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Ceia-Hasse A, Boieiro M, Soares A, Antunes S, Figueiredo H, Rego C, Borges PA, Conde J, Serrano AR. Drivers of Insect Community Change along the Margins of Mountain Streams in Serra da Estrela Natural Park (Portugal). INSECTS 2023; 14:243. [PMID: 36975928 PMCID: PMC10058670 DOI: 10.3390/insects14030243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mountain ecosystems are important biodiversity hotspots and valuable natural laboratories to study community assembly processes. Here, we analyze the diversity patterns of butterflies and odonates in a mountainous area of high conservation value-Serra da Estrela Natural Park (Portugal)-and we assess the drivers of community change for each of the two insect groups. The butterflies and odonates were sampled along 150 m transects near the margins of three mountain streams, at three elevation levels (500, 1000, and 1500 m). We found no significant differences in odonate species richness between elevations, but marginal differences (p = 0.058) were found for butterflies due to the lower number of species at high altitudes. Both insect groups showed significant differences in beta diversity (βtotal) between elevations, with species richness differences being the most important component for odonates (βrich = 55.2%), while species replacement drove the changes between butterfly assemblages (βrepl = 60.3%). Climatic factors, particularly those depicting harsher conditions of temperature and precipitation, were the best predictors of total beta diversity (βtotal) and its components (βrich, βrepl) for the two study groups. The study of insect biodiversity patterns in mountain ecosystems and of the role played by different predictors contribute to further our understanding on the community assembly processes and may help to better predict environmental change impacts on mountain biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ceia-Hasse
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mário Boieiro
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, 9700-042 Azores, Portugal
| | - Albano Soares
- Tagis—Centro de Conservação das Borboletas de Portugal, 7480-152 Avis, Portugal
| | - Sandra Antunes
- Tagis—Centro de Conservação das Borboletas de Portugal, 7480-152 Avis, Portugal
| | - Hugo Figueiredo
- Centro de Interpretação da Serra da Estrela/Município de Seia, 6270-423 Seia, Portugal
| | - Carla Rego
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paulo A.V. Borges
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, 9700-042 Azores, Portugal
| | - José Conde
- Centro de Interpretação da Serra da Estrela/Município de Seia, 6270-423 Seia, Portugal
| | - Artur R.M. Serrano
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
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Alves FR, Aguilera-Olivares D, Rocha MM, Arab A. Termites are the main dung removals in a degraded landscape in Brazil. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.982602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Termites are one of the most relevant groups for recycling nutrients and keeping the flow of energy in ecosystems. Although their role as lignocellulose decomposers is the focus of studies, they also act as dung recyclers, but their importance in this process is poorly understood. Here we performed manipulation experiments to determine dung removal by termites in forest remnants and cattle pastures in a fragmented Atlantic Forest landscape. We used wire bags of different mesh sizes placed along transects in three forest fragments and pastures for 10 days to compare the contribution of termites and other coprophagous macrodetritivores to dung removal. Our results indicated that termites removed more dung in pastures than in the forest fragments. In addition, dung beetle exclusion significantly reduced the percentage of dung removal within forest fragments, but not on pastures, indicating termites are important dung recyclers in pastures.
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Uhey DA, Bowker MA, Haubensak KA, Auty D, Vissa S, Hofstetter RW. Habitat Type Affects Elevational Patterns in Ground-dwelling Arthropod Communities. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2022; 22:9. [PMID: 35983692 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieac046] [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: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding factors that drive biodiversity distributions is central in ecology and critical to conservation. Elevational gradients are useful for studying the effects of climate on biodiversity but it can be difficult to disentangle climate effects from resource differences among habitat types. Here we compare elevational patterns and influences of environmental variables on ground-dwelling arthropods in open- and forested-habitats. We examine these comparisons in three arthropod functional groups (detritivores, predators, and herbivores) and two taxonomic groups (beetles and arachnids). We sampled twelve sites spanning 1,132 m elevation and four life zones, collecting 4,834 individual ground arthropods identified to 123 taxa. Elevation was a strong predicator for arthropod composition, however, patterns differed among functional and taxonomic groups and individual species between open- and forested-habitats. Beetles, arachnids, and predators decreased with elevation in open habitats but increased in forests showing a significant interaction between habitat type and elevation. Detritivores and herbivores showed no elevational patterns. We found 11 arthropod taxa with linear elevational patterns, seven that peaked in abundance at high elevations, and four taxa at low elevations. We also found eight taxa with parabolic elevational patterns that peaked in abundance at mid-elevations. We found that vegetation composition and productivity had stronger explanatory power for arthropod composition in forested habitats, while ground cover was a stronger predictor in open habitats. Temperature and precipitation were important in both habitats. Our findings demonstrate that relationships between animal diversity and elevation can be mediated by habitat type, suggesting that physiological restraints and resource limitations work differently between habitat types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek A Uhey
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, 200 East Pine Knoll Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Matthew A Bowker
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, 200 East Pine Knoll Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Karen A Haubensak
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, 617 North Beaver Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - David Auty
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, 200 East Pine Knoll Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Sneha Vissa
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, 200 East Pine Knoll Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Richard W Hofstetter
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, 200 East Pine Knoll Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
