Pub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-03-27DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2025.03.009
Edina Török , Riho Marja , Ágota Réka Szabó , Róbert Gallé , Péter Batáry
Plant invasion and habitat fragmentation are significant global drivers threatening biodiversity. Synergistic interactions between these processes can lead to even more significant biodiversity loss than when they act alone. However, their effects on flower visiting insects and their food resources are complex and lack a general consensus. In this two-year study, we analysed the structural changes in plant-flower visitor networks in response to the interaction between common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) invasion and fragment size. We selected natural forest-steppe grassland fragments along a gradient of fragment sizes in Hungary by designating invaded and control areas in each to survey flower visitors and their food plants before and during milkweed flowering. We found that Shannon diversity and generality of networks were significantly lower in milkweed-invaded areas compared to control areas during milkweed flowering. More diverse networks were observed in the control areas. Functional complementarity and the cluster coefficient of networks were significantly higher in milkweed-invaded areas compared to control areas during milkweed flowering. However, we found no effect of fragment size. Our results showed that during its flowering period, milkweed significantly impacted and simplified flower-visiting insect networks. The flowers of the invasive milkweed attracted flower visitors with suitably long tongues, potentially disrupting local flower-visiting species. Our research highlights that exploring networks provides valuable insights into the indirect consequences of plant invasion and offers new knowledge for habitat restoration efforts.
{"title":"Invasive common milkweed strongly simplifies insect flower-visiting networks","authors":"Edina Török , Riho Marja , Ágota Réka Szabó , Róbert Gallé , Péter Batáry","doi":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.03.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.03.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant invasion and habitat fragmentation are significant global drivers threatening biodiversity. Synergistic interactions between these processes can lead to even more significant biodiversity loss than when they act alone. However, their effects on flower visiting insects and their food resources are complex and lack a general consensus. In this two-year study, we analysed the structural changes in plant-flower visitor networks in response to the interaction between common milkweed (<em>Asclepias syriaca</em>) invasion and fragment size. We selected natural forest-steppe grassland fragments along a gradient of fragment sizes in Hungary by designating invaded and control areas in each to survey flower visitors and their food plants before and during milkweed flowering. We found that Shannon diversity and generality of networks were significantly lower in milkweed-invaded areas compared to control areas during milkweed flowering. More diverse networks were observed in the control areas. Functional complementarity and the cluster coefficient of networks were significantly higher in milkweed-invaded areas compared to control areas during milkweed flowering. However, we found no effect of fragment size. Our results showed that during its flowering period, milkweed significantly impacted and simplified flower-visiting insect networks. The flowers of the invasive milkweed attracted flower visitors with suitably long tongues, potentially disrupting local flower-visiting species. Our research highlights that exploring networks provides valuable insights into the indirect consequences of plant invasion and offers new knowledge for habitat restoration efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8708,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Applied Ecology","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143786159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}
Pub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-03-12DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2025.03.006
Yuanyuan Quan , Veronica Hederström , Johan Ekroos , Pablo Menubarbe , Theresia Krausl , Yann Clough
Landscape-scale land use is important in driving species communities and interactions. However, despite increasing concerns regarding the ecological consequences of insect declines, our understanding of how the relative proportions of different land cover types influence insect herbivory in species-rich semi-natural habitats remains limited. This study assessed leaf, stem, and flower herbivory across 47 flowering forb species in 18 semi-natural grassland sites in southern Sweden, where the surrounding landscape composition was quantified by the proportions of arable crops, forests, leys, and permanent grasslands. In addition to landscape effects, we examined the mediating roles of plant traits, plant diversity, and community composition to better understand how land use affects herbivory. Proportion of permanent grasslands and arable crops had the strongest influence on herbivory. The occurrence probabilities of leaf and stem herbivory increased as the proportion of permanent grasslands increased and the proportion of arable crops decreased. For herbivory intensity, leaf chewing damage exhibited the most significant response, following a trend similar to herbivory occurrence, while flower damage intensity increased with proportion of permanent grasslands but decreased with proportion of forest. These effects were less consistent at the species level, with varying magnitudes and directions of response. Plant community composition and traits, such as plant height and Specific Leaf Area (SLA), mediated landscape composition effects on leaf chewing herbivory, such that the proportion of arable crops were linked to higher SLA and taller plants, which in turn promoted leaf chewing herbivory. Our findings highlight the importance of preserving permanent grasslands at the landscape scale for maintaining insect herbivory levels on flowering forbs in local semi-natural grasslands, and call for the need to better understand the ecosystem consequences of reduced herbivory in agricultural landscapes.
