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Thomson-Laing G, Howarth JD, Atalah J, Vandergoes MJ, Li X, Pearman JK, Fitzsimons S, Moy C, Moody A, Shepherd C, McKay N, Wood SA. Sedimentary ancient DNA reveals the impact of anthropogenic land use disturbance and ecological shifts on fish community structure in small lowland lake. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171266. [PMID: 38417515 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Freshwater fish biodiversity and abundance are decreasing globally. The drivers of decline are primarily anthropogenic; however, the causative links between disturbances and fish community change are complex and challenging to investigate. We used a suite of sedimentary DNA methods (droplet digital PCR and metabarcoding) and traditional paleolimnological approaches, including pollen and trace metal analysis, ITRAX X-ray fluorescence and hyperspectral core scanning to explore changes in fish abundance and drivers over 1390 years in a small lake. This period captured a disturbance trajectory from pre-human settlement through subsistence living to intensive agriculture. Generalized additive mixed models explored the relationships between catchment inputs, internal drivers, and fish community structure. Fish community composition distinctly shifted around 1350 CE, with the decline of a sensitive Galaxias species concomitant with early land use changes. Total fish abundance significantly declined around 1950 CE related to increases in ruminant bacterial DNA (a proxy for ruminant abundance) and cadmium flux (a proxy for phosphate fertilizers), implicating land use intensification as a key driver. Concurrent shifts in phytoplankton and zooplankton suggested that fish communities were likely impacted by food web dynamics. This study highlights the potential of sedDNA to elucidate the long-term disturbance impacts on biological communities in lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Thomson-Laing
- Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street, The Wood, Nelson 7010, New Zealand; School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6012, New Zealand.
| | - Jamie D Howarth
- School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Javier Atalah
- Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street, The Wood, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
| | | | - Xun Li
- GNS Science, 1 Fairway Drive, Avalon, Lower Hutt 5011, New Zealand
| | - John K Pearman
- School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Sean Fitzsimons
- School of Geography, University of Otago, 360 Leith Street, North Dunedin, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Chris Moy
- Department of Geology, University of Otago, 360 Leith Street, North Dunedin, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Adelaine Moody
- School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Claire Shepherd
- GNS Science, 1 Fairway Drive, Avalon, Lower Hutt 5011, New Zealand
| | - Nicholas McKay
- School of Earth and Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Susanna A Wood
- Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street, The Wood, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
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Dijoux S, Pichon NA, Sentis A, Boukal DS. Body size and trophic position determine the outcomes of species invasions along temperature and productivity gradients. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14310. [PMID: 37811596 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14310] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Species invasions are predicted to increase in frequency with global change, but quantitative predictions of how environmental filters and species traits influence the success and consequences of invasions for local communities are lacking. Here we investigate how invaders alter the structure, diversity and stability regime of simple communities across environmental gradients (habitat productivity, temperature) and community size structure. We simulate all three-species trophic modules (apparent and exploitative competition, trophic chain and intraguild predation). We predict that invasions most often succeed in warm and productive habitats and that successful invaders include smaller competitors, intraguild predators and comparatively small top predators. This suggests that species invasions and global change may facilitate the downsizing of food webs. Furthermore, we show that successful invasions leading to species substitutions rarely alter system stability, while invasions leading to increased diversity can destabilize or stabilize community dynamics depending on the environmental conditions and invader's trophic position.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Dijoux
- Department of Ecosystems Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Noémie A Pichon
- Ecology and Genetics Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Arnaud Sentis
- INRAE, Aix Marseille University, UMR RECOVER, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - David S Boukal
- Department of Ecosystems Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Karatayev VA, Baskett ML, van Nes EH. The Potential for Alternative Stable States in Food Webs Depends on Feedback Mechanism and Trait Diversity. Am Nat 2023; 202:260-275. [PMID: 37606941 DOI: 10.1086/725421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
AbstractAlternative stable ecosystem states are possible under the same environmental conditions in models of two or three interacting species and an array of feedback loops. However, multispecies food webs might weaken the feedbacks loops that can create alternative stable states. To test how this potential depends on food web properties, we develop a many-species model where consumer Allee effects emerge from consumer-resource interactions. We evaluate the interactive effects of food web connectance, interspecific trait diversity, and two classes of feedbacks: specialized feedbacks, where consumption of individual resources declines at high resource abundance (e.g., from schooling or reaching size refugia), and aggregate feedbacks, where overall resource abundance reduces consumer recruitment (e.g., from resources enhancing competition or mortality experienced by recruits). We find that aggregate feedbacks maintain, and specialized feedbacks reduce, the potential for alternative states. Interspecific trait diversity decreases the prevalence of alternative stable states more for specialized than for aggregate feedbacks. Increasing food web connectance increases the potential for alternative stable states for aggregated feedbacks but decreases it for specialized feedbacks, where losing vulnerable consumers can cascade into food web collapses. Altogether, multispecies food webs can limit the set of processes that create alternative stable states and impede consumer recovery from disturbance.
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Wani SA, Ahmad R, Gulzar R, Rashid I, Khuroo AA. Alien flora causes biotic homogenization in the biodiversity hotspot regions of India. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 884:163856. [PMID: 37142012 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Biotic homogenization by invasive alien species is one of dominant drivers of global environmental change. However, little is known about the patterns of biotic homogenization in global biodiversity hotspots. Here we fill this knowledge gap by studying the patterns of biotic homogenization and associated geographic and climatic correlates in Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). For this, we use a novel biodiversity database comprising 10,685 native and 771 alien plant species across 12 provinces of the IHR. The database was assembled by screening 295 and 141 studies published from 1934 to 2022 for natives and aliens, respectively. Our results revealed that each native species on average was distributed among 2.8 provinces, whereas the alien species in 3.6 provinces, thereby indicating wider distribution range of alien species in the IHR. The Jaccard's similarity index between the provinces was higher for alien species (mean = 0.29) as compared to natives (mean = 0.16). Addition of alien species pool has homogenized most of the provincial pairwise floras (89.4 %) across the IHR, with greater dissimilarity in their native floras. Our results suggest that the alien species have strong homogenization effect on the provincial floras, regardless of their differences in geographic and climatic distances. The biogeographic patterns of alien and native species richness in the IHR were better explained by a different set of climatic variables, with former by precipitation of driest month and the latter by annual mean temperature. Our study contributes to better understanding of the patterns of biotic homogenization and its impacts on native biodiversity in the IHR. Looking ahead, in an era of Anthropocene, we discuss the wide implications of our findings in guiding biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration in global hotspot regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajad Ahmad Wani
- Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Rameez Ahmad
- Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Ruquia Gulzar
- Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Irfan Rashid
- Department of Geoinformatics, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Anzar Ahmad Khuroo
- Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
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Effects of Microbial Transfer during Food-Gut-Feces Circulation on the Health of Bombyx mori. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0235722. [PMID: 36318051 PMCID: PMC9769633 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02357-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Change in habitual diet may negatively affect health. The domestic silkworm (Bombyx mori) is an economically important oligophagous insect that feeds on mulberry leaves. The growth, development, and immune-disease resistance of silkworms have declined under artificial dietary conditions. In this study, we used B. mori as a model insect to explore the relationship between changes in diet and balance of intestinal microbes due to its simpler guts compared with those of mammals. We found that artificial diets reduced the intestinal bacterial diversity in silkworms and resulted in a simple intestinal microbial structure. By analyzing the correlations among food, gut, and fecal microbial diversity, we found that an artificial diet was more easily fermented and enriched the lactic acid bacteria in the gut of the silkworms. This diet caused intestinal acidification and microbial imbalance (dysbiosis). When combined with the artificial diet, Enterococcus mundtii, a colonizing opportunistic pathogen, caused dysbiosis and allowed the frequent outbreak of bacterial diseases in the silkworms. This study provides further systematic indicators and technical references for future investigations of the relationship between diet-based environmental changes and intestinal microbial balance. IMPORTANCE The body often appears unwell after habitual dietary changes. The domestic silkworm (Bombyx mori) raised on artificial diets is a good model to explore the relationship between dietary changes and the balance of intestinal microbes. In this study, the food-gut-feces microbial model was established, and some potential key genera that could regulate the balance of intestinal microbiota were screened out. Our findings will provide a reference for future research to further our understanding of healthy silkworm development and may even be useful for similar research on other animals.
