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Acta oecologica
Gauthier-Villars
Acta oecologica

Gauthier-Villars

1146-609X

Acta oecologica/Journal Acta oecologica
正式出版
收录年代

    Metacommunity structure reveals that temperature affects the landscape compositional patterns of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites across elevations

    Alvarez-Mendizabal, PaulinaVillalobos, FabricioRodriguez-Hernandez, KarlaHernandez-Lara, Carolina...
    12页
    查看更多>>摘要：Metacommunity ecology studies how species compositional patterns and their distributions vary across local and regional scales and provides insights on processes driving the distribution of communities. Avian haemosporidians comprise a diverse and widely distributed parasite taxon; some studies have analyzed their alpha and beta diversity patterns. Yet, metacommunity structures of avian haemosporidians and thus relevant biotic and abiotic variables explaining such structures at the landscape scale (i.e., 10-200 km) have not been assessed. We studied the metacommunity structure of avian haemosporidian mtDNA cyt b lineages and the infected avian host assemblage across four different elevations in Central Veracruz, Mexico. We performed variation-partitioning analyses to evaluate the contribution of host-related traits and climatic variables to the metacommunity. We found a richness of 78 lineages within 38 infected species of birds. At the component community level, we observed that bird species infected with a lower number of parasite lineages (e.g., <3) represented a nested subset of those with a higher number of parasite lineages (e.g., >8) (i.e., nested structure). However, this nested pattern was due to the restricted spatiotemporal co-occurrence of hosts and parasites, given the high degree of turnover across elevations. Host-related traits (functional, transmission-associated, and phylogenetic relationships) only explained a small fraction of the variation (4.4%) in parasite lineage composition across avian hosts. At the habitat level, there was a group turnover by parasite genera across elevation (i.e., quasi-Clementsian structure), which was partly explained by climatic variables (mean annual temperature and annual diurnal range; 27.6%) that may constrain parasite reproduction and vector distribution across the environmental gradient. At the scale of our study, environmental conditions represented a more important driver of avian haemosporidian metacommunity structure than host-related traits, suggesting an important role of environmental filtering structuring parasite assemblages at the landscape level.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Traditional rangeland management can conserve insect pollinators in a semi-arid rangeland, northern Tanzania

    Mpondo, Faith T.Ndakidemi, Patrick A.Pauly, AlainTreydte, Anna C....
    8页
    查看更多>>摘要：Globally, pollinators are threatened by land-use changes, including habitat degradation. East African rangelands are under pressure due to livestock population increase and overutilization, which lead to degradation of vegetation and soils. While traditional grazing management is widely used to restore vegetation, little is known how this affects insect pollinators. We investigated whether differently managed rangeland areas harbor different insect pollinator abundance, richness and diversity in Simanjiro, Tanzania. We established twelve blocks in four grazing areas under different management categories (private and communal enclosures, wet and dry season grazing lands) and used pan traps and sweep nets to collect insect pollinators. We collected a total of 1977 insects, representing 44 families and 239 species. Beetles were most frequently trapped, with 646 (33%) individuals, followed by 522 bees (26%). Pollinator abundance was twice as high in the private enclosure compared to the communal dry grazing area (chi(2) = 27.63, P < 0.001). We found a strong positive correlation between floral and pollinator abundances (r = 0.68, P = 0.015) but not for pollinator species richness and diversity. Bee species abundance and diversity were also significantly higher (chi(2) = 68.00, P < 0.0001) in enclosures compared to open rangelands and were significantly influenced by season (chi(2) = 220.73, P < 0.0001). Apis mellifera (honey bee) and Lasioglossum of the subgenus Ipomalictus were the most abundant bee species with 107 (21%) and 105 (20%) individuals, respectively. We noticed a significant interaction between season and management on influencing bee pollinator numbers (chi(2) = 19.84, P = 0.0002). We conclude that traditional rangeland management can strongly influence pollinator abundance and communities. Our study will aid in developing rangeland management strategies to promote conservation of and enhance pollinator availability in tropical rangelands.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Influence of breeding time, nest size, and egg size on the breeding success of the Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

