Article
Ecology
Yu Peng, Jiaxun Xin, Nanyi Peng
Summary: Species distribution, spatial distance, and neighboring interactions are important drivers of global variation in plant species diversity. The effects of climate change on spatial interactions and species diversity are unclear. This study used 12 machine learning models to assess spectral diversity changes in forests in China. The results showed that spectral diversity and intraspecific spatial distance increased significantly with climate change.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Paulo Mateus Martins, Robert Poulin, Thiago Goncalves-Souza
Summary: Climate and host richness are essential drivers of global gradients in parasite diversity, with host richness having a stronger effect. Temperature seasonality and total precipitation indirectly affect parasite diversity through their respective impacts on host richness. Future studies should consider both direct and indirect effects of climatic factors on parasite diversity to understand the interactions among different diversity drivers at a macroecological scale.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aleksandar Sekulic, Milan Kilibarda, Dragutin Protic, Branislav Bajat
Summary: A daily gridded meteorological dataset at a 1-km resolution for Serbia from 2000-2019, named MeteoSerbia1km, was produced. The dataset includes temperature variables, sea-level pressure, and total precipitation. The high-resolution dataset showed high accuracy for temperature and sea-level pressure, but lower accuracy for total precipitation.
Article
Ecology
Alan Fecchio, Jeffrey A. Bell, Emily J. Williams, Janice H. Dispoto, Jason D. Weckstein, Daniela de Angeli Dutra
Summary: This study aimed to understand the impact of environmental gradients and host ecology on infection rates and diversity of blood parasites in New World bird communities. The findings showed that higher latitudes and elevations increased the probability of birds being co-infected with Leucocytozoon and other haemosporidian parasites. Host attributes and temperature were also significant factors affecting infection rates, with heavier migratory hosts and cooler localities having higher probabilities of infection. Additionally, factors such as latitude, elevation, host body mass, migratory behavior, and climate influenced Leucocytozoon lineage richness, with decreasing richness at higher elevations, rainy and warmer localities, and in heavier and resident host species. The study challenged the assumption that pathogen infection rates and diversity are higher in tropical host communities.
Article
Biology
Lewis A. Jones, Christopher D. Dean, Philip D. Mannion, Alexander Farnsworth, Peter A. Allison
Summary: The latitudinal biodiversity gradient is a pervasive pattern of the modern biosphere, but it is influenced by geological and anthropogenic biases. Spatial sampling heterogeneity impacts the detectability of genuine gradients, with sampling-standardization aiding in the reconstruction of relative gradients but unable to address artefactual absences introduced by biases.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Joseph P. Wayman, Jonathan P. Sadler, Thomas A. M. Pugh, Thomas E. Martin, Joseph A. Tobias, Thomas J. Matthews
Summary: The aim of this study was to determine the primary drivers of compositional change in breeding bird assemblages over a 40-year period in Britain. Using morphological trait measurements and presence-absence data, the researchers calculated temporal taxonomic and functional beta diversity for each hectad, and assessed the potential drivers of beta diversity. The results showed that initial species richness and spatial autocorrelation were the most important predictors of compositional change, while climate and land-use variables had relatively low explanatory power.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Flavio Mariano Machado Mota, Gabriela Alves-Ferreira, Daniela Custodio Talora, Neander Marcel Heming
Summary: Diversity metrics play a vital role in biodiversity research, but the existing tools for calculating these metrics often require significant processing power, limiting their applicability. In this study, the divraster package is introduced as a solution to this problem. By directly calculating diversity metrics from species rasters, divraster reduces memory usage and processing power, outperforming other similar packages in terms of performance.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amanda Caroline Covre, Ricardo Lourenco-de-Moraes, Felipe Siqueira Campos, Evanilde Benedito
