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Cunningham SA, Frair JL, Jensen PG, Schuler KL. Spatiotemporal drivers of rodenticide exposure in a mammalian forest carnivore. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2025; 982:179605. [PMID: 40373683 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2025] [Revised: 05/02/2025] [Accepted: 05/03/2025] [Indexed: 05/17/2025]
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) use carries a risk to wild carnivores via secondary consumption of toxic prey, specifically via coagulopathy which can result in morbidity or mortality. Though proximity to urban development often correlates with increased exposure in non-target wildlife, outdoor use of AR products in more rural settings can also contribute to secondary exposures, though point sources are difficult to identify. For fishers (Pekania pennanti), we suspected that alternate-year pulsed resources (e.g., mast seeding), known to drive irruptions in small mammal abundance in densely forested systems, would influence AR exposure, especially where human densities are high. We further suspected AR exposure might increase over time independent of the masting and that fisher age and sex would influence AR exposure given differential patterns of space use. We quantified AR exposure in legally harvested fishers (n = 338) sampled across a gradient of forest coverage across New York State between 2018 and 2020. We detected between 1 and 5 AR compounds in 83 % of sampled fishers, with the rate of detection of at least one compound increasing by approximately 8 % per year. We modeled the total number of compounds detected and the probability of exposure to each of the three most-detected compounds as a function of fisher sex, age, and spatial covariates. Adult fishers (3-4 years-old) and males had the highest exposure. The odds of exposure to bromadiolone increased 4 % for a unit increase in the previous year beech seed production relative to the long-term mean-equal to 2.6× the long-term average, an impact that appears small relative to the high background rate of exposure owing to the apparently ubiquitous use of ARs across the landscape. A better understanding of patterns of AR use, as well as how these patterns interact with ecological processes, will be important to mitigate exposure of non-target wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A Cunningham
- Department of Environmental Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Dr., Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
| | - Jacqueline L Frair
- Department of Environmental Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Dr., Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Paul G Jensen
- Bureau of Wildlife, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Ray Brook, NY 12977, USA
| | - Krysten L Schuler
- Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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Coetsee C, Wigley BJ, Higgins SI. Do savanna trees mast? Phenological dynamics of flowering and fruiting in savanna tree species. Oecologia 2025; 207:85. [PMID: 40377737 PMCID: PMC12084283 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-025-05706-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2025] [Indexed: 05/18/2025]
Abstract
A priori, it is not clear if masting should be expected in savannas and few studies have attempted to detect masting in savannas. We tracked the flower and fruiting phenology of 18 savanna woody species on a monthly basis in Kruger National Park for 8 years. We used multiple metrics to detect masting including phenological intensity and its CV, phenological volatility, synchrony and the proportion of failure years. Additionally, we used a process-based model of plant growth to test whether resource matching could explain the observed phenological behaviour. Overall, the measured masting metrics provided no unequivocal evidence for masting. For 4 of the 18 study species, the fruiting CV, synchrony and volatility were consistent with masting. The process-based model of plant growth could reproduce observed flowering and fruiting behaviour, suggesting that resource matching could explain the observed phenological behaviour of the species. We propose that future research should explore the possibility that masting may not be selected for in savannas due to the prevalence of generalist pollinators, dispersal agents and seed predators. Although masting does not appear to be a prevalent phenological strategy in savannas, we detected large between species variation in reproductive phenology, which is likely to have consequences for the trophic dynamics of the study system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corli Coetsee
- Savanna Node, Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa.
- School of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela University, George Campus, George, 6530, South Africa.
| | - Benjamin J Wigley
- Savanna Node, Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa
- School of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela University, George Campus, George, 6530, South Africa
- Plant Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Universitaetsstrasse 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Steven I Higgins
- Plant Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Universitaetsstrasse 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany
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Mazzamuto MV, Santicchia F, Preatoni DG, Martinoli A, Koprowski JL, Wauters LA. Multilevel ecological interactions: Impact of weather, forest extreme events and seed production on squirrel population dynamics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2025; 966:178713. [PMID: 39919654 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2025] [Revised: 01/31/2025] [Accepted: 01/31/2025] [Indexed: 02/09/2025]
Abstract
In resource-limited producer-consumer systems, environmental variables such as weather, habitat structure, and resource availability interact to shape consumer dynamics. We conducted a comparative analysis on territorial Fremont's squirrel (Tamiasciurus fremonti) in Arizona mountain ranges (three sites) and non-territorial Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in the Italian Alps (five sites) to investigate the effects of forest composition, pulsed seed resources, weather, and climate change-induced forest disturbances on population density. We also explored potential synchrony in spatial and temporal dynamics between squirrel populations, driven by endogenous and exogenous processes. Our long-term, multi-site datasets revealed shared density-dependent patterns: annual oscillations in Fremont's squirrel populations and biennial oscillations in Eurasian red squirrels. Both species exhibited strong bottom-up responses, with higher densities following tree-seed production and warmer spring temperatures. Despite the absence of synchronized trends in population density across time or regions, we found consistent responses to resource availability and abiotic conditions, demonstrating shared mechanisms across ecologically distinct systems. By integrating field data, remotely sensed forest disturbances, and multi-factorial modeling, this study highlights the role of climate, forest dynamics, and climate change-induced forest disturbance in shaping population processes in pulsed resource systems. Our findings underscore the importance of understanding producer-consumer interactions under climate change, providing globally relevant insights into the interplay of abiotic drivers, species-specific behaviours, and ecological resilience. These results contribute to advancing strategies for wildlife conservation and forest management in the face of ongoing environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vittoria Mazzamuto
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA; Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
| | - Francesca Santicchia
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Damiano G Preatoni
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - John L Koprowski
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA; School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Lucas A Wauters
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
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Mazaleyrat A, Durand J, Carravieri I, Caillot C, Galley C, Capizzi S, Boué F, Frey-Klett P, Bournez L. Understanding Ixodes ricinus occurrence in private yards: influence of yard and landscape features. Int J Health Geogr 2024; 23:21. [PMID: 39390481 PMCID: PMC11468097 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-024-00380-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 09/26/2024] [Indexed: 10/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lyme borreliosis is the most frequent zoonotic disease in the northern hemisphere and is transmitted by ticks of the genus Ixodes. Although many people are bitten by ticks in private yards, our understanding of the factors associated with their presence in these areas remains limited. To address this gap, we used a citizen science approach to identify the local and landscape features associated with tick presence in yards. METHODS This study was conducted near Nancy, a city in northeastern France, from 2020 to 2022. Citizen scientists collected ticks in their yard on a single event (n = 185) and measured 13 yard features. Additionally, we computed 11 features related to the landscape composition and spatial configuration surrounding these yards. Using generalized linear mixed models, we determined the yard and landscape features associated with the presence of ticks and nymphal Ixodes ricinus (hereafter nymphs), the life stage, and species that mostly bite humans. RESULTS Despite a low density, ticks were found in 32% of the yards, including yards in urbanized areas. At the transect level, the likelihood of finding a nymph was nearly three times higher in transects shaded by vegetation compared to those in open areas, with no relationship between nymph occurrence and transect location or grass height. At the yard level, the occurrence of ticks and nymphs was related to both yard and landscape characteristics. Nymph and tick occurrence were more than twice as high in yards with signs of deer and a wood/brush pile compared to those without these characteristics, and increased with the connectivity of vegetation areas and the percentage of forest areas in the landscape. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals that private yards across an urbanization gradient are locations of tick exposure with tick presence linked to both yard and landscape factors. These findings emphasize the importance of public awareness regarding tick exposure in yards and provide crucial insights for future public health prevention campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mazaleyrat
- ANSES, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, 54220, Malzéville, France
- Tous Chercheurs Laboratory, UMR 1136 'Interactions Arbres Micro-Organismes', Université de Lorraine, INRAE, Centre INRAE Grand Est-Nancy, 54280, Champenoux, France
| | - Jonas Durand
- Tous Chercheurs Laboratory, UMR 1136 'Interactions Arbres Micro-Organismes', Université de Lorraine, INRAE, Centre INRAE Grand Est-Nancy, 54280, Champenoux, France
| | - Irene Carravieri
- Tous Chercheurs Laboratory, UMR 1136 'Interactions Arbres Micro-Organismes', Université de Lorraine, INRAE, Centre INRAE Grand Est-Nancy, 54280, Champenoux, France
- Centre Permanent d'Initiatives Pour l'Environnement (CPIE), Nancy Champenoux, 54280, Champenoux, France
| | - Christophe Caillot
- ANSES, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, 54220, Malzéville, France
| | - Cyril Galley
- Centre Permanent d'Initiatives Pour l'Environnement (CPIE), Nancy Champenoux, 54280, Champenoux, France
| | - Sandrine Capizzi
- Tous Chercheurs Laboratory, UMR 1136 'Interactions Arbres Micro-Organismes', Université de Lorraine, INRAE, Centre INRAE Grand Est-Nancy, 54280, Champenoux, France
| | - Franck Boué
- ANSES, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, 54220, Malzéville, France
| | - Pascale Frey-Klett
- Tous Chercheurs Laboratory, UMR 1136 'Interactions Arbres Micro-Organismes', Université de Lorraine, INRAE, Centre INRAE Grand Est-Nancy, 54280, Champenoux, France
| | - Laure Bournez
- ANSES, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, 54220, Malzéville, France.