{"title":"Landscape composition influences invertebrate herbivory on flowering forbs in semi-natural grasslands","authors":"Yuanyuan Quan , Veronica Hederström , Johan Ekroos , Pablo Menubarbe , Theresia Krausl , Yann Clough","doi":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.03.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.03.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Landscape-scale land use is important in driving species communities and interactions. However, despite increasing concerns regarding the ecological consequences of insect declines, our understanding of how the relative proportions of different land cover types influence insect herbivory in species-rich semi-natural habitats remains limited. This study assessed leaf, stem, and flower herbivory across 47 flowering forb species in 18 semi-natural grassland sites in southern Sweden, where the surrounding landscape composition was quantified by the proportions of arable crops, forests, leys, and permanent grasslands. In addition to landscape effects, we examined the mediating roles of plant traits, plant diversity, and community composition to better understand how land use affects herbivory. Proportion of permanent grasslands and arable crops had the strongest influence on herbivory. The occurrence probabilities of leaf and stem herbivory increased as the proportion of permanent grasslands increased and the proportion of arable crops decreased. For herbivory intensity, leaf chewing damage exhibited the most significant response, following a trend similar to herbivory occurrence, while flower damage intensity increased with proportion of permanent grasslands but decreased with proportion of forest. These effects were less consistent at the species level, with varying magnitudes and directions of response. Plant community composition and traits, such as plant height and Specific Leaf Area (SLA), mediated landscape composition effects on leaf chewing herbivory, such that the proportion of arable crops were linked to higher SLA and taller plants, which in turn promoted leaf chewing herbivory. Our findings highlight the importance of preserving permanent grasslands at the landscape scale for maintaining insect herbivory levels on flowering forbs in local semi-natural grasslands, and call for the need to better understand the ecosystem consequences of reduced herbivory in agricultural landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8708,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Applied Ecology","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 23-35"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143839209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-04-05DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2025.04.004
Alexander Wirth, Gaby Schulemann-Maier
{"title":"Moving away from science - response to Pernat et al., 2025, Moving north under the eye of the public: the dispersal ecology of the Nosferatu spider, documented by citizen scientists","authors":"Alexander Wirth, Gaby Schulemann-Maier","doi":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.04.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.04.004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8708,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Applied Ecology","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 11-12"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143817639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-04-03DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2025.04.001
Hanna Gardein , Silvio Erler , Henri Greil , Andrey Yurkov
To fully understand a species, it is essential to gain knowledge about their associated (micro-)organisms. Currently, most research focuses on managed social bees and their bacterial associates. Functional descriptions of bee-fungi-interactions in solitary bee species, particularly in ground-nesting bees, are lacking. In this study, we identified the yeast community composition associated with the oligolectic mining bee Andrena vaga. We analysed seven different matrices of the early nest stage, using both classical cultivation and ITS2 DNA-metabarcoding. Our results support recent findings that solitary bees can exhibit core microbiomes and give first indications of vertical symbiont transmission for solitary bees, previously only observed in social bees. Particularly, the eggs showed a very distinct yeast composition, with the dimorphic yeast Triodiomyces crassus being the only cultivated species from all egg samples. This smut-related species assimilates salicin and produces antimicrobial glycolipids, potentially used for pollen detoxification and brood cell disinfection. Hence, yeast associates might be a key factor enabling oligolectic bees to specialise on toxic pollen sources. Other identified yeasts, such as Starmerella bombicola, are discussed in terms of their ecology and functionality. Our study provides insights into the crucial role of associated microorganisms and might be the missing link to understand the origin of oligolecty.
