{"title":"Report on an outbreak of coral-killing sponge Clathria (Microciona) aceratoobtusa in an unprotected reef of the Gulf of Mannar, India","authors":"K. D. Raj, Jonathan Samuel Emmett, G. Mathews","doi":"10.1017/S0266467422000487","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467422000487","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Global climate change has aggravated the severity of space competition put up by marine sponges in the tropical coral reef ecosystems. We report here an outbreak of coral-killing sponge Clathria (Microciona) aceratoobtusa (Carter, 1887) over live coral colonies of the genus Turbinaria in an unprotected reef (mainland patch reef) in the Gulf of Mannar in India. An outbreak of this orange-reddish sponge was observed during an explorative dive in April 2020. Live coral cover in the reef was 62.06% (SD±3.36), which was dominated by the genus Turbinaria with 82.31%. Among the total of 549 Turbinaria colonies counted in five transects, 21.86% (n = 120) of colonies were found infested by the sponge. As the mainland patch reef lies outside the boundary of marine protected area, it is exposed to human-induced threats, apart from climate change implications. This report would serve as an evidence to indicate the intensity of the space competition waged by sponges in a disturbed reef ecosystem.","PeriodicalId":49968,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43103629","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}
S. Borges, Deyse Darse D’Aquino, Marcela Victória da Cruz, Ramison Felipe de Souza
{"title":"Turnover in fish species composition is related to water colour of Amazonian rivers","authors":"S. Borges, Deyse Darse D’Aquino, Marcela Victória da Cruz, Ramison Felipe de Souza","doi":"10.1017/S0266467422000451","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467422000451","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Variation in water colour is a remarkable characteristic of Amazonian rivers and reflects their limnological properties and the geomorphology of sub-basins. We present here a literature-based study to examine the relationships between fish species turnover and abiotic properties of Amazonian rivers with contrasting water colours. We analysed fish records and water physicochemical properties (pH, colour, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, ammonia and suspended solids) of eight Amazonian rivers with white-, black- and clearwaters. Rivers with similar water colour shared more fish species than those that contrasted in colour. Increased differences in abiotic parameters imply an increased dissimilarity in fish species composition. Species composition is also related to distance among rivers with high dissimilarity observed in rivers distant to each other. The fish species turnover could be ultimately driven by the geological history of rivers which provides different opportunities to speciation and biotic interchange. Water types likely influence species turnover by selecting fishes with different limits of physiological tolerance and specialized use of different habitat types. Our findings suggest that river water colours are reliable proxies for historical and ecological mechanisms affected fish species distribution. Antropic disturbances of Amazonian rivers with distinct water colours could threaten unique fish assemblages.","PeriodicalId":49968,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45682974","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}
G. Williams‐Linera, Javier Tolome, C. Alvarez-Aquino
{"title":"Hail-caused greenfall leaves, litterfall, nutrients, and leaf decomposition in tropical cloud forest and a restoration planting","authors":"G. Williams‐Linera, Javier Tolome, C. Alvarez-Aquino","doi":"10.1017/S0266467422000475","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467422000475","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Greenfall leaves caused by hailstorms may represent a resource pulse of nutrients. We determined the contribution of greenfall versus senescent leaves to total litterfall production, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus input to the system, and leaf decomposition rate. Litterfall was collected monthly for three years in two cloud forests (F1, F2) and a restoration planting area (R) in Veracruz, Mexico. Two fortuitous hailstorms occurred in the second year. Leaf decomposition rate was determined in all three sites but did not differ across them. Total annual litterfall, excluding greenfall, was 10.0, 10.1, and 7.7 Mg ha−1 y−1 for F1, F2, and R, respectively. Senescent leaves represented 65% of the litterfall, while greenfall leaves increased the annual leaf biomass component of the litterfall by 12%. Concentrations of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were 2.3, 5.7, and 18.1% higher, respectively, in greenfall than in senescent leaves. Greenfall increased the annual input of C, N, and P by 12, 13, and 14%, respectively. Despite their short duration (approximately 70 minutes), the hailstorm events generated a substantial contribution of greenfall leaves and a source of extra C, N, and P, since these leaves decompose and are incorporated into the cloud forest system.","PeriodicalId":49968,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45237315","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}