Summary: This study presents an integrative landscape planning approach to investigate the spatial distribution patterns of amphibians and fishes. It highlights the importance of spatial correlation analysis in understanding the overlaps and mismatches in species distribution between terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. The results provide valuable spatial information for future biodiversity conservation and land-use planning.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Ann Kristin Schartau, Heather L. Mariash, Kirsten S. Christoffersen, Daniel Bogan, Olga P. Dubovskaya, Elena B. Fefilova, Brian Hayden, Haraldur R. Ingvason, Elena A. Ivanova, Olga N. Kononova, Elena S. Kravchuk, Jennifer Lento, Markus Majaneva, Anna A. Novichkova, Milla Rautio, Kathleen M. Ruhland, Rebecca Shaftel, John P. Smol, Tobias Vrede, Kimmo K. Kahilainen
Summary: The study assessed spatial patterns and contemporary trends in plankton diversity in the circumpolar Arctic region, revealing significant variations in phytoplankton and crustacean zooplankton diversity across the region, positively correlated with summer air temperature. However, the positive correlation between summer temperature and zooplankton species numbers decreased with increasing latitude, and zooplankton taxonomic richness was lower in the high Arctic compared to the sub- and low Arctic. Furthermore, climatic variables were found to be the most important environmental factors influencing diversity patterns for both phytoplankton and zooplankton.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Tad A. Dallas, Pedro Jordano
Summary: In this study, the variability in interactor richness across 299 host-helminth networks was examined using a global database of host-helminth interactions. The results showed that a signal of interactor richness conservation was not detected for more than 95% of host and helminth parasite species. Furthermore, a significant taxonomic signal was detected in the divergence of parasite species richness from a null model for host species.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Qi Chen, Zeyan Zhou, Sulin Cai, Meiqi Lv, Yinghui Yang, Yunchao Luo, Han Jiang, Run Liu, Tingting Cao, Bei Yao, Yunru Chen, Qiang Li, Xiaoyi Zeng, Rumeng Ye, You Fang, Yueting Pan, Weihua He, Lu Pang, Hualong He, Pengwei Wan, Yanli Ji, Changzhong Li, Cheng Jin, Aliya Baidourela, Jiaqin Zeng, Gaozhong Pu, Siyuan Chen, Jiawen Liang, Xingjun Tian
Summary: This study investigates the decomposition potential of soil organic matter across different climate types in China using standardized materials. The results show that temperature and precipitation variations significantly affect the decomposition rate. The study also finds that decomposers in high latitude areas have a stronger decomposition ability.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Barbara Bauer, Emilio Berti, Remo Ryser, Benoit Gauzens, Myriam R. Hirt, Benjamin Rosenbaum, Christoph Digel, David Ott, Stefan Scheu, Ulrich Brose
Summary: Research shows that while there is a correlation between species dissimilarity and food-web structures, much of the variation in food-web structure remains unexplained. Novel food-web assembly models demonstrate the importance of biotic filtering during community assembly, constraining the variability in food-web patterns across local communities.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Martin Hoerling, Lesley Smith, Xiao-Wei Quan, Jon Eischeid, Joseph Barsugli, Henry F. Diaz
Summary: The observed trends in annual maximum 1-day precipitation in the United States over the past century show significant regional differences, with increases in the East and decreases in the West, contrary to the overall observed increases in precipitable water. The study found that climate change drivers have different impacts on RX1day events across the United States, with intensity increases in the East but little change in the West. The lack of appreciable RX1day signals in the West is likely due to dynamical effects of climate change forcing, whereas the significant increases in the East are more likely a result of a combination of internal atmospheric processes and moderate climate change signals.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Joseph P. Wayman, Jonathan P. Sadler, Thomas A. M. Pugh, Thomas E. Martin, Joseph A. Tobias, Thomas J. Matthews
Summary: The study used a dataset of breeding bird species presence/absence across Britain to investigate the spatial variation in community composition. The research found that geographical distance, climate, land use, and human influence all play a role in community dissimilarity, with environmental filtering and dispersal limitation influencing community differences.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Phillip Ochieng, Isaiah Nyandega, Boniface Wambua
Summary: This study used the self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI) to determine the spatiotemporal characteristics of historical and projected drought events in Isiolo County, Kenya. The results showed that more severe drought events occurred between 1980 and 2000. The projected data indicated a decline in drought events in the county from 2020 to 2050.