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Stephens RB, Willems JS, Yamasaki M, Costello CA, Rowe RJ. Resource availability alters breeding strategies in a small mammal community. J Anim Ecol 2024; 93:1303-1315. [PMID: 39073110 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Following a resource pulse, animals may finance reproduction by consuming concurrently available resources (income breeding) or by storing resources for future reproduction (capital breeding). Understanding how these reproductive strategies are used is important for determining the ecological mechanisms that structure timing of reproduction and that drive interannual population fluctuations in animals. We gathered a reproductive dataset for five small mammal species over a 12-year period in Northeastern USA during which six masting events of American beech (Fagus grandifolia) and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) occurred. Masting created alternate years where seeds were either available late (masting year) or early (cached from the previous year) in the breeding season. The small mammal species differed in reliance on seeds and overwintering strategies. We quantified the diet using stable isotopes and recorded reproduction timing, proportion breeding and litter size in females and testes size in males. Timing of seed availability minimally affected litter size but strongly affected proportion breeding and timing of reproduction. During masting years (late seed availability), a higher proportion of females reproduced, with breeding taking place later in the season (lactation timed with peak seed availability), although the delay was restricted in Napaeozapus insignis, an obligate hibernator. After a fall mast, cached seeds were used as capital in the following spring (early seed availability) to support a litter that, depending on the species, occurred 24-79 days sooner than a mast year. No late-season reproduction occurred in years with early seed availability except for Myodes gapperi which produced a second litter, likely financed by fungal consumption. Males also showed strong responses to seed availability, mirroring female reproduction with testes size staying constant in years with late seed availability and sharply decreasing over the breeding season in years with early seed availability. Our results highlight that although photoperiod and temperature broadly set bounds of the breeding season in temperate environments, resource availability influences the reproductive strategies that species use, which in turn alters reproductive timing and can drive large inter-annual population fluctuations. Differences in overwintering strategies and diet may further modulate reproductive timing and output relative to resource pulses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan B Stephens
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
- Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Joshua S Willems
- Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Mariko Yamasaki
- Forest Sciences Laboratory, USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Christine A Costello
- Forest Sciences Laboratory, USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Rebecca J Rowe
- Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
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6
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Liu R, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Cao L, Yan C. A global evaluation of the associations between long-term dynamics of seed falls and rodents. Integr Zool 2023; 18:831-842. [PMID: 35636774 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
One classic system of pulsed resource and animal population is mast seeding and population dynamics of seed-eating rodents in forests. However, we still lack an understanding of the global patterns regarding the contributions of seed falls to rodent outbreaks or population dynamics. We analyzed a global dataset of coupled long-term time series of seed abundances and rodent populations from published literature, including 66 and 89 time series (156 rodent-seed pairs from 37 studies) for rodent and seed abundances, respectively. We found only half of the examined rodent populations showed statistically significant coincidence between rodent outbreak and mast-seeding years. Over all the coupled time series, seed abundance was found to positively correlate with rodent abundance with a one-year lag, and the relative importance of seed abundance was much lower than that of density dependence in affecting rodent population growth rates. We also found the relative importance of seed abundance decreased, but that of rodent density dependence increased with the latitude of study. For the first time, our work provides a global pattern on the associations between seed falls and rodent population dynamics mostly in mid- and high-latitude forests, and highlights the necessity of more long-term studies on this subject in more forest ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology & School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yongjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology & School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hongmao Zhang
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lin Cao
- College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology and Institute of Biodiversity, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Chuan Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology & School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Narvaez ZE, Rainey T, Puelle R, Khan A, Jordan RA, Egizi AM, Price DC. Detection of multiple tick-borne pathogens in Ixodes scapularis from Hunterdon County, NJ, USA. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2023; 4:100140. [PMID: 37680762 PMCID: PMC10481180 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Several human pathogens vectored by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis Say; Acari: Ixodidae) are endemic in the state of New Jersey. Disease incidence data suggest that these conditions occur disproportionately in the northwestern portion of the state, including in the county of Hunterdon. We conducted active surveillance at three forested sites in Hunterdon County during 2020 and 2021, collecting 662 nymphal and adult I. scapularis. Ticks were tested for five pathogens by qPCR/qRT-PCR: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, and Powassan virus (POWV) lineage 2. Over 2 years, 25.4% of nymphs and 58.4% of adults were found infected with at least one pathogen, with 10.6% of all ticks infected with more than one pathogen. We report substantial spatial and temporal variability of A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi, with high relative abundance of the human-infective A. phagocytophilum variant Ap-ha. Notably, POWV was detected for the first time in Hunterdon, a county where human cases have not been reported. Based on comparisons with active surveillance initiatives in nearby counties, further investigation of non-entomological factors potentially influencing rates of tick-borne illness in Hunterdon is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe E. Narvaez
- Rutgers University Center for Vector Biology, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Tadhgh Rainey
- Hunterdon County Department of Health, 314 State Route 12, Flemington, NJ, 08822, USA
| | - Rose Puelle
- Hunterdon Healthcare Partners, 114 Broad St, Flemington, NJ, 08822, USA
| | - Arsala Khan
- Rutgers University Center for Vector Biology, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Robert A. Jordan
- Tick-borne Diseases Laboratory, Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, 1901 Wayside Rd, Tinton Falls, NJ, 07724, USA
| | - Andrea M. Egizi
- Rutgers University Center for Vector Biology, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
- Tick-borne Diseases Laboratory, Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, 1901 Wayside Rd, Tinton Falls, NJ, 07724, USA
| | - Dana C. Price
- Rutgers University Center for Vector Biology, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
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8
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Qiu T, Aravena MC, Ascoli D, Bergeron Y, Bogdziewicz M, Boivin T, Bonal R, Caignard T, Cailleret M, Calama R, Calderon SD, Camarero JJ, Chang-Yang CH, Chave J, Chianucci F, Courbaud B, Cutini A, Das AJ, Delpierre N, Delzon S, Dietze M, Dormont L, Espelta JM, Fahey TJ, Farfan-Rios W, Franklin JF, Gehring CA, Gilbert GS, Gratzer G, Greenberg CH, Guignabert A, Guo Q, Hacket-Pain A, Hampe A, Han Q, Holik J, Hoshizaki K, Ibanez I, Johnstone JF, Journé V, Kitzberger T, Knops JMH, Kunstler G, Kurokawa H, Lageard JGA, LaMontagne JM, Lefevre F, Leininger T, Limousin JM, Lutz JA, Macias D, Marell A, McIntire EJB, Moore CM, Moran E, Motta R, Myers JA, Nagel TA, Naoe S, Noguchi M, Oguro M, Parmenter R, Pearse IS, Perez-Ramos IM, Piechnik L, Podgorski T, Poulsen J, Redmond MD, Reid CD, Rodman KC, Rodriguez-Sanchez F, Samonil P, Sanguinetti JD, Scher CL, Seget B, Sharma S, Shibata M, Silman M, Steele MA, Stephenson NL, Straub JN, Sutton S, Swenson JJ, Swift M, Thomas PA, Uriarte M, Vacchiano G, Whipple AV, Whitham TG, Wion AP, Wright SJ, Zhu K, Zimmerman JK, Zywiec M, Clark JS. Masting is uncommon in trees that depend on mutualist dispersers in the context of global climate and fertility gradients. NATURE PLANTS 2023:10.1038/s41477-023-01446-5. [PMID: 37386149 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01446-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
The benefits of masting (volatile, quasi-synchronous seed production at lagged intervals) include satiation of seed predators, but these benefits come with a cost to mutualist pollen and seed dispersers. If the evolution of masting represents a balance between these benefits and costs, we expect mast avoidance in species that are heavily reliant on mutualist dispersers. These effects play out in the context of variable climate and site fertility among species that vary widely in nutrient demand. Meta-analyses of published data have focused on variation at the population scale, thus omitting periodicity within trees and synchronicity between trees. From raw data on 12 million tree-years worldwide, we quantified three components of masting that have not previously been analysed together: (i) volatility, defined as the frequency-weighted year-to-year variation; (ii) periodicity, representing the lag between high-seed years; and (iii) synchronicity, indicating the tree-to-tree correlation. Results show that mast avoidance (low volatility and low synchronicity) by species dependent on mutualist dispersers explains more variation than any other effect. Nutrient-demanding species have low volatility, and species that are most common on nutrient-rich and warm/wet sites exhibit short periods. The prevalence of masting in cold/dry sites coincides with climatic conditions where dependence on vertebrate dispersers is less common than in the wet tropics. Mutualist dispersers neutralize the benefits of masting for predator satiation, further balancing the effects of climate, site fertility and nutrient demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Qiu
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Marie-Claire Aravena
- Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y de la Conservacion de la Naturaleza (FCFCN), Universidad de Chile, La Pintana, Santiago, Chile
| | - Davide Ascoli
- Department of Agriculture, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Torino, Italy
| | - Yves Bergeron
- Forest Research Institute, University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michal Bogdziewicz
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Thomas Boivin
- Institut National de Recherche pour Agriculture, Alimentation et Environnement (INRAE), Ecologie des Forets Mediterranennes, Avignon, France
| | - Raul Bonal
- Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Thomas Caignard
- Universite Bordeaux, Institut National de Recherche pour Agriculture, Alimentation et Environnement (INRAE), Biodiversity, Genes, and Communities (BIOGECO), Pessac, France
| | - Maxime Cailleret
- NRAE, Aix-Marseille University, UMR RECOVER, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Rafael Calama
