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Grames EM, Montgomery GA, Youngflesh C, Tingley MW, Elphick CS. The effect of insect food availability on songbird reproductive success and chick body condition: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:658-673. [PMID: 36798988 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Reports of declines in abundance and biomass of insects and other invertebrates from around the world have raised concerns about food limitation that could have profound impacts for insectivorous species. Food availability can clearly affect species; however, there is considerable variation among studies in whether this effect is evident, and thus a lack of clarity over the generality of the relationship. To understand how decreased food availability due to invertebrate declines will affect bird populations, we conducted a systematic review and used meta-analytic structural equation modelling, which allowed us to treat our core variables of interest as latent variables estimated by the diverse ways in which researchers measure fecundity and chick body condition. We found a moderate positive effect of food availability on chick body condition and a strong positive effect on reproductive success. We also found a negative relationship between chick body condition and reproductive success. Our results demonstrate that food is generally a limiting factor for breeding songbirds. Our analysis also provides evidence for a consistent trade-off between chick body condition and reproductive success, demonstrating the complexity of trophic dynamics important for these vital rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza M Grames
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Graham A Montgomery
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Casey Youngflesh
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Michigan State University, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Morgan W Tingley
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Chris S Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
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2
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Ooi SK, Barry A, Lawrence BA, Elphick CS, Helton AM. Vegetation zones as indicators of denitrification potential in salt marshes. Ecol Appl 2022; 32:e2630. [PMID: 35403778 PMCID: PMC9539531 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Salt marsh vegetation zones shift in response to large-scale environmental changes such as sea-level rise (SLR) and restoration activities, but it is unclear if they are good indicators of soil nitrogen removal. Our goal was to characterize the relationship between denitrification potential and salt marsh vegetation zones in tidally restored and tidally unrestricted coastal marshes, and to use vegetation zones to extrapolate how SLR may influence high marsh denitrification at the landscape scale. We conducted denitrification enzyme activity assays on sediment collected from three vegetation zones expected to shift in distribution due to SLR and tidal flow restoration across 20 salt marshes in Connecticut, USA (n = 60 sampling plots) during the summer of 2017. We found lower denitrification potential in short-form Spartina alterniflora zones (mean, 95% CI: 4, 3-6 mg N h-1 m-2 ) than in S. patens (25, 15-36 mg N h-1 m-2 ) and Phragmites australis (56, 16-96 mg N h-1 m-2 ) zones. Vegetation zone was the single best predictor and explained 52% of the variation in denitrification potential; incorporating restoration status and soil characteristics (soil salinity, moisture, and ammonium) did not improve model fit. Because denitrification potential did not differ between tidally restored and unrestricted marshes, we suggest landscape-scale changes in denitrification after tidal restoration are likely to be associated with shifts in vegetation, rather than differences driven by restoration status. Sea-level-rise-induced hydrologic changes are widely observed to shift high marsh dominated by S. patens to short-form S. alterniflora. To explore the implications of this shift in dominant high marsh vegetation, we paired our measured mean denitrification potential rates with projections of high marsh loss from SLR. We found that, under low and medium SLR scenarios, predicted losses of denitrification potential due to replacement of S. patens by short-form S. alterniflora were substantially larger than losses due to reduced high marsh land area alone. Our results suggest that changes in vegetation zones can serve as landscape-scale predictors of the response of denitrification rates to rapid changes occurring in salt marshes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Khan Ooi
- Department of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
| | - Aidan Barry
- Department of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
| | - Beth A. Lawrence
- Department of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
- Center for Environmental Sciences and EngineeringUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
| | - Chris S. Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
- Center of Biological RiskUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
| | - Ashley M. Helton
- Department of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
- Center for Environmental Sciences and EngineeringUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
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3
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Sandor ME, Elphick CS, Tingley MW. Extinction of biotic interactions due to habitat loss could accelerate the current biodiversity crisis. Ecol Appl 2022; 32:e2608. [PMID: 35366031 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Habitat loss disrupts species interactions through local extinctions, potentially orphaning species that depend on interacting partners, via mutualisms or commensalisms, and increasing secondary extinction risk. Orphaned species may become functionally or secondarily extinct, increasing the severity of the current biodiversity crisis. While habitat destruction is a major cause of biodiversity loss, the number of secondary extinctions is largely unknown. We investigate the relationship between habitat loss, orphaned species, and bipartite network properties. Using a real seed dispersal network, we simulate habitat loss to estimate the rate at which species are orphaned. To be able to draw general conclusions, we also simulate habitat loss in synthetic networks to quantify how changes in network properties affect orphan rates across broader parameter space. Both real and synthetic network simulations show that even small amounts of habitat loss can cause up to 10% of species to be orphaned. More area loss, less connected networks, and a greater disparity in the species richness of the network's trophic levels generally result in more orphaned species. As habitat is lost to land-use conversion and climate change, more orphaned species increase the loss of community-level and ecosystem functions. However, the potential severity of repercussions ranges from minimal (no species orphaned) to catastrophic (up to 60% of species within a network orphaned). Severity of repercussions also depends on how much the interaction richness and intactness of the community affects the degree of redundancy within networks. Orphaned species could add substantially to the loss of ecosystem function and secondary extinction worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manette E Sandor
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- Northern Arizona University, Landscape Conservation Initiative, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA
| | - Chris S Elphick
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Morgan W Tingley
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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4
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Grames EM, Schwartz D, Elphick CS. A systematic method for hypothesis synthesis and conceptual model development. Methods Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eliza M. Grames
