Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Invertebrate herbivore damage of lowland plant species decreases after an experimental shift to higher altitudes","authors":"Karolína Jackwerth ,&nbsp;Dagmar Hucková ,&nbsp;Ondřej Mudrák ,&nbsp;Jan Klečka","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104099","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104099","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Many plant and animal species move to higher altitudes in response to climate warming, leading to new species co-occurrences and novel plant-animal interactions. These shifts can impact species diversity and community composition in mountain habitats. According to the enemy release hypothesis, plant expansion into new areas may be facilitated by reduced damage from natural enemies, like herbivores. While this mechanism is known to facilitate the spread of invasive species, it is unclear whether the uphill movement of native plants, in response to rising temperatures, is also aided by reduced herbivory at sites above their current altitudinal range. In our study, we experimentally tested this hypothesis. We compared herbivore damage of six species of lowland plants grown in pots exposed to herbivores at their native sites in the lowland and at sites above their current upper altitudinal limit. As a control, we also measured herbivore damage of six plants growing naturally across the entire range of altitude. We found that lowland plants had reduced herbivore damage when they were moved to highland sites, while herbivore damage of species naturally growing at both altitudes did not differ. Changes of herbivore damage were modulated by leaf dry matter content, specific leaf area and to a lesser degree also by plant height. Our results support the enemy release hypothesis in the context of altitudinal range shifts. We conclude that reduced herbivore damage may help plants spread above their current upper altitudinal limit in response to rising temperatures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"128 ","pages":"Article 104099"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144231212","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":"Earthworm: a keystone species of soil quality, health and functions","authors":"Yahya Kooch ,&nbsp;Mehdi Heydari ,&nbsp;Mohammad Kazem Parsapour ,&nbsp;Orsolya Valkó","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104106","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104106","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil science encompasses two fundamental concepts, soil quality and health, which are closely intertwined with soil functions and ecosystem services. Earthworms, recognized as keystone species and ecosystem engineers, constitute the largest portion of animal biomass in soils and serve as vital indicators within the soil quality-health-function nexus. This review article examines the pivotal role of earthworms in ecosystem services, including the development of soil structure, nutrient cycling, and regulation of water regimes, primary production, and pollution reduction. Globally, earthworms exert a significant influence on soil carbon dynamics, particularly in dryland ecosystems, and their impact is anticipated to increase in the future. However, it remains challenging to ascertain whether earthworms function predominantly as a net sink or source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) within soil systems. While these active soil organisms enhance soil carbon sequestration, they also contribute to the emission of GHG sources (CO₂ and N₂O). Consequently, earthworm community activity serves as a valuable indicator of soil quality and health, particularly in response to various management practices or ecosystem disturbances. A comprehensive understanding of the functional roles of earthworm communities is therefore essential. Developing multivariate soil health indices that incorporate both the ecosystem services and disservices mediated by earthworms will help bridge the gap between ecological theory and practical land management. This approach is crucial for addressing global challenges related to soil sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"128 ","pages":"Article 104106"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144679223","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":"Knock-down resistance to heat stress of Atta cephalotes in urban environments","authors":"Mauricio Rengifo-Ruiz ,&nbsp;James Montoya-Lerma ,&nbsp;Vanessa Muñoz-Valencia","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104076","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104076","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Temperature is one of the main environmental factors affecting all living organisms, impacting survival and reproduction. In cities, the speed of urbanization is associated with an increase in temperatures and leads to the creation of urban heat islands (UHIs). In the tropics, the temperature differential between urban and rural zones can reach up to 12 °C, a condition that might favour the spread of some insect species due to their ability to adapt to high temperatures. In this study, we evaluated the plasticity of the ant <em>Atta cephalotes</em> when the temperature increases due to the UHI effect. A total of 8000 ants were collected from two different zones (inside the UHI and outside the UHI) in the city of Cali, Colombia. Five different temperatures were tested using an environmental chamber, ranging from 38 to 42 °C in 1 °C increments. Knock-down was recorded when ants ceased to move. A linear mixed model and Cox model with mixed effects were used to test the knock-down time and probability of survival at the treatment temperatures. Although no clear differences were found between the two zones, this study reveals for the first time the capacity of <em>A. cephalotes</em> to tolerate high basal temperatures regardless of the environment. This represents evidence of the high basal thermotolerance of this ant