Pub Date : 2025-02-17DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00387
Tomás Matheus Dias-Oliveira , Diogo Silva Vilela , Luiz Eduardo de Carvalho Chaves Júnior , Gabriel de Castro Jacques , Marcos Magalhães de Souza
This study reports, as a pioneer effort, the predation of adult Plecoptera by adult Odonata in a Campo Rupestre environment, at the Pico do Itambé State Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The event was recorded in September 2024, in a rocky lotic area, where the damselfly Argia claussenii Selys, 1865 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) was feeding on the stonefly Gripopteryx sp. (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae). The predation is attributed to the generalist predatory behavior of damselflies, known for capturing a wide range of prey during their adult phase. This study contributes to the knowledge of trophic interactions involving Odonata and Plecoptera in ecosystems of high biodiversity and ecological relevance, such as the Campo Rupestre, and highlights the need for further investigations into the biology and ecology of these species in environments threatened by habitat loss.
本研究报告了在巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州Pico do itamb州立公园Campo Rupestre环境中成年斑翅目昆虫被成年斑翅目昆虫捕食的开创性成果。该事件于2024年9月在一个多岩石的地区被记录下来，当时豆蝇Argia claussenii Selys， 1865（蜻蜓目：豆蝇科）正在捕食石蝇Gripopteryx sp.（翅翅目：Gripopterygidae）。这种捕食行为归因于豆娘的多面手捕食行为，它们以在成年期捕获各种猎物而闻名。该研究有助于了解高生物多样性和生态相关性生态系统（如Campo Rupestre）中齿翅目和翼翅目的营养相互作用，并强调了在栖息地丧失威胁的环境中对这些物种的生物学和生态学进行进一步研究的必要性。
{"title":"Predation of Gripopteryx sp. (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae) by Argia claussenii Selys, 1865 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) in Campo Rupestre, Minas Gerais","authors":"Tomás Matheus Dias-Oliveira , Diogo Silva Vilela , Luiz Eduardo de Carvalho Chaves Júnior , Gabriel de Castro Jacques , Marcos Magalhães de Souza","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00387","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00387","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study reports, as a pioneer effort, the predation of adult Plecoptera by adult Odonata in a Campo Rupestre environment, at the Pico do Itambé State Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The event was recorded in September 2024, in a rocky lotic area, where the damselfly <em>Argia claussenii</em> Selys, 1865 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) was feeding on the stonefly <em>Gripopteryx</em> sp. (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae). The predation is attributed to the generalist predatory behavior of damselflies, known for capturing a wide range of prey during their adult phase. This study contributes to the knowledge of trophic interactions involving Odonata and Plecoptera in ecosystems of high biodiversity and ecological relevance, such as the <em>Campo Rupestre</em>, and highlights the need for further investigations into the biology and ecology of these species in environments threatened by habitat loss.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article e00387"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143465264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}
Springtails are tiny and inconspicuous, but numerous and diverse arthropods that play a significant role in soil food webs. They inhabit various ecosystems — moist forest floors, freshwater or sea shores, and water surface — and, as a result, have various diets. We hypothesized that habitats affect fatty acid (FA) compositions of springtails: species living near aquatic ecosystems will contain higher levels of physiologically valuable long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) of the n-3 family, which are primarily synthesized by aquatic organisms. We studied density and biomass, and FA composition and content of springtails living near water bodies (Halisotoma boneti, Isotomurus palustris, Scutisotoma muriphila) and two species of the genus Pogonognathellus living in the dry bed of a forest stream. According to FA trophic markers the species had different diets that might affect the content of LC-PUFAs. The content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) was high in all studied species and varied from 2.2 mg·g−1 of ww in Pogonognathellus spp. from a forest to 3.7 mg·g−1 of ww in I. palustris from a lake shore. The percentage of EPA was 13.1–17.3 % of the total FAs. That is unusual for terrestrial organisms and is comparable to larvae of amphibiotic insects. EPA content in clusters of hygrophilous springtails reached 16.4–44.9 mg·m−2. Hygrophilous springtails could be a valuable source of EPA for terrestrial consumers. Additionally, we found the effect of the phylogenetic factor on FA profiles: H. boneti from different habitat had similar FA profiles, while representatives of Isotomidae family differed from representatives of Tomoceridae family in FA profiles.
