Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Warming climate impacts on elevational shifts in expansive native synanthropic plants along the roads: Examples of four species","authors":"Jiří Dostálek ,&nbsp;Tomáš Frantík","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Roads are known to support the dispersal of plant species, especially along elevational gradients. We compared the elevational distributions of four expansive native synanthropic plant species along roadsides in the Orlické hory Mountains (Czech Republic) over a 40-year period. Two species (<em>Anthriscus sylvestris</em> and <em>Chaerophyllum aromaticum</em>) have distribution optima in lowlands and foothills, whereas the other two psychrophilic species (<em>Anthriscus nitidus</em> and <em>Chaerophyllum hirsutum</em>) have distribution optima at relatively high elevations. We found that the average elevation of these species, except for <em>Anthriscus sylvestris</em>, rose by 23–74 m. The maximum occurrence elevation of all the species rose by 98–248 m, except for <em>Chaerophyllum hirsutum</em>, which was limited by the maximum elevation of the studied area. On the other hand, the presence of psychrophilic <em>Anthriscus nitidus</em> and <em>Chaerophyllum hirsutum</em> in lower elevations stagnated or even decreased. This shift cannot be attributed only to changes in traffic frequency and appears to be consistent with changes associated with a warming climate.</div><div>Our results suggest that climate change may in some cases influence the spread of synanthropic expansive plants, and that roadsides of mountain roads may serve as early detection sites for shifts in species distributions, which can be attributed to changes in climate.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"126 ","pages":"Article 104063"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421114","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":"Woody biomass-carbon and soil organic carbon stock in subtropical forests of Garhwal Himalaya","authors":"Om Prakash Tiwari,&nbsp;Chandra Mohan Sharma,&nbsp;Stuti Rawat","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104059","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104059","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study was undertaken in ten important subtropical forests growing in foothills of Garhwal Himalaya to estimate the biomass and carbon in different tree components and variations in Soil Organic Carbon (hereinafter SOC) stocks. The sample plots were laid out using two ways stratified random sampling approach and the biomass was evaluated by applying linear regression equations. The soil samples were collected at three different depths viz., 0–10 cm, 11–30 cm and 31–60 cm to analyse the pH, bulk density and SOC stock. The tree density and TBC values significantly varied in different forest types and ranged from 300 ± 11.55 to 840 ± 15.55 trees ha⁻¹ and 12.55 ± 4.62 to 36.23 ± 5.77 m² ha⁻¹, respectively. The total biomass density values were recorded between 185.59 ± 1.23 Mg ha⁻¹ and 1572.1 ± 4.27 Mg ha⁻¹, whereas carbon stock values ranged from 82.64 ± 0.82 Mg C ha⁻¹ to 700.06 ± 2.85 Mg C ha⁻¹. The soil was acidic to alkaline in nature (indicated by the pH). The SOC stocks were significantly varied (F = 9.872, P &lt; 0.001) at various depths and altitudes reflecting values between 28.05 ± 5.66 Mg C ha⁻¹ to 98.89 ± 27.31 Mg C ha⁻¹. The diameter class distribution patterns of most of the forests have indicated a positive skewed curve, but considerable biomass was observed in higher dbh classes. Our results have indicated that the tree biomass depends more on the size class (Adj. R² = 0.3475; F = 133.5991; P &lt; 0.0001) instead of the structure metrics i.e., stand density (Adj. R² = 0.3036; P = 0.0573) and diversity (Adj. R² = 0.1232; P = 0.9136). This has revealed that the girth of species was the deciding factor to determine the biomass and carbon storage, not the density and diversity. High CO₂e values have indicated that the woody vegetation has immense capacity to regulate the carbon. Therefore, the role of uneven aged vegetation in accumulation of biomass and carbon in foothill regions of Garhwal Himalaya is noteworthy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"126 ","pages":"Article 104059"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135639","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":"Differences in foraging phenology dampen the impact of an invasive slug on ant-mediated seed dispersal of understory forest plants","authors":"K. Tan ,&nbsp;R.A. Ines ,&nbsp;C.M. Buono ,&nbsp;Q. Evans ,&nbsp;T.H.Q. Powell ,&nbsp;K.M. Prior","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104041","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104041","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seed-dispersal mutualisms are important ecosystem functions that, if disrupted, influence plant fitness and community structure. Anthropogenic stressors such as invasive species and climate change may independently or synergistically influence animal-mediated seed dispersal. <em>Aphaenogaster</em> sp. ants are the primary dispersers of myrmecochorous plants that produce diaspores or seeds with lipid-rich appendages (elaiosomes) that make them attractive to ants in eastern North American forest understories. An invasive slug, <em>Arion</em> sp., damages diaspores by consuming elaiosomes, rendering seeds unattractive to ants. Here, in one forest site, we examine if slugs negatively affect seed dispersal by assessing interactions between seed-dispersing ants and invasive slugs on four species of myrmecochores that release diaspores at different times. We performed an exclusion experiment, excluding slugs and ants to diaspores on depots, when diaspores of four myrmecochore species were released from fruits. We also conducted a similar experiment presenting diaspores of all species at one time in the field and slug preference trials in the lab to determine if particular myrmecochore species