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Werba JA, Phong AC, Brar L, Frempong-Manso A, Oware OV, Kolasa J. Interactions between two functionally distinct aquatic invertebrate herbivores complicate ecosystem- and population-level resilience. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14103. [PMID: 36225899 PMCID: PMC9549887 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Resilience, the capacity for a system to bounce-back after a perturbation, is critical for conservation and restoration efforts. Different functional traits have differential effects on system-level resilience. We test this experimentally in a lab system consisting of algae consumed by zooplankton, snails, or both, using an eutrophication event as a perturbation. We examined seston settlement load, chlorophyll-a and ammonium concentration as gauges of resilience. We find that Daphnia magna increased our measures of resilience. But this effect is not consistent across ecosystem measures; in fact, D. magna increased the difference between disturbed and undisturbed treatments in seston settlement loads. We have some evidence of shifting reproductive strategy in response to perturbation in D. magna and in the presence of Physa sp. These shifts correspond with altered population levels in D. magna, suggesting feedback loops between the herbivore species. While these results suggest only an ambiguous connection between functional traits to ecosystem resilience, they point to the difficulties in establishing such a link: indirect effects of one species on reproduction of another and different scales of response among components of the system, are just two examples that may compromise the power of simple predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo A. Werba
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Lakhdeep Brar
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Jurek Kolasa
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Bzonek PA, Mandrak NE. Wetland fishes avoid a carbon dioxide deterrent deployed in the field. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 10:coac021. [PMID: 35586726 PMCID: PMC9109721 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Biological invasions are poorly controlled and contribute to the loss of ecosystem services and function. Altered watershed connectivity contributes to aquatic invasions, but such hydrologic connections have become important for human transport. Carbon dioxide (CO2) deterrents have been proposed to control the range expansion of invasive fishes, particularly through altered hydrologic connections, without impeding human transport. However, the effectiveness of CO2 deterrents needs to be further evaluated in the field, where fishes are situated in their natural environment and logistical challenges are present. We deployed a proof-of-concept CO2 deterrent within a trap-and-sort fishway in Cootes Paradise, Ontario, Canada, to determine the avoidance responses of fishes attempting to disperse into a wetland. We aimed to describe deterrent efficiency for our target species, common carp, and for native fishes dispersing into the wetland. Our inexpensive inline CO2 deterrent was deployed quickly and rapidly produced a CO2 plume of 60 mg/l. Over 2000 fishes, representing 13 species, were captured between 23 May and 8 July 2019. A generalized linear model determined that the catch rates of our target species, common carp (n = 1662), decreased significantly during deterrent activation, with catch rates falling from 2.56 to 0.26 individuals per hour. Aggregated catch rates for low-abundance species (n < 150 individuals per species) also decreased, while catch rates for non-target brown bullhead (n = 294) increased. Species did not express a phylogenetic signal in avoidance responses. These results indicate that CO2 deterrents produce a robust common carp avoidance response in the field. This pilot study deployed an inexpensive and rapidly operating deterrent, but to be a reliable management tool, permanent deterrents would need to produce a more concentrated CO2 plume with greater infrastructural support.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Bzonek
- Corresponding author: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada. Tel: 416-208-2249.
| | - N E Mandrak
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 27 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A1, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
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8
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Senavirathna MDHJ, Zhaozhi L, Fujino T. Short-duration exposure of 3-µm polystyrene microplastics affected morphology and physiology of watermilfoil (sp. roraima). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:34475-34485. [PMID: 35040069 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-18642-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are one of the most widely discussed environmental issues worldwide. Several studies have shown the effect of microplastic exposure on the marine environment; however, studies on freshwater systems are lacking. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of microplastics on hydroponically growing emergent freshwater macrophytes, watermilfoil (sp. roraima) under controlled environmental conditions. Plants were exposed to 0 mg L-1 (control), 0.05 mg L-1, 0.25 mg L-1, 1.25 mg L-1, and 6 mg L-1 of 3-µm polystyrene microspheres for 7 days. The oxidative stress, antioxidant response, pigmentations, Fv/Fm, and growth parameters in the above-water and below-water parts were analyzed separately. Microscopic observations were performed to confirm the tissue absorbance of the microplastics. Exposure to microplastics altered some parameters; however, growth was not affected. The effect of microplastics was not linear with the exposure concentration for most of the parameters and between 1.25 and 6 mg L-1 concentrations. The response trends mostly followed the second-order polynomial distributions. Under the 1.25 mg L-1 exposure, there were significant changes in root length, H2O2 content, catalase activity, anthocyanin content, and Fv/Fm. There were differences in parameters between the above-water and below-water parts, and the responses of the microplastics followed different trends. Microscopic observations confirmed the attachment of microplastic particles onto newly formed roots, except for older roots or shoot tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liu Zhaozhi
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama, 338-8570, Japan
| | - Takeshi Fujino
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama, 338-8570, Japan
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9
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Influence of warm acupuncture on gut microbiota and metabolites in rats with insomnia induced by PCPA. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267843. [PMID: 35482778 PMCID: PMC9049555 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Insomnia is the most common of the sleep disorders. Current pharmacotherapy treatment options are usually associated with adverse effects and withdrawal phenomena. Therapeutic alternatives with a more favorable safety profile for patients are needed. Mongolian medical warm acupuncture (MMWA) is an emerging therapeutic option for treating insomnia. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the anti-insomnia efficacy of the MMWA remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the effect of the MMWA on the alterations of the gut microbiota and serum metabolome in rats with insomnia. Results We found that the relative abundances of gut bacteria and the concentrations of several serum metabolites were obviously altered in PCPA-induced insomnia rats. The MMWA treatment exerted an anti-insomnia effect. In addition, the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and the serum metabolites were ameliorated by the MMWA. Correlation analysis between the gut microbiota and metabolites suggested that the levels of Amide c18, Benzoyl chloride, Cytosine, and N, n-dimethylarginine were positively correlated with the relative abundance of Clostridium XlVa and Blautia, which characterized the insomnia rats. KEGG enrichment analysis identified the cAMP signaling pathway involving anti-insomnia effect of the MMWA. Moreover, the MMWA intervention significantly increased contents of butyrate in feces, while effectively inhibited the expression level of GAT-1 in brain tissues. Conclusion This study reveals that the MMWA intervention might have a major impact on the modulation of host gut microbiota and metabolites, which in turn have a crucial role in the regulation of the host’s signaling pathways associated with insomnia. The present study could provide useful ideas for the study of the intervention mechanisms of the MMWA in insomnia rat models.
