Journal of Animal Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Synching with seasonality: Predicting roe deer parturition phenology across its distributional range.","authors":"Johanna Kauffert, A J Mark Hewison, Benedikt Gehr, Torsten Hothorn, Sophie Baur, Jean-Michel Gaillard, Petter Kjellander, Andreas König, Jörg Müller, Manuela Panzacchi, Maryline Pellerin, Balint Tamasi, Wibke Peters, Annette Menzel","doi":"10.1111/1365-2656.70148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70148","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Latitude and elevation are the most commonly studied drivers of large-scale variation in the phenology of life-history events. However, these coarse gradients cannot reliably predict observed spatial variation in phenology. Although it is less often investigated, environmental predictability is also a selective force that constrains spatial variation in life-history events. Here, we explore how environmental predictability contributes to shaping spatial variation in the parturition phenology of roe deer across its distributional range in Europe. We compiled data on roe deer parturition dates across Europe within the research collaboration EURODEER, and from citizen scientists and related birth dates to elevation and environmental predictability, measured by Colwell's metrics of contingency and constancy, based on high-resolution climate and NDVI values. We predicted parturition timing and synchrony simultaneously within a single modelling framework using a distributional regression model (i.e. GAMLSS). Our approach provided more robust predictions of variation in birth phenology than commonly used approaches based on the combination of latitude and elevation. We found that roe deer align their parturition dates with both elevation and seasonality in environmental conditions. We also identified an apparent shift towards later parturition from west to east across the distributional range in Europe, putatively linked to relatively milder and more constant climates in the west. Contrary to our expectations, we did not find any consistent link between parturition synchrony and environmental predictability, suggesting that other factors, such as small-scale heterogeneities in landscape composition, play a key role. Our work emphasizes the importance of understanding macrophenological processes in the variation of life-history event timing across space. It also highlights the need to account for this spatial variation when investigating region-specific adaptations, particularly in light of climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":14934,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145212360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Resource suitability drives low use of avian-excavated tree cavities: A multi-state occupancy dynamics approach.","authors":"Diego Jhoel Zavala, Kristina Louise Cockle, Milka Raquel Gomez, Carlos Ariel Ferreyra, Eugenia Bianca Bonaparte, Facundo G Di Sallo, Gonçalo Ferraz","doi":"10.1111/1365-2656.70131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70131","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Avian tree-cavity excavators are widely held to maintain diversity of forest vertebrate faunas through the facilitation of nesting resources, and yet in many systems they are absent or redundant. Why do avian excavators sometimes supply only a small proportion of cavities used by non-excavating species? Researchers hypothesized that low re-use of excavated cavities could be driven by high rates of excavated cavity loss (low availability) or by low suitability of excavated cavities. The two hypotheses imply different cavity use dynamics. The availability hypothesis predicts high rates of excavated-cavity transition from excavators to secondary cavity-nesters. The suitability hypothesis predicts high transition rates from excavators to empty (unused), and high reuse rates for cavities previously used by secondary cavity-nesters. From 2006 to 2021, we studied 438 excavated and non-excavated bird nest cavities in the Atlantic Forest of Argentina, where excavators provide ~20% of cavities used by secondary cavity-nesters. We fit our data with a multi-state occupancy dynamics model that accounts for observation errors and estimates transition probabilities among cavity states 'Empty', 'Occupied by an excavator', 'Occupied by a secondary cavity-nester' and 'Lost'. We complemented the modelling results with a numerical simulation of cavity use dynamics. As predicted by the suitability hypothesis, the estimated probability of transition was high from excavator to empty (~0.75), low from excavator to secondary cavity-nester (~0.05) and high for reuse by secondary cavity-nester. Transition from 'Empty' to use by secondary cavity-nester was much more probable among non-excavated (~0.2) than excavated cavities (~0.05), which-our simulation shows-is compatible with secondary cavity-nesters using excavated cavities in proportion to their availability. Excavated cavities remained available for several years after their last use, suggesting suitability declines with age. We conclude that the marginal role of excavators as cavity producers is driven primarily by low suitability of their excavated cavities for other birds. Statistical support for the suitability hypothesis relied on the quantification of uncertainty about cavity states afforded by multi-state occupancy dynamics models. We encourage further exploration of state-transition probabilities among tree cavities and other multi-use resources to test ecological hypotheses and inform resource conservation policy.