{"title":"Hygrophilous springtails (Arthropoda: Collembola) with different diets are a potential source of eicosapentaenoic fatty acid for terrestrial consumers","authors":"Natalia Kuznetsova , Olesia Makhutova , Mikhail Potapov , Mikhail Gladyshev","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00388","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00388","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Springtails are tiny and inconspicuous, but numerous and diverse arthropods that play a significant role in soil food webs. They inhabit various ecosystems — moist forest floors, freshwater or sea shores, and water surface — and, as a result, have various diets. We hypothesized that habitats affect fatty acid (FA) compositions of springtails: species living near aquatic ecosystems will contain higher levels of physiologically valuable long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) of the n-3 family, which are primarily synthesized by aquatic organisms. We studied density and biomass, and FA composition and content of springtails living near water bodies (<em>Halisotoma boneti, Isotomurus palustris, Scutisotoma muriphila</em>) and two species of the genus <em>Pogonognathellus</em> living in the dry bed of a forest stream. According to FA trophic markers the species had different diets that might affect the content of LC-PUFAs. The content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) was high in all studied species and varied from 2.2 mg·g<sup>−1</sup> of ww in <em>Pogonognathellus</em> spp. from a forest to 3.7 mg·g<sup>−1</sup> of ww in <em>I. palustris</em> from a lake shore. The percentage of EPA was 13.1–17.3 % of the total FAs. That is unusual for terrestrial organisms and is comparable to larvae of amphibiotic insects. EPA content in clusters of hygrophilous springtails reached 16.4–44.9 mg·m<sup>−2</sup>. Hygrophilous springtails could be a valuable source of EPA for terrestrial consumers. Additionally, we found the effect of the phylogenetic factor on FA profiles: <em>H. boneti</em> from different habitat had similar FA profiles, while representatives of Isotomidae family differed from representatives of Tomoceridae family in FA profiles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article e00388"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143387669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}
Pub Date : 2025-01-04DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00386
Brendan C. Ebner
Mutualism essentially encompasses the ecological and evolutionary aspects of net cooperative gain for multiple taxa and genes. Despite many aquatic assemblages and communities being investigated for trophic and competitive interactions; mutualism is not always as closely scrutinised. Notable exceptions are provided by studies of cleaner fish and invertebrate cleaning behaviour in clear-water, tropical coral reef ecosystems and nearshore subtropical marine contexts. Recently, estuarine fish cleaning of parasites has been reported from detailed above-water observations made in eastern Australia and the current study provides additional records of subtropical estuarine fish cleaning relationships based on underwater observation. Specifically, the ubiquitous subtropical estuarine fish, yellowfin bream, Acanthopagrus australis (Sparidae) was observed regularly presenting for parasite cleaning by the common stripey, Microcanthus joyceae (Microcanthidae) in the lower Maroochy River (Queensland, Australia), most notably around morning high tides. Additionally, M. joyceae was occasionally observed cleaning Moses Perch, Lutjanus russelli (Lutjanidae) and Racoon Butterfly fish, Chaetodon lunula (Chaetodontidae) and pomacentrids (Abudefduf vaigiensis and A. bengalensis) were infrequently cleaning juvenile yellowfin bream. These interactions provide examples of small-bodied fishes with comparable body demarcation (black and yellow bands or stripes) to that of a previously identified fish cleaner (juvenile silver batfish, Monodactylus argenteus (Monodactylidae)) in estuaries, typically servicing clients larger in body size than the cleaners. Interestingly, juveniles of M. argenteus were present but not seen performing cleaning behaviour in the current study. Facultative cleaning species warrant further attention with water clarity and benthic structure representing promising factors to consider in planning future work.
