Austral Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Leaf Traits Explain Shrubs' and Herbs' Functional Composition Shifts in a Climate-Impacted Tropical Montane Grassland","authors":"Bianca Butter Zorger,&nbsp;Ilaine Silveira Matos,&nbsp;Bruno Henrique Pimentel Rosado","doi":"10.1111/aec.70069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70069","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Atmospheric models predict increases in temperature worldwide. However, such predictions are not always accurate in high-elevation ecosystems, due to their specific environmental characteristics (e.g., influence of fog in vegetation via foliar water uptake, high atmospheric demand). We propose that leaf morphological traits usually employed in paleoclimate reconstruction (i.e., toothed leaves presence, leaf size categories) could also be used to predict future climate change effects on montane ecosystems. By correlating such leaf traits with mean annual temperature for 90 Southern Hemisphere localities (including a tropical montane grassland in Brazil) we evaluated whether temperature increases (3°C) will result in functional composition shifts in our tropical montane grassland site. Additionally, using a dataset of 63 plant species for foliar water uptake and nine species for leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and turgor loss point, we evaluated if those physiological traits explain the mechanisms behind compositional change in the tropical montane grassland, and how those physiological traits are associated with the presence/absence of toothed leaves. We found that in the tropical montane grassland, an increase of 3°C in temperature by the year 2100 will likely increase the proportion of species with entire leaves from 33.3% to 70.4%. As leaves with entire margins tend to exhibit lower transpiration surfaces, this change could increase the proportion of water-saving strategist species in the vegetation. We also showed that plants with toothed leaves tend to have higher leaf water potentials/higher stomatal conductance, making them possibly more vulnerable to future atmospheric droughts. In summary, an increase in temperature will likely cause an increase in the proportion of drought-resistant species in the tropical montane grasslands. Therefore, models combining leaf traits usually used in paleoclimate reconstruction and physiological traits can be useful for predicting vegetation responses to climate change.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085005","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":"Decision Analysis for Sustained Control vs. Eradication of Invasive Pines: A Case Study in the Southern Pampas of Argentina","authors":"Roy E. Elicer,&nbsp;Gabriela I. E. Brancatelli,&nbsp;Sergio M. Zalba","doi":"10.1111/aec.70038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70038","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Biological invasions are one of the main drivers of change in terrestrial ecosystems and also a major expenditure in the budget of conservation units. Management of invasive species involves sets of options, including the alternatives of sustained control aimed at containing the spread of the invader or reducing its density or occupation area vs. the complete eradication of the species from a given site. Grasslands are particularly affected by the expansion of alien trees and shrubs that provoke not just a change in species composition but also a shift in the structure and functioning of the whole ecosystem. In this paper we compare the alternatives of sustained control (containment) vs. eradication and vs. no intervention for a stand of invasive alien pines growing in a grassland nature reserve in the southern Argentinean Pampas. We built a decision analysis schema considering both the effects of the pines on native plant communities and the costs of mechanical control. We compared total vegetation cover, plant species richness, and composition in plots located in areas with different densities of pine trees and in controls free of the invasion. The costs of controlling pines were calculated from actual management interventions in sites with different tree densities. Areas with high density of pines were associated to an impoverishment in vegetation richness and diversity with respect to those at medium and low tree density. Pines were associated with changes in the floristic composition of the piedmont grasslands, including an increase in the abundance of exotic grasses. Cost analysis revealed that sustained control equates to the investment of eradication in thirty years. If we add to the analysis the capacity of <i>P. halepensis</i> to carry out long-distance dispersal events that can result in new invasion nuclei, eradication appears as the most efficient management alternative both in environmental and budgetary terms.