deeper understanding of how plants adapt to environmental gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo Avalos
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
- The School for Field Studies, Center for Ecological Resilience Studies, 100 Cummings Center, Suite 534G, Beverly, MA, 01915, USA.
| | - Milena Cambronero
- The School for Field Studies, Center for Ecological Resilience Studies, 100 Cummings Center, Suite 534G, Beverly, MA, 01915, USA
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Pol RG, Lázaro-González A, Rodrigo A, Arnan X. Similar seed preferences explain trophic ecology of functionally distinct, but co-occurring and closely related harvester ants. Oecologia 2023; 203:407-420. [PMID: 37973656 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05475-x] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
To understand how food resource use and partitioning by closely related species allows local coexistence, it is key to determine whether a species' diet reflects food availability or food preferences. Here, we analysed the diets, seed selection, and seed preferences of three closely related harvester ants: Messor barbarus, M. bouvieri, and M. capitatus. Sympatric within a Mediterranean shrubland, these species differ in foraging behaviour and worker polymorphism. For 2 years, we studied the ants' diets and seed selection patterns as well as the local availability of seeds. Additionally, we performed a seed-choice experiment using a paired comparison design, offering the ants seeds from eight native plant species. The three ant species had the same general diet, which was primarily granivorous. Although they all consumed a wide variety of seeds, they mostly selected seeds from a small subset of plant species. Despite their morphological and behavioural differences, the ants displayed similar seed preferences that were highly consistent with their diets and seed selection patterns. Our results support the idea that the trophic ecology of these three harvester ants is driven by similar seed preferences rather than by their morphological and behavioural differences. Seed diversity and abundance were high near the ants' nests, suggesting that seed availability is not limiting and could in fact favour local species coexistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo G Pol
- Desert Community Ecology Research Team (Ecodes), IADIZA-CONICET, 5500, Mendoza, Argentina.
- FCEN, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.
| | - Alba Lázaro-González
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain
- INRAE, University of Bordeaux, BIOGECO, 33610, Cestas, France
| | - Anselm Rodrigo
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Catalunya, Spain
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain
| | - Xavier Arnan
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Catalunya, Spain
- Universidade de Pernambuco, Campus Garanhuns, Garanhuns, 55294-902, Brazil
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Liu N, Liu F, Sun Z, Wang Z, Yang L. Nitrogen addition changes the canopy biological characteristics of dominant tree species in an evergreen broad-leaved forest. Sci Total Environ 2023; 902:165914. [PMID: 37524183 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165914] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Many studies have focused on the impact of nitrogen deposition on plants, but due to technical limitations, research on the responses of forest canopy to manipulated nitrogen deposition is relatively scarce. Based on a canopy nitrogen addition (CN) platform, this study used laboratory analysis and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) observations to assess the impact of CN on the canopy traits of dominant tree species (Engelhardia roxburghiana, Schima superba, and Castanea henryi) in an evergreen broad-leaved forest in China. The results showed that nitrogen application at 25 kg N ha-1 y-1 (CN25) and 50 kg N ha-1 y-1 (CN50) significantly increased the actual net photosynthetic rate (An) of all the three tree species. CN25 significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activities in C. henryi. CN50 significantly increased the leaf area of all the three tree species and significantly reduced the leaf thickness of C. henryi, and significantly increased the POD and Rubisco activities in S. superba and C. henryi. CN significantly changed the number of forest gaps, but did not significantly change the area of forest gaps within the sample plots. CN25 significantly decreased the vertical projection area but increased the canopy flowering coverage of S. superba in dominant directions. CN25 and CN50 significantly increased the flowering coverage of C. henryi in favorable directions. It is found that under long-term (10-year) nitrogen addition, the balance between carbon fixation and antioxidant defense functions of E. roxburghiana may be broken down, but the carbon assimilation, antioxidant capacity and reproduction potential of S. superba and C. henryi may be well coordinated, which will have a potential impact on the species composition and ecological functions of the evergreen broad-leaved forest. This study may also provide scientific basis for forest management in the context of enhanced atmospheric nitrogen deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510650 Guangzhou, China; College of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, 341000 Ganzhou, China.
