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Electroporation is a complex, iterative, and nonlinear phenomenon often studied through numerical simulations. In recent years, simulations of tissue electroporation have been conducted with static models. However, the results of a static model simulation are restricted to a fixed protocol signature of the pulsed electric field. In this paper, we describe a novel dynamic model of tissue electroporation that also accounts for tissue dispersion and temperature to allow time-domain simulations. We have implemented the biological dispersion of potato tubers and thermal analysis in a commercial finite-element method software. A cell electroporation model was adapted to account for the increase in tissue conductivity. The model yielded 12 parameters divided into three dynamic states of electroporation. The thermal analysis describes the dependence of tissue conductivity on temperature. The model parameters were evaluated using experiments with vegetal tissue (Solanum tuberosum) under electrochemotherapy protocols. The proposed model can accurately predict the conductivity of tissue under electroporation from 100 to 1000 V/cm. A negligible thermal effect was observed at 1000 V/cm, with a temperature increase of 0.89 ° C. We believe that the proposed model is suitable to describe the electroporation at the tissue level and provides a hint of the effects on the cell membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three‐dimensional (3D) vegetation structure influences animal movements and, consequently, ecosystem functions. Animals disperse the seeds of 60%–90% of trees in tropical rainforests, which are among the most structurally complex ecosystems on Earth. Here, we investigated how 3D rainforest structure influences the movements of large, frugivorous birds and resulting spatial patterns of seed dispersal. We GPS‐tracked white‐thighed (Bycanistes albotibialis) and black‐casqued hornbills (Ceratogymna atrata) in a study area surveyed by light detection and ranging (LiDAR) in southern Cameroon. We found that both species preferred areas of greater canopy height and white‐thighed hornbill preferred areas of greater vertical complexity. In addition, 33% of the hornbills preferred areas close to canopy gaps, while 16.7% and 27.8% avoided large and small gaps, respectively. White‐thighed hornbills avoided swamp habitats, while black‐casqued increased their preference for swamps during the hottest temperatures. We mapped spatial probabilities of seed dispersal by hornbills, showing that 3D structural attributes shape this ecological process by influencing hornbill behaviour. These results provide evidence of a possible feedback loop between rainforest vegetation structure and seed dispersal by animals. Interactions between seed dispersers and vegetation structure described here are essential for understanding ecosystem functions in tropical rainforests and critical for predicting how rainforests respond to anthropogenic impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success and cost‐effectiveness of kelp forest restoration hinges on understanding the colonization ecology of kelps, particularly with respect to dispersal potential, recruitment success, and subsequent establishment. To gain needed insight into these processes we examined spatial patterns and temporal trajectories of the colonization of a large artificial reef by the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera. The 151 ha artificial reef complex was constructed in three phases over 21 years, enabling dispersal, recruitment, and subsequent establishment to be examined for a wide range of environmental conditions, dispersal distances, and source population sizes. Natural colonization of all phases of the artificial reef by giant kelp was rapid (within 1 year) and extended across the entire 7‐km‐long reef complex. Colonization density declined with distance from the nearest source population, but only during the first phase when the distance from the nearest source population was ≤3.5 km. Despite this decline, recruitment on artificial reef modules farthest from the source population was sufficient to produce dense stands of kelp within a couple of years. Experimental outplanting of the artificial reef with laboratory‐reared kelp embryos was largely successful but proved unnecessary, as the standing biomass of kelp resulting from natural recruitment exceeded that observed on nearby natural reefs within 2–3 years of artificial reef construction for all three phases. Such high potential for natural colonization following disturbance has important implications for kelp forest restoration efforts that employ costly and logistically difficult methods to mimic this process by active seeding and transplanting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed dispersal by frugivorous animals is a key process for plant populations and communities. When frugivores consume fruits, seeds are temporarily retained inside their guts until seed deposition. Hence, information on retention times is essential to estimate seed‐dispersal distances. Although it is well known that retention times are affected by the body size of frugivores, there is an important knowledge gap on the effects of plant species traits, such as seed size and pulp content.Here, we comprehensively address whether and which plant traits affect seed retention times in frugivorous birds. On the one hand, we conducted a first set of experiments to assess variation in retention times among 31 plant species dispersed by a single bird species, and a second set to assess variation among five plant species dispersed by a guild of five frugivorous passerines. On the other hand, we conducted a literature review retrieving retention times for 231 interactions involving 155 plant species and 55 bird species from nine different avian orders.Seed size had negative effects on retention times at the three levels addressed in this study: the larger the seeds, the shorter the times. The effects of seed size were higher within a single bird species, intermediate for the small assemblage of five passerine species, and lower for all frugivorous birds included in the compilation. Notably, the effects of seed size on retention times were comparable to that of frugivore body size in Passeriformes. We analysed the effects of the pulp content on a single bird species, but these lacked predictive power. Importantly, the effects of seed size were indirect and mediated by the type of seed ejection (digestive processing): birds generally defecate smaller seeds and regurgitate the larger ones.We provide comprehensive evidence that retention times are intrinsically linked to plant traits and to frugivores' response to such traits, particularly to seed size and the type of seed ejection, respectively. Thus, our study unveils a source of interspecific variability in the capacity of plants to disperse at long distances. Moreover, we provide methodological improvements to trait‐based models that estimate mean retention times and seed‐dispersal distances. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversity and interspecific synchrony are among the main drivers behind the temporal stability of community abundance. Diversity can increase stability through the portfolio effect, while higher synchrony generally decreases stability. In turn, species interactions and similar responses to environmental variation are considered the main factors underlying the strength of interspecific synchrony, despite the challenges in determining their relative roles. The analysis of the relationship between interspecific synchrony and the trait (or phylogenetic) distance between species can increase the robustness of inferences about these factors. Here, we used pairwise interspecific and community‐wide analyses to investigate, respectively, the drivers of interspecific synchrony and the influence of trait and phylogenetic diversity on the stability of fish communities. For that, we used 18 years of fish abundance data from the Upper Paraná River floodplain. At the interspecific level, we used quantile regressions to test within‐guild relationships between interspecific synchrony and trait and phylogenetic distance between species. At the community level, we tested the relationships between community‐wide synchrony, stability, and (trait and phylogenetic) diversity. We found that interspecific synchrony decreased with trait and phylogenetic distances. In the community‐level analysis, we found that more synchronous fish communities were less stable, but the relationship between diversity and stability was in general weak. At the interspecific level, our study highlights the role of similar responses to environmental variation in driving species' temporal dynamics. At the community level, the strength of the relationships between trait or phylogenetic diversity and community stability depended on the feeding guild. On the other hand, we found strong relationships between synchrony and stability. These results suggest that increased synchrony levels in response to regional environmental changes could decrease the stability of fish communities in this floodplain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural populations of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz. ex Ledeb.) Schischk. have recently been subjected to strong anthropogenic impact due to biologically active substances with a wide spectrum of action detected in plants. The purpose of this study is to determine the state of natural populations of S. divaricata and identify biological features of the species that contribute to the stability of the populations. Seven coenopopulations have been studied in the Republic of Buryatia. Phytocenoses and ontogenetic states of S. divaricata are described, demographic indicators of coenopopulations are given, and environmental and biological factors affecting the existence of this species have been identified. S. divaricata has a wide ecological amplitude and occurs from tree communities to steppes and fallow areas. Its proportion in communities does not exceed 2% of the general projective cover. Most populations are characterized by a low density of individuals (5–48 individuals/100 