Article
Ecology
Vincent S. Pan, Marshall McMunn, Richard Karban, Jake Goidell, Marjorie G. Weber, Eric F. LoPresti
Summary: The research found that binding to the ground can reduce the risk of 53 plant species with mucilaginous seeds being taken by harvester ants. The force of seed dislodgement increased with mucilage production, while it was not related to seed mass. Certain plant traits and climate characteristics were positively correlated with seed attachment potential. Latitude showed a concave down quadratic relationship with attachment potential, peaking at around 30 degrees.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Miguel Castillo-Garcia, Concepcion L. Alados, Javier Ramos, David Moret, Olivia Barrantes, Yolanda Pueyo
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of different grazing intensities on herbivore-plant-soil feedbacks in Mediterranean mountain grasslands. The results showed that increasing grazing pressure led to a decrease in the relative cover and species richness of non-leguminous forbs, while the opposite trend was observed for graminoids. Increasing grazing intensity was also associated with higher values of soil nitrogen, carbon-nitrogen ratio, organic carbon, microbial biomass, and beta-glucosidase activity. The study highlighted the importance of grazing management with a target pasture utilisation rate of around 45% in sustaining positive herbivore-plant-soil feedbacks and preserving or enhancing the whole ecosystem functioning.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Joel Segarra, Jordi Fernanadez-Martinez, Jose Luis Araus
Summary: Traditional Mediterranean Mountain landscapes in Spain have undergone significant environmental and social changes over the past seventy years. Grazing by Catalan donkeys can reduce pasture biomass and increase plant diversity. Studying land use changes helps understand landscape dynamics.
Article
Ecology
Jose Manuel Fernandez-Guisuraga, Victor Fernandez-Garcia, Reyes Tarrega, Elena Marcos, Luz Valbuena, Rayo Pinto, Paula Monte, David Beltran, Sara Huerta, Leonor Calvo
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of short- and long-term grazing abandonment on the ability of mountain grasslands to sustain multiple ecosystem functions. The results showed that grazing exclusion significantly decreased overall ecosystem multifunctionality, especially in long-term exclusion areas. However, the decline in multifunctionality in short-term exclusion areas was not significant compared to grazed areas.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Clara Frasconi Wendt, Alice Nunes, Melanie Kobel, Robin Verble, Paula Matos, Mario Boieiro, Cristina Branquinho
Summary: The exclusion of grazing can promote the recovery of ant biodiversity in disturbed ecosystems. Different responses in ant species richness, functional structure and diversity were observed at different time points post-grazing exclusion, mainly driven by the length of exclusion and vegetation structure. This suggests that time and changes in habitat structure can facilitate the recovery of ant biodiversity, although the presence of invasive species may pose a challenge.
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Helena Castro, Maria Celeste Dias, Jose Paulo Sousa, Helena Freitas
Summary: Enhanced drought, more frequent rainfall events and increased inter-annual variability of precipitation are expected for the Mediterranean. Through an experiment, we assessed the response of Mediterranean plant species to water deficit and found that different species have different abilities to cope with drought. Despite different responses, severe water deficit negatively affected plant biomass in all species studied. These findings provide important insights for predicting plant diversity and species composition in Mediterranean grasslands and Montado under climate change conditions.
Article
Ecology
Zheng Wang, Jinghui Zhang, Zhiyong Li, Huamin Liu, Lixin Wang, Wen Wang, Yang Wang, Cunzhu Liang
Summary: The study found that plants adjust their functional traits in response to grazing, with a convergence in traits indicating avoidance or tolerance of herbivory. Intraspecific variability of functional traits was also found to play a role in plant adaptation to grazing. Mixed cattle and sheep grazing may be a more environmentally friendly and sustainable practice for the Inner Mongolia grassland than single grazing, as single grazing was found to be more detrimental to dominant plant species' functional traits.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Rafael Achury, Lars Clement, Anne Ebeling, Sebastian Meyer, Winfried Voigt, Wolfgang W. Weisser
Summary: Increasing plant species richness has positive effects on the diversity of other organisms. Ant abundance and colony numbers are negatively affected by plant species richness and the identity of plant functional groups. Ant activity is influenced by both plant species richness and the number of functional groups, indicating nutritional requirements. Abiotic factors such as soil temperature also affect ant activity.
