Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jianchao Liang, Zhifeng Ding, Ganwen Lie, Zhixin Zhou, Zhixiang Zhang, Huijian Hu
Summary: This study examines the elevational patterns of phylogenetic diversity and structure of seed plants in the Gyirong Valley, the longest valley in China's central Himalayas. The results show a hump-shaped pattern in phylogenetic diversity, with overdispersion at lower elevations and clustering at higher elevations. Climate factors have the highest explanatory power in understanding these patterns.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Hong Qian, Tao Deng, Robert E. Ricklefs
Summary: The study found that the flora of the Arctic is a phylogenetically clustered subset of the broader Northern Hemisphere flora, with some lineages being filtered stepwise into more northerly Arctic subzones.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Flavien Collart, Jian Wang, Jairo Patino, Anders Hagborg, Lars Soderstrom, Bernard Goffinet, Nicolas Magain, Olivier J. Hardy, Alain Vanderpoorten
Summary: The study reveals that changes in the phylogenetic composition among liverwort floras across the globe are primarily shaped by macroclimatic variation, rather than geographic distance. Macroclimatic niche conservatism plays a significant role in constraining the distribution of liverworts over evolutionary time scales.
Review
Plant Sciences
Mark Westoby, Luke Yates, Barbara Holland, Ben Halliwell
Summary: Cross-species correlations between quantitative traits or between traits and habitat properties can indicate that a trait value is effective in supporting populations in certain contexts but not others. Controlling for phylogeny is important in such correlations, but it has its limitations as a clade's traits tend to provide success in specific habitats, leading to similar trait selection within the clade. Multi-response mixed models using phylogenetic covariance matrices can quantify the conservative trait correlation (CTC), which incorporates phylogenetic conservatism and ongoing influences of other traits. CTC concept treats both phylogenetic conservatism and ongoing influences as joint explanations in trait correlations.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Hong Qian, Brody Sandel
Summary: Studies focusing on relatively small spatial scales have shown that alien plants are more likely to invade phylogenetically clustered communities, and that the introduction of alien plants further increases phylogenetic clustering in the recipient communities. However, whether these patterns hold at a continental scale remains untested. Here, we investigate the phylogenetic structure of native and alien regional assemblages of angiosperms across North America.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Hong Qian, Shenhua Qian, Brody Sandel
Summary: The introduction of alien species in China's angiosperm assemblages can be influenced by the phylogenetic structure of the native species, while also altering that structure. The richness and phylogenetic structure of alien species show spatial patterns similar to native species, and are correlated with climatic factors. At broader phylogenetic scales, alien species tend to recapitulate the biogeographic patterns of natives, while at narrower scales, this pattern is less clear.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Aina Garcia-Raventos, Aida Viza, Cesc Murria
Summary: This study used a novel perspective to examine the influence of various factors on regional diversity patterns in Trichoptera at the genus level across different regions. The results showed that taxonomic diversity was not related to latitude and the biogeographical history played an important role in shaping community composition.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Hong Qian, Yong Cao, Cindy Chu, Daijiang Li, Brody Sandel, Xianli Wang, Yi Jin, Janne Soininen
Summary: This study examined various aspects of beta-diversity patterns in North American freshwater fishes, finding high congruence in geographical patterns of total TBD and PBD, turnover, and nestedness components among neighboring watersheds. The results also highlighted the opposite patterns of basal-weighted PBD compared to tip-weighted PBD, and the stronger influence of geographical distance over climate similarity in determining beta-diversity in freshwater fish assemblages.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Hong Qian, Michael Kessler, Tao Deng, Yi Jin
Summary: The phylogenetic structures of more recently evolved and diversified clades of pteridophytes are consistent with the tropical niche conservatism hypothesis, suggesting that the age of the taxon, its physiological adaptations, and global climatic changes during its evolutionary history are reflected in current plant assemblages.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Juan Yue, Rong Li
Summary: This study in subtropical forest communities in the Dulong Valley of Yunnan Province, China, revealed that woody angiosperm species at higher elevations and in areas with lower temperatures tend to be more phylogenetically related. Winter average temperature is a major predictor of increasing phylogenetic relatedness with increasing elevation, supporting the 'Tropical Niche Conservatism' hypothesis.