{"title":"New fungal core microbiome members of the ground nesting bee Andrena vaga: The key to oligolecty?","authors":"Hanna Gardein , Silvio Erler , Henri Greil , Andrey Yurkov","doi":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.04.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.04.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To fully understand a species, it is essential to gain knowledge about their associated (micro-)organisms. Currently, most research focuses on managed social bees and their bacterial associates. Functional descriptions of bee-fungi-interactions in solitary bee species, particularly in ground-nesting bees, are lacking. In this study, we identified the yeast community composition associated with the oligolectic mining bee <em>Andrena vaga</em>. We analysed seven different matrices of the early nest stage, using both classical cultivation and ITS2 DNA-metabarcoding. Our results support recent findings that solitary bees can exhibit core microbiomes and give first indications of vertical symbiont transmission for solitary bees, previously only observed in social bees. Particularly, the eggs showed a very distinct yeast composition, with the dimorphic yeast <em>Triodiomyces crassus</em> being the only cultivated species from all egg samples. This smut-related species assimilates salicin and produces antimicrobial glycolipids, potentially used for pollen detoxification and brood cell disinfection. Hence, yeast associates might be a key factor enabling oligolectic bees to specialise on toxic pollen sources. Other identified yeasts, such as <em>Starmerella bombicola,</em> are discussed in terms of their ecology and functionality<em>.</em> Our study provides insights into the crucial role of associated microorganisms and might be the missing link to understand the origin of oligolecty.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8708,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Applied Ecology","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 13-22"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143825392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-03-26DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2025.03.008
Evert Van de Schoot, Renate A. Wesselingh, Hans Van Dyck
Light pollution, caused by artificial light at night (ALAN), affects an ever-increasing area of the Earth and evidence is piling up on its negative effects on organisms, including insects. Besides direct sensory and physiological effects on adult behaviour, ALAN may also affect larval growth and developmental life cycle regulation (e.g., diapause induction). Moth species whose larvae are mainly diurnal may also be sensitive to the disruption of the day-night cycle by ALAN, but species with such an ecological profile remained understudied so far. The garden tiger moth Arctia caja mainly shows diurnal activity at the larval stages and adults are capital breeders that do not feed at all. In a split-brood rearing experiment, caterpillars of the F1 and F2 generation from wild-caught females were individually grown under either ALAN or control-dark conditions. We tested for constraints of ALAN on larval survival and development, and the consequences for body mass. We showed evidence for increased larval mortality under ALAN conditions in both the F1 and F2 generation. ALAN caused accelerated larval development by disturbing the induction of a feeding arrest (i.e., larval diapause). Pupal mass was lower under ALAN conditions, but only so in females. Capital breeders like A. caja are expected to be particularly affected by a decrease in female body mass since this will negatively affect fecundity and adult lifespan. Therefore, our results suggest that long-term exposure of moth populations to ALAN negatively affects capital breeding performance and hence population performance.
{"title":"Artificial light at night reduces larval survival and constrains female body mass in a capital breeding moth","authors":"Evert Van de Schoot, Renate A. Wesselingh, Hans Van Dyck","doi":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.03.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.03.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Light pollution, caused by artificial light at night (ALAN), affects an ever-increasing area of the Earth and evidence is piling up on its negative effects on organisms, including insects. Besides direct sensory and physiological effects on adult behaviour, ALAN may also affect larval growth and developmental life cycle regulation (e.g., diapause induction). Moth species whose larvae are mainly diurnal may also be sensitive to the disruption of the day-night cycle by ALAN, but species with such an ecological profile remained understudied so far. The garden tiger moth <em>Arctia caja</em> mainly shows diurnal activity at the larval stages and adults are capital breeders that do not feed at all. In a split-brood rearing experiment, caterpillars of the F<sub>1</sub> and F<sub>2</sub> generation from wild-caught females were individually grown under either ALAN or control-dark conditions. We tested for constraints of ALAN on larval survival and development, and the consequences for body mass. We showed evidence for increased larval mortality under ALAN conditions in both the F<sub>1</sub> and F<sub>2</sub> generation. ALAN caused accelerated larval development by disturbing the induction of a feeding arrest (i.e., larval diapause). Pupal mass was lower under ALAN conditions, but only so in females. Capital breeders like <em>A. caja</em> are expected to be particularly affected by a decrease in female body mass since this will negatively affect fecundity and adult lifespan. Therefore, our results suggest that long-term exposure of moth populations to ALAN negatively affects capital breeding performance and hence population performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8708,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Applied Ecology","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 38-44"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143860460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-04-15DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2025.04.006