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut (USA) 75 North Eagleville Rd, 06269 Storrs CT USA
- Current address: Department of Biology University of Nevada Reno (USA) 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, 89557 NV USA
| | - Danielle Schwartz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut (USA) 75 North Eagleville Rd, 06269 Storrs CT USA
| | - Chris S. Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut (USA) 75 North Eagleville Rd, 06269 Storrs CT USA
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5
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Grames EM, Stepule PL, Herrick SZ, Ranelli BT, Elphick CS. Separating acoustic signal into underlying behaviors with self-exciting point process models. Ecol Modell 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.109965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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6
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Grames EM, Montgomery GA, Boyes DH, Dicks LV, Forister ML, Matson TA, Nakagawa S, Prendergast KS, Taylor NG, Tingley MW, Wagner DL, White TE, Woodcock P, Elphick CS. A framework and case study to systematically identify long‐term insect abundance and diversity datasets. Conservat Sci and Prac 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eliza M. Grames
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut USA
- Department of Biology University of Nevada Reno Reno Nevada USA
| | - Graham A. Montgomery
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles California USA
| | | | - Lynn V. Dicks
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge Cambridgeshire UK
| | | | - Tanner A. Matson
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut USA
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | | | - Nigel G. Taylor
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge Cambridgeshire UK
| | - Morgan W. Tingley
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles California USA
| | - David L. Wagner
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut USA
| | - Thomas E. White
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Paul Woodcock
- Joint Nature Conservation Committee Peterborough Cambridgeshire UK
| | - Chris S. Elphick
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut USA
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7
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Ruskin KJ, Herring G, Eagles-Smith CA, Eiklor AB, Elphick CS, Etterson MA, Field CR, Longenecker RA, Kovach AI, Gregory Shriver W, Walsh J, Olsen BJ. Mercury exposure of tidal marsh songbirds in the northeastern United States and its association with nest survival. Ecotoxicology 2022; 31:208-220. [PMID: 34783931 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-021-02488-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The biogeochemistry of tidal marsh sediments facilitates the transformation of mercury (Hg) into the biologically available form methylmercury (MeHg), resulting in elevated Hg exposures to tidal marsh wildlife. Saltmarsh and Acadian Nelson's sparrows (Ammospiza caudacutua and A. nelsoni subvirgatus, respectively) exclusively inhabit tidal marshes, potentially experiencing elevated risk to Hg exposure, and have experienced range-wide population declines. To characterize spatial and temporal variation of Hg exposure in these species, we sampled total mercury (THg) in blood collected from 9 populations spanning 560 km of coastline, including individuals resampled within and among years. Using concurrent nesting studies, we tested whether THg was correlated with nest survival probabilities, an index of fecundity. Blood THg ranged from 0.074-3.373 µg/g ww across 170 samples from 127 individuals. We detected high spatial variability in Hg exposure, observing differences of more than 45-fold across all individuals and 8-fold in mean blood THg among all study plots, including 4-fold between study plots within 4 km. Intraindividual changes in blood Hg exposure did not vary systematically in time but were considerable, varying by up to 2-fold within and among years. Controlling for both species differences and maximum water level, the dominant driver of fecundity in this system, nest survival probability decreased by 10% across the full range of female blood THg concentrations observed. We conclude that Hg has the potential to impair songbird reproduction, potentially exacerbating known climate-change driven population declines from sea-level rise in saltmarsh and Acadian Nelson's sparrows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine J Ruskin
- Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 123 Bryand Global Sciences Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA.
| | - Garth Herring
- United States Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Collin A Eagles-Smith
- United States Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Alyssa B Eiklor
- Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, 1 National Life Dr Montpelier, Davis 1, VT, 05620-3520, USA
| | - Chris S Elphick
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Center of Biological Risk, University of Connecticut, 75 North Eagleville Road, U-43, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Matthew A Etterson
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
| | - Christopher R Field
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island 45 Upper College Rd, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Rebecca A Longenecker
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Regional Office, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA, 01035, USA
| | - Adrienne I Kovach
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, 46 College Road, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - W Gregory Shriver
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, 257 Townsend Hall, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Jennifer Walsh
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Brian J Olsen
- Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 123 Bryand Global Sciences Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA
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8
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Sayers CJ, Roeder MR, Forrette LM, Roche D, Dupont GLB, Apgar SE, Kocek AR, Cook AM, Shriver WG, Elphick CS, Olsen B, Bonter DN. Geographic variation of mercury in breeding tidal marsh sparrows of the northeastern United States. Ecotoxicology 2021; 30:1929-1940. [PMID: 34383236 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-021-02461-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Saltmarsh sparrows (Ammospiza caudacuta) and seaside sparrows (A. maritima) are species of conservation concern primarily due to global sea-level rise and habitat degradation. Environmental mercury (Hg) contamination may present additional threats to their reproductive success and survival. To assess site-specific total mercury (THg) exposure and identify environmental correlates of THg detection, we sampled blood from adult male saltmarsh and seaside sparrows at 27 sites between Maine and Virginia, USA. The mean THg concentration (±1 SD) throughout the entire sampling range was 0.531 ± 0.287 µg/g wet weight (ww) for saltmarsh sparrows and 0.442 ± 0.316 µg/g ww for seaside sparrows. Individual THg concentrations ranged from 0.135-1.420 µg/g ww for saltmarsh sparrows and 0.153-1.530 µg/g ww for seaside sparrows. Model averaging from a suite of linear mixed models showed that saltmarsh sparrows averaged 20.1% higher blood THg concentrations than seaside sparrows, potentially due to differences in diet or foraging behavior. We found no evidence for a relationship between sparrow THg concentrations and land cover surrounding sampled marshes or average precipitation-based Hg deposition. Overall, our results suggest considerable, unexplained variation in tidal marsh sparrow blood THg concentrations over their co-occurring breeding ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Sayers
- Department of Natural Resources & the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.