    Amininasab, Seyed MehdiHosseini-Moosavi, Seyed MasoudXu, Charles C. Y.
    4页
    查看更多>>摘要：We investigated the relationships between the breeding success of the Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus and its breeding time, nest size, and egg size in a man-made wetland (Ab-bandan) during the 2008 breeding season in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. For each nest, the date of the first laid egg, the first hatching, and the first fledgling was recorded as well as the clutch size. Nest characteristics (height, depth, diameter, and water level underneath) and egg characteristics (shape index and weight) were measured. The first egg was laid on June 15 and the last chick left the nest on August 30. From 251 eggs in 27 nests, 229 eggs hatched (91.2%) and 204 chicks left the nest (Mean breeding success = 81.3%). A GLM revealed that egg weight negatively affected breeding success (P = 0.024) meaning heavier eggs were less likely to produce fledglings. The specific underlying physiological mechanisms require further investigation.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Effects of conspecifics and rocks on seedling recruitment of Brachystegia spiciformis Benth.in a dry miombo woodland in southern Africa

    Mlambo, DonaldChiparange, Francis Tafadzwa
    9页
    查看更多>>摘要：Natural objects that buffer climate extremes and potentially function as regeneration niches are ubiquitous in dry miombo woodlands, yet few studies have explored their effects on early stages of plant recruitment. We used Brachystegia spiciformis to investigate the influence of conspecifics and rocks on early seedling recruitment in Cecil Kop Nature Reserve in Zimbabwe. B. spiciformis-dominated woodland was stratified into canopy and gap sites which were further divided into rock and rock-free microsites. In each microsite, we laid 3 blocks of 100 x 100 m and sow seeds of B. spiciformis in five 1 m(2) plots close to rocks under canopies (CR), close to rocks in gaps (GR), rock-free in gaps (GF) and rock-free under canopies (CF), making a total of 60 plots. We laid additional 1 m(2) plots to quantify the presence of naturally occurring seedlings at 1-12 m distances from boles of 15 trees in four cardinal directions. We found that photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), soil and air temperatures were significantly lower in CR, CF and GR than in GF while soil moisture displayed a reverse trend. Although seedling emergence was above 65% in all microsites, more than 60% of the seedlings died because of droughtrelated mortality which was increased in GF compared with other microsites. Survival probabilty of seedlings was highest in CF and CR, intermediate in GR and lowest in GF. Seedling biomass was increased in GR than under canopies despite higher concentrations of soil organic C, N and P in the latter. The density of naturally occurring seedlings was highest at the parent location than away from it, contradicting the Janzen-Connell recruitment pattern. We conclude that in dry miombo, conservation efforts may be well-served by focusing on the role of nurse objects in the plant recruitment process.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Effects of anthropogenic disturbance on seed germination under field conditions: A meta-analysis

    Mariano, VChristianini, A., V
    9页
    查看更多>>摘要：Anthropogenic disturbances, such as habitat fragmentation, edge effects, biological invasions, and selective logging, can affect abiotic conditions and biotic interactions that influence the likelihood of seed germination, an important bottleneck for plant regeneration. However, there is no research synthesis evaluating the impact of those disturbances on germination. We performed a global meta-analysis comparing seed germination on disturbed and undisturbed sites. We evaluated the influence of disturbance type, vegetation, plant growth form, dispersal syndrome, seed mass, climate region and phylogeny on germination responses to disturbance. We obtained information about 74 plant species from 25 studies. We found an overall negative effect of anthropogenic disturbance on seed germination. Biological invasion and habitat fragmentation presented a negative impact, whilst edge effects, selective logging and grazing had no consistent effect on seed germination. Anthropogenic disturbances decreased germination of forest species, but plants from open physiognomies (savannas, shrublands and grasslands) were not consistently affected. Disturbed conditions decreased germination of understory forest herbs and shrubs from open physiognomies. Germination of abiotic-dispersed plants was decreased in disturbed areas, whilst there was no consistent effect on biotic-dispersed ones. Seed mass had no effect on species responses, but the interactions between seed mass and growth form and dispersal syndrome affected germination responses. Species responses did not differ between tropical and temperate regions. Phylogenetic relationships among species did not drive the results. Anthropogenic disturbances generally decrease seed germination, and non-trees, small-seeded and abiotic dispersed plants are the most affected. Therefore, conservation practices or restoration efforts focusing on early recruitment, such as direct sowing of seeds, should pay special attention to decreases in seed germination due to habitat alterations following disturbances. Amelioration of disturbed conditions, such as control of invasive species, should be considered to maintain germination rates and plant regeneration in long-term.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Edaphic attributes indicative of edge effect in Semideciduous tropical forest

