M. Lima, J. Pederassi, U. Caramaschi, Kléssia Denise S. S. Sousa, C. A. S. Souza
Abstract. Lunar phases remarkably influence the circadian cycle of living beings. Early amphibian studies date back to the 1960s, but only recently has more research been conducted in this field. Much still needs to be understood to establish the behavioral pattern of this group according to the synodic cycle. In the present study, we sought to determine (i) whether the vocalization activity was influenced by the lunar phases and (ii) whether the influence was species-specific or affects the community with equal intensity. We expected a great diversity of behaviors and adaptations. Rayleigh's test was used to verify whether the sample differs significantly from the null hypothesis; Rao's test was used to check sample size sufficiency; and the Kiviat diagram was used to evaluate the activity of the species in relation to the complete synodic cycle. We have observed 1691 individuals of 37 species over 882 d. The lunar cycle influenced 78 % of the species, with 32 % preferring the lower-albedo phases. The activity pattern of each species was established. These results suggest that the lunar phases influence the vocalization activity of most species. Therefore, there is a general pattern of activity related to the synodic cycles; however, the specificities still need to be better understood.
{"title":"Frog vocalization is influenced by moon phases: Brazilian frogs tend to prefer low-albedo phases","authors":"M. Lima, J. Pederassi, U. Caramaschi, Kléssia Denise S. S. Sousa, C. A. S. Souza","doi":"10.5194/WE-21-1-2021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/WE-21-1-2021","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Lunar phases remarkably influence the circadian cycle of living beings.\u0000Early amphibian studies date back to the 1960s, but only recently has more\u0000research been conducted in this field. Much still needs to be understood\u0000to establish the behavioral pattern of this group according to the synodic cycle. In\u0000the present study, we sought to determine (i) whether the vocalization\u0000activity was influenced by the lunar phases and (ii) whether the influence\u0000was species-specific or affects the community with equal intensity. We\u0000expected a great diversity of behaviors and adaptations. Rayleigh's test was\u0000used to verify whether the sample differs significantly from the null\u0000hypothesis; Rao's test was used to check sample size sufficiency; and the Kiviat\u0000diagram was used to evaluate the activity of the species in relation to the complete\u0000synodic cycle. We have observed 1691 individuals of 37 species over 882 d. The lunar cycle influenced 78 % of the species, with 32 % preferring\u0000the lower-albedo phases. The activity pattern of each species was\u0000established. These results suggest that the lunar phases influence the\u0000vocalization activity of most species. Therefore, there is a general pattern\u0000of activity related to the synodic cycles; however, the specificities still\u0000need to be better understood.","PeriodicalId":54320,"journal":{"name":"Web Ecology","volume":"58 1","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2021-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90897110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
N. Amadi, Robert Belema, Harrison Obodo Chukwu, D. Dendi, Amuzie Chidinma, R. Meek, L. Luiselli
The rapid expansion of urban environments invariably presents a novel series of pressures on wildlife due to changes in external environmental factors. In reptiles, any such changes in temperature are critical since thermoregulation is the key driver in the function of many physiological processes. How reptiles adapt to such changes may vary from those species that are impacted negatively to others that have the behavioural flexibility to exploit new conditions. In this paper we describe retreat site selection, movements and aspects of the thermal ecology of the African lizard Agama agama in urban environments of West Africa. In early evening lizards began movement from late-afternoon core activity areas and ascended the walls of houses for overnight retreats. A high proportion retreated to locations in groups under or on top of warm electrical panels. The thermal potential these panels offered was the attainment of body temperatures equal to or higher than the minimum preferred body temperature (PBT≈ 36 C in A. agama) and hence increased physiological performance. The lizards that took advantage of the heat sources travelled further each day to and from diurnal activity areas than individuals that spent the night high on walls but not next to heat panels. There were both potential costs (enhanced predation pressures) and benefits (impacts on thermal ecology, retreat site selection) of this behaviour for lizards living in urban environments.