are vulnerable to the invasive slug. We found that slugs did not reduce dispersal by ants despite slugs damaging diaspores. This was because peak ant and slug activity differed, with slugs damaging most diaspores of early-dehiscing <em>Sanguinaria canadensis</em>, and ants dispersing most diaspores of later-dehiscing <em>Trillium grandiflorum</em>. When diaspores were presented at the same time, ants and slugs preferred the same species, <em>T. grandiflorum</em>. While we did not find overlap in the phenology of ant and slug interactions in this study, phenological interactions are likely context-dependent. Thus, high-preference species may be vulnerable to invasive slugs if interacting species overlap in different contexts, including under climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"126 ","pages":"Article 104041"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142748502","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":"Crown complementarity rather than crown selection contributes to stem complementarity in genetic mixtures of Pinus taeda L","authors":"David R. Carter ,&nbsp;Timothy J. Albaugh ,&nbsp;Matthew Sumnall ,&nbsp;Jake J. Grossman ,&nbsp;Otávio C. Campoe ,&nbsp;Rachel L. Cook ,&nbsp;Rafael A. Rubilar ,&nbsp;Chris A. Maier ,&nbsp;T. Adam Coates ,&nbsp;Julia DeFeo ,&nbsp;Grady J. Boyle ,&nbsp;Megan Van Spanje","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104058","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104058","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Increased genotypic diversity has been associated with increased biomass production in short-rotation tree species. Few studies have investigated potential mechanisms which might explain why genetic diversity increases productivity. We leveraged an existing study which deployed clones, control-pollinated, and open pollinated genotypes of <em>Pinus taeda</em> L. (loblolly pine) with large and small crown ideotypes. Building on a previous study which found increased stem volume in genotypic mixtures, we measured crown characteristics, using a drone-based LiDAR, in genetic mixtures of loblolly pine in Virginia and North Carolina to test for: (1) aboveground spatial niche partitioning and (2) if this partitioning was associated with greater stem volume. Overall, we found no evidence that differences in crown sizes by ideotype led to aboveground spatial niche partitioning, resulting in greater overall crown size or stem volume when grown in mixture. Instead, genotypic mixtures overall, as opposed to genotypic monocultures, consistently had greater crown area, crown volume, and stem volume. Additionally, competition intensity decreased under genetic mixtures despite that these conditions led to greater overall stem and crown sizes than genotypic monocultures. No increase in aboveground spatial partitioning or individual-tree LAI in genotypic mixtures suggests greater radiation-use efficiency. Increases in radiation-use efficiency are primarily driven by belowground resource acquisition which suggests these mixtures may be capable of greater belowground resource exploitation. We found mixtures to outgrow pure conditions on average 4%–5% per tree (0.002–0.008 m³ per tree) by ages 8–9.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"126 ","pages":"Article 104058"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135588","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 effect of soil depth on stoichiometry was greater than that of elevation in Abies georgei var. Smithii forest in Southeastern Tibet, China","authors":"Si-jie Zhu ,&nbsp;Jiang-rong Li ,&nbsp;Bo Zhang ,&nbsp;Fang-wei Fu ,&nbsp;Liang-na Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104053","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104053","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-frigid forest soil, as one of the most vulnerable terrestrial carbon reservoirs, exhibits a considerable sensitivity to climate change, potentially influencing soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycles significantly. However, the specific and quantitative impacts of elevation gradients on these soil stoichiometric parameters are yet to be fully elucidated and constitute the primary research objectives of this study. In this study, we investigated stoichiometric characteristics at soil depths of 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm, and along gradients of elevation at 3500 m, 3900 m, and 4300 m a.s.l. In <em>Abies georgei</em> var. <em>Smithii</em> forest at the Sygera Mountains of southeastern Tibet. The results showed that: (1) Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) exhibited U-shaped changes with the increase in elevation, ranging from 53.14 to 70.73 g kg⁻¹, 2.78–3.32 g kg⁻¹, 0.41–0.62 g kg⁻¹, the content of nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) in soil was not significantly different at different elevations; (2) The contents of ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N), available phosphorus (AP) and available nitrogen (AN) in surface soil were the highest at different elevations; (3) Soil C:N showed a U-shaped change trend with the increase in elevation, while C:P and N:P decreased with the increase in elevation, and the ranges of C:N, C:P and N:P were 18.50–21.65, 116.69–156.38 and 5.47–7.70, respectively; (4) The soil depth had a more pronounced influence on C:N compared to elevation, whereas the elevation factor significantly impacted both C:P and N:P to a greater extent; (5) The soil of the Sygera Mountains is nitrogen-rich but phosphorus-restricted. These findings contribute to our understanding of the macroecological pattern of C:N:P in High-frigid forest ecosystems and provide valuable basic data support for forest management and conservation in this region in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"126 ","pages":"Article 104053"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096541","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":"Fear vs feeding: Disentangling the consumptive and non-consumptive effects of Lutzia fuscana on Anopheles stephensi for biocontrol approach","authors":"Susobhan Datta Mudi,&nbsp;Pranesh Paul,&nbsp;Susmita Roy,&nbsp;Goutam K. Saha,&nbsp;Gautam Aditya","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104056","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104056","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The vector mosquito, <em>Anopheles stephensi</em> Liston, 1901, transmits malaria-causing parasites and leads to millions of human deaths globally, which calls for effective management strategies. Traditional management strategies often rely heavily on chemical insecticides, resulting in insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. In this context, this study explores the efficiency of <em>Lutzia fuscana</em> Wiedemann, 1820 larvae as a biological control agent of <em>An. stephensi</em> in the larval habitats. The predation efficiency (consumptive effect) of <em>Lz. fuscana</em> on <em>An. stephensi</em>, along with the non-consumptive effects (NCEs) on <em>An. stephensi</em> life history traits were examined under laboratory conditions. Additionally, the oviposition behaviour of <em>An. stephensi</em> was observed in the presence of <em>Lz. fuscana</em> cues and larvae. The results exhibited that <em>Lz. fuscana</em> larva consumed ∼21 <em>An. stephensi</em> larvae day⁻¹ with ∼62 min of handling time, as estimated by the type II functional response curve. The NCEs of <em>Lz. fuscana</em> on <em>An. stephensi</em> were mostly positive, as the age at pupation decreased, and the pupal weight, adult dry weight and wing length increased more than the control in the presence of predator cues, caged <em>Lz. fuscana</em>, and conspecific kill. Conversely, <em>An. stephensi</em> laid significantly lower eggs in the presence of predator cues and <em>Lz. fuscana</em>. Therefore, <em>Lz. fuscana</em> can be utilized as a potential biological control agent against <em>An. stephensi</em> in the larval habitats. The findings of this study are expected to deepen our understanding of both consumptive and non-consumptive effects of predators on mosquitoes, offering insights that could enhance mosquito control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"126 ","pages":"Article 104056"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096542","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 effect of desert annual plant decomposition on soil microbial community","authors":"Sherman Chen,&nbsp;Vainberg Noy,&nbsp;Doniger Tirza,&nbsp;Steinberger Yosef","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104051","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104051","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Desert ecosystems are characterized by harsh abiotic conditions with low annual rainfall, unpredictable in time, frequency, and dispersion. In such a system, the soil microflora should fulfill its biological and functional role by decomposing plant organic matter. This study evaluated the effect of annual-plant decomposition on soil microbial community composition and functional diversity. We assumed that the microbial functional diversity values would be related to the amount of lignin litter content.</div><div>We collected soil samples and plant litter of two annual plants, <em>Avena wiestii</em> and <em>Reboudia pinnata</em>, common in the Negev mountain area, Israel<em>,</em> during four seasons. Genetic characterization of the soil microbial community was carried out. Our results indicate that the presence of plant litter in the soil causes many changes in the size, composition, and diversity of a soil microbial community. Functional diversity values were affected by adjacency to litter in the four seasons. Soil and litter moisture and organic matter were affected by season and plant type. Soil and litter microbial biomass and respiration decreased as the decomposition process progressed. There was a decrease in the utilization of all four carbon groups when measuring the catabolic profile of the microbial community.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"126 ","pages":"Article 104051"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135878","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":"Exploring the factors shaping the invertebrate community and habitat selection in a new Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity in South America","authors":"Gabriel Augusto Silva Vaz ,&nbsp;Marconi Souza-Silva ,&nbsp;Alicia Helena Souza Rodrigues Ferreira ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104043","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104043","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Caves serve as exceptional ecological models for studying the environmental factors that shape biological communities. However, there has been limited exploration into understanding how these environmental factors affect communities’ distribution and responses to habitat traits within the same cave system. To address this gap, we employed standardized sampling methodologies across two scales within a limestone cave located in the Brazilian semi-arid region (Pedro Cassiano cave). Our objective was to uncover how substrate characteristics and conditions may contribute to variations in the composition and richness of invertebrates (troglobitic and non-troglobitic). Furthermore, we aimed to comprehend the habitat selection of some troglobitic species. This particular cave hosts a rich fauna, with 21 obligate cave species (20 invertebrates and 1 fish), which positions it as new Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity (term used for caves that have 20 or more troglobitic species) in South America. Pedro Cassiano Cave has two separate tributary drainages that flow from its final section and merge into a single drainage system that exits through the cave entrance (resurgence). We observed that the distribution of non-troglobitic invertebrate richness differed when each tributary branch was analyzed independently, indicating that the distribution patterns of subterranean species can be complex. Microhabitat characteristics such as heterogeneity, the amount of sand, and the availability of trophic resources explained a significant portion of the invertebrate community distribution in this cave, although this influence was scale-dependent. Finally, we emphasized the urgency of conservation efforts for this important cave.