Ecology and Evolution最新文献

Functional traits offer an informative framework for understanding ecosystem functioning and responses to global change. Trait data are abundant in the literature, yet many communities of practice lack data standards for trait measurement and data sharing, hindering data reuse that could reveal large-scale patterns in functional and evolutionary ecology. Here, we present a roadmap toward community data standards for trait-based research on bees, including a protocol for effective trait data sharing. We also review the state of bee functional trait research, highlighting common measurement approaches and knowledge gaps. These studies were overwhelmingly situated in agroecosystems and focused predominantly on morphological and behavioral traits, while phenological and physiological traits were infrequently measured. Studies investigating climate change effects were also uncommon. Along with our review, we present an aggregated morphological trait dataset compiled from our focal studies, representing more than 1600 bee species globally and serving as a template for standardized bee trait data presentation. We highlight obstacles to harmonizing this trait data, especially ambiguity in trait classes, methodology, and sampling metadata. Our framework for trait data sharing leverages common data standards to resolve these ambiguities and ensure interoperability between datasets, promoting accessibility and usability of trait data to advance bee ecological research.

Optimal egg size theory implies that female organisms balance between fecundity and individual offspring investment according to their environment. Past interspecific studies suggest that fishes in large marine systems generally produce smaller eggs than those in small freshwater systems. We tested whether intraspecific egg size variation reflected a similar pattern by comparing egg size among yellow perch (Perca flavescens) populations inhabiting a range of system sizes. In 2018, 2019, and 2023, we collected yellow perch egg samples from 12 locations in systems ranging in surface area from 37 to 5,390,492 ha. First, we found that egg diameter significantly increased with maternal total length in five of eight individually tested populations. After accounting for these maternal effects, we found a significant interaction, where females inhabiting larger lakes, such as the main basins of Lakes Erie and Michigan, produced smaller eggs than those in smaller inland lakes, and the greatest differences were demonstrated among females of greater total length. This egg size variation in the largest females is consistent with interspecific egg size comparisons between marine and freshwater fishes. However, by examining a single species across vastly different environments, we were able to support theoretical expectations that maternal investment in offspring should vary with environmental conditions controlling early-life resource acquisition and competition.

The presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is essential for the survival and establishment of most plant species in nature. The reproductive success of invasive plant species in a particular habitat could also depend on these AM fungi. Cinchona pubescens, commonly known as quinine, is highly invasive on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos, but at the same time severely endangered in its native range on mainland Ecuador due to overexploitation in the past. In this study, we aim at determining the AMF communities associated with C. pubescens at both locations to investigate whether the successful invasion of C. pubescens on Santa Cruz is related to its association with a particular community of AMF. For this, roots of C. pubescens trees were sampled at three sites, one site on Santa Cruz and two sites in the province of Loja, on mainland Ecuador. Communities of AM fungi were determined through the molecular cloning and sequencing of the 18S nrDNA gene and through the delimitation of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs), associated with the plant roots. We found 36 AMF OTUs associated with C. pubescens, most of them belonging to the genus Glomus. The highest richness of AMF OTUs was detected in samples from sites located on mainland Ecuador. The AMF communities between Santa Cruz and mainland Ecuador were significantly different, and only five OTUs were shared between both locations. Two dominant OTUs in C. pubescens from Santa Cruz were detected but no dominant OTUs from mainland Ecuador. Almost two thirds of the OTUs associated with C. pubescens had a wide global distribution. Our results suggest that the successful invasion of C. pubescens on Santa Cruz could have been facilitated by local generalist AMF and not by particular AMF. The observed generalist AMF from both locations could be important for conservation plans of restoring the endangered C. pubescens in the native forests on mainland Ecuador.

