Food Webs最新文献

{"title":"Friends at all times, enemies sometimes? A record of intraguild predation of hoverfly larvae by the social wasp in an urban crop in southeastern Brazil","authors":"Glauco Cássio de Sousa Oliveira ,&nbsp;Rogério Henrique Custódio ,&nbsp;Letícia Vieira ,&nbsp;Marcos Magalhães de Souza","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00459","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00459","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agroecosystems experiencing aphid outbreaks frequently attract diverse aphidophagous predators, which may lead to intraguild predation (IGP). IGP can interfere with food webs within aphidophagous guilds by altering predator–prey dynamics and may also affect ecosystem services, such as biological control. However, this complex and ephemeral interaction is difficult to detect and measure in the field. In this context, the present study aimed to document the unidirectional IGP of <em>Allograpta aff.</em> <em>e</em><em>xotica</em> Wiedemann, 1830 (Diptera: Syrphidae) larvae by the social wasp <em>Polybia ignobilis</em> (Haliday, 1836) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in an urban kale crop in southeastern Brazil. Although the ecological and management consequences of this interaction remain limited, we provide evidence of a previously undocumented IGP involving aphidophagous species (Vespidae vs. Syrphidae). Future research may clarify whether the release of aphids from intermediate predator (<em>A. aff. exotica</em>) pressure by the top predator (<em>P. ignobilis</em>) interferes with the biological control of these pests, as well as its effects on the population dynamics of food webs involving these insects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article e00459"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148184514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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-term introduction of western honeybees reorganizes pollination network in a Tibetan alpine meadow","authors":"Ruimin An,&nbsp;Shucun Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00458","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00458","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The introduction of managed western honeybees (<em>Apis mellifera</em>) is often assumed to disrupt native ecosystems by competitively displacing local pollinators and altering plant communities. However, the simultaneous impacts on pollinator community composition, and plant-pollinator network properties remain poorly integrated. This study investigated these effects in a Tibetan alpine meadow with a long history of apiculture by comparing sites close to and distant from apiaries. Using field surveys and pollen transport network analysis, we demonstrate that while <em>Apis mellifera</em> significantly reduced the abundance of native bees, it concurrently increased the abundance of dipterans (specifically Tachinidae and Syrphidae). This shift is driven by a cascading effect: honeybees facilitate the proliferation of specific preferred host plants, creating a resource pulse that supports increased fly populations. Regarding network topology, honeybee introduction increased modularity and functional complementarity but did not alter network nestedness or robustness in general. These findings suggest that rather than simply simplifying the ecosystem, introduced honeybees reorganize the pollination network. Although the compensatory surge in fly populations maintains network structural robustness to some extent, the lower pollination efficiency of these opportunistic visitors compared to the displaced specialized native bees implies a potential functional degradation. This shift may fail to guarantee plant reproductive success, thereby posing a threat to the long-term persistence of the plant community.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article e00458"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148184513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Diet of the great horned owl Bubo virginianus nigrescens in an Andean forest remnant, northern Ecuador and a review of the subspecies' dietary patterns","authors":"Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia ,&nbsp;Elias Viteri-Basso ,&nbsp;Jorge Brito","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00432","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00432","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the feeding ecology of top avian predators is crucial to unravelling trophic interactions and informing conservation strategies. Great Horned Owl <em>Bubo virginianus</em>, although among the most widespread nocturnal raptors in America, remains understudied in the northern Andes. We investigated the diet of the Andean subspecies <em>B. v. nigrescens</em> in an inter-Andean valley of northern Ecuador and compiled a literature review of its dietary patterns across the subspecies' range in Colombia and Ecuador. We analysed 57 pellets (43 complete, 14 fragmented) collected each December from 2014 to 2017. The 106 identified prey items comprised mammals as the primary food source (73 % of items, 94 % of total estimated