m2) due to the destruction of plants (root extraction). One stable population without damage (density of 209 individuals/100 m2) and one recovering population (113 individuals/100 m2) have been revealed. The height of generative plants varies significantly from 35 to 100 cm, depending on the growing conditions. Environmental factors that negatively affect the stability of natural populations of S. divaricata include biotic (massive damage to seeds by invertebrates) and anthropogenic (root harvesting and grazing) ones. A number of biological features determine the strategy of the species in nature: a probable low stock of seeds in soil and a sharp rise in the amount of seedlings during seed dispersal; biological longevity of seeds for more than 5 years; early contractility of roots; dormant buds and renewal buds in the leaf axils of previous years are protected by remnants of leaf sheaths; when the apical bud is damaged, monopodial growth is changed to sympodial (more often at the beginning of the virginal ontogenetic state); duration of the pregenerative period of 10–12 years; and monocarpicity, up to 50% of generative individuals in the population form false whorls, the percentage of fruit formation in a simple umbel is 50–100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundAimsMethodsResultsConclusions\nKey policy highlightsThe remarkable floristic diversity of the Atlantic Forest is partly related to the diversity of environmental conditions across its vast geographic extent that has resulted in distinct plant communities. Four areas (Pernambuco, Bahia and Northern Espírito Santo, São Paulo, and Araguaia-Tocantins refugia) have been hypothesised to have particularly high modern diversity due to their being located in areas of multi-millennial climate stability.To test if species persistence and climatic stability over the last 21,000 years can predict hypothesised refugia in the Atlantic Forest domain.We modelled the distributions of 282 tree species from various habitats and projected them using eight past climate scenarios in the last c. 21000 years. Based on the spatial overlaps among these projections, we inferred three types of refugia: species persistence refugium based on probability of occurrence, climatic stability refugium based on climate suitability and bioclimatic refugium based on the intersection of the previous two. We validated model projections with fossil pollen data.We identified five potential bioclimatic refugia (Bahia and Northern Espírito Santo, São Paulo, Paranaíba, Serra do Espinhaço and Subtropical Serra do Mar) and one climatic stability refugium (Pernambuco).We validated three of four previously hypothesised refugia and detected two additional ones by considering both species persistence and climatic stability as key determinants of refugia. Conservation policies are needed to protect areas of refugia in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, named: (1) Pernambuco bioclimatic refugium, (2) Bahia and Northern Espírito Santo bioclimatic refugium, (3) São Paulo bioclimatic refugium, (4) Paranaiba bioclimatic refugium, (5) Serra do Espinhaço bioclimatic refugium and (6) Subtropical Serra do Mar bioclimatic refugium;Financing studies with focus in determining refugia extension and understanding the region’s dynamics is key to promote the sustainability of ecosystem services in face of climate change;Promoting restoration strategies in regions considered as refugia can help sustain habitats.Conservation policies are needed to protect areas of refugia in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, named: (1) Pernambuco bioclimatic refugium, (2) Bahia and Northern Espírito Santo bioclimatic refugium, (3) São Paulo bioclimatic refugium, (4) Paranaiba bioclimatic refugium, (5) Serra do Espinhaço bioclimatic refugium and (6) Subtropical Serra do Mar bioclimatic refugium;Financing studies with focus in determining refugia extension and understanding the region’s dynamics is key to promote the sustainability of ecosystem services in face of climate change;Promoting restoration strategies in regions considered as refugia can help sustain habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis, is a serious maize pest in Southeast Asia, responsible for substantial economic losses to the maize crop every year. To establish insect biocontrol programmes, it is crucial to determine the ideal numbers and developmental stage of natural enemies to release. The purpose of the present study was to assess the parasitism ability of Trichogramma dendrolimi and Trichogramma ostriniae, which are the most promising biocontrol agents of the ACB, under two different methods of inundative release in maize fields. A total of 10,000 wasps of both species were released using two different methods, i.e. wasps at the same developmental stage (SDS) and wasps at different developmental stages (DDS). The results showed that T. dendrolimi wasps exhibited significantly higher parasitism of ACB eggs when they were released with the DDS method than when they were released with the SDS method. In the SDS release method, T. dendrolimi parasitized ACB eggs for only 3 days after release, while in the DDS release method, parasitism of ACB eggs occurred for 6 days. However, the two release methods had no significant impact on the performance of T. ostriniae in maize fields. In both release methods, T. ostriniae parasitized a high percentage of ACB eggs. The results of the present study clearly indicate that the poor field performance of T. dendrolimi due to the host-age factor can be improved using the DDS release method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoke from wildland fires contains more diverse, viable microbes than typical ambient air, yet little is known about the sources and sinks of smoke‐borne microorganisms. Data from molecular‐based surveys suggest that smoke‐borne microorganisms originate from material associated with the vegetation and underlying soils that becomes aerosolized during combustion, however, the sources of microbes in smoke have not yet been experimentally assessed. To elucidate this link, we studied high‐intensity forest fires in the Fishlake National Forest, Utah, USA and applied source‐sink modeling to assemblages of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences recovered from samples of smoke, vegetation, and soil. Our results suggest that 70% of the bacterial taxa in smoke originated from the local aspen (Populus tremuloides) (33%) and soil (37%) communities. In comparison, 42% of bacteria in air sampled prior to the fires could be attributed to these terrestrial sources. When the bacterial assemblages in smoke were modeled as sources to the local communities, they contributed an average of 25% to the terrestrial sinks versus an estimated contribution of <4% from ambient air. Our results provide support for the role of wildland fire in bacterial dispersal and the working hypothesis that smoke is an environmental reservoir of microbes for receiving ecosystems. Plain Language Summary: Microbes (bacteria and fungi) have been detected in wildland fire smoke using DNA technology and have been successfully cultured. Many of these organisms are associated with vegetation and soil, so it has been assumed that the microbes originate in the materials that are combusted during a fire, including vegetation and litter. This study uses DNA collected from vegetation, soil, air collected on a clear day, and wildland fire smoke at the same location to measure the connection between bacteria encountered on the surface and in the air. In addition to an inventory of the bacteria that are common to the surface and the atmosphere, we also used modeling to estimate the source communities that contributed to the suite of bacteria that were detected in each place. We found close relationships between surface sources and smoke and a much weaker exchange between clear air and the surface. These results provide more evidence for wildland fire smoke as a mechanism for transporting bacteria between ecosystems. Key Points: Most bacterial taxa in wildland fire smoke can be traced to local surface vegetation and soil communitiesThe bacterial assemblage in ambient air was mostly derived from unknown sourcesLocal terrestrial communities are more closely linked to smoke‐borne bacteria than those in ambient air, implicating smoke as a biological dispersal agent [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersal is a well-recognized driver of ecological and evolutionary dynamics, and simultaneously an evolving trait. Dispersal evolution has traditionally been studied in single-species metapopulations so that it remains unclear how dispersal evolves in metacommunities and metafoodwebs, which are characterized by a multitude of species interactions. Since most natural systems are both species-rich and spatially structured, this knowledge gap should be bridged. Here, we discuss whether knowledge from dispersal evolutionary ecology established in single-species systems holds in metacommunities and metafoodwebs and we highlight generally valid and fundamental principles. Most biotic interactions form the backdrop to the ecological theatre for the evolutionary dispersal play because interactions mediate patterns of fitness expectations across space and time. While this allows for a simple transposition of certain known principles to a multispecies context, other drivers may require more complex transpositions, or might not be transferred. We discuss an important quantitative modulator of dispersal evolution—increased trait dimensionality of biodiverse meta-systems—and an additional driver: co-dispersal. We speculate that scale and selection pressure mismatches owing to co-dispersal, together with increased trait dimensionality, may lead to a slower and more 'diffuse' evolution in biodiverse meta-systems. Open questions and potential consequences in both ecological and evolutionary terms call for more investigation. This article is part of the theme issue 'Diversity-dependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biologists have long sought to predict the distribution of species across landscapes to understand biodiversity patterns and dynamics. These efforts usually integrate ecological niche