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Gallegos C, Hodgins KA, Monro K. Temperature and sex shape reproductive barriers in a climate change hotspot. Evolution 2024; 78:906-918. [PMID: 38332537 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpae012] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is altering species ranges and reproductive interactions in existing ranges, offering species new scope to mate and hybridize. The outcomes will depend on how environmental factors shape reproductive barriers across life stages, yet this is rarely assessed across the environments that species encounter in nature. We assess prezygotic and postzygotic barriers, and their dependence on temperature and parental sex, in species of a reef-building tubeworm (Galeolaria) from a fast-warming biodiversity hotspot in southern Australia. By replicating pure and reciprocal hybrid crosses across 5 temperatures spanning species' thermal ranges, we estimate thermal tolerance curves (defining niches) for crosses and reproductive isolation at each temperature. By also replicating crosses at 3 life stages, we partition the contributions of prezygotic barriers at fertilization, postzygotic barriers at embryogenesis, and postzygotic barriers at larval development to reproductive isolation. We show that barriers are weaker at fertilization and embryogenesis, but stronger and more temperature sensitive at larval development, as species diverge in thermal niche. Asymmetry of barriers between parental sexes, moreover, suggests a complex interplay between niche differentiation and maternal inheritance. Our findings point to a key role for temperature in reproductive isolation, but also challenges for predicting the fate of isolation in future climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristóbal Gallegos
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kathryn A Hodgins
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Keyne Monro
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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2
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Camerlenghi E, Nolazco S, Farine DR, Magrath RD, Peters A. Social restructuring during harsh environmental conditions promotes cooperative behaviour in a songbird. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232427. [PMID: 38628131 PMCID: PMC11022012 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2427] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Cooperation may emerge from intrinsic factors such as social structure and extrinsic factors such as environmental conditions. Although these factors might reinforce or counteract each other, their interaction remains unexplored in animal populations. Studies on multilevel societies suggest a link between social structure, environmental conditions and individual investment in cooperative behaviours. These societies exhibit flexible social configurations, with stable groups that overlap and associate hierarchically. Structure can be seasonal, with upper-level units appearing only during specific seasons, and lower-level units persisting year-round. This offers an opportunity to investigate how cooperation relates to social structure and environmental conditions. Here, we study the seasonal multilevel society of superb fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus), observing individual responses to experimental playback of conspecific distress calls. Individuals engaged more in helping behaviour and less in aggressive/territorial song during the harsher non-breeding season compared to the breeding season. The increase in cooperation was greater for breeding group members than for members of the same community, the upper social unit, comprised of distinct breeding groups in association. Results suggest that the interaction between social structure and environmental conditions drives the seasonal switch in cooperation, supporting the hypothesis that multilevel societies can emerge to increase cooperation during harsh environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ettore Camerlenghi
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Behavioural Ecology, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Sergio Nolazco
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Damien R. Farine
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Collective Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 46 Sullivan's Creek Road, Canberra 2600, Australia
| | - Robert D. Magrath
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 46 Sullivan's Creek Road, Canberra 2600, Australia
| | - Anne Peters
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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3
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Brown AO, Green PJ, Frankham GJ, Stuart BH, Ueland M. Correction to "Insights into the Effects of Violating Statistical Assumptions for Dimensionality Reduction for Chemical "-omics" Data with Multiple Explanatory Variables". ACS Omega 2024; 9:15724. [PMID: 38585083 PMCID: PMC10993263 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c01126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c01613.].
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber O. Brown
- Australian
Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney 2001, NSW, Australia
- Centre
for Forensic Science, University of Technology
Sydney, Ultimo 2007, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter J. Green
- University
of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UG, U.K.