{"title":"Life in the suburbs: artificial heat source selection for nocturnal thermoregulation in a diurnally active tropical lizard","authors":"N. Amadi, Robert Belema, Harrison Obodo Chukwu, D. Dendi, Amuzie Chidinma, R. Meek, L. Luiselli","doi":"10.5194/we-20-161-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/we-20-161-2020","url":null,"abstract":"The rapid expansion of urban environments invariably presents a novel series of pressures on wildlife due to changes in external environmental factors. In reptiles, any such changes in temperature are critical since thermoregulation is the key driver in the function of many physiological processes. How reptiles adapt to such changes may vary from those species that are impacted negatively to others that have the behavioural flexibility to exploit new conditions. In this paper we describe retreat site selection, movements and aspects of the thermal ecology of the African lizard Agama agama in urban environments of West Africa. In early evening lizards began movement from late-afternoon core activity areas and ascended the walls of houses for overnight retreats. A high proportion retreated to locations in groups under or on top of warm electrical panels. The thermal potential these panels offered was the attainment of body temperatures equal to or higher than the minimum preferred body temperature (PBT≈ 36 C in A. agama) and hence increased physiological performance. The lizards that took advantage of the heat sources travelled further each day to and from diurnal activity areas than individuals that spent the night high on walls but not next to heat panels. There were both potential costs (enhanced predation pressures) and benefits (impacts on thermal ecology, retreat site selection) of this behaviour for lizards living in urban environments.","PeriodicalId":54320,"journal":{"name":"Web Ecology","volume":"24 1","pages":"161-172"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78208068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
A. Boucheker, Riad Nedjah, R. Prodon, Mark A. F. Gillingham, François‐Xavier Dechaume‐Moncharmont, A. Béchet, B. Samraoui
Abstract. We used a large dataset of greater flamingo chicks banded and measured at Camargue, France, to verify the applicability of discriminant function analysis to sex this species. Males and females sexed genetically differed significantly in all of the morphological characters measured (body mass, tarsus and wing length), with males being significantly larger than females. Although the discriminant rate varied substantially from one year to another, we found that it increased with the sample size of genetically sexed individuals. Our results suggest that discriminant function analysis (DFA) does not provide an efficient tool to sex greater flamingo chicks as these relationship are highly variable across years, requiring the genetic determination of sex on a large number of individuals every year for calibrating the DFA and still providing an overall low accuracy in sex determination. Indeed, conditions at breeding seasons can vary between years and can be considered proximate causes affecting the correct discriminant rate. Like previous studies, we recommend caution in dealing with discriminant equations computed from small datasets, and our simulation suggests that 325 genetically sexed individuals are needed to obtain 80 % correctly classified greater flamingo chicks.
{"title":"Cohort effect on discriminant rate: the case of greater flamingo (Phœnicopterus roseus) chicks sexed with morphological characters","authors":"A. Boucheker, Riad Nedjah, R. Prodon, Mark A. F. Gillingham, François‐Xavier Dechaume‐Moncharmont, A. Béchet, B. Samraoui","doi":"10.5194/we-20-153-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/we-20-153-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. We used a large dataset of greater flamingo chicks banded and measured at\u0000Camargue, France, to verify the applicability of discriminant function\u0000analysis to sex this species. Males and females sexed genetically differed\u0000significantly in all of the morphological characters measured (body mass,\u0000tarsus and wing length), with males being significantly larger than females.\u0000Although the discriminant rate varied substantially from one year to\u0000another, we found that it increased with the sample size of genetically\u0000sexed individuals. Our results suggest that discriminant function analysis\u0000(DFA) does not provide an efficient tool to sex greater flamingo chicks as\u0000these relationship are highly variable across years, requiring the genetic\u0000determination of sex on a large number of individuals every year for\u0000calibrating the DFA and still providing an overall low accuracy in sex\u0000determination. Indeed, conditions at breeding seasons can vary between years\u0000and can be considered proximate causes affecting the correct\u0000discriminant rate. Like previous studies, we recommend caution in dealing\u0000with discriminant equations computed from small datasets, and our simulation\u0000suggests that 325 genetically sexed individuals are needed to obtain 80 % correctly classified greater flamingo chicks.","PeriodicalId":54320,"journal":{"name":"Web Ecology","volume":"48 1","pages":"153-159"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76238518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
