Article
Plant Sciences
Jane E. Tuthill, Yvette K. Ortega, Dean E. Pearson
Summary: Most terrestrial plants disperse by seeds, but the relationship between seed traits and plant dispersion patterns is not well understood. This study examined seed traits of 48 plant species in western Montana grasslands to investigate this relationship. It was found that larger-seeded introduced plants were more likely to have dispersal adaptations, suggesting that they may need these adaptations to overcome limitations and barriers. Database seed masses correlated with local estimates, but locally collected data provided more valid results for community-level questions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Bia A. Almeida, Balazs A. Lukacs, Adam Lovas-Kiss, Chevonne Reynolds, Andy J. Green
Summary: Endozoochory by waterfowl is important for a broad range of angiosperms, most of which lack a fleshy fruit. This dispersal function contributes to the formation and maintenance of plant communities and may allow range shifts for plant species under global change. However, our current understanding of what seed or plant traits are important for this dispersal mechanism, and how they relate to variation in waterbird traits, is extremely limited.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Tobias Nicolas Rojas, Iris Catiana Zampini, Maria Ines Isla, Pedro G. Blendinger
Summary: This study aimed to explain the dispersal syndrome hypothesis by analyzing the relationships between fruit traits. The results showed strong intragroup relationships in morphological traits, while weak or null relationships in chemical and display traits. Only the morphological traits group aligned with the functional types of seed dispersers, supporting the dispersal syndrome hypothesis.
Article
Plant Sciences
Sergey Rosbakh, Loic Chalmandrier, Shyam Phartyal, Peter Poschlod
Summary: This study analyzes 16 traits of 167 species to reveal the functional structure of plant communities and the impact of environmental factors on these structures. The research demonstrates that seed traits are independent of other plant traits and can be affected differently by community assembly rules. Abiotic filtering mainly affects vegetative traits, while biotic interactions and dispersal affect germination and seed morphological traits.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Carlos A. Ordonez-Parra, Roberta L. C. Dayrell, Daniel Negreiros, Antonio C. S. Andrade, Leticia G. Andrade, Yasmine Antonini, Leilane C. Barreto, Fernanda de V. Barros, Vanessa da Cruz Carvalho, Blanca Auxiliadora Dugarte Corredor, Antonio Claudio Davide, Alexandre A. Duarte, Selma Dos Santos Feitosa, Alessandra F. Fernandes, G. Wilson Fernandes, Maurilio Assis Figueiredo, Alessandra Fidelis, Leticia Couto Garcia, Queila Souza Garcia, Victor T. Giorni, Vanessa G. N. Gomes, Carollayne Goncalves-Magalhaes, Alessandra R. Kozovits, Jose P. Lemos-Filho, Soizig Le Stradic, Isabel Cristina Machado, Fabiano Rodrigo Maia, Andrea R. Marques, Clesnan Mendes-Rodrigues, Maria Cristina T. B. Messias, Leonor Patricia Cerdeira Morellato, Moemy Gomes de Moraes, Bruno Moreira, Flavia Peres Nunes, Ademir K. M. Oliveira, Yumi Oki, Alba R. P. Rodrigues, Carolina Pietczak, Jose Carlos Pina, Silvio Junio Ramos, Marli A. Ranal, Joao Paulo Ribeiro-Oliveira, Flavio H. Rodrigues, Denise G. Santana, Fernando M. G. Santos, Ana Paula M. S. Senhuk, Rodrigo A. Silveira, Natalia Costa Soares, Olivia Alvina Oliveira Tonetti, Vinicius Augusto da Silveira Vieira, Leticia Cristiane de Sena Viana, Marcilio Zanetti, Heloiza L. Zirondi, Fernando A. O. Silveira
Summary: The Rock n' Seeds database provides functional trait data and germination experiments from Brazilian rock outcrop vegetation, including 16 functional traits for 383 taxa and 48 germination experiments for 281 taxa. This database will be valuable for synthesizing germination data, advancing comparative functional ecology, and guiding seed-based restoration and biodiversity conservation in tropical megadiverse ecosystems.
