Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Liyue Zhang, Kento Rammitsu, Akihiko Kinoshita, Ken Tokuhara, Tomohisa Yukawa, Yuki Ogura-Tsujita
Summary: The mycorrhizal specificity during seed germination and seedling development was investigated in three Dendrobium species. The study found that the three species had a growth bottleneck from seed germination to the protocorm stage, and mycorrhizal specificity varied among the species during protocorm growth and seedling development in vitro.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Kota Ishida, Beata Oborny, Michael T. Gastner
Summary: Competition between alternative states is crucial in both social and biological networks, and neutral competition can be represented by an unbiased random drift process. Real-world processes introduce three limiting factors that affect the direction and rate of spread. The effectiveness of a heterogeneous mean-field theory allows for quantitative predictions of consensus even without a complete reconstruction of network edges from empirical data.
Article
Ecology
Julien Cote, Maxime Dahirel, Nicolas Schtickzelle, Florian Altermatt, Armelle Ansart, Simon Blanchet, Alexis S. Chaine, Frederik De Laender, Jonathan De Raedt, Bart Haegeman, Staffan Jacob, Oliver Kaltz, Estelle Laurent, Chelsea J. Little, Luc Madec, Florent Manzi, Stefano Masier, Felix Pellerin, Frank Pennekamp, Lieven Therry, Alexandre Vong, Laurane Winandy, Dries Bonte, Emanuel A. Fronhofer, Delphine Legrand
Summary: This study explores the impact of dispersal process on the morphology, physiology, and behavior of organisms, as well as its cascading effects on eco-evolutionary dynamics and ecosystem processes. The experimental results reveal that dispersal propensity is influenced by individuals' phenotype and local environmental harshness.
Article
Microbiology
Robert R. Junker, Nico Eisenhauer, Anja Schmidt, Manfred Tuerke
Summary: The decline of invertebrates can lead to a reduction in bacterial richness and beta-diversity, as well as alterations in community composition on plant surfaces. This is likely due to both direct effects of invertebrates as dispersal agents of bacteria, and indirect effects through changes in plant phenotypes shaping bacterial niches.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mikael Hedren
Summary: Oceanic islands often have isolated biota with endemic species, which are vulnerable due to small population sizes and threats from habitat destruction or introduced pests and predators. This study analyzed the genetic structure of the endemic terrestrial orchid Dactylorhiza foliosa in Madeira and found comparable levels of diversity in the plastid and nuclear genomes to congeners in continental regions. Genetic analysis revealed greater sharing of plastid haplotypes among plants at closer distances, while nuclear markers showed closer relatedness only among plants growing closer than eight meters. Gene dispersal by pollen was found to be more efficient than seed dispersal in D. foliosa. Overall, the long-term persistence of D. foliosa on Madeira seems to be favorable based on genetic parameters.
PLANT SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Tomas Figura, Edita Tylova, Jana Jersakova, Martin Vohnik, Jan Ponert
Summary: Many orchid species are threatened by factors like eutrophication and nitrate, which can suppress non-symbiotic orchid seed germination. The early development of orchids depends on mycorrhizal symbiosis, and the presence of compatible mycobionts is crucial for successful seed germination in the presence of nitrate.
Article
Microbiology
Daniela F. Soto, Ivan Gomez, Pirjo Huovinen
Summary: The study investigates the ecological mechanisms governing the assembly of microbial communities during the formation of snow algae blooms in the West Antarctic Peninsula. The microbial composition and abundance were examined using metabarcoding techniques, and the contribution of different ecological processes to the microbial community assembly was quantified. The results show differences in microbial assembly between bacteria and eukaryotes in snow algae blooms and propose a model to integrate both assembly processes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mikael Hedren, Sven Birkedal, Hugo de Boer, Abdolbaset Ghorbani, Barbara Gravendeel, Sven Hansson, Ake Svensson, Shahin Zarre
Summary: The study found that in orchids, the plastid genome dispersed by seeds showed clear divergence in populations at close distances, which increased with geographic distance, resulting in significant phylogeographic structure. In contrast, the nuclear genome dispersed by both seeds and pollen showed a stronger correlation between genetic and geographic distance, but lower overall levels of differentiation and no evident phylogeographic structure. The ratio of pollen to seed dispersal decreased with physical distance, suggesting a slow development of genetic diversity in many terrestrial orchids despite efficient seed dispersal.