R. Walcher, R. Hussain, Johannes Karrer, A. Bohner, D. Brandl, J. Zaller, A. Arnberger, T. Frank
Abstract. Extensively managed grasslands, particularly in mountain regions, are considered to be one of the most diverse agroecosystems worldwide. Their decline due to land use abandonment affects the diversity of both plants and associated pollinators. Extensive grasslands constitute an important habitat type and food resource for hoverflies (syrphids); however, not much is known about the effects of abandonment on this important pollinator group. In the present study, we investigated how abandonment affects species richness and the composition of syrphids in mountainous meadows. We recorded the richness of vascular plants, vegetation cover, flower cover and the surrounding landscape to examine whether and how syrphids are affected by plant and landscape parameters. We investigated the species richness, abundance and species composition of syrphids by sweep netting and by using observation plots in 18 semidry meadows across two Austrian regions and one Swiss region. For each region, we selected three meadows abandoned for more than 20 years and three annually mown non-fertilized meadows. Abandonment or mowing had no significant effect on the total number of syrphid species or individuals or on the number of aphidophagous and non-aphidophagous species and individuals. However, the total number of species and the number of non-aphidophagous species significantly increased with the increasing number of plant species. The surrounding landscape and other plant parameters showed no association with the assessed syrphid parameters. Although syrphids were unaffected by abandonment, higher syrphid species numbers in response to a higher plant richness in annual mown meadows suggest that the management of mountain meadows is beneficial in preserving syrphid richness.
{"title":"Effects of management cessation on hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) across Austrian and Swiss mountain meadows","authors":"R. Walcher, R. Hussain, Johannes Karrer, A. Bohner, D. Brandl, J. Zaller, A. Arnberger, T. Frank","doi":"10.5194/we-20-143-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/we-20-143-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Extensively managed grasslands, particularly in mountain regions,\u0000are considered to be one of the most diverse agroecosystems worldwide. Their\u0000decline due to land use abandonment affects the diversity of both plants and\u0000associated pollinators. Extensive grasslands constitute an important habitat\u0000type and food resource for hoverflies (syrphids); however, not much is known\u0000about the effects of abandonment on this important pollinator group. In the\u0000present study, we investigated how abandonment affects species richness and the\u0000composition of syrphids in mountainous meadows. We recorded the richness of\u0000vascular plants, vegetation cover, flower cover and the surrounding\u0000landscape to examine whether and how syrphids are affected by plant and\u0000landscape parameters. We investigated the species richness, abundance and\u0000species composition of syrphids by sweep netting and by using observation\u0000plots in 18 semidry meadows across two Austrian regions and one Swiss region. For\u0000each region, we selected three meadows abandoned for more than 20 years and three\u0000annually mown non-fertilized meadows. Abandonment or mowing had no\u0000significant effect on the total number of syrphid species or individuals or on the number of aphidophagous and non-aphidophagous species and individuals.\u0000However, the total number of species and the number of non-aphidophagous species\u0000significantly increased with the increasing number of plant species. The\u0000surrounding landscape and other plant parameters showed no association with\u0000the assessed syrphid parameters. Although syrphids were unaffected by\u0000abandonment, higher syrphid species numbers in response to a higher plant\u0000richness in annual mown meadows suggest that the management of mountain meadows is beneficial in preserving syrphid richness.","PeriodicalId":54320,"journal":{"name":"Web Ecology","volume":"27 1","pages":"143-152"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81673828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
Thatyla Farago, G. Borba, S. Amadio, J. Oliveira, G. Santos, A. Val, E. Ferreira
Abstract. Differences in food intake and morphological attributes may facilitate the coexistence of detritivorous fish. The present study investigated the possible differences in the feeding strategies of four species of curimatids that inhabit the floodplain of the central Amazon. For this, we determined the diet, daily food cycle, and whether characteristics of the intestine were related to the length of the fish and the amount of detritus consumed. The detritivory was confirmed, and we observed a difference in the foraging time between species. We found differences in the length and weight of the intestine and the relationship of these variables with the length of the fish and the amount of detritus consumed. Our study suggests that despite belonging to the same family and food group, curimatids have characteristics that allow them to consume the detritus in different ways.
