Article
Biology
Zachary T. Wood, Eric P. Palkovacs, Brian J. Olsen, Michael T. Kinnison
Summary: Humans are dominant global drivers of ecological and evolutionary change, affecting the reshaping of ecosystems and natural selection. Human activities play a crucial role in shaping eco-evolutionary potential, influencing the stability and resilience of populations, communities, and ecosystems. Proper management of anthropogenic effects requires a science of human effects on eco-evolutionary potential.
Article
Ecology
Carlos A. Aguilar-Trigueros, Franz-Sebastian Krah, William K. Cornwell, Amy E. Zanne, Nerea Abrego, Ian C. Anderson, Carrie J. Andrew, Petr Baldrian, Claus Baessler, Andrew Bissett, V. Bala Chaudhary, Baodong Chen, Yongliang Chen, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Coline Deveautour, Eleonora Egidi, Habacuc Flores-Moreno, Jacob Golan, Jacob Heilmann-Clausen, Stefan Hempel, Yajun Hu, Havard Kauserud, Stephanie N. Kivlin, Petr Kohout, Daniel R. Lammel, Fernando T. Maestre, Anne Pringle, Jenna Purhonen, Brajesh K. Singh, Stavros D. Veresoglou, Tomas Vetrovsky, Haiyang Zhang, Matthias C. Rillig, Jeff R. Powell
Summary: Despite the ubiquity of host-fungal symbiotic interactions, the effects of symbiosis on the ecology and evolution of fungal spores involved in dispersal and colonization have been neglected. Through a spore morphology database, we found that symbiotic status correlated with changes in spore size, but this effect varied among different fungal phyla. Symbiosis explained more variation in spore size distribution than climatic variables, and spores of plant-associated fungi have more restricted dispersal potential compared to free-living fungi. Our study advances life-history theory by highlighting the role of symbiosis in shaping reproductive and dispersal strategies among living organisms.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Giorgia Graells, Nao Nakamura, Juan L. Celis-Diez, Nelson A. Lagos, Pablo A. Marquet, Patricio Pliscoff, Stefan Gelcich
Summary: Research on coastal urban areas has increased in recent decades, but remains limited. Studies mainly focus on ecology, spatial and quantitative analysis, and pollution, with a majority coming from the USA, China, and Australia, and focusing on large cities with populations between 1 and 5 million. There are biases in terms of disciplines, geography, and approaches, with a lack of understanding of social dimensions being a key risk factor.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Lynn Govaert, Florian Altermatt, Luc De Meester, Mathew A. Leibold, Mark A. McPeek, Jelena H. Pantel, Mark C. Urban
Summary: Recent studies show that ecological and evolutionary processes can often interact; however, our understanding of evolution in multi-species communities is still lacking; focusing on interactions between evolutionary biology and community ecology processes can explore eco-evolutionary dynamics in multi-species communities.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elizabeth C. Lowe, Rochelle Steven, Rebecca L. Morris, Kirsten M. Parris, Axton C. Aguiar, Cameron E. Webb, Ana B. Bugnot, Katherine A. Dafforn, Rod M. Connolly, Mariana Mayer Pinto
Summary: This study highlights the synergies and trade-offs among ecosystem services provided by terrestrial, freshwater, and marine realms in urban environments. It offers a framework for collaborative research and management to improve current practices and achieve strategic allocation of resources, protection of urban natural resources, and improved environmental regulation with broad public support.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Nikola Zlatkov, Aftab Nadeem, Bernt Eric Uhlin, Sun Nyunt Wai
Summary: Bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs) are extracellular organelles that play a crucial role in bacterial eco-evolutionary dynamics by delivering cargo in a protected and concentrated manner. They contribute to ecosystem stability and can help delay negative effects of evolutionary trade-offs, benefiting both bacterial populations and the ecosystem as a whole.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Niccolo Fattorini, Alessandra Costanzo, Andrea Romano, Diego Rubolini, Stephen Baillie, Franz Bairlein, Fernando Spina, Roberto Ambrosini
Summary: Migratory connectivity in birds is influenced by geographical proxies of migration costs, with weak effects from biological traits and phylogeny. The variability in avian migration strategies leads to significant connectivity between distinct migratory populations. Understanding the determinants of migratory connectivity can enhance conservation and management strategies for avian migrants.