Myctophids are one of the most diverse and abundant fish families in the mesopelagic zone, making them a key component in the marine pelagic community. In the North Atlantic, Benthosema glaciale (glacier lantern fish) is considered the most abundant myctophid north of 35° N, yet some regions within its extensive range lack information on its basic biological parameters. We investigated the growth and described the distribution of B. glaciale in Icelandic waters, including the southern continental shelf, Iceland Basin, and Irminger Sea. Length distribution, growth, relative body condition, age, and otolith-fish size relationships were analyzed from samples collected opportunistically with pelagic trawls during the International Ecosystem Summer Survey in the Nordic Seas (IESSNS) in July 2020. In total, 1374 individuals were caught, and only a subset of 225 were measured fresh at sea and 89 were frozen and dissected on land. Total lengths of fresh fish ranged from 38 to 85 mm, while dissected individuals ranged from 40 to 74 mm and were 2 to 6 years old. Located over the Reykjanes Ridge in the Iceland Basin region, individuals had a significantly higher mean standard length and mean age, and a lower mean body condition. We reported length–weight relationships for both fresh and frozen samples, indicating evidence that preserving of the specimens through freezing affected relationships. The von Bertalanffy growth curve was calculated along with significant otolith-fish size relationships where r² values ranged between 0.87 and 0.92. Our research highlights the importance of cross-regional studies and provides baseline biology for B. glaciale in Icelandic waters, specifically in the southern continental slope and Reykjanes Ridge.

Zingiber baumii Chatan & Promprom, a new species from the Zingiberaceae family, is described from Sakon Nakhon Province in northeastern Thailand. This species was identified during field expeditions conducted between 2018 and 2024 in Phu Pha Yol National Park. The morphological characteristics of Z. baumii, such as red or pinkish-red leaf sheaths, leaf blades (1.5−) 2.0–3.0 cm wide, pink petioles, and bright yellow corolla with a red patch, distinguish it from closely related species such as Z. isanense Triboun & K. Larsen. Zingiber baumii grows in slightly shaded dry dipterocarp forests at elevations of 300–380 m. The preliminary conservation assessment indicates that this species should be classified as Endangered (EN) according to IUCN criteria due to its limited distribution and small population size. Detailed morphological comparisons with related species are provided, along with illustrations and habitat descriptions.

In many socially monogamous bird species with biparental care, occasional social polygyny has been detected. We provide information about a case of facultative polygyny in the European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus). The male nightjar (I96) formed a pair with two females (I95: the presumed primary female with whom he already bred since 2018; M042: the presumed secondary female, an inexperienced yearling). GPS and accelerometer data demonstrate how the male only sang in proximity of the primary nest, while assisting both females during incubation, as well as during the nestling period. When the male came to the nest, the primary and/or secondary female went foraging, but the secondary female received less assistance during incubation than the primary female, and her eggs were often left unattended. However, once the chicks of the secondary female hatched, male assistance suddenly increased, presumably at a cost to the primary female. Being only the second record of social polygyny in the European Nightjar, we do not have a direct explication for the occurrence of this polygynous event. We note that male density at the study site was lower than that observed in previous seasons. The male may have taken over the female that was initially paired to a neighbouring territory holder that then died. Alternatively, the inexperienced female might have mated with an already paired male, either because she was not aware of the mating status of the male, or because she could not find an unpaired male, or because mating with this paired male was better than mating with another unpaired male. In any case, the breeding ecology and mating behaviour of this crepuscular bird species remains little understood.

Ecological stability is a vital component of natural ecosystems that can inform effective conservation and ecosystem management. Furthermore, there is increasing interest in making comparisons of stability values across sites, systems and taxonomic groups, often using comparative synthetic approaches, such as meta-analysis. However, these synthetic approaches often compare/contrast systems where measures of stability mean very different things to the taxa involved. Here, we present results from theoretical models and empirical data to illustrate how differences in growth rates among taxa influence four widely used metrics of ecological stability of species abundances responding to pulse perturbations: resilience, recovery, resistance and temporal stability. We refer to these classic growth-rate-dependent metrics as ‘realised’ stability. We show that realised resilience and realised temporal stability vary as a function of organisms' growth rates; realised recovery depends on the relation between growth rate and sampling duration; and realised resistance depends on the relation between growth rate and sampling interval. To account for these influences, we introduce metrics intended to be more independent of growth rates, which we refer to as ‘intrinsic’ stability. Intrinsic stability can be used to summarise the overall effects of a disturbance, separately from internal recovery processes – thereby allowing more general comparisons of disturbances across organisms and contexts. We argue that joint consideration of both realised and intrinsic stability is important for future comparative studies.