{"title":"Daily estuary tides orchestrate clients seeking service from facultative cleaners","authors":"Brendan C. Ebner","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00386","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2025.e00386","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mutualism essentially encompasses the ecological and evolutionary aspects of net cooperative gain for multiple taxa and genes. Despite many aquatic assemblages and communities being investigated for trophic and competitive interactions; mutualism is not always as closely scrutinised. Notable exceptions are provided by studies of cleaner fish and invertebrate cleaning behaviour in clear-water, tropical coral reef ecosystems and nearshore subtropical marine contexts. Recently, estuarine fish cleaning of parasites has been reported from detailed above-water observations made in eastern Australia and the current study provides additional records of subtropical estuarine fish cleaning relationships based on underwater observation. Specifically, the ubiquitous subtropical estuarine fish, yellowfin bream, <em>Acanthopagrus australis</em> (Sparidae) was observed regularly presenting for parasite cleaning by the common stripey, <em>Microcanthus joyceae</em> (Microcanthidae) in the lower Maroochy River (Queensland, Australia), most notably around morning high tides. Additionally, <em>M. joyceae</em> was occasionally observed cleaning Moses Perch, <em>Lutjanus russelli</em> (Lutjanidae) and Racoon Butterfly fish, <em>Chaetodon lunula</em> (Chaetodontidae) and pomacentrids (<em>Abudefduf vaigiensis</em> and <em>A. bengalensis</em>) were infrequently cleaning juvenile yellowfin bream. These interactions provide examples of small-bodied fishes with comparable body demarcation (black and yellow bands or stripes) to that of a previously identified fish cleaner (juvenile silver batfish, <em>Monodactylus argenteus</em> (Monodactylidae)) in estuaries, typically servicing clients larger in body size than the cleaners. Interestingly, juveniles of <em>M. argenteus</em> were present but not seen performing cleaning behaviour in the current study. Facultative cleaning species warrant further attention with water clarity and benthic structure representing promising factors to consider in planning future work.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article e00386"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143138406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}
Pub Date : 2024-12-27DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00385
Juan Camilo Cepeda-Duque , Eduven Arango-Correa , Valentina López-Velasco , Alex López-Barrera , Andrés Link , Diego J. Lizcano , Luis Mazariegos , Uriel Rendon-Jaramillo , Tadeu G. de Oliveira
Small carnivore activity is usually constrained by multiple factors, including moonlight, rainfall seasonality, intraguild relationships, and availability of prey. This study aimed to analyze the effects of such factors on the activity of clouded tiger-cats (Leopardus pardinoides). Data (time-stamp detections) were collected via 58 camera traps in three protected cloud forests of the Middle Cauca, Colombia. Differences in activity among seasons and species were tested using Watson-two-tests. The temporal overlap between clouded tiger-cats and their intraguild predators/competitors and prey was estimated using kernel density functions. All species were seasonally invariant in their activities. Clouded tiger-cats were mainly nocturnal and lunarphobic. There was high temporal overlap (80 %) between the daily activity of clouded tiger-cats and small mammals, which increased during the nocturnal activity (92 %). Contrastingly, low temporal overlap was found between clouded tiger-cats and tayras (19 %), weasels (19 %), and dogs (20 %). Ocelots were cathemeral and showed a moderate temporal overlap (65 %) with the daily activity of clouded tiger-cats. However, temporal overlap between the nocturnal activity of both felids was found to be higher (81 %). Nocturnal behavior in clouded tiger-cats can favor prey encounters during darker nights while avoiding diurnal predators/competitors. The evidence of diurnal activity in domestic dogs could be indicative of a free-roaming population that rely on human subsides in the surroundings of protected areas, suggesting the need for management actions. Competitive pressures exerted by ocelots on clouded tiger-cats may be alleviated through the differential use of space, or by the apparent rarity of the former in highland cloud forests.