and dispersal dynamics, but evolution can also mediate these ecological dynamics. Species that disperse well and arrive early might adapt to local conditions, which creates an evolution-mediated priority effect that alters biodiversity patterns. Yet, dispersal is also a trait that can evolve and affect evolution-mediated priority effects. We developed an individual-based model where populations of competing species can adapt not only to local environments but also to different dispersal probabilities. We found that lower regional species diversity selects for populations with higher dispersal probabilities and stronger evolution-mediated priority effects. When all species evolved dispersal, they monopolized fewer patches and did so at the same rates. When only one of the species evolved dispersal, it evolved lower dispersal than highly dispersive species and monopolized habitats once freed from maladaptive gene flow. Overall, we demonstrate that dispersal evolution can shape evolution-mediated priority effects when provided with a greater ecological opportunity in species-poor communities. Dispersal- and evolution-mediated priority effects probably play greater roles in species-poor regions like the upper latitudes, isolated islands and in changing environments. This article is part of the theme issue 'Diversity-dependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of parasites and the emergence of disease are currently threatening global biodiversity and human welfare. To address this threat, we need to better understand those factors that determine parasite persistence and prevalence. It is known that dispersal is central to the spatial dynamics of host–parasite systems. Yet past studies have typically assumed that dispersal is a species-level constant, despite a growing body of empirical evidence that dispersal varies with ecological context, including the risk of infection and aspects of host state such as infection status (parasite-dependent dispersal; PDD). Here, we develop a metapopulation model to understand how different forms of PDD shape the prevalence of a directly transmitted parasite. We show that increasing host dispersal rate can increase, decrease or cause a non-monotonic change in regional parasite prevalence, depending on the type of PDD and characteristics of the host–parasite system (transmission rate, virulence, and dispersal mortality). This result contrasts with previous studies with parasite-independent dispersal which concluded that prevalence increases with host dispersal rate. We argue that accounting for host dispersal responses to parasites is necessary for a complete understanding of host–parasite dynamics and for predicting how parasite prevalence will respond to changes such as human alteration of landscape connectivity. This article is part of the theme issue 'Diversity-dependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the marine carbon dioxide (CO 2) absorption capacity by adding alkaline minerals into the world's oceans is a promising marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) approach to increase the ocean's CO 2 storage potential and mitigate ocean acidification. Still, the biological impacts of dispersion of alkaline minerals need to be evaluated prior to its field deployment, especially the impacts of the initial discharge causing local and temporary extreme alkalinity/pH changes. In this study, the toxicity effect on marine microalgae of two commonly used alkaline minerals, calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH) 2) and magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH) 2), was determined by adding the same equivalent molar concentration of hydroxyl ions. Cultures of marine green microalgae Tetraselmis suecica were exposed to Ca(OH) 2 or Mg(OH) 2 , in concentrations mimicking the initial high concentrations following a dispersion scenario from a ship. A short-term exposure with high-alkaline mineral concentration called "dispersion phase" was followed by a dilution step and a "regrowth" phase over 6 d. There was no detectable effect of Mg(OH) 2 treatment on algae growth either after the dispersion phase or during the regrowth phase, compared to control treatments. The Ca(OH) 2 treatment resulted in very few living algal cells after the dispersion phase, but a similar growth rate was observed during the regrowth phase as was for the Mg(OH) 2 and control treatments. Standardized whole effluent toxicity (WET) tests were carried out with a range of Mg(OH) 2 concentrations using a sensitive marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum, which confirmed the relatively low toxicity effect of Mg(OH) 2. Similar biological effects were observed on natural microalgae assemblages from a local seawater source when applying the same Mg(OH) 2 concentration range and exposure time used in the WET tests. The results suggest that Mg(OH) 2 is relatively safe compared to Ca(OH) 2 with respect to marine microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersal is an important life history trait that plays a crucial role in avoiding inbreeding. Uncovering the dispersal pattern of a threatened species facilitates conservation efforts. Most species of Galliformes are forest-dwelling terrestrial birds with a weak dispersal ability and high conservation priorities. However, little is known about the dispersal behavior and dispersal pattern of Galliformes species such as Reeves's pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii , a globally vulnerable species endemic to China. Here, we integrated behavioral and genetic analyses to investigate the dispersal pattern of Reeves's pheasant. Our results revealed that both females and males would disperse, although the overall dispersal pattern was more likely to be male-biased. Reeves's pheasant population had a low level of genetic diversity and a mild level of inbreeding. Speculation low genetic diversity was resulted from fragmented habitat, and male-biased dispersal may reduce the opportunity of inbreeding. Our research indicated that sex-biased dispersal patterns may be a behavioral mechanism adopted by wildlife to avoid inbreeding in a fragmented habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thalassochory, the dispersal of propagules through marine currents, is a key long‐distance dispersal (LDD) mechanism with implications for global biogeography and particularly for island colonization. The propagules of coastal plant species are generally assumed to be better adapted for sea dispersal than those of inland plants, but this hypothesis remains largely untested.We conducted experiments on four genera (Juniperus, Daucus, Ferula, and Pancratium) and compared traits among nine species with different habitats and distributions.Our results showed that Juniperus spp. and P. maritimum have strong thalassochorous potential within the Mediterranean Basin. Interestingly, we did not find a clear association on the thalassochorous potential of coastal versus inland species within all the tested genera, apart from P. maritimum compared with the endemic inland P. illyricum.These findings suggest that thalassochory may be a more common dispersal mechanism than previously assumed. The apparently weak link of dispersal syndrome with species ecology broadens the possibility of dispersal by the sea also for inland plants, although considered to be poorly salt‐tolerant. Moreover, our results reveal significant differences in sea dispersal between endemic and widespread species, but do not rule out an important role of thalassochory in shaping the distribution patterns of archipelago endemic flora. The presented method is largely replicable and could be used for further studies with a larger set of species to better delineate trends of sea dispersal syndrome among species with different ecology or dispersal traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The factors that influence the diversity of Yungas Andean forest remain unexplored. Our study seeks to investigate the impact of key isolating factors on the genetic structure of multiple taxa, testing for four hypotheses: isolation by distance (IBD), isolation by resistance due to topography (IBRtopo), isolation by resistance due to habitat suitability (IBRsuit) and isolation by environmental dissimilarity (IBE). Location: Yungas Andean forest. Taxon: Tetrapoda. Methods: We analysed a dataset consisting of 477 Cyt‐b sequences from 138 localities, encompassing 13 species. Through multiple matrix regression, Moran Spectral Randomization of Mantel and GDM analyses, we tested the impact of each extrinsic predictor on observed genetic variation and determined the effect size of environmental variation on genetic divergence. Additionally, we investigated the spatial distribution of lineages within the study species. Results: The genetic variation within the Yungas exhibited varied responses that correspond to the regional landscape heterogeneity. We identified different isolating factors as the main predictor for specific species: IBD for Akodon spegazzinii; IBRtopo for certain small mammals' species; IBE for Thylamys cinderella and Oligoryzomys brendae; and IBRsuit for Calomys fecundus, Oreobates barituensis and Melanophryniscus rubriventris with some considerations. Furthermore, our results support the presence of a latitudinal pattern in the distribution of genetic lineages. Main Conclusions: The heterogeneous landscape of the Yungas Andean forest posed varied effects on genetic variation. The effect of topography and continuity of suitable habitats over vertebrate dispersal shapes the genetic diversity, in particular topography acts either as a barrier or as corridor, while habitat suitability resistance mainly shapes endemism genetic structure; local climate represents a strong genetic promoter in transition zones; and the effect of geographic distance is less evident when considering other landscape promoter of genetic divergence. This reinforces the understanding that the complex interplay of environmental and historical factors contributes to the observed patterns of genetic diversity in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of large frugivores in the dispersal of tropical trees has been well‐studied, whereas the importance of the world's