Article
Ecology
Konstantinos Minachilis, Aphrodite Kantsa, Jelle Devalez, Ante Vujic, Alain Pauly, Theodora Petanidou
Summary: In this study, we examined the alpha- and beta-diversity of pollinators, flowering plants, and plant-pollinator interactions along the altitudinal gradient of Mt. Olympus in Central Greece. Our findings showed that the alpha diversity of pollinators, plants, and plant-pollinator interactions were dependent on altitude. We also found that the beta diversity of pollinators, hoverflies, bees, bumblebees, non-bumblebee bees, butterflies, and plants increased linearly with altitude.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Daniel A. Barker, Gerardo Arceo-Gomez
Summary: The brain rapidly preactivates features following certain cues when predicting upcoming events, but predicted features may receive reduced processing upon confirmation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pierre Gauzere, Louise O'Connor, Christophe Botella, Giovanni Poggiato, Tamara Munkemuller, Laura J. Pollock, Ulrich Brose, Luigi Maiorano, Michael Harfoot, Wilfried Thuiller
Summary: Taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversities are important facets of biodiversity. However, the diversity of biotic interactions has been largely ignored in large-scale studies. The diversity of interactions provides important and unique information for understanding community dynamics, ecosystem functioning, and conservation planning.
Article
Ecology
Kara G. Leimberger, Adam S. Hadley, Sarah J. K. Frey, Matthew G. Betts
Summary: This study used a simulated extinction of a hummingbird-pollinated plant to investigate the effects of species loss on plant-pollinator interactions. The results showed that hummingbird behavior and plant-pollinator interactions were resistant to the loss of the plant species, but further research is needed to understand how hummingbirds persist after resource removal.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Laura A. Burkle, R. Travis Belote, Jonathan A. Myers
Summary: This study investigates the effects of wildfire severity on the diversity of plant-bee community interactions. The results show that wildfires decrease interaction beta-diversity but increase interaction frequency and richness. Moreover, the increase in beta-diversity in burned landscapes is primarily driven by turnover in species composition. These findings provide insights into how environmental change alters species interactions.
Article
Biology
Ian M. Ware, Michael E. Van Nuland, Zamin K. Yang, Christopher W. Schadt, Jennifer A. Schweitzer, Joseph K. Bailey
Summary: The study demonstrates how the soil microbiomes of narrowleaf cottonwood are influenced by genetic and environmental factors, affecting foliar phenology. It also shows a landscape-level feedback between tree populations and soil microbes, suggesting the importance of soil microbes in mediating plant responses to climate warming. The research highlights the intricate interplay between soil, climate, plant genetics, and microbial populations at a broad geographic scale.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Joseph A. LaManna, Laura A. Burkle, R. Travis Belote, Jonathan A. Myers
Summary: Understanding how abiotic disturbance and biotic interactions determine pollinator and flowering-plant diversity is important given climate change and pollinator declines. Wildfire disturbance generally increased species richness and total abundance but decreased beta-diversity of both pollinators and flowering plants. Biotic associations played a significant role in shaping community assembly of both trophic levels in response to wildfire disturbance.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
S. Naghiloo, S. Nikzat-Siahkolaee, Z. Esmaillou
Summary: The study shows that size-matching between plants and pollinators significantly affects foraging efficiency and pollination efficiency in their interactions. A size-matching index is suggested as a reliable metric for predicting interaction frequency and visit effectiveness in terms of foraging and pollination efficiency.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michael R. Wohlwend, Dylan Craven, Patrick Weigelt, Hanno Seebens, Marten Winter, Holger Kreft, Damaris Zurell, Juliano Sarmento Cabral, Franz Essl, Mark van Kleunen, Jan Pergl, Petr Pysek, Tiffany M. Knight
Summary: The Pacific region exhibits a high diversity of naturalized plant species, with key drivers including human activity and island altitude/area. Many of these species are shared with other regions in the world, but there are significant differences in the role of anthropogenic drivers in shaping diversity patterns in the Pacific.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Ainhoa Magrach, Maddi Artamendi, Paula Dominguez Lapido, Clara Parejo, Encarnacion Rubio
Summary: In recent years, research has focused on the importance of temporal and spatial dynamics in shaping plant and pollinator communities. However, few studies have simultaneously examined these dynamics and collected data across different habitat types. This study used a dataset collected in two contrasting habitat types over two years to evaluate species and interaction persistence, pollinator fidelity, and turnover patterns in interaction composition. The results suggest that moderately generalist species show the greatest fidelity to the subset of plant species they visit through space and time, and that interaction turnover is driven by changes in species composition and indirect competitive interactions between pollinator species. These findings contribute to our understanding of community assembly patterns beyond niche or neutral processes.