| | - Fangyan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510650 Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongyu Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System, Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 510070 Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zhihui Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System, Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 510070 Guangzhou, China
| | - Long Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System, Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 510070 Guangzhou, China
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Lau JA, Funk JL. How ecological and evolutionary theory expanded the 'ideal weed' concept. Oecologia 2023; 203:251-266. [PMID: 37340279 PMCID: PMC10684629 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05397-8] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Since Baker's attempt to characterize the 'ideal weed' over 50 years ago, ecologists have sought to identify features of species that predict invasiveness. Several of Baker's 'ideal weed' traits are well studied, and we now understand that many traits can facilitate different components of the invasion process, such as dispersal traits promoting transport or selfing enabling establishment. However, the effects of traits on invasion are context dependent. The traits promoting invasion in one community or at one invasion stage may inhibit invasion of other communities or success at other invasion stages, and the benefits of any given trait may depend on the other traits possessed by the species. Furthermore, variation in traits among populations or species is the result of evolution. Accordingly, evolution both prior to and after invasion may determine invasion outcomes. Here, we review how our understanding of the ecology and evolution of traits in invasive plants has developed since Baker's original efforts, resulting from empirical studies and the emergence of new frameworks and ideas such as community assembly theory, functional ecology, and rapid adaptation. Looking forward, we consider how trait-based approaches might inform our understanding of less-explored aspects of invasion biology ranging from invasive species responses to climate change to coevolution of invaded communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Lau
- Department of Biology and the Environmental Resilience Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Jennifer L Funk
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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Premate E, Kepic T, Fišer C. Is the relationship between body length and body mass consistent across habitats? A case study on Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda). ZOOLOGY 2023; 161:126120. [PMID: 37696118 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2023.126120] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Body size is one of the main characteristics of any organism and influences various aspects of individual's biology. In animal ecology, it represents a key functional trait that can be quantified using different measures and is often used as a proxy for different organismal functions. The way we quantify body size is critical in any study using this measure alone or to scale other organismal traits. It is especially important in groups that act as model systems across different fields of biological research. One of such groups are amphipods, which are at focus in many ecological studies where appropriate quantification of body size is needed. Here, we explored the relationship between body length and body mass in the largest freshwater amphipod genus Niphargus, and evaluated whether the two measures lead to different conclusions in a putative ecological study of species coexistence. We selected 16 species inhabiting two different subterranean habitats, cave lakes and cave streams. The relationship between log-transformed body mass and body length was linear in all species, but body mass increased steeper among species from cave lakes than from cave streams, reflecting the stouter body shape of the former. In the simulated ecological study, the comparisons of the two measures showed that they may yield different results: in 10 % of cases, body length detected differences between species when body mass did not and vice versa (13 %). Usage of body length or body mass can thus lead to different conclusions. We recommend avoiding direct transformations between body length and body mass in ecological studies. Whenever needed, such transformations should be done with caution using habitat-specific body mass - body length ratios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Premate
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, SubBio Lab, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Tinkara Kepic
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, SubBio Lab, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Cene Fišer
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, SubBio Lab, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Bérard A, Crouzet O, Morin S, Pesce S. Improved assessment of the impacts of plant protection products on certain soil ecosystem services requires better consideration of terrestrial microalgae and cyanobacteria. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-31198-w. [PMID: 38010548 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31198-w] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
There is growing scientific and societal consciousness that the environmental risks and impacts of plant protection products (PPPs) cannot be properly assessed without considering ecosystem services. However, the science on this issue remains incomplete and fragmented, as recently illustrated in a collective scientific assessment that pointed out the limited knowledge on the risks and impacts of PPPs on soil ecosystem services, which are clearly overlooked. Beside soil ecosystem services, certain key players involved in these services are largely overlooked in the scientific literature on the risks and impacts of PPPs, namely soil microbial photosynthetic communities. Here, we followed the principles of evidence-based logic chain approaches to show the importance of considering these microorganisms when studying the impacts of PPPs on certain services provided by soil ecosystems, with a focus on regulating and maintenance services that play a role in the regulation of baseline flows and extreme events. Terrestrial microalgae and cyanobacteria are ubiquitous photosynthetic microorganisms that, together with other soil micro- and macro-organisms, play key roles in the ecosystem functions that underpin these ecosystem services. There is an extensive literature on the ecotoxicological effects of PPPs on different organisms including soil microorganisms, but studies concerning soil microbial photosynthetic communities are very scarce. However, there is scientific evidence that herbicides can have both direct and indirect impacts on these microbial photosynthetic communities. Given that they play key functional roles, we argue that soil microbial photosynthetic communities warrant greater attention in efforts to assess the environmental risks and impacts of PPPs and, ultimately, help preserve or restore the regulating and maintenance services provided by soil ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Bérard
- UMR EMMAH, INRAE, Avignon Université, 84000, Avignon, France
| | - Olivier Crouzet
- OFB, Direction Recherche Et Appui Scientifique, 78610, Auffargis, France