largest rodents for plant dispersal has previously been ignored. We studied plant dispersal by gut passage (endozoochory) in Neotropical wetlands by the largest extant rodent, the capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris. We compared it with another of the world's 10 largest rodents, the nutria or coypu Myocastor coypus.We collected 96 faecal samples (50 capybara, 46 nutria) from 10 sites within the Taim Ramsar site in southern Brazil, and extracted intact propagules from 10 g subsamples. Propagules from 27 plant taxa (24 angiosperms, and three aquatic ferns) were recovered, representing 13 plant families. Whole Spirodela (duckweed) plants were dispersed. Seeds from 14 angiosperm taxa were germinated in the laboratory.Taxonomic composition of propagules was significantly different for the two mammals, but propagule size was not. Capybara dispersed more terrestrial propagules per sample, and nutrias more aquatic propagules. When total faecal production was taken into account, an estimated 1025 propagules (including 133 fern spores) were dispersed by each capybara per day, compared with 691 propagules for nutrias (including 566 fern spores). Capybaras have larger home ranges and likely dispersed plants over a greater distance.Synthesis: This is the first demonstration that rodents disperse aquatic pteridophytes as well as flowering plants. Our results suggest that capybaras and nutrias play important, complementary roles in dispersing a variety of aquatic and terrestrial plant species within Neotropical wetlands. Our study indicates that the role of herbivorous mammals as vectors of plants with small seeds and non‐fleshy fruits has been overlooked in the neotropics and that defaunation of large herbivores can have negative consequences, in a manner similar to that previously highlighted for frugivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Afforestation can alter belowground microbial diversity and affect soil‒plant feedback, which is crucial for understanding nutrient cycles and ecosystem productivity. Most studies have focused on the carbon and nitrogen cycles in forest ecosystems; however, there are few studies on the effect of afforestation in soil microbial diversity on phosphorus (P) nutrients. In this study, we explored the effect of soil microbial communities on soil‒plant P feedback under long-term afforestation. Methods: Typical poplar plantations were selected from the Lhasa River Basin. We assessed the P content, activity of extracellular enzyme related to P acquisition, rhizosphere soil microbes, and mechanism of microbial community. Results: Increased bacterial richness and evenness were beneficial to soil and plant P nutrition; however, the community differentiation of bacteria and fungi had no positive effect on the P content. Ecological stochasticity drove for the assembly of the rhizosphere soil microbial community after afforestation on the Tibetan Plateau. Homogenizing dispersal dominated bacterial and fungal assemblies. Ecological drift was another stochastic process that affected the microbial assembly. Conclusion: Bacterial richness and evenness had positive effects on soil‒plant P feedback, whereas microbial differentiation did not. Homogenizing dispersal and ecological drift are intrinsic factors that regulate the effects of microbial community diversity on soil‒plant P feedback processes. This study provides the evidence on the intrinsic mechanism of belowground microbial diversity influencing soil‒plant P feedback. It also provides new insights into the selection of plantation species on the Tibetan Plateau from the perspective of enhancement of P nutrition by microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the processes and mechanisms that underlie the spatiotemporal patterns of biodiversity is of paramount relevance, given the ongoing global climate and land cover changes. Here, we investigated the influence of season‐related climatic variables on two dimensions of dung beetle diversity (taxonomic and functional) and at different scales (alpha and beta) within an introduced Brazilian pasture ecosystem.We sampled dung beetles over 52 consecutive weeks, comprising the dry and rainy seasons. We related taxonomic and functional variables to season‐related climate variables (temperature, precipitation and humidity) using absolute values and changes from consecutive samplings (Δ, differences between samplings).We found higher species richness and abundance values in the rainy season. Changes in climatic variables between consecutive samplings caused effects only in functional dispersion, temporal β‐diversity and species losses but not in species richness and abundance of dung beetles. However, these effects are dependent on the season. In the rainy season, increased precipitation between samplings caused a decrease in functional dispersion and an opposite pattern was found in the dry season. Similarly, increased temperature values between samplings caused decreases in both temporal β‐diversity and species losses of dung beetles, with an opposite pattern in the dry season.Season‐associated climatic variables showed contrasting effects on dung beetle taxonomic and functional metrics. Temporal changes in taxonomic and functional diversity may be driven by different climatic variables, which can be associated with the sorting of species or species traits related to their thermal niche. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species richness is an essential component of biodiversity metrics and an ecological indicator for setting conservation actions. Phylum Rotifera consists of a specious group of conspicuous and minute animals, mainly in freshwater environments. In the Neotropical region, the knowledge of the biodiversity of rotifers is incomplete, with outdated and geographically restricted information. In this regard, we present a comprehensive inventory of rotifers from freshwater ecoregions in Rio de Janeiro. From the literature review and active surveillance, we detected 238 spp.; among these, 39 were previously unknown to the State. We also preliminarily examine the potential use of Rotifera for ecoregions delimitation. The extrapolated number of species shows an increasing richness for the Paraiba do Sul and Fluminense ecoregions, which were also significantly different regarding species composition. Registers from the Ribeira de Iguape and Northern Mata Atlantica ecoregions are still lacking in the State. We believe that future survey efforts will undoubtedly reveal additional records and taxa improving our understanding of biogeographical patterns such as dispersal and biological invasions. Ultimately, support future conservation policies and the potentialities of this group for ecoregion delimitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to elucidate the contribution of pollen immigration to the maintenance of genetic diversity in the pollen pools received by seed parents in a riparian population of Cercidiphyllum japonicum. We estimated the pattern of potential pollen dispersal and assessed the effective number of pollen parents (Nep) and the spatial genetic structures (SGS) of pollen pools from both outside and inside the population, using the genotypes at five microsatellite loci of reproductive individuals and seeds in the population distributed along a stream. A neighborhood model approach suggested substantial pollen immigration rate (37.9%) and the fat-tailed dispersal kernel expressed as an exponential power function with a shape parameter (b) of 0.154 and a mean distance of 1,235 m, which indicated a high ability to increase Nep at locations distant from the pollen sources. Pollen pools from outside the population (outside pollen pools) genetically differed from those from inside the population (inside pollen pools), and the Nep was five times larger in the outside pollen pools (22.5) than the inside pollen pools (4.5). Furthermore, the estimate of genetic differentiation (pairwise ΦFT) between each seed parent pair in the outside pollen pools tended to be constant and much lower than that of the inside pollen pools, which may be attributed to the high genetic diversity of the outside pollen pools. Pollen immigration should contribute to genetic diversity of the population by introducing a small amount of new or low-frequent alleles and increasing the Nep of total pollen pools within the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental heterogeneity partly drives microbial succession in arthropods, while the microbial assembly mechanisms during environmental changes remain largely unknown. Here, we explored the temporal dynamics and assembly mechanisms within both bacterial and fungal communities in Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) during the transition from field to laboratory conditions. We observed a decrease in bacterial diversity and complexity of bacterial-fungal co-occurrence networks in leaf miners transitioning from wild to captive environments. Both neutral and null models revealed that stochastic processes, particularly drift (contributing over 70%), play a crucial role in governing bacterial and fungal community assembly. The relative contribution of ecological processes such as dispersal, drift, and selection varied among leaf miners transitioning from wild to captive states. Furthermore, we propose a hypothetical scenario for the assembly and succession of microbial communities in the leaf miner during the short- and long-term transition from the wild to captivity. Our findings suggest that environmental heterogeneity determines the ecological processes governing bacterial and fungal community assembly in leaf miners, offering new insights into microbiome and mycobiome assembly mechanisms in invasive pests amidst environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The relative importance of traits and phylogeny to predict species extinction risk is unclear and it depends on which traits are measured and their phylogenetic conservatism. Here, we evaluate the power of functional traits, ecological characteristics, such as range size and specialization, and phylogeny to predict climatic risks in European butterflies. Location: Europe. Time Period: Distribution data from 1981 to 2002 was used to