Article
Ecology
Zdenka Lososova, Irena Axmanova, Milan Chytry, Gabriele Midolo, Sylvain Abdulhak, Dirk Nikolaus Karger, Julien Renaud, Jeremie Van Es, Pascal Vittoz, Wilfried Thuiller
Summary: This study compiled a comprehensive dataset of seed dispersal distance classes and predominant dispersal modes for most European vascular plants. The seed dispersal dataset can be used in functional biogeography, dynamic vegetation modelling, and ecological studies at local to continental scales.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Pornwiwan Pothasin, Emmanuel Paradis, Warren Y. Brockelman, Anuttara Nathalang, Thantiyapawn Khemrugka, Noppawan Lomwong, Patcharaphan Thripob, Rampai Saenprasert, Wirong Chanthorn
Summary: Seed size plays a key role in ecological processes within a plant community, with relationships to phylogenetic patterns and functional plant traits. A study conducted by a research team in Indonesia found significant differences in seed size between trees and lianas in a tropical rainforest, highlighting the importance of frugivore size as a driver of seed size variation.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Han Liu, Guihua Liu, Wei Xing
Summary: The study found that in eutrophic shallow lakes along the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River, flat-leaf submerged macrophytes have stronger functional traits, improving underwater light conditions and water quality, while needle-leaf submerged macrophytes exhibit higher ecological functions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Andres Barea-Marquez, Francisco J. Ocana-Calahorro, Rodrigo Balaguer-Romano, Jose Maria Gomez, Eugene W. Schupp, Raquel Sanchez-Perez, Jesus Guillamon, Joanna Zhang, Rafael Rubio de Casas
Summary: This paper examines the phenotypic and genotypic differences in fruit and seed traits during the naturalization of almond trees in SE Iberia. The results suggest that strong directional selection plays a role in the feralization process, leading to smaller and more toxic seeds encased in harder endocarps.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Liangfang Li, Liman Man Wai Li, Junji Ma, Anru Lu, Zhengjia Dai
Summary: This study explores the relationship among personality traits, well-being, and brain functional connectivity. By analyzing data from resting-state functional MRI, a linear combination of personality traits that is most relevant to a set of well-being indicators was identified. The findings suggest that effective functional communication within and between multiple brain networks may be an important mechanism for promoting better well-being.
JOURNAL OF HAPPINESS STUDIES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Kai Chen, Kevin S. Burgess, Fangliang He, Xiang-Yun Yang, Lian-Ming Gao, De-Zhu Li
Summary: This study quantifies the joint effects of seed traits and phylogeny on species distribution and finds that seed mass, seed dispersal mode, and phylogeny significantly influence species geographic distribution. The findings highlight the importance of including seed traits and phylogenetic history in climate-based niche models to predict the response of plant geographic distribution to climate change.
Article
Ecology
George R. Wheeler, Chad E. Brassil, Johannes M. H. Knops
Summary: The study found that functional traits of grassland plants may vary significantly between years, primarily influenced by rainfall. Additionally, nitrogen addition treatment and sampling year can also interactively affect plant functional traits, especially in high rainfall years.
Article
Plant Sciences
Wesley Jonatar Alves da Cruz, Beatriz Schwantes Marimon, Ben Hur Marimon, Izabel Amorim, Paulo S. Morandi, Oliver L. Phillips
Summary: There are strong gradients and discontinuities in vegetation structure and composition between the forests of southern Amazonia and the open savannas of South America's Cerrado in central Brazil. Vegetation transitions are often controlled by disturbance processes, and the regeneration traits of tree communities in the Amazon-Cerrado transition were found to differ among different vegetation types, with tree species relying substantially on fauna for dispersal across habitats.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martha Paola Barajas Barbosa, Dylan Craven, Patrick Weigelt, Pierre Denelle, Rudiger Otto, Sandra Diaz, Jonathan Price, Jose Maria Fernandez-Palacios, Holger Kreft
Summary: Oceanic island floras are known for their unique morphological characteristics and provide examples of trait evolution. These morphological shifts are believed to be influenced by the biogeographical processes and evolutionary histories of oceanic islands. However, the mechanisms behind the distribution and diversity of plant functional traits remain unclear.