- Centro de Investigacion Forestal (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Donoso Calderon
- Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y de la Conservacion de la Naturaleza (FCFCN), Universidad de Chile, La Pintana, Santiago, Chile
| | - J Julio Camarero
- Instituto Pirenaico de Ecologla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (IPE-CSIC), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Chia-Hao Chang-Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jerome Chave
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversite Biologique, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Benoit Courbaud
- Universite Grenoble Alpes, Institut National de Recherche pour Agriculture, Alimentation et Environnement (INRAE), Laboratoire EcoSystemes et Societes En Montagne (LESSEM), St. Martin-d'Heres, France
| | - Andrea Cutini
- Research Centre for Forestry and Wood, Arezzo, Italy
| | - Adrian J Das
- U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center, Three Rivers, CA, USA
| | - Nicolas Delpierre
- Universite Paris-Saclay, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systematique et Evolution, Orsay, France
| | - Sylvain Delzon
- Universite Bordeaux, Institut National de Recherche pour Agriculture, Alimentation et Environnement (INRAE), Biodiversity, Genes, and Communities (BIOGECO), Pessac, France
| | - Michael Dietze
- Earth and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Laurent Dormont
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Montpellier, France
| | - Josep Maria Espelta
- Centre de Recerca Ecologica i Aplicacions Forestals (CREAF), Bellaterra, Catalunya, Spain
| | | | - William Farfan-Rios
- Washington University in Saint Louis, Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Catherine A Gehring
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Adaptive Western Landscapes, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Gregory S Gilbert
- Department of Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Georg Gratzer
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Wien, Austria
| | | | | | - Qinfeng Guo
- Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Andrew Hacket-Pain
- Department of Geography and Planning, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Arndt Hampe
- Universite Bordeaux, Institut National de Recherche pour Agriculture, Alimentation et Environnement (INRAE), Biodiversity, Genes, and Communities (BIOGECO), Pessac, France
| | - Qingmin Han
- Department of Plant Ecology Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Jan Holik
- Department of Forest Ecology, Silva Tarouca Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kazuhiko Hoshizaki
- Department of Biological Environment, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan
| | - Ines Ibanez
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jill F Johnstone
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Valentin Journé
- Universite Grenoble Alpes, Institut National de Recherche pour Agriculture, Alimentation et Environnement (INRAE), Laboratoire EcoSystemes et Societes En Montagne (LESSEM), St. Martin-d'Heres, France
| | - Thomas Kitzberger
- Department of Ecology, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas - Universidad Nacional del Comahue), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Johannes M H Knops
- Health and Environmental Sciences Department, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
| | - Georges Kunstler
- Universite Grenoble Alpes, Institut National de Recherche pour Agriculture, Alimentation et Environnement (INRAE), Laboratoire EcoSystemes et Societes En Montagne (LESSEM), St. Martin-d'Heres, France
| | - Hiroko Kurokawa
- Department of Forest Vegetation, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan, Ibaraki
| | - Jonathan G A Lageard
- Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Francois Lefevre
- Institut National de Recherche pour Agriculture, Alimentation et Environnement (INRAE), Ecologie des Forets Mediterranennes, Avignon, France
| | - Theodor Leininger
- USDA, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Stoneville, MS, USA
| | | | - James A Lutz
- Department of Wildland Resources, and the Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Diana Macias
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | | | | | | | - Emily Moran
- School of Natural Sciences, UC Merced, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Renzo Motta
- Department of Agriculture, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Torino, Italy
| | - Jonathan A Myers
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Thomas A Nagel
- Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Shoji Naoe
- Tohoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Morioka, Iwate, Japan
| | - Mahoko Noguchi
- Tohoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Morioka, Iwate, Japan
| | - Michio Oguro
- Department of Forest Vegetation, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan, Ibaraki
| | - Robert Parmenter
- Valles Caldera National Preserve, National Park Service, Jemez Springs, NM, USA
| | - Ian S Pearse
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Ignacio M Perez-Ramos
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (IRNAS-CSIC), Seville, Andalucia, Spain
| | - Lukasz Piechnik
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Tomasz Podgorski
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Bialowieza, Poland
| | - John Poulsen
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Miranda D Redmond
- Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Chantal D Reid
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kyle C Rodman
- Ecological Restoration Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | | | - Pavel Samonil
- Department of Forest Ecology, Silva Tarouca Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Javier D Sanguinetti
- Bilogo Dpto. Conservacin y Manejo, Parque Nacional Lanin Elordi y Perito Moreno, San Marten de los Andes, Neuqun, Argentina
| | - C Lane Scher
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Barbara Seget
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Shubhi Sharma
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mitsue Shibata
- Department of Forest Vegetation, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan, Ibaraki
| | - Miles Silman
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | | | - Nathan L Stephenson
- U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center, Three Rivers, CA, USA
| | - Jacob N Straub
- Department of Environmental Science and Ecology, State University of New York-Brockport, Brockport, NY, USA
| | - Samantha Sutton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Margaret Swift
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Peter A Thomas
- School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK
| | - Maria Uriarte
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Giorgio Vacchiano
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Territory, Agroenergy (DISAA), University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Amy V Whipple
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Thomas G Whitham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Andreas P Wion
- Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - S Joseph Wright
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Kai Zhu
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jess K Zimmerman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, PR, USA
| | - Magdalena Zywiec
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - James S Clark
- Universite Grenoble Alpes, Institut National de Recherche pour Agriculture, Alimentation et Environnement (INRAE), Laboratoire EcoSystemes et Societes En Montagne (LESSEM), St. Martin-d'Heres, France
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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9
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Marini G, Arnoldi D, Rizzoli A, Tagliapietra V. Estimating rodent population abundance using early climatic predictors. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-023-01666-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
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10
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Sakio H, Kon A, Kubo M, Nakano Y. Long‐term fluctuations and mechanisms of seed production of riparian tree canopy species. Ecol Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Sakio
- Sado Island Center for Ecological Sustainability Niigata University 94‐2 Koda Sado Niigata 952‐2206 Japan
| | - Ayumi Kon
- Faculty of Agriculture Niigata University 8050 Ikarashi 2‐no‐cho Nishi‐ku Niigata 950‐2181 Japan
- Green Sangyo Co., Ltd 2‐2‐10 Kandoji Chuo‐ku Niigata 950‐0983 Japan
| | - Masako Kubo
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Science Shimane University 1060 Nishikawatsu‐cho Matsue Shimane 690‐8504 Japan
| | - Yosuke Nakano
- Tadami Beech Center Machishita 2590, Tadami, Tadami‐machi Minamiaizu‐gun Fukushima 968‐0421 Japan
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11
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Roberts CE, Burgess ER, Miller TM, Wise A, Dickerson CJ, Skvarla MJ, Li AY, Machtinger ET. Tissue‐damaging marking methods do not affect tick burdens on field captured
Peromyscus
spp. WILDLIFE SOC B 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chloe E. Roberts
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Pennsylvania State University University Park PA 16802 USA
| | - Edwin R. Burgess
- Entomology and Nematology Department University of Florida Gainesville FL 32611 USA
| | - Taylor M. Miller
- Department of Entomology Pennsylvania State University University Park PA 16802 USA
| | - Anna‐Marie Wise
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Pennsylvania State University University Park PA 16802 USA
| | - Cera J. Dickerson
- Department of Animal Sciences Pennsylvania State University University Park PA 16802 USA
| | - Michael J. Skvarla
- Department of Entomology Pennsylvania State University University Park PA 16802 USA
| | - Andrew Y. Li
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory 10300 Baltimore Avenue Beltsville MD 20705 USA
| | - Erika T. Machtinger
- Department of Entomology Pennsylvania State University University Park PA 16802 USA
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12
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Haynes KJ, Liebhold AM, Lefcheck JS, Morin RS, Wang G. Climate affects the outbreaks of a forest defoliator indirectly through its tree hosts. Oecologia 2022; 198:407-418. [PMID: 35137254 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05123-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Although spatial variation in climate can directly affect the survival and reproduction of forest insects and the tree species compositions of forests, little is known about the indirect effects of climate on outbreaks of forest insects through its effects on forest composition. In this study, we use structural equation modeling to examine the direct and indirect effects of climate, water capacity of the soil, host tree density, and non-host density on the spatial extent of Lymantria dispar outbreaks in the Eastern USA over a period of 44 years (1975-2018). Host species were subdivided into four taxonomic and ecologically distinct groups: red oaks (Lobatae), white oaks (Lepidobalanus), other preferred hosts, and intermediate (less preferred) hosts. We found that mean annual temperature had stronger effects than mean annual precipitation on the spatial extent of outbreaks, and that indirect effects of temperature (via its effects on oak density) on defoliation were stronger than direct effects. The density of non-host trees increased with increasing precipitation and, consistent with the 'associational resistance hypothesis', defoliation decreased with increasing density of non-host trees. This study offers quantitative evidence that geographic variation in climate can indirectly affect outbreaks of a forest insect through its effects on tree species composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J Haynes
- The Blandy Experimental Farm, University of Virginia, Boyce, VA, 22620, USA.