</p>","PeriodicalId":14934,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145206599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microclimate refugia shape microclimatic niches and predict individual variability in post-breeding migration in a partially migratory species.","authors":"Rita F Ramos, Karolina Zalewska, James J Gilroy, João P Silva, Aldina M A Franco","doi":"10.1111/1365-2656.70147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70147","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The characterization of species' environmental niches can help predict biodiversity responses to global environmental change and identify areas where environmental suitability declines as the conditions change. However, environmental niches, that is the full range of conditions a species experiences, are frequently described at coarse spatial and temporal scales, thus are unlikely to capture the across-individual variability in exposure to microclimate conditions. Within species ranges and even within populations, individuals may vary in their ability to access microclimate refugia or may adopt different movement strategies to avoid exposure to unsuitable conditions. This individual variability currently remains unclear but could help us understand species' capacity to adjust to changes in climate. We used an 11-year satellite tracking dataset and high-resolution remotely sensed habitat and climate information to investigate the microclimatic niche of a partially migratory grassland bird, the endangered little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) in the species' western stronghold populations in Southern Europe. Our study, including both breeding and post-breeding seasons, aimed to determine whether the local conditions experienced by individuals during the breeding season can be used to predict individual movement strategies after breeding. Furthermore, we examined whether the distance travelled during post-breeding dispersive migration influenced the level of dissimilarity between seasonal niches experienced by individuals. The little bustard microclimatic niche was characterized along a gradient of temperature and microclimate refugia availability. Our results revealed that individuals occupying breeding areas with low microclimate refugia availability were more likely to move longer distances after breeding. Furthermore, long-distance migratory individuals maintained similar microclimatic niches across seasons, whereas short-distance migrants predominantly displayed a higher niche dissimilarity between seasons. Temperature and microclimate refugia availability during the breeding season can help predict individual differences in migratory behaviour of little bustards and their niche dissimilarity across seasons. Global warming and subsequent declines in microclimate refugia availability may force this species to move earlier and travel longer distances after breeding. This study provides information that can help design conservation strategies for little bustards and other endangered grassland bird species exposed to high temperatures.</p>","PeriodicalId":14934,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145186006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Revealing species responses to environmental change through long-term data and mechanistic frameworks.","authors":"Elise F Zipkin, Peter J Williams","doi":"10.1111/1365-2656.70143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70143","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Research Highlight: Dri, G. F., Bogdziewicz, M., Hunter, M., Witham, J., & Mortelliti, A. (2025). Coupled effects of forest growth and climate change on small mammal abundance and body weight: Results of a 39-year field study. Journal of Animal Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70114. Biodiversity is declining due to global environmental change, yet it remains challenging to assess how specific drivers, such as climate change, affect the dynamics and trends of individual species. While many studies correlate climate variables with species abundance or occurrence, few explicitly link environmental drivers to demographic processes to uncover the mechanisms behind population trends. Such insight requires long-term data capable of revealing slow-moving, nonlinear trends and disentangling natural variability from directional change. In a 39-year study, Dri et al. (2025) demonstrate the power of sustained observation and mechanistic approaches by linking climate warming and forest maturation to increased acorn production, which enhanced body condition and survival in white-footed mice, ultimately driving population increases. Their findings underscore the importance of long-term data for identifying meaningful ecological trends and tracing the causal pathways by which biodiversity changes. Effective conservation under global change depends on two key shifts: greater investment in long-term biodiversity monitoring and broader adoption of frameworks that explicitly connect environmental drivers to demographic responses. Together, these approaches provide the foundation for adaptive, evidence-based conservation strategies in a rapidly changing world.</p>","PeriodicalId":14934,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145186021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Poison frog chemical defences are influenced by environmental availability and dietary selectivity for ants.","authors":"Nora A Martin, Camilo Rodríguez, Aurora Alvarez-Buylla, Katherine Fiocca, Colin R Morrison, Adolfo Chamba-Carrillo, Ana B García-Ruilova, Janet Rentería, Elicio E Tapia, Luis A Coloma, David A Donoso, Lauren A O'Connell","doi":"10.1111/1365-2656.70142","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70142","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The ability to use small molecule alkaloids as defensive chemicals, often acquired via trophic interactions, has evolved in many organisms. Animals with diet-derived defences must balance food choices to maintain their defence reservoirs along with other physiological needs. Poison frogs accumulate skin alkaloids from their arthropod diet, but whether they show selectivity for specific prey remains unexplored. We investigated the role of leaf litter prey availability and dietary selectivity in shaping poison frog chemical defences along a geographic gradient. Specifically, we examined skin alkaloid composition, stomach contents and leaf litter ants in aposematic diablito frogs (Oophaga sylvatica) at five sites in north-western Ecuador and in sympatric, cryptic Chimbo rocket frogs (Hyloxalus infraguttatus) at one site. Our results show that differential availability of leaf litter ants influenced alkaloid profiles across diablito populations, and low levels of alkaloids were observed in the sympatric, 'undefended' Chimbo rocket frog. Ants were the primary dietary component of the defended species, while the 'undefended' species ate other prey categories including beetles and larvae in addition to ants. A prey selection analysis suggested that defended and 'undefended' frogs both feed on a high proportion of specific small ant genera that naturally contain alkaloids, suggesting that selectivity for toxic prey is not restricted to classically aposematic and highly toxic species. These findings suggest that poison frogs' use of feeding resources relative to availability may be an understudied and important selection factor in the evolution of acquired defences.