Ecology and Evolution最新文献

Dingoes (Canis familiaris) are an iconic Australian species and the top land predator. Much interest exists in their radiation process and evolutionary history in Australia. Recent research indicated that two evolutionarily independent units exist and that detected effective population size changes are due to the active control of this species. However, these conclusions have been critiqued because they were not explicitly tested or because the model assumptions may not be met in dingoes. We set out to statistically test these hypotheses by comparing alternative migration models and carrying out demographic analyses. We conclude that there is strong statistical support for the existence of the two evolutionary units. However, the analysis carried out to estimate the time of the effective population size changes does not have the required power to conclusively demonstrate whether the current management is having an impact on dingo populations. Future studies and different approaches will be needed to test this hypothesis.

Homalomena perplexa K.Z.Hein, Vuong, Bao & V.S.Dang has been recently recognized and identified as a Vietnamese endemic species. Its chemical contents and bioactivities have been investigated, but its genomic information is still scarce. In the current study, we sequenced and characterized the complete chloroplast genome of H. perplexa using the next-generation sequencing method. The circular genome was 169,893 bp in length and contained 79 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA genes, and four ribosomal RNA genes. Nucleotide diversity analysis revealed only two hypervariable regions between the two Homalomena chloroplast genomes. However, repeat analysis indicated that there were shared and unique repeats between H. perplexa and H. occulta chloroplast genomes. In Araceae chloroplast genomes, there was a high variation of the junctions among the large-single copy, small-single copy, and inverted repeat regions, especially 13 variations identified in Aroideae species. In addition, phylogenetic analysis revealed the monophyly of Araceae subfamilies and a close relationship between Homalomena and Furtadoa genera. The results of this study enlarge the genomic data of the Homalomena genus and provide useful information for further comparative genomic studies of H. perplexa and related species in Aroideae. In addition, updates on comparative chloroplast genomics and phylogenetic relationships add valuable information for further evolutionary studies of Araceae.

Shifts in phenology are widely reported across taxa and, among migratory birds, advancing timing of breeding has occurred predominantly in short-distance migrants. Long-distance migrants might be less able to advance breeding if they arrive later and breed soon after arrival, but opportunities to quantify trends in phenology across species that experience similar breeding conditions but vary in migration distances are rare. Between 2007 and 2022, we recorded arrival and laying dates across lowland Iceland for nine wader species that vary in migration distances. Waders wintering closer to Iceland arrived ~6 weeks earlier than those wintering further away, yet laying dates differed by only ~1-2 weeks. Over this survey period, short-distance migrants advanced laying despite little or no advance in arrival, while long-distance species advanced both arrival and laying dates. The longer arrival-laying interval in species travelling shorter distances appears to allow earlier laying in warm springs, a flexibility less available to later-arriving species. Due to the benefits of breeding early in migratory systems, the opportunity of early nesting in warming springs could be contributing to divergent population trajectories of short- and long-distance migrants. Quantifying the phenology of nest and fledging success of species migrating over different distances will help to identify the costs of travelling further and arriving later during this period of rapid environmental change.

Animal decision-making directly impacts survival and reproductive success, particularly for reproductive habitat specialists (e.g., denning species) in highly dynamic environments. Despite the widespread and increasing distribution of coyotes (Canis latrans) in urban areas, little research has focused on how they select urban den sites. In this study, we investigated den structure and site selection of coyotes in Atlanta, Georgia. From January to April of 2022-2024, we GPS collared 48 coyotes and located 20 dens in April of 2022-2025. We measured the physical characteristics of dens and categorized structure type as anthropogenic or natural. We used a 3rd-order resource selection analysis to assess impacts of impervious surface (%), distance to buildings, and distance to cover habitat on den site selection. We found that approximately half of the dens were located in anthropogenic structures, which coyotes appeared to use opportunistically for concealment and protection. We also identified strong selection for cover habitat and avoidance of impervious surfaces by coyotes for den sites. Our findings indicate that coyotes in Atlanta avoid areas with high human infrastructure, select areas with cover, and show flexibility in structure use allowing them to safeguard dens. While this showcases the adaptability of coyotes when making complex reproductive decisions, it also highlights the potential population level impacts increased urbanization and land conversion may have on urban wildlife.