| | - Andrew M Liebhold
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, 180 Canfield Street, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA.,Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 00, Praha 6, Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Jonathan S Lefcheck
- Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network, MarineGEO, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, 21037, USA
| | - Randall S Morin
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, 3460 Industrial Drive, York, PA, 17402, USA
| | - Guiming Wang
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Mail Stop 9690, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA
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13
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Bortolotti LE, Emery RB, Armstrong LM, Howerter DW. Landscape composition, climate variability, and their interaction drive waterfowl nest survival in the Canadian Prairies. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E. Bortolotti
- Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research Ducks Unlimited Canada Stonewall Manitoba Canada
| | - Robert B. Emery
- Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research Ducks Unlimited Canada Stonewall Manitoba Canada
| | - Llwellyn M. Armstrong
- Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research Ducks Unlimited Canada Stonewall Manitoba Canada
| | - David W. Howerter
- Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research Ducks Unlimited Canada Stonewall Manitoba Canada
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14
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LaMontagne JM, Redmond MD, Wion AP, Greene DF. An assessment of temporal variability in mast seeding of North American Pinaceae. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200373. [PMID: 34657469 PMCID: PMC8520784 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Our overall objective is to synthesize mast-seeding data on North American Pinaceae to detect characteristic features of reproduction (i.e. development cycle length, serotiny, dispersal agents), and test for patterns in temporal variation based on weather variables. We use a large dataset (n = 286 time series; mean length = 18.9 years) on crop sizes in four conifer genera (Abies, Picea, Pinus, Tsuga) collected between 1960 and 2014. Temporal variability in mast seeding (CVp) for 2 year genera (Abies, Picea, Tsuga) was higher than for Pinus (3 year), and serotinous species had lower CVp than non-serotinous species; there were no relationships of CVp with elevation or latitude. There was no difference in family-wide CVp across four tree regions of North America. Across all genera, July temperature differences between bud initiation and the prior year (ΔT) was more strongly associated with reproduction than absolute temperature. Both CVp and ΔT remained steady over time, while absolute temperature increased by 0.09°C per decade. Our use of the ΔT model included a modification for Pinus, which initiates cone primordia 2 years before seedfall, as opposed to 1 year. These findings have implications for how mast-seeding patterns may change with future increases in temperature, and the adaptive benefits of mast seeding. This article is part of the theme issue 'The ecology and evolution of synchronized seed production in plants'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jalene M. LaMontagne
- Department of Biological Sciences, DePaul University, 2325 N. Clifton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
| | - Miranda D. Redmond
- Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Andreas P. Wion
- Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - David F. Greene
- Department of Forestry and Wildland Resources, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, USA
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15
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Hassett EM, Thangamani S. Ecology of Powassan Virus in the United States. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9112317. [PMID: 34835443 PMCID: PMC8624383 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic viruses threaten the lives of millions of people annually, exacerbated by climate change, human encroachment into wildlife habitats, and habitat destruction. The Powassan virus (POWV) is a rare tick-borne virus that can cause severe neurological damage and death, and the incidence of the associated disease (Powassan virus disease) is increasing in the eastern United States. The mechanisms by which POWV is maintained in nature and transmitted to humans are complex and only partly understood. This review provides an overview of what is known about the vector species, vector-host transmission dynamics, and environmental and human-driven factors that may be aiding the spread of both the vector and virus.
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16
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Bregnard C, Rais O, Herrmann C, Kahl O, Brugger K, Voordouw MJ. Beech tree masting explains the inter-annual variation in the fall and spring peaks of Ixodes ricinus ticks with different time lags. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:570. [PMID: 34749794 PMCID: PMC8577035 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05076-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tick Ixodes ricinus is an important vector of tick-borne diseases including Lyme borreliosis. In continental Europe, the nymphal stage of I. ricinus often has a bimodal phenology with a large spring peak and a smaller fall peak. There is consensus about the origin of the spring nymphal peak, but there are two alternative hypotheses for the fall nymphal peak. In the direct development hypothesis, larvae quest as nymphs in the fall of the same year that they obtained their larval blood meal. In the developmental diapause hypothesis, larvae overwinter in the engorged state and quest as nymphs one year after they obtained their larval blood meal. These two hypotheses make different predictions about the time lags that separate the larval blood meal and the density of questing nymphs (DON) in the spring and fall. METHODS Inter-annual variation in seed production (masting) by deciduous trees is a time-lagged index for the density of vertebrate hosts (e.g., rodents) which provide blood meals for larval ticks. We used a long-term data set on the masting of the European beech tree and a 15-year study on the DON at 4 different elevation sites in western Switzerland to differentiate between the two alternative hypotheses for the origin of the fall nymphal peak. RESULTS Questing I. ricinus nymphs had a bimodal phenology at the three lower elevation sites, but a unimodal phenology at the top elevation site. At the lower elevation sites, the DON in the fall was strongly correlated with the DON in the spring of the following year. The inter-annual variation in the densities of I. ricinus nymphs in the fall and spring was best explained by a 1-year versus a 2-year time lag with the beech tree masting index. Fall nymphs had higher fat content than spring nymphs indicating that they were younger. All these observations are consistent with the direct development hypothesis for the fall peak of I. ricinus nymphs at our study site. Our study provides new insight into the complex bimodal phenology of this important disease vector. CONCLUSIONS Public health officials in Europe should be aware that following a strong mast year, the DON will increase 1 year later in the fall and 2 years later in the spring. Studies of I. ricinus populations with a bimodal phenology should consider that the spring and fall peak in the same calendar year represent different generations of ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Bregnard
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Rais
- Laboratory of Ecology and Epidemiology of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Coralie Herrmann
- Laboratory of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Olaf Kahl
- tick-radar GmbH, 10555 Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Brugger
- Unit for Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Maarten J. Voordouw
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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17
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Tutterow AM, Hoffman AS, Buffington JL, Truelock ZT, Peterman WE. Prey-driven behavioral habitat use in a low-energy ambush predator. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:15601-15621. [PMID: 34824777 PMCID: PMC8601936 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Food acquisition is an important modulator of animal behavior and habitat selection that can affect fitness. Optimal foraging theory predicts that predators should select habitat patches to maximize their foraging success and net energy gain, likely achieved by targeting areas with high prey availability. However, it is debated whether prey availability drives fine-scale habitat selection for predators. We assessed whether an ambush predator, the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), exhibits optimal foraging site selection based on the spatial distribution and availability of prey. We used passive infrared camera trap detections of potential small mammal prey (Peromyscus spp., Tamias striatus, and Sciurus spp.) to generate variables of prey availability across the study area and used whether a snake was observed in a foraging location or not to model optimal foraging in timber rattlesnakes. Our models of small mammal spatial distributions broadly predicted that prey availability was greatest in mature deciduous forests, but T. striatus and Sciurus spp. exhibited greater spatial heterogeneity compared with Peromyscus spp. We found the spatial distribution of cumulative small mammal encounters (i.e., overall prey availability), rather than the distribution of any one species, to be highly predictive of snake foraging. Timber rattlesnakes appear to forage where the probability of encountering prey is greatest. Our study provides evidence for fine-scale optimal foraging in a low-energy, ambush predator and offers new insights into drivers of snake foraging and habitat selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalee M. Tutterow
- School of Environment and Natural ResourcesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Andrew S. Hoffman
- School of Environment and Natural ResourcesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - John L. Buffington
- School of Environment and Natural ResourcesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Zachary T. Truelock
- School of Environment and Natural ResourcesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - William E. Peterman
- School of Environment and Natural ResourcesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
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18
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Deniau M, Pihain M, Béchade B, Jung V, Brunellière M, Gouesbet V, Prinzing A. Seeds and seedlings of oaks suffer from mammals and molluscs close to phylogenetically isolated, old adults. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2021; 127:787-798. [PMID: 33506241 PMCID: PMC8103810 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcab010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Mammals and molluscs (MaM) are abundant herbivores of tree seeds and seedlings, but how the trees and their environment affect MaM herbivory has been little studied. MaM tend to move much larger distances during the feeding stage than the more frequently studied insect herbivores. We hypothesize that MaM (1) select and stay within the patches that promise to be relatively the richest in seeds and seedlings, i.e. patches around adult trees that are old and within a distantly related, less productive neighborhood; and (2) try to remain sheltered from predators while foraging, i.e. mammals remain close to adult trees or to cover by herbs while foraging, and might force their mollusc prey to show the opposite distribution. METHODS We exposed oak acorns and seedlings in a temperate forest along transects from adult conspecifics in different neighbourhoods. We followed acorn removal and leaf herbivory. We used exclusion experiments to separate acorn removal by ungulates vs. rodents and leaf herbivory by insects vs. molluscs. We measured the size of the closest conspecific adult tree, its phylogenetic isolation from the neighbourhood and the herbaceous ground cover. KEY RESULTS Consistent with our hypothesis, rodents removed seeds around adult trees surrounded by phylogenetically distant trees and by a dense herb cover. Molluscs grazed seedlings surrounding large conspecific adults and where herb cover is scarce. Contrary to our hypothesis, the impact of MaM did not change from 1 to 5 m distance from adult trees. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that foraging decisions of MaM repulse seedlings from old adults, and mediate the negative effects of herbaceous vegetation on tree recruitment. Also, an increase in mammalian seed predation might prevent trees from establishing in the niches of phylogenetically distantly related species, contrary to what is known from insect enemies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maud Deniau
