Austral Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Taxonomic Attributes and Functional Feeding Groups (FFG) of Chironomidae to Assess the Ecological Status of Floodplain Lakes in the Trombetas and Tapajós River Basins, Brazilian Amazon","authors":"Marcio Vieira do Nascimento,&nbsp;Lívia Maria Fusari,&nbsp;Sheyla Regina Marques Couceiro","doi":"10.1111/aec.70047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70047","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Chironomidae is a group of insects widely distributed in aquatic ecosystems, where they are generally abundant and highly diverse, performing important ecosystem functions. These insects can serve as biomonitoring tools because they respond readily to environmental changes, especially those of human origin. In this study, we tested whether changes in land use and land cover (LULC), as well as environmental variables, would affect the functional feeding groups (FFG) and the Chironomidae community in floodplain lakes within the Trombetas and Tapajós river basins. Nine lakes were sampled in these areas. The collected material was sorted in the laboratory and mounted on semi-permanent slides for identification and classification into functional feeding groups. A total of 3536 individuals, distributed across 33 genera, were identified. Generally, environments characterised by non-forest natural formations, forested areas, and temperature were positively correlated with the Chironomidae community. Conversely, the variables electrical conductivity, urban area, and conductivity showed negative correlations with the community. Regarding the FFG, collector-gatherers were the most abundant, followed by predators, shredder-herbivores, and collector-filterers. When evaluating the influence of environmental variables and land use and cover on the FFG, we found that urban areas and non-forest natural formations negatively impacted predators and shredder-herbivores, while also increasing electrical conductivity. Additionally, low dissolved oxygen concentrations negatively affected collector-filterers, and collector-gatherers were negatively influenced by forested areas. Thus, our results corroborate the importance of environmental variables and changes in land use on the Chironomidae community, providing information that can contribute to the conservation of floodplain lakes, with biomonitoring of these lakes and information for public policies.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143689286","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":"New Mutualisms at New Ecosystems: Seed Dispersal Assessment of Invasive Shrubs by Native and Non-Native Mammals","authors":"Antonella De Luca,&nbsp;Verónica A. Quiroga,&nbsp;David L. Vergara-Tabares","doi":"10.1111/aec.70051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70051","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Biological invasions are a significant driver of global biodiversity decline in the Anthropocene. The success of plant invasions often depends on mutualistic relationships, such as animal-mediated seed dispersal. While the role of birds in dispersing invasive plants is well documented, the involvement of mammals in new ecosystems remains largely unclear. In the mountains of Central Argentina, <i>Pyracantha</i> species are among the most prominent invasive plants, and their seed dispersal by birds has been extensively studied. In this study, we assessed the role of mammals within a novel assemblage (comprising native, invasive, and domestic species) in the seed dispersal process of invasive <i>Pyracantha angustifolia</i> and <i>P. crenulata</i> shrubs. Specifically, we identified which mammal species are legitimate seed dispersers, evaluated their impact on seed germination, and determined where they deposit the seeds using a combination of observational and experimental approaches. Through camera traps and faecal analyses, we identified the following mammals consuming <i>Pyracantha</i> fruits: (1) domestic species: cattle and horses; (2) native species: grey fox, common hog-nosed skunk, and collared peccary; and (3) invasive species: European hare, wild boar, and invasive deer (red or spotted deer). We included two additional native mammals (i.e., collared peccaries and brown brocket deers) to perform germination trials due to their presumably frugivorous behaviour. The germination experiment revealed that seed ingestion by captive horses, grey foxes, collared peccaries, brown brocket deer, red deer and exotic deer enhanced seed germination. Principal Component Analysis indicated no specific association between mammal species and seed deposition sites, suggesting non-directed dispersal. This research highlights the emergence of new mutualisms in anthropogenic systems that may influence plant community structure through the promotion of plant invasions. Understanding these novel mutualisms is crucial for predicting community rearrangements and improving management actions against plant invasions.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143689284","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":"Necrophagy in Aspidoscelis lineattissimus (Cope, 1878) and Incilius marmoreus (Wiegmann, 1833) by the Dung Beetle Canthon cyanellus (LeConte, 1859) in a Dry Tropical Forest of Mexico","authors":"Juan M. Díaz-García,&nbsp;Renato P. Salomão","doi":"10.1111/aec.70046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70046","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The carcasses of invertebrates and small to medium-sized vertebrates are the main food source of necrophagous beetles; however, little is known about the consumption of herpetozoan carcasses by these beetles. In this note, we present the first reports of the consumption of a carcass of a lizard, <i>Aspidoscelis lineattissimus</i> (Teiidae) and a carcass of a toad, <i>Incilius marmoreus</i> (Bufonidae) by the dung beetle <i>Canthon cyanellus</i> (Scarabaeidae) in the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. Our reports suggest that amphibian and reptile carcasses may be relevant to the reproduction and feeding behaviours of carrion beetles in tropical forests.