species to thermal stress in tropical UHI environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"127 ","pages":"Article 104076"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143847629","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":"Carbon and phosphorus content in soil influences the localized abundance of tree fern Alosphila spinulosa in panchase protected forest area, Nepal","authors":"Bijay Bashyal ,&nbsp;Chandra Mani Aryal ,&nbsp;Lila Paudel ,&nbsp;Kumod Lekhak ,&nbsp;Man Kumar Dhamala","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104082","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104082","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tree ferns hold significant ecological and socioeconomic value. In Nepal, they have restricted distribution, occurring in a few patches from eastern to central Nepal. In the localities where they occur, tree ferns are threatened by various anthropogenic pressures. Despite these threats, the influence of environmental variables on the localized distribution and abundance of the species is poorly understood in the country, hindering our ability to devise and implement tailored conservation actions. Our study aimed to investigate the influence of edaphic factors on tree fern abundance in the Panchase Protected Forest Area (PPFA), Central Nepal. This investigation may provide insights into specific factors that can be managed on a fine scale to conserve their populations. We surveyed 43 plots measuring 20 m × 20 m to record the tree fern abundance and collect soil samples. Composite soil samples obtained from the four corners of each plot at a depth of 15 cm were prepared and further analyzed in the laboratory using standard methods for each parameter. An independent sample <em>t</em>-test was applied to assess the difference in site characteristics between tree fern-present and absent sites. Generalized linear regression (Poisson family) was used to examine the fine-scale factors associated with tree fern abundance. Tree fern abundance was found to be correlated with the availability of soil phosphorus and soil carbon. Soil carbon was found to be the most important factor determining the tree fern abundance. A unit increase in percentage soil carbon increases the abundance of tree fern by 47 %, while a unit increase in phosphorus increases the abundance by 1.1 %. Soil pH has a positive influence on the abundance, while nitrogen content has a negative influence, though the relationship was not significant. Our findings emphasize the importance of managing edaphic variables for the conservation of the species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"127 ","pages":"Article 104082"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143941646","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":"Discovering threatened freshwater turtles by an innovative floating camera trap system","authors":"Olivier Le Duc ,&nbsp;Charlotte Ducotterd ,&nbsp;Cédric Bordes ,&nbsp;Thong Van Pham ,&nbsp;Benjamin Leprince ,&nbsp;An Thanh Le ,&nbsp;Vinh Quang Luu ,&nbsp;Bao Quang Tran ,&nbsp;Luca Luiselli","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104081","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104081","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Camera traps are widely used for terrestrial wildlife monitoring but remain underutilized for aquatic species due to inherent challenges in freshwater environments. Freshwater turtles, particularly the critically endangered Swinhoe's softshell turtle (<em>Rafetus swinhoei</em>), are notoriously difficult to observe in the wild. Here, we present a novel floating camera trap system specifically designed to enhance the probability of detecting this elusive species in a historical habitat. Seven floating camera traps were deployed in a lake in northern Vietnam, operating for a cumulative 420 camera-trap days and capturing 33,846 images. Among these, one image documented the head of a large softshell turtle exhibiting morphological characteristics apparently consistent with only <em>R. swinhoei</em>, providing critical evidence of its likely continued presence in the wild. Additionally, the system recorded multiple freshwater reptile species, including other threatened turtles, demonstrating its broader applicability for freshwater biodiversity assessments. Our results confirm (i) the effectiveness of floating camera traps in detecting freshwater species and (ii) the potential survival of <em>R. swinhoei</em> in northern Vietnam, a pivotal finding for global turtle conservation. The system is lightweight, cost-effective, and easily replicable, offering a scalable tool for non-invasive monitoring of freshwater ecosystems and rare aquatic taxa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"127 ","pages":"Article 104081"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143847630","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 regeneration of low-elevation mountain forests along a stand composition gradient","authors":"Marcin K. Dyderski ,&nbsp;Paweł Horodecki ,&nbsp;Mateusz Rawlik ,&nbsp;Andrzej M. Jagodziński","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104080","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104080","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ecosystems of higher latitudes and elevations are more vulnerable to environmental changes. In the case of retreat of forest-forming tree species, recognition of natural regeneration patterns is essential for evidence-based forest management and nature conservation. We aimed to assess relationships transition from spruce to beech and sycamore-ash low-elevation mountain forests, and to determine drivers of their natural regeneration. We hypothesized that retreat of ash and spruce will promote beech natural regeneration and that stand species composition, together with soil pH and light availability will limit the abundance of natural regeneration. We assessed stand structures and natural regeneration within 32 plots systematically distributed along streams