- University
of Technology Sydney, Ultimo 2007, NSW, Australia
| | - Greta J. Frankham
- Australian
Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney 2001, NSW, Australia
- Centre
for Forensic Science, University of Technology
Sydney, Ultimo 2007, NSW, Australia
| | - Barbara H. Stuart
- Centre
for Forensic Science, University of Technology
Sydney, Ultimo 2007, NSW, Australia
| | - Maiken Ueland
- Centre
for Forensic Science, University of Technology
Sydney, Ultimo 2007, NSW, Australia
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4
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Fernandes K, Bateman PW, Saunders BJ, Gibberd M, Bunce M, Bohmann K, Nevill P. Analysing the effects of distance, taxon and biomass on vertebrate detections using bulk-collected carrion fly iDNA. R Soc Open Sci 2024; 11:231286. [PMID: 38577218 PMCID: PMC10987983 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231286] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) metabarcoding from carrion flies is a powerful, non-invasive tool that has value for assessing vertebrate diversity. However, unknowns exist around the factors that influence vertebrate detections, such as spatial limits to iDNA signals or if detections are influenced by taxonomic class or estimated biomass of the vertebrates of interest. Using a bulk-collection method, we captured flies from within a zoo and along transects extending 4 km away from this location. From 920 flies, we detected 28 vertebrate species. Of the 28 detected species, we identified 9 species kept at the zoo, 8 mammals and 1 bird, but no reptiles. iDNA detections were highly geographically localized, and only a few zoo animals were detected outside the zoo setting. However, due to the low number of detections in our dataset, we found no influence of the taxonomic group or the estimated biomass of animals on their detectability. Our data suggest that iDNA detections from bulk-collected carrion flies, at least in urban settings in Australia, are predominantly determined by geographic proximity to the sampling location. This study presents an important step in understanding how iDNA techniques can be used in biodiversity monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Fernandes
- Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
- Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Food Agility CRC Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales2000, Australia
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin9016, New Zealand
| | - Philip W. Bateman
- Behavioural Ecology Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
- MBioMe - Mine Site Biomonitoring using eDNA Research Group, Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
| | - Benjamin J. Saunders
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
| | - Mark Gibberd
- Food Agility CRC Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales2000, Australia
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
| | - Michael Bunce
- Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
- Environmental Science and Research (ESR), Porirua5022, New Zealand
| | - Kristine Bohmann
- Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paul Nevill
- MBioMe - Mine Site Biomonitoring using eDNA Research Group, Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia6102, Australia
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5
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Speechley EM, Ashton BJ, Thornton A, Simmons LW, Ridley AR. Heritability of cognitive performance in wild Western Australian magpies. R Soc Open Sci 2024; 11:231399. [PMID: 38481983 PMCID: PMC10933533 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231399] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Individual differences in cognitive performance can have genetic, social and environmental components. Most research on the heritability of cognitive traits comes from humans or captive non-human animals, while less attention has been given to wild populations. Western Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen dorsalis, hereafter magpies) show phenotypic variation in cognitive performance, which affects reproductive success. Despite high levels of individual repeatability, we do not know whether cognitive performance is heritable in this species. Here, we quantify the broad-sense heritability of associative learning ability in a wild population of Western Australian magpies. Specifically, we explore whether offspring associative learning performance is predicted by maternal associative learning performance or by the social environment (group size) when tested at three time points during the first year of life. We found little evidence that offspring associative learning performance is heritable, with an estimated broad-sense heritability of just -0.046 ± 0.084 (confidence interval: -0.234/0.140). However, complementing previous findings, we find that at 300 days post-fledging, individuals raised in larger groups passed the test in fewer trials compared with individuals from small groups. Our results highlight the pivotal influence of the social environment on cognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. Speechley
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Benjamin J. Ashton
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Alex Thornton
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, PenrynTR10 9FE, UK
| | - Leigh W. Simmons
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Amanda R. Ridley
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
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Teunissen N, Fan M, Roast MJ, Hidalgo Aranzamendi N, Kingma SA, Peters A. Best of both worlds? Helpers in a cooperative fairy-wren assist most to breeding pairs that comprise a potential mate and a relative. R Soc Open Sci 2023; 10:231342. [PMID: 38026024 PMCID: PMC10646452 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231342] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
