Article
Environmental Sciences
Shilin Xie, John M. Marzluff, Yuebo Su, Yaqing Wang, Nan Meng, Tong Wu, Cheng Gong, Fei Lu, Chaofan Xian, Yan Zhang, Zhiyun Ouyang
Summary: Urban waterbodies play a significant role in avian ecology, acting as hotspots for bird diversity in urban landscapes. Parks with waterbodies attract more bird species and resident forest birds, while surroundings with waterbodies can support a higher richness of forest bird species. These findings emphasize the importance of creating and maintaining urban waterbodies for biodiversity conservation in highly urbanized areas.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Dallas R. R. Levey, Michael A. A. Patten, Alejandro Estrada
Summary: Long-term land-use change has significant impacts on tropical bird communities, leading to habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation, resulting in challenges for land management and conservation. The study developed a novel Bayesian species occupancy framework to evaluate bird community changes in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico. The results showed that open area species had higher population increases than forest specialists over time, and functional traits such as habitat types, body mass, and dietary breadth were associated with bird population trends. Conservation of primary forests and protection of rare natural savanna patches are crucial for the preservation of habitat and dietary specialists and prevention of further extirpation of native species.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alice Monnier-Corbel, Alexandre Robert, Yves Hingrat, Blas M. Benito, Anne-Christine Monnet
Summary: Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) derived from Species Distribution Model (SDM) has been used to infer or predict local demographic properties such as abundance for many species. However, the relationship between HSI and abundance has been a topic of debate, with some studies showing a lack of correlation. To better understand this relationship, we studied the temporal variation of HSI and abundance using data from a 10-year monitoring of a Houbara bustard population in Morocco. Our results showed a triangular relationship between local abundance and HSI, with the upper limit of abundance increasing with HSI. Additionally, sites with the highest HSI had the least variation in abundance. These findings provide empirical evidence supporting the importance of investigating the relationship between HSI and abundance using temporal variation.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Corey T. Callaghan, Shinichi Nakagawa, William K. Cornwell
Summary: Quantifying the abundance of species is crucial in various fields, and the global distribution of species abundances shows a log left skewed pattern. By integrating data from well-studied species with a global dataset of bird occurrences, researchers estimated that there are approximately 50 billion individual birds in the world. This method provides a blueprint for quantifying species-specific abundance worldwide with uncertainty, allowing for a more accurate tracking of temporal changes in global biodiversity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Susannah B. Lerman, Desiree L. Narango, Meghan L. Avolio, Anika R. Bratt, Jesse M. Engebretson, Peter M. Groffman, Sharon J. Hall, James B. Heffernan, Sarah E. Hobbie, Kelli L. Larson, Dexter H. Locke, Christopher Neill, Kristen C. Nelson, Josep Padulles Cubino, Tara L. E. Trammell
Summary: Urbanization has a homogenizing effect on biodiversity, but land management by residents can help mitigate this impact, especially through preserving natural areas, reducing impervious surfaces, and increasing tree canopy cover. Yard management has a positive impact on breeding bird diversity, especially wildlife-friendly yards, which support diverse bird communities with high public interest.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Svenja B. Kroeger, Hans M. Hanslin, Tommy Lennartsson, Marcello D'Amico, Johannes Kollmann, Christina Fischer, Elena Albertsen, James D. M. Speed
Summary: Roadsides can be habitats with potential conservation value due to their remarkable biodiversity. The impact of roads on bird richness is context-dependent, influenced by factors such as road type, habitat characteristics, and bird feeding guild association. The presence of roads may lower bird richness in areas with denser tree cover, but the effect does not vary according to road type. The impact of roads on bird richness also depends on the primary diet of species, with omnivores being positively affected. Further studies are needed to determine the differences in species composition and abundance in order to understand contexts where roads negatively affect bird communities and where they do not.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jessie Lanterman Novotny, Paige Reeher, Megan Varvaro, Andrew Lybbert, Jesse Smith, Randall J. Mitchell, Karen Goodell
Summary: Bumble bees play a crucial role as pollinators but are facing rapid declines globally. A study in Ohio, USA, found that factors like habitat, landscape, and presence of flowers influence the abundance and diversity of bumble bee species. Less common species were more likely to be found in forested landscapes. This research provides valuable insights for future conservation efforts.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Johannes Radinger, Sven Matern, Thomas Klefoth, Christian Wolter, Fritz Feldhege, Christopher T. Monk, Robert Arlinghaus
Summary: Ecosystem-based management is costly, but its effectiveness compared to traditional species-focused alternatives in conservation is uncertain. This study conducted large-scale experiments in fish conservation, finding that adding coarse woody habitats did not enhance fish abundance, while creating shallow water habitat consistently improved the abundance of juvenile fish. Species-focused fish stocking as an alternative approach completely failed. The findings question the efficacy of species-focused conservation actions in aquatic ecosystems, and recommend ecosystem-based habitat management.
