Adam L. Mahood, Ty Tuff, Megan E. Cattau, Virginia Iglesias, Thomas E. Hanson, Jilmarie Stephens, Nayani Ilangakoon, Maxwell C. Cook, R. Chelsea Nagy, David Barnard, E. Natasha Stavros, Amy DeCastro, Jennifer K. Balch
Aim
As fire activity changes globally, we need to better understand the spatial and temporal characteristics of the individual events that, when aggregated, constitute fire regimes. Most global studies analyze point detections of burned area, without delineating or considering the properties of individual events. Furthermore, there is a critical need to understand fire patterns within the context of the geopolitical boundaries within which fires are managed.
Location
Global.
Time Period
2003–2020.
Major Taxa Studied
Fire.
Methods
We divided 241 countries by Köppen-Geiger climate classifications and quantified four event-based fire regime metrics: size, duration, and mean and maximum growth rate; and four area-based metrics: burned area, number of fires, season length, and season peak. We examined the correlations among fire regime components, and between each fire regime component and climate normals. We quantified temporal trends, and used mixed models to analyze how climate and landcover change were associated with event-based components of fire regimes.
Results
Event-based metrics were weakly correlated with area-based metrics. Countries with warmer and less variable climates had high burned area, more fire events, longer season lengths and shorter event durations. Countries with high annual temperature range and low precipitation tended to have fewer events but larger fires that were faster-spreading and occurred later in the year. The growth rate and size of individual fire events are increasing in 18% and 21% of regions we analysed, respectively. Interannual variability in size and growth rate was associated with aridity increases in boreal areas, and landcover changes in arid areas.
Main Conclusions
Drivers of burned area and fire seasonality are well understood but largely unrelated to the properties of individual events. A more detailed understanding of the spatial and temporal aspects of fire events at broad scales will assist fire management efforts in preparing for a warmer future.
{"title":"The Properties of Individual Fire Events Are Essential for Understanding Global Fire Regimes","authors":"Adam L. Mahood, Ty Tuff, Megan E. Cattau, Virginia Iglesias, Thomas E. Hanson, Jilmarie Stephens, Nayani Ilangakoon, Maxwell C. Cook, R. Chelsea Nagy, David Barnard, E. Natasha Stavros, Amy DeCastro, Jennifer K. Balch","doi":"10.1111/geb.70145","DOIUrl":"10.1111/geb.70145","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>As fire activity changes globally, we need to better understand the spatial and temporal characteristics of the individual events that, when aggregated, constitute fire regimes. Most global studies analyze point detections of burned area, without delineating or considering the properties of individual events. Furthermore, there is a critical need to understand fire patterns within the context of the geopolitical boundaries within which fires are managed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Global.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Time Period</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>2003–2020.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Major Taxa Studied</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Fire.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We divided 241 countries by Köppen-Geiger climate classifications and quantified four event-based fire regime metrics: size, duration, and mean and maximum growth rate; and four area-based metrics: burned area, number of fires, season length, and season peak. We examined the correlations among fire regime components, and between each fire regime component and climate normals. We quantified temporal trends, and used mixed models to analyze how climate and landcover change were associated with event-based components of fire regimes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Event-based metrics were weakly correlated with area-based metrics. Countries with warmer and less variable climates had high burned area, more fire events, longer season lengths and shorter event durations. Countries with high annual temperature range and low precipitation tended to have fewer events but larger fires that were faster-spreading and occurred later in the year. The growth rate and size of individual fire events are increasing in 18% and 21% of regions we analysed, respectively. Interannual variability in size and growth rate was associated with aridity increases in boreal areas, and landcover changes in arid areas.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Drivers of burned area and fire seasonality are well understood but largely unrelated to the properties of individual events. A more detailed understanding of the spatial and temporal aspects of fire events at broad scales will assist fire management efforts in preparing for a warmer future.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":176,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Biogeography","volume":"34 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145462086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guoliang Sha, Shuyan Chen, Xuanchen Liu, Wanyu Xia, Hanwen Cui, Anning Zhang, Lizhe An, Zi Yang, Xia Zhao, Jing Zhang, Xiuling Yu, Jing Xiao, Sa Xiao