Article
Plant Sciences
Irina Tatarenko, Pavel Zhmylev, Elena Voronina, Sarah Longrigg
Summary: This account provides comprehensive information on the biology of Hammarbya paludosa, including its distribution, habitat, responses to environmental factors, reproductive characteristics, and history and conservation. This small perennial forb is found in various open habitats and has a Holarctic circumboreal range. It is pollinated by small insects and its seeds are dispersed by wind and water. The decline of H. paludosa in Britain is primarily attributed to drainage of its mire habitats.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Fengshi Li, Yongzhi Yan, Jianing Zhang, Qing Zhang, Jianming Niu
Summary: The study in Inner Mongolia grassland found that beta diversity includes taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic dimensions, with dispersal limitation mainly influencing taxonomic and functional beta diversity, while environmental filtering dominantly impacting phylogenetic beta diversity.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tong Qiu, Robert Andrus, Marie-Claire Aravena, Davide Ascoli, Yves Bergeron, Roberta Berretti, Daniel Berveiller, Michal Bogdziewicz, Thomas Boivin, Raul Bonal, Don C. Bragg, Thomas Caignard, Rafael Calama, J. Julio Camarero, Chia-Hao Chang-Yang, Natalie L. Cleavitt, Benoit Courbaud, Francois Courbet, Thomas Curt, Adrian J. Das, Evangelia Daskalakou, Hendrik Davi, Nicolas Delpierre, Sylvain Delzon, Michael Dietze, Sergio Donoso Calderon, Laurent Dormont, Josep Espelta, Timothy J. Fahey, William Farfan-Rios, Catherine A. Gehring, Gregory S. Gilbert, Georg Gratzer, Cathryn H. Greenberg, Qinfeng Guo, Andrew Hacket-Pain, Arndt Hampe, Qingmin Han, Janneke Hille Ris Lambers, Kazuhiko Hoshizaki, Ines Ibanez, Jill F. Johnstone, Valentin Journe, Daisuke Kabeya, Christopher L. Kilner, Thomas Kitzberger, Johannes M. H. Knops, Richard K. Kobe, Georges Kunstler, Jonathan G. A. Lageard, Jalene M. LaMontagne, Mateusz Ledwon, Francois Lefevre, Theodor Leininger, Jean-Marc Limousin, James A. Lutz, Diana Macias, Eliot J. B. McIntire, Christopher M. Moore, Emily Moran, Renzo Motta, Jonathan A. Myers, Thomas A. Nagel, Kyotaro Noguchi, Jean-Marc Ourcival, Robert Parmenter, Ian S. Pearse, Ignacio M. Perez-Ramos, Lukasz Piechnik, John Poulsen, Renata Poulton-Kamakura, Miranda D. Redmond, Chantal D. Reid, Kyle C. Rodman, Francisco Rodriguez-Sanchez, Javier D. Sanguinetti, C. Lane Scher, William H. Schlesinger, Harald Schmidt Van Marle, Barbara Seget, Shubhi Sharma, Miles Silman, Michael A. Steele, Nathan L. Stephenson, Jacob N. Straub, I-Fang Sun, Samantha Sutton, Jennifer J. Swenson, Margaret Swift, Peter A. Thomas, Maria Uriarte, Giorgio Vacchiano, Thomas T. Veblen, Amy V. Whipple, Thomas G. Whitham, Andreas P. Wion, Boyd Wright, S. Joseph Wright, Kai Zhu, Jess K. Zimmerman, Roman Zlotin, Magdalena Zywiec, James S. Clark
Summary: The relationships that control seed production in trees are fundamental to understanding evolutionary pressures that shape forests. A global synthesis of fecundity data reveals that seed production is influenced by taxonomy and nutrient allocation. Seed production is not constrained by a strict trade-off between seed size and numbers, and sensitivity to soil fertility varies widely among species.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jianqing Tian, Xinya Huang, Huai Chen, Xiaoming Kang, Yanfen Wang
Summary: The research findings indicate that fungal communities in peatlands exhibit significant differences among layers and are influenced by different drivers, with fungal community assembly processes being depth-dependent.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zhengfei Li, Jani Heino, Xiao Chen, Zhenyuan Liu, Xingliang Meng, Xiaoming Jiang, Yihao Ge, Juanjuan Chen, Zhicai Xie
Summary: This study emphasizes the importance of integrating environmental filtering and spatial processes in understanding community assembly. It found that environmental filtering, mass effects, and dispersal limitation are all significant mechanisms affecting variation in macroinvertebrate communities, with their relative importance depending on biological traits. Simultaneously accounting for different spatial processes and using a trait-based approach are essential for improving our understanding of community assembly in river networks.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yanhong Wang, Shuaifeng Li, Xuedong Lang, Xiaobo Huang, Jianrong Su
Summary: Topography is a critical factor that affects species diversity and composition in forest communities. This study investigates the impact of microtopography on soil fungal communities in subtropical forests, finding that microtopography influences fungal community diversity, composition, and functional guilds, with dispersal limitations and drift being important ecological processes shaping fungal communities.
