Article
Plant Sciences
Franciska T. de Vries, Cecile Thion, Michael Bahn, Benoit Bergk Pinto, Sebastien Cecillon, Beat Frey, Helen Grant, Graeme W. Nicol, Wolfgang Wanek, James I. Prosser, Richard D. Bardgett
Summary: Human activities have increased the amount of reactive nitrogen in the biosphere, leading to increased nitrogen inputs in terrestrial ecosystems. Plant and microbial controls on the retention of added nitrogen remain elusive, with plant and microbial properties playing a significant role in the uptake and retention of nitrogen in glacier forelands. Understanding these fundamental controls is crucial for predicting and mitigating the impacts of reactive nitrogen on terrestrial ecosystems.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alessia Guerrieri, Alexis Carteron, Aurelie Bonin, Silvio Marta, Roberto Ambrosini, Marco Caccianiga, Isabel Cantera, Chiara Compostella, Guglielmina Diolaiuti, Diego Fontaneto, Ludovic Gielly, Fabrizio Gili, Mauro Gobbi, Jerome Poulenard, Pierre Taberlet, Andrea Zerboni, Wilfried Thuiller, Gentile Francesco Ficetola
Summary: Due to glacier shrinkage, ice-free areas are expanding worldwide and being rapidly colonized by multiple lifeforms, making them important environments to study ecosystem development. This study used environmental DNA metabarcoding to examine whether community diversity and composition differ between surface and deep soils at various stages of development and across five Alpine glaciers. The results showed that taxonomic diversity increased with time since glacier retreat and soil evolution, and this pattern was consistent across different taxonomic groups and soil depths. The alpha-diversity of Eukaryota and Mycota was highest at the surface, and community composition was more influenced by time since glacier retreat than depth. Beta-diversity between surface and deep layers decreased with time, suggesting that the soil tends to homogenize over time. Bacteria and fungi were significant indicators of specific depths and/or soil development stages, indicating strong functional variation of microbial communities over time and depth. The complexity of community patterns highlights the importance of integrating information from multiple taxonomic groups to understand how communities respond to global changes.
Article
Ecology
Jeremy Borderieux, Jean-Claude Gegout, Josep M. Serra-Diaz
Summary: Climate warming leads to changes in understorey plant community composition, favoring warm-adapted species and reducing cold-adapted species. Previous studies have shown a lag between understorey plant temperature index (CTI) and climate warming rates, which can be partly explained by local tree canopy cover. This study investigates the role of landscape-scale forest cover in influencing CTI.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jana Eichel, Daniel Draebing, Stefan Winkler, Nele Meyer
Summary: Glacier forelands are rapidly changing landscapes, but ecological studies often neglect the potential feedbacks between geomorphic disturbances and vegetation colonization. By influencing vegetation and soil development, these feedbacks could be crucial to understand glacier foreland ecosystem development in a changing climate.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jeongeun Yun, Yerang Yang, Xue Zhou, Jaehyun Lee, Jiwon Choi, Mincheol Kim, Hyeryeon Gyeong, Dominique Laffly, Hojeong Kang
Summary: Climate warming has accelerated deglaciation in the Svalbard high Arctic region, resulting in significant landscape transformations. This leads to the expansion of exposed soil surfaces, providing new habitats for plants and microorganisms and contributing to ecosystem succession. While there has been extensive research on the primary succession of plant communities following glacier retreat, microbial succession, particularly that of methanotrophs and methanogens, is still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the abundance and diversity of methanotrophs and methanogens along a 100-year soil chronosequence in the forelands of inland and tidewater glaciers in Svalbard. Our findings revealed clear trends in the structure of methanotrophic communities during the deglaciation process in both glacier types, mediated by changes in soil physicochemical properties. These insights significantly contribute to our understanding of microbial dynamics during deglaciation and their implications for methane dynamics in the high Arctic.
Article
Plant Sciences
Konrad Greinwald, Tobias Gebauer, Alessandra Musso, Michael Scherer-Lorenzen
Summary: The study established two soil chronosequences with contrasting bedrock types in the Swiss Alps spanning a terrain age gradient of 13,500 years. The results showed that functional richness increased with terrain age, while functional evenness and functional divergence decreased, indicating a similar development of plant community structure along the two chronosequences and supporting the deterministic model of functional structure during succession.
JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Alistair G. Auffret, Pieter Vangansbeke, Pieter De Frenne, Inger Auestad, Sofia Basto, Ulf Grandin, Hans Jacquemyn, Anna Jakobsson, Rein Kalamees, Marcus A. Koch, Rob Marrs, Bryndis Marteinsdottir, Markus Wagner, Renee M. Bekker, Hans Henrik Bruun, Guillaume Decocq, Martin Hermy, Malgorzata Jankowska-Blaszczuk, Per Milberg, Inger E. Maren, Robin J. Pakeman, Gareth K. Phoenix, Ken Thompson, Hans Van Calster, Vigdis Vandvik, Jan Plue
Summary: Responses to climate change often lag behind warming rates. Soil seed banks can buffer unsuitable conditions, containing species with warm and wide climatic ranges. Seed banks may play a role in climate-driven community shifts and the spread of generalist species.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Kukka Kyro, Tuomas Kankaanpaeae, Eero J. Vesterinen, Susanna Lehvavirta, David Johannes Kotze
Summary: Vegetated roofs, as human-manufactured ecosystems, can serve as promising conservation tools for various species and habitats. A 3-year study on newly constructed vegetated roofs with shallow substrates and different types of vegetation revealed that these roofs had similar species richness to ground level habitats but differed in community composition. The roofs developed novel arthropod communities that were distinct from ground level habitats but similar to each other. The proportion of predators also increased on the roofs. Further investigation is needed to understand the role of these isolated communities in species networks and ecosystem function.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jacob A. Heil, Charles J. Wolock, Naomi E. Pierce, Anne Pringle, Leonora S. Bittleston
Summary: Plant-associated microbial communities are influenced by both geography and host species. Geography plays a role mainly in different sampling sites, while host species directly affect the structure and abundances of microbial communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Costanza Geppert, Cristiana Contri, Letizia De Boni, Daria Corcos, Lorenzo Marini
Summary: This study aims to investigate the roles of biotic and abiotic drivers in plant natural succession after soil disturbance. The results show that timing of disturbance and arthropod herbivory play an important role in shaping plant communities, while nitrogen has a negligible effect on plant community dynamics.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
J. Christina Mitchell, Vincent D'Amico III, Tara L. E. Trammell, Steven D. Frank
Summary: Ecological theory and empirical evidence suggest that greater structural complexity and diversity in plant communities enhances arthropod abundance and diversity. However, nonnative plants, which lack evolutionary history, are typically associated with low arthropod abundance and diversity. This study examines urban forests to determine whether structural complexity associated with nonnative plants will increase or decrease arthropod abundance and diversity.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Janne S. Koskinen, Nerea Abrego, Eero J. Vesterinen, Torsti Schulz, Tomas Roslin, Tommi Nyman
Summary: Interactions between fungi and insects involve hundreds of thousands of species. This study found that latitude has a significant impact on arthropod communities associated with fungal fruiting bodies, while host phylogeny and decay stage of fruiting bodies also have detectable effects. However, latitude does not affect the number of arthropod species inhabiting a fruiting body, but rather the species composition and relative abundances.
ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Cynthia Tobisch, Sandra Rojas-Botero, Johannes Uhler, Joerg Mueller, Johannes Kollmann, Christoph Moning, Martin Braendle, Martin M. Gossner, Sarah Redlich, Jie Zhang, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Caryl Benjamin, Jana Englmeier, Ute Fricke, Cristina Ganuza, Maria Haensel, Rebekka Riebl, Lars Uphus, Joerg Ewald
Summary: Plant species composition is the main factor influencing arthropod taxonomic composition, with land-cover composition being an important predictor as well. The indicator values of plant communities for local habitat conditions are more important than trophic relationships between certain plant and arthropod species. Predators show the strongest response to plant species composition, while herbivores and pollinators show stronger responses than parasitoids and detritivores.
Article
Ecology
Adriana Uscanga, Heriberto Lopez, Daniel Pinero, Brent C. Emerson, Alicia Mastretta-Yanes
Summary: The study in the Transmexican Volcanic Belt of Mexico evaluated the colonization of high-elevation habitats and the effect of past landscape configurations on biodiversity. Results indicate that colonization from other mountains and allopatric divergence are the main sources of OTU formation, with ancient genetic structures persisting.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hyeryeon Gyeong, Chang-Uk Hyun, Seok Cheol Kim, Binu Mani Tripathi, Jeongeun Yun, Jinhyun Kim, Hojeong Kang, Ji Hee Kim, Sanghee Kim, Mincheol Kim
Summary: The study found that bacterial communities in recently deglaciated soils respond more rapidly to glacial retreat, while the succession dynamics of fungal communities are largely governed by stochastic processes.