Article
Ecology
Jonas Stiegler, Katrin Kiemel, Jana Eccard, Christina Fischer, Robert Hering, Sylvia Ortmann, Lea Strigl, Ralph Tiedemann, Wiebke Ullmann, Niels Blaum
Summary: The study found that hares play a crucial role in endozoochorous seed dispersal, especially in agricultural landscapes. Seed morphological traits are related to germination success, and hares have a long enough retention time to act as effective mobile linkers between different habitats.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Juliana Stropp, Richard James Ladle, Thaise Emilio, Thaina Lessa, Joaquin Hortal
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Pablo Castro Sanchez-Bermejo, Indradatta deCastro-Arrazola, Eva Cuesta, Adrian L. Davis, Claudia E. Moreno, Francisco Sanchez-Pinero, Joaquin Hortal
Summary: This study investigates the effects of aridity on dung beetle communities in the Sahara, Kalahari, and Chihuahuan deserts. The results show that aridity leads to a decrease in both taxonomic richness and functional dispersion. Additionally, different deserts exhibit varying responses in taxonomic and functional diversity.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Indradatta deCastro-Arrazola, Nigel R. Andrew, Matty P. Berg, Alva Curtsdotter, Jean-Pierre Lumaret, Rosa Menendez, Marco Moretti, Beatrice Nervo, Elizabeth S. Nichols, Francisco Sanchez-Pinero, Ana M. C. Santos, Kimberly S. Sheldon, Eleanor M. Slade, Joaquin Hortal
Summary: Traits play a crucial role in understanding the environmental responses and ecological roles of organisms. A framework for the study of the functional ecology of animals from a trait-based response-effect approach is proposed using dung beetles as a model system. Dung beetles show trait-based responses to various environmental factors and their influence on ecosystem processes includes nutrient cycling, bioturbation, plant growth, seed dispersal, and parasite transmission. The framework identifies 66 dung beetle traits and 136 trait-response and 77 trait-effect relationships, providing a foundation for further development of trait-based dung beetle ecology.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fernando Hurtado, Belen Estebanez, Pedro Aragon, Joaquin Hortal, Manuel Molina-Bustamante, Nagore G. Medina
Summary: The colonization of new habitat patches by mosses through fragmentation and vegetative propagules is a key aspect of metacommunity dynamics. This study examined the establishment and colonization success of propagules of different sizes in six widespread moss species. The findings showed significant intra- and interspecific variation in establishment success, with T. squarrosa being the most successful species and D. scoparium showing the lowest performance. Differences in hydration dynamics were also found between species. This study identified several functional traits that are important for moss colonization, such as wet versus dry area and length of fragments.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Sergio Chozas, Rosa M. Chefaoui, Otilia Correia, Ana M. C. Santos, Joaquin Hortal
Summary: Species' environmental requirements and large-scale spatial and evolutionary processes determine the structure and composition of local communities. Ecological interactions also have major effects on community assembly. The study evaluates the assembly dynamics of xerophytic shrub communities in SW Portugal and how they are influenced by environmental and macroecological constraints. The results show that while there are uniform successional patterns, each community responds differently to environmental gradients in different regions.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Marcelo Bruno Pessoa, Tatiana Souza do Amaral, Paulo De Marco Junior, Joaquin Hortal
Summary: The conversion of forests into open areas can have significant effects on the diversity and structure of native communities. This study assessed the differences in species richness and functional diversity of dung beetle communities in two different biomes in Brazil. The results showed that while the Cerrado had higher species richness and abundance, there was no consistent relationship between functional diversity and forest conversion. The findings highlight the importance of considering individual variance in assessing the responses of dung beetle communities to habitat change.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hernando L. L. Tovar, Cesar M. A. Correa, Jean-Pierre Lumaret, Pablo A. A. Lopez-Bedoya, Blas Navarro, Valentina Tovar, Jorge Ari Noriega
