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McGeoch MA, Clarke DA, Mungi NA, Ordonez A. A nature-positive future with biological invasions: theory, decision support and research needs. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230014. [PMID: 38583473 PMCID: PMC10999266 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0014] [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: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
In 2050, most areas of biodiversity significance will be heavily influenced by multiple drivers of environmental change. This includes overlap with the introduced ranges of many alien species that negatively impact biodiversity. With the decline in biodiversity and increase in all forms of global change, the need to envision the desired qualities of natural systems in the Anthropocene is growing, as is the need to actively maintain their natural values. Here, we draw on community ecology and invasion biology to (i) better understand trajectories of change in communities with a mix of native and alien populations, and (ii) to frame approaches to the stewardship of these mixed-species communities. We provide a set of premises and actions upon which a nature-positive future with biological invasions (NPF-BI) could be based, and a decision framework for dealing with uncertain species movements under climate change. A series of alternative management approaches become apparent when framed by scale-sensitive, spatially explicit, context relevant and risk-consequence considerations. Evidence of the properties of mixed-species communities together with predictive frameworks for the relative importance of the ecological processes at play provide actionable pathways to a NPF in which the reality of mixed-species communities are accommodated and managed. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ecological novelty and planetary stewardship: biodiversity dynamics in a transforming biosphere'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melodie A. McGeoch
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - David A. Clarke
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ninad Avinash Mungi
- Section of Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
| | - Alejandro Ordonez
- Section of Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
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2
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Joos J, Pimiento C, Miles DB, Müller J. Quaternary megafauna extinctions altered body size distribution in tortoises. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221947. [PMID: 36382514 PMCID: PMC9667361 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The late Quaternary is characterized by the extinction of many terrestrial megafauna, which included tortoises (Family: Testudinidae). However, limited information is available on how extinction shaped the phenotype of surviving taxa. Here, based on a global dataset of straight carapace length, we investigate the temporal variation, spatial distribution and evolution of tortoise body size over the past 23 million years, thereby capturing the effects of Quaternary extinctions in this clade. We found a significant change in body size distribution characterized by a reduction of both mean body size and maximum body size of extant tortoises relative to fossil taxa. This reduction of body size occurred earlier in mainland (Early Pleistocene 2.588-0.781 Ma) than in island tortoises (Late Pleistocene/Holocene 0.126-0 Ma). Despite contrasting body size patterns between fossil and extant taxa on a spatial scale, tortoise body size showed limited variation over time until this decline. Body size is a fundamental functional trait determining many aspects of species ecologies, with large tortoises playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. As such, the transition from larger sized to smaller sized classes indicated by our findings likely resulted in the homogenization of tortoises' ecological functions and diminished the role of tortoises in structuring the vegetation community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Joos
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43 Berlin D-10115, Germany
| | - Catalina Pimiento
- Paleontological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich, Zurich CH-8006, Switzerland
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Wallace Building, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, PO Box 2072, Balboa, Panama
| | - Donald B. Miles
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Johannes Müller
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43 Berlin D-10115, Germany
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3
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Tercel MPTG, Moorhouse‐Gann RJ, Cuff JP, Drake LE, Cole NC, Goder M, Mootoocurpen R, Symondson WOC. DNA metabarcoding reveals introduced species predominate in the diet of a threatened endemic omnivore, Telfair's skink ( Leiolopisma telfairii). Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8484. [PMID: 35127020 PMCID: PMC8794715 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduced species can exert disproportionately negative effects on island ecosystems, but their potential role as food for native consumers is poorly studied. Telfair's skinks are endemic omnivores living on Round Island, Mauritius, a globally significant site of biodiversity conservation. We aimed to determine the dietary diversity and key trophic interactions of Telfair's skinks, whether introduced species are frequently consumed, and if diet composition changes seasonally between male and female skinks. We used DNA metabarcoding of skink fecal samples to identify animals (COI) and plants (ITS2) consumed by skinks. There were 389 dietary presence counts belonging to 77 dietary taxa found across the 73 Telfair's skink fecal samples. Introduced taxa were cumulatively consumed more frequently than other categories, accounting for 49.4% of all detections, compared to cryptogenic (20.6%), native (20.6%), and endemic taxa (9.5%). The most frequently consumed introduced species was the ant, Pheidole megacephala, present in 40% of samples. Blue latan palm, Latania loddigesii, was the most frequently consumed endemic species, present in 33% of samples but was only detected in the dry season, when fruits are produced. We found a strong seasonal difference in diet composition explained by the presence of certain plant species solely or primarily in one season and a marked increase in the consumption of animal prey in the dry season. Male and female skinks consumed several taxa at different frequencies. These results present a valuable perspective on the role of introduced species in the trophic network of their invaded ecosystem. Both native and introduced species provide nutritional resources for skinks, and this may have management implications in the context of species conservation and island restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosemary J. Moorhouse‐Gann
- School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation TrustTrinityJersey
- Department of Animal & Plant SciencesNERC Biomolecular Analysis FacilitySheffieldUK
| | - Jordan P. Cuff
- School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Rothamsted Insect Survey, Rothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
| | | | - Nik C. Cole
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation TrustTrinityJersey
- Mauritian Wildlife FoundationVacoasMauritius
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4
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Moorhouse‐Gann RJ, Vaughan IP, Cole NC, Goder M, Tatayah V, Jones CG, Mike D, Young RP, Bruford MW, Rivers MC, Hipperson H, Russo IM, Stanton DWG, Symondson WOC. Impacts of herbivory by ecological replacements on an island ecosystem. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary J. Moorhouse‐Gann
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Les Augrès Manor Trinity Jersey
- Cardiff University Cardiff UK
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis FacilityDepartment of Animal & Plant Sciences Sheffield UK
| | | | - Nik C. Cole
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Les Augrès Manor Trinity Jersey
- Mauritian Wildlife Foundation Vacoas Mauritius
| | | | | | - Carl G. Jones
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Les Augrès Manor Trinity Jersey
- Mauritian Wildlife Foundation Vacoas Mauritius
| | | | - Richard P. Young
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Les Augrès Manor Trinity Jersey
| | | | | | - Helen Hipperson
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis FacilityDepartment of Animal & Plant Sciences Sheffield UK
| | | | - David W. G. Stanton
- Cardiff University Cardiff UK
- Queen Mary University of London School of Biological and Chemical Sciences London UK
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5
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Clifford KR, Cravens AE, Knapp CN. Responding to Ecological Transformation: Mental Models, External Constraints, and Manager Decision-Making. Bioscience 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Ecological transformation creates many challenges for public natural resource management and requires managers to grapple with new relationships to change and new ways to manage it. In the context of unfamiliar trajectories of ecological change, a manager can resist, accept, or direct change, choices that make up the resist-accept-direct (RAD) framework. In this article, we provide a conceptual framework for how to think about this new decision space that managers must navigate. We identify internal factors (mental models) and external factors (social feasibility, institutional context, and scientific uncertainty) that shape management decisions. We then apply this conceptual framework to the RAD strategies (resist, accept, direct) to illuminate how internal and external factors shape those decisions. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of how this conceptual framework shapes our understanding of management decisions, especially how these decisions are not just ecological but also social, and the implications for research and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R Clifford
- Postdoctoral social science research fellow, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
| | - Amanda E Cravens
- US Geological Survey's Social and Economic Analysis Branch, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
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6