In cooperative breeders, individuals forego independent reproduction and help others raise offspring. Helping is proposed to be driven by indirect benefits from raising relatives, and/or direct benefits from raising additional recruits or helping itself. We propose that consideration of social context is also important, in particular the characteristics of the breeding pair: helping may also serve to lighten the workload of-or maintain social bonds with-breeders (e.g. kin, potential mates) who in turn can offer benefits to helpers (e.g. prolonged nepotism, future mating, future production of relatives). Here, we test this hypothesis, while controlling for potential direct and indirect benefits from raising offspring, in purple-crowned fairy-wrens (Malurus coronatus) exhibiting variation in social group composition, and thus, breeder value. We show that helper provisioning rates to the nest were explained by characteristics of breeders that helpers assisted, rather than benefits from raising offspring. The presence of at least one related breeder was a prerequisite to help, but helpers provisioned most if assisting a relative and potential mate. Neglecting to take group composition into account would have led to misinterpretation of our results. A comprehensive understanding of the evolution of cooperative breeding hence requires nuanced consideration of social context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki Teunissen
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marie Fan
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael J. Roast
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Sjouke A. Kingma
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anne Peters
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Encel SA, Simpson EK, Schaerf TM, Ward AJW. Immune challenge affects reproductive behaviour in the guppy ( Poecilia reticulata). R Soc Open Sci 2023; 10:230579. [PMID: 37564068 PMCID: PMC10410201 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230579] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Immunocompetence and reproduction are among the most important determinants of fitness. However, energetic and metabolic constraints create conflict between these two life-history traits. While many studies have explored the relationship between immune activity and reproductive fitness in birds and mammals inoculated with bacterial endotoxin, very few have focused on fish. Fish have been neglected in this area due, in part, to the claim that they are largely resistant to the immune effects of endotoxins. However, the present study suggests that they are susceptible to significant effects with respect to reproductive behaviour. Here, we examined the reproductive behaviour of male guppies following exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in comparison to that of male guppies in a control treatment. Additionally, we investigated the responses of females to these males. We show that although immune challenge does not suppress general activity in male guppies, it significantly reduces mating effort. While females showed no difference in general activity as a function of male treatments, they did exhibit reduced group cohesion in the presence of LPS-exposed males. We discuss this in the context of sickness behaviours, social avoidance of immune-challenged individuals and the effects of mounting an immune response on reproductive behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella A. Encel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2006, Australia
| | - Emily K. Simpson
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2006, Australia
| | - Timothy M. Schaerf
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2006, Australia
| | - Ashley J. W. Ward
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2006, Australia
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8
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Brown AO, Green PJ, Frankham GJ, Stuart BH, Ueland M. Insights into the Effects of Violating Statistical Assumptions for Dimensionality Reduction for Chemical "-omics" Data with Multiple Explanatory Variables. ACS Omega 2023; 8:22042-22054. [PMID: 37360494 PMCID: PMC10286096 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c01613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Biological volatilome analysis is inherently complex due to the considerable number of compounds (i.e., dimensions) and differences in peak areas by orders of magnitude, between and within compounds found within datasets. Traditional volatilome analysis relies on dimensionality reduction techniques which aid in the selection of compounds that are considered relevant to respective research questions prior to further analysis. Currently, compounds of interest are identified using either supervised or unsupervised statistical methods which assume the data residuals are normally distributed and exhibit linearity. However, biological data often violate the statistical assumptions of these models related to normality and the presence of multiple explanatory variables which are innate to biological samples. In an attempt to address deviations from normality, volatilome data can be log transformed. However, whether the effects of each assessed variable are additive or multiplicative should be considered prior to transformation, as this will impact the effect of each variable on the data. If assumptions of normality and variable effects are not investigated prior to dimensionality reduction, ineffective or erroneous compound dimensionality reduction can impact downstream analyses. It is the aim of this manuscript to assess the impact of single and multivariable statistical models with and without the log transformation to volatilome dimensionality reduction prior to any supervised or unsupervised classification analysis. As a proof of concept, Shingleback lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) volatilomes were collected across their species distribution and from captivity and were assessed. Shingleback volatilomes are suspected to be influenced by multiple explanatory variables related to habitat (Bioregion), sex, parasite presence, total body volume, and captive status. This work determined that the exclusion of relevant multiple explanatory variables from analysis overestimates the effect of Bioregion and the identification of significant compounds. The log transformation increased the number of compounds that were identified as significant, as did analyses that assumed that residuals were normally distributed. Among the methods considered in this work, the most conservative form of dimensionality reduction was achieved through analyzing untransformed data using Monte Carlo tests with multiple explanatory variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber O. Brown
- Australian
Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney 2001, NSW, Australia
- Centre
for Forensic Science, University of Technology
Sydney, Ultimo 2007, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter J. Green
- University
of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UG, U.K.
