Review
Plant Sciences
Sebastian Cordero, Francisca Galvez, Francisco E. Fonturbel
Summary: Exotic species are a major threat to biodiversity, affecting the structure and functioning of natural ecosystems. They can disrupt mutualistic interactions between plants and dispersers by altering dispersal behavior, predation, and transmission of pathogens. However, they can also have positive impacts on native plants and forest regeneration through increased visitation rates, facilitating colonization, enhancing seedling survival, and promoting seed rain and recruitment. Different studies show both similar and opposite results, highlighting the complex nature of native-exotic species interactions. Overall, exotic species management requires a comprehensive understanding of their ecological roles.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Avery P. Hill, Christopher B. Field
Summary: This study analyzes forest inventory data from the western US to test the hypothesis that wildfires can facilitate climate-induced range shifts in trees. Wildfires significantly increased the seedling range displacement for some tree species, indicating an important role of fire in influencing vegetation redistribution in response to climate change.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
John P. Draper, Trisha B. Atwood, Noelle G. Beckman, Karin M. Kettenring, Julie K. Young
Summary: Coyotes are effective seed dispersers, capable of providing regular long-distance dispersal services and opportunities for secondary seed dispersal, which could aid in climate migration or serve to replace extirpated dispersal mutualists.
Article
Ecology
Ilze Pretorius, Wayne C. Schou, Brian Richardson, Shane D. Ross, Toni M. Withers, David G. Schmale III, Tara M. Strand
Summary: Invasive species, which are carried by wind, pose unquantified and difficult-to-manage biosecurity threats to human, animal, and plant health in various ecosystems. The lack of tools to predict these invasion events reflects their complexity. This study provides evidence that the long-distance aerial dispersal of invasive insects and wildfire smoke, a potential carrier of invasive species, is driven by atmospheric pathways known as Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS). A modeling system combining LCS modeling with species biology and atmospheric survival has the potential to greatly improve the understanding and prediction of atmospheric invasions.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Zdenka Lososova, Irena Axmanova, Milan Chytry, Gabriele Midolo, Sylvain Abdulhak, Dirk Nikolaus Karger, Julien Renaud, Jeremie Van Es, Pascal Vittoz, Wilfried Thuiller
Summary: This study compiled a comprehensive dataset of seed dispersal distance classes and predominant dispersal modes for most European vascular plants. The seed dispersal dataset can be used in functional biogeography, dynamic vegetation modelling, and ecological studies at local to continental scales.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
John H. Pedlar, Daniel W. McKenney, Pengxin Lu
Summary: This study analyzed provenance trial data to derive critical seed transfer distances for five tree species in eastern North America, providing valuable information for forest managers to incorporate climate change into forest regeneration operations. The research found that modest warm-to-cold seed transfers were associated with optimal height growth at test sites, and that seed sources could be moved significant climatic distances before growth was significantly impacted. However, given the uncertainty surrounding climate change, prudent application of seed transfer limits may be appropriate.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zheng Zhang, Guangyue Wen, Dexiao Bu, Guojun Sun, Sheng Qiang
Summary: Canada goldenrod is an invasive plant species that spreads rapidly through wind dispersal, traveling longer distances and in greater amounts in the downwind direction. The temperature and wind speed positively affect the dispersal amount, while relative humidity negatively affects it.
Article
Ecology
Antonio Proenca-Ferreira, Luis Borda-de-Agua, Miguel Porto, Antonio Mira, Francisco Moreira, Ricardo Pita
Summary: Organism dispersal is a widespread phenomenon with significant implications across various scales and levels of organization. The dispfit package, introduced in this article, is an R software application that provides intuitive and comprehensive tools to estimate and describe dispersal distances. It includes 9 commonly used distributions, computes goodness-of-fit and model selection statistics, and estimates distribution parameters and moments. We believe that dispfit will greatly contribute to improving the modeling of species' dispersal distances and enhancing our understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes involving dispersal movement.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Matthew A. Kaproth, Maarten B. Eppinga, Jane Molofsky
Summary: Seed dispersal is crucial for plant populations to survive and spread, but stress can affect plant architecture and fecundity, compromising dispersal. Trait variation within species in response to the environment is not well understood, especially regarding the trade-offs between dispersal and competitive ability.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Binbin Wang, Lauren L. Sullivan, Jeffrey D. Wood
Summary: This paper presents a one-dimensional k-model and a Markov chain stochastic Lagrangian particle tracking model to study wind-driven dispersal of forest and grassland seeds. The models are validated and applied to predict seed dispersal in different environments. The study investigates the effects of wind speed, seed falling duration, and horizontal and vertical velocity fluctuations on seed dispersal distance.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Eva K. Nobrega, Roger Vidal-Cardos, Alberto Munoz, Mariona Ferrandiz-Rovira
Summary: Scatter-hoarding rodents play a vital role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration. This study compared the predation and dispersal patterns of holm oak acorns by wood mice in original dense forest vs open forest in Spain. The results showed variations in acorn predation and dispersal between forest types, with a greater acorn fraction being harvested and dispersed further in the managed forest. However, increased predation in the managed forest reduced the proportion of acorns that survived and could potentially grow, impacting the natural regeneration potential of forests.