{"title":"Feeding strategies differentiate four detritivorous curimatids in the Amazon","authors":"Thatyla Farago, G. Borba, S. Amadio, J. Oliveira, G. Santos, A. Val, E. Ferreira","doi":"10.5194/WE-20-133-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/WE-20-133-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Differences in food intake and morphological attributes may\u0000facilitate the coexistence of detritivorous fish. The present study\u0000investigated the possible differences in the feeding strategies of four\u0000species of curimatids that inhabit the floodplain of the central Amazon. For\u0000this, we determined the diet, daily food cycle, and whether characteristics\u0000of the intestine were related to the length of the fish and the amount of\u0000detritus consumed. The detritivory was confirmed, and we observed a\u0000difference in the foraging time between species. We found differences in the\u0000length and weight of the intestine and the relationship of these variables\u0000with the length of the fish and the amount of detritus consumed. Our study\u0000suggests that despite belonging to the same family and food group,\u0000curimatids have characteristics that allow them to consume the detritus in\u0000different ways.","PeriodicalId":54320,"journal":{"name":"Web Ecology","volume":"85 1","pages":"133-141"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72525733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
M. D. López-Rodríguez, S. Chamizo, Y. Cantón, E. Rodríguez‐Caballero
Abstract. Globally, most bare-looking areas in dryland regions are covered by biocrusts which play a crucial role in modifying several soil surface properties and driving key ecosystem processes. These keystone communities face important threats (e.g. climate change) that place their conservation at risk and in turn the sustainability of the ecosystems they inhabit. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop ecosystem management strategies to ensure their protection. However, to provide a solid path towards biocrust conservation, the understanding by stakeholders and governance structures of the ecological functions of these communities, their role as benefit providers, and the pressures threatening their important effects are indispensable. Whereas the ecological scope of biocrust has been widely studied in the last decades, the social dimension of their role remained unexplored. By reviewing literature in biocrusts from a social–ecological approach, here we identified knowledge gaps and new research areas that need to be addressed in order to produce scientific knowledge that better guides dryland conservation policies and actions. This research agenda is a prerequisite to advance biocrust conservation.
{"title":"Identifying social–ecological gaps to promote biocrust conservation actions","authors":"M. D. López-Rodríguez, S. Chamizo, Y. Cantón, E. Rodríguez‐Caballero","doi":"10.5194/WE-20-117-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/WE-20-117-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Globally, most bare-looking areas in dryland regions are\u0000covered by biocrusts which play a crucial role in modifying several soil\u0000surface properties and driving key ecosystem processes. These keystone\u0000communities face important threats (e.g. climate change) that place\u0000their conservation at risk and in turn the sustainability of the ecosystems\u0000they inhabit. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop ecosystem\u0000management strategies to ensure their protection. However, to provide a\u0000solid path towards biocrust conservation, the\u0000understanding by stakeholders and governance structures of the\u0000ecological functions of these communities, their role as benefit providers,\u0000and the pressures threatening their important effects are indispensable. Whereas the\u0000ecological scope of biocrust has been widely studied in the last decades,\u0000the social dimension of their role remained unexplored. By reviewing\u0000literature in biocrusts from a social–ecological approach, here we\u0000identified knowledge gaps and new research areas that need to be addressed\u0000in order to produce scientific knowledge that better guides dryland\u0000conservation policies and actions. This research\u0000agenda is a prerequisite to advance biocrust conservation.","PeriodicalId":54320,"journal":{"name":"Web Ecology","volume":"8 1","pages":"117-132"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84143941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
J. Steger, Alexandra Schneider, R. Brandl, S. Hotes
Abstract. Climate change influences the global and regional distribution of many species. For thermophilic insects, range expansions towards the north and to higher elevations are expected in the course of climatic warming across the Northern Hemisphere. The distribution of the European mantis (Mantis religiosa) has recently expanded from Mediterranean regions in France to Hesse in central Germany. This is interpreted as a response to rising mean temperatures, and further northward expansion is expected to occur with increasing climate warming. In this study, potential changes in the regional distribution across Hesse were modeled for Mantis religiosa using the present distribution and climate across Europe as the baseline. We estimated potential changes in the regional distribution for two time periods until 2080 based on two climate change scenarios. The results showed that the current range of M. religiosa in Hesse is smaller than expected based on its climatic niche, i.e., the distribution is not in equilibrium with the present climate. With climate warming the model predicts an expansion of the potential distribution for the period 2041–2060. For the period 2061–2080, our model predicts, however, a range contraction in spite of continued warming. This unexpected result warrants further investigation in order to elucidate whether the ongoing climate change may have negative consequences for thermophilic species such as M. religiosa.