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Pérez-Botello AM, Dáttilo W, Simões N. Geographic range size and species morphology determines the organization of sponge host-guest interaction networks across tropical coral reefs. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16381. [PMID: 38025729 PMCID: PMC10680448 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16381] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sponges are widely spread organisms in the tropical reefs of the American Northwest-Atlantic Ocean, they structure ecosystems and provide services such as shelter, protection from predators, and food sources to a wide diversity of both vertebrates and invertebrates species. The high diversity of sponge-associated fauna can generate complex networks of species interactions over small and large spatial-temporal gradients. One way to start uncovering the organization of the sponge host-guest complex networks is to understand how the accumulated geographic area, the sponge morphology and, sponge taxonomy contributes to the connectivity of sponge species within such networks. This study is a meta-analysis based on previous sponge host-guest literature obtained in 65 scientific publications, yielding a total of 745 host-guest interactions between sponges and their associated fauna across the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. We analyzed the sponge species contribution to network organization in the Northwest Tropical Atlantic coral reefs by using the combination of seven complementary species-level descriptors and related this importance with three main traits, sponge-accumulated geographic area, functional sponge morphology, and sponges' taxonomy bias. In general, we observed that sponges with a widespread distribution and a higher accumulated geographic area had a greater network structural contribution. Similarly, we also found that Cup-like and Massive functional morphologies trend to be shapes with a greater contribution to the interaction network organization compared to the Erect and Crust-like morphos. Lastly, we did not detect a taxonomy bias between interaction network organization and sponges' orders. These results highlight the importance of a specific combination of sponge traits to promote the diversity of association between reef sponges and their guest species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antar Mijail Pérez-Botello
- Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sisal, Yucatán, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Wesley Dáttilo
- Red de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Nuno Simões
- Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sisal, Yucatán, Mexico
- Laboratorio Nacional de Resilencia Costera (LANRESC, CONACYT), Sisal, Yucatan, Mexico
- International Chair for Coastal and Marine Studies in Mexico, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, TX, United States of America
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Wang D, Xie W, Yuan F, Deng C, Qin R, Zhou H. Climate and litter traits affect the response of litter decomposition to soil fauna. BMC Res Notes 2023; 16:321. [PMID: 37941065 PMCID: PMC10634097 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-023-06601-x] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Soil fauna plays a crucial role in contributing to litter breakdown, accelerating the decomposition rate and enhancing the biogeochemical cycle in terrestrial ecosystems. Comprehending the specific fauna role of functional species in litter decomposition is challenging due to their vast numbers and diversity. Climate and litter quality are widely acknowledged as dominant drives of litter decomposition across large spatial scales. However, the pattern of climate and litter quality modulates the effect of soil fauna on litter decomposition remains largely unexplored. To address this gap, we conducted an extensive analysis using data from 81 studies to investigate how climate and litter traits affects soil fauna in the decomposition. DATA DESCRIPTION The paper describes fauna body size, climate zones (tropical, subtropical and temperate), ecosystem types (forest, grassland, wetland and farmland), soil types (sand, loam and clay), decomposed duration (< 180, 180-360, > 360 days), litter initial traits, average annual temperature and precipitation. The litter traits encompass various parameters such as concentrations of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, lignin, cellulose, total phenol, condensed tannin, hydrolysable tannin and other nutrient traits. These comprehensive datasets provide valuable insights into the role of soil fauna on the decomposition at global scale. Furthermore, the data will give researchers keys to assess how climate, litter quality and soil fauna interact to determine decomposition rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dangjun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Montpellier, 34000, France
- Centre of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wuyang Xie
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Centre of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Fang Yuan
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Restoration Ecology for Cold Region, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008, China
| | - Chaochao Deng
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Centre of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ruimin Qin
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Restoration Ecology for Cold Region, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008, China
| | - Huakun Zhou
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Restoration Ecology for Cold Region, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008, China.
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Niinemets Ü. Variation in leaf photosynthetic capacity within plant canopies: optimization, structural, and physiological constraints and inefficiencies. Photosynth Res 2023; 158:131-149. [PMID: 37615905 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-023-01043-9] [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: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Leaf photosynthetic capacity (light-saturated net assimilation rate, AA) increases from bottom to top of plant canopies as the most prominent acclimation response to the conspicuous within-canopy gradients in light availability. Light-dependent variation in AA through plant canopies is associated with changes in key leaf structural (leaf dry mass per unit leaf area), chemical (nitrogen (N) content per area and dry mass, N partitioning between components of photosynthetic machinery), and physiological (stomatal and mesophyll conductance) traits, whereas the contribution of different traits to within-canopy AA gradients varies across sites, species, and plant functional types. Optimality models maximizing canopy carbon gain for a given total canopy N content predict that AA should be proportionally related to canopy light availability. However, comparison of model expectations with experimental data of within-canopy photosynthetic trait variations in representative plant functional types indicates that such proportionality is not observed in real canopies, and AA vs. canopy light relationships are curvilinear. The factors responsible for deviations from full optimality include stronger stomatal and mesophyll diffusion limitations at higher light, reflecting greater water limitations and more robust foliage in higher light. In addition, limits on efficient packing of photosynthetic machinery within leaf structural scaffolding, high costs of N redistribution among leaves, and limited plasticity of N partitioning among components of photosynthesis machinery constrain AA plasticity. Overall, this review highlights that the variation of AA through plant canopies reflects a complex interplay between adjustments of leaf structure and function to multiple environmental drivers, and that AA plasticity is limited by inherent constraints on and trade-offs between structural, chemical, and physiological traits. I conclude that models trying to simulate photosynthesis gradients in plant canopies should consider co-variations among environmental drivers, and the limitation of functional trait variation by physical constraints and include the key trade-offs between structural, chemical, and physiological leaf characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ülo Niinemets
- Chair of Plant and Crop Science, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51011, Tartu, Estonia.