Article
Zoology
Si Chen, Li Feng, Bo Wang
Summary: Scatter-hoarding rodents play a crucial role in seed survival and dispersal. The effect of seed size on rodent-seed interaction varies among species and different foraging processes. Including a large number of species in studies can avoid biased results. Seed size has a consistent effect on dispersal success across species over multiple years.
INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Daniela P. Ortiz, Luciana Elizalde, Gabriela Pirk
Summary: Ants play a crucial role in seed dispersal in drylands, benefiting plants by reducing competition and improving growth. The study found that certain plants in the Patagonian steppe could be potentially dispersed by ants, with specific ant species being more effective in dispersing seeds. Nutritive tissues of the seeds and ant foraging behavior are important factors in ant-seed interactions.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
John R. Poulsen, Christopher Beirne, Colin Rundel, Melissa Baldino, Seokmin Kim, Julia Knorr, Taylor Minich, Lingrong Jin, Chase L. Nunez, Shuyun Xiao, Walter Mbamy, Guichard Ndzeng Obiang, Juliana Masseloux, Tanguy Nkoghe, Medard Obiang Ebanega, Connie J. Clark, Michael J. Fay, Pete Morkel, Joseph Okouyi, Lee J. T. White, Justin P. Wright
Summary: This study found that large, fruit-eating animals influence plant population spread and community dynamics through seed dispersal, with dispersal distances being influenced by both environmental and individual-level variables. Elephants disperse seeds through gut passage time and movement, with gender and behavioral traits playing a role in dispersal distances.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Haruko Ando, Yuka Mori, Miho Nishihiro, Kanon Mizukoshi, Masaki Akaike, Wataru Kitamura, Nozomu J. Sato
Summary: Long-distance dispersal (LDD) by birds, such as the Japanese wood pigeon, plays a crucial role in interisland seed dispersal in oceanic ecosystems. Pigeons' movement between islands can promote seed dispersal and potentially homogenize plant distributions. However, their intensive seed consumption may disrupt recruitment of plants with large seeds and affect their expansion to other islands.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Beyene Zewdie, Yves Bawin, Ayco J. M. Tack, Sileshi Nemomissa, Kassahun Tesfaye, Steven B. Janssens, Sabine Van Glabeke, Isabel Roldan-Ruiz, Tom Ruttink, Olivier Honnay, Kristoffer Hylander
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between genetic variation in Arabica coffee and the incidence of four major fungal diseases in southwestern Ethiopia. Results showed that the genetic composition of coffee sites was related to the occurrence of the diseases, but in a specific way for each disease. The findings provide baseline information for studying the molecular basis of disease resistance in coffee.
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
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
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Eva Hulsmans, Robin Daelemans, Vincent Cuypers, Elien Van Der Straeten, Marie Vanderlinden, Tim De Blanck, Win Vertommen, Margaux Boeraeve, Willem Proesmans, Olivier Honnay
Summary: Recent declines in insect pollinators due to agricultural land use are threatening ecosystem services in agroecosystems. This study evaluates the effectiveness of organic farming in perennial cropping systems by analyzing the effects of agricultural management and landscape on pollinator diversity and fruit yield in apple orchards. The results suggest that conserving and restoring semi-natural habitats and promoting landscape diversity are crucial for pollinator conservation in orchard landscapes.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(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
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)