Article
Ecology
Sebastiaan Verbeke, Margaux Boeraeve, Sebastien Carpentier, Hans Jacquemyn, Maria I. Pozo
Summary: The decline of pollinators may have negative effects on ecosystems and ecosystem services. This study investigates the impact of pollen diversity and composition on reproductive success and fitness of Bombus terrestris colonies. The results suggest that plant diversity may not be a good predictor of colony fitness, and that vegetation composition and differences in pollen quantity and quality are more important.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jue Zhao, Ling Jin, Dong Wu, Jia-wen Xie, Jun Li, Xue-wu Fu, Zhi-yuan Cong, Ping-qing Fu, Yang Zhang, Xiao-san Luo, Xin-bin Feng, Gan Zhang, James M. Tiedje, Xiang-dong Li
Summary: This study analyzed the bacterial communities in airborne particulate samples from around the world and found that they have a biogeographic pattern and interact with surface environments. While the total abundance of airborne bacteria is lower than other habitats, the number of bacterial taxa is comparable to the hydrosphere and is highest in midlatitude regions. The structure of the airborne bacterial community is easily perturbed and influenced by surface microbiomes and atmospheric conditions, particularly in urban areas. These findings provide valuable insights for predicting microbial responses and health impacts in different environments.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Victor Parra-Tabla, Conchita Alonso, Tia-Lynn Ashman, Robert A. Raguso, Cristopher Albor, Paula Sosenski, Diego Carmona, Gerardo Arceo-Gomez
Summary: The study shows that HP transfer in invaded co-flowering communities is common, with native and alien species playing different roles within the HP transfer networks, regulated by different floral traits. Alien plants play a central role as HP donors and are more tolerant to HP receipt compared to natives, highlighting overlooked mechanisms facilitating alien plant invasion and success within native co-flowering communities.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Wenfei Dai, Yulian Yang, Harland M. Patch, Christina M. Grozinger, Junpeng Mu
Summary: Variation in soil moisture can exert selective pressure on plant and pollinator communities, leading to changes in floral and vegetative traits and pollinator visitation. This study identified three phenotypic populations of Gentiana aristata in an alpine region, each with different floral traits and visited by different pollinators. Plant growth, pollinator attractiveness, and seed production were highest when plants were raised in their endemic habitat.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Behnaz Balmaki, Masoud A. A. Rostami, Tara Christensen, Elizabeth A. A. Leger, Julie M. M. Allen, Chris R. R. Feldman, Matthew L. L. Forister, Lee A. A. Dyer
Summary: Research on plant-pollinator interactions requires diverse perspectives and approaches, including integrating museum specimens with field observations to quantify pollen networks. These methods reveal spatial and temporal variation in pollen-insect interactions and complement other approaches. Rapid pollen identification methods can increase speed and accuracy. These techniques can transform our estimation of pollination network parameters and greatly impact inferences from existing networks. Museum collections are important for understanding global change and biodiversity science.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Laura Russo, Una Fitzpatrick, Michelle Larkin, Sarah Mullen, Eileen Power, Dara Stanley, Cian White, Aoife O'Rourke, Jane C. Stout