Article
Ecology
Sigmund Hagvar, Mauro Gobbi
Summary: This article summarizes recent studies on the role of arthropods in the formation of pioneer communities, challenging common ecological assumptions. The research indicates that the virgin ground left by melting glaciers may not be as hostile to arthropods as previously believed. The article also discusses the mystery of the high ecological diversity among pioneer arthropods.
ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michele Dalle Fratte, Marco Caccianiga, Carlo Ricotta, Bruno E. L. Cerabolini
Summary: This study proposes a protocol for the identification of typical plant species based on functional traits and dark diversity probability, applicable to plant-dominated habitat types. The functional-based method allows for the recognition of more exclusive species, while species with higher dark diversity probability serve as early warning indicators of changes in habitat conditions.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Marco Bonelli, Elena Eustacchio, Daniele Avesani, Verner Michelsen, Mattia Falaschi, Marco Caccianiga, Mauro Gobbi, Morena Casartelli
Summary: This study characterized the flower visitor community on an early flowering high-altitude Alpine plant and investigated the effects of temperature, wind speed, and other variables on their activity. The results contribute to understanding the composition of flower-visiting arthropod communities and provide a foundation for evaluating the impact of climate change on these organisms in high-altitude environments during the early season.
Article
Geography, Physical
Barbara Valle, Michele di Musciano, Mauro Gobbi, Marco Bonelli, Enzo Colonnelli, Giulio Gardini, Massimo Migliorini, Paolo Pantini, Adriano Zanetti, Emanuele Berrilli, Anna Rita Frattaroli, Davide Fugazza, Anna Invernizzi, Marco Caccianiga
Summary: In the current phase of global warming, relict glacial areas are facing severe threats and have become hotspots for biodiversity and ecological conservation. This study investigated the biological communities hosted by Calderone Glacier, the last preserved glacier in the Apennines mountain chain, Italy. The findings revealed a diverse and unique biodiversity consisting of plants and arthropods, including new species.
Review
Ecology
Jeffrey A. Harvey, Kevin Tougeron, Rieta Gols, Robin Heinen, Mariana Abarca, Paul K. Abram, Yves Basset, Matty Berg, Carol Boggs, Jacques Brodeur, Pedro Cardoso, Jetske G. de Boer, Geert R. De Snoo, Charl Deacon, Jane E. Dell, Nicolas Desneux, Michael E. Dillon, Grant A. Duffy, Lee A. Dyer, Jacintha Ellers, Anahi Espindola, James Fordyce, Matthew L. Forister, Caroline Fukushima, Matthew J. G. Gage, Carlos Garcia-Robledo, Claire Gely, Mauro Gobbi, Caspar Hallmann, Thierry Hance, John Harte, Axel Hochkirch, Christian Hof, Ary A. Hoffmann, Joel G. Kingsolver, Greg P. A. Lamarre, William F. Laurance, Blas Lavandero, Simon R. Leather, Philipp Lehmann, Cecile Le Lann, Margarita M. Lopez-Uribe, Chun-Sen Ma, Gang Ma, Joffrey Moiroux, Lucie Monticelli, Chris Nice, Paul J. Ode, Sylvain Pincebourde, William J. Ripple, Melissah Rowe, Michael J. Samways, Arnaud Sentis, Alisha A. Shah, Nigel Stork, John S. Terblanche, Madhav P. Thakur, Matthew B. Thomas, Jason M. Tylianakis, Joan Van Baaren, Martijn Van de Pol, Wim H. Van der Putten, Hans Van Dyck, Wilco C. E. P. Verberk, David L. Wagner, Wolfgang W. Weisser, William C. Wetzel, H. Arthur Woods, Kris A. G. Wyckhuys, Steven L. Chown
Summary: Climate warming is a serious anthropogenic stress on the environment, exacerbating the harmful effects of other threats and potentially threatening species preservation and ecosystem services provided by biodiversity. Insects, as central components of many ecosystems, are highly affected by climate change, with effects on physiology, behavior, distribution, and interactions, as well as extreme events.
ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Elena Eustacchio, Marco Bonelli, Mario Beretta, Irene Monti, Mauro Gobbi, Morena Casartelli, Marco Caccianiga
Summary: Androsace brevis is a narrow endemic plant in the Southern Central European Alps that blooms shortly after snowmelt and depends on insect-mediated pollination for successful reproduction. This study provides a detailed description of its pollen and floral morphology, indicating a generalist pollination strategy that allows high-altitude flower-visiting insects to reach both nectar and pollen. Understanding these traits is important for addressing potential threats, such as increasing temperature and mismatched pollinators, that this vulnerable species faces.
Article
Ecology
Barbara Valle, Mauro Gobbi, Mattia Brambilla, Marina Serena Borgatti, Marco Caccianiga
Summary: Springtails play a key role in glacial ecosystems and are important ecological indicators. However, an effective sampling protocol for springtail community in glacial lithosols is currently lacking. This study tested three sampling methods and found that a combination of pitfall trapping and flotation method had the best performance in terms of species and functional types recorded.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Silvio Marta, Anais Zimmer, Marco Caccianiga, Mauro Gobbi, Roberto Ambrosini, Roberto Sergio Azzoni, Fabrizio Gili, Francesca Pittino, Wilfried Thuiller, Antonello Provenzale, Gentile Francesco Ficetola
Summary: This study uses near-subsurface soil temperatures in 175 stations to generate high-resolution temperature reconstructions, assess spatial variability in microclimate change from 2001 to 2020, and estimate whether microclimate heterogeneity might buffer the severity of warming trends. The results show that areas nearby glaciers are warming faster than other mountain regions, and these effects are particularly rapid in tropical mountains.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Franco Angelini, Pierangela Angelini, Claudia Angiolini, Simonetta Bagella, Fabio Bonomo, Marco Caccianiga, Cosimo Della Santina, Daniela Gigante, Marco Hutter, Thrishantha Nanayakkara, Paolo Remagnino, Diego Torricelli, Manolo Garabini
Summary: In this paper, the challenges of habitat monitoring and possible robotic solutions are discussed. A framework utilizing legged robotic systems for terrestrial habitat monitoring is proposed, with the concept of Natural Intelligence. This approach aims to deploy robots in real natural environments and assist in assessing habitat conservation status. Examples of robotic monitoring in various environments are presented.
Article
Entomology
Simone Ornaghi, Barbara Valle, Marco Caccianiga, Roberto Seppi, Mauro Gobbi
Summary: This study analyzed the differences in sex-ratio and morphometric parameters of cold-adapted ground beetles to understand environmental heterogeneity in a periglacial region of the European Alps. The results showed that both species of beetles had sex-dependent morphometric plasticity and a female-biased sex-ratio. The presence of ice in the terrain affected certain morphometric traits, such as a decrease in head width and an increase in elytra width. These findings suggest that cold-adapted ground beetles may prefer ice-related landforms due to the better conditions they provide.
FRAGMENTA ENTOMOLOGICA
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Valeria Lencioni, Cristiana Rizzi, Mauro Gobbi, Andrea Mustoni, Sara Villa
Summary: Pesticides, synthetic fragrances and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have contaminated glacier-fed streams and a spring in the Italian Alps, accumulating in aquatic larvae and carabids. The concentration of xenobiotics was higher in larvae than in water, indicating trophic transfer to riparian predators.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Davide Fugazza, Barbara Valle, Marco Stefano Caccianiga, Mauro Gobbi, Giacomo Traversa, Marta Tognetti, Guglielmina Adele Diolaiuti, Antonella Senese
Summary: Debris-covered glaciers are common around the world and accurately modeling their melt is important for various purposes. This study investigates the melt of Amola Glacier using an empirical approach based on meteorological and glaciological conditions, and provides a model for estimating the melt of debris-covered glaciers.
COLD REGIONS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Riccardo Panza, Mauro Gobbi
Summary: Changes in the spatial distribution of cold-adapted species, driven by climate change, have been observed and studied. This research focused on the cold-adapted beetle Nebria germarii and found that its lower range limit has shifted upward by approximately 350 meters over the past 90 years. The species' distribution area has also been halved and fragmented, leading to its extinction in high alpine grasslands. Similar changes have been observed in other taxa and may result in the extinction of specialist taxa, especially endemics in mountain areas. The study highlights the importance of intensified research to monitor and mitigate biodiversity loss in Alpine ecosystems.
RENDICONTI LINCEI-SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI
(2022)