Article
Ecology
Jeremy Cohen, Walter Jetz
Summary: This study develops a novel methodological framework to identify niche-tracking strategies of bird species using a well-sampled system. The results reveal diversity and varying sensitivity to ongoing climatic change among different tracking strategies. The trait associations of niche tracking suggest significant functional consequences as climate change affects some strategies more strongly than others.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Achyut Kumar Banerjee, Fengxiao Tan, Hui Feng, Xinru Liang, Jiakai Wang, Minghui Yin, Hao Peng, Yuting Lin, Nannan Zhang, Yelin Huang
Summary: This study aimed to understand the phylogenetic relationship between alien plant species at different stages of invasion and the influence of environmental filtering process on this relationship. The results showed that phylogenetically related species tend to cluster together at smaller spatial scales, indicating the importance of environmental filtering process. The presence of close relatives in the community may facilitate the successful naturalization and invasion of introduced alien species. Temperature has a stronger effect on phylogenetic patterns than precipitation, especially at smaller spatial scales. Different plant families showed different phylogenetic patterns, but all tend to form more clustered assemblages.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Denner S. Vieira, Jorge Garcia-Giron, Jani Heino, Maija Toivanen, Aveliina Helm, Janne Alahuhta
Summary: The study found no evidence of range size conservatism among freshwater plants in Europe and North America, indicating that closely related species do not necessarily maintain similar geographic ranges. Additionally, it suggests that it is challenging to define different range sizes of freshwater plants based on species traits and predict unknown distributions based on known attributes of related species.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Diego L. Salariato, Huber Trinidad, Asuncion Cano, Fernando O. Zuloaga, Ihsan A. Al-Shehbaz
Summary: This study reveals the crucial factors involved in the diversification of Eudemeae species in the Andean region through the analysis of their phylogenetic tree and climatic niches.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Aiying Zhang, Zhongjie Yang, Yu Zuo, Liang Ma, Hanyu Zhang
Summary: This study examines the distribution patterns of C-4 species in China and their relationship with climatic gradients. The findings indicate that the distribution of C-4 species in China is influenced by temperature and precipitation, with higher species richness and phylogenetic clustering in the southern region.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dominic Muenzel, Kay Critchell, Courtney Cox, Stuart J. Campbell, Raymond Jakub, Wahid Suherfian, La Sara, Iliana Chollett, Eric A. Treml, Maria Beger
Summary: This study used larval dispersal connectivity to design networks of no-take reserves in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Different methods, such as decision trees and Marxan, were used to consider the setting and expansion of marine reserve networks at different scales. The study found that there were differences in priority areas for protection and expected benefits among different species, and that reef quality should also be taken into account when interpreting larval dispersal patterns and evaluating conservation measures.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Louise Anderson, Matthew McLean, Peter Houk, Curtis Graham, Kriskitina Kanemoto, Elizabeth Terk, Elizabeth McLeod, Maria Beger
Summary: Escalating climate impacts on coral reefs have broadened management goals from biodiversity preservation to ecosystem function maintenance. Understanding interactions between coral and fish traits and their representation in monitoring practices is crucial for effective management.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sara E. Cannon, Simon D. Donner, Angela Liu, Pedro Gonzalez C. Espinosa, Andrew H. Baird, Julia K. Baum, Andrew G. Bauman, Maria Beger, Cassandra E. Benkwitt, Matthew J. Birt, Yannick Chancerelle, Joshua E. Cinner, Nicole L. Crane, Vianney Denis, Martial Depczynski, Nur Fadli, Douglas Fenner, Christopher J. Fulton, Yimnang Golbuu, Nicholas A. J. Graham, James Guest, Hugo B. Harrison, Jean-Paul A. Hobbs, Andrew S. Hoey, Thomas H. Holmes, Peter Houk, Fraser A. Januchowski-Hartley, Jamaluddin Jompa, Chao-Yang Kuo, Gino Valentino Limmon, Yuting V. Lin, Timothy R. McClanahan, Dominic Muenzel, Michelle J. Paddack, Serge Planes, Morgan S. Pratchett, Ben Radford, James Davis Reimer, Zoe T. Richards, Claire L. Ross, John Rulmal, Brigitte Sommer, Gareth J. Williams, Shaun K. Wilson