- University of Rennes, CNRS, Research Unit ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution) - UMR 6553, Rennes, France
| | - Mickael Pihain
- University of Rennes, CNRS, Research Unit ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution) - UMR 6553, Rennes, France
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Benoît Béchade
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vincent Jung
- University of Rennes, CNRS, Research Unit ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution) - UMR 6553, Rennes, France
| | - Margot Brunellière
- University of Rennes, CNRS, Research Unit ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution) - UMR 6553, Rennes, France
| | - Valérie Gouesbet
- University of Rennes, CNRS, Research Unit ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution) - UMR 6553, Rennes, France
| | - Andreas Prinzing
- University of Rennes, CNRS, Research Unit ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution) - UMR 6553, Rennes, France
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19
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Fernández‐Martínez M, Peñuelas J. Measuring temporal patterns in ecology: The case of mast seeding. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:2990-2996. [PMID: 33841760 PMCID: PMC8019024 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Properly assessing temporal patterns is a central issue in ecology in order to understand ecosystem processes and their mechanisms. Mast seeding has traditionally been described as a reproductive behavior consisting of highly variable and synchronized reproductive events. The most common metric used to measure temporal variability and thus infer masting behavior, the coefficient of variation (CV), however, has been repeatedly suggested to improperly estimate temporal variability. Biases of CV estimates are especially problematic for non-normally distributed data and/or data sets with a high number of zeros.Some recent studies have already adopted new metrics to measure temporal variability, but most continue to use CV. This controversy has started a strong debate about what metrics to use.We here summarize the problems of CV when assessing temporal variability, particularly across data sets containing a large number of zeros, and highlight the benefits of using other metrics of temporal variability, such as proportional variability (PV) and consecutive disparity (D). We also suggest a new way to look at reproductive behavior, by separating temporal variability from frequency of reproduction, to allow better comparison of data sets with different characteristics.We suggest future studies to properly describe the temporal patterns in fully scientific and measurable terms that do not lead to confusion, such as variability and frequency of reproduction, using robust and fully comparable metrics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSICGlobal Ecology UnitCREAF‐CSIC‐UABBellaterraBarcelonaSpain
- CREAFBellaterraBarcelonaSpain
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20
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Bregnard C, Rais O, Voordouw MJ. Masting by beech trees predicts the risk of Lyme disease. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:168. [PMID: 33743800 PMCID: PMC7980658 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04646-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of Lyme borreliosis and other tick-borne diseases is increasing in Europe and North America. There is currently much interest in identifying the ecological factors that determine the density of infected ticks as this variable determines the risk of Lyme borreliosis to vertebrate hosts, including humans. Lyme borreliosis is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) and in western Europe, the hard tick Ixodes ricinus is the most important vector. METHODS Over a 15-year period (2004-2018), we monitored the monthly abundance of I. ricinus ticks (nymphs and adults) and their B. burgdorferi s.l. infection status at four different elevations on a mountain in western Switzerland. We collected climate variables in the field and from nearby weather stations. We obtained data on beech tree seed production (masting) from the literature, as the abundance of Ixodes nymphs can increase dramatically 2 years after a masting event. We used generalized linear mixed effects models and AIC-based model selection to identify the ecological factors that influence inter-annual variation in the nymphal infection prevalence (NIP) and the density of infected nymphs (DIN). RESULTS We found that the NIP decreased by 78% over the study period. Inter-annual variation in the NIP was explained by the mean precipitation in the present year, and the duration that the DNA extraction was stored in the freezer prior to pathogen detection. The DIN decreased over the study period at all four elevation sites, and the decrease was significant at the top elevation. Inter-annual variation in the DIN was best explained by elevation site, year, beech tree masting index 2 years prior and the mean relative humidity in the present year. This is the first study in Europe to demonstrate that seed production by deciduous trees influences the density of nymphs infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. and hence the risk of Lyme borreliosis. CONCLUSIONS Public health officials in Europe should be aware that masting by deciduous trees is an important predictor of the risk of Lyme borreliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Bregnard
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Rais
- Laboratory of Ecology and Epidemiology of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Maarten Jeroen Voordouw
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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Czeszczewik D, Czortek P, Jaroszewicz B, Zub K, Rowiński P, Walankiewicz W. Climate change has cascading effects on tree masting and the breeding performance of a forest songbird in a primeval forest. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 747:142084. [PMID: 33076212 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Forest habitats change significantly under the influence of global warming. It is important to predict the effects of these changes, especially in primeval forests which currently represent a small percentage of temperate forests. Such changes often manifest themselves in an acceleration of the frequency of mass seeding of trees, which causes cascading effects in various organisms. We evaluated changes in: tree masts (oak Quercus robur and hornbeam Carpinus betulus), rodent abundance (yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis), folivorous caterpillar abundance (winter moth Operophtera brumata), and the breeding success of a cavity-nesting songbird (collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis) in over a 30-year period in the Białowieża Forest (E Poland). We also analysed temperature, precipitation and snow cover to determine the effects of weather on each trophic level. Previous studies have exposed the indirect effect of tree masting on songbirds breeding in open nests. Our study uniquely highlights the relationships between trees, rodents, caterpillars, and a cavity-nesting bird. Precipitation was positively correlated with the fructification of trees, abundance of caterpillars, and the breeding losses of flycatchers (in July, August, October in the previous year, in May in the current year, respectively). We found that along with the changing climate, the frequency of mast years of oak increased, which caused an increasing frequency of rodent outbreaks. The abundance of mice was positively correlated with the predation on flycatcher broods (current year) and negatively - with the abundance of caterpillars (following year). We predict that current global trends in climate change will have a negative impact on the flycatcher due to the cascading effects from the above species. Bearing in mind that F. albicollis is one of the most numerous bird species, it can be assumed that more frequent masting will result in substantial changes in the entire bird assemblage, and presumably also other groups of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Czeszczewik
- Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Institute of Biological Sciences, ul. B. Prusa 14, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland.
| | - Patryk Czortek
- University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology, Białowieża Geobotanical Station, Białowieża, Poland.
| | - Bogdan Jaroszewicz
- University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology, Białowieża Geobotanical Station, Białowieża, Poland.
| | - Karol Zub
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland.
| | - Patryk Rowiński
- Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Institute of Forest Sciences, Department of Forest Zoology and Wildlife Management, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Wiesław Walankiewicz
- Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Institute of Biological Sciences, ul. B. Prusa 14, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland.
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22
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Bregnard C, Rais O, Voordouw MJ. Climate and tree seed production predict the abundance of the European Lyme disease vector over a 15-year period. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:408. [PMID: 32778177 PMCID: PMC7418309 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04291-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To predict the risk of tick-borne disease, it is critical to understand the ecological factors that determine the abundance of ticks. In Europe, the sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus) transmits a number of important diseases including Lyme borreliosis. The aim of this long-term study was to determine the abiotic and biotic factors driving the annual abundance of I. ricinus at a location in Switzerland where Lyme borreliosis is endemic. METHODS Over a 15-year period (2004 to 2018), we monitored the abundance of I. ricinus ticks on a monthly basis at three different elevations on Chaumont Mountain in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. We collected climate variables in the field and from nearby weather stations. We obtained data on beech tree seed production from the literature, as the abundance of Ixodes nymphs can increase dramatically two years after a masting event. We used AIC-based model selection to determine which ecological variables drive annual variation in tick density. RESULTS We found that elevation site, year, seed production by beech trees two years prior, and mean annual relative humidity together explained 73.2% of the variation in our annual estimates of nymph density. According to the parameter estimates of our models, (i) the annual density of nymphs almost doubled over the 15-year study period, (ii) changing the beech tree seed production index from very poor mast (1) to full mast (5) increased the abundance of nymphs by 86.2% two years later, and (iii) increasing the field-collected mean annual relative humidity from 50.0 to 75.0% decreased the abundance of nymphs by 46.4% in the same year. Climate variables collected in the field were better predictors of tick abundance than those from nearby weather stations indicating the importance of the microhabitat. CONCLUSIONS From a public health perspective, the increase in nymph abundance is likely to have increased the risk of tick-borne disease in this region of Switzerland. Public health officials in Europe should be aware that seed production by deciduous trees is a critical driver of the abundance of I. ricinus, and hence the risk of tick-borne disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Bregnard
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Rais
- Laboratory of Ecology and Epidemiology of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Maarten Jeroen Voordouw
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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23
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Ketterson ED. What Do Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Have in Common? The Organism in the Middle. Am Nat 2020; 196:103-118. [PMID: 32673095 DOI: 10.1086/709699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Biologists who publish in The American Naturalist are drawn to its unifying mission of covering research in the fields of ecology, evolution, behavior, and integrative biology. Presented here is one scientist's attempt to straddle these fields by focusing on a single organism. It is also an account of how time spent in the field stimulates a naturalist to wonder "why did that animal just do that?" and how research is guided by chance and intention interacting with the scientific literature and the people one meets along the way. With respect to the science, the examples come from bird migration, hormones and their connection to phenotypic integration, sexual and natural selection, and urban ecology. They also come from research on the impact of environmental change on the timing of reproduction and the potential for allochrony in migratory species to influence population divergence.