{"title":"Avoiding the enemy while searching for dinner: Understanding the temporal niche of the threatened clouded tiger-cat in protected cloud forests of the Middle Cauca, Colombia","authors":"Juan Camilo Cepeda-Duque , Eduven Arango-Correa , Valentina López-Velasco , Alex López-Barrera , Andrés Link , Diego J. Lizcano , Luis Mazariegos , Uriel Rendon-Jaramillo , Tadeu G. de Oliveira","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00385","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00385","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Small carnivore activity is usually constrained by multiple factors, including moonlight, rainfall seasonality, intraguild relationships, and availability of prey. This study aimed to analyze the effects of such factors on the activity of clouded tiger-cats (<em>Leopardus pardinoides</em>). Data (time-stamp detections) were collected via 58 camera traps in three protected cloud forests of the Middle Cauca, Colombia. Differences in activity among seasons and species were tested using Watson-two-tests. The temporal overlap between clouded tiger-cats and their intraguild predators/competitors and prey was estimated using kernel density functions. All species were seasonally invariant in their activities. Clouded tiger-cats were mainly nocturnal and lunarphobic. There was high temporal overlap (80 %) between the daily activity of clouded tiger-cats and small mammals, which increased during the nocturnal activity (92 %). Contrastingly, low temporal overlap was found between clouded tiger-cats and tayras (19 %), weasels (19 %), and dogs (20 %). Ocelots were cathemeral and showed a moderate temporal overlap (65 %) with the daily activity of clouded tiger-cats. However, temporal overlap between the nocturnal activity of both felids was found to be higher (81 %). Nocturnal behavior in clouded tiger-cats can favor prey encounters during darker nights while avoiding diurnal predators/competitors. The evidence of diurnal activity in domestic dogs could be indicative of a free-roaming population that rely on human subsides in the surroundings of protected areas, suggesting the need for management actions. Competitive pressures exerted by ocelots on clouded tiger-cats may be alleviated through the differential use of space, or by the apparent rarity of the former in highland cloud forests.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article e00385"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143138398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}
Pub Date : 2024-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00384
Wesley Dáttilo
In recent years, the use of ecological networks to understand the roles of species in plant-frugivore relationships and their evolutionary significance has increased significantly. However, the accuracy of these networks can vary based on construction methods, and there is limited discussion about the true functional roles of species. In this review, I critically evaluate the methodologies and approaches used in 65 studies to construct seed dispersal networks, with a focus on distinguishing between frugivory and effective seed dispersal. In general, I found that most of the studies built the interaction networks based on direct observations of animals eating seeds/fruits (n = 23 studies, 35.38%) and by sampling of scats (n = 18, 27.69%). Data from datasets and by using complementary methods (e.g., DNA-barcoding) accounted for 33.85% (n = 22 studies). Surprisingly, only two studies (3.08%) confirmed seed viability (i.e., if the viability of the dispersed seeds were experimentally confirmed or the microhabitat where the scat had been dropped). This highlights a critical issue: many studies fail to assess all stages of the seed dispersal process (i.e., seed consumption, transport, deposition, and germination). The potential misapplication of the term “seed-dispersal networks” could lead to significant misunderstandings about the true functionality and coevolutionary dynamics of these interactions. Consequently, I advocate for more rigorous methodologies and detailed discussions to improve accuracy about the true functional roles of species within these networks.