Since 1985, more than 10 million hectares of Canadian forests have been treated against spruce budworm (SBW) epidemics using the Btk biological insecticide. Still, no study has thoroughly evaluated the effects of these interventions on understory vegetation. Since the forest floor hosts most of the plant diversity in boreal forests and provides critical habitats for wildlife, it is crucial to determine the best treatment to reduce defoliation caused by SBW, while minimizing disturbances to understory plant communities. Using an experimental design established in 2007, we tested in 2022 the effects of different Btk spraying frequencies on tree defoliation, understory vegetation, and arboreal lichens. Our results show that reducing the spraying frequency increased light availability in the understory, leading to higher vascular plant richness, increased cover of shrubs, forbs, and shade-intolerant species, and a greater number of fruits produced by fleshy-fruit bearing plants, while arboreal lichen biomass remained unchanged. Although annual spraying most effectively limits SBW-induced defoliation, such an approach may not be necessary to maintain canopy closure. Biennial applications appear sufficient to preserve foliage during SBW infestation, while limiting understory shifts toward early-successional vegetation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1002/ece3.72937.].

Soil microbiomes are fundamental ecosystem components that are increasingly used to monitor the efficacy of restoration efforts. However, given high levels of functional redundancy among soil microbial taxa and the subsequent lack of definitive taxa-function links, taxonomic assessments (e.g., via metabarcoding) alone are limited for inferring ecological recovery. Here, we used shotgun metagenomics on soils from six post-agricultural restoration sites in southwest Western Australia to test whether soil microbial functional potential recovers following restoration plantings. We compared taxonomic and functional gene diversity and composition across degraded, passively regenerated, revegetated, and remnant land conditions. Effective number of functions (alpha diversity) did not differ across land conditions. However, functional composition (beta diversity) differed between remnant and revegetated conditions and associated with altered soil abiotic properties, especially elevated phosphorus. Remnant soils supported a greater diversity of phosphorus metabolism functions despite lower available phosphorus, indicating a microbial adaptation to nutrient limitation in phosphorus deficient soils. Rather than indicating a lack of functional recovery, these results suggest a functional response to persistent agricultural legacies that may reflect a shift toward an alternative state. Restoration interventions that aim to target the soil microbiome (e.g., soil inoculations) or directly address abiotic legacies (e.g., phosphorus mining plants) may therefore be required to facilitate recovery of the soil microbial functions and the wider ecosystem.

Group living species are constantly facing decisions about which conspecifics to associate with. These decisions are likely guided by the benefits and costs of associations. Associating in larger groups can minimize predation risk, while also providing individuals with beneficial social information from conspecifics. By contrast, associating with multiple individuals could also increase potentially costly conflicts over resources and/or mates. Here, we examine male association strategies in a shoaling fish, the pygmy halfbeak (Dermogenys collettei), by confronting males with four different social scenarios. We found that males preferentially associated with an opposite sex pair (i.e., a female and a male) over rival males, but showed no preference when choosing between a pair and females. By contrast, the number of presented fish (one or two) did not influence male association preferences, indicating that the observed male behavior was not driven by shoaling behavior. Finally, male association preference correlated with the duration of courtship behavior that the male observed, but only under specific social scenarios. Overall, our data show that males followed informed association strategies that are primarily driven by mating opportunities. Using a simplified social environment, we illuminate which basic rules might drive association behavior in complex social groups.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1002/ece3.72853.].

Ecosystems worldwide are undergoing unprecedented changes, and as a result amphibians are experiencing devastating population declines driven by subsequent habitat loss and emerging pathogens. The skin microbiota is an important first line of defence for amphibians against pathogens. Here, for the first time, we characterised the bacteria and fungi comprising the skin microbiota of 56 individual golden Alpine salamanders (Salamandra atra aurorae, Trevisan, 1982), a highly endemic and endangered amphibian subspecies. In addition, we investigated the impact of the 2018 Vaia windstorm on skin microbiota of salamanders in plots classified as impacted or non-impacted based on windthrows. Salamander sex, weather during sampling, and dominant tree species in plots were also investigated as influencers of microbiota. Beta diversity estimates revealed greater variation in bacterial microbiota composition among individuals from non-impacted plots compared to plots impacted by Vaia. Notably, we found differential abundances of five genera of bacteria and eight genera of fungi in the skin microbiota of salamanders from impacted compared with non-impacted plots. Further analyses revealed that median relative abundances of Aeromonas hydrophila, the causative agent of the potentially fatal red-leg syndrome, were significantly higher in microbiota of salamanders from impacted plots. Weather conditions during sampling significantly influenced both alpha and beta diversity of the skin microbiota, and explained up to 9% of bacterial and 6% of fungal variation. Bacterial richness and phylogenetic diversity were lower during rainfall, whereas fungal beta diversity increased, suggesting contrasting moisture preferences. These findings suggest that extreme weather events, as well as moderate daily weather fluctuations, may be associated with the microbial communities of amphibian skin, potentially affecting their resilience to pathogens. This study underscores the importance of considering both natural and human-mediated disturbances in conservation strategies for vulnerable species like the golden Alpine salamander.