Rafael Costa Cardoso, Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira, Marconi Souza-Silva
{"title":"Caves’ environmental stability shaping subterranean biodiversity in the neotropics","authors":"Rafael Costa Cardoso, Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira, Marconi Souza-Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104036","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104036","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Caves, once thought to be isolated ecosystems\", are now understood to have intricate connections with surface environments, particularly evident at their entrances. These connections can significantly affect the microclimate within caves, leading to varying degrees of environmental stability. Our research explores the impact of microclimate conditions, specifically related to cave environmental stability, on biodiversity changes. We surveyed subterranean invertebrates during two different seasonal periods in 17 limestone caves in three karst regions in southeastern Brazil. Our analysis aimed to understand how environmental stability influences the overall richness of cave invertebrates and troglobitic species richness (restricted to subterranean habitats). We hypothesized that more stable caves would experience less fluctuation in relative species richness and lower turnover between seasons. Additionally, we anticipated that caves with greater environmental stability would harbor a higher richness of cave-restricted species in the function of their length. Our findings support these hypotheses, revealing a significant positive correlation between cave environmental stability and species richness. Caves with higher environmental stability demonstrated lower species turnover rates between seasons, indicating enhanced community stability. While environmental stability significantly affected species richness, its influence on cave-restricted species was comparatively less pronounced. This suggests a complex interplay of factors shaping the unique fauna of caves. Nonetheless, the implications of climate change underscore the importance of preserving the environmental stability of these ecosystems. Using environmental stability as a guide can help protect cave biodiversity from the adverse effects of climate change, contributing to broader conservation efforts for these unique habitats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 104036"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142534381","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":"Understorey-nesting bird community responses to land use in the Korup National Park, an Afrotropical rainforest in South-Western Cameroon","authors":"Jean Tonleu , Noelline Tsafack , Kadiri S. Bobo , Sebastien Lhoumeau , Wilfried G.T. Lontchi , Cyrille L.T. Tanebang , Mpoame Mbida","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104040","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104040","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tropical forest biodiversity is under immense pressure due to a combination of global and local factors, including climate change and intensive land use. Birds play an important role in tropical forest ecosystems, contributing significantly to various ecosystem services. This study examined the impact of deforestation on the richness and abundance of understorey-nesting bird communities along a land-use intensification gradient in the peripheral zone of Korup National Park, Southwest Cameroon. We selected 30 sampling plots, each covering 4 ha, across five habitat types: near-primary forest, secondary forest, disturbed forest, cocoa/coffee plantations, and annual food crop fields. A total of 236 understorey bird nests were identified, representing 16 species. Our findings revealed that land use intensity significantly influenced bird species richness and abundance. Primary and secondary forests provided 75% of the nesting species and 71% of the nests. However, 19% of the species either appeared or increased in cocoa/coffee plantations and annual crop fields. Among the feeding groups, frugivores were the most sensitive group to deforestation. This study corroborates the adverse effects of forest destruction on birds communities and highlights the urgent need to address the rapid and extensive forest conversion occurring within Korup National Park. Allowing secondary forests to regenerate and preserving large patches of primary forest are essential strategies to help understorey-nesting bird communities mitigate the impacts of global changes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 104040"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142706828","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}
Kanata Sakaya Inoue , Kohei Nakatsuji , Satoshi Koyama , Yuta Kobayashi , Tomohiro Yoshida
{"title":"Ant utilization of tree trunks in relation to environmental factors in a temperate forest","authors":"Kanata Sakaya Inoue , Kohei Nakatsuji , Satoshi Koyama , Yuta Kobayashi , Tomohiro Yoshida","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104039","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104039","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Forests exhibit complex three-dimensional structures, wherein abiotic factors vary both vertically and horizontally. The interaction between organisms and these factors drives the remarkable biodiversity within forests. Tree trunks serve as vital conduits for organisms moving vertically within the forest, facilitating biodiversity maintenance. Organisms moving vertically through tree trunks in forests face varying abiotic conditions, which may enhance their resilience to long-term environmental changes. Despite numerous studies comparing canopy and ground communities, the distribution of organisms across multiple strata remains poorly understood. Here, we explore the correlation between the horizontal distribution of ants in a forest and environmental factors (topography, tree size, tree species), with a specific focus on their presence on tree trunks. Visual observations were conducted to document ant species richness on tree trunks, supplemented by pitfall traps to quantify soil arthropod biomass, serving as an indicator of protein availability. The results revealed that ant species richness on tree trunks varied based on topography and tree species, showing a positive correlation with tree size. However, no significant relationship emerged between soil arthropod biomass and ant richness on tree trunks. Furthermore, no discernible trend suggesting that certain species were less likely to co-occur was observed; instead, a tendency for some species to co-occur was found. These findings highlight the horizontal heterogeneity in the distribution of ants with respect to topography, tree species, and tree size within the forest.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 104039"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142706829","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}