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24
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Gamboa A, Barragán F. Preferencias de los granívoros con respecto al tamaño y la calidad de las bellotas en un bosque de Quercus en la zona centroseptentrional de México. ANIMAL BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION 2020. [DOI: 10.32800/abc.2020.43.0197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Acorns of the species of the genus Quercus are highly appreciated by a diverse group of animals. It remains unclear whether the choice to move an acorn is related to the intrinsic characteristics of the fruit. In this work, we aimed to determine whether the size and quality of acorns (healthy or damaged) influenced their removal. We found that Q. affinis was the species with the largest acorns but the lowest removal rate, and Q. eduardii was the species with the smallest acorns but highest removal rates. Two groups of vertebrates carried out this removal, and this activity occurred at two clearly separate times. Jays Aphelocoma spp. carried out their activity during the day, and rodents Peromyscus spp. removed acorns at night. Size and quality only had a significant influence on the removal of Q. affinis. Our results suggest that absence of large animals could put the establishment of species with large acorns (such as Q. affinis) at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Gamboa
- IPICYT/División de Ciencias Ambientales, SLP, Mexico
| | - F. Barragán
- IPICYT/División de Ciencias Ambientales, SLP, Mexico
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25
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Krawczyk AI, van Duijvendijk GLA, Swart A, Heylen D, Jaarsma RI, Jacobs FHH, Fonville M, Sprong H, Takken W. Effect of rodent density on tick and tick-borne pathogen populations: consequences for infectious disease risk. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:34. [PMID: 31959217 PMCID: PMC6971888 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3902-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rodents are considered to contribute strongly to the risk of tick-borne diseases by feeding Ixodes ricinus larvae and by acting as amplifying hosts for pathogens. Here, we tested to what extent these two processes depend on rodent density, and for which pathogen species rodents synergistically contribute to the local disease risk, i.e. the density of infected nymphs (DIN). METHODS In a natural woodland, we manipulated rodent densities in plots of 2500 m2 by either supplementing a critical food source (acorns) or by removing rodents during two years. Untreated plots were used as controls. Collected nymphs and rodent ear biopsies were tested for the presence of seven tick-borne microorganisms. Linear models were used to capture associations between rodents, nymphs, and pathogens. RESULTS Investigation of data from all plots, irrespective of the treatment, revealed a strong positive association between rodent density and nymphal density, nymphal infection prevalence (NIP) with Borrelia afzelii and Neoehrlichia mikurensis, and hence DIN's of these pathogens in the following year. The NIP, but not the DIN, of the bird-associated Borrelia garinii, decreased with increasing rodent density. The NIPs of Borrelia miyamotoi and Rickettsia helvetica were independent of rodent density, and increasing rodent density moderately increased the DINs. In addition, NIPs of Babesia microti and Spiroplasma ixodetis decreased with increasing rodent density, which had a non-linear association with DINs of these microorganisms. CONCLUSIONS A positive density dependence for all rodent- and tick-associated tick-borne pathogens was found, despite the observation that some of them decreased in prevalence. The effects on the DINs were variable among microorganisms, more than likely due to contrasts in their biology (including transmission modes, host specificity and transmission efficiency). The strongest associations were found in rodent-associated pathogens that most heavily rely on horizontal transmission. Our results draw attention to the importance of considering transmission mode of a pathogen while developing preventative measures to successfully reduce the burden of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra I Krawczyk
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands. .,Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Arno Swart
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Dieter Heylen
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, 106A Guyot Ln, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Ryanne I Jaarsma
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Frans H H Jacobs
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Willem Takken
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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26
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Bouffard J, Garant D, Bergeron P. Dynamics of ground-nest egg depredation by rodents in a mixed-wood forest. CAN J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2019-0141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Predation is a leading cause of nest failure in birds, which has significant consequences on their population dynamics. Rodents commonly prey on nests in deciduous forest habitats. This has important implications considering how rodent populations fluctuate with changes in resource availability, such as synchronized but intermittent tree-seed production (mast). In this study, we investigated ground-nest egg predation by rodents over 2 years characterized by high and low beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) seed availability (mast vs. no-mast years). We used artificial nests monitored by motion-sensing cameras on a study site where eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus (Linnaeus, 1758)) local abundance was known. We placed the artificial nests in areas of high and low chipmunk abundance as proxy of predation risk. Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758)) depredated the most eggs overall, but rodent population and egg depredation increased in 2018 following the 2017 mast. However, chipmunks were minor predators and their local abundance did not reflect predation risk. Our results highlight the complexity of predation dynamics on ground-nesting birds and the importance of studying them locally and over multiple years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremie Bouffard
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bishop’s University, 2600 College Street, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 1Z7, Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500, boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Patrick Bergeron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bishop’s University, 2600 College Street, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 1Z7, Canada
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27
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Leung C, Angers B, Bergeron P. Epigenetic anticipation for food and reproduction. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2020; 6:dvz026. [PMID: 32015901 PMCID: PMC6991620 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvz026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Physiological changes in anticipation of cyclic environmental events are common for the persistence of populations in fluctuating environments (e.g. seasons). However, dealing with sporadic resources such as the intermittent production of seed masting trees may be challenging unless reliable cues also make them predictable. To be adaptive, the anticipation of such episodic events would have to trigger the corresponding physiological response. Epigenetic modifications could result in such physiological anticipatory responses to future changes. The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is known to adjust its reproductive activity to match juvenile weaning with peak seed availability of masting trees, which are essential for their survival. We therefore expected that epigenetic changes would be linked to spring reproductive initiation in anticipation for beech seed availability in fall. We correlated the variation of DNA methylation profiles of 114 adult chipmunks captured in May with beech seeds abundance in September, over 4 years, for three distinct populations, as well as individuals sampled twice during reproductive and non-reproductive years. The significant correlation between spring epigenetic variation and the amount of food in the fall confirmed the phenotypic flexibility of individuals according to environmental fluctuations. Altogether, these results underlined the key role of epigenetic processes in anticipatory responses enabling organisms to persist in fluctuating environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle Leung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, QC, J1M 1Z7, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Bernard Angers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Patrick Bergeron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, QC, J1M 1Z7, Canada
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28
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Verniest F, Greulich S. Methods for assessing the effects of environmental parameters on biological communities in long-term ecological studies - A literature review. Ecol Modell 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.108732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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29
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Fowler NL, Belant JL, Wang G, Leopold BD. Ecological plasticity of denning chronology by American black bears and brown bears. Glob Ecol Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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30
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Korňan M, Svitok M, Krištín A. Null model analyses of temporal patterns of bird assemblages and their foraging guilds revealed the predominance of positive and random associations. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:8541-8554. [PMID: 31410260 PMCID: PMC6686305 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Patterns of species associations have been commonly used to infer interactions among species. If species positively co-occur, they may form predominantly neutral assemblages, and such patterns suggest a relatively weak role for compensatory dynamics. The main objective of this study was to test this prediction on temporal samples of bird assemblages (n = 19, 10-57 years) by the presence/absence and quantitative null models on assemblage and guild levels. These null model outcomes were further analyzed to evaluate the effects of various data set characteristics on the outcomes of the null models. The analysis of two binary null models in combination with three association indices revealed 20% with significant aggregations, 61% with random associations, and only 19% with significant segregations (n = 95 simulations). The results of the quantitative null model simulations detected more none-random associations: 61% aggregations, 6% random associations, and 33% segregations (n = 114 simulations). Similarly, quantitative analyses on guild levels showed 58% aggregations, 20% segregations, and 22% random associations (n = 450 simulations). Bayesian GLMs detected that the outcomes of the binary and quantitative null models applied to the assemblage analyses were significantly related to census plot size, whereas the outcomes of the quantitative analyses were also related to the mean population densities of species in the data matrices. In guild-level analyses, only 9% of the GLMs showed a significant influence of matrix properties (plot size, matrix size, species richness, and mean species population densities) on the null model outcomes. The results did not show the prevalence of negative associations that would have supported compensatory dynamics. Instead, we assume that a similar response of the majority of species to climate-driven and stochastic factors may be responsible for the revealed predominance of positive associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Korňan
- Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Faculty of ForestryTechnical University in ZvolenZvolenSlovakia
- Centre for Ecological StudiesVeľké RovnéSlovakia
| | - Marek Svitok
- Department of Biology and General Ecology, Faculty of Ecology and Environmental SciencesTechnical University in ZvolenZvolenSlovakia
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
| | - Anton Krištín
- Institute of Forest EcologySlovak Academy of SciencesZvolenSlovakia
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31
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Clark JS, Nuñez CL, Tomasek B. Foodwebs based on unreliable foundations: spatiotemporal masting merged with consumer movement, storage, and diet. ECOL MONOGR 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James S. Clark
- Nicholas School of the Environment Duke University Durham North Carolina 27708 USA
- Department of Statistical Science Duke University Durham North Carolina 27708 USA
| | - Chase L. Nuñez
- Nicholas School of the Environment Duke University Durham North Carolina 27708 USA
| | - Bradley Tomasek
- Nicholas School of the Environment Duke University Durham North Carolina 27708 USA
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32