Article
Biology
Antonia Salces-Castellano, Carmelo Andujar, Heriberto Lopez, Antonio J. Perez-Delgado, Paula Arribas, Brent C. Emerson
Summary: The study conducted in the laurel forest of the Canary Islands revealed that wingless beetle lineages have smaller range sizes, lower representation in younger island communities, stronger population genetic structure, and greater spatial structuring of species assemblages between and within islands. Dispersal limitation plays a fundamental role in shaping diversity patterns at different hierarchical levels by promoting spatial diversification and affecting the spatial configuration of entire assemblages at both island and archipelago scales.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jose R. Morales-Poole, Clara de Vega, Kaoru Tsuji, Hans Jacquemyn, Robert R. Junker, Carlos M. Herrera, Chris Michiels, Bart Lievens, Sergio Alvarez-Perez
Summary: The growth performance of Acinetobacter spp. and Rosenbergiella spp. in floral nectar is largely influenced by the nectar chemistry and bacterial phylogeny.
Article
Entomology
Francine Antoinette Cornelus van Neerbos, Peter Dewitte, Felix Wackers, Tom Wenseleers, Hans Jacquemyn, Bart Lievens
Summary: Insect responses to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by bacteria vary among and within different trophic levels. The concentrations of VOCs differ between bacterial strains, and correlations between the concentration of specific VOCs and the behavior of primary parasitoids and hyperparasitoids vary. This study provides insights into the potential use of VOCs for developing semiochemical-based strategies for biological aphid control.
Article
Plant Sciences
Huanchu Liu, Hans Jacquemyn, Shuai Yu, Wei Chen, Xingyuan He, Yanqing Huang
Summary: The study found that Cypripedium species in Northeast China associate with a wide variety of mycorrhizal fungi, with higher diversity in rhizosphere soil compared to roots. The variation in mycorrhizal communities in rhizosphere was significantly related to sampling site.
Article
Ecology
Deyi Wang, Gerhard Gebauer, Hans Jacquemyn, Franziska E. Zahn, Sofia I. F. Gomes, Johanna Lorenz, Harrie van der Hagen, Menno Schilthuizen, Vincent S. F. T. Merckx
Summary: The symbiotic associations between orchids and various ecological guilds of fungi provide an ideal study system for understanding the evolution and ecophysiology of mycorrhizal symbiosis. This research investigated the mycorrhizal communities and isotope signatures of a terrestrial orchid, Neottia ovata, growing in different light conditions in Europe. The results suggest that rhizoctonia fungi played a major functional role in carbon and nutrient supply for the orchids, while ectomycorrhizal fungi did not substantially contribute to the plants' carbon budget.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Mitchel Bourne, Gabriele Gloder, Berhane Weldegergis, Marijn H. Slingerland, Andrea Ceribelli, Sam R. Crauwels, Bart Lievens, Hans R. Jacquemyn, Marcel Dicke, Erik R. Poelman
Summary: Microorganisms living in and on macroorganisms can produce volatile compounds that can help carnivorous enemies locate their host or prey. Parasitism by parasitoid wasps can alter the microbiome and odour of their caterpillar host, which can affect interactions with other insects. This study analyzed the odours and microbiome of cabbage white caterpillars in relation to parasitism by endoparasitoid wasps and found that parasitism led to the production of characteristic volatile compounds and significant changes in the caterpillar's microbiome. The preference of a hyperparasitoid was correlated with the presence of the external microbiome.