project range shifts up to 2080. Major Taxa Studied: In total, 268 European butterfly species (Rhopalocera). Methods: We extracted information on climatic risk for each species from the literature. Two hypothetical conditions were assumed: full climate tracking and no climate tracking. We used variation partitioning to quantify and disentangle the effects of phylogeny, four traits (wingspan, voltinism, overwintering and egg volume) and two ecological characteristics (range size and specialization) on climatic risk. We used Random Forest as an imputation method to predict climatic risk values for additional European butterfly species that have not been previously modelled. Results: Range size and degree of specialization strongly predicted climatic risk of European butterflies, but only for no climate tracking scenarios. Overall, more generalist species have larger ranges and are less vulnerable to climate change. Furthermore, we found that phylogenetic information adds strong power to explain climatic risk, especially, but not exclusively for scenarios that assume full climate tracking. Main Conclusions: Considering current scenarios of habitat fragmentation in Europe, it is likely that species with smaller ranges and high degree of specialization will be unable to track their climates and thus be more at risk. However, our results imply that assisting dispersal and colonization might allow small ranged species to cope with climate change. Our analysis also indicate that phylogeny can be used as a proxy of unmeasured traits to predict climatic risk under certain circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elongated nectar‐feeding mouthparts have evolved in several fly families, most notably Nemestrinidae, Bombylidae and Tabanidae. Plants pollinated by these “long‐proboscid flies” tend to have relatively specialized pollination systems. In this review, I focus on the blood‐ and nectar‐feeding horsefly genus Philoliche (Tabanidae: Pangoniinae) which includes species that are important pollinators of plants in Africa and, to a lesser extent, in Asia. The nectar‐feeding mouthparts of flower‐visiting Philoliche species range from 5 to 65 mm in length, with considerable intraspecific variation evident in some taxa. Plants pollinated by Philoliche species tend to have corolla tubes (or highly exerted reproductive structures) that match the proboscis dimensions of their pollinators. Some Philoliche species and their nectar host plants show population‐level covariation in proboscis lengths and flower depths that is indicative of co‐adaptation. I summarize existing information on the distribution and morphology of Philoliche species known to pollinate flowers as well as the identity, morphology and nectar properties of plants pollinated by these insects. This survey identifies some Philoliche species as keystone pollinators. Distinct guilds of plants are adapted to different horsefly species in different geographical regions and are generally ecologically reliant on these insects, although some plant species share tabanid and nemestrinid pollinators that are functionally similar on account of convergent evolution of their proboscis dimensions. Lack of information about the larval biology, nectar host plants, fire ecology and dispersal distances of Philoliche species is the biggest challenge for the conservation of these specialized pollinators and the plants that depend on them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersal success is crucial for the survival of species in metacommunities. Zooplankton species engage in dispersal through time (i.e., egg bank) and space (i.e., vectors) by means of resting eggs. However, dispersal to patches does not equate to successful colonization, as there is a clear distinction between dispersal rates and successful colonization. We performed a field mesocosm experiment assessing dispersal and colonization success of zooplankton from resting eggs or transport via directional wind/airborne and biotic vectors in the vicinity of three ponds. By using active vs. sterile pond sediments and mesh-covered vs. open mesocosms, we disentangled the two mechanisms of dispersal, i.e., from the egg bank vs. space. We found that for both rotifers and cladocerans, sediment type, mesh cover and duration of the experiment influenced species richness and species composition. The relative contribution of resting stages to dispersal and colonization success was substantial for both rotifers and cladocerans. However, wind/airborne dispersal was relatively weak for cladocerans when compared to rotifers, whereas biotic vectors contributed to dispersal success especially for cladocerans. Our study demonstrates that dispersal and colonization success of zooplankton species strongly depends on the dispersal mode and that different dispersal vectors can generate distinct community composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the significance of saproxylic beetle species for ecosystems, the investigation of fine‐scale population genetics within the stag beetle, Lucanus cervus, remains notably limited. Because of their limited dispersal distances and habitat fragmentation, high genetic structure and low genetic diversity are expected in its populations.To evaluate the impact of habitat fragmentation on genetic diversity and structure, we examined 150 specimens of L. cervus from three sites in western Poland: two forest stands and one stand located in an Oak avenue. We utilised 19 microsatellite DNA loci for this examination.Results of neighbour‐joining analysis and principal coordinates analysis, values of differentiation indexes (G'ST, D(Jost) and FST) and rare/private allele frequencies indicated weak genetic differentiation among individuals collected from the tree sites. A spatial component to the genetic structure was identified through STRUCTURE (LOCPRIOR), isolation by distance tests and spatial autocorrelation analysis. The genetic diversity remained relatively high (HE: 0.49–0.51), with no inbreeding observed and no significant differences in mean relatedness among individuals from sampling sites.Limited genetic differentiation between the individuals of L. cervus from the investigated sites may result from a lag time since fragment isolation, unrestricted gene flow and marker/sample size limitations. Though weak, the significant differentiation between two of the sites may be linked to environmental differences and distance. Genetic data support treating individuals from forests as a single management unit. Non‐invasive sampling suffices for genetic studies, but achieving balanced sampling is crucial for precise historical demography estimates of endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed rain and the soil seed bank represent the dispersal of seeds in space and time, respectively, and can be important sources of recruitment of new individuals during plant community regeneration. However, the temporal dynamics of seed rain and the mechanisms by which the seed rain and soil seed bank may play a role in plant community regeneration with increased grazing disturbance remain unclear. Seed rain, soil seed bank, aboveground vegetation, and rodent density were sampled along a grazing gradient in an alpine marsh on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. We described the temporal dynamics of seed dispersal using Bayesian generalized mixed models, and nonmetric multidimensional scaling and the structural equation model were used to examine the effects of grazing disturbance on the relative role of seed rain and soil seed bank on aboveground plant community regeneration. The temporal dynamics of seed rain changed from a unimodal to a bimodal pattern with increased grazing disturbance. Both species diversity and seed density of the seed rain and seed bank increased significantly with increased grazing disturbance. Increased grazing disturbance indirectly increased the similarity of composition between seed rain, seed bank, and aboveground plant community by directly increasing species diversity and abundance of aboveground plant community. However, increased grazing disturbance also indirectly decreased the similarity of seed rain, soil seed bank, and aboveground plant community by directly increasing rodent density. The similarity between seed rain and aboveground plant community was greater than that of the soil seed bank and aboveground plant community with increased grazing disturbance. Grazing disturbance spreads the risk of seed germination and seedling establishment by changing the temporal dynamics of seed dispersal. Plants (positive) and rodents (negative) mediated the role of seed rain and soil seed bank in plant community regeneration. The role of seed rain in plant community regeneration is higher than the seed bank in disturbed alpine marshes. Our findings increase our understanding of the regeneration process of the plant community, and they provide valuable information for the conservation and restoration of alpine marsh ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparing the genetic diversity across different generations within tropical tree populations is an understudied topic. To assess the potential genetic consequences and conservation implications of contemporary disturbances, a population genomic study of Palaquium obovatum across age classes was undertaken. Trees and juveniles were sampled from ten different localities (eight in Singapore, two in Peninsular Malaysia) and subjected to double digest restriction-site associated DNA-sequencing (ddRAD-seq) to assess intergenerational genetic differences and investigate population structure in a hexaploid lineage. Genetic erosion, characterised by reduced heterozygosity, was found to have occurred in almost all wild populations over time, the exceptions being in one isolated coastal population and some areas with cultivated occurences. Population structure was highly localised with the number of genetically distinct populations usually following geographically separated districts, which indicates limitations in pollen and seed dispersal between fragments, possibly due to declines in the associated assemblage of dispersers. For this reason, the germplasm for conserving species diversity in degraded habitats and