Isabel Cristina C. Guedes, B. L. C. de Moraes, R. Hilário, J. P. Souza‐Alves
{"title":"Correlates of plant β-diversity in Atlantic Forest patches in the Pernambuco Endemism Centre, Northeastern Brazil","authors":"Isabel Cristina C. Guedes, B. L. C. de Moraes, R. Hilário, J. P. Souza‐Alves","doi":"10.1017/S0266467422000426","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467422000426","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Understanding how vegetation structure and floristic composition vary across landscapes is fundamental to understand ecological patterns and for designing conservation actions. In a patch-landscape approach, we assessed the β-diversity (q0 order – rare species, q1 order – common species, and q2 order – dominant species) of plants between forest patches and surveyed plots in Atlantic Forest patches located in the Pernambuco Endemism Centre, northeastern Brazil. Furthermore, we tested the influence of predictor variables linked to landscape (forest cover and edge density) and habitat (basal area), as well as the geographical distance between forest patches and plots on the β-diversity in each forest patch and plot. We measured and identified a total of 1,682 individuals (trees and lianas), corresponding to 248 species, 116 genera, and 56 families in 10 plots (50 × 2 m) from each forest patch. The β-diversity presented lower values for the Mata de Água Azul patch at a landscape scale (i.e., between forest patches) and Mata dos Macacos patch at a site scale (i.e., between plots) for all orders. Geographical distance positively influenced the β-diversity at the landscape scale, and higher turnover between plots (e.g., within forest patches) was positively associated with differences in geographical distance, edge density, forest cover, and basal area. Our results indicate the need to conserve forest patches distributed across a wide area (distant sites) that encompass different landscape contexts with different vegetation structures, in order to conserve greater floristic diversity.","PeriodicalId":49968,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48130600","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}
Fotoula Papandreou, J. Hodeček, Vincent Maicher, Sylvain Delabye, T. Pyrcz, R. Tropek
{"title":"Larger insects in a colder environment? Elevational and seasonal intraspecific differences in tropical moth sizes on Mount Cameroon","authors":"Fotoula Papandreou, J. Hodeček, Vincent Maicher, Sylvain Delabye, T. Pyrcz, R. Tropek","doi":"10.1017/S0266467422000463","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467422000463","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Bergmann’s Rule describes an increase in the body size of endothermic animals with decreasing environmental temperatures. However, in ectothermic insects including moths, some of the few existing studies investigating size patterns along temperature gradients do not follow the Bergmann’s Cline. Intraspecific differences in moth sizes along spatiotemporal temperature gradients are unknown from the Palaeotropics, hindering general conclusions and understanding of the mechanism responsible. We measured intraspecific forewing size differences in 28 Afrotropical moth species sampled in 3 seasons along an elevational gradient on Mount Cameroon, West/Central Africa. Size increased significantly with elevation in 14 species but decreased significantly in 5 species. Additionally, we found significant inter-seasonal size differences in 21 species. Most of these variable species had longer forewings in the transition from the wet to dry season, which had caterpillars developing during the coldest part of the year. We conclude that environmental temperature affects the size of many Afrotropical moths, predominantly following prevailingly following Bergmann’s Cline. Nevertheless, the sizes of one-third of the species demonstrated a significant interaction between elevation and season. The responsible mechanisms can thus be assumed to be more complex than a simple response to ambient temperature.","PeriodicalId":49968,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43520925","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}
Marcelo Martins Ferreira, B. S. Xavier, P. E. Bobrowiec, Isaí Jorge de Castro, R. Hilário, A. C. da Cunha, Leidiane Leão de Oliveira, J. J. Toledo, W. D. Carvalho