biomass), with Andean White-eared Opossum <em>Didelphis pernigra</em> (66 % of biomass) and Black Rat <em>Rattus rattus</em> (22 % of biomass) contributing the largest share. Smaller native and introduced rodents were also common (48 % of all items), while other groups appeared less frequently: birds (10 %), frogs (5 %), bats (3 %) and Scarabaeid beetles (12 % by count but ∼0.1 % of biomass), underscoring the owl's generalist foraging. Because our empirical sampling was restricted to a single pair and a single month per year, intra-annual shifts cannot be assessed here and some prey groups may be underrepresented; we therefore interpret patterns conservatively. A new record of predation on a young Domestic Cat <em>Felis catus</em> highlights adaptability to urbanised landscapes. Our literature review revealed seven studies spanning páramo to inter-Andean valleys showing similar trends across Colombia and Ecuador, with mammalian prey—often rabbits in higher elevations—dominant throughout, and highlights geographic gaps (e.g., northern Peru, large portions of Ecuador and Colombia). These findings suggest that <em>B. v. nigrescens</em> exhibits a flexible feeding ecology, capitalising on native and non-native prey. However, shifting land-use practices may affect prey availability and pose future challenges for this apex predator. Coordinated, year-round, multi-elevation studies would clarify seasonal variation and broader ecological dynamics, guiding conservation efforts in tropical mountain ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article e00432"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145841036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Seasonal temperature changes and local environment affect the disappearance of small bird carcasses in a Japanese cool-temperate forest landscape","authors":"Atsushi Mashiko ,&nbsp;Masayuki U. Saito","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00439","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00439","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the effects of seasonal temperature changes and local environmental variations on the disappearance of small bird carcasses in a cool-temperate forest landscape in northeastern Japan. Field experiments were conducted from August to November 2023 in broadleaf forests, cedar plantations, forest edges, and forest roads, at both ground and tree sites. The results showed that the disappearance rate of carcasses decreased significantly with decreasing temperature, with distinct dynamics observed between vertical strata. The composition of the scavengers also varied with seasonal temperature changes; on the ground, while vertebrate scavenging was prevalent during warmer periods, small mammals became relatively more dominant as temperatures decreased. In trees, burying beetles and other invertebrates were the primary consumers in summer, whereas the lack of active scavengers in colder seasons led to significantly higher carcass persistence. The results suggest that seasonal temperature changes and local environmental variations interact to influence the disappearance of small bird carcasses by altering the topology of scavenger interactions across forest strata.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article e00439"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Beyond hydration: predation by terrestrial vertebrates on semi-aquatic prey in temporary water bodies of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico","authors":"Viviana E. Chan-Quiñones ,&nbsp;Carlos M. Delgado-Martínez ,&nbsp;Eduardo Reyes-Grajales ,&nbsp;Tristan Menant-Leclercq ,&nbsp;David Mayor ,&nbsp;Cintia Avendaño ,&nbsp;Eduardo Mendoza","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00433","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00433","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The role of water bodies in meeting the hydration needs of terrestrial vertebrates is widely recognized across ecosystems; however, predator-prey dynamics involving terrestrial vertebrates and semi-aquatic prey inhabiting water bodies remain understudied, particularly in Neotropical ecosystems. Understanding these trophic interactions can shed light on ecosystem functioning and ecological resilience. To contribute to addressing this knowledge gap, we present novel records of predation on amphibians and freshwater turtles by terrestrial vertebrates in two regions of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Data were collected via camera traps deployed between 2018 and 2024 at temporary water bodies in seasonally dry tropical forests. We documented 20 predation events involving mammals such as ocelots (<em>Leopardus pardalis</em>), raccoons (<em>Procyon lotor</em>), and tayras (<em>Eira barbara</em>), as well as raptors like the Great Black Hawk (<em>Buteogallus urubitinga</em>) and the Roadside Hawk (<em>Rupornis magnirostris</em>). In all cases, predators used their forelimbs or talons to capture and manipulate prey from shallow water, targeting anurans and <em>Kinosternon</em> turtles. These observations suggest that temporary water bodies serve as valuable and predictable foraging sites by concentrating semi-aquatic prey available for terrestrial predators. Our findings highlight the ecological importance of temporary aquatic habitats in supporting trophic interactions and maintaining ecosystem function within seasonally dry tropical forests.