forest fragments should be selected from a wide range of wild populations across the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the northward migration of elephant herds in China's Yunnan Province has attracted unprecedented public attention to the conservation of Asian elephants, with habitat fragmentation and human disturbance thought to be key factors. In this study, we used Jiangcheng, a new distribution site for Asian elephants in southwest China, as an example, combined the available remote sensing and monitoring data with the MaxEnt3.4.1 model, to analyze the factors affecting the activities of Asian elephants under the conditions of human disturbance and habitat degradation. The Least Cumulative Resistance model was utilized to construct the potential ecological dispersal corridors, and the key corridors were identified through the gravity model to explore the ecological security pattern of the habitat of Asian elephants in Jiangcheng County. The results show that the habitat of Asian elephants in Jiangcheng County is fragmented, showing a north–south strip distribution, never moving to the northeast. The existing suitable habitat is located in the low-elevation area (<1500 m), which is close to water sources and roads, and there is no nature reserve in this area. The land is mainly occupied by scrub or grassland near mountainous forests, but part of it is also under cultivation, which leads to conflicts between humans and elephants occur frequently. There are 14 ecological source areas, which are mainly distributed in the two regions of Zhengdong and Kangping, and there are 92 ecological corridors, of which 3 are important corridors and 89 are general corridors. This study comprehensively analyzes the current status and connectivity of Asian elephant habitat in Jiangcheng County at the regional scale, which helps to optimize the pattern of suitable habitat, promotes the dispersal of Asian elephants and habitat connectivity, and provides realistic guidance and basic information for the conservation planning of isolated populations of this species and their habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dispersal of large-seeded species strongly depends on medium-sized and large frugivores, such as primates, which are highly susceptible to population declines. In the Atlantic Forest, brown howler monkeys Alouatta guariba are medium-sized folivorous-frugivorous species that are likely to occur in small to large fragments where the largest frugivores are extinct. However, populations of this primate have been suffering from forest fragmentation, habitat loss, hunting, and the direct and indirect effects of yellow fever outbreaks, which increase the importance of understanding their role as seed dispersers and the impacts of their potential loss. The richness and abundance of large-seeded species might also be reduced in smaller fragments, which could directly affect the magnitude of the potential impact of disperser extinction on plant recruitment. Here, we tested the following mutually exclusive predictions on the effect of fragment size on plant richness and relative density of medium- and large-seeded species consumed by brown howler monkeys in fragments smaller than 1500 ha: the number and the relative density of plant species potentially affected by the local extinction of these monkeys will be (1) directly related to forest fragment size, or (2) not related to forest fragment size. Plant richness and the relative density of large- and medium-sized seed species consumed by brown howler monkeys did not vary with fragment size, corroborating our second prediction. Thus, the local extinction of brown howler monkeys would have a similar potentially negative impact on plant regeneration for the range of tested fragment sizes. We discuss the limitations of our results and suggest other lines of enquiry for the refinement of our conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most species-rich communities consist of a limited number of common species and many rare species. This widespread ecological pattern can arise due to the predominance of either niche-based or neutral-based processes in community structuring. We tested two hypotheses related to this pattern for an anuran metacommunity composed of 35 species distributed in 187 ponds in the South Brazilian grasslands: (1) for common species, niche processes should prevail over neutral ones because common species evolved under a wider range of ecological filters than rare species; (2) for rare species, neutral processes should prevail because rare species are more prone to ecological drift and dispersion limitation. We found that the densities of both common (i.e., the 25% higher density ones) and rare (i.e., the 75% lower density ones) species depended mostly on pond structure and land use, indicating a similar response to niche-based processes in both groups of species. The importance of pond descriptors and type of land use, however, differed between the two groups, confirming that common and rare species represent ecologically distinct groups within the metacommunity. In addition, neutral processes—related to dispersion limitation or not—influenced both species groups, but the spatial filters selected explained a smaller portion of the variation in species densities compared to environmental descriptors. Our findings showcase the prevalence of niche processes in structuring communities of common and rare species of anurans in subtropical grasslands and indicate the variables of pond structure and land use that are relevant to guide conservation practices for the metacommunity of anurans in the South Brazilian grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological niche models (ENMs) are a powerful tool to predict the spread of invasive alien species (IAS) and support the implementation of actions aiming to reduce the impact of biological invasions. While calibrating ENMs with distribution data from species' native ranges can underestimate the invasion potential due to possible niche shifts, using distribution data combining species' native and invasive ranges may overestimate the invasion potential due to a reduced fitness and environmental tolerance of species in invaded ranges. An alternative may be using the increasingly available distribution data of IAS as they spread their invaded ranges, to iteratively forecast invasions as they unfold. However, while this approach accounts for possible niche shifts, it may also underestimate the species' potential range, particularly at the early stages of the invasion when the most suitable conditions may not yet be represented in the distribution range data set. Here, we evaluate the capacity of ENMs to forecast the distribution of IAS based on distribution data on invaded ranges as these data become available. We further use dispersion models to assess the expansion process using the predicted potential distributions. Specifically, we used the common waxbill (Estrilda astrild) in the Iberian Peninsula as a model system. We built ENMs with 10×10 km grid cells distribution records cumulatively for each decade from 1960 to 2019, and yearly bioclimatic variables, to forecast the species potential range in the coming decades. Then, we assessed the performance of the models for each decade in forecasting the species' observed range expansion in the following decades and evaluated how the number of distribution records determined the quality of the forecasts. Finally, we performed dispersal estimates (based on species traits, topography, climate and land cover) to analyse the prediction capacity of models as their uncertainty may be reduced when projecting them to the next decades. Our results show that invasion-only ENMs successfully forecasted the species' range expansion over three decades after invasion, while dispersion models were not important in forecasting common waxbill expansion. Our study highlights the importance of constantly monitoring alien species, suggesting that iterative updating of ENMs with observed distribution data may accurately forecast the range expansion of alien species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersal is an important process that is widely studied across species, and it can be influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors commonly assessed include the sex and age of individuals, while landscape features are frequently-tested extrinsic factors. Here, we investigated the effects of both sex and landscape composition and configuration on genetic distances among bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus)—one of the largest fossorial mammals in the world and subject to habitat fragmentation, threats from disease, and human persecution including culling as an agricultural pest. We analyzed a data set comprising 74 Tasmanian individuals (30 males and 44 females), genotyped for 9,064 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We tested for sex-biased dispersal and the influence of landscape features on genetic distances including land use, water, vegetation, elevation, and topographic ruggedness. We detected significant female-biased dispersal, which may be related to females donating burrows to their offspring due to the energetic cost of excavation, given their large body sizes. Land use, waterbodies, and elevation appeared to be significant landscape predictors of genetic distance. Land use potentially reflects land clearing and persecution over the last 200 years. If our findings based on a limited sample size are valid, retention and restoration of nonanthropogenic landscapes in which wombats can move and burrow may be important for gene flow and maintenance of genetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining the stability of ecological communities is critical for conservation, yet we lack a clear understanding of what attributes of metacommunity structure control stability. Some theories suggest that greater dispersal promotes metacommunity stability by stabilizing local populations, while others suggest that dispersal synchronizes fluctuations across patches and leads to global instability. These effects of dispersal on stability may be mediated by metacommunity structure: the number of patches, the pattern