Plant responses to environmental heterogeneity depend on life-history traits, which could relate to phenotypical and genetic characteristics. To elucidate this relationship, we examined the variation in population genetics and functional traits of short- and long-lived Artemisia species that are co-occurring in the steppes of Mongolia. Mongolian steppes represent stressful and water-limited habitats, demanding phenotypic modifications in the short term and/or genetic adaptation in the long term. However, detailed knowledge is missing about both plant phenotypic and genetic differentiation, and their interrelationships in temperate grasslands. Here, we investigated 21 populations of the widely distributed subshrub Artemisia frigida and the herbaceous biennial Artemisia scoparia. Genetic variation was assessed with newly developed simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers. Functional trait data were collected from each individual, and data on environmental variables was collected for each population. We detected significantly higher genetic diversity in the biennial species (H_E = 0.86) compared with the perennial (H_E = 0.79). For both species, the largest share of genetic variation was partitioned within populations (96%). Population genetic structure in the biennial A. scoparia was weak, while the perennial A. frigida showed some spatial genetic structure, which was impacted by geographical factors, soil nutrients, and precipitation amount. Morphology-related functional traits (i.e., plant height) were predominantly associated with environmental variables rather than with genetic variation, whereas physiology-related trait (i.e., specific leaf area [SLA]) was partly genetically determined.

The oligotrophic tropical western Pacific region is characterized by a high density of seamounts, with the Kyushu-Palau Ridge (KPR) being the longest seamount chain here. Effective spatial management plans for seamount ecosystems necessitate an understanding of distribution patterns and key environmental factors influencing benthic communities. However, knowledge regarding deep-sea biodiversity patterns over intricate topography remains limited. In this study, we investigated a seamount with a water depth of 522 m at the summit located in the southern section of KPR. Survey transects were conducted from 522 m to 4059 m. By analyzing video-recorded data obtained by a human-occupied vehicle (HOV) during dives and environmental variables derived from bathymetry, distinct assemblages were identified through noise clustering. α- and β-diversity patterns within the seamount megabenthic community were analyzed across the depth gradient, along with investigation of their environmental drivers. A total of 10,596 megafauna individuals were documented, categorized into 88 morphospecies and statistically separated into six distinct community clusters using noise clustering analysis. Species abundance and richness were highest within the 700–800 m water depth range, declining notably beyond 2100 m, indicating a critical threshold for habitat classification in this region. The β-diversity of megabenthic communities was high (0.836). Although β-diversity patterns along the depth gradient were mostly dominated by differences in species richness, the contribution of species replacement increased with depth, becoming dominant at depths greater than 3000 m. Depth emerged as the primary driver of spatial variation in community structure, while near-bottom current velocity, topographic parameters (bathymetric position index, slope), and substrate type also influenced the formation of microhabitats. The study highlights the depth gradients, thresholds, and other intricate environmental factors shaping the spatial heterogeneity of these communities. It provides valuable insights for the future development of effective survey and conservation strategies for benthic biodiversity on the KPR.

Competition is one of the most critical factors affecting animal behaviors. Aggressive interactions are central to acquiring resources or mating partners. Agonistic behavior is more common among males than females. Although laboratory observations of these behaviors give detailed descriptions under controlled conditions, field observations without human intervention are required because those supply information that provides insights into their function. In this paper, we report on the field observation and auxiliary laboratory experiments of male–male agonistic behavior of a wood-feeding cockroach, Panesthia angustipennis, and discuss its strategy. In the field, a male pushed the opponent with the horn on the pronotum out of a gap between two logs, under which a female was. After pushing, the male repeatedly returned to a place close to the female, even if it did not subdue the opponent entirely. It suggests that the male–male agonistic behavior in P. angustipennis has both attack and avoidance. The bout was repeated as the ejected male reapproached the male. In contrast, the inferior male often escaped in the laboratory recording after field observation. Keeping the fighting experience for several days may contribute to the males avoiding a “losing battle.” This study significantly enhances our understanding of the mating strategy of P. angustipennis through male–male agonistic behavior and provides possibilities for its cognitive aspects from the fighting experience.