- University
of Technology Sydney, Ultimo 2007, NSW, Australia
| | - Greta J. Frankham
- Australian
Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney 2001, NSW, Australia
- Centre
for Forensic Science, University of Technology
Sydney, Ultimo 2007, NSW, Australia
| | - Barbara H. Stuart
- Australian
Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney 2001, NSW, Australia
| | - Maiken Ueland
- Australian
Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney 2001, NSW, Australia
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Bergman JL, Ricci F, Leggat W, Ainsworth TD. Characteristics of The Bleached Microbiome of The Generalist Coral Pocillopora Damicornis from Two Distinct Reef Habitats. Integr Org Biol 2023; 5:obad012. [PMID: 37122591 PMCID: PMC10084919 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obad012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Generalist coral species may play an important role in predicting, managing, and responding to the growing coral reef crisis as sea surface temperatures are rising and reef-wide bleaching events are becoming more common. Pocilloporids are amongst the most widely distributed and studied of generalist corals, characterised by a broad geographic distribution, phenotypic plasticity, and tolerance of sub-optimal conditions for coral recruitment and survival. Emerging research indicates that microbial communities associated with Pocilloporid corals may be contributing to their persistence on coral reefs impacted by thermal stress, however, we lack detailed information on shifts in the coral-bacterial symbiosis during bleaching events across many of the reef habitats these corals are found. Here we characterized the bacterial communities of healthy and bleached Pocillopora damicornis corals during the bleaching events that occurred during the austral summer of 2020 on Heron Island, on the southern Great Barrier Reef, and the austral summer of 2019 on Lord Howe Island, the most southerly coral reef in Australia. Regardless of reef location, significant differences in α and β diversity, core bacterial community, and inferred functional profile of the bleached microbiome of P. damicornis were not detected. Consistent with previous reports, patterns in the Pocilloporid coral microbiome, including no increase in pathogenic taxa or evidence of dysbiosis, are conserved during bleaching responses. We hypothesize that the resilience of holobiont interactions may aid the Pocilloporids to survive Symbiodiniaceae loss and contribute to the success of Pocilloporids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - F Ricci
- Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052,Australia
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010Australia
| | - W Leggat
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308,Australia
| | - T D Ainsworth
- Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052,Australia
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Syme J, Kiszka JJ, Parra GJ. Habitat partitioning, co-occurrence patterns, and mixed-species group formation in sympatric delphinids. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3599. [PMID: 36869065 PMCID: PMC9984456 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30694-w] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous species have been reported to form mixed-species groups, however, little is known about the interplay between niche partitioning and mixed-species group formation. Furthermore, it is often unclear whether species come together by chance due to overlapping habitat preferences, by shared attraction to resources, or by attraction between them. We assessed habitat partitioning, co-occurrence patterns, and mixed-species group formation of sympatric Australian humpback (Sousa sahulensis) and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) around the North West Cape, Western Australia, with a joint species distribution model and temporal analyses of sighting data. Australian humpback dolphins preferred shallower and more nearshore waters than Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, yet these species co-occurred more often than expected by chance given shared responses to environmental variables. Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins were sighted more often than Australian humpback dolphins during the afternoon, however, we did not find any temporal patterns in the occurrence of mixed-species groups. We propose that the positive association in the species' occurrence indicates the active formation of mixed-species groups. By evaluating habitat partitioning and co-occurrence patterns, this study provides direction for future work which should proceed to investigate the benefits that these species may gain from grouping with each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Syme
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
| | - Jeremy J Kiszka
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Guido J Parra