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10
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Bezsenyi A, Sági G, Makó M, Wojnárovits L, Takács E. The effect of hydrogen peroxide on the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) values measured during ionizing radiation treatment of wastewater. Radiat Phys Chem Oxf Engl 1993 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2021.109773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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11
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Nessel MP, Konnovitch T, Romero GQ, González AL. Nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment cause declines in invertebrate populations: a global meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:2617-2637. [PMID: 34173704 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Human-driven changes in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs are modifying biogeochemical cycles and the trophic state of many habitats worldwide. These alterations are predicted to continue to increase, with the potential for a wide range of impacts on invertebrates, key players in ecosystem-level processes. Here, we present a meta-analysis of 1679 cases from 207 studies reporting the effects of N, P, and combined N + P enrichment on the abundance, biomass, and richness of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. Nitrogen and phosphorus additions decreased invertebrate abundance in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, with stronger impacts under combined N + P additions. Likewise, N and N + P additions had stronger negative impacts on the abundance of tropical than temperate invertebrates. Overall, the effects of nutrient enrichment did not differ significantly among major invertebrate taxonomic groups, suggesting that changes in biogeochemical cycles are a pervasive threat to invertebrate populations across ecosystems. The effects of N and P additions differed significantly among invertebrate trophic groups but N + P addition had a consistent negative effect on invertebrates. Nutrient additions had weaker or inconclusive impacts on invertebrate biomass and richness, possibly due to the low number of case studies for these community responses. Our findings suggest that N and P enrichment affect invertebrate community structure mainly by decreasing invertebrate abundance, and these effects are dependent on the habitat and trophic identity of the invertebrates. These results highlight the important effects of human-driven nutrient enrichment on ecological systems and suggest a potential driver for the global invertebrate decline documented in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Nessel
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, 201 S. Broadway, Camden, NJ, 08103, U.S.A
| | - Theresa Konnovitch
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, 201 S. Broadway, Camden, NJ, 08103, U.S.A.,Biology Department, La Salle University, 1900 W Olney Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19141, U.S.A
| | - Gustavo Q Romero
- Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), CP 6109, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Angélica L González
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, 201 S. Broadway, Camden, NJ, 08103, U.S.A.,Biology Department, Rutgers University, Science Building, 315 Penn Street, Camden, NJ, 08102, U.S.A
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Martín G, Yáñez-Arenas C, Rangel-Camacho R, Murray KA, Goldstein E, Iwamura T, Chiappa-Carrara X. Implications of global environmental change for the burden of snakebite. Toxicon X 2021; 9-10:100069. [PMID: 34258577 PMCID: PMC8254007 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2021.100069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a set of intoxication diseases that disproportionately affect people of poor socioeconomic backgrounds in tropical countries. As it is highly dependent on the environment its burden is expected to shift spatially with global anthropogenic environmental (climate, land use) and demographic change. The mechanisms underlying the changes to snakebite epidemiology are related to factors of snakes and humans. The distribution and abundance of snakes are expected to change with global warming via their thermal tolerance, while rainfall may affect the timing of key activities like feeding and reproduction. Human population growth is the primary cause of land-use change, which may impact snakes at smaller spatial scales than climate via habitat and biodiversity loss (e.g. prey availability). Human populations, on the other hand, could experience novel patterns and morbidity of snakebite envenoming, both as a result of snake responses to environmental change and due to the development of agricultural adaptations to climate change, socioeconomic and cultural changes, development and availability of better antivenoms, personal protective equipment, and mechanization of agriculture that mediate risk of encounters with snakes and their outcomes. The likely global effects of environmental and demographic change are thus context-dependent and could encompass both increasing and or snakebite burden (incidence, number of cases or morbidity), exposing new populations to snakes in temperate areas due to “tropicalization”, or by land use change-induced snake biodiversity loss, respectively. Tackling global change requires drastic measures to ensure large-scale ecosystem functionality. However, as ecosystems represent the main source of venomous snakes their conservation should be accompanied by comprehensive public health campaigns. The challenges associated with the joint efforts of biodiversity conservation and public health professionals should be considered in the global sustainability agenda in a wider context that applies to neglected tropical and zoonotic and emerging diseases. Distribution and abundance of snakes are expected to be affected by climate change. Land-use change may also impact snakes but at smaller spatial scales than climate. Human populations could experience novel patterns and morbidity of snakebite. Reducing snakebite should be accompanied by actions that protect snake diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo Martín
- Departamento de Sistemas y Procesos Naturales, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Carlos Yáñez-Arenas
- Laboratorio de Ecología Geográfica, Unidad de Conservación de La Biodiversidad, UMDI-Sisal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sierra Papacal, Yucatán, 97302, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo Rangel-Camacho
- Laboratorio de Ecología Geográfica, Unidad de Conservación de La Biodiversidad, UMDI-Sisal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sierra Papacal, Yucatán, 97302, Mexico
| | - Kris A Murray
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, London, UK.,MRC Unit the Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara, Gambia
| | - Eyal Goldstein
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Takuya Iwamura
- Deparment of Forest Ecosystems and Society, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA 97330
| | - Xavier Chiappa-Carrara
- Departamento de Sistemas y Procesos Naturales, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Yucatán, Mexico
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A possible link between coral reef success, crustose coralline algae and the evolution of herbivory. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17748. [PMID: 33082388 PMCID: PMC7575568 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73900-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Crustose coralline red algae (CCA) play a key role in the consolidation of many modern tropical coral reefs. It is unclear, however, if their function as reef consolidators was equally pronounced in the geological past. Using a comprehensive database on ancient reefs, we show a strong correlation between the presence of CCA and the formation of true coral reefs throughout the last 150 Ma. We investigated if repeated breakdowns in the potential capacity of CCA to spur reef development were associated with sea level, ocean temperature, CO2 concentration, CCA species diversity, and/or the evolution of major herbivore groups. Model results show that the correlation between the occurrence of CCA and the development of true coral reefs increased with CCA diversity and cooler ocean temperatures while the diversification of herbivores had a transient negative effect. The evolution of novel herbivore groups compromised the interaction between CCA and true reef growth at least three times in the investigated time interval. These crises have been overcome by morphological adaptations of CCA.