Summary: The conversion of forests to agricultural and livestock systems has negative impacts on insects, including dung beetles, which play a crucial role in recycling livestock dung. The use of Ivermectin to control parasites in cattle has been found to affect the richness, abundance, and biomass of dung beetles. Through field experiments in the Colombian Caribbean, it was observed that the use of Ivermectin led to a decrease in the richness, abundance, biomass, and functional groups of dung beetles in cattle farms. This highlights the need for integrated treatment management to minimize the negative effects on dung beetle populations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stephanie Vaz, Mariana Mendes, Gabriel Khattar, Margarete Macedo, Cristina Ronquillo, Alejandra Zarzo-Arias, Joaquin Hortal, Luiz Silveira
Summary: We created a comprehensive database of firefly species in the Atlantic Forest hotspot in Brazil and made it publicly available on GBIF. The data was collected from various entomological collections and literature sources, representing the largest contribution to Neotropical firefly occurrences in a public repository.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Pablo A. Lopez-Bedoya, Tibor Magura, Diana M. Mendez-Rojas, Jorge Ari Noriega, Finbarr G. Horgan, David P. Edwards
Summary: The tropical Andes is a highly biodiverse region, but it is also vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances. In this study, we focused on three important beetle groups and conducted a systematic review of scientific literature. We found a lack of knowledge about ground and rove beetles in the region and a bias towards studying dung beetles. There is a need for more research, especially in under-represented countries like Bolivia and Venezuela. Including additional response metrics will enhance the assessment of human impacts on beetle communities and ecosystems in the tropical Andes.
Review
Entomology
Natalie E. Duffus, Alejandra Echeverri, Lena Dempewolf, Jorge Ari Noriega, Paul R. Furumo, Juliano Morimoto
Summary: Emerging evidence suggests that insect populations may be declining, threatening ecosystem services. Insect declines are particularly concerning in the Neotropics, which have high insect endemism and diversity. Current conservation policies are biased toward vertebrates, but there are ways to better incorporate the needs of insects into policy.
NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Cristina Ronquillo, Juliana Stropp, Nagore G. Medina, Joaquin Hortal
Summary: Biodiversity data records often contain inaccuracies and biases, which can affect the establishment of robust geographical patterns. In this study, researchers aimed to assess the effect of different curation criteria on the spatial pattern of moss species richness in the Temperate Northern Hemisphere. They found that the application of certain data curation scenarios significantly affected the number of records selected for analysis and changed the richness per cell. The study highlights the importance of justifying the criteria used for filtering biodiversity data to avoid detecting misleading patterns.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Entomology
J. P. Correa-Cuadros, A. Gomez-Cifuentes, J. A. Noriega
Summary: This study reveals the impact of anthropic activities on the diversity and functional structure of dung beetle assemblages in tropical rainforests in Colombia. Hunting and cutting disturbances lead to the loss of species and changes in functional traits.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TROPICAL INSECT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Cristina de Oliveira Araujo, Joaquin Hortal, Margarete Valverde de Macedo, Ricardo Ferreira Monteiro
Summary: This study characterizes the elevational and temporal variation in species richness and abundance of Scarabaeinae dung beetles in Itatiaia National Park. Results show that elevation and season correlate with species richness and abundance, with significant phenological changes at the community level associated with climatic variations between seasons.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TROPICAL INSECT SCIENCE
(2022)