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Andres SE, Emery NJ, Rymer PD, Powell JR. Soil chemistry and fungal communities are associated with dieback in an Endangered Australian shrub. Plant Soil 2023; 483:47-70. [PMID: 36211803 PMCID: PMC9525234 DOI: 10.1007/s11104-022-05724-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Field surveys across known populations of the Endangered Persoonia hirsuta (Proteaceae) in 2019 suggested the soil environment may be associated with dieback in this species. To explore how characteristics of the soil environment (e.g., pathogens, nutrients, soil microbes) relate to dieback, a soil bioassay (Experiment 1) was conducted using field soils from two dieback effected P. hirsuta populations. Additionally, a nitrogen addition experiment (Experiment 2) was conducted to explore how the addition of soil nitrogen impacts dieback. METHODS The field soils were baited for pathogens, and soil physiochemical and microbial community characteristics were assessed and related to dieback among plants in the field and nursery-grown plants inoculated with the same field soils. Roots from inoculated plants were harvested to confirm the presence of soil pathogens and root-associated endophytes. Using these isolates, a dual culture antagonism assay was performed to examine competition among these microbes and identify candidate pathogens or pathogen antagonists. RESULTS Dieback among plants in the field and Experiment 1 was associated with soil physiochemical properties (nitrogen and potassium), and soil microbes were identified as significant indicators of healthy and dieback-affected plants. Plants in Experiment 2 exhibited greater dieback when treated with elevated nitrogen. Additionally, post-harvest culturing identified fungi and other soil pathogens, some of which exhibited antagonistic behavior. CONCLUSION This study identified candidate fungi and soil physiochemical properties associated with observed dieback and dieback resistance in an Endangered shrub and provides groundwork for further exploring what drives dieback and how it can be managed to promote the conservation of wild populations. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11104-022-05724-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha E. Andres
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Richmond, New South Wales 2753 Australia
| | - Nathan J. Emery
- The Australian PlantBank, Australian Botanic Garden, Australian Institute of Botanical Science, Mount Annan, New South Wales 2567 Australia
| | - Paul D. Rymer
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Richmond, New South Wales 2753 Australia
| | - Jeff R. Powell
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Richmond, New South Wales 2753 Australia
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Smith KJ, Evans MJ, Gordon IJ, Pierson JC, Stratford S, Manning AD. Mini Safe Havens for population recovery and reintroductions 'beyond-the-fence'. Biodivers Conserv 2022; 32:203-225. [PMID: 36405571 PMCID: PMC9652606 DOI: 10.1007/s10531-022-02495-6] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED In response to the ongoing decline of fauna worldwide, there has been growing interest in the rewilding of whole ecosystems outside of fenced sanctuaries or offshore islands. This interest will inevitably result in attempts to restore species where eliminating threats from predators and competitors is extremely challenging or impossible, or reintroductions of predators that will increase predation risk for extant prey (i.e., coexistence conservation). We propose 'Mini Safe Havens' (MSHs) as a potential tool for managing these threats. Mini Safe Havens are refuges that are permanently permeable to the focal species; allowing the emigration of individuals while maintaining gene flow through the boundary. Crucial to the effectiveness of the approach is the ongoing maintenance and monitoring required to preserve a low-to-zero risk of key threats within the MSH; facilitating in-situ learning and adaptation by focal species to these threats, at a rate and intensity of exposure determined by the animals themselves. We trialled the MSH approach for a pilot reintroduction of the Australian native New Holland mouse (Pseudomys novaehollandiae), in the context of a trophic rewilding project to address potential naïveté to a reintroduced native mammalian predator. We found that mice released into a MSH maintained their weight and continued to use the release site beyond 17 months (525 days) post-release. In contrast, individuals in temporary soft-release enclosures tended to lose weight and became undetectable approximately 1-month post-release. We discuss the broad applicability of MSHs for population recovery and reintroductions 'beyond-the-fence' and recommend avenues for further refinement of the approach. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10531-022-02495-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiarrah J. Smith
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Maldwyn J. Evans
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
- Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Iain J. Gordon
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
- The James Hutton Institute, Dundee, DD2 5DA UK
- Central Queensland University, Townsville, QLD 4810 Australia
- Land and Water, CSIRO, Townsville, QLD 4810 Australia
- Lead, Protected Places Mission, National Environmental Science Program, Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Cairns, QLD 4870 Australia
| | - Jennifer C. Pierson
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Subiaco East, WA 6008 Australia
- Centre for Conservation Ecology and Genomics, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2617 Australia
| | | | - Adrian D. Manning
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