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Aguilera MA, Valdivia N, Broitman BR, Jenkins SR, Navarrete SA. Novel co-occurrence of functionally redundant consumers induced by range expansion alters community structure. Ecology 2020; 101:e03150. [PMID: 32730670 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Ongoing climate change is shifting the geographic distributions of some species, potentially imposing rapid changes in local community structure and ecosystem functioning. Besides changes in population-level interspecific interactions, such range shifts may also cause changes in functional structure within the host assemblages, which can result in losses or gains in ecosystem functions. Because consumer-resource dynamics are central to community regulation, functional reorganization driven by introduction of new consumer species can have large consequences on ecosystem functions. Here we experimentally examine the extent to which the recent poleward range expansion of the intertidal grazer limpet Scurria viridula along the coast of Chile has altered the role of the resident congeneric limpet S. zebrina, and whether the net collective impacts, and functional structure, of the entire herbivore guild have been modified by the introduction of this new member. We examined the functional role of Scurria species in controlling ephemeral algal cover, bare rock availability, and species richness and diversity, and compared the effects in the region of range overlap against their respective "native" abutted ranges. Experiments showed depression of per capita effects of the range-expanded species within the region of overlap, suggesting environmental conditions negatively affect individual performance. In contrast, effects of S. zebrina were commonly invariant at its range edge. When comparing single species versus polycultures, effects on bare rock cover were altered by the presence of the other Scurria species, suggesting competition between Scurria species. Importantly, although the magnitude of S. viridula effects at the range overlap was reduced, its addition to the herbivore guild seems to complement and intensify the role of the guild in reducing green algal cover, species richness and increasing bare space provision. Our study thus highlights that range expansion of an herbivore can modify the functional guild structure in the recipient community. It also highlights the complexity of predicting how functional structure may change in the face of natural or human-induced range expansions. There is a need for more field-based examination of regional functional compensation, complementarity, or inhibition before we can construct a conceptual framework to anticipate the consequences of species range expansions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés A Aguilera
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo, 1281, Coquimbo, Chile.,Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Ossandón 877, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Nelson Valdivia
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia, 5110236, Chile.,Centro FONDAP de Investigación de Dinámicas de Ecosistemas Marinos de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL), Chile
| | - Bernardo R Broitman
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Artes Liberales, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Viña de Mar, Chile
| | - Stuart R Jenkins
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Sergio A Navarrete
- Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas, Las Cruces, Center for Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile
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15
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Tibbett M, Fraser TD, Duddigan S. Identifying potential threats to soil biodiversity. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9271. [PMID: 32566399 PMCID: PMC7295018 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A decline in soil biodiversity is generally considered to be the reduction of forms of life living in soils, both in terms of quantity and variety. Where soil biodiversity decline occurs, it can significantly affect the soils' ability to function, respond to perturbations and recover from a disturbance. Several soil threats have been identified as having negative effects on soil biodiversity, including human intensive exploitation, land-use change and soil organic matter decline. In this review we consider what we mean by soil biodiversity, and why it is important to monitor. After a thorough review of the literature identified on a Web of Science search concerning threats to soil biodiversity (topic search: threat* "soil biodiversity"), we compiled a table of biodiversity threats considered in each paper including climate change, land use change, intensive human exploitation, decline in soil health or plastic; followed by detailed listings of threats studied. This we compared to a previously published expert assessment of threats to soil biodiversity. In addition, we identified emerging threats, particularly microplastics, in the 10 years following these knowledge based rankings. We found that many soil biodiversity studies do not focus on biodiversity sensu stricto, rather these studies examined either changes in abundance and/or diversity of individual groups of soil biota, instead of soil biodiversity as a whole, encompassing all levels of the soil food web. This highlights the complexity of soil biodiversity which is often impractical to assess in all but the largest studies. Published global scientific activity was only partially related to the threats identified by the expert panel assessment. The number of threats and the priority given to the threats (by number of publications) were quite different, indicating a disparity between research actions versus perceived threats. The lack of research effort in key areas of high priority in the threats to soil biodiversity are a concerning finding and requires some consideration and debate in the research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Tibbett
- Department of Sustainable Land Management and Soil Research Centre, School of Agriculture Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Tandra D. Fraser
- Department of Sustainable Land Management and Soil Research Centre, School of Agriculture Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Duddigan
- Department of Sustainable Land Management and Soil Research Centre, School of Agriculture Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
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16
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Magnusson M, Fischhoff IR, Ecke F, Hörnfeldt B, Ostfeld RS. Effect of spatial scale and latitude on diversity-disease relationships. Ecology 2020; 101:e02955. [PMID: 31840238 PMCID: PMC7078972 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Natural ecosystems provide humans with different types of ecosystem services, often linked to biodiversity. The dilution effect (DE) predicts a negative relationship between biodiversity and risk of infectious diseases of humans, other animals, and plants. We hypothesized that a stronger DE would be observed in studies conducted at smaller spatial scales, where biotic drivers may predominate, compared to studies at larger spatial scales where abiotic drivers may more strongly affect disease patterns. In addition, we hypothesized a stronger DE in studies from temperate regions at mid latitudes than in those from subtropical and tropical regions, due to more diffuse species interactions at low latitudes. To explore these hypotheses, we conducted a meta‐analysis of observational studies of diversity–disease relationships for animals across spatial scales and geographic regions. Negative diversity–disease relationships were significant at small (combined site and local), intermediate (combined landscape and regional), and large (combined continental and global) scales and the effect did not differ depending on size of the study areas. For the geographic region analysis, a strongly negative diversity–disease relationship was found in the temperate region while no effect was found in the subtropical and tropical regions. However, no overall effect of absolute latitude on the strength of the dilution effect was detected. Our results suggest that a negative diversity–disease relationship occurs across scales and latitudes and is especially strong in the temperate region. These findings may help guide future management efforts in lowering disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Magnusson
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ilya R Fischhoff
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Millbrook, New York, 12545, USA
| | - Frauke Ecke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Birger Hörnfeldt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Richard S Ostfeld
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Millbrook, New York, 12545, USA
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Ma M, Baskin CC, Li W, Zhao Y, Zhao Y, Zhao L, Chen N, Du G. Seed banks trigger ecological resilience in subalpine meadows abandoned after arable farming on the Tibetan Plateau. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01959. [PMID: 31240782 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Although long-term agricultural activity frequently decreases biodiversity, it remains unclear whether such biodiversity losses are readily reversible. There is no doubt that the important ecological function of seed bank is ecological memory, but few researchers have explored the role of seed banks in grassland ecosystem resilience and threshold theory. We used a space-for-time subrogation method, i.e., a natural meadow (never farmed but used for moderate gazing) and meadows farmed for 30 yr and then abandoned for 1, 10, and 20 yr, to determine if the biodiversity/ecosystem of subalpine meadows could be reversed to the natural vegetation state and to investigate the role of soil seed banks in grassland ecosystem restoration and resilience. After 20 yr of natural regeneration, aboveground vegetation composition and properties had recovered to the natural meadow state, suggesting that critical thresholds were not crossed. Seed bank composition and structure exhibited almost no change after agricultural disturbance for decades. The persistent seed bank had the highest contribution to vegetation regeneration in the 1-yr abandoned field, which had the highest seed density. Similarity between the seed bank and aboveground vegetation and seed density decreased with years since abandonment. Since the seed bank still reflected the desired state, the system had inherent resilience and had not have crossed the transition threshold. Thus, high-diversity persistent seed banks are an important indicator of high resilience of this ecosystem. High similarity between the seed bank and vegetation in early-abandoned fields may indicate that ecological resilience is triggered and be a warning signal that interventions are needed to avoid a state transition. In applying alternative stable state theory to ecological restoration, much attention should be given to the soil seed bank.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaojun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China