Rodrigo Gómez Alés , Franco Valdez Ovallez , Oscar A. Stellatelli , Ana E. Victorica Erostarbe , Rodrigo Nieva Cocilio , Ana P. Galdeano , Graciela M. Blanco , Juan Carlos Acosta
{"title":"Climatic seasonality and dominant species drive the temporal dynamics in a lizard assemblage in the Arid Chaco - Monte ecotone","authors":"Rodrigo Gómez Alés , Franco Valdez Ovallez , Oscar A. Stellatelli , Ana E. Victorica Erostarbe , Rodrigo Nieva Cocilio , Ana P. Galdeano , Graciela M. Blanco , Juan Carlos Acosta","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104038","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104038","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lizard assemblages are dynamic, influenced by both seasonal climatic changes and intrinsic population shifts. Climate plays a crucial role in shaping lizard phenology, or the timing of their biological events, which critically affects the spatiotemporal structure of sympatric populations. Understanding how species richness and abundance fluctuate over time, and how these changes are influences by temporal factors, is essential for distinguishing between variations caused by unpredictable external factors and underlying natural changes. This study aimed to characterize lizard assemblage structure and dynamics, as well as species demographics, over three consecutive years within an Arid Chaco - Monte ecotone in central-western Argentina. We also sought to assess the effects of environmental drivers (e.g., temperature, precipitation) on assemblage and population dynamics. Monthly samples were taken using pitfall traps from October 2015 to May 2018 within the protected area of the Valle Fértil Multiple Use Reserve. We captured 1446 lizards, representing 12 species. <em>Liolaemus chacoensis</em> was dominant in the assemblage, followed by <em>Teius teyou</em> and <em>Aurivela longicauda</em>. Species richness and diversity varied seasonally, peaking during summer and autumn. The lizard assemblage exhibited activity throughout all seasons, with significant temporal niche overlap between species. Reproduction and activity in lizards were highly seasonal, primarily occurring in spring and summer, likely due to low winter temperatures and highly seasonal rainfall. Our study shows that climate seasonality and the demographics of the dominant species significantly influence the temporal dynamics of lizard assemblages in the Arid Chaco-Monte ecotone of Argentina.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 104038"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142706905","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":"Functional divergence exists in mucilage-mediated seed dispersal, but not in germination of myxospermic Lepidium campestre and Lepidium draba (Brassicaceae)","authors":"Said Mohammed , Klaus Mummenhoff","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this study was to compare the role of mucilage in seed dispersal and germination of the two closely related invasive weed species, <em>Lepidium campestre</em> and <em>Lepidium draba</em>. The study investigated the staining patterns of mucilage and its effects on seed germination, water uptake, dehydration, adherence to sand particles and dispersal by wind, water and animals following standard protocols. The mucilaginous seeds of <em>L. campestre</em> had a higher pectin and cellulose content than <em>L. draba</em>. This difference has a significant effect on water uptake and retention. The mucilage increased water uptake in both species, with <em>L. campestre</em> seeds absorbing significantly more water (836% compared to 75% in <em>L. draba</em>). Remarkably, the mucilage of both species had very little effect on seed germination. Significantly, the seeds of <em>L. draba</em> readily germinated under dry conditions, suggesting that this species may have developed different germination strategies. In addition, the seeds and fruits of <em>L. draba</em> showed a higher potential for dispersal via water and wind, whereas those of <em>L. campestre</em> adhered to animals. Further, <em>L. campestre</em> seeds showed significantly stronger adherence to sand particles (1872%) compared to those of <em>L. draba</em> (445%). This suggests that <em>L. campestre</em> seeds are more likely to disperse locally and possibly adhere to animals or soil particles. Our results suggest that mucilage produce by the two invasive weed species results in different methods of dispersal, which may help explain differences in their distribution patterns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"125 ","pages":"Article 104042"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142706856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michael T. Stevens, Sydney O.H. McGovern , Laine S. Smith, Hailey E. Sermersheim, Joseph S. Fife
{"title":"Relationships between reproduction, growth, and tolerance to herbivory for the endangered plant clay phacelia (Phacelia argillacea)","authors":"Michael T. Stevens, Sydney O.H. McGovern , Laine S. Smith, Hailey E. Sermersheim, Joseph S. Fife","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2024.104014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The endangered plant clay phacelia (<em>Phacelia argillacea</em>) is endemic to Spanish Fork Canyon, Utah, USA. In addition to habitat loss and abiotic stressors, herbivory is one of clay phacelia's major threats, but negative effects of herbivory have not been quantified. To examine the effects of simulated herbivory by small mammals, we grew 300 clay phacelia plants in a greenhouse (20 replicates of 15 half-sibling families). After six months of growth, half of the plants were randomly assigned to a defoliation treatment that mimicked herbivory from ground squirrels. After providing additional time for growth and natural pollination, we collected seeds and harvested shoots and roots from a subset of the plants. Among the 15 half-sibling families, we found significant genetic variation in shoot mass and a significant correlation between total mass when defoliated and undefoliated, suggesting a strong genetic component to growth. Defoliation significantly reduced seed production, shoot production and root production by 29%, 32%, and 35%, respectively. For these traits, interactions between family (F) and defoliation (D) were not statistically significant, suggesting fixation for tolerance to herbivory. In contrast, for root-to-shoot ratio, there was a statistically significant F × D interaction, revealing genetic variation for tolerance to herbivory. Depending on the type, intensity, and timing of herbivory, clay phacelia may benefit from either increased allocation to shoots or to roots. In fact, tolerance in terms of reproduction was correlated with shoot mass when defoliated, while tolerance in terms of growth was correlated with root mass when defoliated.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 104014"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141434105","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}