<div> <section> <h3> Aim</h3> <p>Woody plant encroachment is reshaping grassland ecosystem functions worldwide. While its aboveground impacts are well documented, how this process alters microbial communities—key drivers of belowground processes—remains poorly understood. We aimed to (1) quantify the general effects of global woody plant encroachment on soil microbial community attributes in grasslands and (2) identify the abiotic and biotic factors driving these changes.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Location</h3> <p>Global grassland ecosystems.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Time Period</h3> <p>2000–2024.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Major Taxa Studied</h3> <p>Soil microbial communities (bacteria, fungi).</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>We conducted a meta-analysis of 241 paired observations to evaluate changes in microbial composition, diversity, biomass, activity and enzyme activity under woody plant encroachment.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>Woody plant encroachment significantly altered soil properties. Woody plant encroachment also promoted a comprehensive increase in microbial community diversity, biomass, microbial activity and enzyme activity, as well as changes in community composition. The nitrogen-fixing status of the encroaching species (biotic factor) significantly affected microbial responses: encroachment by nitrogen-fixing plants resulted in a higher abundance of Bacteroidetes, fungal richness, microbial biomass phosphorus and phosphatase activity compared to non-nitrogen-fixing plants. In addition, abiotic factors, such as mean annual temperature, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen were identified as key factors driving microbial responses. Specifically, mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature and elevation jointly regulated the effects of woody plant encroachment on soil microbial community attributes by influencing plant and soil properties.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Main Conclusions</h3> <p>This meta-analysis demonstrated that woody plant encroachment significantly reshaped soil microbial communities in grassland ecosystems. Our findings highlight the role of abiotic factors (climate, elevation, organic carbon and total nitrogen), and biotic factors (nitrogen-fixing status) in mediating the response of soil microbial communities. These insights contribute to a better understanding of belowground ecological processes and p
{"title":"Woody Plant Encroachment Significantly Alters Grassland Soil Microbial Community: A Global Meta-Analysis","authors":"Guoliang Sha, Shuyan Chen, Xuanchen Liu, Wanyu Xia, Hanwen Cui, Anning Zhang, Lizhe An, Zi Yang, Xia Zhao, Jing Zhang, Xiuling Yu, Jing Xiao, Sa Xiao","doi":"10.1111/geb.70148","DOIUrl":"10.1111/geb.70148","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Woody plant encroachment is reshaping grassland ecosystem functions worldwide. While its aboveground impacts are well documented, how this process alters microbial communities—key drivers of belowground processes—remains poorly understood. We aimed to (1) quantify the general effects of global woody plant encroachment on soil microbial community attributes in grasslands and (2) identify the abiotic and biotic factors driving these changes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Global grassland ecosystems.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Time Period</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>2000–2024.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Major Taxa Studied</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Soil microbial communities (bacteria, fungi).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted a meta-analysis of 241 paired observations to evaluate changes in microbial composition, diversity, biomass, activity and enzyme activity under woody plant encroachment.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Woody plant encroachment significantly altered soil properties. Woody plant encroachment also promoted a comprehensive increase in microbial community diversity, biomass, microbial activity and enzyme activity, as well as changes in community composition. The nitrogen-fixing status of the encroaching species (biotic factor) significantly affected microbial responses: encroachment by nitrogen-fixing plants resulted in a higher abundance of Bacteroidetes, fungal richness, microbial biomass phosphorus and phosphatase activity compared to non-nitrogen-fixing plants. In addition, abiotic factors, such as mean annual temperature, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen were identified as key factors driving microbial responses. Specifically, mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature and elevation jointly regulated the effects of woody plant encroachment on soil microbial community attributes by influencing plant and soil properties.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This meta-analysis demonstrated that woody plant encroachment significantly reshaped soil microbial communities in grassland ecosystems. Our findings highlight the role of abiotic factors (climate, elevation, organic carbon and total nitrogen), and biotic factors (nitrogen-fixing status) in mediating the response of soil microbial communities. These insights contribute to a better understanding of belowground ecological processes and p","PeriodicalId":176,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Biogeography","volume":"34 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145447209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joséphine Couet, Emma-Liina Marjakangas, Andrea Santangeli, Pekka Niittynen, Benoît Fontaine, Sergi Herrando, John Atle Kålås, Åke Lindström, Dario Massimino, Marvin Moosmann, Benjamin Seaman, Laura Silva, Bård G. Stokke, Norbert Teufelbauer, Aleksi Lehikoinen
Aim
Climate change is driving species towards higher elevations. While local shifts in elevation are well documented, patterns across entire mountain regions are less understood. On a local scale, abiotic factors, such as topography and solar radiation relating to microclimate, affect species distributions and can thus influence the rate of elevational shifts on mountain slopes. The impact of abiotic factors on biodiversity is evident, but range shift studies have mostly focused on groups of species with low mobility, such as plants.
Location
Across European mountain regions of the Alps, Pyrenees, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom.
Time Period
2001–2021.
Major Taxa Studied
One hundred seventy-seven bird species.
Methods
We adopted a cross-scale community approach using abundance data to quantify the impact of the amount of solar radiation (measured as potential incoming solar radiation) on the mean elevational distribution and rate of elevational shifts of bird species in four European mountain regions. We modelled the impact of the amount of solar radiation using generalised linear mixed models.