| | - Carol C Baskin
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 40506, USA
| | - Wenjin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China
| | - Yunpeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China
| | - Yin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China
| | - Liang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China
| | - Ning Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China
| | - Guozhen Du
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China
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Lyons K, Kacev D, Preti A, Gillett D, Dewar H. Organic contaminants as an ecological tool to explore niche partitioning: a case study using three pelagic shark species. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12080. [PMID: 31427708 PMCID: PMC6700177 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48521-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical contaminant profiles are linked to an animal's niche, providing a potential tool by which to assess resource partitioning in pelagic species. As proof of concept, we examined contaminant signatures in three species of sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus, Prionace glauca, and Alopias vulpinus) known to overlap in both space and time. Since these sharks comprise a predatory guild within the Southern California Bight (SCB), we predicted that species may partition spatial and dietary resources to limit the extent of competitive exclusion. Indeed, species were distinguishable by both total contaminant loads and their contaminant fingerprint, as random forest analysis found that species could be correctly classified 96% of the time. Our results demonstrate the utility of chemical analyses for ecological studies, and how contaminant tracers can be used in combination with traditional methods to elucidate how species may undergo niche partitioning to reduce competition for overlapping resources within predatory guilds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kady Lyons
- Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker Street NW, 30313, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | - Dovi Kacev
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, California, USA
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, California, USA
| | - Antonella Preti
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, California, USA
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - David Gillett
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, California, USA
| | - Heidi Dewar
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, California, USA
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19
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Parlin AF, Dinkelacker SA, McCall A, Gosselin MS, Mettey C, Tibbert R. Temporal and Spatial Assessment of the Maritime Forest Herpetofauna Diversity on a Barrier Island in North Carolina. SOUTHEAST NAT 2019. [DOI: 10.1656/058.018.0309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam F. Parlin
- Department of Biology, Framingham State University, 100 State Street, Framingham, MA 01701
| | - Stephen A. Dinkelacker
- Department of Biology, Framingham State University, 100 State Street, Framingham, MA 01701
| | - Aaron McCall
- The Nature Conservancy, Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve, 701 West Ocean Acres Drive, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
| | - Michael S. Gosselin
- Department of Biology, Framingham State University, 100 State Street, Framingham, MA 01701
| | - Colin Mettey
- Department of Biology, Framingham State University, 100 State Street, Framingham, MA 01701
| | - Ryan Tibbert
- Department of Biology, Framingham State University, 100 State Street, Framingham, MA 01701
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20
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Luo TT, Heier L, Khan ZA, Hasan F, Reitan T, Yasseen AS, Xie ZX, Zhu JL, Yedid G. Examining Community Stability in the Face of Mass Extinction in Communities of Digital Organisms. ARTIFICIAL LIFE 2019; 24:250-276. [PMID: 30681914 DOI: 10.1162/artl_a_00272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Digital evolution is a computer-based instantiation of Darwinian evolution in which short self-replicating computer programs compete, mutate, and evolve. It is an excellent platform for addressing topics in long-term evolution and paleobiology, such as mass extinction and recovery, with experimental evolutionary approaches. We evolved model communities with ecological interdependence among community members, which were subjected to two principal types of mass extinction: a pulse extinction that killed randomly, and a selective press extinction involving an alteration of the abiotic environment to which the communities had to adapt. These treatments were applied at two different strengths, along with unperturbed control experiments. We examined how stability in the digital communities was affected from the perspectives of division of labor, relative shift in rank abundance, and genealogical connectedness of the community's component ecotypes. Mass extinction that was due to a Strong Press treatment was most effective in producing reshaped communities that differed from the pre-treatment ones in all of the measured perspectives; weaker versions of the treatments did not generally produce significant departures from a Control treatment; and results for the Strong Pulse treatment generally fell between those extremes. The Strong Pulse treatment differed from others in that it produced a slight but detectable shift towards more generalized communities. Compared to Press treatments, Pulse treatments also showed a greater contribution from re-evolved ecological doppelgangers rather than new ecotypes. However, relatively few Control communities showed stability in any of these metrics over the whole course of the experiment, and most did not represent stable states (by some measure of stability) that were disrupted by the extinction treatments. Our results have interesting, broad qualitative parallels with findings from the paleontological record, and show the potential of digital evolution studies to illuminate many aspects of mass extinction and recovery by addressing them in a truly experimental manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Tong Luo
- Nanjing Agricultural University, Department of Zoology, College of Life Sciences.
| | | | - Zaki Ahmad Khan
- Nanjing Agricultural University, Department of Zoology, College of Life Sciences.
| | - Faraz Hasan
- Aligarh Muslim University, Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
| | - Trond Reitan
- University of Oslo, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biology.
| | | | - Zi-Xuan Xie
- Nanjing Agricultural University, Department of Zoology, College of Life Sciences.
| | - Jian-Long Zhu
- Nanjing Agricultural University, Department of Zoology, College of Life Sciences.
| | - Gabriel Yedid
- Nanjing Agricultural University, Department of Zoology, College of Life Sciences.
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21
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Li Z, Wang Z, Liu X, Fath BD, Liu X, Xu Y, Hutjes R, Kroeze C. Causal relationship in the interaction between land cover change and underlying surface climate in the grassland ecosystems in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 647:1080-1087. [PMID: 30180316 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Land-climate interactions are driven by causal relations that are difficult to ascertain given the complexity and high dimensionality of the systems. Many methods of statistical and mechanistic models exist to identify and quantify the causality in such highly-interacting systems. Recent advances in remote sensing development allowed people to investigate the land-climate interaction with spatially and temporally continuous data. In this study, we present a new approach to measure how climatic factors interact with each other under land cover change. The quantification method is based on the correlation analysis of the different order derivatives, with the canonical mathematical definitions developed from the theories of system dynamics and practices of the macroscopic observations. We examined the causal relationship between the interacting variables on both spatial and temporal dimensions based on macroscopic observations of land cover change and surface climatic factors through a comparative study in the different grassland ecosystems of China. The results suggested that the interaction of land-climate could be used to explain the temporal lag effect in the comparison of the three grassland ecosystems. Significant spatial correlations between the vegetation and the climatic factors confirmed feedback mechanisms described in the theories of eco-climatology, while the uncertain temporal synchronicity reflects the causality among the key indicators. This has been rarely addressed before. Our research show that spatial correlations and the temporal synchronicity among key indicators of the land surface and climatic factors can be explained by a novel method of causality quantification using derivative analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhouyuan Li
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, and School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China; Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA; Water and Global Change Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700, AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Zezhong Wang
- Institute of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xuehua Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, and School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China.