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70046","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143689365","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":"Migration in Rufous-Collared Sparrows (Zonotrichia capensis) from the Southernmost Tip of America","authors":"Simeon Lisovski,&nbsp;John Wingfield,&nbsp;Marilyn Ramenofsky,&nbsp;Omar Barroso,&nbsp;Juan Rivero de Aguilar,&nbsp;Carlos E. Valeris-Chacín,&nbsp;Rocío Jara,&nbsp;Francisco Aguirre,&nbsp;Claudio S. Quilodrán,&nbsp;Ricardo Rozzi,&nbsp;Erik Sandvig,&nbsp;Rodrigo A. Vásquez","doi":"10.1111/aec.70041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70041","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Little is known about the routes, timing and potential drivers of migration among austral migrants of South America. To contribute to a better understanding, we studied the migration of the southern subspecies of Rufous-collared Sparrow (<i>Zonotrichia capensis australis</i>) from the southernmost tip of South America. Based on 11 tracks, we found that departure from the breeding grounds in fall (post-breeding migration) occurred within a wide temporal window, beginning on March 22 and finishing on May 17. Wintering grounds were identified between 51.2° S and 31.9° S, within the Patagonian steppe ecoregion. Migration distance ranged from 450 to 2500 km, with the longest distance registered for two females who were the first to depart for the outbound route and the latest to arrive at the breeding grounds upon their return, offering an indication of a differential migration pattern.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143571231","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":"Assessing Detection Probability and Survey Frequency for the Threatened Magnificent Broodfrog, Pseudophryne covacevichae","authors":"Emily Rose Rush,&nbsp;Conrad J. Hoskin,&nbsp;Will Edwards","doi":"10.1111/aec.70040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70040","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Difficulty in detecting species' presence is a common issue when surveying threatened species. This is particularly relevant when target species occur in remote regions, have small populations, are difficult to detect, or sampling effort is limited. This can lead to underestimation of a species' true occurrence, which can be an issue where developments are proposed that could impact populations through habitat loss or fragmentation. We aimed to identify the environmental variables influencing the probability of detecting the magnificent broodfrog (<i>Pseudophryne covacevichae</i>), determine environmental triggers for survey initiation and estimate the number of surveys required to provide confidence in the species' true absence at a location. We analysed repeat site survey data from 13 locations where the species was known to occur. Single-season occupancy models identified volumetric soil moisture to be the most influential environmental variable in detection, followed by a combination of volumetric soil moisture and accumulated rainfall in the 5 days prior to a survey. These two variables were used to classify survey conditions into poor, average and excellent, defined by their 5th, 50th and 95th percentiles, to estimate the relationship between survey conditions and survey effort. Cumulative detection probability under ‘poor’ environmental conditions remained low, with less than 40% cumulative detection probability following six surveys and high uncertainty in posterior distributions. In contrast, under ‘average’ conditions, detection probability increased to 96% following three surveys, and in ‘excellent’ conditions, a single survey resulted in 98% probability of detection, and certainty in the posterior distributions increased in both instances. These results demonstrate that targeting surveys under good to optimal environmental conditions can improve detection probability, maximise the efficiency of surveys and reduce the likelihood of false absences.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70040","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143554480","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":"Remnant Habitat Patches Have Lower Reptile Richness and Diversity Compared to Areas of Continuous Habitat","authors":"Lucy J. Wright,&nbsp;Dale G. Nimmo,&nbsp;Mikayla C. Green,&nbsp;Rebecca E. L. Simpson,&nbsp;Skye Wassens,&nbsp;Damian R. Michael","doi":"10.1111/aec.70045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70045","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Habitat loss and fragmentation are leading threats to biodiversity and have been implicated in population declines worldwide. In agricultural landscapes where natural habitat has been extensively modified, remnant patches can preserve species richness and diversity. However, the persistence of some organisms is dependent on a species' ability to move between habitat patches. The effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on reptiles in semi-arid agricultural landscapes, and the relative impact of cropping and grazing, are poorly described. We aimed to investigate the effect of habitat fragmentation on semi-arid reptiles by comparing species richness and diversity between continuous habitat and patches embedded within different land use types (cropping and grazing). Reptiles were surveyed using pitfall traps, funnel traps and active searches across 20 sites stratified by site, vegetation and land use type. Twelve sites were established in remnant mallee woodland patches embedded within an agricultural matrix, and eight sites were established in a private conservation reserve on the same property. Generalised linear models were used to explore relationships between reptile species richness and diversity and design variables. A total of 480 individuals from 31 species were recorded. Reptile species richness