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Fernández-Palacios JM, Kreft H, Irl SDH, Norder S, Ah-Peng C, Borges PAV, Burns KC, de Nascimento L, Meyer JY, Montes E, Drake DR. Scientists' warning - The outstanding biodiversity of islands is in peril. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021; 31:e01847. [PMID: 34761079 PMCID: PMC8556160 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite islands contributing only 6.7% of land surface area, they harbor ~20% of the Earth’s biodiversity, but unfortunately also ~50% of the threatened species and 75% of the known extinctions since the European expansion around the globe. Due to their geological and geographic history and characteristics, islands act simultaneously as cradles of evolutionary diversity and museums of formerly widespread lineages—elements that permit islands to achieve an outstanding endemicity. Nevertheless, the majority of these endemic species are inherently vulnerable due to genetic and demographic factors linked with the way islands are colonized. Here, we stress the great variation of islands in their physical geography (area, isolation, altitude, latitude) and history (age, human colonization, human density). We provide examples of some of the most species rich and iconic insular radiations. Next, we analyze the natural vulnerability of the insular biota, linked to genetic and demographic factors as a result of founder events as well as the typically small population sizes of many island species. We note that, whereas evolution toward island syndromes (including size shifts, derived insular woodiness, altered dispersal ability, loss of defense traits, reduction in clutch size) might have improved the ability of species to thrive under natural conditions on islands, it has simultaneously made island biota disproportionately vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures such as habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, and climate change. This has led to the documented extinction of at least 800 insular species in the past 500 years, in addition to the many that had already gone extinct following the arrival of first human colonists on islands in prehistoric times. Finally, we summarize current scientific knowledge on the ongoing biodiversity loss on islands worldwide and express our serious concern that the current trajectory will continue to decimate the unique and irreplaceable natural heritage of the world’s islands. We conclude that drastic actions are urgently needed to bend the curve of the alarming rates of island biodiversity loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- José María Fernández-Palacios
- Island Ecology and Biogeography Group, Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUETSPC), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Holger Kreft
- Biodiversity, Macroecology & Biogeography, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Severin D H Irl
- Biogeography and Biodiversity Lab, Institute of Physical Geography, Goethe-University, 60438 Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sietze Norder
- Leiden University Centre for Linguistics, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Claudine Ah-Peng
- UMR PVBMT, Université de La Réunion, 97410 Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, France
| | - Paulo A V Borges
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c)/Azorean Biodiversity Group and Universidade dos Açores, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Açores, Portugal
| | - Kevin C Burns
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, 6140 Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Lea de Nascimento
- Island Ecology and Biogeography Group, Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUETSPC), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Jean-Yves Meyer
- Délégation à la Recherche, Government of French Polynesia, 98713 Papeete, French Polynesia
| | - Elba Montes
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Donald R Drake
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai]i, 96822 Honolulu, Hawai]i, USA
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7
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Roesch MA, Hansen DM, Cole NC. Understanding demographic limiting factors to species recovery: Nest-site suitability and breeding ecology of Phelsuma guentheri on Round Island, Mauritius. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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8
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Abstract
AbstractThe Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) is one of only two remaining giant tortoise species worldwide. Captive-bred A. gigantea are being used in rewilding projects in the Western Indian Ocean to functionally replace the extinct endemic giant tortoise species and restore degraded island ecosystems. Furthermore, large-scale translocations may become necessary as rising sea levels threaten the only wild population on the low-lying Aldabra Atoll. Critical management decisions would be greatly facilitated by insights on the genetic structure of breeding populations. We used a double-digest restriction-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) approach to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) among the wild population and two additional captive populations of A. gigantea. A total of 1674 unlinked, putatively neutral genome-wide SNPs were identified. The values of expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.33 to 0.5, whereas the minor allele frequency ranged from 0.20 to 0.5. These novel SNP markers will serve as useful tools for informing the conservation of A. gigantea.
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9
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Falcón W, Bunbury N, Hansen DM. Larger Doesn't Mean Longer: Neither Body Size Nor Seed Size Affect the Gut Retention Times of Aldabra Giant Tortoises. HERPETOLOGICA 2021. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-21-00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wilfredo Falcón
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 201, 8059 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nancy Bunbury
- Seychelles Islands Foundation, La Ciotat Building, Mont Fleuri, PO Box 853, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
| | - Dennis M. Hansen
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 201, 8059 Zurich, Switzerland
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10
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Converse SJ, Sipe HA. Finding the win‐win strategies in endangered species conservation. Anim Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Converse
- U.S. Geological Survey Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit School of Environmental and Forest Sciences & School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | - Hannah A. Sipe
- Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit School of Environmental and Forest Sciences University of Washington Seattle WA USA
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11
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Palmer BJ, Valentine LE, Page M, Hobbs RJ. Translocations of digging mammals and their potential for ecosystem restoration: a review of goals and monitoring programmes. Mamm Rev 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bryony J. Palmer
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA6009Australia
| | - Leonie E. Valentine
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA6009Australia
| | - Manda Page
- Department of Environment and Science Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships 400 George St Brisbane Qld4000Australia
| | - Richard J. Hobbs
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA6009Australia
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12
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Falcón W, Moll D, Hansen DM. Frugivory and seed dispersal by chelonians: a review and synthesis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:142-166. [PMID: 31608582 DOI: 10.1101/379933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, it has become clear that frugivory and seed dispersal (FSD) by turtles and tortoises is much more common than previously thought. We here review published and unpublished records of chelonian FSD, and assess the role of chelonians as seed dispersers, from individual species to the community level. We first discuss the distribution of chelonian FSD and the characteristics of the fruit and/or seed species eaten and dispersed by chelonians. We then use the seed dispersal efficiency framework to explore the quantitative and qualitative components of seed dispersal by tortoises and turtles, embarking on a journey from when the fruits and/or seeds are consumed, to when and where they are deposited, and assess how efficient chelonians are as seed dispersers. We finally discuss chelonian FSD in the context of communities and of chelonians as megafauna. A substantial proportion of the world's aquatic and terrestrial turtles and a major part of testudinid tortoises (71 species in 12 families) include fruits and/or seeds in their diet; fruits of at least 588 plant species in 121 families are ingested and/or dispersed by chelonians. For some chelonians, overall or in certain seasons, fruit may even form the largest part of their diet. Contrary to seed dispersal by lizards, the other major reptilian frugivores, chelonian FSD is not an island phenomenon in terms of geographic distribution. Nevertheless, on islands tortoises are often among the largest native terrestrial vertebrates - or were until humans arrived. We synthesise our knowledge of chelonian FSD, and discuss the relevance of our findings for conservation and restoration, especially in relation to rewilding with large and giant tortoises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfredo Falcón
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Don Moll
- Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, 65897, USA
| | - Dennis M Hansen
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- Zoological Museum of the University of Zurich, Zurich, 8006, Switzerland
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13
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Falcón W, Moll D, Hansen DM. Frugivory and seed dispersal by chelonians: a review and synthesis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:142-166. [PMID: 31608582 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, it has become clear that frugivory and seed dispersal (FSD) by turtles and tortoises is much more common than previously thought. We here review published and unpublished records of chelonian FSD, and assess the role of chelonians as seed dispersers, from individual species to the community level. We first discuss the distribution of chelonian FSD and the characteristics of the fruit and/or seed species eaten and dispersed by chelonians. We then use the seed dispersal efficiency framework to explore the quantitative and qualitative components of seed dispersal by tortoises and turtles, embarking on a journey from when the fruits and/or seeds are consumed, to when and where they are deposited, and assess how efficient chelonians are as seed dispersers. We finally discuss chelonian FSD in the context of communities and of chelonians as megafauna. A substantial proportion of the world's aquatic and terrestrial turtles and a major part of testudinid tortoises (71 species in 12 families) include fruits and/or seeds in their diet; fruits of at least 588 plant species in 121 families are ingested and/or dispersed by chelonians. For some chelonians, overall or in certain seasons, fruit may even form the largest part of their diet. Contrary to seed dispersal by lizards, the other major reptilian frugivores, chelonian FSD is not an island phenomenon in terms of geographic distribution. Nevertheless, on islands tortoises are often among the largest native terrestrial vertebrates - or were until humans arrived. We synthesise our knowledge of chelonian FSD, and discuss the relevance of our findings for conservation and restoration, especially in relation to rewilding with large and giant tortoises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfredo Falcón
