Article
Entomology
Lei Nie, Bamisope Steve Bamisile, Yuling Li, Hao Ran, Suhang Wang, Lei Wang, Yijuan Xu
Summary: The invasive species W. auropunctata has shown competitive advantages over resident ants in southern China, especially in terms of food and space resources, potentially leading to the replacement of some native ant species.
Article
Ecology
Maria del Mar Quiroga-Samaniego, Xchel G. Moreno-Sanchez, Marina S. Irigoyen-Arredondo, Leonardo A. Abitia-Cardenas, Fernando R. Elorriaga-Verplancken, Arturo Tripp-Valdez, Ulianov Jakes-Cota, Maria del Pilar Perez-Rojo, Diego Paez-Rosas
Summary: The study evaluated trophic interactions between two sympatric snapper species in the Central Gulf of California, finding differences in diet and isotopic niches, but also shared resources as a coexistence mechanism. The two species were considered linking species within the trophic web, exhibiting an opportunist strategy in resource utilization.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Sarah C. Webster, Michael J. Chamberlain, Joseph W. Hinton, James C. Beasley
Summary: The study reveals that while there is overlap in diet between red foxes and coyotes in the Great Plains region of the United States, the diet of gray foxes does not overlap with that of red foxes and coyotes. Lack of diet partitioning among co-occurring canids in the southeast suggests strong interspecific competition in the region.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Rohan Sarkar, Anirban Bhowmick, Debsruti Dasgupta, Rounak Banerjee, Poushali Chakraborty, Abhijit Nayek, R. Sreelekshmi, Aritra Roy, Rituparna Sonowal, Amartya Baran Mondal, Anindita Bhadra
Summary: Dogs prioritize nutritionally valuable food while foraging alone, but also scavenge less valuable food. In the presence of intra-group competition, dogs transition from random to systematic foraging and eat first before sampling in groups. They adjust their behavior based on the patch quality and show reduced individual vigilance. These decisions support the optimal foraging theory and highlight the cognitive abilities and adaptability of dogs, which may have influenced domestication.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Kelly L. Endres, Connor N. Morozumi, Xingwen Loy, Heather M. Briggs, Paul J. CaraDonna, Amy M. Iler, Devon A. Picklum, William A. Barr, Berry J. Brosi
Summary: The composition of plant-pollinator interactions is dynamic, and our understanding of how these interactions change in nature is limited. Research indicates that in drought years, plants' floral visitation niches expand while the composition of flower visitors does not show statistically distinguishable changes.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Shin-ya Ohba, Yasuhide Terazono, Sho Takada
Summary: The population increase and range expansion of the diving beetle species Cybister tripunctatus lateralis may lead to resource competition with closely related species.
Article
Agronomy
Liang Song, Bin Yang, Lu-Lu Liu, Yu-Xuan Mo, Wen-Jie Liu, Xian-Jing Meng, Hua-Zheng Lu, Yuan Li, Sissou Zakari, Zheng-Hong Tan, Ze-Xin Fan, Yong-Jiang Zhang
Summary: This study investigated water uptake depths and leaf traits of dominant tree species in a subtropical forest in China. The findings suggest that interspecific competition for water sources may increase the risk of tree dieback in drought years, highlighting the importance of understanding water use patterns for predicting forest response.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Yongfu Shen, Yi Gong, Feng Wu, Yunkai Li
Summary: The study showed that male and female oceanic whitetip sharks exhibit some differences in dietary habits and niche width, but have similar trophic positions and niche overlap at similar growth stages. This suggests that male and female C. longimanus may share similar feeding strategies and behavior patterns.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martina Burnik Sturm, Steve Smith, Oyunsaikhan Ganbaatar, Bayarbaatar Buuveibaatar, Boglarka Balint, John C. Payne, Christian C. Voigt, Petra Kaczensky
Summary: Increasing livestock numbers are affecting resource availability for wild ungulates, potentially negatively impacting their fitness. The Mongolian Gobi serves as a refuge for threatened ungulates, but concerns are rising due to high livestock numbers. Analysis using different methodologies reveals shifts in dietary niche and highlights the importance of understanding resource partitioning in ungulates.
Article
Ecology
Clarissa R. Teixeira, Silvina Botta, Marta J. Cremer, Milton C. C. Marcondes, Luiza B. Pereira, Seth D. Newsome, Fabio G. Daura Jorge, Paulo C. Simoes-Lopes
Summary: This study found that some individuals within populations of Guiana dolphins exhibit specialized feeding behavior, despite being considered generalists. The specific feeding habits are influenced by environmental factors and population characteristics.