was significantly higher in the reserve compared to patches. However, these differences were driven more by reductions in species richness in patches embedded within a grazing matrix, which had fewer species than patches embedded within a cropping matrix. Sites within sand plain vegetation had higher diversity than sites within dune mallee vegetation. Our findings suggest semi-arid reptile species are sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation associated with land clearing. Therefore, protecting large areas of intact habitat on private property is required to maintain reptile diversity in semi-arid landscapes subject to land use change. Managing patches of remnant vegetation within the agricultural matrix through grazing exclusion may also serve to retain reptile diversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70045","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143521887","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":"Short-Term Livestock Grazing Exclusion Has No Site-Scale Impact on an Endangered Lizard","authors":"Kimberley H. Michael,&nbsp;Patrick Michael,&nbsp;Ryan Baring,&nbsp;Michael G. Gardner","doi":"10.1111/aec.70042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70042","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Grasslands are among the most utilised habitat types for livestock production and the least protected ecosystems globally. Livestock grazing alters the abiotic and biotic features of a landscape and influences vegetation structure. In turn, these vegetation structural changes can adversely impact native animals that use these habitats, including reptiles. The endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard (<i>Tiliqua adelaidensis</i>) exclusively inhabits livestock-grazed grasslands in South Australia. Using a before/after, control/impact design, we investigated the effects of short-term grazing exclusion on vegetation structure and lizard abundance across two sites with natural vegetation and climate variation. We found vegetation structure differed between the two sites in “before” and “after” data but did not detect any effect of grazing treatment. We detected a negative association of lizard abundance with tussock cover in “before” data and a negative association with bare ground in the “after” data at the more arid site (Peterborough), although there was no significant overall grazing exclusion effect on lizard abundance at either site. Our survey techniques at a site scale may not have captured microhabitat-scale changes that could have influenced pygmy bluetongue responses. This study indicates short-term and small spatial scale grazing exclusion will have non-significant effects on pygmy bluetongues. Sheep grazing management is an important component of pygmy bluetongue conservation, and we recommend further research to incorporate multiple spatial scales over a longer time prior to applying landscape management actions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70042","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143475734","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":"Wildfire Impact on Coastal Groundwater-Dependent Heathland: Structural and Floristic Responses and Management","authors":"David Stanton,&nbsp;Madeleine Dyring,&nbsp;Roland Proud,&nbsp;Paul Williams","doi":"10.1111/aec.70044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70044","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Fire is a critical driver of many Australian ecosystems, including the groundwater-dependent heathlands on Australia's east coast. However, the effects of intense wildfires under drought conditions, associated with depletion of groundwater and soil moisture, are poorly documented, and mechanisms of vegetation recovery, particularly for obligate seeders and resprouters, are unclear. We aimed to assess the impacts of an intense wildfire on vegetation structure and species composition in a long-unburnt groundwater-dependent heathland, focusing on the responses of obligate seeder and resprouter species and the role of environmental factors in post-fire recovery. A before–after control–impact study was conducted at Bribie Island, Queensland, following a 2019 wildfire. Vegetation responses were analysed using a generalised linear model, with environmental factors such as rainfall, soil moisture and groundwater levels evaluated for their influence on recovery. Our results demonstrated that shrub counts recovered and exceeded pre-fire levels within 3 years. Species richness returned to pre-fire levels after 2 years but did not reach the peak observed during high-moisture conditions 3 years before the fire. The post-fire response included a slow species richness rebound and incomplete recovery. Obligate seeders showed a variable response, with some dominant populations failing to recover, while resprouters exhibited significant declines. These outcomes are linked to the varying capacity of heathland flora to cope with intense fire during low soil moisture and groundwater deficits. The results of this study suggest that intense wildfires during dry conditions may adversely affect some obligate seeder and resprouter populations, even after long fire intervals. Full consideration of fire intensity, timing and environmental conditions such as soil moisture and groundwater levels are essential for effective vegetation management. Furthermore, prescriptive fire management should focus on burning during periods of high soil moisture to reduce fire severity and enhance post-fire regeneration.