Results
We found that bird species inhabit higher elevations in areas receiving more solar radiation. We also found that the mean elevations at which species occur moved uphill by 0.5 m/year between the periods 2001–2004 and 2018–2021 across Europe. However, this rate of elevational shifts was similar between areas receiving low, medium and high amounts of solar radiation. We observed variations in the rate of elevational shifts that were fastest in Scandinavia and the Alps, while no uphill shift was observed in the UK or the Pyrenees.
Main Conclusions
Our findings underscore the significance of abiotic factors, including solar radiation and climate change, driving, directly or indirectly, birds' elevational distributions. They also unveil consistent patterns of uphill shifts across different solar radiation regimes at a continental scale.
{"title":"Solar Radiation Affects Bird Distributions but Not Elevational Shifts in European Mountains","authors":"Joséphine Couet, Emma-Liina Marjakangas, Andrea Santangeli, Pekka Niittynen, Benoît Fontaine, Sergi Herrando, John Atle Kålås, Åke Lindström, Dario Massimino, Marvin Moosmann, Benjamin Seaman, Laura Silva, Bård G. Stokke, Norbert Teufelbauer, Aleksi Lehikoinen","doi":"10.1111/geb.70143","DOIUrl":"10.1111/geb.70143","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Climate change is driving species towards higher elevations. While local shifts in elevation are well documented, patterns across entire mountain regions are less understood. On a local scale, abiotic factors, such as topography and solar radiation relating to microclimate, affect species distributions and can thus influence the rate of elevational shifts on mountain slopes. The impact of abiotic factors on biodiversity is evident, but range shift studies have mostly focused on groups of species with low mobility, such as plants.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Across European mountain regions of the Alps, Pyrenees, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Time Period</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>2001–2021.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Major Taxa Studied</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>One hundred seventy-seven bird species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We adopted a cross-scale community approach using abundance data to quantify the impact of the amount of solar radiation (measured as potential incoming solar radiation) on the mean elevational distribution and rate of elevational shifts of bird species in four European mountain regions. We modelled the impact of the amount of solar radiation using generalised linear mixed models.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found that bird species inhabit higher elevations in areas receiving more solar radiation. We also found that the mean elevations at which species occur moved uphill by 0.5 m/year between the periods 2001–2004 and 2018–2021 across Europe. However, this rate of elevational shifts was similar between areas receiving low, medium and high amounts of solar radiation. We observed variations in the rate of elevational shifts that were fastest in Scandinavia and the Alps, while no uphill shift was observed in the UK or the Pyrenees.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings underscore the significance of abiotic factors, including solar radiation and climate change, driving, directly or indirectly, birds' elevational distributions. They also unveil consistent patterns of uphill shifts across different solar radiation regimes at a continental scale.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":176,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Biogeography","volume":"34 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/geb.70143","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145434207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bruno Paganeli, Enrico Tordoni, Hanno Seebens, Meelis Pärtel
Aim
Biological invasions are one of the major threats to ecosystems worldwide and are expected to increase further in the future. Prevention and swift responses are crucial to mitigate this threat. However, predicting new alien species' arrivals remains a challenge. Here, we identified the distribution pattern of potential new invasion by defining regional alien dark diversity—ecologically suitable but currently absent sets of alien plant species.
Location
Global.
Time Period
Current and future.
Major Taxa Studied
Plants.
Methods
Applying a probabilistic approach based on the co-occurrence of over 346,000 species, we identified the size and composition of alien dark diversity in 367 regions. Using recognised invasion drivers, we assessed their effects on observed and alien dark diversity. Additionally, we used projected socioeconomic scenarios for 2050 and related them to the alien dark diversity, describing risks for future invasions.
Results
Global distributions of alien observed and dark diversity sizes differed considerably. In contrast to alien observed diversity trends, alien dark diversity was higher in smaller, naturally species-poor, and unproductive dry regions. While alien observed diversity increased with economic wealth, dark diversity decreased. Urbanisation was the only variable where both alien biodiversity metrics showed a consistent positive relationship. By 2050, about a quarter of the globe's land area will face a high risk of future invasions, with the most suitable dark diversity species being shared between regions.
Main Conclusions
We show that alien ecological suitability is enhanced by urbanisation, but GDP is one of the most important drivers of invasion, as it facilitates alien species' arrival. As many regions share similar potential new invaders, some with disruptive ecological roles, we highlight the importance of sharing invasion control strategies. Knowledge about alien dark diversity facilitates the assessment of forthcoming invasion risks, enabling preparation ahead of time for mitigating the adverse effects of biological invasions.
{"title":"Observed and Dark Diversity of Alien Plants Across the World","authors":"Bruno Paganeli, Enrico Tordoni, Hanno Seebens, Meelis Pärtel","doi":"10.1111/geb.70142","DOIUrl":"10.1111/geb.70142","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Biological invasions are one of the major threats to ecosystems worldwide and are expected to increase further in the future. Prevention and swift responses are crucial to mitigate this threat. However, predicting new alien species' arrivals remains a challenge. Here, we identified the distribution pattern of potential new invasion by defining regional alien dark diversity—ecologically suitable but currently absent sets of alien plant species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Global.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Time Period</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Current and future.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Major Taxa Studied</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Plants.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Applying a probabilistic approach based on the co-occurrence of over 346,000 species, we identified the size and composition of alien dark diversity in 367 regions. Using recognised invasion drivers, we assessed their effects on observed and alien dark diversity. Additionally, we used projected socioeconomic scenarios for 2050 and related them to the alien dark diversity, describing risks for future invasions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Global distributions of alien observed and dark diversity sizes differed considerably. In contrast to alien observed diversity trends, alien dark diversity was higher in smaller, naturally species-poor, and unproductive dry regions. While alien observed diversity increased with economic wealth, dark diversity decreased. Urbanisation was the only variable where both alien biodiversity metrics showed a consistent positive relationship. By 2050, about a quarter of the globe's land area will face a high risk of future invasions, with the most suitable dark diversity species being shared between regions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We show that alien ecological suitability is enhanced by urbanisation, but GDP is one of the most important drivers of invasion, as it facilitates alien species' arrival. As many regions share similar potential new invaders, some with disruptive ecological roles, we highlight the importance of sharing invasion control strategies. Knowledge about alien dark diversity facilitates the assessment of forthcoming invasion risks, enabling preparation ahead of time for mitigating the adverse effects of biological invasions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":176,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Biogeography","volume":"34 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145427391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Raquel Ponti, Ana V. Leitão, Claire Doutrelant, Rita Covas
Aim
Island biotas experience unique ecological conditions, such as isolation, small areas, or simplified communities that promote repeated patterns of evolution like changes in body size, that have been widely studied. By contrast, apart from the evolution of flightlessness in birds, changes in body shape remain relatively less explored. Here, we explore the effect of insularity on the evolution of locomotion-related traits.
Location
Global.
Time Period
Current.
Major Taxa Studied
Birds.
Methods
We used 796 pairs of endemic island birds and their closest mainland relatives (1170 species total) to explore the effect of insularity on the evolution of locomotion-related traits, specifically wing shape and length, and tarsus length. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of the number of raptors and intra-family competitors (as the co-occurring species belonging to the same family) on these patterns.
Results
We found that endemic island birds evolved features adapted to a more terrestrial mode of locomotion, characterised by rounder wings and longer tarsi compared to their mainland counterparts, while we did not observe a reduction in wing length. A lower number of raptors and intra-family competitors on islands was associated with shorter tarsi, especially in passerines. Wing shape was also affected by the loss of migratory behaviour after island colonisation.
Main Conclusions
Our results show a general pattern of morphological evolution in island birds that favours a more terrestrial lifestyle, likely accentuated by the absence of predators and reduced competition.
{"title":"Morphological Evolution in Island Birds Is Associated With More Terrestrial Lifestyles and a Lower Number of Raptors and Intra-Family Competitors","authors":"Raquel Ponti, Ana V. Leitão, Claire Doutrelant, Rita Covas","doi":"10.1111/geb.70144","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.70144","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Island biotas experience unique ecological conditions, such as isolation, small areas, or simplified communities that promote repeated patterns of evolution like changes in body size, that have been widely studied. By contrast, apart from the evolution of flightlessness in birds, changes in body shape remain relatively less explored. Here, we explore the effect of insularity on the evolution of locomotion-related traits.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Global.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Time Period</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Current.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Major Taxa Studied</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Birds.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used 796 pairs of endemic island birds and their closest mainland relatives (1170 species total) to explore the effect of insularity on the evolution of locomotion-related traits, specifically wing shape and length, and tarsus length. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of the number of raptors and intra-family competitors (as the co-occurring species belonging to the same family) on these patterns.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found that endemic island birds evolved features adapted to a more terrestrial mode of locomotion, characterised by rounder wings and longer tarsi compared to their mainland counterparts, while we did not observe a reduction in wing length. A lower number of raptors and intra-family competitors on islands was associated with shorter tarsi, especially in passerines. Wing shape was also affected by the loss of migratory behaviour after island colonisation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results show a general pattern of morphological evolution in island birds that favours a more terrestrial lifestyle, likely accentuated by the absence of predators and reduced competition.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":176,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Biogeography","volume":"34 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/geb.70144","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145407506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amaury Thepault, Tohi Adenot, Romain Lorrilliere, Paul Cuchot, Pierre-Yves Henry