| | - Brian D Fath
- Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA; Advanced Systems Analysis Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria.
| | - Xiaofei Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, and School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanjie Xu
- Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6708PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ronald Hutjes
- Water and Global Change Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700, AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Carolien Kroeze
- Water and Global Change Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700, AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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22
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Quantitative predictions from competition theory with an incomplete knowledge of model parameters tested against experiments across diverse taxa. Ecol Modell 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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23
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Environmental Risks or Costs? Exploring Flooding and the Urban Heat Island Effect in Planning for Policymaking: A Case Study in the Southern Taiwan Science Park. SUSTAINABILITY 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/su9122239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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24
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Matich P, Kiszka JJ, Gastrich KR, Heithaus MR. Trophic redundancy among fishes in an East African nearshore seagrass community inferred from stable-isotope analysis. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2017; 91:490-509. [PMID: 28695581 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Stable-isotope analysis supplemented with stomach contents data from published sources was used to quantify the trophic niches, trophic niche overlaps and potential trophic redundancy for the most commonly caught fish species from an East African nearshore seagrass community. This assessment is an important first step in quantifying food-web structure in a region subject to intense fishing activities. Nearshore food webs were driven by at least two isotopically distinct trophic pathways, algal and seagrass, with a greater proportion of the sampled species feeding within the seagrass food web (57%) compared with the algal food web (33%). There was considerable isotopic niche overlap among species (92% of species overlapped with at least one other species). Narrow isotopic niche widths of most (83%) species sampled, low isotopic similarity (only 23% of species exhibited no differences in δ13 C and δ15 N) and low predicted trophic redundancy among fishes most commonly caught by fishermen (15%), however, suggest that adjustments to resource management concerning harvesting and gear selectivity may be needed for the persistence of artisanal fishing in northern Tanzania. More detailed trophic studies paired with information on spatio-temporal variation in fish abundance, especially for heavily targeted species, will assist in the development and implementation of management strategies to maintain coastal food-web integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Matich
- Marine Sciences Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, U.S.A
- Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies, Sam Houston State University, 2424 Sam Houston Avenue, Huntsville, TX 77341, U.S.A
| | - J J Kiszka
- Marine Sciences Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, U.S.A
| | - K R Gastrich
- Marine Sciences Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, U.S.A
| | - M R Heithaus
- Marine Sciences Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, U.S.A
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25
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Matich P, Kiszka JJ, Mourier J, Planes S, Heithaus MR. Species co-occurrence affects the trophic interactions of two juvenile reef shark species in tropical lagoon nurseries in Moorea (French Polynesia). MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 127:84-91. [PMID: 28400049 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Food web structure is shaped by interactions within and across trophic levels. As such, understanding how the presence and absence of predators, prey, and competitors affect species foraging patterns is important for predicting the consequences of changes in species abundances, distributions, and behaviors. Here, we used plasma δ13C and δ15N values from juvenile blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and juvenile sicklefin lemon sharks (Negaprion acutidens) to investigate how species co-occurrence affects their trophic interactions in littoral waters of Moorea, French Polynesia. Co-occurrence led to isotopic niche partitioning among sharks within nurseries, with significant increases in δ15N values among sicklefin lemon sharks, and significant decreases in δ15N among blacktip reef sharks. Niche segregation likely promotes coexistence of these two predators during early years of growth and development, but data do not suggest coexistence affects life history traits, such as body size, body condition, and ontogenetic niche shifts. Plasticity in trophic niches among juvenile blacktip reef sharks and sicklefin lemon sharks also suggests these predators are able to account for changes in community structure, resource availability, and intra-guild competition, and may fill similar functional roles in the absence of the other species, which is important as environmental change and human impacts persist in coral reef ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Matich
- Marine Sciences Program, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st, North Miami, FL 33181, USA; Sam Houston State University, Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies, 2424 Sam Houston Avenue, Huntsville, TX 77341, USA.
| | - Jeremy J Kiszka
- Marine Sciences Program, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - Johann Mourier
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, CBETM, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence « CORAIL », France
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, CBETM, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence « CORAIL », France
| | - Michael R Heithaus
- Marine Sciences Program, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
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26
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Gross C, Donoghue C, Pruitt C, Trimble AC, Ruesink JL. Taxonomic and functional assessment of mesopredator diversity across an estuarine habitat mosaic. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Collin Gross
- Department of Biology University of Washington Seattle Washington 98195 USA
| | - Cinde Donoghue
- Aquatics Division Aquatic Assessment and Monitoring Team Washington Department of Natural Resources Olympia Washington 98504 USA
| | - Casey Pruitt
- Aquatics Division Aquatic Assessment and Monitoring Team Washington Department of Natural Resources Olympia Washington 98504 USA
| | - Alan C. Trimble
- Department of Biology University of Washington Seattle Washington 98195 USA
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27
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Hellmann JJ, Grundel R, Hoving C, Schuurman GW. A call to insect scientists: challenges and opportunities of managing insect communities under climate change. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2016; 17:92-97. [PMID: 27720080 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2016.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
As climate change moves insect systems into uncharted territory, more knowledge about insect dynamics and the factors that drive them could enable us to better manage and conserve insect communities. Climate change may also require us to revisit insect management goals and strategies and lead to a new kind of scientific engagement in management decision-making. Here we make five key points about the role of insect science in aiding and crafting management decisions, and we illustrate those points with the monarch butterfly and the Karner blue butterfly, two species undergoing considerable change and facing new management dilemmas. Insect biology has a strong history of engagement in applied problems, and as the impacts of climate change increase, a reimagined ethic of entomology in service of broader society may emerge. We hope to motivate insect biologists to contribute time and effort toward solving the challenges of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J Hellmann
- Institute on the Environment and Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States.