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Don Moll
- Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, 65897, USA
| | - Dennis M Hansen
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland.,Zoological Museum of the University of Zurich, Zurich, 8006, Switzerland
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14
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Bonebrake TC, Guo F, Dingle C, Baker DM, Kitching RL, Ashton LA. Integrating Proximal and Horizon Threats to Biodiversity for Conservation. Trends Ecol Evol 2019; 34:781-788. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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15
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Gordon IJ, Prins HHT, Mallon J, Puk LD, Miranda EBP, Starling-Manne C, van der Wal R, Moore B, Foley W, Lush L, Maestri R, Matsuda I, Clauss M. The Ecology of Browsing and Grazing in Other Vertebrate Taxa. THE ECOLOGY OF BROWSING AND GRAZING II 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-25865-8_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
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16
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Andriuzzi WS, Wall DH. Soil biological responses to, and feedbacks on, trophic rewilding. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:20170448. [PMID: 30348874 PMCID: PMC6231063 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Trophic rewilding-the (re)introduction of missing large herbivores and/or their predators-is increasingly proposed to restore biodiversity and biotic interactions, but its effects on soils have been largely neglected. The high diversity of soil organisms and the ecological functions they perform mean that the full impact of rewilding on ecosystems cannot be assessed considering only above-ground food webs. Here we outline current understanding on how animal species of rewilding interest affect soil structure, processes and communities, and how in turn soil biota may affect species above ground. We highlight considerable uncertainty in soil responses to and feedbacks on above-ground consumers, with potentially large implications for rewilding interactions with global change. For example, the impact of large herbivores on soil decomposers and plant-soil interactions could lead to reduced carbon sequestration, whereas herbivore interactions with keystone biota such as mycorrhizal fungi, dung beetles and bioturbators could promote native plants and ecosystem heterogeneity. Moreover, (re)inoculation of keystone soil biota could be considered as a strategy to meet some of the objectives of trophic rewilding. Overall, we call for the rewilding research community to engage more with soil ecology experts and consider above-ground-below-ground linkages as integral to assess potential benefits as well as pitfalls.This article is part of the theme issue 'Trophic rewilding: consequences for ecosystems under global change'.
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Affiliation(s)
- W S Andriuzzi
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - D H Wall
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
- School of Global Environmental Sustainability, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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17
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Marjakangas EL, Genes L, Pires MM, Fernandez FAS, de Lima RAF, de Oliveira AA, Ovaskainen O, Pires AS, Prado PI, Galetti M. Estimating interaction credit for trophic rewilding in tropical forests. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:rstb.2017.0435. [PMID: 30348879 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Trophic rewilding has been suggested as a restoration tool to restore ecological interactions and reverse defaunation and its cascading effects on ecosystem functioning. One of the ecological processes that has been jeopardized by defaunation is animal-mediated seed dispersal. Here, we propose an approach that combines joint species distribution models with occurrence data and species interaction records to quantify the potential to restore seed-dispersal interactions through rewilding and apply it to the Atlantic Forest, a global biodiversity hotspot. Using this approach, we identify areas that should benefit the most from trophic rewilding and candidate species that could contribute to cash the credit of seed-dispersal interactions in a given site. We found that sites within large fragments bearing a great diversity of trees may have about 20 times as many interactions to be cashed through rewilding as small fragments in regions where deforestation has been pervasive. We also ranked mammal and bird species according to their potential to restore seed-dispersal interactions if reintroduced while considering the biome as a whole and at finer scales. The suggested approach can aid future conservation efforts in rewilding projects in defaunated tropical rainforests.This article is part of the theme issue 'Trophic rewilding: consequences for ecosystems under global change'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma-Liina Marjakangas
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Luísa Genes
- Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CP 68020, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-590, Brazil
| | - Mathias M Pires
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP CEP 13.083-862, Brazil
| | - Fernando A S Fernandez
- Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CP 68020, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-590, Brazil
| | - Renato A F de Lima
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP CEP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Alexandre A de Oliveira
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP CEP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Otso Ovaskainen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway.,Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland
| | - Alexandra S Pires
- Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil
| | - Paulo I Prado
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP CEP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Mauro Galetti
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), CP 199, Rio Claro, SP 13506-900, Brazil
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18
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Essl F, Bacher S, Genovesi P, Hulme PE, Jeschke JM, Katsanevakis S, Kowarik I, Kühn I, Pyšek P, Rabitsch W, Schindler S, van Kleunen M, Vilà M, Wilson JRU, Richardson DM. Which Taxa Are Alien? Criteria, Applications, and Uncertainties. Bioscience 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biy057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Franz Essl
- Division of Conservation Biology, Vegetation and Landscape Ecology at the University of Vienna, in Austria; the Department of Biodiversity and Nature Conservation at Environment Agency Austria, in Vienna; and the Centre for Invasion Biology in the Department of Botany and Zoology at Stellenbosch University, in South Africa
| | - Sven Bacher
- Department of Biology at the University of Fribourg, in Switzerland
| | - Piero Genovesi
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and is the chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission Invasive Species Specialist Group, in Rome, Italy
| | - Philip E Hulme
- Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University, in Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan M Jeschke
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB); Freie Universität Berlin; and the Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), in Berlin, Germany
| | - Stelios Katsanevakis
- Department of Marine Sciences at the University of the Aegean, in Mytilene, Greece
| | - Ingo Kowarik
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) and is chair of ecosystem science/plant ecology at Technische Universität Berlin, in Germany
| | - Ingolf Kühn
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research–UFZ in the Department of Community Ecology, in Halle, Germany; the Geobotany and Botanical Garden at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, in Halle, Germany; and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), in Leipzig, Germany
| | - Petr Pyšek
- Institute of Botany and the Department of Invasion Ecology at The Czech Academy of Sciences, in Průhonice, Czech Republic, and with the Department of Ecology at Charles University, in Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Wolfgang Rabitsch
- Department of Biodiversity and Nature Conservation at Environment Agency Austria, in Vienna
| | - Stefan Schindler
- Department of Biodiversity and Nature Conservation at Environment Agency Austria, in Vienna
| | - Mark van Kleunen
- Department of Biology at the University of Konstanz, in Germany, and with the Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation at Taizhou University, in China
| | - Montserrat Vilà
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EBD-CSIC), in Sevilla, Spain
| | - John R U Wilson
- Centre for Invasion Biology in the Department of Botany and Zoology at Stellenbosch University, in South Africa
- South African National Biodiversity Institute at the Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - David M Richardson
- Centre for Invasion Biology in the Department of Botany and Zoology at Stellenbosch University, in South Africa
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19
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Moorhouse-Gann RJ, Dunn JC, de Vere N, Goder M, Cole N, Hipperson H, Symondson WOC. New universal ITS2 primers for high-resolution herbivory analyses using DNA metabarcoding in both tropical and temperate zones. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8542. [PMID: 29867115 PMCID: PMC5986805 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26648-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA metabarcoding is a rapidly growing technique for obtaining detailed dietary information. Current metabarcoding methods for herbivory, using a single locus, can lack taxonomic resolution for some applications. We present novel primers for the second internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS2) designed for dietary studies in Mauritius and the UK, which have the potential to give unrivalled taxonomic coverage and resolution from a short-amplicon barcode. In silico testing used three databases of plant ITS2 sequences from UK and Mauritian floras (native and introduced) totalling 6561 sequences from 1790 species across 174 families. Our primers were well-matched in silico to 88% of species, providing taxonomic resolution of 86.1%, 99.4% and 99.9% at the species, genus and family levels, respectively. In vitro, the primers amplified 99% of Mauritian (n = 169) and 100% of UK (n = 33) species, and co-amplified multiple plant species from degraded faecal DNA from reptiles and birds in two case studies. For the ITS2 region, we advocate taxonomic assignment based on best sequence match instead of a clustering approach. With short amplicons of 187-387 bp, these primers are suitable for metabarcoding plant DNA from faecal samples, across a broad geographic range, whilst delivering unparalleled taxonomic resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary J Moorhouse-Gann
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.