{"title":"Beyond the Bites: Rethinking seed-dispersal networks in plant-frugivore studies","authors":"Wesley Dáttilo","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00384","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00384","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, the use of ecological networks to understand the roles of species in plant-frugivore relationships and their evolutionary significance has increased significantly. However, the accuracy of these networks can vary based on construction methods, and there is limited discussion about the true functional roles of species. In this review, I critically evaluate the methodologies and approaches used in 65 studies to construct seed dispersal networks, with a focus on distinguishing between frugivory and effective seed dispersal. In general, I found that most of the studies built the interaction networks based on direct observations of animals eating seeds/fruits (n = 23 studies, 35.38%) and by sampling of scats (n = 18, 27.69%). Data from datasets and by using complementary methods (e.g., DNA-barcoding) accounted for 33.85% (n = 22 studies). Surprisingly, only two studies (3.08%) confirmed seed viability (i.e., if the viability of the dispersed seeds were experimentally confirmed or the microhabitat where the scat had been dropped). This highlights a critical issue: many studies fail to assess all stages of the seed dispersal process (i.e., seed consumption, transport, deposition, and germination). The potential misapplication of the term “seed-dispersal networks” could lead to significant misunderstandings about the true functionality and coevolutionary dynamics of these interactions. Consequently, I advocate for more rigorous methodologies and detailed discussions to improve accuracy about the true functional roles of species within these networks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article e00384"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143137887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}
Pub Date : 2024-12-15DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00383
Maria Gómez-Lazaga , Mariana Cuautle , Jorge E. Valenzuela-Gónzalez , Miguel Vásquez-Bolaños , Alejandro Espinosa de los Monteros
The use of phylogenetic data in studying mutualistic interactions offers insights into the underlying patterns of interaction networks. Coevolution between interacting groups is expected to result in congruent phylogenetic patterns. Phylogenetic signal analysis, which assesses the similarity of network properties among closely related species in the phylogeny, can help uncover these patterns. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the evolutionary pattern in the ant-plant interaction network at Flor del Bosque State Park, Puebla. We used phylogenies for both ant and plant species involved in the interactions for conducting phylogenetic signal analyses. The analyses suggest that the phylogenetic signal in the ant-plant interaction network is low and not significant. However, despite having a low phylogenetic signal value, the morphological trait of head length exhibited statistical significance. Such low phylogenetic signal might be attributed to the recent establishment of the ecological interactions between plants and ants, as well as the generalist and opportunistic nature of the ant species. Furthermore, other factors such as anthropogenic transformation, ecological traits and abiotic elements are likely influencing the ant-plant interactions in Flor del Bosque.
{"title":"Exploring co-evolutionary processes in ant-plant mutualism networks: Evidence from a phylogenetic analysis","authors":"Maria Gómez-Lazaga , Mariana Cuautle , Jorge E. Valenzuela-Gónzalez , Miguel Vásquez-Bolaños , Alejandro Espinosa de los Monteros","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00383","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00383","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of phylogenetic data in studying mutualistic interactions offers insights into the underlying patterns of interaction networks. Coevolution between interacting groups is expected to result in congruent phylogenetic patterns. Phylogenetic signal analysis, which assesses the similarity of network properties among closely related species in the phylogeny, can help uncover these patterns. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the evolutionary pattern in the ant-plant interaction network at Flor del Bosque State Park, Puebla. We used phylogenies for both ant and plant species involved in the interactions for conducting phylogenetic signal analyses. The analyses suggest that the phylogenetic signal in the ant-plant interaction network is low and not significant. However, despite having a low phylogenetic signal value, the morphological trait of head length exhibited statistical significance. Such low phylogenetic signal might be attributed to the recent establishment of the ecological interactions between plants and ants, as well as the generalist and opportunistic nature of the ant species. Furthermore, other factors such as anthropogenic transformation, ecological traits and abiotic elements are likely influencing the ant-plant interactions in Flor del Bosque.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article e00383"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143138399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}
Pub Date : 2024-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00382
Andrew Hart , Francois Theart , Philipp Berg
Predator–prey relationships are a central element of ecological community dynamics. The classification of a species as either predator or prey may change, especially when considering all life stages. Skinks account for about a quarter of the world's lizard species, but knowledge about the ecology of many species remains limited. Due to their species richness and abundance, they occupy a major role in trophic networks as prey and predators, feeding primarily on invertebrates. In this report we document an unusual case of predation by an adult skink Trachylepis margaritifera on a juvenile viperid snake Bitis caudalis in South Africa. Our observation raises the question of whether the prey spectrum and role of Trachylepis species in food webs may have been underestimated and which factors influence foraging behaviour and prey choice.
