Ecology and Evolution最新文献

In the context of global climate change, exploring how plant adaptation and responses to drought vary among different regions are crucial to understanding and predicting its geographic distribution. In this study, to explore the drought adaptation and responses of the dominant species in the semi-arid Eurasian Steppes and their differences among the different regions in terms of growth, physiology, and RNA-seq transcriptome, Stipa krylovii was chosen as the study material, and a seed source (three regions: eastern, middle, and western regions) × soil moisture treatment (three treatments: control, light drought, and heavy drought) two-factor experiment was conducted. (1) Four growth traits for individuals from the western region were significantly lower than those from the other two regions. By Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analysis on gene expressions of individuals from each treatment, unique enriched pathways were found under heavy drought. (2) The decrease in the number of tillers with the increasing drought was much lower for individuals from the western region than those from the other two regions. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of individuals from the eastern, middle, and western regions between heavy drought versus control were 4887, 1900, and 4896. By KEGG functional enrichment analysis, individuals from the eastern and middle regions mainly regulated energy metabolism and metabolism of other amino acids; and those from the western region mainly regulated biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites and carbohydrate metabolism. (3) Clustering analysis based on gene expressions separated the western region from the other two regions under the same drought treatment. This study indicates that drought adaptation and responses of S. krylovii vary among different regions, especially between individuals from the western region and the other two regions. These findings are essential to understanding the adaptive evolution of population and germplasm resource protection for this important species.

Browsing by ungulates is commonly assumed to target the upper parts of sapling crowns, leading to reduced vertical growth or even growth cessation. However, the extent to which browsing induces shifts in resource allocation toward lateral growth remains unclear. This study explores the impact of browsing intensity (BI) and light availability on the architectural traits of six temperate tree species, focusing on height-diameter ratio (H/D), crown slenderness (CL/CW), and crown irregularity (CI) across sapling height classes. Browsing pressure and architectural responses varied across height groups, reflecting diverse adaptive strategies. BI was weakly but negatively correlated with sapling height, indicating that even tall saplings (> 2 m) experience browsing, particularly in the lower crown. H/D consistently increased with BI across all height classes, with stronger effects in medium and tall saplings. Light influenced H/D differently between browsed and unbrowsed saplings: unbrowsed saplings showed reduced H/D only under high light conditions, while browsed saplings exhibited consistent reductions regardless of light levels. CL/CW was negatively but insignificantly affected by BI. Light increased CL/CW in unbrowsed saplings across all height classes but decreased it in browsed short and medium saplings, suggesting a ‘pruning’ effect of browsing that altered competition dynamics. Species-specific analysis of Fagus sylvatica revealed an increase in CL/CW with BI, reflecting unique adaptive responses. CI increased significantly with BI across all height classes, with the strongest effects in medium and tall saplings. Light reduced CI in browsed short saplings but had inconsistent effects on unbrowsed individuals. Variation partitioning showed that light explained most variation in H/D and CL/CW for shorter saplings, while BI predominantly influenced CI in taller ones. By integrating the effects of browsing and light, this study provides insights into juvenile tree adaptations and resilience under ecological stressors, advancing our understanding of tree growth strategies in challenging environments.

Habitat loss threatens biodiversity worldwide being particularly detrimental in tropical rainforests where a cumulative deforestation expands for decades. Tropical rainforests harbor a rich mammal diversity with a wide range of species using different habitats, ranging from forest-dwelling to arboreal species. Recent techniques such as camera trapping have proven to be useful to study the ecology of arboreal mammals. Here, we assessed the overall community structure of arboreal mammals in a protected area by analyzing the patterns of diversity and abundance and their spatial and seasonal variations. A total of 21 camera-trapping stations were set in clusters in three zones. Spatial and seasonal alpha-diversity and community evenness patterns were estimated using Hill's numbers, and Sørensen's dissimilarities were used as a proxy to estimate beta-diversity. A relative abundance index was calculated for each species, at each site and season. To estimate the influence of spatial and tree morphology on arboreal use by mammals, a Principal Component Analysis was performed. We observed a high species richness (14 species) of arboreal mammals. Species richness remained similar between sites, although shifts in abundances and a decreasing gradient in community evenness related to the distance of camera trap station located in each site were noted. We observed a high- and low-diversity dissimilarity between camera trap stations and between zones, respectively. Seasonality showed no significant effect over abundance, alpha, and beta diversities. This protected area holds the natural habitat conditions to ensure the persistence of this rich arboreal mammal community.