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Contador-Kelsall I, Maute K, Story P, Hose GC, French K. Sublethal pesticide exposure influences behaviour, but not condition in a widespread Australian lizard. Conserv Physiol 2022; 10:coac024. [PMID: 35492410 PMCID: PMC9040277 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac024] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Assessment of non-target impacts of pesticides used widely in agriculture and pest management rarely considers reptiles. Despite their integral role in all ecosystems, particularly arid ecosystems, reptiles are not included in risk assessments. Two pesticides used in agricultural pest management are fipronil and fenitrothion. Here, we used a field-based BACI design experiment in semi-arid Australia to investigate the impact of these pesticides on basic physiological and behavioural parameters of a common arid-zone lizard species, Pogona vitticeps. Fipronil and fenitrothion were applied at ecologically relevant doses via oral gavage. Before and after dosing, blood, physical activity and body condition parameters were assessed. We found that temperature significantly influenced lizard activity in the morning period of movement; however, fipronil-treated individuals moved at least 49% less than fenitrothion-treated and control lizards from 7 days after dosing through to the end of the experiment. Physiological measures did not change significantly before or after exposure to both pesticides; however, other indicators showed evidence of exposure, which remained for the entirety of our monitoring period. On average, cholinesterase inhibition was still >30% compared with control lizards at the end of 4 weeks, and fipronil sulfone blood residues remained at 0.219 μg/ml. Our study provides novel insights into the impacts that common pesticides have on widespread lizard species. We show that an ecologically relevant low dose of fipronil alters the behaviour of P. vitticeps, which has the potential to impact longer-term survivability. Persistence of both pesticides in the blood of all treatment lizards throughout the experiment indicates they are unable to clear these toxins within a month of being exposed. This may be significant for compounding exposure and latent toxicity. These findings highlight the susceptibility that reptiles have to a selection of common pesticides and the inherent need for higher prominence in wildlife ecotoxicological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Contador-Kelsall
- Corresponding author: School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, 2522 New South Wales, Australia. E-mail:
| | - Kimberly Maute
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, 2522 New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul Story
- Australian Plague Locust Commission, Unit 7, 50 Collie St, Fyshwick ACT 2609 Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Grant C Hose
- Faculty of Science & Engineering, 14 Sir Christopher Ondaatje Ave, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109 New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kristine French
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, 2522 New South Wales, Australia
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14
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Sayers TDJ, Johnson KL, Steinbauer MJ, Farnier K, Miller RE. Divergence in floral scent and morphology, but not thermogenic traits, associated with pollinator shift in two brood-site-mimicking Typhonium (Araceae) species. Ann Bot 2021; 128:261-280. [PMID: 33758905 PMCID: PMC8389470 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcab044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Flowers which imitate insect oviposition sites probably represent the most widespread form of floral mimicry, exhibit the most diverse floral signals and are visited by two of the most speciose and advanced taxa of insect - beetles and flies. Detailed comparative studies on brood-site mimics pollinated exclusively by each of these insect orders are lacking, limiting our understanding of floral trait adaptation to different pollinator groups in these deceptive systems. METHODS Two closely related and apparent brood-site mimics, Typhonium angustilobum and T. wilbertii (Araceae) observed to trap these distinct beetle and fly pollinator groups were used to investigate potential divergence in floral signals and traits most likely to occur under pollinator-mediated selection. Trapped pollinators were identified and their relative abundances enumerated, and thermogenic, visual and chemical signals and morphological traits were examined using thermocouples and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, reflectance, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, floral measurements and microscopy. KEY RESULTS Typhonium angustilobum and T. wilbertii were functionally specialized to trap saprophagous Coleoptera and Diptera, respectively. Both species shared similar colour and thermogenic traits, and contained two highly homologous AOX genes (AOX1a and AOX1b) most expressed in the thermogenic tissue and stage (unlike pUCP). Scent during the pistillate stage differed markedly - T. angustilobum emitted a complex blend of sesquiterpenes, and T. wilbertii, a dung mimic, emitted high relative amounts of skatole, p-cresol and irregular terpenes. The species differed significantly in floral morphology related to trapping mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS Functional specialization and pollinator divergence were not associated with differences in anthesis rhythm and floral thermogenic or visual signals between species, but with significant differences in floral scent and morphological features, suggesting that these floral traits are critical for the attraction and filtering of beetle or fly pollinators in these two brood-site mimics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D J Sayers
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 500 Yarra Blvd, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia
| | - Kim L Johnson
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Martin J Steinbauer
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Kevin Farnier
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
- Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Agriculture Victoria, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Rebecca E Miller
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 500 Yarra Blvd, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia
- Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, South Yarra, VIC, 3141, Australia