| | - Jenny C Dunn
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Potton Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, UK.
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK.
| | - Natasha de Vere
- National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire, SA32 8HG, UK
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Penglais, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Martine Goder
- Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Grannum Road, Vacoas, Mauritius
| | - Nik Cole
- Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Grannum Road, Vacoas, Mauritius
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrès Manor, La Profonde Rue, Trinity, JE3 5BP Jersey, Channel Islands, UK
| | - Helen Hipperson
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - William O C Symondson
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
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20
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Coggan NV, Hayward MW, Gibb H. A global database and "state of the field" review of research into ecosystem engineering by land animals. J Anim Ecol 2018; 87:974-994. [PMID: 29488217 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystem engineers have been widely studied for terrestrial systems, but global trends in research encompassing the range of taxa and functions have not previously been synthesised. We reviewed contemporary understanding of engineer fauna in terrestrial habitats and assessed the methods used to document patterns and processes, asking: (a) which species act as ecosystem engineers and with whom do they interact? (b) What are the impacts of ecosystem engineers in terrestrial habitats and how are they distributed? (c) What are the primary methods used to examine engineer effects and how have these developed over time? We considered the strengths, weaknesses and gaps in knowledge related to each of these questions and suggested a conceptual framework to delineate "significant impacts" of engineering interactions for all terrestrial animals. We collected peer-reviewed publications examining ecosystem engineer impacts and created a database of engineer species to assess experimental approaches and any additional covariates that influenced the magnitude of engineer impacts. One hundred and twenty-two species from 28 orders were identified as ecosystem engineers, performing five ecological functions. Burrowing mammals were the most researched group (27%). Half of all studies occurred in dry/arid habitats. Mensurative studies comparing sites with and without engineers (80%) were more common than manipulative studies (20%). These provided a broad framework for predicting engineer impacts upon abundance and species diversity. However, the roles of confounding factors, processes driving these patterns and the consequences of experimentally adjusting variables, such as engineer density, have been neglected. True spatial and temporal replication has also been limited, particularly for emerging studies of engineer reintroductions. Climate change and habitat modification will challenge the roles that engineers play in regulating ecosystems, and these will become important avenues for future research. We recommend future studies include simulation of engineer effects and experimental manipulation of engineer densities to determine the potential for ecological cascades through trophic and engineering pathways due to functional decline. We also recommend improving knowledge of long-term engineering effects and replication of engineer reintroductions across landscapes to better understand how large-scale ecological gradients alter the magnitude of engineering impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole V Coggan
- Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC., Australia
| | - Matthew W Hayward
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Subiaco East, W.A., Australia.,School of the Environment, Bangor University, Wales, UK
| | - Heloise Gibb
- Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC., Australia
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21
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Pettorelli N, Barlow J, Stephens PA, Durant SM, Connor B, Schulte to Bühne H, Sandom CJ, Wentworth J, du Toit JT. Making rewilding fit for policy. J Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jos Barlow
- Lancaster Environment Centre; Lancaster University; Lancaster UK
| | - Philip A. Stephens
- Conservation Ecology Group; Department of Biosciences; Durham University; Durham UK
| | - Sarah M. Durant
- Institute of Zoology; Zoological Society of London; London UK
| | - Ben Connor
- British Ecological Society; Charles Darwin House; London UK
| | | | | | - Jonathan Wentworth
- Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology; Houses of Parliament; London UK
| | - Johan T. du Toit
- Department of Wildland Resources; Utah State University; Logan UT USA
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22
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Cromsigt JPGM, Kemp YJM, Rodriguez E, Kivit H. Rewilding Europe's large grazer community: how functionally diverse are the diets of European bison, cattle, and horses? Restor Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; 90183 Umeå Sweden
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology; Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University; Port Elizabeth South Africa
| | - Yvonne J. M. Kemp
- ARK Nature, Molenveldlaan 43; 6523 RJ Nijmegen The Netherlands
- PWN Waterleidingbedrijf Noord-Holland, Postbus 2113; 1990 AC Velserbroek The Netherlands
| | - Esther Rodriguez
- PWN Waterleidingbedrijf Noord-Holland, Postbus 2113; 1990 AC Velserbroek The Netherlands
| | - Hubert Kivit
- PWN Waterleidingbedrijf Noord-Holland, Postbus 2113; 1990 AC Velserbroek The Netherlands
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23
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Hobbs RJ, Valentine LE, Standish RJ, Jackson ST. Movers and Stayers: Novel Assemblages in Changing Environments. Trends Ecol Evol 2017; 33:116-128. [PMID: 29173900 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2017.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2017] [Revised: 10/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Increased attention to species movement in response to environmental change highlights the need to consider changes in species distributions and altered biological assemblages. Such changes are well known from paleoecological studies, but have accelerated with ongoing pervasive human influence. In addition to species that move, some species will stay put, leading to an array of novel interactions. Species show a variety of responses that can allow movement or persistence. Conservation and restoration actions have traditionally focused on maintaining or returning species in particular places, but increasingly also include interventions that facilitate movement. Approaches are required that incorporate the fluidity of biotic assemblages into the goals set and interventions deployed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Hobbs
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Leonie E Valentine
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Rachel J Standish
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Stephen T Jackson
- U.S. Geological Survey, DOI Southwest Climate Science Center, 1064 E. Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Department of Geosciences and School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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24
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Sobral-Souza T, Lautenschlager L, Morcatty TQ, Bello C, Hansen D, Galetti M. Rewilding defaunated Atlantic Forests with tortoises to restore lost seed dispersal functions. Perspect Ecol Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pecon.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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25
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26
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Root-Bernstein M, Galetti M, Ladle RJ. Rewilding South America: Ten key questions. Perspect Ecol Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pecon.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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27