<div> <section> <h3> Aim</h3> <p>Nonlinearities are ubiquitous features of ecosystem dynamics in climate change ecology. The changing climate is expected to reveal hump-shaped patterns in ecosystem responses, delineating weather optima and constraints. In temperate mid-latitudes, both cold and warm spring constraints are reported to limit songbird breeding productivity. However, with many studies focusing on specifically declining functional groups, such as long-distance migrants, our understanding of the overall influence of increasingly warmer and drier conditions on songbird productivity remains limited. Here, we modelled changes in songbird productivity in relation to temperature and water balance anomalies during the breeding season, aiming to identify key weather constraints—whether life-history dependent or shared across species—in a warming temperate world.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Location</h3> <p>France.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Time Period</h3> <p>1991–2022.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Major Taxa Studied</h3> <p>Songbirds (<i>Passeri</i>).</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>Using standardised capture data of 300,031 birds across 68 species, we quantified changes in songbird productivity along gradients of spring weather anomalies and extremes using generalised linear mixed models. We then conducted interspecific analyses to explore how life-history traits (e.g., migratory strategy, thermal and hydric affinities) modulate species' sensitivity to weather.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>Songbird productivity increased along gradients from cold to warm and from wet to dry anomalies. Nonetheless, warm-related constraints also emerged: in early spring, particularly at already warm sites and most strongly for long-distance migrants; and in late spring, especially for cold-adapted species.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Main Conclusions</h3> <p>Warmer or drier springs continue to enhance songbird productivity in temperate France, reaffirming the detrimental influence of cold and wet snaps. Beyond the well-known benefits of earlier breeding phenologies, these effects are likely driven by the impacts of such weather conditions on ecosystem productivity and resource availability. Non-linear patterns and early si
{"title":"Warm or Dry Springs (Still) Boost the Reproduction of Most Temperate Songbirds","authors":"Amaury Thepault, Tohi Adenot, Romain Lorrilliere, Paul Cuchot, Pierre-Yves Henry","doi":"10.1111/geb.70138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.70138","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Nonlinearities are ubiquitous features of ecosystem dynamics in climate change ecology. The changing climate is expected to reveal hump-shaped patterns in ecosystem responses, delineating weather optima and constraints. In temperate mid-latitudes, both cold and warm spring constraints are reported to limit songbird breeding productivity. However, with many studies focusing on specifically declining functional groups, such as long-distance migrants, our understanding of the overall influence of increasingly warmer and drier conditions on songbird productivity remains limited. Here, we modelled changes in songbird productivity in relation to temperature and water balance anomalies during the breeding season, aiming to identify key weather constraints—whether life-history dependent or shared across species—in a warming temperate world.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>France.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Time Period</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>1991–2022.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Major Taxa Studied</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Songbirds (<i>Passeri</i>).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using standardised capture data of 300,031 birds across 68 species, we quantified changes in songbird productivity along gradients of spring weather anomalies and extremes using generalised linear mixed models. We then conducted interspecific analyses to explore how life-history traits (e.g., migratory strategy, thermal and hydric affinities) modulate species' sensitivity to weather.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Songbird productivity increased along gradients from cold to warm and from wet to dry anomalies. Nonetheless, warm-related constraints also emerged: in early spring, particularly at already warm sites and most strongly for long-distance migrants; and in late spring, especially for cold-adapted species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Warmer or drier springs continue to enhance songbird productivity in temperate France, reaffirming the detrimental influence of cold and wet snaps. Beyond the well-known benefits of earlier breeding phenologies, these effects are likely driven by the impacts of such weather conditions on ecosystem productivity and resource availability. Non-linear patterns and early si","PeriodicalId":176,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Biogeography","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/geb.70138","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145367015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brian K. Gallagher, Elizabeth C. Santos, Michael Dumelle, Philip R. Kaufmann, Joseph L. Ebersole