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article e00433"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145791664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"The isotopic niche breadth of aquatic insects increases with elevation in neotropical mountain streams","authors":"Diego M.P. Castro ,&nbsp;Robert M. Hughes ,&nbsp;Diego R. Macedo ,&nbsp;Marcos Callisto","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00429","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00429","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the ecological dynamics of upland streams along elevational gradients is crucial for conservation and management, particularly for critically endangered ecosystems, such as tropical mountains. This study examines aquatic insect basal resource assimilation and trophic niche breadth across a 500-m tropical elevation gradient (804 to 1319 m a.s.l.) in nine Brazilian upland streams. We analyzed stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) in multiple food resources (leaves, coarse particulate organic matter, fine particulate organic matter, and periphyton) and aquatic insect assemblages. Our results indicate that fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) is the primary basal energy source for aquatic insects across all sites, regardless of elevation or level of canopy cover. The isotopic niche breadth of insects increased significantly with elevation, suggesting greater trophic diversity at higher altitudes. This pattern may reflect a broader spectrum of resource use and adaptability to varying environmental conditions. Additionally, we observed significant depletion in ¹³C and ¹⁵N values for vegetation, periphyton, and insects with increasing elevation. Our results provide insights into how basal resource quality changes along an elevation gradient and highlight the importance of small elevational gradients in shaping ecological processes. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms driving isotopic variations along elevational gradients in tropical streams and to assess how the climate crisis affects food web dynamics in these ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article e00429"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145738985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Natural diet, trophic niche and prey selectivity of a euryphagous bark predator, Neotama mexicana (Araneae: Hersiliidae), in a semi-urban forest of Caldas, Colombia","authors":"Yeimy Alexandra Galvis-Cano ,&nbsp;Juliana Álvarez-Gómez ,&nbsp;Germán Rodríguez Castro ,&nbsp;Alfonso Aceves-Aparicio ,&nbsp;Luis E. Robledo-Ospina ,&nbsp;Luis Fernando García","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00438","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00438","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sit-and-wait predators often exploit resources efficiently by consuming a wide range of prey. This study provides the first assessment of the natural diet and prey selectivity of the bark spider <em>Neotama mexicana</em> (Hersiliidae) in a tropical humid forest in Manizales, Colombia. Both diurnal and nocturnal surveys were conducted to document actual and potential prey. A total of 102 prey items were recorded. Although no statistically significant positive selectivity was detected against the majority of prey, <em>N. mexicana</em> showed a marked tendency to consume spiders (particularly <em>Clubiona</em> and Anyphaenidae) and a lower tendency to feed on dipterans, hemipterans, hymenopterans, and psocopterans. These findings indicate that <em>N. mexicana</em> is a euryphagous predator, primarily consuming cursorial bark arthropods. Future studies should determine whether this feeding pattern is common among hersiliids, whether this species possesses morphological or behavioral adaptations for araneophagy, and how prey nutritional quality influences its diet.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article e00438"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Invasive black rats as the main prey species for native predators following fires in agricultural-forest landscapes of northern Patagonia","authors":"Alfredo H. Zúñiga ,&nbsp;Darío Moreira-Arce ,&nbsp;Pablo M. Vergara ,&nbsp;Alberto J. Alaniz ,&nbsp;Claudia Hidalgo-Corrotea ,&nbsp;Francisco Encina-Montoya ,&nbsp;Víctor Fuenzalida ,&nbsp;Andrés Muñoz-Pedreros ,&nbsp;Andrés Fierro ,&nbsp;Javier Cabello ,&nbsp;Juan José Toro-Letelier ,&nbsp;Jorge L. Morales","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fires may facilitate the invasion of exotic rodents, with effects that propagate to upper trophic levels. In the Patagonian region, native predators facing habitat disturbances can change their prey consumption towards exotic prey species, but this predator trophic behavior has not been documented in areas affected by fires. In this study, we assessed the importance of exotic rodents in the diet of chilla foxes (<em>Lycalopex