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Geographical drivers of altitudinal diversity of birds in the Atlantic Forest. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00798-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Morphological variability of Argynnis paphia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) across different environmental conditions in eastern Slovakia. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00771-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Orlandin E, Carneiro E. Classes of protection in urban forest fragments are effectiveless in structuring butterfly assemblages: landscape and forest structure are far better predictors. Urban Ecosyst 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-020-01086-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Beirão MV, Neves FS, Fernandes GW. Climate and plant structure determine the spatiotemporal butterfly distribution on a tropical mountain. Biotropica 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marina V. Beirão
- Departamento de Genética ICB/Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte MG Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia de Biomas Tropicais Ouro Preto MG Brazil
| | - Frederico S. Neves
- Departamento de Genética ICB/Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte MG Brazil
| | - G. Wilson Fernandes
- Departamento de Genética ICB/Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte MG Brazil
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Uhey DA, Hofstetter RW, Remke M, Vissa S, Haubensak KA. Climate and vegetation structure shape ant communities along elevational gradients on the Colorado Plateau. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:8313-8322. [PMID: 32788981 PMCID: PMC7417256 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Terrestrial animal communities are largely shaped by vegetation and climate. With climate also shaping vegetation, can we attribute animal patterns solely to climate? Our study observes ant community changes along climatic gradients (i.e., elevational gradients) within different habitat types (i.e., open and forest) on the Colorado Plateau in the southwestern United States. We sampled ants and vegetation along two elevational gradients spanning 1,132 m with average annual temperature and precipitation differences of 5.7°C and 645mm, respectively. We used regression analyses and structural equation modeling to compare the explanatory powers and effect sizes of climate and vegetation variables on ants. Climate variables had the strongest correlations and the largest effect sizes on ant communities, while vegetation composition, richness, and primary productivity had relatively small effects. Precipitation was the strongest predictor for most ant community metrics. Ant richness and abundance had a negative relationship with precipitation in forested habitats, and positive in open habitats. Our results show strong direct climate effects on ants with little or no effects of vegetation composition or primary productivity, but contrasting patterns between vegetation type (i.e., forested vs. open) with precipitation. This indicates vegetation structure can modulate climate responses of ant communities. Our study demonstrates climate-animal relationships may vary among vegetation types which can impact both findings from elevational studies and how communities will react to changes in climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek A. Uhey
- School of ForestryNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffArizonaUSA
| | | | | | - Sneha Vissa
- School of ForestryNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffArizonaUSA
| | - Karen A. Haubensak
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Ecosystem Science and SocietyNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffArizonaUSA
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Lasmar CJ, Ribas CR, Louzada J, Queiroz AC, Feitosa RM, Imata MM, Alves GP, Nascimento GB, Neves FS, Domingos DQ. Disentangling elevational and vegetational effects on ant diversity patterns. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2019.103489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Graça MB, Morais JW, Franklin E, Pequeno PACL, Souza JLP, Bueno AS. Combining Taxonomic and Functional Approaches to Unravel the Spatial Distribution of an Amazonian Butterfly Community. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 45:301-309. [PMID: 26643123 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvv183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the spatial distribution of an Amazonian fruit-feeding butterfly assemblage by linking species taxonomic and functional approaches. We hypothesized that: 1) vegetation richness (i.e., resources) and abundance of insectivorous birds (i.e., predators) should drive changes in butterfly taxonomic composition, 2) larval diet breadth should decrease with increase of plant species richness, 3) small-sized adults should be favored by higher abundance of birds, and 4) communities with eyespot markings should be able to exploit areas with higher predation pressure. Fruit-feeding butterflies were sampled with bait traps and insect nets across 25 km(2) of an Amazonian ombrophilous forest in Brazil. We measured larval diet breadth, adult body size, and wing marking of all butterflies. Our results showed that plant species richness explained most of the variation in butterfly taxonomic turnover. Also, community average diet breadth decreased with increase of plant species richness, which supports our expectations. In contrast, community average body size increased with the abundance of birds, refuting our hypothesis. We detected no influence of environmental gradients on the occurrence of species with eyespot markings. The association between butterfly taxonomic and functional composition points to a mediator role of the functional traits in the environmental filtering of butterflies. The incorporation of the functional approach into the analyses allowed for the detection of relationships that were not observed using a strictly taxonomic perspective and provided an extra insight into comprehending the potential adaptive strategies of butterflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márlon B Graça
- Biodiversity Coordination, National Institute for Amazonian Research, INPA, Manaus, Brazil (; ; ; ; ; ), Center for Integrated Studies of Amazonian Biodiversity, CENBAM, Manaus, Brazil,
| | - José W Morais
- Biodiversity Coordination, National Institute for Amazonian Research, INPA, Manaus, Brazil (; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Elizabeth Franklin
- Biodiversity Coordination, National Institute for Amazonian Research, INPA, Manaus, Brazil (; ; ; ; ; ), Center for Integrated Studies of Amazonian Biodiversity, CENBAM, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Pedro A C L Pequeno
- Biodiversity Coordination, National Institute for Amazonian Research, INPA, Manaus, Brazil (; ; ; ; ; ), Center for Integrated Studies of Amazonian Biodiversity, CENBAM, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Jorge L P Souza
- Biodiversity Coordination, National Institute for Amazonian Research, INPA, Manaus, Brazil (; ; ; ; ; ), Center for Integrated Studies of Amazonian Biodiversity, CENBAM, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Anderson Saldanha Bueno
- Biodiversity Coordination, National Institute for Amazonian Research, INPA, Manaus, Brazil (; ; ; ; ; ), Campus Júlio de Castilhos, Farroupilha Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology, Brazil
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