Article
Ecology
Yongjing Zhong, Yuelong Luo, Younan Zhu, Jiewen Deng, Jiahao Tu, Jiehua Yu, Jiekun He
Summary: Urban birds in China are more phylogenetically clustered, small-sized, generalists, innovative and rapidly diversifying, allowing them to thrive. The traits selecting for urban species vary with climatic and topographic gradients in different cities.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James M. Hassell, Dishon M. Muloi, Kimberly L. VanderWaal, Melissa J. Ward, Judy Bettridge, Nduhiu Gitahi, Tom Ouko, Titus Imboma, James Akoko, Maurice Karani, Patrick Muinde, Yukiko Nakamura, Lorren Alumasa, Erin Furmaga, Titus Kaitho, Fredrick Amanya, Allan Ogendo, Francesco Fava, Bryan A. Wee, Hang Phan, John Kiiru, Erastus Kang'ethe, Sam Kariuki, Timothy Robinson, Michael Begon, Mark E. J. Woolhouse, Eric M. Fevre
Summary: Urbanization is a key factor in the emergence of diseases transmitted by animals to humans. However, the mechanisms by which this occurs are not well understood. A study in Nairobi, Kenya, showed that low biodiversity, livestock management practices, and densely populated urban environments are associated with the sharing of bacterial genes between animals and humans, providing empirical support for the hypotheses about cross-species transmission of pathogens in urban areas.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xianrui Hou, Shaohua Wu, Dongxiang Chen, Min Cheng, Xiaolu Yu, Daohao Yan, Yunxiao Dang, Minxue Peng
Summary: The study found the relationship between urban public services and ecosystem services in urbanization development, showing win-win effects in some central areas but difficult to achieve in areas without appropriate ecological conditions. Additionally, thresholds of urban public services that can prevent a sharp decline in ecosystem services were identified.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
David Villegas-Rios, Carla Freitas, Even Moland, Esben M. Olsen
Summary: The effects of marine reserves on protected populations are well-established, but their impact on behavioral traits is not well-understood. In this study, the individual spatial behavior of Atlantic cod within a marine reserve and a control site was monitored using acoustic telemetry. The results showed complex changes in survival and behavioral responses, indicating the need for more integrated approaches to understand the effects of marine protected areas.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Brian C. Verrelli, Marina Alberti, Simone Des Roches, Nyeema C. Harris, Andrew P. Hendry, Marc T. J. Johnson, Amy M. Savage, Anne Charmantier, Kiyoko M. Gotanda, Lynn Govaert, Lindsay S. Miles, L. Ruth Rivkin, Kristin M. Winchell, Kristien I. Brans, Cristian Correa, Sarah E. Diamond, Ben Fitzhugh, Nancy B. Grimm, Sara Hughes, John M. Marzluff, Jason Munshi-South, Carolina Rojas, James S. Santangelo, Christopher J. Schell, Jennifer A. Schweitzer, Marta Szulkin, Mark C. Urban, Yuyu Zhou, Carly Ziter
Summary: Research on the evolutionary ecology of urban areas reveals the impact of human-induced evolutionary changes on biodiversity and ecosystem services, requiring interdisciplinary collaborations and methodological advances.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Simone Des Roches, Kristien Brans, Max R. Lambert, L. Ruth Rivkin, Amy Marie Savage, Christopher J. Schell, Cristian Correa, Luc De Meester, Sarah E. Diamond, Nancy B. Grimm, Nyeema C. Harris, Lynn Govaert, Andrew P. Hendry, Marc T. J. Johnson, Jason Munshi-South, Eric P. Palkovacs, Marta Szulkin, Mark C. Urban, Brian C. Verrelli, Marina Alberti
Summary: Cities are complex systems regulated by interactions between nature and human society. Characteristics of human society create a heterogeneous environment that influences and is influenced by ecological and evolutionary processes. Urban ecology and evolutionary biology research focuses on contemporary evolution of species with ecological and social significance, but rarely fully integrate human social patterns and processes.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Masato Yamamichi, Stephen P. Ellner, Nelson G. Hairston Jr
Summary: Studies on eco-evolutionary dynamics have integrated evolution with ecological processes and interspecific interactions, but often neglected various evolutionary processes. This paper argues for the consideration of drift, mutation, disruptive selection, and evolution driven by relative fitness differences to better understand nature's eco-evolutionary dynamics.