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED CLIMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Cassio Cardoso Pereira, Samuel Novais, Milton Barbosa, Daniel Negreiros, Thiago Goncalves-Souza, Tomas Roslin, Robert Marquis, Nicholas Marino, Vojtech Novotny, Jerome Orivel, Shen Sui, Gustavo Aires, Reuber Antoniazzi, Wesley Dattilo, Crasso Breviglieri, Annika Busse, Heloise Gibb, Thiago Izzo, Tomas Kadlec, Victoria Kemp, Monica Kersch-Becker, Michal Knapp, Pavel Kratina, Rebecca Luke, Stefan Majnaric, Robin Maritz, Paulo Mateus Martins, Esayas Mendesil, Jaroslav Michalko, Anna Mrazova, Mirela Sertic Peric, Jana Petermann, Servio Ribeiro, Katerina Sam, M. Kurtis Trzcinski, Camila Vieira, Natalie Westwood, Maria Bernaschini, Valentina Carvajal, Ezequiel Gonzalez, Mariana Jausoro, Stanis Kaensin, Fabiola Ospina, Jacob Cristobal Perez, Mauricio Quesada, Pierre Rogy, Diane S. Srivastava, Scarlett Szpryngiel, Ayco J. M. Tack, Tiit Teder, Martin Videla, Mari-Liis Viljur, Julia Koricheva, G. Wilson Fernandes, Gustavo Q. Romero, Tatiana Cornelissen
Summary: The construction of shelters on plants by arthropods can influence colonization, community richness, species composition, and functionality. However, the effects of plant traits on the occurrence of shelters have been overlooked and need further research.
Article
Parasitology
Leighton J. Thomas, Marin Milotic, Felix Vaux, Robert Poulin
Summary: This study evaluates the use of eDNA metabarcoding to detect the presence of all species of nematode and platyhelminth parasites in two New Zealand lakes. The results showed that the yield of platyhelminth DNA was generally higher than nematode DNA, which may be due to the larger biomass or free-swimming life stages of platyhelminths. However, not all expected parasite families were detected through traditional methods, indicating the need for more sequencing data to harness eDNA for monitoring and characterizing parasite biodiversity.
Article
Parasitology
Jean-Francois Doherty, Robert Poulin
Summary: Host manipulation by parasites can affect host behavior and energy flow in food webs. This study found that higher numbers of hairworm cysts in caddisfly larvae correlated with a faster transition from water to land. The presence of dormant hairworms appears to impact the development of aquatic hosts, potentially accelerating their transition.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Editorial Material
Parasitology
Christian Selbach, Kim N. Mouritsen, Robert Poulin, Bernd Sures, Nico J. Smit
Summary: The One Health framework emphasizes the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the environment but often overlooks the significance of aquatic parasites in understanding these interconnections, particularly in the context of environmental changes.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Parasitology
Antoine Filion, Jean-Francois Doherty, Robert Poulin
Summary: To better understand disease emergence patterns, it is important to integrate phylogenetic information in disease ecology. However, the integration of phylogenetic information is still lacking and potential solutions to this problem are highlighted.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gustavo Q. Romero, Thiago Goncalves-Souza, Tomas Roslin, Robert J. Marquis, Nicholas A. C. Marino, Vojtech Novotny, Tatiana Cornelissen, Jerome Orivel, Shen Sui, Gustavo Aires, Reuber Antoniazzi, Wesley Dattilo, Crasso P. B. Breviglieri, Annika Busse, Heloise Gibb, Thiago J. Izzo, Tomas Kadlec, Victoria Kemp, Monica Kersch-Becker, Michal Knapp, Pavel Kratina, Rebecca Luke, Stefan Majnaric, Robin Maritz, Paulo Mateus Martins, Esayas Mendesil, Jaroslav Michalko, Anna Mrazova, Samuel Novais, Cassio C. Pereira, Mirela S. Peric, Jana S. Petermann, Servio P. Ribeiro, Katerina Sam, M. Kurtis Trzcinski, Camila Vieira, Natalie Westwood, Maria L. Bernaschini, Valentina Carvajal, Ezequiel Gonzalez, Mariana Jausoro, Stanis Kaensin, Fabiola Ospina, E. Jacob Cristobal-Perez, Mauricio Quesada, Pierre Rogy, Diane S. Srivastava, Scarlett Szpryngiel, Ayco J. M. Tack, Tiit Teder, Martin Videla, Mari-Liis Viljur, Julia Koricheva
Summary: Current climate change is disrupting biotic interactions and eroding biodiversity worldwide. However, leaf shelters constructed by arthropods can provide shelter for species sensitive to aridity, high temperatures, and climate variability. This study found that leaf rolls support larger organisms and higher arthropod biomass and species diversity compared to non-rolled control leaves. The magnitude of the leaf rolls' effect varied depending on long- and short-term climate conditions, metrics, and trophic groups. Leaf roll use may have both proximal and ultimate causes, with the projected increases in climate variability and aridity likely to increase the importance of biotic refugia in mitigating the effects of climate change on species persistence.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Daniela de Angeli Dutra, Alan Fecchio, Erika Martins Braga, Robert Poulin
Summary: This study analyzed whether migratory behavior affects the coevolutionary congruence between avian hemoparasites and hosts. The results showed that migratory behavior neither weakens nor strengthens this coevolutionary congruence, suggesting that other avian host traits are more influential in generating phylogenetic congruence in this host-parasite system.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Antoine Filion, Lucas Deschamps, Chris N. Niebuhr, Robert Poulin
Summary: Anthropogenic changes can have significant impacts on wild populations and contribute to the emergence of diseases, such as avian malaria, which threaten native bird species in New Zealand. Understanding the cascading effects of human modifications on fragile species is crucial for conservation efforts.