in Stołowe Mountains National Park (SW Poland). We used ordination methods to assess gradients of stand and natural regeneration species composition and we developed generalized linear mixed-effects models of natural regeneration density. We revealed a gradient of stand and natural regeneration species composition from artificial spruce stands through beech forests to the ravine and riparian ash-sycamore-maple forests. We also showed that regeneration of beech, ash, and spruce is determined by humus layer thickness, light availability, soil pH, total deadwood mass, and stand composition. The present continuum of forest vegetation is already threatened by the retreat of two important tree species, typical of both ends of compositional gradient – spruce and ash. Beech regeneration in spruce forests will help in the restoration of mixed forests, typical of the low-elevation mountain forest belt. Therefore, such stands will require fewer conservation efforts. Ash can survive and its conservation in low-elevation mountain forests will require monitoring of both optimal and suboptimal sites. Here encroachment of beech can lead to biotic homogenization of broadleaved forests, however a simultaneous increase in proportion of sycamore maple will differentiate stands with different geomorphological characteristics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"127 ","pages":"Article 104080"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143850665","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":"Variation of canopy openness of tropical rainforests of Sri Lanka with altitude and azimuth angle","authors":"R.M. Chameesha Madhumali ,&nbsp;W.M.P. Sampath B. Wahala ,&nbsp;H.K. Nimalka Sanjeewani ,&nbsp;Dilum P. Samarasinghe ,&nbsp;W.A. Janendra M. De Costa","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104084","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104084","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar radiation energy is a limiting factor for forest growth in humid tropical environments. Canopy openness, defined as the unobstructed visible sky fraction through a forest canopy when viewed from the ground level, influences the understory light regime and regeneration dynamics of a forest. In this work, our objectives were to determine the variation of canopy openness of tropical rainforests of Sri Lanka (TRFSLs) with altitude and azimuth (i.e. the compass direction). Furthermore, we explored the possible influence of differential radiation regimes, caused by variation of aspect and topography, on the observed variations in canopy openness with azimuth. We sought evidence from our data to support the hypothesis that forest canopies allocate greater leaf area to canopy segments facing azimuth angles which receive greater solar radiation. Hemispherical photography was used to capture canopy images of TRFSLs in ten 1 ha permanent sampling plots across an altitudinal range from 117 m to 2132 m above mean sea level. Fraction of visible sky (V_sky) in 144 sectors of the canopy hemisphere, defined by 18 zenith angle (ZnA) × 8 azimuth angle (AzA) segments, was determined using image analysis. Canopy openness, quantified as V_sky of the overall hemisphere, increased with increasing altitude. Canopy leaf area index, decreased linearly with altitude and had a negative relationship with V_sky. In eight out of the ten plots, canopy openness of the top one-third (ZnA = 0°–30°) of the hemisphere (V_sky(0-30)) was lower on the east (AzA = 90°) than on the west (AzA = 270°) with the difference ranging from 3 % to 52 %. Estimated solar irradiance levels and maps of projected shade on a majority of these plots and on-site solar irradiance measurements on selected plots showed that radiation receipt was greater during the pre-noon period than during the post-noon period. In the two plots which showed lower V_sky(0-30) on the west, pre-noon solar irradiance was higher probably due to the presence of nearby mountains to the east of the plots which shaded the eastern side of the forest canopies during the pre-noon period. These results provide partial support for our hypothesis that forest canopies allocate greater leaf area to the side which receives greater irradiance. However, there was no consistent difference between V_sky(0-30) the northern (AzA = 0°) and the southern (AzA = 180°) canopy segments. Therefore, we conclude that our observations do not provide conclusive evidence to confirm the hypothesis that forest canopies allocate greater leaf area to canopy azimuth segments which receive greater solar radiation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"127 ","pages":"Article 104084"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143927418","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":"Spatial variation in population abundance of invasive Rattus rattus across coastal habitats of East African island archipelago","authors":"Teclamageni S. Mayeji ,&nbsp;Nsajigwa E. Mbije ,&nbsp;Christopher A. Sabuni ,&nbsp;David J. Kavana ,&nbsp;Amina R. Issae ,&nbsp;Martin J. Martin","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104086","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104086","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is well established that animal species exhibit variation in population across different habitats. Environmental and anthropogenic factors may contribute a lot to this. However, to what extent these factors affect species populations remains largely unexplained in most rodent species. We assessed the influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the variation in population abundance of <em>Rattus rattus</em> in the East African island archipelago. Sherman® live traps were used to capture <em>R. rattus</em> in various habitats categorised as mosaic landscape, coastal forest and shrub mosaic. High abundancies of <em>R. rattus</em> were recorded in mosaic landscapes and comparatively lower abundancies in coastal forests and shrub mosaics. Areas with higher abundancies of <em>R. rattus</em> were