{"title":"Bat diversity is driven by elevation and distance to the nearest watercourse in a terra firme forest in the northeastern Brazilian Amazon","authors":"Marcelo Martins Ferreira, B. S. Xavier, P. E. Bobrowiec, Isaí Jorge de Castro, R. Hilário, A. C. da Cunha, Leidiane Leão de Oliveira, J. J. Toledo, W. D. Carvalho","doi":"10.1017/S0266467422000438","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467422000438","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Variations in environmental conditions along gradients play an important role in species distribution through environmental filtering of morphological and physiological traits; however, their effects on bat diversity remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the effect of the distance to the nearest watercourse, terrain elevation, vegetation clutter, basal area and canopy height on taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity and on the predominance of some functional traits (body mass, wing morphology and trophic level) of bat assemblages (phyllostomid and mormoopid bats) in a terra firme forest, in the northeastern Brazilian Amazon. We captured bats using mist nets in 15 permanent plots over a 25 km2 area of continuous forest. We captured 279 individuals belonging to 28 species with a total of 77.760 m2.h of sampling effort. Our results showed that bat richness increases as a function of distance to the nearest watercourse and that the assemblage also changes, with more diverse taxonomic and functional groups in areas further from the watercourse. Furthermore, elevation positively affects species richness, and the basal area of the forest positively influences the average body mass of bats. Taken together, our results demonstrate that subtle variations in the environmental conditions along a local scale gradient impact on the main dimensions of bat diversity in primary forests.","PeriodicalId":49968,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Ecology","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42583715","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}
Landon R. Jones, Chelsey A. Hunts, L. Dolan, Natasha K. Murphy, Gabrielle N. Ripa, E. A. Schultz, Varsha S. Shastry, Craig A. Sklarczyk, Bradly Thornton, Melanie R. Boudreau
{"title":"Effects of seed size and toucan regurgitation on the germination of the tropical tree Eugenia uniflora","authors":"Landon R. Jones, Chelsey A. Hunts, L. Dolan, Natasha K. Murphy, Gabrielle N. Ripa, E. A. Schultz, Varsha S. Shastry, Craig A. Sklarczyk, Bradly Thornton, Melanie R. Boudreau","doi":"10.1017/S026646742200044X","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S026646742200044X","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Understanding the quality of seed dispersal effectiveness of frugivorous species can elucidate how endozoochory structures tropical forests. Large seeds, containing more resources for growth, and gut passage by frugivores, which remove seed pulp, both typically enhance the speed and probability of germination of tropical seeds. However, the interaction of seed size and gut passage has not been well studied. We assessed the role of two species of toucans (Ramphastos spp.) in seed germination of the tropical tree Eugenia uniflora, which produces seeds that vary considerably in size (3.7–14.3 mm), using 151 control and 137 regurgitated seeds in germination trials. We found that toucan regurgitation did not increase germination success, although 93.4% germinated compared to 76.8% of control seeds; however, larger seeds germinated more often at faster rates. Although only marginally significant, germination rates were 3.6× faster when seeds were both large and regurgitated by toucans, demonstrating that toucan regurgitation can disproportionally benefit larger E. uniflora seeds. As tropical forests are increasingly disturbed and fragmented by human activities, the ability of toucans to continue providing seed dispersal services to degraded habitats may be vital to the persistence of many tropical plants that contain larger seeds and depend on larger dispersers.","PeriodicalId":49968,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44073103","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}
Rocío Bardales, M. Hyde, Jenny Gallo, Valeria Boron
{"title":"National parks and conservation concessions: a comparison between mammal populations in two types of tropical protected areas in Ucayali, Peru","authors":"Rocío Bardales, M. Hyde, Jenny Gallo, Valeria Boron","doi":"10.1017/S0266467422000414","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467422000414","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Peru contains the second largest surface area of the Amazon biome. The Peruvian Amazon is threatened by logging, illegal crops, mining, and agricultural expansion. While a number of national parks exist in the Amazon region, privately managed areas like Conservation Concessions can be an attractive complement to existing parks. We compare medium and large mammal communities in a Conservation Concession in Ucayali with the nearby Parque Nacional Sierra del Divisor National Park and describe species relative abundance and richness of both protected areas. Results suggest that Conservation Concessions can harbour an important diversity of mammal species and could provide connections to larger protected areas. However, they are no substitutes for large protected areas, especially for sensitive and threatened species. Further research is needed to demonstrate their complementarity and improve landscape-level connectivity between conservation models.","PeriodicalId":49968,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48927963","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}