Wenyi Zhou , Alexandra A. Grossi , Daniel R. Gustafsson , Zhengzhen Wang , Zhuyang Zhang , Yuqing Han , Xinyi Wang , Anru Zuo , Miguel A. Acevedo , Yang Liu , Scott K. Robinson
Plantation forestry alters avian community assembly by creating homogeneous habitats with simplified vegetation structure. However, its effects on avian body condition remain poorly understood, despite the influence body condition has on survival and reproduction. We studied how plantation forestry of Alder-leaf Birch (Betula alnoides, “birch”) affects the body condition of nine forest bird species in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot in southwestern China. Through mist-net sampling, we collected data on avian body condition in birch plantations and natural forests of two age classes (young and mature). We also examined other factors that might affect body condition including demographic information (age and sex), previous-day weather (rainfall and temperature), and reproductive status. Body condition scores measured using the scaled mass index (SMI) were similar between birch plantations and natural forests, indicating that birch plantations support avian body condition at levels comparable to natural forests. Age and rainfall affected the body condition of Yunnan Fulvettas (Alcippe fratercula), with adults and individuals captured after rainfall having lower SMIs. Additionally, the body condition of Rusty-capped Fulvettas (Schoeniparus dubius) and Silver-eared Mesias (Leiothrix argentauris) was positively associated with their reproductive status, though the higher SMI values may partly result from gonadal and egg development. Our study reveals not only the conservation value of birch plantations but also the effects of demographic, environmental, and reproductive factors on avian body condition. We recommend considering birch as a candidate timber species for promoting conservation in plantation forestry.
{"title":"Forest birds maintain body condition in Alder-leaf Birch (Betula alnoides) plantations in subtropical Asia","authors":"Wenyi Zhou , Alexandra A. Grossi , Daniel R. Gustafsson , Zhengzhen Wang , Zhuyang Zhang , Yuqing Han , Xinyi Wang , Anru Zuo , Miguel A. Acevedo , Yang Liu , Scott K. Robinson","doi":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.04.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.04.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plantation forestry alters avian community assembly by creating homogeneous habitats with simplified vegetation structure. However, its effects on avian body condition remain poorly understood, despite the influence body condition has on survival and reproduction. We studied how plantation forestry of Alder-leaf Birch (<em>Betula alnoides</em>, “birch”) affects the body condition of nine forest bird species in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot in southwestern China. Through mist-net sampling, we collected data on avian body condition in birch plantations and natural forests of two age classes (young and mature). We also examined other factors that might affect body condition including demographic information (age and sex), previous-day weather (rainfall and temperature), and reproductive status. Body condition scores measured using the scaled mass index (SMI) were similar between birch plantations and natural forests, indicating that birch plantations support avian body condition at levels comparable to natural forests. Age and rainfall affected the body condition of Yunnan Fulvettas (<em>Alcippe fratercula</em>), with adults and individuals captured after rainfall having lower SMIs. Additionally, the body condition of Rusty-capped Fulvettas (<em>Schoeniparus dubius</em>) and Silver-eared Mesias (<em>Leiothrix argentauris</em>) was positively associated with their reproductive status, though the higher SMI values may partly result from gonadal and egg development. Our study reveals not only the conservation value of birch plantations but also the effects of demographic, environmental, and reproductive factors on avian body condition. We recommend considering birch as a candidate timber species for promoting conservation in plantation forestry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8708,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Applied Ecology","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 45-55"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143864724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2025.02.002
Nadja Pernat , Sascha Buchholz , Jan Ole Kriegs , Jan Steen , Hilke Hollens-Kuhr
Citizen participation in tracking the spread of newly introduced or invasive species is an effective tool in nature conservation. Recently arrived species that pose threats to humans, animals, or plants—especially those widely covered in the media—are particularly suitable for citizen-led monitoring.