close to farmlands and human settlements characterized by low EVI and NDVI implying that areas with low EVI and NDVI associated with anthropogenic activities support high population abundance of <em>R. rattus</em>. Since <em>R. rattus</em> is a pest reported to cause significant food losses and a potential reservoir host of many zoonotic diseases, we advocate the implementation of management and control measures to control its population. Control measures should focus on managing species' populations through environmentally friendly approaches to avoid damage to other biodiversity. This goes in line with updating and formulating effective Integrative Pest Management plans and control measures for vertebrate pests in human habitats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"127 ","pages":"Article 104086"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144147173","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":"No need for niches in new ecology","authors":"C.J.M. Musters ,&nbsp;Geert R. de Snoo","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104075","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104075","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The concept of ‘niche’ has been extensively used to explain ecological patterns. However, the concept has been defined differently and is continuously under discussion. Does the concept truly help ecology become the predictive science we urgently need to stop the decline of biodiversity? To find an answer to this question, we discuss recent developments in ecological thinking based on agency, information, and complexity.</div><div>The ecological agent, usually referred to as an organism, continuously and autonomously decides how to act based on processing information that it collects from within—its experience and current state—and from its environment. The collective decisions of all organisms in a community together result in ecological patterns. These patterns may not always align with the patterns that humans perceive in the environment. This new approach to ecology implies a non-deterministic view of ecosystems, which are constantly changing at all levels of scale.</div><div>Community ecology would become an explanatory science if it could predict ecological patterns based on the information available to organisms and how these decide to act based on that information.</div><div>We argue that the concept of the niche is tied to traditional thinking rooted in a deterministic worldview about static ecosystems, which includes a fixed distribution of organisms in space and time. In the new ecological approach, the niche is no longer useful for accurate predictions of ecological patterns. However, we believe that new developments in machine learning – AI - may be helpful, given the vast amount of information involved in these predictions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"127 ","pages":"Article 104075"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143746662","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":"Anthropogenic termite mound erosion: Spatio-temporal distribution, biophysical characteristics and farmers’ perceptions in SW Uganda","authors":"Yasin Igga ,&nbsp;Ronald Twongyirwe ,&nbsp;John Bosco Nkurunungi ,&nbsp;Grace Kagoro-Rugunda ,&nbsp;Alfonse Opio ,&nbsp;Matthias Vanmaercke ,&nbsp;Anton van Rompaey ,&nbsp;Jean Poesen","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104078","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104078","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tension between termite mound existence and human activities is pervasive. But termite mound ecology, erosion and associated human perceptions remain poorly understood. In this paper, we report on the spatio-temporal distribution and biophysical characteristics of termite mounds in the Rwizi catchment in SW-Uganda, and associated human perceptions towards their presence in cropping and livestock ranches (agricultural land), peri-urban and pristine (national Park) ecosystems using a cross-sectional survey in combination with remote sensing and GIS. We mapped &gt;20,000 mounds detectable in Google Earth (GE) imagery over a period of 5 years (2016–2020) in an area approx. 1411 km², and characterized 328 mounds in detail: we collected 1968 termite-, &gt;400 vegetation- and 432 soil samples. We also interviewed 104 farmers to capture their (varied) perceptions on termite mounds. Our data show that sites in the national park had a significantly larger (p &lt; 0.05) mean area (m²) coverage of mounds compared to the agricultural and built up areas: Kiruhura (9042 ± 1874^a) (national park region), Isingiro (3907 ± 2648^b) (grazing and cropping region) and Mbarara (3687 ± 1081^b) (urban and peri-urban area) respectively. Biophysical analyses reinforce the fact that the termite mounds are ‘islands’ of nutrient and vegetation abundance in resource–scarce environments. <em>Macrotermes bellicosus</em> was the most dominant termite species, and mounds were spatially clustered (Moran's I: 0.4–0.96, p &lt; 0.05) but temporally varied. The majority of farmers (71.2 %) reported that they destroy termite mounds on their farms due to the perceived destructive nature of termites, especially with respect to agricultural pasture and settlement constructions. Termite mound erosion was however associated with education level, age and gender of farmers (χ² = 11.605, p = 0.001). Nonetheless, farmers perceived that termite mounds support mushroom growth (68.0 %) followed by alates (45.6 %) as the most important benefits. Ecological benefits (e.g., nutrient recycling) are lacking from farmers' views however. Improving farmer knowledge on the ecological importance of the termite mounds could better decision making and a balance between termite mound erosion and conservation in resource-poor environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"127 ","pages":"Article 104078"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143869811","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}