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Kehlmaier C, Barlow A, Hastings AK, Vamberger M, Paijmans JLA, Steadman DW, Albury NA, Franz R, Hofreiter M, Fritz U. Tropical ancient DNA reveals relationships of the extinct Bahamian giant tortoise Chelonoidis alburyorum. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:20162235. [PMID: 28077774 PMCID: PMC5247498 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ancient DNA of extinct species from the Pleistocene and Holocene has provided valuable evolutionary insights. However, these are largely restricted to mammals and high latitudes because DNA preservation in warm climates is typically poor. In the tropics and subtropics, non-avian reptiles constitute a significant part of the fauna and little is known about the genetics of the many extinct reptiles from tropical islands. We have reconstructed the near-complete mitochondrial genome of an extinct giant tortoise from the Bahamas (Chelonoidis alburyorum) using an approximately 1 000-year-old humerus from a water-filled sinkhole (blue hole) on Great Abaco Island. Phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses place this extinct species as closely related to Galápagos (C. niger complex) and Chaco tortoises (C. chilensis), and provide evidence for repeated overseas dispersal in this tortoise group. The ancestors of extant Chelonoidis species arrived in South America from Africa only after the opening of the Atlantic Ocean and dispersed from there to the Caribbean and the Galápagos Islands. Our results also suggest that the anoxic, thermally buffered environment of blue holes may enhance DNA preservation, and thus are opening a window for better understanding evolution and population history of extinct tropical species, which would likely still exist without human impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kehlmaier
- Museum of Zoology, Senckenberg Dresden, A. B. Meyer Building, 01109 Dresden, Germany
| | - Axel Barlow
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476 Potsdam, OT Golm, Germany
| | - Alexander K Hastings
- Virginia Museum of Natural History, 21 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, VA 24112, USA
| | - Melita Vamberger
- Museum of Zoology, Senckenberg Dresden, A. B. Meyer Building, 01109 Dresden, Germany
| | - Johanna L A Paijmans
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476 Potsdam, OT Golm, Germany
| | - David W Steadman
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Nancy A Albury
- National Museum of The Bahamas, Marsh Harbour, Abaco, The Bahamas
| | - Richard Franz
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Michael Hofreiter
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476 Potsdam, OT Golm, Germany
| | - Uwe Fritz
- Museum of Zoology, Senckenberg Dresden, A. B. Meyer Building, 01109 Dresden, Germany
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28
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Chaffin BC, Garmestani AS, Angeler DG, Herrmann DL, Stow CA, Nyström M, Sendzimir J, Hopton ME, Kolasa J, Allen CR. Biological invasions, ecological resilience and adaptive governance. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2016; 183:399-407. [PMID: 27377866 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 04/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
In a world of increasing interconnections in global trade as well as rapid change in climate and land cover, the accelerating introduction and spread of invasive species is a critical concern due to associated negative social and ecological impacts, both real and perceived. Much of the societal response to invasive species to date has been associated with negative economic consequences of invasions. This response has shaped a war-like approach to addressing invasions, one with an agenda of eradications and intense ecological restoration efforts towards prior or more desirable ecological regimes. This trajectory often ignores the concept of ecological resilience and associated approaches of resilience-based governance. We argue that the relationship between ecological resilience and invasive species has been understudied to the detriment of attempts to govern invasions, and that most management actions fail, primarily because they do not incorporate adaptive, learning-based approaches. Invasive species can decrease resilience by reducing the biodiversity that underpins ecological functions and processes, making ecosystems more prone to regime shifts. However, invasions do not always result in a shift to an alternative regime; invasions can also increase resilience by introducing novelty, replacing lost ecological functions or adding redundancy that strengthens already existing structures and processes in an ecosystem. This paper examines the potential impacts of species invasions on the resilience of ecosystems and suggests that resilience-based approaches can inform policy by linking the governance of biological invasions to the negotiation of tradeoffs between ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Chaffin
- Department of Society & Conservation, College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.
| | - Ahjond S Garmestani
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | - David G Angeler
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Dustin L Herrmann
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Research Participant Program with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | - Craig A Stow
- Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 4840 S. State Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108-9719, USA.
| | - Magnus Nyström
- Stockholm Resilience Center, Stockholm University, Kräftriket 2B, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Jan Sendzimir
- Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Science (BOKU), Max Emanuel-Strasse 17, A-1180, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Matthew E Hopton
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | - Jurek Kolasa
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.
| | - Craig R Allen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit, University of Nebraska 423 Hardin Hall, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, NE 68583-0984, USA.
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29
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Rohwer Y, Marris E. Renaming restoration: conceptualizing and justifying the activity as a restoration of lost moral value rather than a return to a previous state. Restor Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yasha Rohwer
- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences; Oregon Institute of Technology; 3201 Campus Dr Klamath Falls OR 97601 U.S.A
| | - Emma Marris
- Freelance Journalist; 1038 Main Street Klamath Falls OR 97601 U.S.A
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30
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Twardochleb LA, Olden JD. Non‐native Chinese mystery snail (
Bellamya chinensis
) supports consumers in urban lake food webs. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. Twardochleb
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington 1122 NE Boat Street Seattle Washington 98195 USA
| | - Julian D. Olden
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington 1122 NE Boat Street Seattle Washington 98195 USA
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31
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Besnard G, Thèves C, Mata X, Holota H, Rakotozafy LMA, Pedrono M. Shotgun sequencing of the mitochondrial genome of the Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea). Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal 2016; 27:4543-4544. [PMID: 27159683 DOI: 10.3109/19401736.2015.1101554] [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] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The complete mitochondrial genome of the Aldabra giant tortoise [Aldabrachelys gigantea (Schweigger, 1812): Reptilia, Testudines, Testudinidae] was sequenced using a shotgun approach on an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA). This genome was 16 467 bp long and presents the typical organization found in vertebrates. The mean coverage of sequencing was 116×. A phylogenetic analysis of the Testudinidae confirms the placement of Aldabrachelys in an Indian Ocean group (including Madagascar). This mitogenome constitutes a reference for ancient DNA analyses of the extinct Madagascan lineages of Aldabrachelys.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine Thèves
- b Laboratoire AMIS , UMR 5288, Université de Toulouse/CNRS , Toulouse , France
| | - Xavier Mata
- b Laboratoire AMIS , UMR 5288, Université de Toulouse/CNRS , Toulouse , France
| | - Hélène Holota
- a Laboratoire EDB , UMR5174, CNRS-UPS-ENFA , Toulouse , France
| | - Lucien M A Rakotozafy
- c Laboratoire de Zooarchéologie , Institut des Civilisations, Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie de l'Université d'Antananarivo , Antananarivo , Madagascar
| | - Miguel Pedrono