| | - Mackenzie R Roeder
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA
| | - Lindsay M Forrette
- School of Marine Programs, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, 04005, USA
| | - Daniel Roche
- Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, Wildlife and Fisheries Resources Program, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26501, USA
| | - Gaetan L B Dupont
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Sam E Apgar
- Department of Ecology & Environmental Biology and Center of Biological Risk, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Alison R Kocek
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Alexandra M Cook
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - W Gregory Shriver
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Chris S Elphick
- Department of Ecology & Environmental Biology and Center of Biological Risk, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Brian Olsen
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA
| | - David N Bonter
- Department of Natural Resources & the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
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9
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Steen VA, Tingley MW, Paton PWC, Elphick CS. Spatial thinning and class balancing: Key choices lead to variation in the performance of species distribution models with citizen science data. Methods Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Valerie A. Steen
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
- Department of Natural Resources Science University of Rhode Island Kingston RI USA
| | - Morgan W. Tingley
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Peter W. C. Paton
- Department of Natural Resources Science University of Rhode Island Kingston RI USA
| | - Chris S. Elphick
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
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10
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Steen VA, Elphick CS, Tingley MW. An evaluation of stringent filtering to improve species distribution models from citizen science data. DIVERS DISTRIB 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Valerie A. Steen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
| | - Chris S. Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
| | - Morgan W. Tingley
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
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11
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Field CR, Ruskin KJ, Cohen JB, Hodgman TP, Kovach AI, Olsen BJ, Shriver WG, Elphick CS. Framework for quantifying population responses to disturbance reveals that coastal birds are highly resilient to hurricanes. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:2039-2048. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.13384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R. Field
- National Socio‐Environmental Synthesis Center University of Maryland 1 Park Place Annapolis MD 21401 USA
| | - Katharine J. Ruskin
- Ecology and Environmental Sciences program University of Maine 107 Nutting Hall Orono ME 04469 USA
| | - Jonathan B. Cohen
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry 1 Forestry Drive Syracuse NY 13210 USA
| | - Thomas P. Hodgman
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Bird Group 650 State Street Bangor ME 04401 USA
| | - Adrienne I. Kovach
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire 56 College Road Durham NH 03824 USA
| | - Brian J. Olsen
- School of Biology and Ecology University of Maine 200 Clapp Greenhouse Orono ME 04469 USA
| | - W. Gregory Shriver
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology University of Delaware 257 Townsend Hall Newark DE 19716 USA
| | - Chris S. Elphick
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Center of Biological Risk University of Connecticut 75 North Eagleville Road, U‐43 Storrs CT 06269 USA
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12
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Grames EM, Stillman AN, Tingley MW, Elphick CS. An automated approach to identifying search terms for systematic reviews using keyword co‐occurrence networks. Methods Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eliza M. Grames
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
| | - Andrew N. Stillman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
| | - Morgan W. Tingley
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
| | - Chris S. Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
- Center of Biological Risk University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
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13
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Walsh J, Benham PM, Deane‐Coe PE, Arcese P, Butcher BG, Chan YL, Cheviron ZA, Elphick CS, Kovach AI, Olsen BJ, Shriver WG, Winder VL, Lovette IJ. Genomics of rapid ecological divergence and parallel adaptation in four tidal marsh sparrows. Evol Lett 2019; 3:324-338. [PMID: 31388443 PMCID: PMC6675146 DOI: 10.1002/evl3.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Theory suggests that different taxa having colonized a similar, challenging environment will show parallel or lineage-specific adaptations to shared selection pressures, but empirical examples of parallel evolution in independent taxa are exceedingly rare. We employed comparative genomics to identify parallel and lineage-specific responses to selection within and among four species of North American sparrows that represent four independent, post-Pleistocene colonization events by an ancestral, upland subspecies and a derived salt marsh specialist. We identified multiple cases of parallel adaptation in these independent comparisons following salt marsh colonization, including selection of 12 candidate genes linked to osmoregulation. In addition to detecting shared genetic targets of selection across multiple comparisons, we found many novel, species-specific signatures of selection, including evidence of selection of loci associated with both physiological and behavioral mechanisms of osmoregulation. Demographic reconstructions of all four species highlighted their recent divergence and small effective population sizes, as expected given their rapid radiation into saline environments. Our results highlight the interplay of both shared and lineage-specific selection pressures in the colonization of a biotically and abiotically challenging habitat and confirm theoretical expectations that steep environmental clines can drive repeated and rapid evolutionary diversification in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Walsh