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085006","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 Effects of Temperature on the Swimming Performance, Starvation-Survival and Morphometrics of Zoea 1 Larvae of the Kelp Crab (Taliepus dentatus) From Central Chile","authors":"Lucas Bravo-Guzmán,&nbsp;Milena Cano,&nbsp;Mauricio F. Landaeta,&nbsp;Sergio A. Navarrete,&nbsp;Simone Baldanzi","doi":"10.1111/aec.70066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70066","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Natural and anthropogenic-induced changes in sea surface temperature (SST) affect all marine organisms, including the critical larval stages of coastal invertebrate species. Changes in sea surface temperature affect larval stages that must respond to these changes behaviourally, physiologically and, in some cases, alter morphological traits. Here, we evaluated the effects of rearing temperature on starvation-survival, swimming performance and morphology of zoea 1 larvae of the kelp crab (<i>Taliepus dentatus</i>). Females were acclimatised to 15°C, the average SST in the study region, until larval hatching. Rapid exposure of unfed larvae to 12°C significantly reduced starvation-survival (LT₅₀), whereas no significant differences were found between 15°C and 17°C. Larvae swam faster but for less time at 12 compared to 15°C and 17°C. Exposure to temperature induced changes in the dorsal spine shape, which were apparent after only 24 h of exposure to altered temperature and increased after 8 days. Overall, our results suggest that exposure to temperature can rapidly alter the shape, survival and swimming performance of larvae, inducing different energy-demanding behavioural responses. We contend that water temperature on marine invertebrate larvae can significantly impact their physiology and morphology even after a few hours of exposure, and we suggest that future studies should define environmentally relevant variation when setting lab-based experiments in order to correctly extrapolate laboratory results within the variable coastal environments.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085007","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":"Habitat Selection and Movement Behaviour of Long-Nosed Potoroo in the Presence of Feral Cats","authors":"Meg Farmer,&nbsp;Anthony R. Rendall,&nbsp;Amy Coetsee,&nbsp;Euan G. Ritchie","doi":"10.1111/aec.70054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70054","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The global biodiversity extinction crisis is attributed to a series of key threats, with the introduction and impacts of invasive predators considered among the most damaging. Given that effective large-scale lethal control is often not logistically or financially feasible, alternative solutions to promote the persistence of native wildlife most at risk of predation—critical weight range mammals—must be sought. Understanding habitat use and selection of native prey under predation pressure with widespread and common invasive predators, such as feral cats, can quantify habitat elements that may promote survival. We aimed to determine the movement behaviour of a population of critical weight range mammals persisting in the presence of feral cats. We established a trapping grid across ‘Bluegums’, French Island, in south-eastern Australia to collect morphometric, demographic and movement data by deploying GPS tracking devices on Long-nosed Potoroo (<i>Potorous tridactylus trisulcatus</i>). We used spatially explicit capture–recapture models to generate a potoroo density estimate, and autocorrelated kernel density estimators and dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Models to examine home range and habitat use. Spatial overlap and habitat selection analyses were used to draw inferences about habitat selection and territoriality. Potoroos persisted at low densities and had large home ranges (7.3–12.5 ha). Individuals selected for structurally complex habitat and appeared reluctant to move across open areas, potentially in response to greater perceived predation risk. The fine-scale movement data in our study elucidate the extent to which potoroos rely on vegetation structure, suggesting that maintaining habitat cover and connectivity is likely to build resilience and aid potoroos and similar species to co-exist with feral cats. Given the ongoing threat feral cats pose to biodiversity, our results support the need for maintaining diverse, structurally complex vegetation to build ecosystem resilience to support improved conservation outcomes in the presence of invasive species.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70054","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144074547","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":"The Ancients. By Andrew Darby, Allen and Unwin, 2025. ISBN: 978-1-76-106923-9","authors":"David B. Lindenmayer","doi":"10.1111/aec.70078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70078","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143950089","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":"Highway Noise Worsens the Edge Effect on Bird Richness in Tropical Forests","authors":"José Nilton da Silva,&nbsp;Aureo Banhos,&nbsp;Cristiano Schetini de Azevedo,&nbsp;Pedro Diniz,&nbsp;Gleidson Ramos da Silva,&nbsp;Charles Duca","doi":"10.1111/aec.70072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70072","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Anthropogenic noise represents a major threat to various taxonomic groups of fauna, especially birds, as they primarily use sound communication. Associated with the edge effect caused by highways, noise has a