- Estonian Academy of Sciences, Kohtu 6, 10130, Tallinn, Estonia.
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Zeng Q, Lebreton A, Auer L, Man X, Jia L, Wang G, Gong S, Lombard V, Buée M, Wu G, Dai Y, Yang Z, Martin FM. Stable functional structure despite high taxonomic variability across fungal communities in soils of old-growth montane forests. Microbiome 2023; 11:217. [PMID: 37779194 PMCID: PMC10544587 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01650-7] [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: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major advances over the past decade in molecular ecology are providing access to soil fungal diversity in forest ecosystems worldwide, but the diverse functions and metabolic capabilities of this microbial community remain largely elusive. We conducted a field survey in montane old-growth broadleaved and conifer forests, to investigate the relationship between soil fungal diversity and functional genetic traits. To assess the extent to which variation in community composition was associated with dominant tree species (oak, spruce, and fir) and environmental variations in the old-growth forests in the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Yunnan Province, we applied rDNA metabarcoding. We also assessed fungal gene expression in soil using mRNA sequencing and specifically assessed the expression of genes related to organic matter decomposition and nutrient acquisition in ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi. RESULTS Our taxonomic profiling revealed striking shifts in the composition of the saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal guilds among the oak-, fir-, and spruce-dominated forests. The core fungal microbiome comprised only ~ 20% of the total OTUs across all soil samples, although the overlap between conifer-associated communities was substantial. In contrast, seasonality and soil layer explained only a small proportion of the variation in community structure. However, despite their highly variable taxonomic composition, fungal guilds exhibited remarkably similar functional traits for growth-related and core metabolic pathways across forest associations, suggesting ecological redundancy. However, we found that the expression profiles of genes related to polysaccharide and protein degradation and nutrient transport notably varied between and within the fungal guilds, suggesting niche adaptation. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our metatranscriptomic analyses revealed the functional potential of soil fungal communities in montane old-growth forests, including a suite of specialized genes and taxa involved in organic matter decomposition. By linking genes to ecological traits, this study provides insights into fungal adaptation strategies to biotic and environmental factors, and sheds light on the importance of understanding functional gene expression patterns in predicting ecosystem functioning. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingchao Zeng
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding By Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Annie Lebreton
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding By Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR Interactions Arbres/Microorganismes, Centre INRAE Grand Est-Nancy, 54280, Champenoux, France
- INRAE, Aix-Marseille Université, Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Lucas Auer
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR Interactions Arbres/Microorganismes, Centre INRAE Grand Est-Nancy, 54280, Champenoux, France
| | - Xiaowu Man
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding By Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Liukun Jia
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Gengshen Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Sai Gong
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Vincent Lombard
- Architecture Et Fonction Des Macromolécules Biologiques, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, UMR 7257, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Marc Buée
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR Interactions Arbres/Microorganismes, Centre INRAE Grand Est-Nancy, 54280, Champenoux, France
| | - Gang Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Yucheng Dai
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding By Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Zhuliang Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
| | - Francis M Martin
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding By Molecular Design, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR Interactions Arbres/Microorganismes, Centre INRAE Grand Est-Nancy, 54280, Champenoux, France.