K. K. S. Koffi, K. Dosso, Marios Aristophanous, P. Moretto, Seydou Tiho, R. Wittig
{"title":"The influence of burial depth on germination and establishment of seeds in chimpanzee faeces, Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire","authors":"K. K. S. Koffi, K. Dosso, Marios Aristophanous, P. Moretto, Seydou Tiho, R. Wittig","doi":"10.1017/s0266467422000402","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/s0266467422000402","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 One of the many ecosystem services provided by dung beetles is that of secondary seed dispersal. This paper experimentally evaluates the effectiveness of this service using the chimpanzee–dung beetle seed dispersal system in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. The study focussed on the germination rate and success of four species of seeds contained in the faeces of Pan troglodytes verus: Dacryodes klaineana (Pierre) H.J. Lam, Diospyros mannii Hiern, Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Warb., and Uapaca guineensis Muell. Arg. For each species, 600 seeds, half from chimpanzee faeces and half from mother trees, were sown in nurseries at depths of 0, 2, 5, 10, and 15 cm (i.e. 120 seeds per depth; 60 from chimp and 60 from mother trees). After germination, only the seeds of Uapaca guineensis and Diospyros mannii sown at 2 and 5 cm had a >14% rate (between 14.2 and 30.8%) of germination and seedling establishment, regardless of seed origin. An increase in the depth of seed burial appears to negatively affect the probability of seedling emergence and establishment. This study shows that dung beetles have positive impacts on seed fate. However, for these plant species, the chimpanzee’s role is limited to that of primary seed dispersal.","PeriodicalId":49968,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42795435","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}
M. Alencar, A.P.O. Belo, J. L. A. Silva, A. E. Asato, Eduarda F. Gomes, Valéria S. de Oliveira, Jesiel de O. Teixeira, Otávio de S. Monte, Adriano S. Mota, Vitória M. L. Pereira, Sibele S. Dantas, G. H. S. Silva, B. Goto, A. F. Souza, Adriano Caliman
{"title":"Hard to predict! No clear effects of home-field advantage on leaf litter decomposition in tropical heath vegetation","authors":"M. Alencar, A.P.O. Belo, J. L. A. Silva, A. E. Asato, Eduarda F. Gomes, Valéria S. de Oliveira, Jesiel de O. Teixeira, Otávio de S. Monte, Adriano S. Mota, Vitória M. L. Pereira, Sibele S. Dantas, G. H. S. Silva, B. Goto, A. F. Souza, Adriano Caliman","doi":"10.1017/s0266467422000384","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/s0266467422000384","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The home-field advantage (HFA) hypothesis establishes that plant litter decomposes faster at ‘home’ sites than in ‘away’ sites due to more specialized decomposers acting at home sites. This hypothesis has predominantly been tested through ‘yes or no’ transplanting experiments, where the litter decomposition of a focal species is quantified near and away from their conspecifics. Herein, we evaluated the occurrence and magnitude of home-field effects on the leaf litter decomposition of Myrcia ramuliflora (O.Berg) N. Silveira (Myrtaceae) along a natural gradient of conspecific litterfall input and also if home-field effects are affected by litter and soil traits. Litter decomposition of M. ramuliflora was assessed through litterbags placed in 39 plots in a tropical heath vegetation over a period of 12 months. We also characterized abiotic factors, litter layer traits, and litter diversity. Our results indicated the occurrence of positive (i.e. Home-field advantage) and negative (i.e. Home-field disadvantage) effects in more than half of the plots. Positive and negative effects occurred in a similar frequency and magnitude. Among all predictors tested, only the community weighted mean C/N ratio of the litterfall input was associated with home-field effects. Our results reinforce the lack of generality for home-field effects found in the literature and thus challenge the understanding of litter-decomposer interaction in tropical ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":49968,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41749102","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}