Article
Ecology
Daniel T. Nugent, David J. Baker-Gabb, Steve W. J. Leonard, John W. Morgan
Summary: Livestock grazing is an important management tool for biodiversity conservation in native grasslands. In semiarid grasslands of Australia, different grazing species have varying effects on the habitat and breeding activity of the plains-wanderer. Therefore, sheep and cattle grazing can be substitutable as a habitat management tool, but their effectiveness may depend on climate conditions.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Vincent Jung, Lois Morel, Sebastien Bonthoux, Simon Chollet
Summary: The study introduces a new index (VCS) to assess the conservation status of plant communities, which proves to be the most effective in evaluating vegetation conservation status when compared against qualitative assessments by experts. The use of habitat-specific species pools to distinguish between typical and non-typical species, as well as the consideration of species abundances, are critical for an accurate assessment of the vegetation conservation status.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Geoffrey A. Fricker, Lisa H. Crampton, Erica M. Gallerani, Justin M. Hite, Richard Inman, Thomas W. Gillespie
Summary: This study analyzed the habitat preferences and distribution patterns of the endemic honeycreepers Akikiki and Akekee in Kauai, Hawaii, revealing that they are at the upper limits of their elevational range and may require translocation to ensure their viability in the face of avian malaria and unstable populations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shukhrat Shokirov, Tommaso Jucker, Shaun R. Levick, Adrian D. Manning, Timothee Bonnet, Marta Yebra, Kara N. Youngentob
Summary: Vegetation structure has an impact on landscape use and habitat quality for bird species. By comparing terrestrial and UAV LiDAR sensors, we found that both sensors provided similar results in terms of the relationship between vegetation structural metrics and bird species richness and abundance in a woodland landscape. LiDAR structural variables had better predictive power for individual bird species abundance models, and also had some explanatory power for species richness and diversity. Additionally, we identified associations between vulnerable bird species and LiDAR structural variables, which could aid in habitat assessment and conservation management.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Virology
Michelle Wille, Mang Shi, Aeron C. Hurt, Marcel Klaassen, Edward C. Holmes
Summary: This study on RNA virus communities in Ruddy Turnstones of different age groups found that juvenile birds had higher viral abundance and alpha diversity compared to adult birds, indicating a potential association between host age and viral composition.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Aimara Planillo, Stephanie Kramer-Schadt, Sascha Buchholz, Pierre Gras, Moritz von der Lippe, Viktoriia Radchuk
Summary: The study found that arthropod abundance significantly modulated the responses of most bird species to the urbanization gradient. Particularly in areas with moderate levels of anthropogenic disturbance, the abundance of arthropods is crucial for the presence and abundance of bird species in urban areas. To preserve bird diversity in urban green spaces, management strategies should prioritize maintaining and enhancing invertebrate abundance.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Scott H. Harris, Matthew G. Betts
Summary: A study on the impact of tree plantations on native bird biodiversity found that bird abundance changes dynamically during early plantation development, with many species peaking in abundance either very early in development or at canopy closure, then declining by the end of a 30-year period. Broadleaf cover only increased habitat longevity for one bird species (Wilson's warbler), contrary to the hypothesis.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(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
Ecology
Joseph A. LaManna, Scott A. Mangan, Jonathan A. Myers