{"title":"Effects of projected climate change on the distribution of Mantis religiosa suggest expansion followed by contraction","authors":"J. Steger, Alexandra Schneider, R. Brandl, S. Hotes","doi":"10.5194/we-20-107-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/we-20-107-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Climate change influences the global and regional distribution of many\u0000species. For thermophilic insects, range expansions towards the north and to\u0000higher elevations are expected in the course of climatic warming across the\u0000Northern Hemisphere. The distribution of the European mantis (Mantis religiosa) has recently\u0000expanded from Mediterranean regions in France to Hesse in central Germany.\u0000This is interpreted as a response to rising mean temperatures, and further\u0000northward expansion is expected to occur with increasing climate warming. In\u0000this study, potential changes in the regional distribution across Hesse were\u0000modeled for Mantis religiosa using the present distribution and climate across Europe as\u0000the baseline. We estimated potential changes in the regional distribution for\u0000two time periods until 2080 based on two climate change scenarios. The\u0000results showed that the current range of M. religiosa in Hesse is smaller than expected\u0000based on its climatic niche, i.e., the distribution is not in equilibrium\u0000with the present climate. With climate warming the model predicts an\u0000expansion of the potential distribution for the period 2041–2060. For the\u0000period 2061–2080, our model predicts, however, a range contraction in\u0000spite of continued warming. This unexpected result warrants further\u0000investigation in order to elucidate whether the ongoing climate change may\u0000have negative consequences for thermophilic species such as M. religiosa.","PeriodicalId":54320,"journal":{"name":"Web Ecology","volume":"8 1","pages":"107-115"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90596094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
R. Junker, Maximilian Hanusch, Xie He, Victoria Ruiz-Hernández, J. Otto, Sabine Kraushaar, K. Bauch, Florian Griessenberger, Lisa-Maria Ohler, W. Trutschnig
Abstract. Studies on ecological successions have a long tradition and have strongly contributed to the understanding of community assembly, niche theory, and ecosystem structure and functionality. Reports on ecological successions are however mostly restricted to one or two taxonomic groups, neglecting the mutual influences and dependencies between multiple taxonomic groups that are the building blocks of diverse communities. We introduce the Alpine research platform Odenwinkel to promote observational and experimental research on the emergence of multidiversity and ecosystem complexity. We established n= 140 permanent plots along the successional gradient of the forefield of the Odenwinkelkees glacier at the end of the Stubachtal valley in the Hohe Tauern range (Hohe Tauern National Park, Land Salzburg, Austria). In summer 2019 we completed a first full inventory of biotic and abiotic characteristics of these plots covering the diversity and composition of vascular plants, bryophytes, arthropods, and other animals, bacteria and fungi as well as some geomorphologic properties. In this paper we introduce the design of the research platform and show first results. While focusing on the diversity and composition of vascular plants along the successional gradient, we also provide data on the diversity of animals, bacteria, and fungi. The Odenwinkel platform will be available as a long-term ecological research site where researchers from various disciplines can contribute to the accumulation of knowledge on ecological successions and on how interactions between various taxonomic groups structure ecological complexity in this Alpine environment.
{"title":"Ödenwinkel: an Alpine platform for observational and experimental research on the emergence of multidiversity and ecosystem complexity","authors":"R. Junker, Maximilian Hanusch, Xie He, Victoria Ruiz-Hernández, J. Otto, Sabine Kraushaar, K. Bauch, Florian Griessenberger, Lisa-Maria Ohler, W. Trutschnig","doi":"10.5194/we-20-95-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/we-20-95-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Studies on ecological successions have a long tradition and have strongly\u0000contributed to the understanding of community assembly, niche theory, and\u0000ecosystem structure and functionality. Reports on ecological successions are\u0000however mostly restricted to one or two taxonomic groups, neglecting the\u0000mutual influences and dependencies between multiple taxonomic groups that\u0000are the building blocks of diverse communities. We introduce the Alpine\u0000research platform Odenwinkel to promote observational and experimental research on the\u0000emergence of multidiversity and ecosystem complexity. We established n= 140 permanent plots along the successional gradient of the forefield of the\u0000Odenwinkelkees glacier at the end of the Stubachtal valley in the Hohe Tauern\u0000range (Hohe Tauern National Park, Land Salzburg, Austria). In summer 2019 we\u0000completed a first full inventory of biotic and abiotic characteristics of\u0000these plots covering the diversity and composition of vascular plants,\u0000bryophytes, arthropods, and other animals, bacteria and fungi as well as some\u0000geomorphologic properties. In this paper we introduce the design of the\u0000research platform and show first results. While focusing on the diversity\u0000and composition of vascular plants along the successional gradient, we also\u0000provide data on the diversity of animals, bacteria, and fungi. The\u0000Odenwinkel platform will be available as a long-term ecological research site where\u0000researchers from various disciplines can contribute to the accumulation of knowledge\u0000on ecological successions and on how interactions between various taxonomic\u0000groups structure ecological complexity in this Alpine environment.","PeriodicalId":54320,"journal":{"name":"Web Ecology","volume":"5 1","pages":"95-106"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74520037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
Claudia Tluste, U. Bröring, T. Němec, K. Birkhofer
Abstract. Overexploitation, habitat destruction and a changing climate threaten populations of the Roman snail (Helix pomatia Linnaeus, 1758), which has led to a high protection status in Germany. Vertebrate and invertebrate predators, including parasites and facultative parasitoids, further cause pressure on populations. Given the conservation concern for H. pomatia and its rarity in the study region (Cottbus, Germany), we studied how predators and facultative parasitoids utilize H. pomatia shells with a focus on non-invasive field methods. As previous studies indicated that shell size may affect prey selection by predators, morphometric traits were measured in eight subpopulations. We identified the total number and percentage of H. pomatia shells that showed external attack marks by predators and internal utilization marks by Diptera pupae and related those utilization patterns to the morphometric traits of shells. A large proportion of the shells in local subpopulations showed signs of external attack and internal utilization, and both utilization forms were positively correlated. External attacks by predators were more frequent in larger shells and internal utilization by Diptera was more common in shells with higher body density. These results suggest a considerable pressure by predators and potential facultative parasitoids on H. pomatia populations in the study area. Future research should focus on the relationship between snails from the family Helicidae and flies from the genus Discomyza. Conservation programmes should consider abiotic habitat conditions together with potential trophic interactions to maximize the success of conservation strategies.
{"title":"Morphometric traits of shells determine external attack and internal utilization marks in the Roman snail in eastern Germany","authors":"Claudia Tluste, U. Bröring, T. Němec, K. Birkhofer","doi":"10.5194/we-20-87-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/we-20-87-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Overexploitation, habitat destruction and a changing climate threaten populations of the Roman snail (Helix pomatia Linnaeus, 1758), which has led to a high protection status in Germany. Vertebrate and invertebrate predators, including parasites and facultative parasitoids, further cause pressure on populations. Given the conservation concern for H. pomatia and its rarity in the study region (Cottbus, Germany), we studied how predators and facultative parasitoids utilize H. pomatia shells with a focus on non-invasive field methods. As previous studies indicated that shell size may affect prey selection by predators, morphometric traits were measured in eight subpopulations. We identified the total number and percentage of H. pomatia shells that showed external attack marks by predators and internal utilization marks by Diptera pupae and related those utilization patterns to the morphometric traits of shells. A large proportion of the shells in local subpopulations showed signs of external attack and internal utilization, and both utilization forms were positively correlated. External attacks by predators were more frequent in larger shells and internal utilization by Diptera was more common in shells with higher body density. These results suggest a considerable pressure by predators and potential facultative parasitoids on H. pomatia populations in the study area. Future research should focus on the relationship between snails from the family Helicidae and flies from the genus Discomyza. Conservation programmes should consider abiotic habitat conditions together with potential trophic interactions to maximize the success of conservation strategies.","PeriodicalId":54320,"journal":{"name":"Web Ecology","volume":"59 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77915654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
V. Marini Govigli, J. Healey, J. Wong, K. Stara, R. Tsiakiris, J. Halley
Abstract. Sacred forests are an integral component of the mountainous cultural landscape of northern Greece, hypothesized to be the result of both ecological processes and site-specific forest management regimes through strict religious prohibition. These practices acted as constraints on natural forest development by suppressing understory growth, while prohibition of woodcutting has preserved large trees. The aim of this study was to investigate the relative effects of physical site environment and management regimes on the structure and composition of woody plant groups in six such forests. Species rank–abundance curves, dissimilarity indices and cluster analyses were used to assess variation within and amongst the woody plant groups of the sites. Species abundance was found to be highly variable amongst the sites, with notable variation between canopy and understory layers indicating dynamic change in floristics and structure. Cluster analysis revealed four main woody plant groups statistically associated with environmental variables (aspect) and forest management (different forest prohibition regimes, and presence or absence of infrastructure). Our results indicate that tree composition is significantly associated with different prohibition regimes linked to the forests' sacred status, as well as the inherent environmental variation amongst sites. Exploring further the role of traditional management systems in shaping sacred forest structure is a relevant research path for designing effective conservation practices tailored to sacred natural sites facing cultural abandonment.
{"title":"When nature meets the divine: effect of prohibition regimes on the structure and tree species composition of sacred forests in northern Greece","authors":"V. Marini Govigli, J. Healey, J. Wong, K. Stara, R. Tsiakiris, J. Halley","doi":"10.5194/we-20-53-2020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/we-20-53-2020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Sacred forests are an integral component of the mountainous\u0000cultural landscape of northern Greece, hypothesized to be the result of both\u0000ecological processes and site-specific forest management regimes through\u0000strict religious prohibition. These practices acted as constraints on\u0000natural forest development by suppressing understory growth, while\u0000prohibition of woodcutting has preserved large trees. The aim of this study\u0000was to investigate the relative effects of physical site environment and\u0000management regimes on the structure and composition of woody plant groups in\u0000six such forests. Species rank–abundance curves, dissimilarity indices and\u0000cluster analyses were used to assess variation within and amongst the woody\u0000plant groups of the sites. Species abundance was found to be highly variable\u0000amongst the sites, with notable variation between canopy and understory\u0000layers indicating dynamic change in floristics and structure. Cluster\u0000analysis revealed four main woody plant groups statistically associated with\u0000environmental variables (aspect) and forest management (different forest\u0000prohibition regimes, and presence or absence of infrastructure). Our results\u0000indicate that tree composition is significantly associated with different\u0000prohibition regimes linked to the forests' sacred status, as well as the\u0000inherent environmental variation amongst sites. Exploring further the\u0000role of traditional management systems in shaping sacred forest structure\u0000is a relevant research path for designing effective conservation practices\u0000tailored to sacred natural sites facing cultural abandonment.","PeriodicalId":54320,"journal":{"name":"Web Ecology","volume":"109 1","pages":"53-86"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2020-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81645045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}
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