In this study, we selected the Nosferatu spider (Zoropsis spinimana), a species spreading from the Mediterranean to northern Europe, to investigate whether its media coverage motivates citizens to report observations. Additionally, we aimed to gather insights into the spider's dispersal ecology through citizen science data. We utilized Google News and Google Videos as indicators of media presence, Google Trends as a proxy for public awareness, and citizen science observation data to assess the spider's distribution and ecology. Our analysis of 3,017 citizen science observations from different sources revealed a north-eastern spread of Z. spinimana. We found a temporal correlation between media presence, Google search activity, and the number of citizen-reported observations. Additionally, there was a strong spatial correlation between federal states with the highest media presence and the highest number of citizen reports. Most observations were recorded between August and October, with the majority occurring inside human dwellings. Hence, the current dispersion dynamics and extensive media coverage of Z. spinimana appear to be significant factors driving increased public awareness, as evidenced by higher search interest and a greater number of citizen observations.
{"title":"Moving north under the eye of the public: The dispersal ecology of the Nosferatu spider, documented by citizen scientists","authors":"Nadja Pernat , Sascha Buchholz , Jan Ole Kriegs , Jan Steen , Hilke Hollens-Kuhr","doi":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.02.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.baae.2025.02.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Citizen participation in tracking the spread of newly introduced or invasive species is an effective tool in nature conservation. Recently arrived species that pose threats to humans, animals, or plants—especially those widely covered in the media—are particularly suitable for citizen-led monitoring.</div><div>In this study, we selected the Nosferatu spider (<em>Zoropsis spinimana</em>), a species spreading from the Mediterranean to northern Europe, to investigate whether its media coverage motivates citizens to report observations. Additionally, we aimed to gather insights into the spider's dispersal ecology through citizen science data. We utilized Google News and Google Videos as indicators of media presence, Google Trends as a proxy for public awareness, and citizen science observation data to assess the spider's distribution and ecology. Our analysis of 3,017 citizen science observations from different sources revealed a north-eastern spread of <em>Z. spinimana</em>. We found a temporal correlation between media presence, Google search activity, and the number of citizen-reported observations. Additionally, there was a strong spatial correlation between federal states with the highest media presence and the highest number of citizen reports. Most observations were recorded between August and October, with the majority occurring inside human dwellings. Hence, the current dispersion dynamics and extensive media coverage of <em>Z. spinimana</em> appear to be significant factors driving increased public awareness, as evidenced by higher search interest and a greater number of citizen observations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8708,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Applied Ecology","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 40-49"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143454926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}
Pub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2024-11-15DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2024.11.004
Walter Durka , Stefan G. Michalski , Johannes Höfner , Anna Bucharova , Filip Kolář , Christina M. Müller , Christoph Oberprieler , Kristýna Šemberová , Markus Bauer , Matthias Bernt , Walter Bleeker , Stefan Brändel , Solveig Franziska Bucher , Pia Maria Eibes , Michael Ewald , Ronny Goldberg , Kerstin Grant , Sylvia Haider , Alexander Harpke , Friedhelm Haun , Christian Zidorn
Species diversity and intraspecific genetic diversity play a critical role in conservation and restoration of grassland ecosystems. To maintain regional adaptations of native wild plants, seeds for restoration projects are produced regionally. The delineation of regions is organised by seed transfer zones (STZs). Generalised STZs that apply uniformly to many species have been established in several European countries. Ideally, generalised STZs should be based on comprehensive data of intraspecific genetic and phenotypic diversity for a larger number of species. However, such underlying data is missing. The project RegioDiv aims to fill this gap and generate empirical data on genetic variation of multiple grassland plant species across Germany. Here we describe the driving principles and main methods of the project. A total of 33 species were collected at an average density of ∼1 sample/1000 km2 across the 22 existing STZs, and a total of 11,976 samples were genotyped with SNP markers. The analysis of genetic population structure included cluster analysis and analyses of isolation-by-distance and isolation-by-environment. An exemplary within-species analysis for Agrostis capillaris, a widespread grass, revealed five intraspecific genetic clusters, distributed in spatially coherent ranges that did not fully match the STZs. Most of the STZs differed genetically following a pattern of isolation-by-distance and isolation-by-environment. In an across-species analysis, genetic differentiation was affected by mating system and ploidy. Outcrossed and polyploid species were less differentiated than self-compatible and diploid species. However, genetic differentiation did not significantly differ between grasses and herbs, highlighting the variability among species within these groups. The dataset of the RegioDiv project will advance both basic and applied research on genetic variation of grassland plant species. The results will allow the assessment of the current German STZ system and guide potential improvements.