griseus</em>) and barn owls (<em>Tyto furcata</em>) living in an agricultural-forest landscape of northern Patagonia affected by a fire. In this landscape, the scats and pellets of chilla foxes and barn owls, respectively, were surveyed and used to analyze changes in the diet of these predators before and after the fire. The dietary breadth of these predators exhibited a temporal fire-induced decline. The exotic black rat (<em>Rattus rattus</em>) was the only prey whose consumption by barn owls and chilla foxes increased after the fire. After the fire, barn owls and chilla foxes reduced their relative consumption of native rodents and other prey when compared to the consumption of black rats. Our results indicate fires modify the dietary composition of native predators, from a diet based on native rodents to another dominated by exotic rodents. Black rats can compensate the loss of prey native to northern Patagonia, with barn owls and chilla foxes adjusting their diets to exotic prey availability after fires. However, the conservation implications of fires on native predators require a long-term evaluation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article e00441"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Seed dispersal by bats in naturally restored mining areas of the Eastern Amazon","authors":"Vandressa Regina Nunes Henriques ,&nbsp;Heitor Antunes de Castro ,&nbsp;Thayse Cristine Melo Benathar ,&nbsp;Roberta Macedo Cerqueira ,&nbsp;Maria Aparecida Lopes ,&nbsp;Marlúcia Bonifácio Martins ,&nbsp;Leonardo Carreira Trevelin","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00440","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00440","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Frugivorous bats play a crucial role in forest regeneration, but their contribution to post-mining landscapes is poorly studied. We assessed seed richness dispersed by frugivorous bats in natural regeneration areas (PRAD) and adjacent forest remnants (FN) in a bauxite mining region in Paragominas, Pará, Brazil. During five mist-net capture campaigns, we captured 829 bats of 21 species, with 11 frugivorous species contributing seeds of 11 plant species, primarily pioneers such as <em>Solanum paludosum</em>, <em>Banara guianensis</em>, and <em>Cecropia palmata</em>. Rarefaction and extrapolation curves indicated similar seed richness between PRAD and FN, suggesting that bats exploit both habitats comparably. Fruit availability was the main factor influencing seed richness in bat feces, with ripe fruit positively associated and dehiscent fruit negatively associated with the number of seed species dispersed. These results highlight that bats support natural regeneration in post-mining areas by dispersing seeds widely, emphasizing their ecological importance. Promoting early fruit availability can enhance seed dispersal and accelerate forest recovery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article e00440"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Seasonal variation in trophic interactions and niche partitioning among spider guilds associated with rupicolous bromeliads in the Brazilian Caatinga","authors":"Jaqueiuto Silva Jorge ,&nbsp;Adriano Caliman","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00443","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bromeliads are recognized as keystone structures that support complex arthropod communities, particularly in seasonally stressed environments. This study investigated how climatic seasonality shapes trophic interactions and niche partitioning among spider families associated with the rupicolous bromeliad <em>Encholirium spectabile</em> in the Caatinga domain. Field data were collected following a standardized protocol over eight years (2011–2018), encompassing over 5500 h of systematic diurnal and nocturnal sampling across dry and rainy seasons. We constructed both binary and abundance-weighted trophic networks, evaluated modularity, nestedness, and specialization (H′₂), and calculated Levin's index (B′) for seasonal niche breadth. We recorded 2290 spiders (19 families) and 28,860 potential prey items (19 groups). Spider families exhibited pronounced seasonal variation in abundance and resource use, with significant shifts in network topology between seasons. During the resource-limited dry season, networks showed higher specialization (H′₂ = 0.59) and nestedness (NODF = 9.62), with active hunters and web-builders forming distinct trophic modules. In the rainy season, increased prey availability led to reduced specialization (H′₂ = 0.12), lower modularity, and broader dietary overlap. Ambush predators demonstrated the widest seasonal niche breadth (B′ = 0.882), indicating a generalist, opportunistic strategy. The results demonstrate that seasonal environmental filters dynamically reorganize food-web structure and drive temporal niche partitioning among predators, highlighting the role of bromeliads as stable habitats that maintain predator-prey interactions year-round in a semi-arid ecosystem.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article e00443"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147420713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}