Summary: The study analyzed the structure of insect-flower interactions in Ireland and found that conserving seminatural grasslands is crucial for pollinator conservation. The study also identified 35 plant species that are important for restoring seminatural habitats.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Simon Hodge, Oliver Schweiger, Alexandra-Maria Klein, Simon G. Potts, Cecilia Costa, Matthias Albrecht, Joachim R. de Miranda, Marika Mand, Pilar De la Rua, Maj Rundlof, Eleanor Attridge, Robin Dean, Philippe Bulet, Denis Michez, Robert J. Paxton, Aurelie Babin, Nicolas Cougoule, Marion Laurent, Anne-Claire Martel, Laurianne Paris, Marie-Pierre Riviere, Eric Dubois, Marie-Pierre Chauzat, Karim Arafah, Dalel Askri, Sebastien N. Voisin, Tomasz Kiljanek, Irene Bottero, Christophe Dominik, Giovanni Tamburini, Maria Helena Pereira-Peixoto, Dimitry Wintermantel, Tom D. Breeze, Elena Cini, Deepa Senapathi, Gennaro Di Prisco, Piotr Medrzycki, Steffen Hagenbucher, Anina Knauer, Janine M. Schwarz, Risto Raimets, Vicente Martinez-Lopez, Kjell Ivarsson, Chris Hartfield, Pamela Hunter, Mark J. E. Brown, Jane C. Stout
Summary: To understand the negative impacts on insects in agricultural landscapes, it is important to assess multiple stressors and their interactions across large geographical scales. The PoshBee project established a network of 128 study sites across Europe and collected measurements and samples related to various aspects of the bees' environment. This paper describes the development process, rationale, and outcomes of the project, highlighting the challenges and actions that may benefit future large-scale studies.
Article
Ecology
Andrew M. Neill, Cathal O'Donoghue, Jane C. Stout
Summary: This study examines the integration of ecosystem service (ES) and natural capital (NC) concepts in national public policy, using Ireland as a case study. The results show that conceptual integration began in 2008, with a higher frequency of explicit use of ES terminology compared to NC. The use of explicit terminology was concentrated in biodiversity policy and environmental reports. Implicit descriptions of ESs varied between policy types, with cultural services being more prevalent throughout the sample and regulating services becoming more visible in recent documents.
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Andreas Tsakiridis, Cathal O'Donoghue, Mary Ryan, Paula Cullen, Daire O. hUallachain, Helen Sheridan, Jane Stout
Summary: This paper investigates the relationship between farmer participation in an agri-environment scheme (AES) and the quantity and quality of semi-natural habitats on farms. The study finds a positive relationship between AES participation and habitat quantity and quality, but cannot reject the null hypothesis of no significant differences between participants and non-participants. However, results highlight significant variations in habitat area among farm households with different characteristics.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Courtney E. Gorman, Andrew Torsney, Aoibheann Gaughran, Caroline M. McKeon, Catherine A. Farrell, Cian White, Ian Donohue, Jane C. Stout, Yvonne M. Buckley
Summary: Globally, urgent action is needed to transition to a low-carbon economy and address the biodiversity crisis. Climate action must consider biodiversity impacts, and there are potential win-win strategies for both climate and biodiversity. This review demonstrates how national climate actions can be implemented in a biodiversity-conscious way.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elena Zioga, Blanaid White, Jane C. Stout
Summary: Residues of glyphosate, a pesticide widely used as a herbicide, have been found in the nectar and pollen collected by bees. This study found glyphosate contamination in both targeted crops and non-target wild plants. The study recommends further research to understand the extent of glyphosate translocation and its impact on bees in non-target plants and soil.