| | - Ralph Grundel
- Great Lakes Science Center, US Geological Survey, Chesterton, IN 46304, United States
| | - Chris Hoving
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lansing, MI 48909, United States; Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States
| | - Gregor W Schuurman
- Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, US National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO 80525, United States
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Podobnik B, Horvatic D, Lipic T, Perc M, Buldú JM, Stanley HE. The cost of attack in competing networks. J R Soc Interface 2016; 12:rsif.2015.0770. [PMID: 26490628 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2015.0770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Real-world attacks can be interpreted as the result of competitive interactions between networks, ranging from predator-prey networks to networks of countries under economic sanctions. Although the purpose of an attack is to damage a target network, it also curtails the ability of the attacker, which must choose the duration and magnitude of an attack to avoid negative impacts on its own functioning. Nevertheless, despite the large number of studies on interconnected networks, the consequences of initiating an attack have never been studied. Here, we address this issue by introducing a model of network competition where a resilient network is willing to partially weaken its own resilience in order to more severely damage a less resilient competitor. The attacking network can take over the competitor's nodes after their long inactivity. However, owing to a feedback mechanism the takeovers weaken the resilience of the attacking network. We define a conservation law that relates the feedback mechanism to the resilience dynamics for two competing networks. Within this formalism, we determine the cost and optimal duration of an attack, allowing a network to evaluate the risk of initiating hostilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Podobnik
- Center for Polymer Studies and Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia Zagreb School of Economics and Management, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - D Horvatic
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - T Lipic
- Center for Polymer Studies and Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Centre for Informatics and Computing, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - M Perc
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Koroška cesta 160, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - J M Buldú
- Center for Biomedical Technology (UPM), 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain Complex Systems Group, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - H E Stanley
- Center for Polymer Studies and Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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29
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Relation between stability and resilience determines the performance of early warning signals under different environmental drivers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015. [PMID: 26216946 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1418415112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Shifting patterns of temporal fluctuations have been found to signal critical transitions in a variety of systems, from ecological communities to human physiology. However, failure of these early warning signals in some systems calls for a better understanding of their limitations. In particular, little is known about the generality of early warning signals in different deteriorating environments. In this study, we characterized how multiple environmental drivers influence the dynamics of laboratory yeast populations, which was previously shown to display alternative stable states [Dai et al., Science, 2012]. We observed that both the coefficient of variation and autocorrelation increased before population collapse in two slowly deteriorating environments, one with a rising death rate and the other one with decreasing nutrient availability. We compared the performance of early warning signals across multiple environments as "indicators for loss of resilience." We find that the varying performance is determined by how a system responds to changes in a specific driver, which can be captured by a relation between stability (recovery rate) and resilience (size of the basin of attraction). Furthermore, we demonstrate that the positive correlation between stability and resilience, as the essential assumption of indicators based on critical slowing down, can break down in this system when multiple environmental drivers are changed simultaneously. Our results suggest that the stability-resilience relation needs to be better understood for the application of early warning signals in different scenarios.
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30
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Morgado LN, Semenova TA, Welker JM, Walker MD, Smets E, Geml J. Summer temperature increase has distinct effects on the ectomycorrhizal fungal communities of moist tussock and dry tundra in Arctic Alaska. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2015; 21:959-72. [PMID: 25156129 PMCID: PMC4322476 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Revised: 07/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Arctic regions are experiencing the greatest rates of climate warming on the planet and marked changes have already been observed in terrestrial arctic ecosystems. While most studies have focused on the effects of warming on arctic vegetation and nutrient cycling, little is known about how belowground communities, such as fungi root-associated, respond to warming. Here, we investigate how long-term summer warming affects ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities. We used Ion Torrent sequencing of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region to compare ECM fungal communities in plots with and without long-term experimental warming in both dry and moist tussock tundra. Cortinarius was the most OTU-rich genus in the moist tundra, while the most diverse genus in the dry tundra was Tomentella. On the diversity level, in the moist tundra we found significant differences in community composition, and a sharp decrease in the richness of ECM fungi due to warming. On the functional level, our results indicate that warming induces shifts in the extramatrical properties of the communities, where the species with medium-distance exploration type seem to be favored with potential implications for the mobilization of different nutrient pools in the soil. In the dry tundra, neither community richness nor community composition was significantly altered by warming, similar to what had been observed in ECM host plants. There was, however, a marginally significant increase in OTUs identified as ECM fungi with the medium-distance exploration type in the warmed plots. Linking our findings of decreasing richness with previous results of increasing ECM fungal biomass suggests that certain ECM species are favored by warming and may become more abundant, while many other species may go locally extinct due to direct or indirect effects of warming. Such compositional shifts in the community might affect nutrient cycling and soil organic C storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis N Morgado
- Naturalis Biodiversity CenterP.O. Box 9517, Leiden, RA, 2300, The Netherlands
| | - Tatiana A Semenova
- Naturalis Biodiversity CenterP.O. Box 9517, Leiden, RA, 2300, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Science, Leiden UniversityP.O. Box 9502, Leiden, RA, 2300, The Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey M Welker
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorage, USA
| | | | - Erik Smets
- Naturalis Biodiversity CenterP.O. Box 9517, Leiden, RA, 2300, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Science, Leiden UniversityP.O. Box 9502, Leiden, RA, 2300, The Netherlands
- Plant Conservation and Population Biology, KU LeuvenKasteelpark Arenberg 31, Box 2437, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - József Geml
- Naturalis Biodiversity CenterP.O. Box 9517, Leiden, RA, 2300, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Science, Leiden UniversityP.O. Box 9502, Leiden, RA, 2300, The Netherlands
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31
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Havel JE, Kovalenko KE, Thomaz SM, Amalfitano S, Kats LB. Aquatic invasive species: challenges for the future. HYDROBIOLOGIA 2015; 750:147-170. [PMID: 32214452 DOI: 10.1007/s10750-014-2150-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2014] [Revised: 12/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/24/2014] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Humans have effectively transported thousands of species around the globe and, with accelerated trade; the rate of introductions has increased over time. Aquatic ecosystems seem at particular risk from invasive species because of threats to biodiversity and human needs for water resources. Here, we review some known aspects of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and explore several new questions. We describe impacts of AIS, factors limiting their dispersal, and the role that humans play in transporting AIS. We also review the characteristics of species that should be the greatest threat for future invasions, including those that pave the way for invasions by other species ("invasional meltdown"). Susceptible aquatic communities, such as reservoirs, may serve as stepping stones for invasions of new landscapes. Some microbes disperse long distance, infect new hosts and grow in the external aquatic medium, a process that has consequences for human health. We also discuss the interaction between species invasions and other human impacts (climate change, landscape conversion), as well as the possible connection of invasions with regime shifts in lakes. Since many invaders become permanent features of the environment, we discuss how humans live with invasive species, and conclude with questions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Havel
- 1Department of Biology, Missouri State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, MO 65897 USA
| | - Katya E Kovalenko
- 2Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, 5013 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth, MN 55812 USA
| | - Sidinei Magela Thomaz
- 3State University of Maringá, Nupélia/DBI/PEA, Colombo Avenue 5790, Maringá, PR 87020-900 Brazil
| | - Stefano Amalfitano
- 4Water Research Institute (IRSA-CNR), Via Salaria Km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome Italy
| | - Lee B Kats
- 5Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA 90263 USA
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32
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Havel JE, Kovalenko KE, Thomaz SM, Amalfitano S, Kats LB. Aquatic invasive species: challenges for the future. HYDROBIOLOGIA 2015; 750:147-170. [PMID: 32214452 PMCID: PMC7087615 DOI: 10.1007/s10750-014-2166-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2014] [Revised: 12/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/24/2014] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Humans have effectively transported thousands of species around the globe and, with accelerated trade; the rate of introductions has increased over time. Aquatic ecosystems seem at particular risk from invasive species because of threats to biodiversity and human needs for water resources. Here, we review some known aspects of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and explore several new questions. We describe impacts of AIS, factors limiting their dispersal, and the role that humans play in transporting AIS. We also review the characteristics of species that should be the greatest threat for future invasions, including those that pave the way for invasions by other species ("invasional meltdown"). Susceptible aquatic communities, such as reservoirs, may serve as stepping stones for invasions of new landscapes. Some microbes disperse long distance, infect new hosts and grow in the external aquatic medium, a process that has consequences for human health. We also discuss the interaction between species invasions and other human impacts (climate change, landscape conversion), as well as the possible connection of invasions with regime shifts in lakes. Since many invaders become permanent features of the environment, we discuss how humans live with invasive species, and conclude with questions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E. Havel
- Department of Biology, Missouri State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, MO 65897 USA
| | - Katya E. Kovalenko
- Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, 5013 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth, MN 55812 USA
| | - Sidinei Magela Thomaz
- State University of Maringá, Nupélia/DBI/PEA, Colombo Avenue 5790, Maringá, PR 87020-900 Brazil
| | - Stefano Amalfitano
- Water Research Institute (IRSA-CNR), Via Salaria Km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome Italy
| | - Lee B. Kats
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA 90263 USA
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33
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Soissons LM, Han Q, Li B, van Katwijk MM, Ysebaert T, Herman PMJ, Bouma TJ. Cover versus recovery: contrasting responses of two indicators in seagrass beds. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2014; 87:211-219. [PMID: 25131417 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.07.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Revised: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Despite being a highly valuable key-stone ecosystem, seagrass meadows are threatened and declining worldwide, creating urgent need for indicators of their health status. We compared two indicators for seagrass health: standing leaf area index versus relative recovery from local disturbance. Disturbance was created by removing aboveground biomass and recording the rate of regrowth for Zostera marina meadows exposed to contrasting wave regimes and nutrient stress levels. Within the experimental period, relative regrowth in gaps was around 50% in most plots, except for the ambient nutrient treatment at the sheltered site, where it exceeded 100%. The two indicators showed an opposite response to disturbance: the higher the standing leaf area index, the lower the relative recovery from disturbance. This conflicting response raises the question on the proper interpretation of such indicators to estimate seagrass health and resilience, and how to ideally monitor seagrass ecosystems in order to predict collapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Soissons
- Spatial Ecology Department, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ-Yerseke), P.O. Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands.