<div> <section> <h3> Aim</h3> <p>Freshwater fishes comprise over 20% of vertebrate biodiversity despite occupying < 1% of the Earth's surface. However, species richness differs substantially among river basins. Fundamentally, richness patterns can be explained by spatial variation in diversification rates, evolutionary time and habitat capacities, which are in turn shaped by landscape change over geologic timescales. To test how geologic disturbances have influenced the accumulation of freshwater fish biodiversity, we hypothesized species richness would be (1) ordered by regional geologic history, (2) associated with high or intermediate river capture rates, (3) higher in assemblages with older evolutionary origins and (4) positively associated with stream size.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Time Period</h3> <p>2008–2019.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Location</h3> <p>Conterminous United States (USA).</p> </section> <section> <h3> Major Taxa</h3> <p>Freshwater fishes.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>We analysed native species richness from a spatially representative survey of 5321 fish assemblages at 3609 sites. Geologic history was determined from surrogates of tectonic activity, glaciation, sea levels and river capture over the last 66 million years, which were paired with previously published evolutionary time estimates. Hypotheses were tested with spatial linear models.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>All hypotheses were at least partially supported. (1) Rank-order richness matched hypothesized effects of geologic disturbances on evolutionary time and diversification rates. (2) Richness peaked in lowlands with high putative river capture rates. (3) Richness increased with evolutionary time at broad scales, but this relationship was weak and influenced by non-teleost taxa. (4) Richness largely increased with stream size. Overall, the tectonically active western USA exhibited lower richness, weaker effects of stream size and a greater share of young lineages compared to the more geologically stable eastern USA, especially unglaciated lowlands within the Mississippi Basin.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Main Conclusions</h3> <p>We demonstrate that deep-time processes leave a persistent mark on fish species richness. Thus, accounting for geologic history can improve assessments of freshwater biodiversity and biological condition in the USA and beyond.</p>
{"title":"Geologic History Explains Freshwater Fish Species Richness Across the Conterminous USA","authors":"Brian K. Gallagher, Elizabeth C. Santos, Michael Dumelle, Philip R. Kaufmann, Joseph L. Ebersole","doi":"10.1111/geb.70139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.70139","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Freshwater fishes comprise over 20% of vertebrate biodiversity despite occupying < 1% of the Earth's surface. However, species richness differs substantially among river basins. Fundamentally, richness patterns can be explained by spatial variation in diversification rates, evolutionary time and habitat capacities, which are in turn shaped by landscape change over geologic timescales. To test how geologic disturbances have influenced the accumulation of freshwater fish biodiversity, we hypothesized species richness would be (1) ordered by regional geologic history, (2) associated with high or intermediate river capture rates, (3) higher in assemblages with older evolutionary origins and (4) positively associated with stream size.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Time Period</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>2008–2019.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Conterminous United States (USA).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Major Taxa</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Freshwater fishes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We analysed native species richness from a spatially representative survey of 5321 fish assemblages at 3609 sites. Geologic history was determined from surrogates of tectonic activity, glaciation, sea levels and river capture over the last 66 million years, which were paired with previously published evolutionary time estimates. Hypotheses were tested with spatial linear models.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>All hypotheses were at least partially supported. (1) Rank-order richness matched hypothesized effects of geologic disturbances on evolutionary time and diversification rates. (2) Richness peaked in lowlands with high putative river capture rates. (3) Richness increased with evolutionary time at broad scales, but this relationship was weak and influenced by non-teleost taxa. (4) Richness largely increased with stream size. Overall, the tectonically active western USA exhibited lower richness, weaker effects of stream size and a greater share of young lineages compared to the more geologically stable eastern USA, especially unglaciated lowlands within the Mississippi Basin.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We demonstrate that deep-time processes leave a persistent mark on fish species richness. Thus, accounting for geologic history can improve assessments of freshwater biodiversity and biological condition in the USA and beyond.</p>\u0000 ","PeriodicalId":176,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Biogeography","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145366851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Global forests face increasing stresses from novel climate states, altered disturbance regimes and the spread of pests and pathogens. Understanding where and when mortality occurs across species' ranges—and identifying associated mortality agents—can improve predictions of forest shifts, inform management and enhance vegetation model carbon cycle components.
Location
USA.
Time Period
2003–2023.
Taxa Studied
Pinus elliottii, Pinus palustris and Pinus taeda.
Methods
Using inventory data on 129,970 trees from 14,517 forest plots censused two to five times, recorded agents of mortality (competition, weather events, fire, animals, insects and pathogens), and applied Bayesian size-dependent survival models, multinomial regressions and spatial eigenvector-based analyses to assess spatial and temporal variation in the survival of three major US pine species.
Results
Species varied ontogenetically, spatially and temporally in survival. Most interspecific differences occurred in saplings and small trees (< 10 cm diameter), and near species' maximum stature. Pinus taeda showed a marked decline in survival across the natural populations over the last two decades. Spatially, survival patterns were significant for all three species; P. taeda showed consistent spatial structuring at all three spatially examined resolutions, with mortality associated primarily with weather, insects and competition. Pinus elliottii and P. palustris showed spatial structures at one resolution each. As expected, competition dominated in low-mortality areas, consistent with background mortality from succession and gap-phase dynamics. High mortality patches were dominated by disturbance agents such as weather events and insects.