Article
Biology
Katya Egert-Berg, Michal Handel, Aya Goldshtein, Ofri Eitan, Ivailo Borissov, Yossi Yovel
Summary: The study found that bats foraging in urban environments were more exploratory, visited more sites per hour, and switched foraging sites more often compared to rural bats, resulting in a more diversified diet. The location of the roost did not determine the foraging ground, with many bats roosting in the countryside but commuting nightly to urban environments for foraging. Bats, unique among small mammals in their ability to move far rapidly, demonstrated how they adapt to environmental changes and exploit the new urban fragmented environment.
Article
Biology
Giovanni Poiverino, Jake M. Martin, Michael G. Bertram, Vrishin R. Soman, Hung Tan, Jack A. Brand, Rachel T. Mason, Bob B. M. Wong
Summary: The study reveals that fluoxetine homogenizes activity in guppies, reducing individual variation even at low concentrations. The research suggests that this effect may impair the adaptive potential of fish in response to environmental changes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jack A. Brand, Annalise C. Naimo, Marcus Michelangeli, Jake M. Martin, Andrew Sih, Bob B. M. Wong, David G. Chapple
Summary: This study examined the variation in personality traits of delicate skinks across different ecological contexts, finding that environmental background significantly influenced the structure of lizard personality, with activity rates being repeatable when food resources were present but not when they were absent. This suggests the important role of environmental context in mediating the structure of animal personality traits.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Michael G. Bertram, Jake M. Martin, Erin S. McCallum, Lesley A. Alton, Jack A. Brand, Bryan W. Brooks, Daniel Cerveny, Jerker Fick, Alex T. Ford, Gustav Hellstrom, Marcus Michelangeli, Shinichi Nakagawa, Giovanni Polverino, Minna Saaristo, Andrew Sih, Hung Tan, Charles R. Tyler, Bob B. M. Wong, Tomas Brodin
Summary: Animal behavior is highly sensitive to chemical pollution, but current research methods often fail to address the complexity of natural environments. This review aims to guide the development of behavioral ecotoxicology towards increased environmental realism and understanding.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jake M. Martin, Jack T. Orford, Gabriela C. Melo, Hung Tan, Rachel T. Mason, Shiho Ozeki, Michael G. Bertram, Bob B. M. Wong, Lesley A. Alton
Summary: Globally, amphibian species are facing dramatic population declines, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are recognized as a contributing factor. However, the effects of the potent anabolic steroid 178-trenbolone on anuran species, particularly during early life stages, remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of 178-trenbolone on tadpoles and found no significant impact on body size, metabolic rate, or behavior, except for a slight decrease in body condition at the highest concentration. Further research is needed to understand the potential taxon-specific effects of 178-trenbolone.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jason Henry, Jack A. Brand, Yutao Bai, Jake M. Martin, Bob B. M. Wong, Donald Wlodkowic
Summary: Contamination by pharmaceutical pollutants poses a critical threat to aquatic ecosystems. A study found that long-term exposure to the antidepressant fluoxetine reduces behavioral plasticity and egg mass production in freshwater snails, highlighting the potential harmful effects on non-target organisms and population resilience.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jack T. Orford, Shiho Ozeki, Jack A. Brand, Jason Henry, Donald Wlodkowic, Lesley A. Alton, Jake M. Martin, Bob B. M. Wong
Summary: Pollutants, including endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), especially those from agricultural activities, are increasingly found in organisms and ecosystems globally. In this study, the effects of exposure to a potent EDC called 178-trenbolone on the behavior and growth of spotted marsh frog tadpoles were investigated. Contrary to expectations, the results showed no significant impacts of 178-trenbolone exposure on tadpole growth, antipredator response, anxiety-like behavior, or foraging. Further research is needed to understand the potential delayed manifestation of the effects of 178-trenbolone exposure.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Jack A. Brand, Annalise C. Naimo, Marcus Michelangeli, Jake M. Martin, Andrew Sih, Bob B. M. Wong, David G. Chapple
Summary: The social environment plays a crucial role in shaping animal personality traits, and behavioral traits measured in isolation may not necessarily reflect individual variation in behavior when in social groups.