Article
Fisheries
Adam G. Hansen, Jennifer R. Gardner, Kristin A. Connelly, Matt Polacek, David A. Beauchamp
Summary: This study found that in a temperate irrigation reservoir, adult bull trout exhibited the highest degree of trophic specialization, mainly consuming coldwater pelagic fish. Trophic niche overlap probabilities were high between bull trout and burbot, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a diverse forage fish community for promoting coexistence. Competitive interactions between adult bull trout and burbot could potentially increase if key prey were limited or less diverse.
ECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laurence Maurice, Gael Le Croizier, Gabriela Morales, Natalia Carpintero, Juan M. Guayasamin, Jeroen Sonke, Diego Paez-Rosas, David Point, Walter Bustos, Valeria Ochoa-Herrera
Summary: The study determined the THg concentration in common shark species in the Galapagos Marine Reserve and highlighted the human health risks associated with shark consumption. Mercury isotopic compositions were also found to be useful in tracing the foraging strategies of these marine predators.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Leticia Morgana Mueller, Renato Kipnis, Mariane Pereira Ferreira, Sara Marzo, Bianca Fiedler, Mary Lucas, Jana Ilgner, Hilton P. Silva, Patrick Roberts
Summary: This study analyzes stable isotopes in human and animal remains from the Volta Grande do Rio Xingu region to investigate the diets of pre-Columbian populations in the Amazon Basin. The results indicate that people in different areas and time periods primarily consumed C-3 plants, wild terrestrial fauna, and aquatic resources, with varying levels of integration of C-4 plants. The study also highlights regional adaptations to local watercourses and forest types in the Amazon Basin, based on a comparison with other datasets.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marta Maziarz, Richard K. Broughton, Kristina B. Beck, Robert A. Robinson, Ben C. Sheldon
Summary: Human activity has affected natural resources and the species that depend on them, resulting in changes in interspecific competition dynamics. This study used automated data collection to examine competition among species with different population trends. Specifically, it focused on the foraging behavior of subordinate marsh tits among socially and numerically dominant blue tits and great tits. The findings showed that marsh tits were less likely to join larger groups of heterospecifics and accessed food less frequently in larger groups. This suggests that subordinate species exhibit temporal avoidance of dominant heterospecifics but have limited spatial avoidance, indicating partial reduction in interspecific competition.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Virginia K. K. Heinen, Angela M. M. Pitera, Benjamin R. R. Sonnenberg, Carrie L. L. Branch, Lauren M. M. Benedict, Joseph F. F. Welklin, Lauren E. E. Whitenack, Eli S. S. Bridge, Vladimir V. V. Pravosudov
Summary: Social animals may adopt alternative strategies when foraging, such as the producer-scrounger dichotomy. The influence of cognitive abilities on scrounging behavior is not well understood in the context of specialized cognitive abilities. We studied food-caching mountain chickadees, which rely on spatial cognition, and found that they rarely engage in scrounging during learning a spatial task. Scrounging frequency was not associated with spatial cognitive abilities, suggesting reliance on learning abilities instead.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel Barton, Zuzana Sajdlova, Tomas Kolarik, Jan Kubecka, Jindrich Duras, David Kortan, Marek Smejkal
Summary: Rheophilic fishes are declining rapidly in number due to various habitat modifications and discharge regulations. Installing a flow deflector can mitigate the effects of discharge increases on a spawning ground, resulting in higher recruitment of rheophilic fishes.
RIVER RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Marek Smejkal, Ondrej Dockal, Kiran Thomas, Chandani R. Verma, Pradeep Kumkar, Lukas Kalous
Summary: This study presents evidence of the Chinese sleeper's first documented occurrence in the Elbe River basin in Czechia. The fish was caught by a fisherman and shared on social media. It has been present in interconnected ponds and streams for ten years and may have spread over a larger area. Eradication measures are recommended to prevent further spread.
Correction
Ecology
Marek Smejkal, Ondrej Dockal, Kiran Thomas, Chandani R. R. Verma, Pradeep Kumkar, Lukas Kalous
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sandip Tapkir, Kiran Thomas, Lukas Kalous, Mojmir Vasek, Travis B. Meador, Marek Smejkal
Summary: The introduction of invasive species, such as the gibel carp, can lead to increased competition with native species like the crucian carp in an ecosystem. The vacant niche hypothesis suggests that the invasive species may have a competitive advantage if it can access food sources that are not available to the native species. Through stable isotope analysis of fish scales, it was found that the gibel carp had a lower trophic position and higher utilization of littoral food sources, giving it a competitive edge over the crucian carp. The study also showed that environmental conditions, such as a rich littoral zone, could reduce overlap in trophic niches between the two species.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Tomas Juza, Petr Blabolil, Martin Cech, Vladislav Drastik, Josef Hejzlar, Lubos Kocvara, Milan Muska, Jiri Peterka, Zuzana Sajdlova, Michal Tuser, Mojmir Vasek, Jan Kubecka
Summary: Until 2006, the Lipno Reservoir had the highest pikeperch catches in the Czech Republic, but since 2007 it has suffered a partial collapse. Oligotrophication and unsuccessful spawning were identified as possible causes for the decline in pikeperch population. The low survival rate and slow growth of pikeperch fry, likely due to oligotrophication, have led to a lower probability of surviving their first winter.
ECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Petr Blabolil, Jiri Peterka, Martin Cech, Tomas Juza
Summary: This study monitored the abundance, size, and growth rate of early pikeperch juveniles in different layers of the Rimov Reservoir. The results showed that the highest abundance of 0+ fish was found in the middle section of the reservoir and their size increased as they moved upstream. Additionally, larger and older juveniles migrated to the deeper layers during the day. The study also identified temperature and productivity as the main drivers affecting the distribution and growth of the fish.
ECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Karlos R. R. de Moraes, Allan T. T. Souza, Milan Muska, Milan Hladik, Martina Ctvrtlikova, Vladislav Drastik, Tomas Kolarik, Andrea Kucerova, Monika Krolova, Zuzana Sajdlova, Marek Smejkal, Jan Kubecka
Summary: Habitat complexity in freshwater ecosystems has declined due to human impacts, leading to intensified conservation and environmental management efforts. Artificial floating islands (AFIs) are being used as a management action to enhance aquatic organism populations. This study found that AFIs installed in the littoral area of Lipno Reservoir, Czech Republic, with local wetland vegetation, significantly increased the densities of juvenile roach and perch, and even hosted apex predators exclusively. AFIs can serve as nursery ground for age 0+ fish in lentic systems and support fish populations in degraded habitat conditions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mojmir Vasek, Marek Brabec, Petr Blabolil, Martin Cech, Vladislav Drastik, Tomas Juza, Jan Kubecka, Milan Muska, Jiri Peterka, Marie Prchalova, Milan Riha, Josef Hejzlar
Summary: This study found that the 815N values in fish scales can serve as sensitive bioindicators of anthropogenic nitrogen inputs from catchment areas to freshwater ecosystems. Therefore, measuring the 815N values of fish scales could be an effective method for monitoring nitrogen pollution in aquatic environments.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Milan Riha, Marie Prchalova, Marek Brabec, Vladislav Drastik, Milan Muska, Michal Tuser, Daniel Barton, Petr Blabolil, Martin Cech, Jaroslava Frouzova, Michaela Holubova, Tomas Juza, Karlos R. Moraes, Ruben Rabaneda-Bueno, Zuzana Sajdlova, Allan T. Souza, Marek Smejkal, Mojmir Vasek, Lukas Vejrik, Ivana Vejrikova, Jiri Peterka, Jan Kubecka
Summary: Fish are important for aquatic ecosystems, and accurate assessments of their population variables are crucial for ecological applications. Gillnets are commonly used to assess fish populations, but there is no reliable model to calculate fish quantity from gillnet catches. This study calibrated gillnet catches using active methods and developed a tool to assess fish quantity from gillnet catches. The results showed a strong positive linear relationship between fish biomasses sampled with gillnets and active methods.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pankaj A. Gorule, Marek Smejkal, Sandip Tapkir, Yevdokiia Stepanyshyna, Vlastimil Stejskal, Maria Cristina Follesa, Alessandro Cau
Summary: This study reveals that anthropogenic polymeric particles can have detrimental effects on the behavior and movement skills of fish, and invasive species may have a higher tolerance towards pollutants. Fish exposed to polyethylene and tire wear particles showed bolder behavior and higher risk-taking, while invasive gibel carp exhibited better swimming performance.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Kiran Thomas, Marek Smejkal, Paingamadathil Ommer Nameer
Summary: This study investigated the dietary choices and foraging behavior of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, India. The squirrel was found to primarily feed on trees and showed some dietary adaptability. The diversity of mature trees and plants is crucial for the conservation of this species.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kiran Thomas, Marek Brabec, Sandip Tapkir, Milan Gottwald, Daniel Barton, Marek Smejkal
Summary: Invasive alien species can cause significant loss of biodiversity. Early detection by citizens can serve as an indicator of invasion. This study found that invasive gibel carp were more easily detected through angling, while native crucian carp were more easily detected through trapping.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)