- Fuller Evolutionary Biology ProgramCornell Laboratory of OrnithologyIthacaNew York14850
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyCornell UniversityIthacaNew York14853
| | - Phred M. Benham
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontana59812
| | - Petra E. Deane‐Coe
- Fuller Evolutionary Biology ProgramCornell Laboratory of OrnithologyIthacaNew York14850
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyCornell UniversityIthacaNew York14853
| | - Peter Arcese
- Department of Forest and Conservation SciencesUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaT6T1Z4Canada
| | - Bronwyn G. Butcher
- Fuller Evolutionary Biology ProgramCornell Laboratory of OrnithologyIthacaNew York14850
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyCornell UniversityIthacaNew York14853
| | | | | | - Chris S. Elphick
- Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticut06269
| | - Adrienne I. Kovach
- Department of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNew Hampshire03824
| | - Brian J. Olsen
- School of Biology and EcologyUniversity of MaineOronoMaine04469
| | - W. Gregory Shriver
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife EcologyUniversity of DelawareNewarkDelaware19716
| | | | - Irby J. Lovette
- Fuller Evolutionary Biology ProgramCornell Laboratory of OrnithologyIthacaNew York14850
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyCornell UniversityIthacaNew York14853
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14
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Wiest WA, Correll MD, Marcot BG, Olsen BJ, Elphick CS, Hodgman TP, Guntenspergen GR, Shriver WG. Estimates of tidal-marsh bird densities using Bayesian networks. J Wildl Manage 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Whitney A. Wiest
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology; University of Delaware; 250 Townsend Hall Newark DE 19716 USA
| | - Maureen D. Correll
- School of Biology and Ecology; Climate Change Institute; University of Maine; 204 Clapp Greenhouse Orono ME 04469 USA
| | - Bruce G. Marcot
- U.S.D.A. Forest Service; Pacific Northwest Research Station; 620 SW Main Street Portland OR 97205 USA
| | - Brian J. Olsen
- School of Biology and Ecology; Climate Change Institute; University of Maine; 200 Clapp Greenhouse Orono ME 04469 USA
| | - Chris S. Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Conservation and Biodiversity; University of Connecticut; 75 North Eagleville Road, U-43 Storrs CT 06269 USA
| | - Thomas P. Hodgman
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; 650 State Street Bangor ME 04401 USA
| | - Glenn R. Guntenspergen
- U.S. Geological Survey; Patuxent Wildlife Research Center; 12100 Beech Forest Road Laurel MD 20708 USA
| | - W. Gregory Shriver
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology; University of Delaware; 250 Townsend Hall Newark DE 19716 USA
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15
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Bagchi R, Brown LM, Elphick CS, Wagner DL, Singer MS. Anthropogenic fragmentation of landscapes: mechanisms for eroding the specificity of plant-herbivore interactions. Oecologia 2018; 187:521-533. [PMID: 29560512 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4115-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Reduced ecological specialization is an emerging, general pattern of ecological networks in fragmented landscapes. In plant-herbivore interactions, reductions in dietary specialization of herbivore communities are consistently associated with fragmented landscapes, but the causes remain poorly understood. We propose several hypothetical bottom-up and top-down mechanisms that may reduce the specificity of plant-herbivore interactions. These include empirically plausible applications and extensions of theory based on reduced habitat patch size and isolation (considered jointly), and habitat edge effects. Bottom-up effects in small, isolated habitat patches may limit availability of suitable hostplants, a constraint that increases with dietary specialization. Poor hostplant quality due to inbreeding in such fragments may especially disadvantage dietary specialist herbivores even when their hostplants are present. Size and isolation of habitat patches may change patterns of predation of herbivores, but whether such putative changes are associated with herbivore dietary specialization should depend on the mobility, size, and diet breadth of predators. Bottom-up edge effects may favor dietary generalist herbivores, yet top-down edge effects may favor dietary specialists owing to reduced predation. An increasingly supported edge effect is trophic ricochets generated by large grazers/browsers, which remove key hostplant species of specialist herbivores. We present empirical evidence that greater deer browsing in small forest fragments disproportionately reduces specialist abundances in lepidopteran assemblages in northeastern USA. Despite indirect evidence for these mechanisms, they have received scant direct testing with experimental approaches at a landscape scale. Identifying their relative contributions to reduced specificity of plant-herbivore interactions in fragmented landscapes is an important research goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Bagchi
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Road Unit 3043, Storrs, CT, 06260-3043, USA.