Main Conclusions
Exploring range-wide demography while jointly accounting for ontogenetic, spatial and temporal variations is essential in determining species vulnerability to environmental and anthropogenic changes. Models to predict future trends in mo
{"title":"Mosaic of Size-Dependent Mortality in Three Ecologically and Economically Important Pine Species Reveals Patterns Across Space and Time","authors":"David Bauman, Sean M. McMahon, Daniel J. Johnson","doi":"10.1111/geb.70141","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.70141","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Global forests face increasing stresses from novel climate states, altered disturbance regimes and the spread of pests and pathogens. Understanding where and when mortality occurs across species' ranges—and identifying associated mortality agents—can improve predictions of forest shifts, inform management and enhance vegetation model carbon cycle components.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>USA.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Time Period</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>2003–2023.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Taxa Studied</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p><i>Pinus elliottii</i>, <i>Pinus palustris</i> and <i>Pinus taeda</i>.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using inventory data on 129,970 trees from 14,517 forest plots censused two to five times, recorded agents of mortality (competition, weather events, fire, animals, insects and pathogens), and applied Bayesian size-dependent survival models, multinomial regressions and spatial eigenvector-based analyses to assess spatial and temporal variation in the survival of three major US pine species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Species varied ontogenetically, spatially and temporally in survival. Most interspecific differences occurred in saplings and small trees (< 10 cm diameter), and near species' maximum stature. <i>Pinus taeda</i> showed a marked decline in survival across the natural populations over the last two decades. Spatially, survival patterns were significant for all three species; <i>P. taeda</i> showed consistent spatial structuring at all three spatially examined resolutions, with mortality associated primarily with weather, insects and competition. <i>Pinus elliottii</i> and <i>P. palustris</i> showed spatial structures at one resolution each. As expected, competition dominated in low-mortality areas, consistent with background mortality from succession and gap-phase dynamics. High mortality patches were dominated by disturbance agents such as weather events and insects.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Exploring range-wide demography while jointly accounting for ontogenetic, spatial and temporal variations is essential in determining species vulnerability to environmental and anthropogenic changes. Models to predict future trends in mo","PeriodicalId":176,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Biogeography","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/geb.70141","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145366478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christina Dollinger, Werner Rammer, Akira S. Mori, Monica G. Turner, Rupert Seidl
Aim
Global change alters many ecological processes simultaneously. Yet, the interactive and compound effects of these changes remain difficult to quantify. Here, we addressed the question of how changes in disturbance and regeneration processes interactively alter temperate forest landscapes across three continents.
Location
Temperate forests of the Northern Hemisphere.
Time Period
21st century.
Major Taxa Studied
Trees.
Methods
We conducted a simulation experiment to (i) disentangle the effects of interacting disturbance and regeneration processes on forest structure and composition and (ii) quantify how a changing climate modulates these interaction effects.
Results
Simultaneously changing disturbance and regeneration processes led to a tenfold amplification of forest change compared to changes in either disturbance or regeneration. Interaction effects were context-dependent: At low to intermediate disturbance rates (< 1% of landscape disturbed per year), high rates of regeneration buffered against declines in forest structure. In contrast, the interactions of high disturbance and high regeneration rates amplified changes in forest composition. Climatic changes dampened structural change while amplifying compositional change. At high disturbance rates, however, the modulating effects of climate change were small, and forest change was primarily driven by disturbances.
Main Conclusions
We conclude that the consequences of changing disturbance and regeneration need to be assessed jointly to understand their outcomes. Our findings highlight the importance of interaction effects of simultaneously changing ecological processes in shaping the future of forest ecosystems.
{"title":"Disentangling Compound Effects of Changing Disturbance and Regeneration Across Temperate Forest Landscapes","authors":"Christina Dollinger, Werner Rammer, Akira S. Mori, Monica G. Turner, Rupert Seidl","doi":"10.1111/geb.70140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.70140","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Global change alters many ecological processes simultaneously. Yet, the interactive and compound effects of these changes remain difficult to quantify. Here, we addressed the question of how changes in disturbance and regeneration processes interactively alter temperate forest landscapes across three continents.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Temperate forests of the Northern Hemisphere.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Time Period</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>21st century.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Major Taxa Studied</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Trees.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted a simulation experiment to (i) disentangle the effects of interacting disturbance and regeneration processes on forest structure and composition and (ii) quantify how a changing climate modulates these interaction effects.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Simultaneously changing disturbance and regeneration processes led to a tenfold amplification of forest change compared to changes in either disturbance or regeneration. Interaction effects were context-dependent: At low to intermediate disturbance rates (< 1% of landscape disturbed per year), high rates of regeneration buffered against declines in forest structure. In contrast, the interactions of high disturbance and high regeneration rates amplified changes in forest composition. Climatic changes dampened structural change while amplifying compositional change. At high disturbance rates, however, the modulating effects of climate change were small, and forest change was primarily driven by disturbances.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conclude that the consequences of changing disturbance and regeneration need to be assessed jointly to understand their outcomes. Our findings highlight the importance of interaction effects of simultaneously changing ecological processes in shaping the future of forest ecosystems.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":176,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Biogeography","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/geb.70140","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145366332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Meike Buhaly, Jake M. Alexander, Aníbal Pauchard, Lisa J. Rew, Tim Seipel, José Ramón Arévalo, Valeria Aschero, Joshua P. Averett, Agustina Barros, Lohengrin A. Cavieres, V. Ralph Clark, Curtis C. Daehler, Pervaiz A. Dar, Eduardo Fuentes-Lillo, Onalenna Gwate, Anke Jentsch, Josef Kutlvašr, Christian Larson, Jonas J. Lembrechts, Keith McDougall, Martin A. Nuñez, Irfan Rashid, Amanda Ratier Backes, Zafar A. Reshi, Andreas H. Schweiger, Koenraad Van Meerbeek, Vernon Visser, Michaela Vítková, Tom Vorstenbosch, Peter Wolff, Shengwei Zong, Sylvia Haider
Aim
Mountain ecosystems are experiencing increased invasion of non-native plants. These increases in non-native species put mountains at risk of biotic homogenisation and a reduction of biodiversity. Our study aims to test if non-native plant species are contributing to biotic homogenisation along roadways in mountain regions and how this changes along elevation gradients and across spatial scales.