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Mascorda-Cabre L, Hosegood P, Attrill MJ, Bridger D, Sheehan EV. Detecting sediment recovery below an offshore longline mussel farm: A macrobenthic Biological Trait Analysis (BTA). Mar Pollut Bull 2023; 195:115556. [PMID: 37738875 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115556] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Expansion of bivalve aquaculture offshore reports lower environmental impacts compared to inshore farms. Taking a Before-After Control-Impact approach, this study presents the first functional diversity analysis and long-term Biological Trait Analysis (BTA) of infauna functional traits following the development of the United Kingdom's first large-scale, offshore longline mussel farm. Located in an area historically impacted by mobile fishing gear, farm sites had the greatest number of taxa and abundance compared to control sites. Functional diversity varied significantly across treatments (farm, near control, far control); while Functional Diversity, Richness, Divergence and Dispersion increased over time within the farm, Functional Evenness and Redundancy decreased. Bioturbation, body size, diet, feeding mode, life span, motility, sediment position, sensitivity and substrate type were chosen for Community-level Weighted Mean analysis, depicting the most frequently affected biological traits by shellfish farming. Farm sites developed a wider range of traits enhancing ecosystem function and habitat recovery after years of seabed damage. Outcomes support the use of functional diversity and BTA analysis to perform ecosystem assessment, supporting decision-makers implement policy and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Llucia Mascorda-Cabre
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
| | - Phil Hosegood
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Martin J Attrill
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Danielle Bridger
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Emma V Sheehan
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
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Umaña MN, Needham J, Forero-Montaña J, Nytch CJ, Swenson NG, Thompson J, Uriarte M, Zimmerman JK. Demographic trade-offs and functional shifts in a hurricane-impacted tropical forest. Ann Bot 2023; 131:1051-1060. [PMID: 36702550 PMCID: PMC10457028 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad004] [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: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Understanding shifts in the demographic and functional composition of forests after major natural disturbances has become increasingly relevant given the accelerating rates of climate change and elevated frequency of natural disturbances. Although plant demographic strategies are often described across a slow-fast continuum, severe and frequent disturbance events influencing demographic processes may alter the demographic trade-offs and the functional composition of forests. We examined demographic trade-offs and the shifts in functional traits in a hurricane-disturbed forest using long-term data from the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFPD) in Puerto Rico. METHODS We analysed information on growth, survival, seed rain and seedling recruitment for 30 woody species in the LFDP. In addition, we compiled data on leaf, seed and wood functional traits that capture the main ecological strategies for plants. We used this information to identify the main axes of demographic variation for this forest community and evaluate shifts in community-weighted means for traits from 2000 to 2016. KEY RESULTS The previously identified growth-survival trade-off was not observed. Instead, we identified a fecundity-growth trade-off and an axis representing seedling-to-adult survival. Both axes formed dimensions independent of resprouting ability. Also, changes in tree species composition during the post-hurricane period reflected a directional shift from seedling and tree communities dominated by acquisitive towards conservative leaf economics traits and large seed mass. Wood specific gravity, however, did not show significant directional changes over time. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that tree demographic strategies coping with frequent storms and hurricane disturbances deviate from strategies typically observed in undisturbed forests, yet the shifts in functional composition still conform to the expected changes from acquisitive to conservative resource-uptake strategies expected over succession. In the face of increased rates of natural and anthropogenic disturbance in tropical regions, our results anticipate shifts in species demographic trade-offs and different functional dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Natalia Umaña
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, USA
| | - Jessica Needham
- Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | | | - Christopher J Nytch
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, PR 00936, USA
| | - Nathan G Swenson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN 46556, USA
| | - Jill Thompson
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, UK
| | - María Uriarte
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Jess K Zimmerman
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, PR 00931, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, PR 00936, USA
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Pesce S, Bérard A, Coutellec MA, Hedde M, Langlais-Hesse A, Larras F, Leenhardt S, Mongruel R, Munaron D, Sabater S, Gallai N. Linking ecotoxicological effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functions to impairment of ecosystem services is a challenge: an illustration with the case of plant protection products. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-29128-x. [PMID: 37548787 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29128-x] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