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"126 ","pages":"Article 104043"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135881","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 restoration has better soil acid phosphatase kinetics than artificial plantations","authors":"Yun Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaoyang Zhang ,&nbsp;Jinmei Bao ,&nbsp;Longchao Yang ,&nbsp;Bo Liu ,&nbsp;Xinli Wang ,&nbsp;Chi Zhang ,&nbsp;Jing Zhang ,&nbsp;Yixuan Liu ,&nbsp;Lizhi Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104062","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2025.104062","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil acid phosphatase kinetics is important for clarifying phosphorus supply under different soil fertility conditions. However, little is known about the effects of the forest restoration type on the kinetics of soil acid phosphatase. Using a microplate fluorometric assay, we tested soil acid phosphatase kinetics and influencing factors in artificially restored native oriental oak (<em>Quercus variabilis</em> Bl.) plantations and introduced Japanese black pine (<em>Pinus thunbergii</em> Parl.) plantations and naturally restored secondary forests. Five, five, and six plots were randomly selected from each forest restoration type in Yimeng Mountain area in Northern China. Forest restoration type significantly influenced acid phosphatase kinetics. Acid phosphatase activity and acid phosphatase activity dissimilarity was higher in natural secondary forests than those in oriental oak plantations, which in turn were higher than those observed in black pine plantations. The difference between natural secondary forests and black pine plantations was significant. Moreover, the heterogeneity of soil acid phosphatase activity between the natural secondary forests and the two plantations was significantly higher than that between the two plantations. Forest restoration type did not significantly influence the potential maximum activity (<em>V</em>_max), half-saturation constant (<em>K</em>_m), or catalytic efficiency (<em>V</em>_max/<em>K</em>_m) of acid phosphatase. Ammonium nitrogen and available phosphorus content significantly influenced acid phosphatase kinetics, explaining 61.9% of the variation in acid phosphatase activity under different substrate concentrations in the three forest restoration types. <em>V</em>_max was positively influenced by available phosphorus content. The <em>K</em>_<em>m</em> value was positively influenced by total carbon content. Natural secondary forests showed better soil acid phosphatase kinetics than the native oriental oak plantations, which were better than those in the introduced black pine plantations, possibly due to the higher ammonium nitrogen and available phosphorus content. This study contributes novel insights into phosphorus supply under forest restoration types, ultimately providing theoretical bases for forest restoration in warm temperate areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"126 ","pages":"Article 104062"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143372178","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":"When zombies go vegan: Ophiocordyceps unilateralis hosts are selecting to bite palm leaves before dying?","authors":"Fernando S. Andriolli ,&nbsp;J. Aragão Cardoso Neto ,&nbsp;Paul V.A. Fine ,&nbsp;Diego Salazar ,&nbsp;Giovanna Figueroa ,&nbsp;Diego V. Torres ,&nbsp;J. Wellington de Morais ,&nbsp;Fabricio B. Baccaro","doi":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104055","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actao.2024.104055","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Some parasites that modify hosts' behavior can receive reproductive advantages. For instance, when infected by <em>Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s.l.</em>, ants climb understory plants, lock their jaws into the plant tissue, and die in stable microclimatic conditions that favor the reproductive stage of the fungus. However, the so-called “zombie ants” could die on different species of plants, subject to varying environmental pressures. Here, we investigated whether infected ants lock their jaws on particular species of understory plants more often than expected before dying from the infection. We hypothesize that there may be different reproductive advantages to the parasite based on the plant species on which its hosts die. Our findings reveal that 36.3% of the infected ants died on palm trees, specifically <em>Attalea</em> sp. and <em>Euterpe catinga</em>, more frequently than expected by chance. Also, we found that cadavers tend to persist longer on palms than other plants. Our results suggest that there may be a reproductive advantage for the parasite when its hosts die on palm leaves. Palms generally have long leaf durability, which can reduce parasite cadaver loss by foliar abscission and increase cumulative spore dispersal. Furthermore, we propose abundant plant species with no observance of cadavers potentially have traits like trichome coating and antifungal compounds that may influence the arrival and permanence of new zombie ants. Our results show that infected ants dying on certain understory palm species may increase the fungus’ fitness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55564,"journal":{"name":"Acta Oecologica-International Journal of Ecology","volume":"126 ","pages":"Article 104055"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096543","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}