Austral Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Effects of Intraspecific and Interspecific Indirect Competition on Foraging Activity in Subtropical Facultative and Obligatory Shredder Organisms","authors":"Giovana Rech Durigon,&nbsp;Emanuel Rampanelli Cararo,&nbsp;Cássia Alves Lima-Rezende,&nbsp;Renan de Souza Rezende","doi":"10.1111/aec.70070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70070","url":null,"abstract":"<p>While the recognised influence of resource competition on the structure of aquatic ecosystems is well-established, its effects on allochthonous matter dynamics in streams, particularly regarding interspecific and intraspecific indirect competition, remain understudied and inadequately understood. In this investigation, we explored the impacts of interspecific and intraspecific indirect competition on leaf litter consumption by the shredder organisms <i>Phylloicus</i> spp. and <i>Aegla</i> spp. The effects of indirect competition were evaluated through a microcosm experimental setup, comprised of two controls and three treatments: (i) <i>Phylloicus</i> control competition-free; (ii) <i>Aegla</i> control competition-free; (iii) intraspecific competition within <i>Aegla</i>; (iv) intraspecific competition within <i>Phylloicus</i>; and (v) interspecific competition. In the competition-free controls, a single organism occupied a 2 L microcosm, whereas in indirect competitive pressure treatments, two organisms were introduced into a 4 L microcosm with a 0.05-mm mesh partition. Our findings revealed that interspecific indirect competition had a disproportionately higher impact on <i>Phylloicus</i>, whereas intraspecific indirect competition had a more pronounced effect on <i>Aegla</i>. <i>Phylloicus</i> demonstrated superior shredding efficiency compared to <i>Aegla</i>, possibly due to <i>Aegla</i>'s broader feeding range and distinctive leaf litter utilisation strategies. The presence of potential competitors led to reduced consumption rates in <i>Phylloicus</i>, highlighting its sensitivity to competition. Furthermore, <i>Aegla</i>'s predatory behaviour and cannibalism likely intensified intraspecific indirect competition within the species. These results underscore the pivotal role of indirect competition in shaping the feeding behaviour of shredder organisms in leaf litter banks, ultimately influencing plant matter fragmentation in aquatic ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70070","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143871748","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":"Impacts of a Potential HPAI H5N1 Incursion on Australian Wildlife","authors":"Sara Ryding,&nbsp;Tobias A. Ross,&nbsp;Marcel Klaassen,&nbsp;Michelle Wille","doi":"10.1111/aec.70048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70048","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Avian influenza HPAI H5N1 is catastrophic and will likely have negative consequences for Australian wildlife.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70048","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143871747","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":"Habitat Exploration and Foraging in a Dominant Hover Fly (Melangyna) is Sex-Dependent","authors":"Manuel E. Lequerica Támara,&nbsp;Tanya Latty,&nbsp;Caragh G. Threlfall,&nbsp;Dieter F. Hochuli","doi":"10.1111/aec.70067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70067","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Distinct behaviours between males and females within the same species can promote differences in the use of resources between sexes, which can have profound consequences on ecosystem processes, such as pollination. Despite this, studies on floral visitation often focus on the relationships between floral visitors and plants at the species level, neglecting the intraspecific differences between male and female insect floral visitors. This study investigates intraspecific differences in the use of floral resources by male and female <i>Melangyna</i>, a dominant group of hover flies. Our year-long observations reveal distinct behaviours in hovering and foraging between the sexes and among the seasons. We also present evidence of sexual dimorphism, with males being larger than females. These behavioural and physical differences lead to distinct use of floral resources by each sex, which could have significant implications for plant reproduction. Our findings underscore the need to consider intraspecific sexual differences in future studies on floral visitation and pollination.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70067","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143871696","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":"Soil Seed Bank of Levee Forests of the Paraná River Frontal Delta (Argentina)","authors":"Horacio Sirolli,&nbsp;Sebastián Andrés Torrella","doi":"10.1111/aec.70062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70062","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A seed bank is made up of all viable and nongerminated seeds that are present in an environment, and its study is relevant to understanding a plant community. The levee forests of the Paraná River Frontal Delta are primary and secondary riparian forests that develop on relatively high banks and have been described in terms of their vegetation and successional behaviour. However, its seed bank has not been characterised, so the objective of the present work was to describe it in order to understand the regeneration potential of native and exotic species in the levees. To do this, soil samples were collected throughout the four seasons of a year in eight plots of 10 by 10 m (0.03 m² per plot, total sampled area 0.99 m²). Each sample included leaf litter up to 10 cm in depth. These were put to germinate for a year, both with their structure intact and disturbed. Results indicated that the seed bank of the forests under study is similar to that of other subtropical forests. It has greater species richness in autumn and greater total density in winter. Species with transient (genera <i>Ligustrum</i> and <i>Ficus</i>) and permanent (genera <i>Rubus</i>, <i>Cyrtocymura</i> and <i>Morus</i>) banks could be classified. Woody life forms are more abundant than herbaceous life forms, but the latter have a greater number of species. Alien species add a greater number of seeds, but the native ones are richer.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143871701","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":"Fostering Biodiversity in Neotropical Savannahs: Fire as a Diversity Driver for Fruit-Feeding Butterfly Assemblages in the Cerrado","authors":"Geraldo de Brito Freire-Jr,&nbsp;André Elias-Paiva,&nbsp;Danilo Bandini Ribeiro,&nbsp;Raquel Fernandes Araujo,&nbsp;Chanchanok Sudta,&nbsp;Elizabeth S. de Araújo,&nbsp;Hernani F. M. Oliveira,&nbsp;Fabrício Escarlate-Tavares,&nbsp;Fabricius M. C. B. Domingos","doi":"10.1111/aec.70053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70053","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Fire has significantly shaped the dynamics of Brazilian Cerrado fauna and flora, but the interference of human activities and climate change has disrupted the natural fire regime, imperilling multiple animal and plant populations. Our study, performed at Reserva Ecológica do Roncador (RECOR-IBGE) in Brasília-Brazil, examined the influence of fire frequency and post-fire intervals on diversity patterns of fruit-feeding butterflies in savannah woodlands. We sampled 1059 individuals from 16 butterfly species, in which Biblidinae and Charaxinae were the most representative clades. Sites with higher fire frequency and shorter post-fire intervals exhibited higher taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity compared to sites with longer intervals. Sites with longer post-fire intervals were primarily dominated by Biblidinae, whereas charaxines and satyrines mostly occurred in sites with shorter post-fire intervals. Species exhibiting wing eyespots thrived in sites with recent fires. These findings emphasise fire's pivotal role in maintaining open vegetation, crucial for conserving butterfly assemblages, particularly charaxines and satyrines. Importantly, fire suppression leads to fuel accumulation, elevating the risk of severe wildfires in the Cerrado. In conclusion, our results underscore the adverse impact of a zero-fire policy on insect communities, including fruit-feeding butterflies, within this unique ecosystem.</p>","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":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70053","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143689285","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":"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}