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is the only sea turtle species that breeds in China, and the largest remaining nesting grounds for green sea turtles in Chinese waters is found on the Qilianyu atoll of the Xisha Islands. Nesting site selection is particularly important for egg survival, and understanding the microhabitat characteristics of green sea turtle nesting sites is crucial for delineating priority conservation areas for nesting grounds. In this study, we aimed to examine the role of several microhabitat ecological factors in the selection of nesting sites and the success of nesting. To this end, we performed differential comparisons, principal component analysis, and generalized linear model analysis. There were significant differences in microhabitat ecological factors, such as surface temperature, humidity, and particle size distribution (0.250–1 mm), between the nesting sites and the surrounding area. Green sea turtle nests were concentrated at a distance of 20.1–30 m from the high tide line, with a preferred distance from vegetation of 0–0.5 m. The vegetation cover of successful nests was concentrated in the range of 0%–25%, and the preferred sand types for successful nests were coarse sand (0.425–1 mm) and medium sand (0.250–0.425 mm). The average hatching success of six green sea turtle nests on North Island was 94.52%. The key microhabitat factors affecting the success of nesting were found to be sand characteristics such as humidity, bulk density, and particle size ratio. Therefore, green sea turtles on the Xisha Islands exhibit preferences for microhabitat ecological factors during nesting site selection, and the ecological characteristics of nesting grounds can affect the hatching success rate of green sea turtles. Therefore, it is recommended to continuously monitor the characteristics of and changes in green sea turtle nesting site selection and take measures to provide high-quality nesting and hatching environments for sea turtles.

The white prunicola scale Pseudaulacaspis prunicola (Maskell) is an important pest of fruit and ornamental plants, characterised by its wide distribution, broad host range and distinct biological traits. In this study, a comprehensive population genetic analysis of P. prunicola in China was conducted, focusing on genetic diversity, genetic structure, relationships among geographical populations, and population dynamics. Microsatellite molecular and mitochondrial COI markers were used to examine the genetic diversity and structure of 19 P. prunicola populations across 10 provinces in China. The results revealed low genetic diversity and limited gene flow among populations. A clear geographic genetic structure was identified, with the 19 populations being, divided into four distinct groups, showing a pronounced north–south distribution pattern. Significant genetic differentiation was observed between these groups, with minimal gene exchange. COI-based diversity analyses produced results similar to those obtained from the microsatellite markers. These findings provide valuable insights into the distribution and spread of P. prunicola in China and may help inform the development of effective and targeted pest control strategies.

Maintaining a healthy population of common leopards, a highly adaptive felid, requires updated information on their spatial occurrence. In Nepal's Tarai region, leopards coexist with tigers, which are well-studied felid throughout its range. However, knowledge is very scarce on the patterns of leopard occupancy. We conducted an occupancy survey using remote cameras in southwestern Tarai, particularly in Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal, to assess habitat use by leopards from December 2022 to January 2023. Naive and model-averaged occupancy estimates were 0.51 and 0.6563 (SE: 0.022, 95% CI: 0.612, 0.70), respectively. The detection of leopards was negatively correlated with the presence of tigers. Leopard occupancy was higher closer to human settlement and higher in rugged terrain. At a time when Nepal has achieved its tiger conservation targets, efforts are required to maintain adequate prey biomass to minimize fatal encounters between tigers and leopards and displacement of leopards peripheral to the settlement area, where villagers might kill them in retaliation of livestock killing. Long-term monitoring is required to improve understanding of the interaction between leopards, tigers, and humans in the Tarai region of Nepal.