    da Silva, Cristiane Figueirade Souza, Rodrigo CamaraPereira, Marcos Gervasioda Silva Rodrigues Pinto, Luiz Alberto...
    10页
    查看更多>>摘要：Deforestation of native ecosystems causes microclimatic changes at the edge of the remaining forest fragments. This "edge effect" can modify soil attributes, although there is little information on this. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the edge effect on soil microclimate conditions, chemical, microbiological and arthropod community attributes and their relationship with litter attributes in a fragment of Semideciduous Seasonal Forest, in Pirai, RJ, Brazil. In the middle of the dry period (June/2019), four ranges of distances parallel to each other were established from the edge of the forest fragment: Edge: 0 m; Range 1: 50 m; Range 2: 100 m; and Interior: 160 m. In each range, five sampling points were established, spaced 10 m apart, where soil samples were collected in the 0-5 cm layer and litter samples. This material was employed to determine microclimatic, chemical and biological (arthropod community and microbiological attributes) attributes of the soil; and litter stock, concentration and content of nutrients. Forest fragmentation altered litter attributes and consequently soil moisture and nutrients, the communities' attributes of soil arthropods and microorganisms. These modifications in such aspects of nutrient cycling could compromise the forest functioning and the conservation of local biodiversity. Thus, we suggested the planting of non-pioneer native tree species in distances closest to the forest edge and installing of ecological corridors to connect the forest fragment to other remnants, in order to diminish the edge effect.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Influence of environmental predictors on hyphomycete assemblages in subtropical streams

    Breda, MayaraBiasi, CristianeHepp, Luiz UbiratanBinotto, Amanda Caren...
    8页
    查看更多>>摘要：Hyphomycetes are important aquatic organisms for organic matter decomposition, releasing inorganic nutrients to the environment. Understanding distribution patterns of hyphomycetes among different types of habitats can reveal important environmental characteristics that affect their assemblages and, as a consequence, can change stream functioning. We evaluated the effects of environmental predictors over hyphomycete assemblages in a field experiment in 12 subtropical Atlantic Forest streams. We identified 21 species of aquatic hyphomycetes, where Lunulospora curvula, Flagellospora curvula and Aquanectria submersa are dominant species, occurring in 10 streams, while Anguillospora sp., Campylospora parvula and Mycocentrospora acerina were found in only one stream. The variables dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity and pH-influenced hyphomycete assemblages. Electrical conductivity acts as filter for spore output, while dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity and phosphate are environmental filters for species richness. Our findings highlight the importance of environmental predictors over aquatic hyphomycete assemblages. The influence of environmental predictors over spore output and species richness may change stream functioning, since these organisms play an important role in leaf breakdown.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Ficus-frugivore interactions, especially in areas of land-use change, in Africa: A systematic review