{"title":"Predator-prey reversal between a venomous snake, Bitis caudalis, and an insectivorous skink, Trachylepis margaritifera","authors":"Andrew Hart , Francois Theart , Philipp Berg","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00382","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00382","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Predator–prey relationships are a central element of ecological community dynamics. The classification of a species as either predator or prey may change, especially when considering all life stages. Skinks account for about a quarter of the world's lizard species, but knowledge about the ecology of many species remains limited. Due to their species richness and abundance, they occupy a major role in trophic networks as prey and predators, feeding primarily on invertebrates. In this report we document an unusual case of predation by an adult skink <em>Trachylepis margaritifera</em> on a juvenile viperid snake <em>Bitis caudalis</em> in South Africa. Our observation raises the question of whether the prey spectrum and role of <em>Trachylepis</em> species in food webs may have been underestimated and which factors influence foraging behaviour and prey choice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article e00382"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143148849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}
Pub Date : 2024-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00381
Vinicius A. Robert , José L.S. Mello , Erika M. Shimabukuro , Victor S. Saito
Community size structure potentially depicts the constant amount of small abundant organisms sustaining larger, rarer ones. Strong size structuring is expected under a constant predator-prey mass ratio yet omnivory, as defined by organisms feeding at multiple trophic levels, can disrupt this pattern. Here, we investigated the size structure of macroinvertebrate communities in two tropical streams before and after a heavy rain event. We found that one taxon, Leptonema (a net-spinning caddisfly), was overabundant at all sites, strongly deviating from the allometric expectation given their body size. By analyzing their gut-content, we found evidence of true omnivory with inclusion of animal prey with increasing body size. As omnivory is a key factor in ecosystem stability, the presence of overabundant species could be an important element to consider when implementing conservation and restoration policies.
{"title":"Can omnivory explain variation in size-density relationships? The case of Leptonema in a neotropical stream","authors":"Vinicius A. Robert , José L.S. Mello , Erika M. Shimabukuro , Victor S. Saito","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00381","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00381","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Community size structure potentially depicts the constant amount of small abundant organisms sustaining larger, rarer ones. Strong size structuring is expected under a constant predator-prey mass ratio yet omnivory, as defined by organisms feeding at multiple trophic levels, can disrupt this pattern. Here, we investigated the size structure of macroinvertebrate communities in two tropical streams before and after a heavy rain event. We found that one taxon, <em>Leptonema</em> (a net-spinning caddisfly), was overabundant at all sites, strongly deviating from the allometric expectation given their body size. By analyzing their gut-content, we found evidence of true omnivory with inclusion of animal prey with increasing body size. As omnivory is a key factor in ecosystem stability, the presence of overabundant species could be an important element to consider when implementing conservation and restoration policies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article e00381"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142747784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}
Pub Date : 2024-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00380
Augusto N. Carvalho , Bruno L. de S. Bambirra , Leonardo B. Passalacqua , Filipe C. Serrano
Reporting predation events is crucial to understand how species behaviour and predator-prey interactions shape food webs. However, data is still lacking for most neotropical fauna, especially reptiles. Salvator merianae is a widespread lizard species, which is often found in human-altered habitats and has been introduced in multiple locations. This Neotropical lizard is omnivorous and acts as a necrophagous, seed disperser and predator of small-sized animals. However, in spite of extensive data on its generalist diet, detailed predation records over medium-sized vertebrates (between 1 and 40 kg) are scarce. Here we report the first records of S. merianae predation on three distinct armadillo species, all of which occurred in human-altered habitats in Brazil and Argentina. Our records contribute to a better understanding of trophic interactions in modified landscapes and how large reptiles, such as S. merianae, may play an important role in food webs in the absence of larger predators.