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Dell’Agnello F, Martini M, Mori E, Mazza G, Mazza V, Zaccaroni M. Winter activity rhythms of a rodent pest species in agricultural habitats. MAMMAL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-019-00443-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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33
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Stelbrink P, Grendelmeier A, Schabo D, Arlettaz R, Hillig F, Pasinelli G. Does acoustically simulated predation risk affect settlement and reproduction of a migratory passerine? Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Stelbrink
- Conservation Ecology, Faculty of Biology Philipps‐University of Marburg Marburg Germany
- BIOPLAN Marburg‐Höxter GbR Marburg Germany
| | | | - Dana Schabo
- Conservation Ecology, Faculty of Biology Philipps‐University of Marburg Marburg Germany
| | - Raphaël Arlettaz
- Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | | | - Gilberto Pasinelli
- Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Sciences University of Zurich Zürich Switzerland
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34
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Granados A, Bernard H, Brodie JF. The influence of logging on vertebrate responses to mast fruiting. J Anim Ecol 2019; 88:892-902. [PMID: 30895613 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Periods of extreme food abundance, such as irregular masting events, can dramatically affect animal populations and communities, but the extent to which anthropogenic disturbances alter animal responses to mast events is not clear. In South-East Asia, dipterocarp trees reproduce in mast fruiting events every 2-10 years in some of the largest masting events on the planet. These trees, however, are targeted for selective logging, reducing the intensity of fruit production and potentially affecting multiple trophic levels. Moreover, animal responses to resource pulse events have largely been studied in systems where the major mast consumers have been extirpated. We sought to evaluate the influence of human-induced habitat disturbance on animal responses to masting in a system where key mast consumers remain extant. We used motion-triggered camera traps to quantify terrestrial mammal and bird occurrences in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, relative to variation in fruit biomass from 69 plant families during a major (2014) and minor (2015) masting event and a non-mast year (2013), in both logged and unlogged forests. Bearded pigs (Sus barbatus) showed the clearest responses to masting and occurrence rates were highest in unlogged forest in the year following the major mast, suggesting that the pulse in fruit availability increased immigration or reproduction. We also detected local-scale spatial tracking of dipterocarp fruits in bearded pigs in unlogged forest, while this was equivocal in other species. In contrast, pigs and other vertebrate taxa in our study showed limited response to spatial or temporal variation in fruit availability in logged forest. Our findings suggest that vertebrates, namely bearded pigs, may respond to masting via movement and increased reproduction, but that these responses may be attenuated by habitat disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alys Granados
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Gunung Palung Orangutan Project, Ketapang, West Kalimantan, Indonesia
| | - Henry Bernard
- Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Jedediah F Brodie
- Division of Biological Sciences and Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
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35
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Hartemink N, van Vliet A, Sprong H, Jacobs F, Garcia-Martí I, Zurita-Milla R, Takken W. Temporal-Spatial Variation in Questing Tick Activity in the Netherlands: The Effect of Climatic and Habitat Factors. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 19:494-505. [PMID: 30810501 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Longitudinal studies are fundamental in the assessment of the effect of environmental factors on tick population dynamics. In this study, we use data from a 10-year study in 11 different locations in the Netherlands to gauge the effects of climatic and habitat factors on the temporal and spatial variation in questing tick activity. Marked differences in the total number of ticks were found between locations and between years. We investigated which climatic and habitat factors might explain this variation. No effects of climatic factors on the total number of ticks per year were observed, but we found a clear effect of temperature on the onset of tick activity. In addition, we found positive associations between (1) humus layer thickness and densities of all three stages, (2) moss and blackberry abundance and larval densities, and (3) blueberry abundance and densities of larva and nymphs. We conclude that climatic variables do not have a straightforward association with tick density in the Netherlands, but that winter and spring temperatures influence the onset of tick activity. Habitats with apparently similar vegetation types can still differ in tick population densities, indicating that local composition of vegetation and especially of wildlife is likely to contribute considerably to the spatial variation in tick densities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke Hartemink
- 1 Biometris, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands.,2 Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Arnold van Vliet
- 3 Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- 2 Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands.,4 Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Frans Jacobs
- 2 Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands.,5 Centre for Vector Surveillance, Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Irene Garcia-Martí
- 6 Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, De Bilt, the Netherlands.,7 Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Raul Zurita-Milla
- 7 Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Willem Takken
- 2 Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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36
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Liebgold EB, Gerlach NM, Ketterson ED. Density-dependent fitness, not dispersal movements, drives temporal variation in spatial genetic structure in dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis). Mol Ecol 2019; 28:968-979. [PMID: 30714237 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Some studies have found that dispersal rates and distances increase with density, indicating that density-dependent dispersal likely affects spatial genetic structure. In an 11-year mark-recapture study on a passerine, the dark-eyed junco, we tested whether density affected dispersal distance and/or fine-scale spatial genetic structure. Contrary to expectations, we found no effect of predispersal density on dispersal distance or the proportion of locally produced juveniles returning to the population from which they hatched. However, even though density did not affect dispersal distance or natal return rates, we found that density still did affect spatial genetic structure. We found significant positive spatial genetic structure at low densities of (postdispersal) adults but not at high densities. In years with high postdispersal (adult) densities that also had high predispersal (juvenile) densities in the previous year, we found negative spatial genetic structure, indicating high levels of dispersal. We found that density also affected fitness of recruits, and fitness of immigrants, potentially linking these population parameters with the spatial genetic structure detected. Immigrants and recruits rarely nested in low postdispersal density years. In contrast, in years with high postdispersal density, recruits were common and immigrants had equal success to local birds, so novel genotypes diluted the gene pool and effectively eliminated positive spatial genetic structure. In relation to fine-scale spatial genetic structure, fitness of immigrants and new recruits is poorly understood compared to dispersal movements, but we conclude that it can have implications for the spatial distribution of genotypes in populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric B Liebgold
- Department of Biological Sciences, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland
| | - Nicole M Gerlach
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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37
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White TCR. The universal “bottom‐up” limitation of animal populations by their food is illustrated by outbreaking species. Ecol Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.1132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C. R. White
- School of Agriculture Food and Wine, Waite Agricultural Research InstituteThe University of Adelaide Glen Osmond South Australia Australia
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38
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Alonso Aguirre A, Basu N, Kahn LH, Morin XK, Echaubard P, Wilcox BA, Beasley VR. Transdisciplinary and social-ecological health frameworks-Novel approaches to emerging parasitic and vector-borne diseases. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2019; 4:e00084. [PMID: 30701206 PMCID: PMC6348238 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2019.e00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecosystem Health, Conservation Medicine, EcoHealth, One Health, Planetary Health and GeoHealth are inter-related disciplines that underpin a shared understanding of the functional prerequisites of health, sustainable vitality and wellbeing. All of these are based on recognition that health interconnects species across the planet, and they offer ways to more effectively tackle complex real-world challenges. Herein we present a bibliometric analysis to document usage of a subset of such terms by journals over time. We also provide examples of parasitic and vector-borne diseases, including malaria, toxoplasmosis, baylisascariasis, and Lyme disease. These and many other diseases have persisted, emerged or re-emerged, and caused great harm to human and animal populations in developed and low income, biodiverse nations around the world, largely because of societal drivers that undermined natural processes of disease prevention and control, which had developed through co-evolution over millennia. Shortcomings in addressing drivers has arisen from a lack or coordinated efforts among researchers, health stewards, societies at large, and governments. Fortunately, specialists collaborating under transdisciplinary and socio-ecological health umbrellas are increasingly integrating established and new techniques for disease modeling, prediction, diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention. Such approaches often emphasize conservation of biodiversity for health protection, and they provide novel opportunities to increase the efficiency and probability of success.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Alonso Aguirre
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Laura H. Kahn
- Program on Science and Global Security, Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Xenia K. Morin
- Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University, NJ, USA
| | - Pierre Echaubard
- Global Health Asia Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand
| | - Bruce A. Wilcox
- Global Health Asia Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand
| | - Val R. Beasley
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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Fernández‐Martínez M, Vicca S, Janssens IA, Carnicer J, Martín‐Vide J, Peñuelas J. The consecutive disparity index,
D
: a measure of temporal variability in ecological studies. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Fernández‐Martínez
- Centre of Excellence PLECO (Plants and Ecosystems) Department of Biology University of Antwerp 2610 Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Sara Vicca
- Centre of Excellence PLECO (Plants and Ecosystems) Department of Biology University of Antwerp 2610 Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Ivan A. Janssens
- Centre of Excellence PLECO (Plants and Ecosystems) Department of Biology University of Antwerp 2610 Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Jofre Carnicer
- CSIC Global Ecology Unit CREAF‐CSIC‐UAB Cerdanyola del Vallés 08193 Catalonia Spain
- CREAF Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193 Catalonia Spain
- Department of Ecology University of Barcelona Avinguda Diagonal 643 08028 Barcelona Spain
- eGELIFES Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen P.O. Box 11103 9700 CC Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Javier Martín‐Vide
- Group of Climatology University of Barcelona Montalegre 6 Barcelona 08001 Spain
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSIC Global Ecology Unit CREAF‐CSIC‐UAB Cerdanyola del Vallés 08193 Catalonia Spain
- CREAF Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193 Catalonia Spain
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40