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15
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Collette JC, Ooi MKJ. Distribution of seed dormancy classes across a fire-prone continent: effects of rainfall seasonality and temperature. Ann Bot 2021; 127:613-620. [PMID: 33283853 PMCID: PMC8052917 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcaa203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Different seed dormancy classes control the timing of germination via different cues. The ecological dissimilarities between classes therefore suggest that they are likely to be subject to different selective pressures, and that species within each class will have diverse functional responses. We aimed to investigate this by assessing how variation in the distribution of dormancy classes is correlated with regional environmental factors, in particular rainfall seasonality and temperature. Additionally, we compare the relative proportions of species with physiological (PD) or physical (PY) dormancy to assess whether dormancy class influences their ability to persist under different rainfall seasonality regimes. METHODS Dormancy class was assigned for 3990 species from 281 genera occurring across two climate regions, with either winter or aseasonal rainfall, across temperate fire-prone Australia. All regions have similar vegetation and fire regimes. Using a Bayesian framework, we compared the distribution of dormancy classes across temperature and rainfall climate gradients, for threatened and common species. KEY RESULTS A high dormant:non-dormant species ratio highlighted the critical role of dormancy across our study regions. Critically, species showing PD were more likely to be threatened in aseasonal rainfall climate regions. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the assumption that dormancy is favoured in environments with stochastic disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin C Collette
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Australian PlantBank, Australian Institute of Botanical Science, Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan NSW, Australia
- NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub, NSW, Australia
| | - Mark K J Ooi
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub, NSW, Australia
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16
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Ritmejerytė E, Boughton BA, Bayly MJ, Miller RE. Unique and highly specific cyanogenic glycoside localization in stigmatic cells and pollen in the genus Lomatia (Proteaceae). Ann Bot 2020; 126:387-400. [PMID: 32157299 PMCID: PMC7424758 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcaa038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Floral chemical defence strategies remain understudied despite the significance of flowers to plant fitness, and the fact that many flowers contain secondary metabolites that confer resistance to herbivores. Optimal defence and apparency theories predict that the most apparent plant parts and/or those most important to fitness should be most defended. To test whether within-flower distributions of chemical defence are consistent with these theories we used cyanogenic glycosides (CNglycs), which are constitutive defence metabolites that deter herbivores by releasing hydrogen cyanide upon hydrolysis. METHODS We used cyanogenic florets of the genus Lomatia to investigate at what scale there may be strategic allocation of CNglycs in flowers, what their localization reveals about function, and whether levels of floral CNglycs differ between eight congeneric species across a climatic gradient. Within-flower distributions of CNglycs during development were quantified, CNglycs were identified and their localization was visualized in cryosectioned florets using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). KEY RESULTS Florets of all congeneric species studied were cyanogenic, and concentrations differed between species. Within florets there was substantial variation in CNglyc concentrations, with extremely high concentrations (up to 14.6 mg CN g-1 d. wt) in pollen and loose, specialized surface cells on the pollen presenter, among the highest concentrations reported in plant tissues. Two tyrosine-derived CNglycs, the monoglycoside dhurrin and diglycoside proteacin, were identified. MALDI-MSI revealed their varying ratios in different floral tissues; proteacin was primarily localized to anthers and ovules, and dhurrin to specialized cells on the pollen presenter. The mix of transient specialized cells and pollen of L. fraxinifolia was ~11 % dhurrin and ~1.1 % proteacin by mass. CONCLUSIONS Tissue-specific distributions of two CNglycs and substantial variation in their concentrations within florets suggests their allocation is under strong selection. Localized, high CNglyc concentrations in transient cells challenge the predictions of defence theories, and highlight the importance of fine-scale metabolite visualization, and the need for further investigation into the ecological and metabolic roles of CNglycs in floral tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edita Ritmejerytė
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Richmond, Victoria, Australia
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- For correspondence. E-mail
| | - Berin A Boughton
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Metabolomics Australia, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael J Bayly
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rebecca E Miller
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Richmond, Victoria, Australia
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17