Wacker, S., K. Sundt, J. Mageroy, et al. 2024. “Resilience of Juvenile Freshwater Pearl Mussels to Thermal Stress.” Ecology and Evolution 14: e70456. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70456.

Due to a production error, Appendix Figures 1, 2, and 3 were erroneously removed. The previously published Supporting Information has been removed and is now available via the link in the Data Availability Statement. The online version of this article has been corrected accordingly.

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We describe and characterize a new Isospora species from the Singing honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens) in Western Australia, both morphologically and molecularly. Microscopic analysis of a fecal sample identified 25 ellipsoidal oocysts, measuring 21–25 × 18–20 μm (mean 23.4 × 18.7 μm), with a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.2–1.3 (mean 1.25). The oocyst wall is bilayered and ~1.0 μm thick, with a smooth outer layer making up about two-thirds of the thickness. A micropyle cap, measuring ~2.0 × 4.5 μm, is present as a curved protrusion on the outer layer. The micropyle itself is ~4.5 μm wide. The oocysts lack a residuum but contain 1–2 polar granules. The 25 ellipsoidal sporocysts measured 14–15 × 8–9 μm (mean 14.1 × 8.7 μm) with an L/W ratio of 1.6–1.7 (mean 1.62). The Stieda body is flattened (~0.5 × 1.5 μm), the sub-Stieda body is rounded (~1.5 × 2.5 μm), and the para-Stieda body is absent. The sporocyst residuum, composed of clustered spherules, is ~3.5 × 3.5 μm. Sporozoites contain anterior and posterior refractile bodies and a nucleus. Molecular analysis of the 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and COI gene loci showed a 99.5% genetic similarity to Isospora neochmiae at the 18S rRNA locus and 99.2% and 97.7% similarities to Isospora manorinae at the 28S rRNA and COI loci, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the new species is closely related to I. manorinae. Based on these data, we propose this isolate as a new species, Isospora virescensae n. sp.

Nakagawa, K., Ogino, K., Katoh, T. K., & Kono, N. Species identification of livefood flightless fly (Torinido-shoujoubae) through DNA barcoding. Ecology and Evolution, 14(7):e11622.

In the “INTRODUCTION” section, paragraph 3, the phrase “In a previous study” was not clearly specified. The phrase should be corrected to “In a previous study (Araye et al., 2020)”.

In the “RESULTS AND DISCUSSION” section, the citation “Arai et al., 2020” contained an incorrect author name. The correct citation is “Araye et al., 2020”.

The reference “Arai, K., Onuma, M., & Sawamura, K. (2020). Torinido-shoujoubae No Shoutai [identity of Torinido-shoujoubae]. Insect DNA Research Newsletter, 32, 39–40.” contained an incorrect author name. The correct reference is “Araye, Q., Onuma, M., & Sawamura, K. (2020). Torinido-shoujoubae No Shoutai [identity of Torinido-shoujoubae]. Insect DNA Research Newsletter, 32, 39–40.”

We apologize for this error.

Understanding how agricultural and land management practices affect amphibian biodiversity is essential for conservation efforts in farmland. We investigated the impact of farm dam enhancement on tadpole abundance and growth in a highly modified farming landscape in south-eastern Australia. We completed detailed surveys on 52 farm dams (artificial ponds or agricultural reservoirs). These dams were categorized into two groups: enhanced (n = 28), which had undergone management activities such as fencing to prevent livestock access and facilitate revegetation, and control (n = 24), which had not received any intervention and were subject to standard management practices similar to adjacent paddocks. Our findings revealed a notable increase in tadpole abundance across all species in enhanced dams, with 92% of all observed tadpoles recorded in these dams. Factors such as higher dissolved oxygen and greater riparian vegetation cover were positively associated with tadpole abundance, while high pH levels showed a negative association. We found no evidence that tadpole growth was influenced by dam enhancement. Concerningly, when the invasive fish Gambusia holbrooki was present, tadpoles were smaller and at earlier developmental stages. Our findings highlight the potential benefits of strategic farm dam management for improving tadpole presence in agricultural landscapes.