Summary: Scientists and managers often assume a positive relationship between local human disturbance and macroalgae on coral reefs, but this study finds that specific macroalgae taxa may respond differently to human disturbance. By examining genus-level monitoring data, the study reveals that no genera were positively correlated with all human disturbance metrics, highlighting the need to consider specific algae divisions or genera in assessments. The convention of using macroalgae percent cover as an indicator of local human disturbance may overlook important signatures of anthropogenic threats to reefs.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sun W. W. Kim, Brigitte Sommer, Maria Beger, John M. M. Pandolfi
Summary: Climate change is causing rapid and widespread degradation of the environmental conditions that previously supported species survival. Current projections of climate change mainly focus on acute environmental anomalies and global extinction risks, without considering species-specific patterns. As a result, we lack knowledge about the explicit dimensions of climate risk that are essential for predicting future biodiversity responses and developing effective management and conservation strategies.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Gino V. V. Limmon, Halwi Masdar, Dominic Muenzel, Tanika C. C. Shalders, Cilun Djakiman, Maria Beger, Jamaludin Jompa, Maarten De Brauwer
Summary: The coral reefs in the uninhabited Lucipara group in the Banda Sea, Indonesia, are among the healthiest in the country, possibly due to their remote location.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Anastazia T. Banaszak, Kristen L. Marhaver, Margaret W. Miller, Aaron C. Hartmann, Rebecca Albright, Mary Hagedorn, Peter L. Harrison, Kelly R. W. Latijnhouwers, Sandra Mendoza Quiroz, Valeria Pizarro, Valerie F. Chamberland
Summary: Reversing coral reef decline requires reducing environmental threats and actively restoring reef ecological structure and function. Coral breeding is a promising approach to reestablish genetically diverse coral communities, but currently faces challenges of low survival and limited spatial scale and species diversity. To increase the effectiveness and scale of coral breeding in restoration, research and cooperative innovation efforts should prioritize expanding restoration sites and species, improving broodstock selection, enhancing culture conditions, and scaling up infrastructure and technologies.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mark G. R. Miller, James D. Reimer, Brigitte Sommer, Katie M. Cook, John M. Pandolfi, Masami Obuchi, Maria Beger
Summary: This study investigates the impact of tropicalisation on functional niches for fishes in shallow reefs in Japan and Australia. The researchers find that functional niches in transitional communities are invaded by tropical species at different times, with habitat availability playing a more important role than competition with resident temperate species. The invasion of tropical species into temperate ecosystems indicates the need to understand and manage marine community transformation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Elizabeth Boyse, Maria Beger, Elena Valsecchi, Simon J. Goodman