Article
Plant Sciences
Liesbet Wilberts, Nicolas Rojas-Preciado, Hans Jacquemyn, Bart Lievens
Summary: Endophytic fungi can protect plants against stresses and promote plant growth. This study evaluated the effects of root inoculation with three entomopathogenic fungi on sweet pepper growth. Results showed that all three fungi enhanced plant growth, and effects varied depending on cultivar and fungal strain. The strongest effects were observed in the cultivar IDS RZ F1, particularly when inoculated with C. fumosorosea.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Liesbet Wilberts, Sara Van Hee, Isabelle Stockmans, Caroline Meesters, Francine van Neerbos, Gabriele Gloder, Margot W. J. Geerinck, Felix Wackers, Hans Jacquemyn, Bart Lievens
Summary: Biological control using natural enemies is an important alternative method for pest management. This study found that inoculating plants with entomopathogenic fungi can significantly enhance the biocontrol efficacy of parasitoid wasps, providing new opportunities for pest control.
Article
Entomology
Francine A. C. van Neerbos, Rani Mertens, Felix L. Wackers, Lien Bosmans, Hans Jacquemyn, Bart Lievens
Summary: Manipulating insect foraging is important for effective insect pest control, and a blend of styrene and benzaldehyde has shown potential for attracting natural enemies. However, more research is needed to determine the appropriate dispenser type and dose for field application, as well as the maximum attraction distance.
ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Caroline Meesters, Ludo Cialdella, Robin Ingels, Hans Jacquemyn, Bart Lievens
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different species of plant-beneficial fungi on plant nutrient composition and resistance against zoophytophagous predators, and assessed whether these effects are mediated by plant cultivar. The results showed that plant nutrient composition is mainly determined by cultivar, but is also affected by fungal treatment. Fungus-inoculated plants showed significantly less feeding damage by N. tenuis compared to control plants, but the effects depended on the cultivar and fungal strain used.
Article
Agronomy
Sara Van Hee, Isabelle Stockmans, Tugcan Alinc, Antonino Cusumano, Hans Jacquemyn, Bart Lievens
Summary: This study investigated the effect of plant-beneficial fungi on plant growth and herbivore resistance and how these effects are influenced by fertilization. The results showed that fungal inoculation improved plant growth and increased defense responses to herbivory, reducing damage caused by herbivores. Plant-beneficial fungi have the potential to promote plant growth and reduce feeding damage, regardless of fertilization.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yonas Ugo Utaile, Olivier Honnay, Simon Shibru Cheche, Kenny Helsen
Summary: This study evaluated three woody removal methods for controlling Dichrostachys cinerea, but none of the methods were effective enough to completely eradicate the plant and restore biodiversity.
APPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Gerba Daba, Robin Daelemans, Gezahegn Berecha, Margot W. J. Geerinck, Christel Verreth, Sam Crauwels, Bart Lievens, Olivier Honnay
Summary: This study investigated the genetic diversity of coffee leaf rust (CLR) caused by H. vastatrix in Ethiopia using genetic fingerprinting. The results showed that different coffee management systems and altitudes have significant effects on the genetic structure of CLR. The findings suggest that spore dispersal and selection pressure are likely responsible for the observed high genetic diversity and structure of CLR isolates in Ethiopia.
INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Teun Everts, Charlotte Van Driessche, Sabrina Neyrinck, Hans Jacquemyn, Rein Brys
Summary: The American bullfrog is one of the most destructive invasive species worldwide and has invaded more than 40 countries. In Belgium, bullfrogs have quickly occupied a large area despite management efforts. Understanding their distribution and characteristics is crucial for effective management.
MANAGEMENT OF BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Annie Guiller, Guillaume Decocq, Thomas Kichey, Pedro Poli, Katrien Vandepitte, Francoise Dubois, Olivier Honnay, Deborah Closset-Kopp
Summary: In rural landscapes, the composition and management intensity of agricultural areas affect genetic diversity, spatial genetic structure, and gene flow in forest plant populations. This study found that low matrix permeability disrupts gene flow and decreases spatial genetic structure, particularly for forest specialist species.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Frederik Van Daele, Olivier Honnay, Steven Janssens, Hanne De Kort
Summary: Climate change and increased drought frequencies threaten forest herb populations. Habitat fragmentation disrupts climate adaptation and induces evolutionary changes in mating systems. The study found that habitat fragmentation disrupts climate adaptation and adaptive responses to drought stress.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)