- d CIRAD, UPR AGIRs , Antananarivo , Madagascar.,e CIRAD, UPR AGIRs, Campus International de Baillarguet , Montpellier , France
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32
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Hansen DM. Non-native megaherbivores: the case for novel function to manage plant invasions on islands. AOB PLANTS 2015; 7:plv085. [PMID: 26194166 PMCID: PMC4565891 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plv085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
There is a heated debate about whether all non-native species are 'guilty until proven innocent', or whether some should be accepted or even welcomed. Further fanning the flames, I here present a case where introductions of carefully vetted, non-native species could provide a net conservation benefit. On many islands, native megaherbivores (flightless birds, tortoises) recently went extinct. Here, rewilding with carefully selected non-native species as ecological replacements is increasingly considered a solution, reinstating a herbivory regime that largely benefits the native flora. Based on these efforts, I suggest that restoration practitioners working on islands without a history of native megaherbivores that are threatened by invasive plants should consider introducing a non-native island megaherbivore, and that large and giant tortoises are ideal candidates. Such tortoises would be equally useful on islands where eradication of invasive mammals has led to increased problems with invasive plants, or on islands that never had introduced mammalian herbivores, but where invasive plants are a problem. My proposal may seem radical, but the reversibility of using giant tortoises means that nothing is lost from trying, and that indeed much is to be gained. As an easily regulated adaptive management tool, it represents an innovative, hypothesis-driven 'innocent until proven guilty' approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis M Hansen
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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33
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Waser AM, Splinter W, van der Meer J. Indirect effects of invasive species affecting the population structure of an ecosystem engineer. Ecosphere 2015. [DOI: 10.1890/es14-00437.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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34
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Hinderle D, Lewison RL, Walde AD, Deutschman D, Boarman WI. The effects of homing and movement behaviors on translocation: Desert tortoises in the western Mojave Desert. J Wildl Manage 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Danna Hinderle
- San Diego State University; 5500 Campanile Drive; San Diego CA 92182 USA
| | - Rebecca L. Lewison
- San Diego State University; 5500 Campanile Drive; San Diego CA 92182-4614 USA
| | - Andrew D. Walde
- Walde Research & Environmental Consulting; 8000 San Gregorio Road, Atascadero; CA 93422 USA
| | - Doug Deutschman
- San Diego State University; 5500 Campanile Drive; San Diego CA 92182-4614 USA
| | - William I. Boarman
- Conservation Science Research and Consulting; Spring Valley; CA USA
- San Diego State University; 5500 Campanile Drive; San Diego CA 92182-4614 USA
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Louys J, Corlett RT, Price GJ, Hawkins S, Piper PJ. Rewilding the tropics, and other conservation translocations strategies in the tropical Asia-Pacific region. Ecol Evol 2014; 4:4380-98. [PMID: 25540698 PMCID: PMC4267875 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2014] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Alarm over the prospects for survival of species in a rapidly changing world has encouraged discussion of translocation conservation strategies that move beyond the focus of ‘at-risk’ species. These approaches consider larger spatial and temporal scales than customary, with the aim of recreating functioning ecosystems through a combination of large-scale ecological restoration and species introductions. The term ‘rewilding’ has come to apply to this large-scale ecosystem restoration program. While reintroductions of species within their historical ranges have become standard conservation tools, introductions within known paleontological ranges—but outside historical ranges—are more controversial, as is the use of taxon substitutions for extinct species. Here, we consider possible conservation translocations for nine large-bodied taxa in tropical Asia-Pacific. We consider the entire spectrum of conservation translocation strategies as defined by the IUCN in addition to rewilding. The taxa considered are spread across diverse taxonomic and ecological spectra and all are listed as ‘endangered’ or ‘critically endangered’ by the IUCN in our region of study. They all have a written and fossil record that is sufficient to assess past changes in range, as well as ecological and environmental preferences, and the reasons for their decline, and they have all suffered massive range restrictions since the late Pleistocene. General principles, problems, and benefits of translocation strategies are reviewed as case studies. These allowed us to develop a conservation translocation matrix, with taxa scored for risk, benefit, and feasibility. Comparisons between taxa across this matrix indicated that orangutans, tapirs, Tasmanian devils, and perhaps tortoises are the most viable taxa for translocations. However, overall the case studies revealed a need for more data and research for all taxa, and their ecological and environmental needs. Rewilding the Asian-Pacific tropics remains a controversial conservation strategy, and would be difficult in what is largely a highly fragmented area geographically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Louys
- Department of Archaeology and Natural History, School of Culture, History and Languages, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia
| | - Richard T Corlett
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Yunnan, 666303, China
| | - Gilbert J Price
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Queensland Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
| | - Stuart Hawkins
- Department of Archaeology and Natural History, School of Culture, History and Languages, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia
| | - Philip J Piper
- School of Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia
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Seddon PJ, Griffiths CJ, Soorae PS, Armstrong DP. Reversing defaunation: restoring species in a changing world. Science 2014; 345:406-12. [PMID: 25061203 DOI: 10.1126/science.1251818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 293] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The rate of biodiversity loss is not slowing despite global commitments, and the depletion of animal species can reduce the stability of ecological communities. Despite this continued loss, some substantial progress in reversing defaunation is being achieved through the intentional movement of animals to restore populations. We review the full spectrum of conservation translocations, from reinforcement and reintroduction to controversial conservation introductions that seek to restore populations outside their indigenous range or to introduce ecological replacements for extinct forms. We place the popular, but misunderstood, concept of rewilding within this framework and consider the future role of new technical developments such as de-extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Seddon
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Post Office Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - Christine J Griffiths
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | | | - Doug P Armstrong
- Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Introductions over introductions: the genomic adulteration of an early genetically valuable alien species in the United Kingdom. Biol Invasions 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-014-0739-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Aslan CE, Aslan A, Croll D, Tershy B, Zavaleta E. Building Taxon Substitution Guidelines on a Biological Control Foundation. Restor Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Clare E. Aslan
- Conservation Education and Science Department; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; Tucson AZ 85743 U.S.A
| | - Austin Aslan
- Geography Department; University of Arizona; Tucson AZ 85721 U.S.A
| | - Don Croll
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of California; Santa Cruz CA 95064 U.S.A
| | - Bernie Tershy
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of California; Santa Cruz CA 95064 U.S.A
| | - Erika Zavaleta