Summary: Collecting fine-scale occurrence data for marine species is important but challenging. Optimizing sampling strategies using commercial vessels, such as ferries, can provide access to undersampled areas and track community changes. However, sample collection from commercial vessels may introduce bias and not represent biological and environmental variability.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sarah W. Davies, Matthew H. Gamache, Lauren I. Howe-Kerr, Nicola G. Kriefall, Andrew C. Baker, Anastazia T. Banaszak, Line Kolind Bay, Anthony J. Bellantuono, Debashish Bhattacharya, Cheong Xin Chan, Danielle C. Claar, Mary Alice Coffroth, Ross Cunning, Simon K. Davy, Javier del Campo, Erika M. Diaz-Almeyda, Jorg C. Frommlet, Lauren E. Fuess, Raul A. Gonzalez-Pech, Tamar L. Goulet, Kenneth D. Hoadley, Emily J. Howells, Benjamin C. C. Hume, Dustin W. Kemp, Carly D. Kenkel, Sheila A. Kitchen, Todd C. LaJeunesse, Senjie Lin, Shelby E. McIlroy, Ryan McMinds, Matthew R. Nitschke, Clinton A. Oakley, Raquel S. Peixoto, Carlos Prada, Hollie M. Putnam, Kate Quigley, Hannah G. Reich, James Davis Reimer, Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty, Stephanie M. Rosales, Osama S. Saad, Eugenia M. Sampayo, Scott R. Santos, Eiichi Shoguchi, Edward G. Smith, Michael Stat, Timothy G. Stephens, Marie E. Strader, David J. Suggett, Timothy D. Swain, Cawa Tran, Nikki Traylor-Knowles, Christian R. Voolstra, Mark E. Warner, Virginia M. Weis, Rachel M. Wright, Tingting Xiang, Hiroshi Yamashita, Maren Ziegler, Adrienne M. S. Correa, John Everett Parkinson
Summary: Genetic and functional variation in microeukaryotes can accumulate faster than morphological differences. Understanding the evolutionary history and ecology of such lineages requires examining diversity at multiple levels of organization. In the case of Symbiodiniaceae, molecular data have been used to describe phenotypes and make evolutionary inferences, but a lack of consensus among researchers has hindered progress in the field.
Article
Biology
Liam Lachs, Adriana Humanes, Daniel R. Pygas, John C. Bythell, Peter J. Mumby, Renata Ferrari, Will F. Figueira, Elizabeth Beauchamp, Holly K. East, Alasdair J. Edwards, Yimnang Golbuu, Helios M. Martinez, Brigitte Sommer, Eveline van der Steeg, James R. Guest
Summary: As marine species adapt to climate change, their heat tolerance will be under strong selection, but trade-offs between heat tolerance and other traits may compromise adaptation. The study focused on reef-building corals and found no trade-offs between heat tolerance and fecundity or growth. Surprisingly, faster-growing corals tended to bleach and die at higher levels of heat stress. Overall, this suggests that some high-performing corals excel across multiple traits and trade-offs may not be major barriers to adaptation or evolution interventions.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
James Cant, James D. Reimer, Brigitte Sommer, Katie M. Cook, Sun W. Kim, Carrie A. Sims, Takuma Mezaki, Cliodhna O'Flaherty, Maxime Brooks, Hamish A. Malcolm, John M. Pandolfi, Roberto Salguero-Gomez, Maria Beger
Summary: By surveying coral individuals in Australia and Japan from 2016 to 2019, this study explores the spatial variation in the short- and long-term dynamics of competitive, stress-tolerant, and weedy coral assemblages and how abiotic variability affects their structural composition. The study finds that coral assemblages can reduce their vulnerability to stochastic environments by focusing on short-term potential, but competitive coral taxa have a reduced ability to elevate their short-term potential compared to stress-tolerant and weedy assemblages. Future climatic shifts may threaten the structural complexity of coral assemblages in variable environments.
Article
Fisheries
Charlotte G. G. Clay, James Davis Reimer, Katie M. M. Cook, Hirotaka Yamagawa, Ellen Gravener, Lee Hui Yian Theodora, Maria Beger
Summary: This study assessed functional changes in fish communities in Nakagusuku Bay, Okinawa, Japan, over 45 years and identified possible drivers of these changes. The results showed reductions in functional richness and trait space contraction for fishes over time. Changes in habitat availability correlated with changes in the functional diversity of reef-fish communities.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Charlotte G. Clay, James D. Reimer, Brigitte Sommer, Katie M. Cook, Masaru Mizuyama, Masami Obuchi, Iori Kawamura, Hiroki Kise, Maria Beger
Summary: This study evaluated changes in the trait composition of coral-associated fish assemblages along a tropical-to-temperate environmental gradient in southern Japan and found that the trait composition of coral fish changes with increasing latitude, which is closely related to changes in temperature and other environmental factors.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)