| | - Leone M Brown
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Road Unit 3043, Storrs, CT, 06260-3043, USA
| | - Chris S Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Road Unit 3043, Storrs, CT, 06260-3043, USA
| | - David L Wagner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Road Unit 3043, Storrs, CT, 06260-3043, USA
| | - Michael S Singer
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, 06459, USA
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16
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Ruskin KJ, Etterson MA, Hodgman TP, Borowske AC, Cohen JB, Elphick CS, Field CR, Longenecker RA, King E, Kocek AR, Kovach AI, O’Brien KM, Pau N, Shriver WG, Walsh J, Olsen BJ. Demographic analysis demonstrates systematic but independent spatial variation in abiotic and biotic stressors across 59 percent of a global species range. Auk 2017; 134:903-916. [PMID: 37534301 PMCID: PMC10395324 DOI: 10.1642/auk-16-230.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
The balance of abiotic and biotic stressors experienced by a species likely varies across its range, resulting in spatially heterogeneous limitations on the species' demographic rates. Support for spatial variation in stressors (often latitudinal gradients) has been found in many species, usually with physiological or correlative occupancy data, but it has rarely been estimated directly with demographic data. We collected demographic data from 23 sites spanning the majority of the Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus) breeding range. Using data from 837 nests, we quantified the abiotic and biotic variables most important to nest survival, which is the dominant driver of both fecundity and population growth rate in this species. We separately estimated daily nest failure probability due to nest depredation (biotic stressor) and nest flooding (abiotic stressor), which collectively account for almost all nest failure in the species. Nest depredation decreased with latitude, whereas nest flooding was not related to latitude. Instead, nest flooding was best predicted by a combination of maximum high tide, extremity of rare flooding events, and date. For a single vital rate, we observed predictable variation in competing biotic and abiotic stressors across this species range. We observed that biotic and abiotic stressors were geographically independent, both on a large spatial scale and locally. Our results suggest that stressors on the fecundity of Saltmarsh Sparrow vary systematically across its range, but independently. The observed patterns of biotic and abiotic stress provide information for efforts to conserve the Saltmarsh Sparrow, which is considered threatened. Further, understanding the effects that different stressors, and their interactions, have on demographic rates is necessary to unravel the processes that govern species distributions and to effectively conserve biodiversity in the face of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine J. Ruskin
- Ecology and Environmental Sciences Program and Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
| | - Matthew A. Etterson
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Thomas P. Hodgman
- Bird Group, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bangor, Maine, USA
| | - Alyssa C. Borowske
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Conservation and Biodiversity, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jonathan B. Cohen
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Chris S. Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Conservation and Biodiversity, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Christopher R. Field
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Conservation and Biodiversity, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Rebecca A. Longenecker
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Erin King
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 5 Division of Natural Resources, Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, Westbrook, Connecticut, USA
| | - Alison R. Kocek
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Adrienne I. Kovach
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Kathleen M. O’Brien
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Wells, Maine, USA
| | - Nancy Pau
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA
| | - W. Gregory Shriver
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Jennifer Walsh
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Brian J. Olsen
- Ecology and Environmental Sciences Program and Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
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17
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Roberts SG, Longenecker RA, Etterson MA, Ruskin KJ, Elphick CS, Olsen BJ, Shriver WG. Factors that influence vital rates of Seaside and Saltmarsh sparrows in coastal New Jersey, USA. J Field Ornithol 2017; 88:115-131. [PMID: 29479129 PMCID: PMC5821267 DOI: 10.1111/jofo.12199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
As saltmarsh habitat continues to disappear, understanding the factors that influence saltmarsh breeding bird population dynamics is an important step for the conservation of these declining species. Using five years (2011 - 2015) of demographic data, we evaluated and compared Seaside (Ammodramus maritimus) and Saltmarsh (A. caudacutus) sparrow apparent adult survival and nest survival at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey, USA. We determined the effect of site management history (unditched vs. ditched marsh) on adult and nest survival to aid in prioritizing future management or restoration actions. Seaside Sparrow apparent adult survival (61.6%, 95% CI: 52.5 - 70.0%) averaged >1.5 times greater than Saltmarsh Sparrow apparent adult survival (39.9%, 95% CI: 34.0 - 46.2%). Nest survival and predation and flooding rates did not differ between species, and predation was the primary cause of failure for both species. Apparent adult survival and nest survival did not differ between unditched and ditched marshes for either species, indicating that marsh ditching history may not affect breeding habitat quality for these species. With predation as the primary cause of nest failure for both species in New Jersey, we suggest that future research should focus on identification of predator communities in salt marshes and the potential for implementing predator-control programs to limit population declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel G. Roberts
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, 251 Townsend Hall, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Rebecca A. Longenecker
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Regional Office, 300 Westgate Center Drive Hadley, Massachusetts 01035, USA
| | - Matthew A. Etterson
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, USA
| | - Katharine J. Ruskin
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Center for Conservation and Biodiversity, University of Connecticut and Institute of Biological Risk, 75 North Eagleville Road, U-43, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA
- School of Biology and Ecology and Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, 200 Clapp Greenhouse, Orono, Maine 04469, USA
| | - Chris S. Elphick
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Center for Conservation and Biodiversity, University of Connecticut and Institute of Biological Risk, 75 North Eagleville Road, U-43, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA
| | - Brian J. Olsen