Summary: Recent studies have shown bias in the measurement of density dependence, leading to confusion in ecology. By elucidating key conceptual and statistical errors, clarity is provided on the issue. A combination of observational comparisons and mechanistic experiments is suggested for future research.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yonglin Zhong, Chengjin Chu, Jonathan A. Myers, Gregory S. Gilbert, James A. Lutz, Jonas Stillhard, Kai Zhu, Jill Thompson, Jennifer L. Baltzer, Fangliang He, Joseph A. LaManna, Stuart J. Davies, Kristina J. Aderson-Teixeira, David F. R. P. Burslem, Alfonso Alonso, Kuo-Jung Chao, Xugao Wang, Lianming Gao, David A. Orwig, Xue Yin, Xinghua Sui, Zhiyao Su, Iveren Abiem, Pulcherie Bissiengou, Norm Bourg, Nathalie Butt, Min Cao, Chia-Hao Chang-Yang, Wei-Chun Chao, Hazel Chapman, Yu-Yun Chen, David A. Coomes, Susan Cordell, Alexandre A. de Oliveira, Hu Du, Suqin Fang, Christian P. Giardina, Zhanqing Hao, Andrew Hector, Stephen P. Hubbell, David Janik, Patrick A. Jansen, Mingxi Jiang, Guangze Jin, David Kenfack, Kamil Kral, Andrew J. Larson, Buhang Li, Xiankun Li, Yide Li, Juyu Lian, Luxiang Lin, Feng Liu, Yankun Liu, Yu Liu, Fuchen Luan, Yahuang Luo, Keping Ma, Yadvinder Malhi, Sean M. McMahon, William McShea, Herve Memiaghe, Xiangcheng Mi, Mike Morecroft, Vojtech Novotny, Michael J. O'Brien, Jan den Ouden, Geoffrey G. Parker, Xiujuan Qiao, Haibao Ren, Glen Reynolds, Pavel Samonil, Weiguo Sang, Guochun Shen, Zhiqiang Shen, Guo-Zhang Michael Song, I-Fang Sun, Hui Tang, Songyan Tian, Amanda L. Uowolo, Maria Uriarte, Bin Wang, Xihua Wang, Youshi Wang, George D. Weiblen, Zhihong Wu, Nianxun Xi, Wusheng Xiang, Han Xu, Kun Xu, Wanhui Ye, Mingjian Yu, Fuping Zeng, Minhua Zhang, Yingming Zhang, Li Zhu, Jess K. Zimmerman
Summary: The study found that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) trees predominantly contribute to decreasing total beta-diversity, reducing turnover, and increasing nestedness with increasing latitude, while the wide distributions of ectomycorrhizal (EcM) trees do not generate strong compositional differences among localities. Environmental variables, especially temperature and precipitation, are strongly correlated with beta-diversity patterns for AM trees and all trees, rather than for EcM trees.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Brian E. Sedio, Marko J. Spasojevic, Jonathan A. Myers, S. Joseph Wright, Maria D. Person, Hamssika Chandrasekaran, Jack H. Dwenger, Maria Laura Prechi, Christian A. Lopez, David N. Allen, Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira, Jennifer L. Baltzer, Norman A. Bourg, Buck T. Castillo, Nicola J. Day, Emily Dewald-Wang, Christopher W. Dick, Timothy Y. James, Jordan G. Kueneman, Joseph LaManna, James A. Lutz, Ian R. McGregor, Sean M. McMahon, Geoffrey G. Parker, John D. Parker, John H. Vandermeer
Summary: Plant diversity varies greatly across global and regional temperature, precipitation, and seasonality gradients. Biotic interactions may become stronger in wetter and warmer environments, leading to greater plant species richness. Chemical similarity of co-occurring species decreases with increasing temperature and precipitation, while metabolite richness increases with temperature.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Adam E. Mitchell, Blair O. Wolf, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: Understanding variation in offspring energy expenditure is crucial for growth and development. Weather and parental care may affect offspring energy expenditure, and species differences also play a role.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Necmiye Sahin Arslan, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: The study on the movement behavior of offspring from cavity- and open-cup-nesting bird species shows that cavity-nesting species have offspring with greater mobility but remain more aggregated within the family, while open-cup-nesting species have offspring which are more dispersed despite increasing movement distances with age. This variation in movement behavior of young can have implications for parental care strategies and juvenile survival.