Article
Biology
Robert Poulin, Cameron McDougall, Bronwen Presswell
Summary: This study investigated the naming trends of nearly 2900 new species of parasitic helminths described in the past two decades. The findings suggest that the likelihood of new species being given names that convey information about them or not depends on the higher taxonomic group to which the parasite or its host belongs. Furthermore, there is a consistent gender bias among species named after eminent scientists, with male scientists being immortalized more frequently than female scientists. The study also reveals an increasing tendency to name new species after family members or close friends.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jerusha Bennett, Robert Poulin, Bronwen Presswell
Summary: Parasitic helminths with complex life cycles require multiple hosts, and we have limited knowledge about invertebrate hosts compared to vertebrates. In New Zealand, less than 1% of marine invertebrates have records of parasite infections, indicating a lack of understanding about invertebrate parasites in marine ecosystems. This study provides a comprehensive parasite-host checklist, including data from the literature and newly discovered infections in New Zealand.
INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Robert Poulin, Fatima Jorge, Priscila M. Salloum
Summary: Alterations in host phenotype induced by metazoan parasites are influenced by the composition of symbiotic microbial communities living within individual parasites. Microbiome composition variation among individual parasites can explain the variation in the extent of alterations to host phenotype. Two approaches are proposed to further understand the impact of microbiome composition on host-parasite interactions.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Robert Poulin, Cameron McDougall
Summary: Treating host-parasite associations as bipartite interaction networks provides insights into structural patterns and possible causes in fish-parasite communities. Network analysis revealed that tropical fish-parasite networks are more stable than temperate networks. At the species level, different transmission modes do not affect the centrality of parasite species within the networks, but certain taxa, such as branchiurans, acanthocephalans, and larval trematodes, have higher centrality values and may play a key role in network cohesion.
Review
Ecology
Thiago Goncalves-Souza, Leonardo S. Chaves, Gabriel X. Boldorini, Natalia Ferreira, Reginaldo A. F. Gusmao, Phamela Bernardes Peronico, Nathan J. Sanders, Fabricio B. Teresa
Summary: Trait-based approaches elucidate the mechanisms underlying biodiversity response to, or effects on, the environment. Nevertheless, the lack of knowledge on species traits and their functionality presents a challenge in the application of these approaches. This study conducted a systematic review to investigate the trends and gaps in trait-based animal ecology and suggests crucial steps to guide trait selection. The importance of addressing these gaps is highlighted, as it can lead to a more predictive trait-based animal ecology. Evaluation: 8 out of 10.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Arthur Ramalho Magalhaes, Claudia Torres Codeco, Jens-Christian Svenning, Luis E. Escobar, Paige Van de Vuurst, Thiago Goncalves-Souza
Summary: This study examined the role of socioeconomic variables in predicting neglected tropical zoonoses in Brazil and found that socioeconomic factors are as important as environmental factors in influencing disease transmission risk. The results highlight the importance of poverty and natural ecosystem destruction in the transmission of tropical diseases.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF POVERTY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michel V. Garey, Thiago Goncalves-Souza, Fausto Nomura, Franco Leandro Souza, Mirco Sole, Marcelo Menin, Denise C. Rossa-Feres
Summary: Determining drivers of beta diversity is a complex task that involves processes acting synergistically across multiple scales. This study examined the beta diversity patterns of pond-living tadpoles across multiple scales in five Brazilian biomes and identified the relative influence of environmental and spatial factors.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2023)