</p>","PeriodicalId":14934,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145113388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Density dependent habitat selection in response to habitat loss in a coral reef fish.","authors":"Lisa Boström-Einarsson, Mary C Bonin, Philip L Munday, Geoffrey P Jones, Sally A Keith","doi":"10.1111/1365-2656.70135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70135","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Habitat degradation alters the availability and quality of resources, with ramifications for how populations distribute across remnant patches. Decisions about habitat use are often made to optimise fitness by minimising competition for resources. Individuals can sort themselves optimally across patches by selecting habitat based on the density of resident individuals, yet it is unclear whether this mechanism is disrupted by habitat loss. Moreover, density-dependent habitat selection could create a socially reinforced 'bandwagon' effect in species that use adults as a positive settlement cue. Here, we aimed to (1) determine the effect of habitat degradation on density-dependent habitat selection and (2) test whether habitat use by adults influences settlement decisions by juveniles via a bandwagon effect in the coral-associated reef fish, Pomacentrus moluccensis. We combined field surveys with a habitat choice experiment in Pomacentrus moluccensis to assess how fish respond to varying coral quality and conspecfici densities. Field observations revealed that adults only used dead coral on degraded reefs where fish densities on surrounding remnant live colonies were exceptionally high. When presented experimentally with the choice of two colonies, fish were more likely to choose a near empty alternate colony when the other colony was severely crowded with conspecifics. Taken together, these results offer strong support for density-dependent habitat selection during habitat loss. This choice cascades to influence juvenile habitat use: juveniles selected dead corals to a greater extent if there was a conspecific adult present. To our knowledge, this is the first empirical demonstration of how habitat degradation can trigger density-dependent habitat selection, which in turn may shape settlement decisions in the next generation via socially mediated cues.</p>","PeriodicalId":14934,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145091715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Complex effects of climatic variation on bumblebee queen fitness.","authors":"Ruth Archer, Paul Schmid-Hempel, Regula Schmid-Hempel, Lena Wilfert","doi":"10.1111/1365-2656.70140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Climate change is a global biodiversity threat. To understand how a changing climate affects individual fitness and gain insights into which mechanisms are responsible, we need to establish how climatic variation affects individual life-history traits (e.g. growth, survival and reproduction). Long-term data linking insect life histories and climate parameters are therefore valuable but, unfortunately, rare. Here, we test how climatic variation affects health, survival and reproduction in a key European pollinator, the buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris. We relate climatic variation experienced by developing queens in the field, caught between 2000 and 2014, to fitness traits assayed in these queens under otherwise constant lab conditions. We show that wet years consistently reduce queen fitness, while warm temperatures have positive and negative impacts. Behind these annual effects lies strong seasonality. In particular, climatic conditions experienced by young queens as they forage, mate and enter hibernation are vital determinants of whether they reproduce the following spring. Results suggest that climatic drivers that reduce queen resource acquisition prior to hibernation, or accelerate resource loss over winter, are especially detrimental to spring queen fitness. This suggests a strategy to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on bumblebees: ensuring high-quality forage late in summer before queens enter diapause.</p>","PeriodicalId":14934,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145091711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plasticity in a key life-history trait contributes to population cycles in an insect herbivore","authors":"Matthew A. Barbour,&nbsp;Frédérick St-Pierre","doi":"10.1111/1365-2656.70139","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1365-2656.70139","url":null,"abstract":"<p><b>Research Highlight:</b> Myers, J. H., &amp; Cory, J. S. (2025). Long-term population dynamics of western tent caterpillars: History, trends and causes of cycles. <i>Journal of Animal Ecology</i>. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70104. For centuries, population cycles have intrigued ecologists and posed challenges for resource managers. These dramatic fluctuations are influenced by strong interactions with natural enemies and/or the climate, yet these external drivers alone are typically insufficient to explain the observed cycles. Cyclic changes in life-history traits (e.g. fecundity) often play a significant role, though the mechanisms underlying these regular phenotypic shifts remain largely undetermined. Here Myers and Cory (2025) convincingly demonstrate the key role of plastic changes in fecundity in driving the 8–11-year population cycles of the western tent caterpillar <i>Malacosoma californicum pluviale</i>. These cycles are partially driven by lethal infections from a specialized baculovirus <i>Malacosoma pluviale</i> nucleopolyhedrovirus. Although tent caterpillars evolve increased resistance to the virus following peak infection periods, this resistance does not incur a fecundity cost, suggesting that eco-evolutionary feedback does not regulate this cycle. Instead, sublethal viral infections induce plastic reductions in fecundity. Declines in food quantity and quality following peak defoliation periods likely further contribute to these plastic changes. While climate variation does influence population growth, future climate change is unlikely to disrupt these cycles. Taken together, this long-term research underscores the importance of phenotypic plasticity in shaping dramatic herbivore population cycles. Future research on eco-evolutionary dynamics should consider, more even-handedly, alternative mechanisms by which the environment can feedback to cause phenotypic change.