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Grendelmeier A, Arlettaz R, Pasinelli G. Numerical response of mammalian carnivores to rodents affects bird reproduction in temperate forests: A case of apparent competition? Ecol Evol 2018; 8:11596-11608. [PMID: 30598759 PMCID: PMC6303777 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Resource pulses such as mast seeding in temperate forests may affect interspecific interactions over multiple trophic levels and link different seed and nonseed consumers directly via predation or indirectly via shared predators. However, the nature and strength of interactions among species remain unknown for most resource pulse-driven ecosystems. We considered five hypotheses concerning the influence of resource pulses on the interactions between rodents, predators, and bird reproduction with data from northern Switzerland collected between 2010 and 2015. In high-rodent-abundance-years (HRAYs), wood warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) nest survival was lower than in low-rodent-abundance-years, but rodents were not important nest predators, in contrast to rodent-hunting predators. The higher proportion of nests predated by rodent-hunting predators and their increased occurrence in HRAYs suggests a rodent-mediated aggregative numerical response of rodent-hunting predators, which incidentally prey on the wood warbler's ground nests. There was no evidence that rodent-hunting predators responded behaviorally by switching prey. Lastly, nest losses caused by nonrodent-hunting predators were not related to rodent abundance. We show that wood warblers and rodents are linked via shared predators in a manner consistent with apparent competition, where an increase of one species coincides with the decrease of another species mediated by shared predators. Mast seeding frequency and annual seed production appear to have increased over the past century, which may result in more frequent HRAYs and generally higher peaking rodent populations. The associated increase in the magnitude of apparent competition may thus at least to some extent explain the wood warbler's decline in much of Western Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Grendelmeier
- Swiss Ornithological InstituteSempachSwitzerland
- Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Raphaël Arlettaz
- Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Valais Field StationSionSwitzerland
| | - Gilberto Pasinelli
- Swiss Ornithological InstituteSempachSwitzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
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41
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Newell Wohner PJ, Cooper RJ, Schweitzer SH, Greenberg RS. Rusty blackbird patch use during winter in suburban landscapes. J Wildl Manage 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert J. Cooper
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGA30602USA
| | - Sara H. Schweitzer
- Wildlife Diversity ProgramNorth Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission106 Ferret Run LaneNew BernNC28562USA
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42
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Dhawan R, Fischhoff IR, Ostfeld RS. Effects of weather variability on population dynamics of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) and eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus). J Mammal 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyy126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Dhawan
- North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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43
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Solomon NG, Keane B. Dispatches from the field: sociality and reproductive success in prairie voles. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Zwolak R, Witczuk J, Bogdziewicz M, Rychlik L, Pagacz S. Simultaneous population fluctuations of rodents in montane forests and alpine meadows suggest indirect effects of tree masting. J Mammal 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyy034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Zwolak
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska, Poznań, Poland
| | - Julia Witczuk
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Michał Bogdziewicz
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska, Poznań, Poland
- CREAF, Campus de Bellaterra (UAB) Edifici C, Cerdanyola del Valles, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Leszek Rychlik
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska, Poznań, Poland
| | - Stanisław Pagacz
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza, Warszawa, Poland
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46
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Fiola ML, Vernouillet A, Villard MA. Linking songbird nest predation to seedling density: Sugar maple masting as a resource pulse in a forest food web. Ecol Evol 2018; 7:10733-10742. [PMID: 29299253 PMCID: PMC5743542 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The ecological literature presents considerable evidence for top‐down forcing on the maintenance of species diversity. Yet, in temperate forests, bottom‐up forces often exert a strong influence on ecosystem functioning. Here, we report on the indirect influence of a pulsed resource, sugar maple (Acer saccharum) seed production, on nest survival in a migratory songbird. We hypothesized that seed production in year t would determine daily nest survival rate in year t + 1 through its effects on seed‐eating rodents. We used the density of sugar maple seedlings (with cotyledons) in year t + 1 as a proxy for seed production in year t and predicted that it would be inversely related to songbird nest survival the same year. We estimated the density of sugar maple seedlings, eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) activity, and daily nest survival rate in the ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) over four successive years in a northern hardwood forest of New Brunswick, Canada. Seedling density varied by two orders of magnitude between years, whereas an index of chipmunk activity changed by an order of magnitude. Both variables were positively correlated and negatively correlated to daily nest survival rate. A logistic‐exposure model including only seedling density received the greatest level of support (lowest AICc). Previous studies have reported the effect of sugar maple masting on seed‐eating rodent populations, but the strong link we report between seedling density and songbird nest survival is novel. A nocturnal seed‐eating nest predator, deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), was not considered in our models, which may explain why chipmunk was not the best predictor of daily nest survival rate. The trophic linkages we observed are remarkably strong for a temperate forest ecosystem and might become more prevalent in northeastern North America, at least on calcium‐rich soils, with the loss of large‐diameter beech trees as a result of beech bark disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alizée Vernouillet
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg MB Canada
| | - Marc-André Villard
- Département de biologie, chimie et géographie Université du Québec à Rimouski Rimouski QC Canada
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47
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Cornils JS, Hoelzl F, Huber N, Zink R, Gerritsmann H, Bieber C, Schwarzenberger F, Ruf T. The insensitive dormouse: reproduction skipping is not caused by chronic stress in Glis glis. J Exp Biol 2018; 221:jeb.183558. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.183558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Entire populations of edible dormice (Glis glis) can skip reproduction in years without mast seeding of deciduous trees (particularly beech or oak seed), because juveniles require high caloric seeds for growth and fattening prior to hibernation. We hypothesized that, in mast failure years, female dormice may be forced to spend larger amounts of time foraging for low-quality food, which should increase their exposure to predators, mainly owls. This may lead to chronic stress, i.e., long-term increased secretion of Glucocorticoids (GC), which can have inhibitory effects on reproductive function in both female and male mammals. We monitored reproduction in free-living female dormice over three years with varying levels of food availability, and performed a supplemental feeding experiment. To measure stress hormone levels, we determined fecal GC metabolite (GCM) concentrations collected during the day, which reflect hormone secretion rates in the previous nocturnal activity phase. We found that year-to-year differences in beech mast significantly affected fecal GCM levels and reproduction. However, contrary to our hypothesis, GCM levels were lowest in a non-mast year without reproduction, and significantly elevated in full-mast and intermediate years, as well as under supplemental feeding. Variation in owl density in our study area had no influence on GCM levels. Consequently, we conclude that down-regulation of gonads and reproduction skipping in mast-failure years in this species is not caused by chronic stress. Thus, in edible dormice, delayed reproduction apparently is profitable in response to the absence of energy-rich food in non-mast years, but not in response to chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S. Cornils
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Franz Hoelzl
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nikolaus Huber
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Zink
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hanno Gerritsmann
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Bieber
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Franz Schwarzenberger
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, Department for Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Ruf
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
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48
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Haynes KJ, Liebhold AM, Bjørnstad ON, Allstadt AJ, Morin RS. Geographic variation in forest composition and precipitation predict the synchrony of forest insect outbreaks. OIKOS 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.04388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J. Haynes
- The Blandy Experimental Farm, Univ. of Virginia; Boyce VA 22620 USA
| | | | | | | | - Randall S. Morin
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station; Newtown Square PA USA
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49
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Borchering RK, Bellan SE, Flynn JM, Pulliam JRC, McKinley SA. Resource-driven encounters among consumers and implications for the spread of infectious disease. J R Soc Interface 2017; 14:20170555. [PMID: 29021163 PMCID: PMC5665835 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals share a variety of common resources, which can be a major driver of conspecific encounter rates. In this work, we implement a spatially explicit mathematical model for resource visitation behaviour in order to examine how changes in resource availability can influence the rate of encounters among consumers. Using simulations and asymptotic analysis, we demonstrate that, under a reasonable set of assumptions, the relationship between resource availability and consumer conspecific encounters is not monotonic. We characterize how the maximum encounter rate and associated critical resource density depend on system parameters like consumer density and the maximum distance from which consumers can detect and respond to resources. The assumptions underlying our theoretical model and analysis are motivated by observations of large aggregations of black-backed jackals at carcasses generated by seasonal outbreaks of anthrax among herbivores in Etosha National Park, Namibia. As non-obligate scavengers, black-backed jackals use carcasses as a supplemental food resource when they are available. While jackals do not appear to acquire disease from ingesting anthrax carcasses, changes in their movement patterns in response to changes in carcass abundance do alter jackals' conspecific encounter rate in ways that may affect the transmission dynamics of other diseases, such as rabies. Our theoretical results provide a method to quantify and analyse the hypothesis that the outbreak of a fatal disease among herbivores can potentially facilitate outbreaks of an entirely different disease among jackals. By analysing carcass visitation data, we find support for our model's prediction that the number of conspecific encounters at resource sites decreases with additional increases in resource availability. Whether or not this site-dependent effect translates to an overall decrease in encounters depends, unexpectedly, on the relationship between the maximum distance of detection and the resource density.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steve E Bellan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jason M Flynn
- Department of Mathematics, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Juliet R C Pulliam
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Scott A McKinley
- Department of Mathematics, Tulane University, 6823 St Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
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50
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Main determinants of rodent population fluctuations in managed Central European temperate lowland forests. MAMMAL RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-017-0316-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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