{"title":"Not armoured enough: The black-and-white tegu Salvator merianae (Squamata: Teiidae) as a predator of armadillos (Cingulata)","authors":"Augusto N. Carvalho , Bruno L. de S. Bambirra , Leonardo B. Passalacqua , Filipe C. Serrano","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00380","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00380","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reporting predation events is crucial to understand how species behaviour and predator-prey interactions shape food webs. However, data is still lacking for most neotropical fauna, especially reptiles. <em>Salvator merianae</em> is a widespread lizard species, which is often found in human-altered habitats and has been introduced in multiple locations. This Neotropical lizard is omnivorous and acts as a necrophagous, seed disperser and predator of small-sized animals. However, in spite of extensive data on its generalist diet, detailed predation records over medium-sized vertebrates (between 1 and 40 kg) are scarce. Here we report the first records of <em>S. merianae</em> predation on three distinct armadillo species, all of which occurred in human-altered habitats in Brazil and Argentina. Our records contribute to a better understanding of trophic interactions in modified landscapes and how large reptiles, such as <em>S. merianae,</em> may play an important role in food webs in the absence of larger predators.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article e00380"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142698520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}
Pub Date : 2024-11-17DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00379
Paula Kankaala , Kimmo K. Kahilainen , Mikko Olin , Antti J. Rissanen
The size of a lake ecosystem sets many direct and indirect physical limits for habitats available for different food web compartments as well as the taxa inhabiting these. We tested the hypotheses that 1) reliance of fish on littoral resources increase in lakes with shoreline development, and 2) food chain length and 3) top predator size increase with lake size. We analyzed food web trophic structure, based on stable isotope analyses (SIA) of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N), in six boreal lakes in southern and eastern Finland (area 0.13–567 km2). We also applied data from gillnet monitoring of two common predatory fish, perch (Perca fluviatilis) and pike (Esox lucius), in >100 lakes as well as data from national large pike (weight > 10 kg) competition. Our results based on SIA did not support the first two hypotheses. Mixing-model results indicated great contribution of littoral resources for many fish, however, showing considerable within-taxa variation for some species. Fish reliance on littoral resources was not directly related to lake shoreline development. The lakes had four trophic levels and large predators coupled both littoral and pelagic habitats. The very rare freshwater pinniped, Saimaa ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis), shared the same trophic position with piscivorous fish. However, we found some support for the third hypothesis. The maximum size of perch was positively correlated with lake size, and the majority (88 %) of very large pikes (>10 kg) were caught from lakes with the area > 1 km2, indicating habitat size importance for large predators.
{"title":"Littoral resources, food chain length and top predator size - Are these connected with lake size?","authors":"Paula Kankaala , Kimmo K. Kahilainen , Mikko Olin , Antti J. Rissanen","doi":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00379","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fooweb.2024.e00379","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The size of a lake ecosystem sets many direct and indirect physical limits for habitats available for different food web compartments as well as the taxa inhabiting these. We tested the hypotheses that 1) reliance of fish on littoral resources increase in lakes with shoreline development, and 2) food chain length and 3) top predator size increase with lake size. We analyzed food web trophic structure, based on stable isotope analyses (SIA) of carbon (δ<sup>13</sup>C) and nitrogen (δ<sup>15</sup>N), in six boreal lakes in southern and eastern Finland (area 0.13–567 km<sup>2</sup>). We also applied data from gillnet monitoring of two common predatory fish, perch (<em>Perca fluviatilis</em>) and pike (<em>Esox lucius</em>), in >100 lakes as well as data from national large pike (weight > 10 kg) competition. Our results based on SIA did not support the first two hypotheses. Mixing-model results indicated great contribution of littoral resources for many fish, however, showing considerable within-taxa variation for some species. Fish reliance on littoral resources was not directly related to lake shoreline development. The lakes had four trophic levels and large predators coupled both littoral and pelagic habitats. The very rare freshwater pinniped, Saimaa ringed seal (<em>Pusa hispida saimensis</em>), shared the same trophic position with piscivorous fish. However, we found some support for the third hypothesis. The maximum size of perch was positively correlated with lake size, and the majority (88 %) of very large pikes (>10 kg) were caught from lakes with the area > 1 km<sup>2</sup>, indicating habitat size importance for large predators.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38084,"journal":{"name":"Food Webs","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article e00379"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142698521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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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