Article
Ecology
Trace E. Martyn, Christina L. Kwapich, Albert Kline, Elise S. Gornish
Summary: This study examined seed predation rates in a grassland in southwestern Arizona, USA. The results showed that small seeds and those with no structure were most preferred by granivorous ants. Furthermore, over half of the ant species found were known seed predators.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xinjie Zha, Yuan Tian, Ouzhu, Gang Fu
Summary: This study conducted a grazing experiment in alpine grassland sites on the Tibetan Plateau and found that warm-season grazing significantly reduced forage nutrient storages, while cold-season grazing had a smaller impact. The relationships between plant species, phylogenetic diversity, and forage nutrient storages were different. Grazing can restructure the elevation distribution of forage nutrient storages.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
L. Ancillotto, R. Labadessa, F. Roscioni, F. Montioni, E. Fulco, L. Zollo, C. Spilinga
Summary: The replacement of natural habitats by urbanization and agricultural land reclamation is a major driver of biodiversity loss. This study focuses on the role of Mediterranean dry grasslands in sustaining bat populations and finds that grassland conservation quality and habitat diversity are key factors shaping bat utilization of grasslands.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Giacomo Ortis, Luca Mazzon, Giacomo Cavaletto, Federico Marangoni, Lorenzo Marini
Summary: The effects of land use on orthopterans are mainly reflected in species richness and abundance, with abandoned grasslands having the highest richness and vineyards the lowest. Increasing forest cover can increase Ensifera species richness. Olive groves may be more suitable than vineyards for the conservation of habitats for both Ensifera and Caelifera.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Davide Nardi, Lorenzo Marini
Summary: In Europe, changes in agriculture and the decline of semi-natural grasslands have led to a loss of spider diversity, particularly in mountain regions. Abandoned grasslands have the potential to provide new habitats and niches for ground-dwelling spiders, although there are differences in species richness and activity density between open habitats, forests, and agricultural areas. Maintaining landscape heterogeneity by preserving various habitat types may increase regional species diversity for spiders.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Min Liu, Tongbin Zhu, Yuqiang Tian, Xingliang Xu, Yanfen Wang
Summary: This study investigated the nitrogen uptake by plant functional groups during restoration in alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that restoration altered the biomass composition of grasses, sedges, and forbs and shifted the nitrogen uptake partitions. Chemical niche in nitrogen uptake was discovered during the restoration process, reducing the intense competition for nitrogen.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Adriana E. Olthoff, Carolina Martinez-Ruiz, Josu G. Alday
Summary: This study assessed the relationships between environmental gradients and shrub functional groups distribution patterns in a transitional area between the Eurosiberian and Mediterranean biogeographic regions in Northern Spain. The research found that shrub functional groups respond to climatic and slope gradients similarly to tree species, with functionally related shrubs having close niche locations. Functional groups occupying environments with sharp contrast or transitional environments have the broadest niches.
Article
Entomology
Violeta Hevia, Jorge Ortega, Francisco M. Azcarate, Cesar A. Lopez, Jose A. Gonzalez
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Mariola Silvestre, Arantxa Aguilar, Javier Seoane, Francisco M. Azcarate
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alfredo Garcia-Fernandez, Pablo Manzano, Javier Seoane, Francisco M. Azcarate, Jose M. Iriondo, Begona Peco
Article
Plant Sciences
Carlos P. Carmona, Francesco de Bello, Francisco M. Azcarate, Norman W. H. Mason, Begona Peco
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Javier Seoane, Mariola Silvestre, Violeta Hevia, Ruben Arino, Francisco M. Azcarate
Summary: The study found that niche overlap and breadth of ant assemblages in Mediterranean grasslands in the Guadarrama range in Central Spain are influenced by elevation and species richness, while interspecific competition and abiotic factors also have opposing effects on niche characteristics.
ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Francisco M. Azcarate, Aitor Alameda-Martin, Adrian Escudero, Ana M. Sanchez
Summary: The study analyzed the effects of fragmentation on ant communities in gypsum outcrops and found that even small and isolated fragments have value for ant conservation. Ant communities in these habitats were found to be relatively resistant to fragmentation, with smaller and more isolated fragments even having higher total number of occurrences.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Hodei Zumeaga, Francisco M. Azcarate, Elena D. Concepcion, Violeta Hevia, Mario Diaz
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of AES on ant abundance, diversity, and community composition, finding that AES did not significantly impact ant species richness or community composition, but increased the abundance of ants at field edges.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Mario Diaz, Elena D. Concepcion, Manuel B. Morales, Juan Carlos Alonso, Francisco M. Azcarate, Ignacio Bartomeus, Gerard Bota, Lluis Brotons, Daniel Garcia, David Giralt, Jose Eugenio Gutierrez, Jose Vicente Lopez-Bao, Santiago Manosa, Ruben Milla, Marcos Minarro, Alberto Navarro, Pedro P. Olea, Carlos Palacin, Begona Peco, Pedro J. Rey, Javier Seoane, Susana Suarez-Seoane, Christian Schob, Rocio Tarjuelo, Juan Traba, Francisco Valera, Elena Velado-Alonso
Summary: Based on the best scientific evidence, Spain should identify regional biodiversity targets, ensure criteria across environmental instruments like enhanced conditionality, and invest in biodiversity monitoring to evaluate the achievement of goals. Direct assessments of environmental objectives are feasible and beneficial for improving the environmental effectiveness of CAP measures.
ARDEOLA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Mariola Silvestre, Carlos P. Carmona, Francisco M. Azcarate, Javier Seoane
Summary: The study found that taxonomic diversity and functional diversity changed roughly in a similar manner with elevation and productivity, while phylogenetic diversity did not show clear responses to those factors. Elevation and productivity gradients accounted for much of the differences in beta taxonomic diversity among assemblages.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Violeta Hevia, Carlos P. Carmona, Francisco M. Azcarate, Roberto Heredia, Jose A. Gonzalez
Summary: The installation of floral strips and preservation of semi-natural habitats are crucial for enhancing the taxonomic and functional diversity of wild bees in intensively farmed sunflower fields. Floral strips offer a partial substitute to increase wild bee diversity when semi-natural habitats are scarce.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lucie Mota, Violeta Hevia, Carlos Rad, Joana Alves, Antonio Silva, Jose A. Gonzalez, Jorge Ortega-Marcos, Oscar Aguado, Paloma Alcorlo, Francisco M. Azcarate, Libertad Chapinal, Cesar A. Lopez, Joao Loureiro, Evan A. N. Marks, Catarina Siopa, Jose Paulo Sousa, Silvia Castro
Summary: The intensification of agricultural landscapes has impacted biodiversity and had varied effects on pollinator visitation rates and crop yield depending on the region and year. Implementation of flower strips can enhance pollinator communities and sunflower productivity, particularly in regions with more diverse and resource-rich landscapes.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
O. Sanllorente, A. Lenoir, E. Perdereau, F. Ruano, F. M. Azcarate, M. Silvestre, P. Lorite, A. Tinaut
Summary: Social parasites rely on chemical cues to invade and coexist with hosts. Most ants that are obligate social parasites can parasitize several host species with different levels of chemical similarity. However, there are exceptions, such as Rossomyrmex minuchae, which can only parasitize a single host species. A recent discovery of a new R. minuchae population showed local adaptation to a different host species, P. nasuta, and genetic differences from other populations, indicating historical genetic isolation and potential speciation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Alejandro Carrascosa, Mariola Silvestre, Laura Morgado, Francisco M. Azcarate
Summary: This study investigates the impact of summer drought on specific leaf area (SLA) of woody shrub vegetation in the Mediterranean climate. It also explores the possible interaction between drought and environmental characteristics of different habitats. The results show that summer drought affects the mean SLA, functional diversity, and uniformity of shrub communities, and this effect is mediated by microenvironmental characteristics.
JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2023)