There is growing interest in using the ecosystem services framework for environmental risk assessments of chemicals, including plant protection products (PPPs). Although this topic is increasingly discussed in the recent scientific literature, there is still a substantial gap between most ecotoxicological studies and a solid evaluation of potential ecotoxicological consequences on ecosystem services. This was recently highlighted by a collective scientific assessment (CSA) performed by 46 scientific experts who analyzed the international science on the impacts of PPPs on biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and ecosystem services. Here, we first point out the main obstacles to better linking knowledge on the ecotoxicological effects of PPPs on biodiversity and ecological processes with ecosystem functions and services. Then, we go on to propose and discuss possible pathways for related improvements. We describe the main processes governing the relationships between biodiversity, ecological processes, and ecosystem functions in response to effects of PPP, and we define categories of ecosystem functions that could be directly linked with the ecological processes used as functional endpoints in investigations on the ecotoxicology of PPPs. We then explore perceptions on the possible links between these categories of ecosystem functions and ecosystem services among a sub-panel of the scientific experts from various fields of environmental science. We find that these direct and indirect linkages still need clarification. This paper, which reflects the difficulties faced by the multidisciplinary group of researchers involved in the CSA, suggests that the current gap between most ecotoxicological studies and a solid potential evaluation of ecotoxicological consequences on ecosystem services could be partially addressed if concepts and definitions related to ecological processes, ecosystem functions, and ecosystem services were more widely accepted and shared within the ecotoxicology community. Narrowing this gap would help harmonize and extend the science that informs decision-making and policy-making, and ultimately help to better address the trade-off between social benefits and environmental losses caused by the use of PPPs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marie-Agnès Coutellec
- DECOD (Ecosystem Dynamics and Sustainability), INRAE, Institut Agro-Agrocampus Ouest, IFREMER, Rennes, France
| | - Mickaël Hedde
- Eco&Sols, Univ. Montpellier, INRAE, IRD, CIRAD, Institut Agro Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Floriane Larras
- INRAE, DEPE, Paris, France
- KREATiS SAS, 23 rue du Creuzat, ZAC de St-Hubert, 38080, L'Isle-d'Abeau, France
| | | | - Rémi Mongruel
- Ifremer, UMR 6308 Amure, CS10070, 29280, Plouzané, France
| | | | - Sergi Sabater
- Catalan Institute of Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, and Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona-Montilivi Campus, 17071, Girona, Spain
| | - Nicola Gallai
- UMR LEREPS/ENSFEA, 2 route de Narbonne, Castanet-Tolosan Cedex, 31320 Cedex, France
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Stiling RR, Olden JD, Boulêtreau S, Cucherousset J, Holtgrieve GW. Global investigation of lake habitat coupling by fishes. Oecologia 2023:10.1007/s00442-023-05424-8. [PMID: 37493858 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05424-8] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Habitat coupling, where consumers acquire resources from different habitats, plays an important role in ecosystem functioning. In this study, we provide a global investigation of lake habitat coupling by freshwater fishes between littoral (nearshore) and pelagic (open water) zones and elucidate the extent to which magnitude of coupling varies according to environmental context and consumer traits. We consider the influence of lake factors (surface area, depth, shoreline complexity, and annual temperature), relative trophic position of consumers, fish community species richness, and fish morphological traits on habitat coupling by fishes. Using a worldwide dataset consisting of fish stable isotope values (δ13C and δ15N), we developed an index of habitat coupling, and used Bayesian hierarchical and non-hierarchical beta regressions to estimate the effects of environmental lake context and morphological traits on habitat coupling by fishes. Our results show high rates of habitat coupling among fishes globally with marked taxonomic differences in the magnitude and variation. Habitat coupling was higher in lower elevation lakes and in regions characterized by relatively colder climates, whereas other environmental context factors had little or no effects on habitat coupling. Furthermore, habitat coupling was associated with several locomotion and feeding traits, but independent from species maximum body length. Overall, we highlight the prevalence of multiple resources supporting fish populations and suggest future research identify implications to ecosystem functioning that may result from alterations to habitat coupling by fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah R Stiling
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
| | - Julian D Olden
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | - Stéphanie Boulêtreau
- Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle & Environnement, INP Toulouse, UMR 5245, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Julien Cucherousset
- Laboratoire Evolution & Diversité Biologique, UMR 5174 EDB, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Gordon W Holtgrieve
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
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Ocampo-Zuleta K, Parrado-Rosselli Á. Functional diversity in an Andean subpáramo affected by wildfire in Colombia. Plant Divers 2023; 45:385-396. [PMID: 37601548 PMCID: PMC10436060 DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2022.11.007] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Recently, the Andean subpáramo in Colombia has experienced severe wildfires, but little is known about the functional composition of recovering or not after a wildfire. Therefore, we examined the functional community composition subpáramo affected by fire in 2016. We documented how functional traits changed 31 months after the disturbance and compared them with an unburned site. We sampled from one to two years after the fire every four months, then registered all recruits in 16 5 × 5m plots. New individuals were classified into strategy functional groups based on the traits of persistence and dispersal. The first group was stem type and regeneration mechanism (seedling and resprout), and the second was fruit type and dispersal mode. We investigated the degree to which functional diversity changes plant communities over time (woody and non-woody), and we compared it with an unburned site. The most relevant results showed that resprouts and seed regenerated increased post-fire time and significant differences between sampling periods. The anemochory is the most relevant dispersal mode that indicates the community capacity to colonize the new gaps opened by the fire rapidly. We discuss how wildfire appears to be a triggering factor for persistence and dispersal strategy groups in subpáramo burned given their characteristics of tolerance to stress. For this reason, a greater functional divergence between the ecosystems studied post-fire recovery has been related to higher levels of biodiversity at the landscape scale due to the high degree of endemism and significant differences in species composition between páramos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korina Ocampo-Zuleta