{"title":"Assessment of genetic diversity among seed transfer zones for multiple grassland plant species across Germany","authors":"Walter Durka , Stefan G. Michalski , Johannes Höfner , Anna Bucharova , Filip Kolář , Christina M. Müller , Christoph Oberprieler , Kristýna Šemberová , Markus Bauer , Matthias Bernt , Walter Bleeker , Stefan Brändel , Solveig Franziska Bucher , Pia Maria Eibes , Michael Ewald , Ronny Goldberg , Kerstin Grant , Sylvia Haider , Alexander Harpke , Friedhelm Haun , Christian Zidorn","doi":"10.1016/j.baae.2024.11.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.baae.2024.11.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Species diversity and intraspecific genetic diversity play a critical role in conservation and restoration of grassland ecosystems. To maintain regional adaptations of native wild plants, seeds for restoration projects are produced regionally. The delineation of regions is organised by seed transfer zones (STZs). Generalised STZs that apply uniformly to many species have been established in several European countries. Ideally, generalised STZs should be based on comprehensive data of intraspecific genetic and phenotypic diversity for a larger number of species. However, such underlying data is missing. The project RegioDiv aims to fill this gap and generate empirical data on genetic variation of multiple grassland plant species across Germany. Here we describe the driving principles and main methods of the project. A total of 33 species were collected at an average density of ∼1 sample/1000 km<sup>2</sup> across the 22 existing STZs, and a total of 11,976 samples were genotyped with SNP markers. The analysis of genetic population structure included cluster analysis and analyses of isolation-by-distance and isolation-by-environment. An exemplary within-species analysis for <em>Agrostis capillaris,</em> a widespread grass, revealed five intraspecific genetic clusters, distributed in spatially coherent ranges that did not fully match the STZs. Most of the STZs differed genetically following a pattern of isolation-by-distance and isolation-by-environment. In an across-species analysis, genetic differentiation was affected by mating system and ploidy. Outcrossed and polyploid species were less differentiated than self-compatible and diploid species. However, genetic differentiation did not significantly differ between grasses and herbs, highlighting the variability among species within these groups. The dataset of the RegioDiv project will advance both basic and applied research on genetic variation of grassland plant species. The results will allow the assessment of the current German STZ system and guide potential improvements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8708,"journal":{"name":"Basic and Applied Ecology","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 50-60"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143512049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}
Pub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-02-14DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2025.02.003
Philippe Tschanz , Matthias Albrecht , Thomas Keller
While the pollination services provided by wild bees are now well recognized, their importance as soil ecosystem engineers has been largely overlooked, despite the fact that most species nest in the soil in self-excavated burrows. Here we provide an overview of the many direct and indirect effects of ground-nesting wild bees on the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil, soil functions, and ecosystem services. In particular, we discuss how ground-nesting bees move and mix substantial amounts of soil during nest construction, thereby altering soil physical properties (e.g., soil pore architecture, soil porosity, density) and soil functions (e.g., water and gas exchange), and act as geomorphic agents at larger scales (affecting, e.g., surface runoff and soil erosion). We also review how ground-nesting bees affect soil chemical and biological properties through their nesting activity, leading to the redistribution and accumulation of organic carbon and nutrients in the soil, providing hotspots for microbial activity, and introducing a range of organisms into the soil. Furthermore, we discuss the large-scale indirect effects on soils through their pollination functions, which shape plant communities and soil functions modulated by plants. Lastly, we highlight the role of ground-nesting bees as soil ecosystem engineers that complement the activity of other bioturbators in both space and time by occupying biogeographical niches where other bioturbators are largely absent, and by complementary activity peaks during the season. We emphasize the distinctive position of ground-nesting bees among soil fauna, acting as both pollinators and soil bioturbators, and conclude that ground-nesting bees deserve greater attention and recognition in future research and conservation policy as part of soil biodiversity and for their role as soil ecosystem engineers.
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