- Department of Environmental Studies; University of California; Santa Cruz CA 95064 U.S.A
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Tosh J, Dessein S, Buerki S, Groeninckx I, Mouly A, Bremer B, Smets EF, De Block P. Evolutionary history of the Afro-Madagascan Ixora species (Rubiaceae): species diversification and distribution of key morphological traits inferred from dated molecular phylogenetic trees. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2013; 112:1723-42. [PMID: 24142919 PMCID: PMC3838549 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mct222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2013] [Accepted: 08/06/2013] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Previous work on the pantropical genus Ixora has revealed an Afro-Madagascan clade, but as yet no study has focused in detail on the evolutionary history and morphological trends in this group. Here the evolutionary history of Afro-Madagascan Ixora spp. (a clade of approx. 80 taxa) is investigated and the phylogenetic trees compared with several key morphological traits in taxa occurring in Madagascar. METHODS Phylogenetic relationships of Afro-Madagascan Ixora are assessed using sequence data from four plastid regions (petD, rps16, rpoB-trnC and trnL-trnF) and nuclear ribosomal external transcribed spacer (ETS) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. The phylogenetic distribution of key morphological characters is assessed. Bayesian inference (implemented in BEAST) is used to estimate the temporal origin of Ixora based on fossil evidence. KEY RESULTS Two separate lineages of Madagascan taxa are recovered, one of which is nested in a group of East African taxa. Divergence in Ixora is estimated to have commenced during the mid Miocene, with extensive cladogenesis occurring in the Afro-Madagascan clade during the Pliocene onwards. CONCLUSIONS Both lineages of Madagascan Ixora exhibit morphological innovations that are rare throughout the rest of the genus, including a trend towards pauciflorous inflorescences and a trend towards extreme corolla tube length, suggesting that the same ecological and selective pressures are acting upon taxa from both Madagascan lineages. Novel ecological opportunities resulting from climate-induced habitat fragmentation and corolla tube length diversification are likely to have facilitated species radiation on Madagascar.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Tosh
- Laboratory of Plant Systematics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, PO Box 2437, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Ashdown House School, Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5JY, UK
| | - S. Dessein
- National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Domein van Bouchout, BE-1860 Meise, Belgium
| | - S. Buerki
- Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE, UK
| | - I. Groeninckx
- Laboratory of Plant Systematics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, PO Box 2437, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - A. Mouly
- Laboratoire Chrono-environnement, UMR CNRS 6249, Université de Franche-Comté, 16 Route de Gray, F-25030 Besançon cedex, France
- Bergius Foundation, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and Botany Department, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - B. Bremer
- Bergius Foundation, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and Botany Department, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - E. F. Smets
- Laboratory of Plant Systematics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, PO Box 2437, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
- National Herbarium of The Netherlands, Leiden University Branch, PO Box 9514, NL-2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, PO Box 9517, NL-2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - P. De Block
- National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Domein van Bouchout, BE-1860 Meise, Belgium
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Froyd CA, Coffey EED, van der Knaap WO, van Leeuwen JFN, Tye A, Willis KJ. The ecological consequences of megafaunal loss: giant tortoises and wetland biodiversity. Ecol Lett 2013; 17:144-54. [PMID: 24382356 PMCID: PMC4015371 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2013] [Revised: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The giant tortoises of the Galápagos have become greatly depleted since European discovery of the islands in the 16th Century, with populations declining from an estimated 250 000 to between 8000 and 14 000 in the 1970s. Successful tortoise conservation efforts have focused on species recovery, but ecosystem conservation and restoration requires a better understanding of the wider ecological consequences of this drastic reduction in the archipelago's only large native herbivore. We report the first evidence from palaeoecological records of coprophilous fungal spores of the formerly more extensive geographical range of giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Upland tortoise populations on Santa Cruz declined 500–700 years ago, likely the result of human impact or possible climatic change. Former freshwater wetlands, a now limited habitat-type, were found to have converted to Sphagnum bogs concomitant with tortoise loss, subsequently leading to the decline of several now-rare or extinct plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia A Froyd
- Department of Geography, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK; Department of Zoology, Long-Term Ecology Laboratory, Biodiversity Institute, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
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Hunter EA, Gibbs JP. Densities of Ecological Replacement Herbivores Required to Restore Plant Communities: A Case Study of Giant Tortoises on Pinta Island, Galápagos. Restor Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Hunter
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology; 1 Forestry Dr., State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry; Syracuse NY U.S.A
| | - James P. Gibbs
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology; 1 Forestry Dr., State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry; Syracuse NY U.S.A
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Griffiths CJ, Zuël N, Jones CG, Ahamud Z, Harris S. Assessing the potential to restore historic grazing ecosystems with tortoise ecological replacements. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2013; 27:690-700. [PMID: 23773124 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2012] [Accepted: 12/04/2012] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The extinction of large herbivores, often keystone species, can dramatically modify plant communities and impose key biotic thresholds that may prevent an ecosystem returning to its previous state and threaten native biodiversity. A potentially innovative, yet controversial, landscape-based long-term restoration approach is to replace missing plant-herbivore interactions with non-native herbivores. Aldabran giant (Aldabrachelys gigantea) and Madagascan radiated (Astrochelys radiata) tortoises, taxonomically and functionally similar to the extinct Mauritian giant tortoises (Cylindraspis spp.), were introduced to Round Island, Mauritius, in 2007 to control the non-native plants that were threatening persistence of native species. We monitored the response of the plant community to tortoise grazing for 11 months in enclosures before the tortoises were released and, compared the cost of using tortoises as weeders with the cost of using manual labor. At the end of this period, plant biomass; vegetation height and cover; and adult, seedling, flower, and seed abundance were 3-136 times greater in adjacent control plots than in the tortoise enclosures. After their release, the free-roaming tortoises grazed on most non-native plants and significantly reduced vegetation cover, height, and seed production, reflecting findings from the enclosure study. The tortoises generally did not eat native species, although they consumed those native species that increased in abundance following the eradication of mammalian herbivores. Our results suggest that introduced non-native tortoises are a more cost-effective approach to control non-native vegetation than manual weeding. Numerous long-term outcomes (e.g., change in species composition and soil seed bank) are possible following tortoise releases. Monitoring and adaptive management are needed to ensure that the replacement herbivores promote the recovery of native plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine J Griffiths
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, England.