Location
18 globally distributed mountain regions.
Time Period
2012–2023.
Major Taxa Studied
Vascular plants.
Methods
We used standardised vegetation surveys including species cover from 18 mountain regions worldwide to analyse whether the addition of non-native species to the native flora increased or decreased Bray–Curtis dissimilarity (i.e., beta-diversity) among roadside plant communities along elevation gradients ranging from 15 to 3919 m a.s.l. We tested this at the local, regional, continental and global scales using mixed-effects models and confirmed it using null models.
Results
In the New World, we mainly observed homogenisation across regions and scales, as beta-diversity was mostly lower with the addition of non-native species. This was particularly true for low elevations. In contrast, we predominantly found community differentiation in the Old World, specifically at smaller (i.e., local and regional) scales. At the global scale, communities became more similar through the addition of non-native species at all elevations.
Main Conclusions
Large-scale homogenisation might be interpreted as a signal that high-elevation plant communities along roadways may become more similar as non-native species continue to spread upwards. Future studies should investigate the mechanisms driving the observed patterns of both homogenisation and differentiation by non-native species, and explore the potential consequences of these patterns for ecosystem function and resilience.
{"title":"Global Homogenisation of Plant Communities Along Mountain Roads by Non-Native Species Despite Mixed Effects at Smaller Scales","authors":"Meike Buhaly, Jake M. Alexander, Aníbal Pauchard, Lisa J. Rew, Tim Seipel, José Ramón Arévalo, Valeria Aschero, Joshua P. Averett, Agustina Barros, Lohengrin A. Cavieres, V. Ralph Clark, Curtis C. Daehler, Pervaiz A. Dar, Eduardo Fuentes-Lillo, Onalenna Gwate, Anke Jentsch, Josef Kutlvašr, Christian Larson, Jonas J. Lembrechts, Keith McDougall, Martin A. Nuñez, Irfan Rashid, Amanda Ratier Backes, Zafar A. Reshi, Andreas H. Schweiger, Koenraad Van Meerbeek, Vernon Visser, Michaela Vítková, Tom Vorstenbosch, Peter Wolff, Shengwei Zong, Sylvia Haider","doi":"10.1111/geb.70137","DOIUrl":"10.1111/geb.70137","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mountain ecosystems are experiencing increased invasion of non-native plants. These increases in non-native species put mountains at risk of biotic homogenisation and a reduction of biodiversity. Our study aims to test if non-native plant species are contributing to biotic homogenisation along roadways in mountain regions and how this changes along elevation gradients and across spatial scales.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>18 globally distributed mountain regions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Time Period</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>2012–2023.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Major Taxa Studied</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Vascular plants.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used standardised vegetation surveys including species cover from 18 mountain regions worldwide to analyse whether the addition of non-native species to the native flora increased or decreased Bray–Curtis dissimilarity (i.e., beta-diversity) among roadside plant communities along elevation gradients ranging from 15 to 3919 m a.s.l. We tested this at the local, regional, continental and global scales using mixed-effects models and confirmed it using null models.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In the New World, we mainly observed homogenisation across regions and scales, as beta-diversity was mostly lower with the addition of non-native species. This was particularly true for low elevations. In contrast, we predominantly found community differentiation in the Old World, specifically at smaller (i.e., local and regional) scales. At the global scale, communities became more similar through the addition of non-native species at all elevations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Large-scale homogenisation might be interpreted as a signal that high-elevation plant communities along roadways may become more similar as non-native species continue to spread upwards. Future studies should investigate the mechanisms driving the observed patterns of both homogenisation and differentiation by non-native species, and explore the potential consequences of these patterns for ecosystem function and resilience.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":176,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Biogeography","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/geb.70137","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145295227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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