Article
Ecology
Andrew M. Neill, Cathal O'Donoghue, Jane C. Stout
Summary: Experiences gained through in-person interactions with ecosystems provide cultural ecosystem services. Data obtained from social media can provide spatially-explicit information regarding some in-situ cultural ecosystem services. Different spatial models can be applied to assess ecosystem services, and results show that local context, including biophysical traits and accessibility, are relevant for in-situ cultural ecosystem service flows.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Elizabeth M. Alejandre, Laura Scherer, Jeroen B. Guinee, Marcelo A. Aizen, Matthias Albrecht, Mario V. Balzan, Ignasi Bartomeus, Danilo Bevk, Laura A. Burkle, Yann Clough, Lorna J. Cole, Casey M. Delphia, Lynn V. Dicks, Michael P. D. Garratt, David Kleijn, Aniko Kovacs-Hostyanszki, Yael Mandelik, Robert J. Paxton, Theodora Petanidou, Simon Potts, Miklos Sarospataki, Catharina J. E. Schulp, Menelaos Stavrinides, Katharina Stein, Jane C. Stout, Hajnalka Szentgyorgyi, Androulla I. Varnava, Ben A. Woodcock, Peter M. van Bodegom
Summary: While wild pollinators are crucial for global food production, they are currently not included in the commonly used environmental impact assessment method, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), due to data limitations and compatibility issues. To address this gap, a Delphi assessment was conducted to obtain relative pollinator abundance estimates from 25 experts covering 16 nationalities and 45 countries. Based on the estimates, globally generic characterization factors (CFs) were developed to assess the impact of land use on wild pollinator abundance in LCA studies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Sarah J. Larragy, Jannik S. Moellmann, Jane C. Stout, James C. Carolan, Thomas J. Colgan
Summary: All organisms need an immune system to recognize and defend against pathogens. Different immune components and genes can evolve under different forms of selection. Insect pollinators, facing declining populations due to pathogens, provide a valuable system for studying immune gene evolution. Our analysis of wild-caught Bombus terrestris males revealed strong positive selection on genes involved in pathogen recognition and antiviral defense, potentially driven by increasing pathogen spread. We also found immune genes evolving under strong purifying selection, suggesting potential constraints on the bumblebee immune system. Additionally, we identified non-essential alleles in the immune genes of haploid males, indicating redundancy in the bumblebee immune system.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Linzi J. Thompson, Jane C. Stout, Dara A. Stanley
Summary: Fungicides and herbicides, commonly used pesticides, are not extensively studied for their potential impacts on bees. This study investigated the effects of the herbicide glyphosate and the fungicide prothioconazole on olfactory learning in bumblebees. The results showed that both formulations did not impair learning, but exposure to prothioconazole increased learning level in some situations, while exposure to glyphosate decreased responsiveness to sucrose stimulation. These findings suggest that fungicides and herbicides may not negatively impact olfactory learning, but glyphosate may alter bee responsiveness. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and implications of these pesticides on bee behavior.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Arrian Karbassioon, Jon Yearlsey, Tara Dirilgen, Simon Hodge, Jane C. Stout, Dara A. Stanley
Summary: Insect pollination, especially by bees, is an important ecosystem service that ensures plant reproduction and crop production. Bee activity is influenced by weather, and as climate changes, the flight and foraging behavior of bees may also change. To optimize pollination in a changing world, it is crucial to understand how weather conditions affect different bee species' activity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elena Zioga, Blanaid White, Jane C. Stout
Summary: The presence of managed and wild pollinators benefits the cultivation of mass flowering entomophilous crops, but the use of pesticides poses a hazard to these pollinators. In this study, pesticide residues were detected in the pollen and nectar of both crop plants (Brassica napus) and wild plants (Rubus fruticosus agg.). Higher concentrations of residues were observed in recently treated fields. Persistent compounds like neonicotinoids should be continuously monitored in the field environment. The toxicological evaluation of compound mixtures identified in this study should be performed.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura Russo, Jane C. Stout
Summary: This study demonstrates that network connectance can be manipulated through agrochemical treatments, with the fertilizer treatment increasing connectance and a combination of fertilizer and herbicide maintaining connectance. This has important implications for management goals and conservation efforts in mutualistic communities.
Article
Biology
Sara Ruas, Ruth Kelly, Karzan S. D. Ahmed, Stephanie Maher, Ellen O'Hora, Alessio Volpato, Daire O. Huallachain, Michael J. Gormally, Jane C. Stout, James Moran
Summary: This study explores how landscape structure affects the presence of pollinators associated with woody vegetation in farmland. The results indicate that connectivity, distance, and edge density are important factors influencing pollinator abundance. Incentivizing the connectivity of farm linear features to surrounding woodland patches and increasing optimal habitat availability can benefit woodland specialists needed for woody vegetation.
BIOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT-PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY
(2022)