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Hunter EA, Gibbs JP, Cayot LJ, Tapia W. Equivalency of Galápagos giant tortoises used as ecological replacement species to restore ecosystem functions. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2013; 27:701-709. [PMID: 23530938 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2012] [Accepted: 11/05/2012] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Loss of key plant-animal interactions (e.g., disturbance, seed dispersal, and herbivory) due to extinctions of large herbivores has diminished ecosystem functioning nearly worldwide. Mitigating for the ecological consequences of large herbivore losses through the use of ecological replacements to fill extinct species' niches and thereby replicate missing ecological functions has been proposed. It is unknown how different morphologically and ecologically a replacement can be from the extinct species and still provide similar functions. We studied niche equivalency between 2 phenotypes of Galápagos giant tortoises (domed and saddlebacked) that were translocated to Pinta Island in the Galápagos Archipelago as ecological replacements for the extinct saddlebacked giant tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdonii). Thirty-nine adult, nonreproductive tortoises were introduced to Pinta Island in May 2010, and we observed tortoise resource use in relation to phenotype during the first year following release. Domed tortoises settled in higher, moister elevations than saddlebacked tortoises, which favored lower elevation arid zones. The areas where the tortoises settled are consistent with the ecological conditions each phenotype occupies in its native range. Saddlebacked tortoises selected areas with high densities of the arboreal prickly pear cactus (Opuntia galapageia) and mostly foraged on the cactus, which likely relied on the extinct saddlebacked Pinta tortoise for seed dispersal. In contrast, domed tortoises did not select areas with cactus and therefore would not provide the same seed-dispersal functions for the cactus as the introduced or the original, now extinct, saddlebacked tortoises. Interchangeability of extant megaherbivores as replacements for extinct forms therefore should be scrutinized given the lack of equivalency we observed in closely related forms of giant tortoises. Our results also demonstrate the value of trial introductions of sterilized individuals to test niche equivalency among candidate analog species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Hunter
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
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Gerlach J, Rocamora G, Gane J, Jolliffe K, Vanherck L. Giant Tortoise Distribution and Abundance in the Seychelles Islands: Past, Present, and Future. CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2013. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-0902.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Florens FBV, Baider C. Ecological Restoration in a Developing Island Nation: How Useful is the Science? Restor Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-100x.2012.00920.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Culliney S, Pejchar L, Switzer R, Ruiz-Gutierrez V. Seed dispersal by a captive corvid: the role of the 'Alalā (Corvus hawaiiensis) in shaping Hawai'i's plant communities. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2012; 22:1718-1732. [PMID: 23092010 DOI: 10.1890/11-1613.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Species loss can lead to cascading effects on communities, including the disruption of ecological processes such as seed dispersal. The endangered 'Alalā (Corvus hawaiiensis), the largest remaining species of native Hawaiian forest bird, was once common in mesic and dry forests on the Big Island of Hawai'i, but today it exists solely in captivity. Prior to its extinction in the wild, the 'Alalā may have helped to establish and maintain native Hawaiian forest communities by dispersing seeds of a wide variety of native plants. In the absence of 'Alalā, the structure and composition of Hawai'i's forests may be changing, and some large-fruited plants may be dispersal limited, persisting primarily as ecological anachronisms. We fed captive 'Alalā a variety of native fruits, documented behaviors relating to seed dispersal, and measured the germination success of seeds that passed through the gut of 'Alalā relative to the germination success of seeds in control groups. 'Alalā ate and carried 14 native fruits and provided germination benefits to several species by ingesting their seeds. Our results suggest that some plants rely heavily on 'Alalā for these services. In captivity, juvenile birds displayed seed dispersal behaviors more often than adult birds for most fruiting plants in our study. We introduced captive 'Alalā to two large-fruited, dry-forest plants, not previously recorded as 'Alalā food resources, but which may once have been part of their natural diet. The seed dispersal behavior that 'Alalā displayed toward these species supports the inclusion of dry and mesic forests in 'Alalā habitat restoration plans and adds weight to the idea that plant dispersal limitation may contribute to the rarity of these plants. Our study provides evidence that 'Alalā have the capacity to play a vital role in maintaining the diversity of fruiting plants in native Hawaiian forests through seed dispersal and enhanced seed germination, thus adding greater urgency to efforts to restore 'Alalā to their former range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Culliney
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, 1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA.
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Griffiths CJ, Zuël N, Tatayah V, Jones CG, Griffiths O, Harris S. The welfare implications of using exotic tortoises as ecological replacements. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39395. [PMID: 22724012 PMCID: PMC3378584 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ecological replacement involves the introduction of non-native species to habitats beyond their historical range, a factor identified as increasing the risk of failure for translocations. Yet the effectiveness and success of ecological replacement rely in part on the ability of translocatees to adapt, survive and potentially reproduce in a novel environment. We discuss the welfare aspects of translocating captive-reared non-native tortoises, Aldabrachelys gigantea and Astrochelys radiata, to two offshore Mauritian islands, and the costs and success of the projects to date. Methodology/Principal Findings Because tortoises are long-lived, late-maturing reptiles, we assessed the progress of the translocation by monitoring the survival, health, growth, and breeding by the founders. Between 2000 and 2011, a total of 26 A. gigantea were introduced to Ile aux Aigrettes, and in 2007 twelve sexually immature A. gigantea and twelve male A. radiata were introduced to Round Island, Mauritius. Annual mortality rates were low, with most animals either maintaining or gaining weight. A minimum of 529 hatchlings were produced on Ile aux Aigrettes in 11 years; there was no potential for breeding on Round Island. Project costs were low. We attribute the success of these introductions to the tortoises’ generalist diet, habitat requirements, and innate behaviour. Conclusions/Significance Feasibility analyses for ecological replacement and assisted colonisation projects should consider the candidate species’ welfare during translocation and in its recipient environment. Our study provides a useful model for how this should be done. In addition to serving as ecological replacements for extinct Mauritian tortoises, we found that releasing small numbers of captive-reared A. gigantea and A. radiata is cost-effective and successful in the short term. The ability to release small numbers of animals is a particularly important attribute for ecological replacement projects since it reduces the potential risk and controversy associated with introducing non-native species.
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Schlaepfer MA, Sax DF, Olden JD. The potential conservation value of non-native species. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2011; 25:428-37. [PMID: 21342267 DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01646.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 289] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Non-native species can cause the loss of biological diversity (i.e., genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity) and threaten the well-being of humans when they become invasive. In some cases, however, they can also provide conservation benefits. We examined the ways in which non-native species currently contribute to conservation objectives. These include, for example, providing habitat or food resources to rare species, serving as functional substitutes for extinct taxa, and providing desirable ecosystem functions. We speculate that non-native species might contribute to achieving conservation goals in the future because they may be more likely than native species to persist and provide ecosystem services in areas where climate and land use are changing rapidly and because they may evolve into new and endemic taxa. The management of non-native species and their potential integration into conservation plans depends on how conservation goals are set in the future. A fraction of non-native species will continue to cause biological and economic damage, and substantial uncertainty surrounds the potential future effects of all non-native species. Nevertheless, we predict the proportion of non-native species that are viewed as benign or even desirable will slowly increase over time as their potential contributions to society and to achieving conservation objectives become well recognized and realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin A Schlaepfer
- State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
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Resurrecting extinct interactions with extant substitutes. Curr Biol 2011; 21:762-5. [PMID: 21514155 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.03.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2011] [Revised: 03/11/2011] [Accepted: 03/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that restoration ecologists should be most concerned with restoring species interactions rather than species diversity per se [1]. Rewilding with taxon substitutes, the intentional introduction of exotic species to replace the ecosystem functions of recently extinct species, is one way to reverse ecosystem dysfunction following the loss of species interactions [2]. This is highly controversial [3], in part because of a lack of rigorous scientific studies [4]. Here we present the first empirical evidence of an in situ rewilding project undertaken as a hypothesis-driven ecosystem management option. On Ile aux Aigrettes, a 25-hectare island off Mauritius, the critically endangered large-fruited endemic ebony, Diospyros egrettarum (Ebenaceae), was seed-dispersal limited after the extinction of all native large-bodied frugivores, including giant tortoises. We introduced exotic Aldabra giant tortoises, Aldabrachelys gigantea, to disperse the ebony seeds. Not only did the tortoises ingest the large fruits and disperse substantial numbers of ebony seeds, but tortoise gut passage also improved seed germination, leading to the widespread, successful establishment of new ebony seedlings. Our results demonstrate that the introduction of these exotic frugivores is aiding the recovery of ebonies. We argue for more reversible rewilding experiments to investigate whether extinct species interactions can be restored.
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Seddon PJ, Price MS, Launay F, Maunder M, Soorae P, Molur S, Armstrong D, Jordan M, Dalrymple S, Genovesi P. Frankenstein ecosystems and 21st century conservation agendas: reply to Oliveira-Santos and Fernandez. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2011; 25:212-213. [PMID: 21410529 DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01647.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
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