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Bonner MTL, Allen DE, Brackin R, Smith TE, Lewis T, Shoo LP, Schmidt S. Tropical Rainforest Restoration Plantations Are Slow to Restore the Soil Biological and Organic Carbon Characteristics of Old Growth Rainforest. Microb Ecol 2020; 79:432-442. [PMID: 31372686 PMCID: PMC7033081 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-019-01414-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Widespread and continuing losses of tropical old-growth forests imperil global biodiversity and alter global carbon (C) cycling. Soil organic carbon (SOC) typically declines with land use change from old-growth forest, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Ecological restoration plantations offer an established means of restoring aboveground biomass, structure and diversity of forests, but their capacity to recover the soil microbial community and SOC is unknown due to limited empirical data and consensus on the mechanisms of SOC formation. Here, we examine soil microbial community response and SOC in tropical rainforest restoration plantings, comparing them with the original old-growth forest and the previous land use (pasture). Two decades post-reforestation, we found a statistically significant but small increase in SOC in the fast-turnover particulate C fraction. Although the δ13C signature of the more stable humic organic C (HOC) fraction indicated a significant compositional turnover in reforested soils, from C4 pasture-derived C to C3 forest-derived C, this did not translate to HOC gains compared with the pasture baseline. Matched old-growth rainforest soils had significantly higher concentrations of HOC than pasture and reforested soils, and soil microbial enzyme efficiency and the ratio of gram-positive to gram-negative bacteria followed the same pattern. Restoration plantings had unique soil microbial composition and function, distinct from baseline pasture but not converging on target old growth rainforest within the examined timeframe. Our results suggest that tropical reforestation efforts could benefit from management interventions beyond re-establishing tree cover to realize the ambition of early recovery of soil microbial communities and stable SOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark T L Bonner
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90736, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Diane E Allen
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
- Department of Environment and Science, Brisbane, Queensland, 4001, Australia
| | - Richard Brackin
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Tim E Smith
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland Government, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, 4556, Australia
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, 4556, Australia
| | - Tom Lewis
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland Government, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, 4556, Australia
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, 4556, Australia
| | - Luke P Shoo
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Susanne Schmidt
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
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18
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Buelow CA, Reside AE, Baker R, Sheaves M. Stable isotopes reveal opportunistic foraging in a spatiotemporally heterogeneous environment: Bird assemblages in mangrove forests. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206145. [PMID: 30439959 PMCID: PMC6237324 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental heterogeneity can foster opportunistic foraging by mobile species, resulting in generalized resource and habitat use. Determining species' food web roles is important to fully understand how ecosystems function, and stable isotopes can provide insight into the foraging ecology of bird assemblages. We investigated flexibility of food choice in mangrove bird assemblages of northeast Australia by determining whether species' carbon and nitrogen isotopic values corresponded to foraging group classification described in the literature, such as groups of species that are omnivorous or insectivorous. Subsequently, we evaluated foraging group isotopic niche size, overlap, degree of individual specialisation, and the probable proportions of coastal resources that contribute to their collective diets. We found that mangrove birds are more opportunistic when foraging than expected from previous diet studies. Importantly, relationships between the dietary diversity of species within a foraging group and isotopic niche size are spatially inconsistent, making inferences regarding foraging strategies difficult. However, quantifying individual specialisation and determining the probable relative contributions of coastal resources to the collective diet of isotope-based foraging groups can help to differentiate between specialised and generalised foraging strategies. We suggest that flexibility in mangrove bird foraging strategy occurs in response to environmental heterogeneity. A complementary approach that combines isotopic analysis with other dietary information (collated from previous diet studies using visual observation or gut content analyses) has provided useful insight to how bird assemblages partition resources in spatiotemporally heterogeneous environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina A. Buelow
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - April E. Reside
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ronald Baker
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, The University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States
| | - Marcus Sheaves
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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