- School of Biology and Ecology and Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, 200 Clapp Greenhouse, Orono, Maine 04469, USA
| | - W. Gregory Shriver
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, 251 Townsend Hall, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
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18
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Field CR, Bayard TS, Gjerdrum C, Hill JM, Meiman S, Elphick CS. High-resolution tide projections reveal extinction threshold in response to sea-level rise. Glob Chang Biol 2017; 23:2058-2070. [PMID: 27684043 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Sea-level rise will affect coastal species worldwide, but models that aim to predict these effects are typically based on simple measures of sea level that do not capture its inherent complexity, especially variation over timescales shorter than 1 year. Coastal species might be most affected, however, by floods that exceed a critical threshold. The frequency and duration of such floods may be more important to population dynamics than mean measures of sea level. In particular, the potential for changes in the frequency and duration of flooding events to result in nonlinear population responses or biological thresholds merits further research, but may require that models incorporate greater resolution in sea level than is typically used. We created population simulations for a threatened songbird, the saltmarsh sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus), in a region where sea level is predictable with high accuracy and precision. We show that incorporating the timing of semidiurnal high tide events throughout the breeding season, including how this timing is affected by mean sea-level rise, predicts a reproductive threshold that is likely to cause a rapid demographic shift. This shift is likely to threaten the persistence of saltmarsh sparrows beyond 2060 and could cause extinction as soon as 2035. Neither extinction date nor the population trajectory was sensitive to the emissions scenarios underlying sea-level projections, as most of the population decline occurred before scenarios diverge. Our results suggest that the variation and complexity of climate-driven variables could be important for understanding the potential responses of coastal species to sea-level rise, especially for species that rely on coastal areas for reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Field
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Conservation and Biodiversity, and Institute of Biological Risk, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Road, Unit 3043, Storrs, CT, 06269-3043, USA
| | - Trina S Bayard
- Audubon Washington, 5902 Lake Washington Blvd. S., Seattle, WA, 98118, USA
| | - Carina Gjerdrum
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, 45 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth, NS, B2Y 2N6, Canada
| | - Jason M Hill
- Vermont Center for Ecostudies, PO Box 420, Norwich, VT, 05055, USA
| | - Susan Meiman
- Institute for Wildlife Studies, 2327 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
| | - Chris S Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Conservation and Biodiversity, and Institute of Biological Risk, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Road, Unit 3043, Storrs, CT, 06269-3043, USA
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19
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Correll MD, Wiest WA, Hodgman TP, Shriver WG, Elphick CS, McGill BJ, O'Brien KM, Olsen BJ. Predictors of specialist avifaunal decline in coastal marshes. Conserv Biol 2017; 31:172-182. [PMID: 27542096 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Coastal marshes are one of the world's most productive ecosystems. Consequently, they have been heavily used by humans for centuries, resulting in ecosystem loss. Direct human modifications such as road crossings and ditches and climatic stressors such as sea-level rise and extreme storm events have the potential to further degrade the quantity and quality of marsh along coastlines. We used an 18-year marsh-bird database to generate population trends for 5 avian species (Rallus crepitans, Tringa semipalmata semipalmata, Ammodramus nelsonii subvirgatus, Ammodramus caudacutus, and Ammodramus maritimus) that breed almost exclusively in tidal marshes, and are potentially vulnerable to marsh degradation and loss as a result of anthropogenic change. We generated community and species trends across 3 spatial scales and explored possible drivers of the changes we observed, including marsh ditching, tidal restriction through road crossings, local rates of sea-level rise, and potential for extreme flooding events. The specialist community showed negative trends in tidally restricted marshes (-2.4% annually from 1998 to 2012) but was stable in unrestricted marshes across the same period. At the species level, we found negative population trends in 3 of the 5 specialist species, ranging from -4.2% to 9.0% annually. We suggest that tidal restriction may accelerate degradation of tidal marsh resilience to sea-level rise by limiting sediment supply necessary for marsh accretion, resulting in specialist habitat loss in tidally restricted marshes. Based on our findings, we predict a collapse of the global population of Saltmarsh Sparrows (A. caudacutus) within the next 50 years and suggest that immediate conservation action is needed to prevent extinction of this species. We also suggest mitigation actions to restore sediment supply to coastal marshes to help sustain this ecosystem into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen D Correll
- School of Biology and Ecology and Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, U.S.A
| | - Whitney A Wiest
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, U.S.A
| | - Thomas P Hodgman
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bangor, ME, 04401, U.S.A
| | - W Gregory Shriver
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, U.S.A
| | - Chris S Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Conservation and Biodiversity, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, U.S.A
| | - Brian J McGill
- School of Biology and Ecology and Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, U.S.A
| | - Kathleen M O'Brien
- Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Wells, ME, 04090, U.S.A
| | - Brian J Olsen
- School of Biology and Ecology and Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, U.S.A
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20
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Walsh J, Lovette IJ, Winder V, Elphick CS, Olsen BJ, Shriver G, Kovach AI. Subspecies delineation amid phenotypic, geographic and genetic discordance in a songbird. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:1242-1255. [PMID: 28100017 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the processes that drive divergence within and among species is a long-standing goal in evolutionary biology. Traditional approaches to assessing differentiation rely on phenotypes to identify intra- and interspecific variation, but many species express subtle morphological gradients in which boundaries among forms are unclear. This intraspecific variation may be driven by differential adaptation to local conditions and may thereby reflect the evolutionary potential within a species. Here, we combine genetic and morphological data to evaluate intraspecific variation within the Nelson's (Ammodramus nelsoni) and salt marsh (Ammodramus caudacutus) sparrow complex, a group with populations that span considerable geographic distributions and a habitat gradient. We evaluated genetic structure among and within five putative subspecies of A. nelsoni and A. caudacutus using a reduced-representation sequencing approach to generate a panel of 1929 SNPs among 69 individuals. Although we detected morphological differences among some groups, individuals sorted along a continuous phenotypic gradient. In contrast, the genetic data identified three distinct clusters corresponding to populations that inhabit coastal salt marsh, interior freshwater marsh and coastal brackish-water marsh habitats. These patterns support the current species-level recognition but do not match the subspecies-level taxonomy within each species-a finding which may have important conservation implications. We identified loci exhibiting patterns of elevated divergence among and within these species, indicating a role for local selective pressures in driving patterns of differentiation across the complex. We conclude that this evidence for adaptive variation among subspecies warrants the consideration of evolutionary potential and genetic novelty when identifying conservation units for this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Walsh
- Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Irby J Lovette
- Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Virginia Winder
- Department of Biology, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS, 66002, USA
| | - Chris S Elphick
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Brian J Olsen
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA
| | - Gregory Shriver
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Adrienne I Kovach
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
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21
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Correll MD, Wiest WA, Olsen BJ, Shriver WG, Elphick CS, Hodgman TP. Habitat specialization explains avian persistence in tidal marshes. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maureen D. Correll
- School of Biology and Ecology The University of Maine Orono Maine 04469 USA
| | - Whitney A. Wiest
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology The University of Delaware Newark Delaware 19716 USA
| | - Brian J. Olsen
- School of Biology and Ecology The University of Maine Orono Maine 04469 USA
| | - W. Gregory Shriver
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology The University of Delaware Newark Delaware 19716 USA
| | - Chris S. Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Center for Conservation and Biodiversity University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut 06269 USA
| | - Thomas P. Hodgman
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Bangor Maine 04401 USA
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22
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Ruskin KJ, Etterson MA, Hodgman TP, Borowske AC, Cohen JB, Elphick CS, Field CR, Kern RA, King E, Kocek AR, Kovach AI, O’Brien KM, Pau N, Shriver WG, Walsh J, Olsen BJ. Seasonal fecundity is not related to geographic position across a species’ global range despite a central peak in abundance. Oecologia 2016; 183:291-301. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3745-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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23
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Field CR, Gjerdrum C, Elphick CS. How does choice of statistical method to adjust counts for imperfect detection affect inferences about animal abundance? Methods Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R. Field
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Conservation and Biodiversity University of Connecticut 75 N. Eagleville Road Storrs CT 06269 USA
| | - Carina Gjerdrum
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Conservation and Biodiversity University of Connecticut 75 N. Eagleville Road Storrs CT 06269 USA
| | - Chris S. Elphick
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Conservation and Biodiversity University of Connecticut 75 N. Eagleville Road Storrs CT 06269 USA
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24
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Lee TE, Black SA, Fellous A, Yamaguchi N, Angelici FM, Al Hikmani H, Reed JM, Elphick CS, Roberts DL. Assessing uncertainty in sighting records: an example of the Barbary lion. PeerJ 2015; 3:e1224. [PMID: 26357597 PMCID: PMC4562256 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
As species become rare and approach extinction, purported sightings can be controversial, especially when scarce management resources are at stake. We consider the probability that each individual sighting of a series is valid. Obtaining these probabilities requires a strict framework to ensure that they are as accurately representative as possible. We used a process, which has proven to provide accurate estimates from a group of experts, to obtain probabilities for the validation of 32 sightings of the Barbary lion. We consider the scenario where experts are simply asked whether a sighting was valid, as well as asking them to score the sighting based on distinguishablity, observer competence, and verifiability. We find that asking experts to provide scores for these three aspects resulted in each sighting being considered more individually, meaning that this new questioning method provides very different estimated probabilities that a sighting is valid, which greatly affects the outcome from an extinction model. We consider linear opinion pooling and logarithm opinion pooling to combine the three scores, and also to combine opinions on each sighting. We find the two methods produce similar outcomes, allowing the user to focus on chosen features of each method, such as satisfying the marginalisation property or being externally Bayesian.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon A. Black
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK
| | - Amina Fellous
- Agence Nationale pour la Conservation de la Nature, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Nobuyuki Yamaguchi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Hadi Al Hikmani
- Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman
| | | | - Chris S. Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Conservation and Biodiversity, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - David L. Roberts
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris S. Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Conservation and Biodiversity; University of Connecticut; 75 North Eagleville Road U-3043, Storrs, CT 06269 U.S.A
| | - Susan Meiman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Conservation and Biodiversity; University of Connecticut; 75 North Eagleville Road U-3043, Storrs, CT 06269 U.S.A
- Present address: Institute for Wildlife Studies, 2327 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101, U.S.A
| | - Margaret A. Rubega
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Conservation and Biodiversity; University of Connecticut; 75 North Eagleville Road U-3043, Storrs, CT 06269 U.S.A
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26