Courtney J. Marneweck, W Maartin Strauss , Kerry Slater, Haemish I. Melville
{"title":"Predator movements are impacted by anthropogenic disturbance in a managed, forested landscape of East Texas","authors":"Courtney J. Marneweck, W Maartin Strauss , Kerry Slater, Haemish I. Melville","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2024.104013","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 104013"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X24000353/pdfft?md5=68795c5dd00914fd07a0cec8c0b8ddec&pid=1-s2.0-S1146609X24000353-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141434107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Winners and losers: Competition and the invasive grass Bromus inermis","authors":"David Ward , Ryan Utz","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104021","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Competition can cause the loss of certain species and concurrent dominance of other species, especially with invasive species. Here we explore the mechanisms behind competition between an invasive grass species, smooth brome <em>Bromus inermis</em>, and two dominant native grass species, big bluestem <em>Andropogon gerardi</em> and little bluestem <em>Schizachyrium scoparium. Bromus inermis</em> is now found in all contiguous states in the United States and may outcompete native species in North America, particularly when grazed. Grazing was simulated by cutting the plants once per year and three times per year, done monthly in the summer (plus an uncut control treatment). We grew all three species in the greenhouse as monocultures, as well as in a mix of <em>B. inermis</em> + <em>A. gerardi</em> and <em>B. inermis</em> + <em>S. scoparium</em>. We found that there was considerable yield suppression when smooth brome competed with both big- and little bluestem mixes with <em>B. inermis</em> after three cuts. Non-structural carbohydrates and total nitrogen declined considerably aboveground for the <em>B. inermis</em> + <em>A. gerardi</em> mix after three cuts. The clearest overall impact was that of cutting frequency, with plants receiving three cuts per season having lowest biomass. We conclude that the maintenance of biomass in <em>B. inermis,</em> despite the level of simulated herbivory, was probably the reason that they remained competitively dominant over the two native bluestem species.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 104021"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141945162","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}
Grzegorz Kuryło , Piotr T. Zaniewski , Leszek Bolibok , Andrzej Szczepkowski
{"title":"Biodiversity of polypores inhabiting Populus tremula L. within regenerating stands of the Białowieża Primeval Forest (E Poland)","authors":"Grzegorz Kuryło , Piotr T. Zaniewski , Leszek Bolibok , Andrzej Szczepkowski","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2024.104010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Human-induced disturbances have a significant impact on populations of polypores. In the 20th century, Białowieża Primeval Forest (BPF) was strongly affected by harvesting disturbance. As a result of natural regeneration, forest stands are composed predominantly of pioneer species regenerated in harvested areas. We asked how substrate type, stand age, site conditions, substrate size, and decay stage of post-clearcut stands affect species richness and composition of polypore communities inhabiting aspen <em>Populus tremula</em>.</p><p>Data was collected in broadleaf stands representing two levels of site conditions (mesic and wet) and two categories of age (young 30–60 years and old 80–110 years old), seven stands for each factor combination, a total of 28. In each forest stand 11 sampling plots were systematically established where basidiomata were registered on a 4-m fragment of the nearest log and up to a 4-m height of the nearest living aspen tree, a total of 308 samples for each substrate category. Due to the hierarchical structure of data, the influence of environmental variables on number of species registered was modeled with mixed effect models. The influence of environmental factors on polypore composition was assessed with db-RDA models.</p><p>Twenty-five species of polypores were found, including seven red-listed and one legally protected in Poland. The number of observed polypore species was significantly higher on logs and in older stands, but site conditions did not influence it. The stand age influenced the number of species on living trees but not on logs. The increase in log diameter and moderately advanced decay stage positively affected species number. The same factors were found to impact polypore community composition. The results confirm the high importance of aspen for polypore diversity maintenance.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 104010"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141595569","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":"Population density affects propensity to share gall space in a primitively social aphid","authors":"Clara M.J. Buchholtz , Donald G. Miller III","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In the vast majority of gall insects, solitary establishment of a gall is the rule, but the primitively social aphid <em>Tamalia coweni</em> exhibits communal gall occupation under conditions of increased competition for gall sites. Here we tested the hypothesis that gall-sharing rates are a function of variable population densities in galls and on leaves of the host plant. Current results, observed under natural density and temporal variation, demonstrate that population density is a strong predictor of co-occupation rates. Although basal leaf positions were more frequently chosen as gall-induction sites than distal ones, there was no evidence these sites were more likely to be co-occupied. In addition to spatial constraints, temporal constraints may be important in mediating primitive sociality in <em>T. coweni</em>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"124 ","pages":"Article 104019"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141732115","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}