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70044","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143475685","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":"Nature Positive—What Does It Mean for Australia?","authors":"Dale R. Wright,&nbsp;Brendan A. Wintle,&nbsp;Matthew J. Selinske,&nbsp;Sarah A. Bekessy","doi":"10.1111/aec.70033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70033","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;The &lt;i&gt;nature positive&lt;/i&gt; global goal focuses on the termination and subsequent reversal of biodiversity decline (Locke et al. &lt;span&gt;2021&lt;/span&gt;; Milner-Gulland &lt;span&gt;2022&lt;/span&gt;; Luxton et al. &lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;). Organisations, both in Australia and globally, can have negative impacts on biodiversity directly, via their landholdings and operations, or indirectly via complex supply chains (Bull et al. &lt;span&gt;2018&lt;/span&gt;). Supply chain impacts on biodiversity are significant (Irwin and Geschke &lt;span&gt;2023&lt;/span&gt;), but until now have been inadequately considered in conservation and supply chain literature (Gualandris et al. &lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;). A new policy target in the Global Biodiversity Framework requires transnational corporations to track, assess and provide full disclosure of their direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity (see Target 15: CBD COP15). There are many measures of biodiversity and ecosystem state and condition that can be considered candidates for understanding business impacts on or benefits for biodiversity (Bull et al. &lt;span&gt;2018&lt;/span&gt;). The most widely used include ‘mean species abundance’ (Hawkins et al. &lt;span&gt;2023&lt;/span&gt;) and ‘potentially disappeared fraction of species’ (PDF) (Damiani et al. &lt;span&gt;2023&lt;/span&gt;; Zhu et al. &lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;However, unlike tracking net zero carbon targets, nature is both place-based and relational: local and cultural values of species are central and must be considered in business reporting (Pascual et al. &lt;span&gt;2017&lt;/span&gt;). Current methods are unable to capture the multiple dimensions of biodiversity and produce widely applicable and generalisable measures of biodiversity impact (Hawkins et al. &lt;span&gt;2023&lt;/span&gt;; Damiani et al. &lt;span&gt;2023&lt;/span&gt;). It is unclear what measures might be most appropriate for organisations to track their impacts on biodiversity (Burgess et al. &lt;span&gt;2025&lt;/span&gt;), potentially inhibiting organisations from responding to the nature positive framing. A key challenge is determining biodiversity &lt;i&gt;equivalency&lt;/i&gt;, across different types of impacts in either value chains or at physical sites, and between activities which either negatively impact or positively benefit biodiversity. Developing a national framework for standardising the process of selecting biodiversity indicators for Australian organisations, against a set of criteria backed by good governance will be a fruitful research activity (Burgess et al. &lt;span&gt;2025&lt;/span&gt;).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Australia has an opportunity to advance biodiversity considerations through this framing and the Federal Government has responded with the development of new policies (DCCEEW &lt;span&gt;2022&lt;/span&gt;; Biodiversity Council &lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;). Strong regulatory frameworks will be essential to ensure that businesses provide robust biodiversity disclosures (Mair et al. &lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;). Organisational responses to biodiversity impacts are very new, compared to other aspects of sustainability reporting such as carbon or energy discl","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70033","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143475684","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":"Acoustic Niche Partitioning in a Bird Assembly in Caatinga, Northeastern Brazil","authors":"Bruno Pinho de Lucena,&nbsp;Erich de Freitas Mariano,&nbsp;Helder Farias Pereira de Araujo","doi":"10.1111/aec.70043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70043","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We investigated vocal adjustment andacoustic niche partitioning in a bird assemblage in the Caatinga based on the Acoustic Niche Hypothesis and the Species Recognition Hypothesis. We conducted 72 recordings of 3-min duration along two transects of 1 km length, between July 2022 and February 2023. Each transect was divided into six points, spaced 200 m apart. We analysed the spectral and temporal overlap (Pianka index) of 15 vocally dominant species and tested significance using null models based on 1000 repetitions of the Randomization Algorithm 3. Phylogenetic distances were estimated from 2500 phylogenies to assess their correlation with acoustic overlap, using Generalised Linear Models and a partial Mantel test. Twenty-five species pairs exhibited high spectral overlap (&gt; 0.6), whereas all pairs showed low temporal overlap (&lt; 0.4). The analysis with null models suggested that the observed spectral overlap (0.322) was lower than expected by chance (0.261), indicating a significant difference [Standardised Effect Size (SES) = 7.162, <i>p</i> &lt; 1]. The temporal overlap showed low values, with the observed (0.097) being slightly lower than the expected (0.111), but with no significant difference (SES = −6.752, <i>p</i> &gt; 1). Our results revealed no correlation between spectral and temporal overlap (Estimate = −0.0059, <i>t</i> = −0.286, <i>p</i> = 0.766) or between phylogenetic distance and spectral (Estimate = −0.0001, <i>t</i> = −0.966, <i>p</i> = 0.336) and temporal (Estimate = 0.00002, <i>t</i> = 0.125, <i>p</i> = 0.901) overlap. There was also no significant correlation between spectral and temporal overlap controlled by phylogenetic distance (<i>r</i> = −0.02712, <i>p</i> = 0.553). There was no evidence of a negative association between the temporal and spectral overlap among the Caatinga bird species. The phylogenetic relationships did not explain the observed patterns. Therefore, it is possible that temporal avoidance actively occurs regardless of other factors, such as spectral overlap.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143447200","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}