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Lewis LR, Behling E, Gousse H, Qian E, Elphick CS, Lamarre JF, Bêty J, Liebezeit J, Rozzi R, Goffinet B. First evidence of bryophyte diaspores in the plumage of transequatorial migrant birds. PeerJ 2014; 2:e424. [PMID: 24949241 PMCID: PMC4060017 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Correlations between transequatorial migratory bird routes and bipolar biogeographic disjunctions in bryophytes suggest that disjunctions between northern and southern high latitude regions may result from bird-mediated dispersal; supporting evidence is, however, exclusively circumstantial. Birds disperse plant units (diaspores) internally via ingestion (endozoochory) or externally by the attachment of diaspores to the body (ectozoochory). Endozoochory is known to be the primary means of bird-mediated dispersal for seeds and invertebrates at local, regional, and continental scales. Data supporting the role of bird-mediated endozoochory or ectozoochory in the long distance dispersal of bryophytes remain sparse, however, despite the large number of bryophytes displaying bipolar disjunctions. To determine if transequatorial migrant shorebirds may play a role in the ectozoochory of bryophyte diaspores, we developed a method for screening feathers of wild birds. We provide the first evidence of microscopic bryophyte diaspores, as well as those from non-bryophyte lineages, embedded in the plumage of long distance transequatorial migrant birds captured in their arctic breeding grounds. The number of diaspores recovered suggests that entire migratory populations may be departing their northern breeding grounds laden with potentially viable plant parts and that they could thereby play significant roles in bipolar range expansions of lineages previously ignored in the migrant bird dispersal literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily R Lewis
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut , Storrs, CT , USA
| | - Emily Behling
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut , Storrs, CT , USA
| | - Hannah Gousse
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut , Storrs, CT , USA
| | - Emily Qian
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut , Storrs, CT , USA
| | - Chris S Elphick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut , Storrs, CT , USA
| | - Jean-François Lamarre
- Centre d'Études Nordiques et Département de Biologie, Université du Québec à Rimouski , Québec , Canada
| | - Joël Bêty
- Centre d'Études Nordiques et Département de Biologie, Université du Québec à Rimouski , Québec , Canada
| | | | - Ricardo Rozzi
- Omora Ethnobotanical Park , Puerto Williams, Antarctic Province , Chile ; Department of Philosophy, University of North Texas , Denton, TX , USA
| | - Bernard Goffinet
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut , Storrs, CT , USA
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28
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Abstract
Studies of avian area sensitivity have been prolific over the last 3 decades, yet general conclusions about the phenomenon are lacking. We undertook a systematic literature review to determine how widespread area sensitivity is; whether published information is biased toward certain geographic regions, habitat types, or taxonomic groups; whether the nature of area effects varies with respect to these criteria; and whether tests of area effects for individual species produce consistent results. Analysis of over 2700 area sensitivity tests, from more than 870 species, indicated the phenomenon is widespread across regions, habitats, and taxonomic groups, but that significant biases in research focus exist. North American forest habitats and Passeriformes (especially Fringillidae, Regulidae, and Paridae) are disproportionately represented in the literature. Detection of area effects was more common in tests of occurrence (47%) than in those for abundance (25%) and varied significantly among regions, habitats, and taxonomic groups. Inconsistent results for species studied multiple times and between tests of occurrence and abundance were common. These results suggest a need for future research to focus more on why area sensitivity patterns differ among studies and less on simple pattern description.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trina S Bayard
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3043, USA.
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Abstract
As species become very rare and approach extinction, purported sightings can stir controversy, especially when scarce management resources are at stake. We used quantitative methods to identify reports that do not fit prior sighting patterns. We also examined the effects of including records that meet different evidentiary standards on quantitative extinction assessments for four charismatic bird species that might be extinct: Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis), Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), Nukupu'u (Hemignathus lucidus), and O'ahu 'Alauahio (Paroreomyza maculata). For all four species the probability of there being a valid sighting today, given the past pattern of verified sightings, was estimated to be very low. The estimates of extinction dates and the chance of new sightings, however, differed considerably depending on the criteria used for data inclusion. When a historical sighting record lacked long periods without sightings, the likelihood of new sightings declined quickly with time since the last confirmed sighting. For species with this type of historical record, therefore, new reports should meet an especially high burden of proof to be acceptable. Such quantitative models could be incorporated into the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List criteria to set evidentiary standards required for unconfirmed sightings of "possibly extinct" species and to standardize extinction assessments across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Roberts
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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Vogel RM, Hosking JRM, Elphick CS, Roberts DL, Reed JM. Goodness of Fit of Probability Distributions for Sightings as Species Approach Extinction. Bull Math Biol 2009; 71:701-19. [DOI: 10.1007/s11538-008-9377-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2008] [Accepted: 11/24/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Abstract
We reanalyzed video presented as confirmation that an ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) persists in Arkansas (Fitzpatrick et al., Reports, 3 June 2005, p. 1460). None of the features described as diagnostic of the ivory-billed woodpecker eliminate a normal pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus). Although we support efforts to find and protect ivory-billed woodpeckers, the video evidence does not demonstrate that the species persists in the United States.
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Sibley DA, Bevier LR, Patten MA, Elphick CS. Response to Comment on "Ivory-billed Woodpecker (
Campephilus principalis
) Persists in Continental North America". Science 2006; 311:1555; author reply 1555. [PMID: 16543443 DOI: 10.1126/science.1123581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
We reanalyzed video presented as confirmation that an ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) persists in Arkansas (Fitzpatrick et al., Reports, 3 June 2005, p. 1460). None of the features described as diagnostic of the ivory-billed woodpecker eliminate a normal pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus). Although we support efforts to find and protect ivory-billed woodpeckers, the video evidence does not demonstrate that the species persists in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris S. Elphick
- Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology/186, University of Nevada, Reno, 1000 Valley Road, Reno, NV 89512, USA
| | - Lewis W. Oring
- Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology/186, University of Nevada, Reno, 1000 Valley Road, Reno, NV 89512, USA
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