Article
Ecology
Joseph A. LaManna, F. Andrew Jones, David M. Bell, Robert J. Pabst, David C. Shaw
Summary: The diversity of species varies with elevation and latitude, which is related to biotic interactions. This study found that the effects of conspecific density dependence vary with elevation, which may have important implications for the relationships between species diversity, elevation, and climate.
Article
Biology
James C. Mouton, Renee A. Duckworth, Ryan T. Paitz, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: In songbirds, androgens can influence offspring development and begging behaviors to reduce predation risk, but little is known about other steroids' effects. This study found that increased nest predation risk led to decreased yolk progesterone deposition, while yolk androgen deposition did not change significantly.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Fiona Jevon, Dayna De la Cruz, Joseph A. LaManna, Ashley K. Lang, David A. Orwig, Sydne Record, Paige Kouba, Matthew P. Ayres, Jaclyn Hatala Matthes
Summary: Conspecific negative density dependence promotes tree species diversity in temperate forests and is related to tree species traits and ecological attributes.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexander Kumar, Marketa Zimova, Thomas E. Martin, L. Scott Mills
Summary: Ecological processes are influenced by abiotic factors, such as temperature and snow. This study found that reduced fall and spring snow duration and warmer summers led to decreased snowshoe hare density, while warmer winters increased hare density.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Daniel Sol, Seweryn Olkowicz, Ferran Sayol, Martin Kocourek, Yicheng Zhang, Lucie Marhounova, Christin Osadnik, Eva Corssmit, Joan Garcia-Porta, Thomas E. Martin, Louis Lefebvre, Pavel Nemec
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between animal intelligence and absolute or relative brain size. The results show that the number of neurons in the pallial telencephalon is positively associated with innovation propensity, a major expression of intelligence. The number of neurons is also greater in larger brains and positively covaries with longer post-hatching development periods. These findings contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary bases of the connections between brain and cognition.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Thomas J. Matthews, Joseph P. Wayman, Pedro Cardoso, Ferran Sayol, Julian P. Hume, Werner Ulrich, Joseph A. Tobias, Filipa C. Soares, Christophe Thebaud, Thomas E. Martin, Kostas A. Triantis
Summary: This study provides a global summary of the status and ecology of extant and extinct island birds, the threats they face, and the implications of species loss for island functional diversity, with a particular focus on morphological trait diversity.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Necmiye Sahin Arslan, Daniel Munoz, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: The Whitehead's Broadbill, an endemic species on Borneo, has a declining population. Our study on its breeding biology in Kinabalu Park revealed a relatively high nest success rate and relatively low nest predation rate. The growth rate of the species is slow, possibly due to their frugivorous diet. However, our study suggests that reproductive success is not limiting the population growth.
EMU-AUSTRAL ORNITHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Necmiye Sahin Arslan, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: The study examined a montane tropical bird community and found the necessary conditions for the Skutch Hypothesis, which states that nest predation risk affects parental nest activity. The study also revealed the influence of nest and adult mortality rates on evolved parental strategies.
Article
Ornithology
Elise C. Zarri, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: Advances in understanding geographic patterns of life history variation depend on documentation of life history traits for species in poorly studied regions. This study compared the reproductive biology of two closely related Muscicapids in Borneo and found differences in reproductive strategies and nest defense between the species. The larger size and better nest protection ability of the Bornean Whistling-Thrush may explain its slower growth and development compared to the Bornean subspecies of the White-crowned Forktail.
JOURNAL OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGY
(2022)