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas. Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad Austral de Chile. Campus Isla Teja, 5090000 Valdivia, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Mención Ecología y Evolución, Escuela de Graduados, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Jardín Botánico de Bogotá José Celestino Mutis, Subdirección Científica, Línea de Investigación en Restauración Ecológica, 111071, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ángela Parrado-Rosselli
- Facultad del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, Sede Vivero, 111711, Bogotá, Colombia
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47
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Ferenc V, Brendel MR, Sheppard CS. Legume effects in a native community invaded by alien Asteraceae in a multi-species comparison. Oecologia 2023:10.1007/s00442-023-05400-2. [PMID: 37332036 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05400-2] [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: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Facilitation has been a long-neglected type of interaction but received more attention recently. Legumes are commonly involved in facilitative interactions due to their nitrogen fixation. Facilitative interactions are so far underappreciated yet potentially important for biological invasions, especially given increasing numbers of alien species. In a common garden experiment using 30 annual Asteraceae species (neophytes, archaeophytes, plus some natives), grown in communities with or without legume presence, we measured functional traits and fitness in focal Asteraceae, as well as nitrogen characteristics of Asteraceae and two native community phytometer species. We investigated how legume presence affects relationships between trait and nitrogen concentration and Asteraceae fitness; and whether mechanisms of facilitation in legume presence and its effects on aboveground performance differ among native phytometer, neophyte, and archaeophyte Asteraceae using the δ15N natural abundance method. Lower specific leaf area was associated with higher aboveground biomass and seed production, with a stronger effect in legume absence. Nitrogen concentration had a positive relationship with biomass, but did not generally increase seed production. Our results hint at N facilitation for the native grass phytometer Festuca rupicola when growing in legume presence, whereas the forb Potentilla argentea and 27 alien Asteraceae species did not indicate facilitative effects. Intriguingly, direct legume facilitation in native phytometer species was only detected when growing with archaeophytes neighbors, not with neophytes. This hints at varied mechanisms of competition for nitrogen between natives and alien species of different residence time and deepens the understanding of altered facilitative leguminous effects in alien species presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Ferenc
- Institute of Landscape and Plant Ecology, University of Hohenheim, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany.
- Department of Botany, State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, 70191, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Marco R Brendel
- Institute of Landscape and Plant Ecology, University of Hohenheim, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
- Division of Conservation in Agriculture, German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, 53179, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christine S Sheppard
- Institute of Landscape and Plant Ecology, University of Hohenheim, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
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48
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Romero-Blanco A, Castro-Díez P, Lázaro-Lobo A, Molina-Venegas R, Cruces P, Pyšek P. Searching for predictors of the variability of impacts caused by non-native trees on regulating ecosystem services worldwide. Sci Total Environ 2023; 877:162961. [PMID: 36958556 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162961] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Humans have introduced non-native trees (NNT) all over the world to take advantage of the plethora of benefits they provide. However, depending on the context, NNT may present a diverse range of effects on ecosystem services (ES), from benefits to drawbacks, which may hinder the development of policies for these species. Unfortunately, the attempts so far to understand the impacts of NNT on ES only explained a low proportion of their variation. Here we analyze the variation in impacts of NNT on regulating ecosystem services (RES) by using a global database, which covers the effect size of multiple NNT species on six RES (climate regulation, soil erosion regulation, soil fertility, soil formation, hydrological cycle regulation, and fire protection). We used a wide range of predictors to account for the context-dependency of impacts distributed in five groups: the RES type, functional traits of both the NNT and the dominant NT of the recipient ecosystem, phylogenetic and functional distances between NNT and NT, climatic context, and human population characteristics. Using boosted regression trees and regression trees, we found that the most influential predictors of NNT impacts on RES were annual mean temperatures and precipitation seasonality, followed by the type of RES, human population density, and NNT height. In regions with warm temperatures and low seasonality, NNT tended to increase RES. NNT impacts were greater in densely populated regions. Smaller NNT exerted greater positive impacts on climate regulation and soil erosion regulation in tropical regions than in other climates. We highlight that benign climates and high population density exacerbate the effects of NNT on RES, and that soil fertility is the most consistently affected RES. Knowledge of the factors that modulate NNT impacts can help to predict their potential effects on RES in different parts of the world and at various environmental settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Romero-Blanco
- Universidad de Alcalá, Facultad de Ciencias, Department of Life Sciences, Unidad de Ecología, Biological Invasions Research Group, Plaza de San Diego S/N, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Pilar Castro-Díez
- Universidad de Alcalá, Facultad de Ciencias, Department of Life Sciences, Unidad de Ecología, Biological Invasions Research Group, Plaza de San Diego S/N, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain
| | - Adrián Lázaro-Lobo
- Universidad de Alcalá, Facultad de Ciencias, Department of Life Sciences, Unidad de Ecología, Biological Invasions Research Group, Plaza de San Diego S/N, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Molina-Venegas
- Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Universidad de Alcalá, Facultad de Ciencias, Department of Life Sciences, Unidad de Ecología, Global Change Ecology and Evolution Group, Plaza de San Diego S/N, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Cruces
- Universidad de Alcalá, Facultad de Ciencias, Department of Life Sciences, Unidad de Ecología, Biological Invasions Research Group, Plaza de San Diego S/N, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain
| | - Petr Pyšek
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Department of Invasion Ecology, CZ-252 43 Průhonice, Czech Republic; Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-128 44 Prague, Czech Republic
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49
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Zhang Q, Zhang J, Shi Z, Kang B, Tu H, Zhu J, Li H. Nitrogen addition and drought affect nitrogen uptake patterns and biomass production of four urban greening tree species in North China. Sci Total Environ 2023:164893. [PMID: 37327891 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164893] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient element limiting plant growth and production, and plant N uptake capacity varies with environmental change. Recently, global climate changes such as N deposition and drought have important impacts on the terrestrial ecosystems, especially for urban greening trees. However, it's still unclear how N deposition and drought affect plant N uptake and biomass production and the underlying relationship between them. Therefore, we conducted a 15N isotope labeling experiment on four common tree species of urban green spaces in North China, including Pinus tabulaeformnis, Fraxinus chinensis, Juniperus chinensis, and Rhus typhina in pots. Three N addition treatments (0, 3.5, and 10.5 gN m-2 year-1; "no", "low", and "high" N treatments, respectively) and two water addition treatments (300 and 600 mm year-1; "drought" and "normal water", respectively) were set up in a greenhouse. Our results showed that N and drought significantly affected tree biomass production and N uptake rates, and the relationship between them depended on the species specificity. Trees could transform their N uptake preference to adapt to the changing environment, from ammonium to nitrate or vice versa, which was also reflected in total biomass. Furthermore, the variation of N uptake patterns was also related to distinct functional traits, including aboveground (specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content) or belowground (specific root length, specific root area, and root tissue density) traits. There was a transformation of plant resource acquisitive strategy in a high N and drought environment. In general, there were tight connections among N uptake rates, functional traits, and biomass production of each target species. This finding comes up with a new strategy that tree species can modify their functional traits and plasticity of the N uptake forms for survival and growth in the context of high N deposition and drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinze Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jingya Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Zilin Shi
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Binyue Kang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Hongkang Tu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jiyou Zhu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Hongyuan Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
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50
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Puig-Gironès R, Santos X, Bros V. Long-interval effects of wildfires on the functional diversity of land snails. Sci Total Environ 2023; 876:162677. [PMID: 36894101 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162677] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In fire-prone regions, fire is a major natural disturbance which shapes ecosystem function and community composition. Fire has a direct and dramatic effect on soil fauna and, especially, on non-mobile species such as land snails. The factors that make the Mediterranean Basin a fire-prone region may also lead to the appearance after fires of certain functional traits related to ecological and physiological characteristics. Knowledge of how community structure and function change along the post-fire succession will be useful for understanding the processes that drive biodiversity patterns in burnt areas and for implementing appropriate biodiversity management strategies. Here, we examine long-interval taxonomic and functional changes occurred in a snail community four and 18 years after a fire in the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Natural Park (NE Spain). Our field-based study demonstrates that the land snail assemblage responds both taxonomically and functionally to fire and that there was a clear replacement of dominant species from the first to the second sampling period. Variation in community composition between different post-fire ages can be attributed to snail species traits and successional changes in post-fire habitat conditions. At taxonomic level, there was great variation in snail species turnover between both periods, being the development of the understorey vegetation structure the main driver of this variation. The replacement of functional traits between times since fire suggests that xerophilic and mesophilic preferences play an important role after fire and are largely determined by the complexity of post-fire microhabitats. Our analysis indicates that immediately after a fire there is a time-window of opportunity that attracts species specializing in early successional habitats, which thereafter are replaced due to the changing conditions resulting from succession. Consequently, knowing the functional traits of species is important for determining the impacts of disturbances on the taxonomic and functional communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Puig-Gironès
- Departament de Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Girona, C. Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003 Girona, Catalonia, Spain; Equip de Biologia de la Conservació, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals & Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Xavier Santos
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, R. Padre Armando Quintas s/n, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Vicenç Bros
- Oficina Tècnica de Parcs Naturals, Diputació de Barcelona, Urgell 187, 08036 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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