    Raji, Islamiat AbidemiDowns, Colleen T.
    9页
    查看更多>>摘要：Land-use change is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. It is predicted that conversion of land and habitats will increase rapidly over the next few decades in Africa. Over the years, these changes potentially reduced the capacity of ecosystems to sustain food production for vertebrates. Ficus species (Moraceae), commonly known as figs, occupy diverse habitats and typically produce large numbers of nutritional fleshy fruits that are important to frugivores. However, a decline in Ficus spp. distribution because of land-use changes may negatively affect frugivores and their ecosystems (e.g. via seed dispersal). We systematically searched for studies on the distribution of Ficus spp. in Africa and their frugivore interactions together with the effects of land-use changes up until 2021. Our search resulted in 70 eligible papers. A total of 124 Ficus spp. were recorded across 30 African countries representing approximately 56% of the African countries. Cameroon had the highest record of 63 species, while Benin, Burundi, Ghana, and Rwanda had two, the least number of Ficus spp. recorded. East Africa had the highest Ficus spp. richness recorded (96 species), followed by southern Africa (74 species), Central and Northern Africa (72 species), and West Africa with the least (31 species) recorded. Information about the effect exerted by anthropogenic land-use changes on Ficus-frugivore interaction in Africa was limited. However, research has been conducted on the impact of anthropogenic land-use changes on plant-frugivore and frugivore feeding ecology. Ficus spp. fruit were identified as significant in the diets of various frugivores across Africa, as it is found globally. However, it is essential to understand the impacts of anthropogenic land-use changes on the mutual interaction between frugivores and Ficus spp. and the attendant consequences for ecosystem service provision.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Alien invasive plant Amaranthus spinosus mainly altered the community structure instead of the alpha diversity of soil N-fixing bacteria under drought

    Cheng, HuiyuanWang, ShuWei, MeiYu, Youli...
    9页
    查看更多>>摘要：Soil N-fixing bacteria (SNFB) may be vital to the invasion process of invasive alien plants (IAPs). Further, SNFB may be altered under drought which can affect the invasion process of IAPs. This study aims to estimate the differences in the alpha diversity and beta diversity of SNFB between the infamous IAP Amaranthus spinosus L. (a spinous annual or perennial herb weed; originates from tropical America) and the native species A. tricolor L. (an annual herb crop) under various degrees of drought (i.e., control, and low, medium, and high degrees of drought, respectively). Drought significantly declines soil pH, water content, and electrical conductivity. Drought significantly rises soil microbial biomass carbon but poses unobvious impacts on the alpha diversity of SNFB. A. spinosus recruits indistinctive impacts on soil pH, water content, and electrical conductivity as well as the alpha diversity of SNFB. Drought and A. spinosus significantly affect the beta diversity of SNFB. Further, some SNFB taxa have been significantly altered under drought and A. spinosus (i.e., f Bradyrhizobiaceae under high degree of drought; p_uncultured_bacterium in the rhizosphere soil of monocultural A. spinosus) according to the results of the LEfSe analysis. Thus, drought and A. spinosus are largely changed the community structure of SNFB instead of the alpha diversity of SNFB.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Litter decomposition above the treeline in alpine regions: A mini review

    Rawat, MonikaJagerbrand, Annika K.Bai, YangAlatalo, Juha M....
    6页
    查看更多>>摘要：Litter decomposition is a key driver of ecosystem processes and carbon cycling. Decomposition rate is influenced by numerous factors, such as temperature, humidity, litter properties, soil properties, and properties of soil fauna/microbial communities. The aim of this review was to summarize current knowledge on litter decomposition above the treeline in alpine regions worldwide and identify: I) factors that have been studied in great detail, II) factors that have been less intensively investigated, III) geographical regions that have been less well studied, and IV) factors with consistent or inconsistent effects on decomposition. The review showed inconsistent results for all factors covered by two or more studies regarding their effect on decomposition rate (positive, negative, no effect), usually a result of interactions between factors. Studies examining one or several factors in the physical environment (i.e., altitude, experimental warming, microclimate, snow cover and soil moisture) were most common, while studies on different aspects of resource quality were the second most common. The impacts of trophic interactions on soil microbes and fauna were less frequently studied. Europe and Asia were the best-represented regions, in terms of number of studies and geographical distribution, while there were no studies from Africa and very few from South America and Australia. North American studies were all from Colorado, and those from Asia were all from China. In order to obtain better global representation, there is a need for studies in Africa, South America, and Australia. There is also a need for more studies to explain the large variation in responses of litter decomposition rates to different influencing factors in alpine environments. Future research should focus on interactions between different factors and on experiments testing specific relationships, such as the potential interaction between temperature and soil moisture and its effect on litter decomposition above the treeline in alpine regions.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier