Austral Ecology最新文献

Climate change is a major threat to biodiversity due to its deep impact from individuals to ecosystems. Direct-development amphibians, such as the family Brachycephalidae in the Atlantic Forest, are especially vulnerable because they rely on moist microhabitats in the leaf-litter for egg development. Here, we make use of predictive tools to estimate the climate-driven impacts on different geographic distribution parameters of Brachycephalidae anurans. Specifically, we built ecological niche models for 34 out of the 81 species in the family using four algorithms and projected the climatic niche of each species on baseline and 2050 climate change scenarios, separately for two CO₂ emission scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5). Thus, we were able to compare the size, range shift directions, and richness gradients among the predictions from different time slices. Out of the 34 studied species, 67.6% to 73.5% of the Brachycephalidae species (23–25 species, depending on the CO₂ emission scenario) are predicted to have decreased ranges. Among them, 12 species (~35% of the total species) are predicted to have no climatically suitable area by 2050. On the other hand, 26.5% to 32.4% of the species (nine and 11 species, depending on the CO₂ emission scenario) are projected to increase their climatically suitable areas by 2050. Regarding the central point of the predicted ranges, the mean distance between the baseline and 2050 predictions is 233–237 km (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5, respectively), yet this average is highly variable (±189.1 km/RCP2.6; ±194 km/RCP8.5). Our results also reveal a major loss in Brachycephalidae species richness along the Atlantic coast, whereas a gain in species richness is expected in inland areas of the Atlantic Forest.

Grasslands are among the most human-modified biomes worldwide due to the expansion of croplands and afforestation. In the scenario of productive intensification, it is necessary to generate alternatives to model land-cover changes and their environmental consequences. This study aimed to generate land-cover projections and quantify the impact of these changes on ecosystem service supply in Uruguay. To achieve this, we used land-cover maps, Markovchain models and an ecosystem services supply index (ESSI). Transition probabilities between land-cover classes were calculated for two time periods (2000–2010 and 2010–2019) based on maps from 2000, 2010 and 2019. These probabilities informed two Markov chain models to project land-cover changes up to 2037. With the projected land-cover maps, spatial models were used to relate the proportion of croplands and grasslands with the ESSI. Our results indicate a continued expansion of croplands and afforestation over the coming decades, while grasslands will remain the dominant land cover, representing 46% of the landscape by 2037. Grasslands exhibited the highest probability of persistence in both periods, while croplands and afforestation increased their persistence probability by 60% and 13%, respectively. The ESSI shows a 5% decrease between 2000 and 2037. These findings highlight the ongoing transformation of Uruguay's landscapes and the potential trade-offs between land-use intensification and ecosystem services. The results provide valuable empirical evidence to support territorial planning and sustainable management strategies, helping to balance production needs with environmental conservation.

The establishment of red foxes across much of continental Australia has contributed to the decline and extinction of many native species. Managing this invasive species effectively requires understanding variability in the species' ecology across the different environments it inhabits. We present GPS collaring data from two red foxes in different desert environments during a period of low rainfall in central Australia. Both foxes were range resident and occupied home ranges comparable in size to the largest previously published home ranges for the species. Core ranges were centred on frequently used sites, including daytime resting sites for both fox individuals and nighttime activity sites for one. The two foxes had distinct nightly range use patterns, which appeared to be influenced by the location of regularly used daytime resting sites. One fox regularly crossed its home range in a night, moving between high-use sites, while the other primarily used one daytime resting site, traversing different parts of its broader range each night. This information enhances the limited knowledge of red fox spatial ecology in desert environments and provides insights to inform targeted management programmes in these regions.

The objective of this study was to characterise the intertidal macroinvertebrate assemblages from marine and estuarine macrotidal rocky shores in Southern Patagonia, Argentina. To achieve this aim, we analysed spatial changes in biodiversity and trophic structure, and explored their relationship with the main physical environmental variables. The study was conducted during spring 2021 and summer, autumn and winter 2022 in the south of Santa Cruz province, at sites with different salinity regimes and wave exposure. Different tidal levels and substrate slopes were compared. Data of abundance, richness and diversity of taxa and functional feeding groups were analysed and compared using univariate and multivariate statistics. Distinct macroinvertebrate assemblages could be recognised in the rocky intertidal of the study area, which were related to the different combinations of environmental variables. The salinity regime was the environmental factor most closely associated with the changes in the composition and diversity of the macroinvertebrate assemblage at a medium geographic scale. The macrotidal regime that characterises the region together with the particular geomorphology of its rocky shores highlights the effect of those variables that cause stress due to desiccation and exposure to extreme conditions. The main physical factors determining the diversity of taxa and feeding strategies at a small geographical scale are tidal level and substrate slope. Protection from waves favours the settlement of infaunal species and exotic species in sheltered rocky shores, where they find a more suitable and less stressful environment for their settlement. The results obtained are important for their biogeographic and ecological implications and provide relevant information for establishing management and conservation measures for coastal environments.

Temperature trends influence the behaviour of animals, mainly ectotherms, with thermoregulation led by a contingent of biotic and abiotic factors, such as seasonality and habitat quality, especially regarding nocturnal lizards. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to analyse the microhabitat use and thermal ecology of Gymnodactylus geckoides in Catimbau National Park, in Pernambuco state, Brazil, considering different landscape conditions (anthropic and conserved), as well as environmental factors (body, air and substrate temperature, humidity and light intensity). We recorded bromeliads, leaf litter, as well as rocky outcrops, fallen trunks and rocks, with the use of microhabitats differing due to the environmental conditions. G. geckoides was mostly active at night, with substrate and air temperatures revealing a high correlation with body temperature. Regarding environmental factors, only light intensity revealed significant variations. The distribution model allowed us to observe G. geckoides inhabiting lower elevations, influenced by microhabitat availability. Our research represents the first effort to create a distribution model for lizards in Caatinga domain, using G. geckoides as an illustrative model to demonstrate the plasticity of species in response to environmental changes, also indicating a high dependency on habitat quality for thermoregulation. This domain provides G. geckoides with a thermally optimal and stable microclimate, maintaining its optimal body temperature requiring low thermoregulatory effort. Our results corroborate with previous studies and predictions and expand prior work regarding the thermal ecology of nocturnal neotropical lizards.

Parkland agroforestry tree species are prominent features in many landscapes of the world. However, the parkland agroforestry' species composition is influenced by ecological and economic factors in a given socio-cultural environment. The aims of this study were to investigate the tree species diversity in parkland agroforestry in the study area. The two administrative kebeles were selected purposively. A total of 90 households were randomly selected for tree species inventory. Six transect lines were established for the inventory of tree species in study sites. Along each of the 3 transect lines, 15 quadrates were laid out. The total number of quadrates used was 90 (45 quadrates for each study site). Shannon, Simpson and evenness indices were used to calculate the richness and diversity of the tree species in the study area. From the study, the Shannon, Simpson and evenness diversity indices revealed that tree species richness per quadrate in both study sites was (1.84b ± 0.25) and (2.49a ± 0.14). This exposed the tree species; the Shannon, Simpson and Evenness diversity indices were higher at the Bohe site than at Bachira. The significant value index of individual tree species at parkland agroforestry was assessed, and Croton macrostachyus and Cordia africana were ranked first and second tree species in both studies sites with mean IVIs of 52.22% and 38.43%, respectively. This is recommended to farmers to increase the diversity and richness of tree species in their parkland agroforestry practice and reducing the charcoal market and needs further detailed investigation accordingly. Parkland agroforestry plays a vital role in conserving tree species diversity as well as the ecological sustainability of agricultural landscapes.