Review
Ecology
Marcus Michelangeli, Jake M. Martin, Noa Pinter-Wollman, Christos C. Ioannou, Erin S. McCallum, Michael G. Bertram, Tomas Brodin
Summary: Chemical pollution is a rapidly growing factor of global change. This study synthesizes research from ecotoxicology and behavioral ecology to examine the impact of chemical contaminants on animal groups. It provides a roadmap for prioritizing the study of chemical pollutants within the context of sociality and highlights important advancements for future research.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David G. Chapple, Annalise C. Naimo, Jack A. Brand, Marcus Michelangeli, Jake M. Martin, Celine T. Goulet, Dianne H. Brunton, Andrew Sih, Bob B. M. Wong
Summary: The study examines the behavioral changes associated with the invasion of the lizard Lampropholis delicata across the Pacific. The authors found that invasion shifted the mean behavior traits and reduced variation among individuals. Additionally, lizards from invasive ranges had higher behavioral plasticity compared to native range counterparts. These findings highlight the importance of selective filtering of behavioral traits in invasive species.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jack A. Brand, Jason Henry, Gabriela C. Melo, Donald Wlodkowic, Bob B. M. Wong, Jake M. Martin
Summary: Recent research suggests that individuals vary in the consistency of their behavior, and that these differences may be heritable. This study investigated whether there are sex differences in the predictability of risk-taking behavior in male and female eastern mosquitofish. The results showed consistent sex differences in mean-level risk-taking behavior, but the magnitude and direction of sex differences in behavioral predictability were assay-specific.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aneesh P. H. Bose, Erin S. McCallum, Mladen Avramovic, Michael G. Bertram, Eva-Lotta Blom, Daniel Cerveny, Sara N. Gronlund, Johan Leander, Petter Lundberg, Jake M. Martin, Marcus Michelangeli, Lo Persson, Tomas Brodin
Summary: Pharmaceutical pollution poses an increasing threat to ecosystems globally, as drugs are found in wildlife tissues and have the potential to alter behavior. Little is known about the impacts of pharmaceuticals on predator-prey interactions. Laboratory experiments using larval odonates revealed that exposure to cetirizine and citalopram, two pharmaceuticals, elevated dragonfly activity and affected predation success and efficiency in complex ways. While citalopram reduced predation efficiency, the effects of cetirizine varied, enhancing predation success in some contexts but impairing it in others. These findings emphasize the importance of evaluating pharmaceutical effects in multiple contexts and highlight the ability of these compounds to impact predator-prey outcomes at sublethal concentrations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hung Tan, Jake M. Martin, Lesley A. Alton, John A. Lesku, Bob B. M. Wong
Summary: Pharmaceutical pollution has the potential to alter key behavioral and physiological traits in exposed animals, and antidepressants are commonly found in the environment. However, their ecologically relevant impacts on non-target wildlife are not well understood. This study investigated the effects of fluoxetine, a widespread psychoactive pollutant, on diurnal activity patterns and restfulness in eastern mosquitofish. The results showed that exposure to fluoxetine disrupted the natural diel rhythm and could pose a serious threat to the survival and reproductive success of pollutant-exposed wildlife.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jack T. Orford, Hung Tan, Reid Tingley, Lesley A. Alton, Bob B. M. Wong, Jake M. Martin
Summary: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as 17 beta-trenbolone, have the potential to disrupt hormone function and affect animal behavior. In this study, tadpoles exposed to different levels of 17 beta-trenbolone showed altered morphology, baseline activity, and responses to a predatory threat. The results highlight the wider impacts of agricultural pollutants on developmental and behavioral traits in aquatic species and emphasize the importance of behavioral studies in ecotoxicology.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jack A. Brand, Winston K. W. Yee, Ian J. Aitkenhead, Jake M. Martin, Giovanni Polverino, Steven L. Chown, Bob B. M. Wong, Damian K. Dowling
Summary: Temperature is a crucial factor that affects organismal fitness and has significant ecological implications. The influence of temperature on behavioral variation among individuals and between sexes in ectotherms is still not well understood. This study investigates the effects of temperature on behavioral variation and metabolism in adult male and female Drosophila melanogaster. The results show that males are more responsive to temperature change in mean activity levels, but no sex differences were found in thermal metabolic plasticity. Higher temperatures increased variation in male locomotor activity, but not in females. Further research is needed to explore whether sex differences in behavioral variation in response to temperature change may lead to sex-specific vulnerabilities to a warming climate.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)