negative impact on birds. In this context, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of noise on birds in an area intersected by a highway in a tropical forest in Brazil. Eight transects were built, with points perpendicular to the edges (10, 200, 400, 600, and 800 m), in three areas: highway, pasture, and control (named Forest). At each point, the maximum noise level and bird richness were recorded every 2 months for a year. Five generalised linear mixed models were built to assess whether bird richness was influenced by edge type (highway and pasture), noise, and distance from the edge. The noise was most intense in the road environment and decreased as one moved perpendicularly away from the edge of the road and the pasture. Bird richness was highest in the control area and lowest on the highway, increasing linearly with distance from the edge of the highway and pasture, and decreasing with noise level on both the highway and pasture. Bird richness was better explained by distance from the highway and pasture than by noise, with both factors having a stronger impact at the highway edge than at the pasture edge. Our results suggest (i) that the noise levels of the highway aggravate the edge effect and influence the variation in species richness, (ii) that species from forest environments move away from the area intercepted by the highway.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70072","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143950088","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":"Reproductive Biology of the Desertic Micro-Endemic Nolana chapiensis (Solanaceae: Nolanoideae) in Southern Peru: Self-Incompatibility and Solitary Bees as Exclusive Pollinators","authors":"Fernando H. Calderon-Quispe,&nbsp;Rodrigo B. Singer","doi":"10.1111/aec.70074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70074","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Understanding the reproductive biology of microendemic species is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies since they frequently have small, restricted and threatened populations. <i>Nolana chapiensis</i> (Solanaceae: Nolanoideae) is a desert microendemic species found in southern Peru that was studied in the Arequipa department at an altitude of 2280 m, from March to April 2023–2024. This study documents floral features, breeding system, pollination process and fruiting success. The breeding system was assessed by isolating plants from pollinators (bagging). Pollination processes were observed in the field using photo and video documentation. Flowers exhibited a short lifespan (3–5 days) with opening and closing events correlated with fluctuations in temperature. <i>Nolana chapiensis</i> is pollinator-dependent and self-incompatible (unable to set fruit without cross-pollination mediated by pollinators). All five identified pollinator species are solitary bees, with Andrenidae species accounting for 83.91% of visits. Most pollinators are female bees that pollinate during pollen-collecting activities. However, Andrenidae males also contribute to pollination while waiting for females inside the floral tube. Natural fruiting success per individual was high, ranging from 35.15% to 74.77%. While high fruiting success might be unexpected in desert environments and in self-compatible species, in this case, it could be attributed to the diversity and behaviour of pollinator species. This study represents the first detailed study of reproductive biology within the genus, coupling breeding system experiments with detailed pollinator observations.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143930359","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":"Evidence of Persistence of Two Small, Sympatric Threatened Mammals (Dasyuridae) Following a Major Flood Event","authors":"Luke Woodford,&nbsp;Jemma K. Cripps","doi":"10.1111/aec.70052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70052","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Large-scale, extreme flood events can potentially cause catastrophic declines in floodplain-dwelling species, especially small terrestrial mammals. We undertook surveys to assess the status of two species of threatened Dasyurid mammals (Giles' Planigale <i>Planigale gilesi</i> and Fat-tailed Dunnart <i>Sminthopsis crassicaudata</i>) to see if they were persisting in a region of northwest Victoria 12 months after a large-scale flood event. We tested three possible detection techniques: live trapping using Elliott traps, camera traps with drift fences and thermal imaging transects. Surveys revealed that sympatric House Mice (<i>Mus musculus</i>) were in very high abundance following the flood. Both target species were detected using camera traps only, although at a very low rate. This demonstrates the limited availability of an effective survey technique for these cryptic species. These surveys resulted in the threatened Giles' Planigale being detected for the first time in 11 years in Victoria. There are two likely scenarios for the persistence of native mammals: in situ survival either by taking refuge in trees within small cavities for the duration of the flood event or on small island refuges nearby, or ex situ survival whereby animals perished in the flood event and individuals recolonised our sites from larger islands that remained dry throughout the flood. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which small, ground-dwelling mammals can survive large-scale flooding events and the potential for competition with the invasive House Mouse following these disturbances.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143930360","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":"Taxonomic and Functional Diversity Roles of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) in Native Forests and Silviculture Systems in Subtropical Region of Brazil","authors":"Raquel de Brito,&nbsp;Patrícia Menegaz de Farias,&nbsp;Renan de Souza Rezende","doi":"10.1111/aec.70068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70068","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Forest system simplification may be a significant driver of dung beetle diversity shifts. This study investigates the taxonomic and functional diversity of necrophagous and coprophagous beetles across native forest areas and eucalyptus plantations within a subtropical region in Brazil. Sampling was conducted at each site type (native forest vs. plantation) using baited pitfall traps (20 traps × 2 bait types × 2 sites = 80 sampling units) set 25 m apart. Coprophagous beetles were attracted using 15 g of human faeces, while necrophagous species were lured with 15 g of fish, both exposed over a 48-h period. Native forests support higher taxonomic and functional diversity of dung beetles compared to eucalyptus plantation sites, underscoring the importance of structural complexity and habitat heterogeneity for sustaining dung beetle assemblages. Native forests foster greater functional richness and dispersion, indicative of diverse ecological strategies and functional roles. Conversely, eucalyptus plantations favour generalist species with high phenotypic plasticity, selectively filtering smaller organisms like <i>Canthidium trinodosum</i> (Boheman, 1858) due to altered microclimatic conditions. Additionally, eucalyptus sites favour larger-bodied dung beetles with morphological adaptations that enhance mobility and resource use in compacted soils. These findings underscore the ecological significance of native forests in conserving biodiversity, highlighting the essential role of dung beetles for ecosystem functionality in subtropical landscapes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70068","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143930413","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":"Vegetation Assessment Using Remote Sensing: A Systematic Review for Eucalypts in Australia","authors":"Donna L. Fitzgerald,&nbsp;Stefan Peters,&nbsp;Amelia Hurren,&nbsp;Gunnar Keppel","doi":"10.1111/aec.70061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70061","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Rapid advancements in remote sensing increasingly allow assessing vegetation at the landscape, local and individual scales. This systematic review investigates the diverse applications of remote sensing for assessing vegetation in eucalypt forests and woodlands within Australia. Of the 137 studies included in the review, two-thirds investigated vegetation conditions, including the effects of dieback and fire, with the remaining articles focusing on vegetation classification and structural vegetation properties. This focus on vegetation conditions highlights the potential of remote sensing to contribute to the monitoring and conservation of biodiversity, suggesting that remote sensing will become more important as the impacts of climate change intensify. Currently, the application of remote sensing methods for investigating eucalypt vegetation remains underutilised. For example, remote regions, including areas of high biodiversity, are generally poorly studied, highlighting major gaps in spatial coverage. Furthermore, study locations are often reported in insufficient detail to facilitate independent verification and reproducibility, reducing the usefulness of existing studies. A key challenge in remote sensing is the identification of an appropriate approach based on the research question and the resources available and we provide guidance with that. Reviewed studies predominantly used freely available imagery (e.g., Landsat and Sentinel), whilst high-resolution commercial imagery (e.g., WorldView) and research-accessible datasets (e.g., PlanetScope) remain little utilised. Emerging technologies like LiDAR, UAVs and hyperspectral imaging that could provide insights at higher resolutions require greater resources for data collection and processing and are yet to be widely integrated into vegetation assessment. To address these challenges, interdisciplinary collaboration among vegetation and remote sensing specialists, and a framework for selecting appropriate remote sensing methods based on research and resources, are critical. Such efforts would help align study objectives with appropriate tools and resources and will be crucial to achieving biodiversity and climate adaptation goals in Australia and beyond.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70061","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143884210","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}