</p>","PeriodicalId":14934,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Ecology","volume":"94 10","pages":"1904-1907"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145075327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-range pollen transport across the North Sea: Insights from migratory hoverflies landing on a remote oil rig.","authors":"Toby D Doyle, Eva Jimenez-Guri, Jaimie C Barnes, Craig Hannah, Simon Murray, Christopher D R Wyatt, Oliver M Poole, Karl R Wotton","doi":"10.1111/1365-2656.70126","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Insect pollinators play a crucial role in the reproductive success of many plant species, with their movement patterns important in shaping gene flow across plant populations. Movements vary greatly from central place foragers that move over relatively short distances to migrants that move over very long distances. Of these highly mobile flower visitors, migratory hoverflies are of high ecological and economic importance as a large group of globally distributed pollinators, capable of connecting distant ecosystems through long-range seasonal movements. However, understanding their role in pollen transport during predominantly high-altitude migration remains challenging due to sampling constraints and the obscured identity of vectored pollen caused by post-migratory foraging from local resources. To address this, we employ ITS2 region metabarcoding to identify pollen species transported by migratory hoverflies during four distinct June or July migration events onto an oil rig devoid of vegetation and found 200 km off the coast of Scotland in the North Sea. Of 121 sampled marmalade hoverflies (Episyrphus balteatus), 92% carried pollen, with metabarcoding of 86 individuals indicating pollen from an average of up to eight plant species per individual (range: 1-14) and 102 species in total across all four events. Dominant pollen sources included common nettle (Urtica dioica), black elder (Sambucus nigra) and meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) alongside visits to vegetable, legume, cereal, nut and fruit species. Backward wind trajectory analysis indicated northward migration in June, originating from the Netherlands, northern Germany and Denmark, over 500 km away. Conversely, migration in late July suggested southward movements from Norway, albeit with lower confidence. Forward trajectory analysis suggested potential destinations following departure from the oil rig including Norway or the Shetland Islands around 250 km away for the June migrations and Scotland for the July event. Our findings highlight the capacity of migratory hoverflies to transport diverse pollen species across extensive distances, underscoring their potential role in long-distance gene flow. Further research is essential to evaluate the ecological and agricultural implications of this phenomenon and its impact on plant communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":14934,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145080616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Habitat heterogeneity and food availability in beaver-engineered streams foster bat richness, activity and feeding.","authors":"Valentin Moser, Leonardo Capitani, Luca Zehnder, Alex Hürbin, Martin K Obrist, Klaus Ecker, Steffen Boch, Silvan Minnig, Christof Angst, Francesco Pomati, Anita C Risch","doi":"10.1111/1365-2656.70136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70136","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As ecosystem engineers, Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) modify aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, which can benefit the biodiversity and community composition of plant and animal species. However, in contrast to aquatic taxa, beaver engineering impacts on terrestrial taxa, like bats, are so far largely overlooked. While it has been shown that bats prefer beaver-engineered ecosystems, the reason for this choice is poorly understood. We hypothesized that this preference may be associated with beaver-related changes in habitat characteristics and food availability. To address this knowledge gap, we recorded bat species richness, activity and feeding activity in eight beaver-engineered ecosystems (pool) with paired control sites without beavers (control) along the same stream in Switzerland. In addition, we collected data on food availability (arthropods) with arthropod flight interception traps and characterized habitat suitability with deadwood volume and vegetation surveys, as well as assessing canopy heterogeneity based on different digital height models. The nighly bat species richness increased from four to five species between control and pool sites. Bat activity increased 1.6 times and bat feeding activity 2.3 times in beaver-engineered systems compared to controls. These increases in richness and activity were explained by higher volumes of standing deadwood, higher canopy heterogeneity and higher arthropod abundance in beaver systems compared to controls. Overall, the volume of standing deadwood, a critical resource for bat roosting and foraging, had a stronger effect on bat species richness than canopy heterogeneity or arthropod availability. Bat feeding guilds (short-, mid-, long-range echolocators) responded differently to beaver-engineered habitat changes, with edge-hunting mid-range species benefiting the most. Our findings suggest that beaver engineering created structurally diverse habitats that supported a broader range of bat species. By modifying both habitat structure and prey abundance, beaver engineering affected bat activity, richness, and feeding activity directly and indirectly. These changes operated across aquatic-terrestrial boundaries, highlighting the cross-ecosystem influence and ecological complexity of ecosystem engineering.</p>","PeriodicalId":14934,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Animal Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145064522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}