| | - Qiuying Han
- Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (YIC-CAS), Chunhui Road 17, Laishan District, Shandong, China
| | - Baoquan Li
- Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (YIC-CAS), Chunhui Road 17, Laishan District, Shandong, China
| | - Marieke M van Katwijk
- Spatial Ecology Department, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ-Yerseke), P.O. Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands; Department of Environmental Sciences, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heijendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tom Ysebaert
- Spatial Ecology Department, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ-Yerseke), P.O. Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - Peter M J Herman
- Spatial Ecology Department, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ-Yerseke), P.O. Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands; Department of Environmental Sciences, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heijendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd J Bouma
- Spatial Ecology Department, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ-Yerseke), P.O. Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands
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Downing AS, Galic N, Goudswaard KPC, van Nes EH, Scheffer M, Witte F, Mooij WM. Was Lates late? A null model for the Nile perch boom in Lake Victoria. PLoS One 2013; 8:e76847. [PMID: 24204684 PMCID: PMC3800122 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nile perch (Lates niloticus) suddenly invaded Lake Victoria between 1979 and 1987, 25 years after its introduction in the Ugandan side of the lake. Nile perch then replaced the native fish diversity and irreversibly altered the ecosystem and its role to lakeshore societies: it is now a prised export product that supports millions of livelihoods. The delay in the Nile perch boom led to a hunt for triggers of the sudden boom and generated several hypotheses regarding its growth at low abundances – all hypotheses having important implications for the management of Nile perch stocks. We use logistic growth as a parsimonious null model to predict when the Nile perch invasion should have been expected, given its growth rate, initial stock size and introduction year. We find the first exponential growth phase can explain the timing of the perch boom at the scale of Lake Victoria, suggesting that complex mechanisms are not necessary to explain the Nile perch invasion or its timing. However, the boom started in Kenya before Uganda, indicating perhaps that Allee effects act at smaller scales than that of the whole Lake. The Nile perch invasion of other lakes indicates that habitat differences may also have an effect on invasion success. Our results suggest there is probably no single management strategy applicable to the whole lake that would lead to both efficient and sustainable exploitation of its resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S. Downing
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Nika Galic
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kees P. C. Goudswaard
- Institute for Marine Resource and Ecosystem Studies (IMARES), Wageningen UR, Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - Egbert H. van Nes
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marten Scheffer
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Frans Witte
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Wolf M. Mooij
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO), Wageningen, The Netherlands
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35
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Angeler DG, Allen CR, Rojo C, Alvarez-Cobelas M, Rodrigo MA, Sánchez-Carrillo S. Inferring the relative resilience of alternative states. PLoS One 2013; 8:e77338. [PMID: 24146980 PMCID: PMC3795661 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 08/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological systems may occur in alternative states that differ in ecological structures, functions and processes. Resilience is the measure of disturbance an ecological system can absorb before changing states. However, how the intrinsic structures and processes of systems that characterize their states affects their resilience remains unclear. We analyzed time series of phytoplankton communities at three sites in a floodplain in central Spain to assess the dominant frequencies or “temporal scales” in community dynamics and compared the patterns between a wet and a dry alternative state. The identified frequencies and cross-scale structures are expected to arise from positive feedbacks that are thought to reinforce processes in alternative states of ecological systems and regulate emergent phenomena such as resilience. Our analyses show a higher species richness and diversity but lower evenness in the dry state. Time series modeling revealed a decrease in the importance of short-term variability in the communities, suggesting that community dynamics slowed down in the dry relative to the wet state. The number of temporal scales at which community dynamics manifested, and the explanatory power of time series models, was lower in the dry state. The higher diversity, reduced number of temporal scales and the lower explanatory power of time series models suggest that species dynamics tended to be more stochastic in the dry state. From a resilience perspective our results highlight a paradox: increasing species richness may not necessarily enhance resilience. The loss of cross-scale structure (i.e. the lower number of temporal scales) in community dynamics across sites suggests that resilience erodes during drought. Phytoplankton communities in the dry state are therefore likely less resilient than in the wet state. Our case study demonstrates the potential of time series modeling to assess attributes that mediate resilience. The approach is useful for assessing resilience of alternative states across ecological and other complex systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G. Angeler
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Craig R. Allen
- Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, United States Geological Survey, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Carmen Rojo
- Cavanilles Institute for Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - María A. Rodrigo
- Cavanilles Institute for Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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Isbell F, Tilman D, Polasky S, Binder S, Hawthorne P. Low biodiversity state persists two decades after cessation of nutrient enrichment. Ecol Lett 2013; 16:454-60. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.12066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Revised: 11/11/2012] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Forest Isbell
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior; University of Minnesota Twin Cities; Saint Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
| | - David Tilman
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior; University of Minnesota Twin Cities; Saint Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
- Bren School of the Environment; University of California; Santa Barbara California 93106 USA
| | - Stephen Polasky
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior; University of Minnesota Twin Cities; Saint Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
- Department of Applied Economics; University of Minnesota Twin Cities; Saint Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
| | - Seth Binder
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior; University of Minnesota Twin Cities; Saint Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
- Department of Applied Economics; University of Minnesota Twin Cities; Saint Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
| | - Peter Hawthorne
- Department of Applied Economics; University of Minnesota Twin Cities; Saint Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
- Institute on the Environment; University of Minnesota Twin Cities; Saint Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
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