of connections across patches, and levels of spatiotemporal correlation in the environment. Thus, we need theory to investigate metacommunity dynamics under different spatial structures and ecological scenarios. Here, we use simulations to investigate whether stability is primarily affected by connectivity, including dispersal rate and topology of connectivity network, or by mechanisms related to the number of patches. We find that in competitive metacommunities with environmental stochasticity, network topology has little effect on stability on the metacommunity scale even while it could change spatial diversity patterns. In contrast, the number of connected patches is the dominant factor promoting stability through averaging stochastic fluctuations across more patches, rather than due to more habitat heterogeneity per se. These results broaden our understanding of how metacommunity structure changes metacommunity stability, which is relevant for designing effective conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals delay natal dispersal for many reasons. There may be no place to disperse to; immediate dispersal or reproduction may be too costly; immediate dispersal may mean that the individual and their relatives miss the benefits of group living. Understanding the factors that lead to the evolution of delayed dispersal is important because delayed dispersal sets the stage for complex social groups and social behavior. Here, we study the evolution of delayed dispersal when the quality of the local environment is improved by greater numbers of individuals (e. g. , safety in numbers). We assume that individuals who delay natal dispersal also expect to delay personal reproduction. In addition, we assume that improved environmental quality benefits manifest as changes to fecundity and survival. We are interested in how do the changes in these life-history features affect delayed dispersal. We use a model that ties evolution to population dynamics. We also aim to understand the relationship between levels of delayed dispersal and the probability of establishing as an independent breeder (a population-level feature) in response to changes in life-history details. Our model emphasizes kin selection and considers a sexual organism, which allows us to study parent–offspring conflict over delayed dispersal. At evolutionary equilibrium, fecundity and survival benefits of group size or quality promote higher levels of delayed dispersal over a larger set of life histories with one exception. The exception is for benefits of increased group size or quality reaped by the individuals who delay dispersal. There, the increased benefit does not change the life histories supporting delay dispersal. Next, in contrast to previous predictions, we find that a low probability of establishing in a new location is not always associated with a higher incidence of delayed dispersal. Finally, we find that increased personal benefits of delayed dispersal exacerbate the conflict between parents and their offspring. We discuss our findings in relation to previous theoretical and empirical work, especially work related to cooperative breeding. • We study the evolution of delayed natal dispersal. • We assume delayed dispersal brings benefits to the natal group. • The number of delayed-dispersers is independent of the group quality. • Habitat saturation is not always associated with delayed dispersal. • Increased group benefits exacerbate conflict within the natal group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tropical forests, about 60%–80% of woody plant species depend on animal–plant interactions for dispersal. The dependence on animal species for dispersal makes this interaction very fragile in the face of anthropogenic changes in land use. Disrupting seed‐dispersal processes, principally zoochoric dispersal, could significantly alter the long‐term carbon storage potential of tropical forests.An important question is how landscape structure changes tree carbon stocks in different types of tropical vegetation and how variation is mediated by the dispersal mode of animal (zoochoric) or abiotic (non‐zoochoric) seeds.We focused on tree plots at 126 sites in Brazil spanning four types of forest and savanna vegetation, and calculated carbon stored in zoochoric, non‐zoochoric, and large frugivore‐dispersed species.Our results showed that carbon stocks in zoochoric species and non‐zoochoric species differ significantly among vegetation types, with rainforests having higher stocks in zoochoric species and deciduous seasonally dry tropical forests having higher values in non‐zoochoric species. A greater area of native vegetation promotes higher proportions of carbon stocks dispersed by large frugivore species, whereas a higher mean shape index reduces this proportion.Synthesis. This study highlights that seed‐dispersal type underpins the variation in carbon stocks between vegetation types and that the maintenance of habitat of large dispersers and connectivity are key for retaining carbon stocks in zoochoric species, particularly in rainforest and cerrado sensu stricto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore patterns of emigration of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), we examined movements at a study site in south-central Alabama that consisted of 2 distinct aggregations of burrows located on adjacent north and south sandhills separated by a mesic depression wash. We collected telemetry data from 41 individuals over a complete season of activity (2000–2001) and capture-mark-recapture data of those same individuals during 14 trapping sessions from 1992 to 2020. We observed a bimodal distribution of telemetry fixes, with 1 mode created by individuals with few fixes (n = 9) who also were recaptured infrequently, which we interpreted to represent emigrants. Thus, our data suggest that the proportion of a local population that emigrates each year is on the order of 20%. To characterize the degree to which resident tortoises (those recaptured ≥ 5 times over the 29-yr period) used space across the entire study site, we used 100% minimum convex polygons to examine the proportion of annual home ranges (based on telemetry data) and lifetime home ranges (based on capture-mark-recapture and telemetry data) that involved both sandhills. For annual home ranges, only a single individual (of 14 residents) occupied burrows on both hills over 1 yr. For lifetime home ranges, 9 individual residents used burrows on both hills. Lifetime home ranges were 6 times larger than annual home ranges, with longest distances between vertices of lifetime home ranges approaching distances ascribed to emigration in previous studies. A model generated from the lifetime recapture data indicated a tendency for greater apparent survival of adults compared with juveniles on the study site and for juveniles and adult females to be more likely to move from the south hill to the north hill than the opposite direction. When added to 5 additional sites for which telemetry data were gathered, we argue that emigration rate is strongly and negatively correlated with local tortoise density. We conclude that current individual-based population models correctly separate movements of animals within a local population (residents) from emigration of animals among local populations, such models require addition of density dependence when addressing emigration rate, and dispersal distances are longer than those based on studies of movements within a single season of activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Connectivity is a fundamental process of population dynamics in marine ecosystems. In the last decade, with the emergence of new methods, combining different approaches to understand the patterns of connectivity among populations and their regulation has become increasingly feasible. The Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is characterized by complex oceanographic dynamics, where local conditions could act as barriers to population connectivity. Here, the notothenioid fish Harpagifer antarcticus, a demersal species with a complex life cycle (adults with poor swim capabilities and pelagic larvae), was used to assess connectivity along the WAP by combining biophysical modelling and population genomics methods. Both approaches showed congruent patterns. Areas of larvae retention and low potential connectivity, observed in the biophysical model output, coincide with four genetic groups within the WAP: (1) South Shetland Islands, (2) Bransfield Strait, (3) the central and (4) the southern area of WAP (Marguerite Bay). These genetic groups exhibited limited gene flow between them, consistent with local oceanographic conditions, which would represent barriers to larval dispersal. The joint effect of geographic distance and larval dispersal by ocean currents had a greater influence on the observed population structure than each variable evaluated separately. The combined effect of geographic distance and a complex oceanographic dynamic would be generating limited levels of population connectivity in the fish H. antarcticus along the WAP. Based on this, population connectivity estimations and priority areas for conservation were discussed, considering the marine protected area proposed for this threatened region of the Southern Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchronous variation in demographic parameters across species increases the risk of simultaneous local extinction, which lowers the probability of subsequent recolonization. Synchrony therefore tends to destabilize meta‐populations and meta‐communities. Quantifying interspecific synchrony in demographic parameters, like abundance, survival, or reproduction, is thus a way to indirectly assess the stability of meta‐populations and meta‐communities. Moreover, it is particularly informative to identify environmental drivers of interspecific synchrony because those drivers are important across species. Using a Bayesian hierarchical multisite multispecies mark–recapture model, we investigated temporal interspecific synchrony in annual adult apparent survival for 16 common songbird species across France for the period 2001–2016. Annual adult survival was largely synchronous among species (73%, 95% credible interval [47%–94%] of the variation among years was common to all species), despite species differing in ecological niche and life history. This result was robust to different model formulations, uneven species sample sizes, and removing the long‐term trend in survival. Synchrony was also shared across migratory strategies, which suggests that environmental forcing during the 4‐month temperate breeding season has a large‐scale, interspecific impact on songbird survival. However, the strong interspecific synchrony was not easily explained by a set of candidate weather variables we defined a priori. Spring weather variables explained only 1.4% [0.01%–5.5%] of synchrony, while the contribution of large‐scale winter weather indices may have been stronger but uncertain, accounting for 12% [0.3%–37%] of synchrony. Future research could jointly model interspecific variation and covariation in breeding success, age‐dependent survival, and age‐dependent dispersal to understand when interspecific synchrony in abundance emerges and destabilizes meta‐communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document explores the concept of eco-evolutionary dynamics in changing environments, focusing on the relationship between ecological and evolutionary processes. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the feedback between these processes and the integration of different domains within eco-evolutionary dynamics. The document discusses the role of genetic variability and phenotypic plasticity in adaptation, as well as the impact of spatial structure and gene flow. It concludes by examining the implications of these dynamics for species' interactions, speciation, and coexistence in changing environments. The authors highlight the need for further research in various areas and stress the importance of complex theories, experimental designs, and a comprehensive understanding of organismal, population, and community biology. [Extracted from the article]

The ranges of many raptor populations are changing, presumably in response to direct and indirect anthropogenic effects on their habitats. Anecdotal evidence suggests shifts in the distributions of Crested Caracaras (Caracara plancus; hereafter caracaras) over time across their range in the United States (USA), yet formal analysis is lacking. Here we used 30 yr of National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count and US Geological Survey Breeding Bird Survey data partitioned into ten consecutive 3-yr time periods to assess range shifts and expansions for caracara populations in Arizona, Texas, and Florida, USA, from 1992 through 2021. Data were insufficient to evaluate the Arizona population. In contrast, observations of caracaras increased over time in Texas where the range centroid moved 72.6 km north-northeast with the population expanding into Louisiana. Observations of caracaras also increased over time in Florida, where the range centroid moved 34.3 km southwest. We suggest five competing nonexclusive hypotheses for these changes: (1) temperature increases due to climate change may have allowed expanded breeding in North America of this primarily South American species, (2) increased abundance and use of anthropogenic nesting substrates may have allowed caracara populations to expand, (3) increased foraging opportunities associated with anthropogenic landscape changes may have released otherwise constrained caracara populations, (4) reduced persecution may have allowed this behaviorally plastic species to coexist in proximity to human populations, and (5) habitat saturation may have forced increased dispersal. Future research is needed to evaluate and compare these hypotheses. Las áreas de distribución de muchas poblaciones de rapaces están cambiando, presumiblemente en respuesta a los efectos antropogénicos directos e indirectos en sus hábitats. La evidencia anecdótica sugiere cambios en las distribuciones de Caracara plancus a lo largo del tiempo en su área de distribución en los Estados Unidos (EEUU), aunque falta un análisis formal. En este estudio utilizamos 30 años de datos del Conteo Nacional de Aves de Navidad de la Sociedad Audubon y del Censo de Aves Reproductoras del Servicio Geológico de EEUU, divididos en diez periodos consecutivos de 3 años, para evaluar cambios y expansiones en el rango poblacional de C. plancus en Arizona, Texas y Florida, EEUU, desde 1992 hasta 2021. Los datos fueron insuficientes para evaluar la población de Arizona. En cambio, las observaciones de C. plancus aumentaron con el tiempo en Texas, donde el centroide del área de distribución se desplazó 72,6 km al norte-noreste y la población se expandió hacia Luisiana. Las observaciones de C. plancus también aumentaron con el tiempo en Florida, donde el centroide del área de distribución se desplazó 34,3 km al suroeste. Sugerimos cinco hipótesis alternativas no excluyentes para estos cambios: (1) los aumentos de temperatura debido al cambio climático podrían haber permitido una expansión reproductiva en América del Norte de esta especie principalmente sudamericana, (2) el aumento en la abundancia y en el uso de sustratos de anidación antropogénicos podría haber permitido la expansión de las poblaciones de C. plancus, (3) las mayores oportunidades de alimentación asociadas con cambios en el paisaje antropogénico podrían haber liberado a las poblaciones de C. plancus que de otra manera estarían limitadas, (4) la reducción de la persecución podría haber permitido que esta especie de comportamiento adaptable coexista en proximidad a las poblaciones humanas, y (5) la saturación del hábitat podría haber forzado una mayor dispersión. Se necesitan investigaciones futuras para evaluar y comparar estas hipótesis. [Traducción del equipo editorial] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many social interactions happen indirectly via modifications of the environment, e.g. through the secretion of functional compounds or the depletion of renewable resources. Here, we derive the selection gradient on a quantitative trait affecting dynamical environmental variables that feed back on reproduction and survival in a finite patch-structured population subject to isolation by distance. Our analysis shows that the selection gradient depends on how a focal individual influences the fitness of all future individuals in the population through modifications of the environmental variables they experience, weighted by the neutral relatedness between recipients and the focal. The evolutionarily relevant trait-driven environmental modifications are formalized as the extended phenotypic effects of an individual, quantifying how a trait change in an individual in the present affects the environmental variables in all patches at all future times. When the trait affects reproduction and survival through a payoff function, the selection gradient can be expressed in terms of extended phenotypic effects weighted by scaled relatedness. We show how to compute extended phenotypic effects, relatedness, and scaled relatedness using Fourier analysis, which allow us to investigate a broad class of environmentally mediated social interactions in a tractable way. We use our approach to study the evolution of a trait controlling the costly production of some lasting commons (e.g. a common-pool resource or a toxic compound) that can diffuse in space and persist in time. We show that indiscriminate posthumous spite readily evolves in this scenario. More generally, whether selection favours environmentally mediated altruism or spite is determined by the spatial correlation between an individual's lineage and the commons originating from its patch. The sign of this correlation depends on interactions between dispersal patterns and the commons' renewal dynamics. More broadly, we suggest that selection can favour a wide range of social behaviours when these have carry-over effects in space and time. Author summary: Organisms continually modify their environment by extracting resources, releasing toxins, or engineering habitats. These environmental modifications can have significant fitness consequences on other organisms, including those living far away in space and the distant future. To better understand the evolutionary relevance of such environmentally mediated social interactions, we quantify natural selection on a trait that influences biotic or abiotic environmental variables in a population composed of finite patches experiencing isolation by distance, as is typical of taxa facing limited dispersal. Using Fourier analysis, we show how selection on a trait due to its environmental effects can be understood in terms of the way that a focal individual influences the fitness of all future individuals at all spatial positions via a modification to the environment these individuals encounter, whose importance depends on the relatedness between these and the focal. Simply put, natural selection tends to favour traits whose environmental effects help (resp. harm) individuals that are more (resp. less) related than average, including those distantly in space and time. In addition to allowing for a full quantification of directional selection, this inclusive fitness perspective helps garner intuition for the evolution of environmentally mediated social interactions in general and of spite in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tests for the role of species' relative dispersal abilities in ecological and biogeographical models rely heavily on dispersal proxies, which are seldom substantiated by empirical measures of actual dispersal. This is exemplified by tests of dispersal–range size relationships and by metacommunity research that often features invertebrates, particularly freshwater insects. Using rare and unique empirical data on dispersal abilities of caddisflies, we tested whether actual dispersal abilities were associated with commonly used dispersal proxies (metrics of wing size and shape; expert opinion). Across 59 species in 12 families, wing morphology was not associated with actual dispersal. Within some families, individual wing metrics captured some dispersal differences among species, although useful metrics varied among families and predictive power was typically low. Dispersal abilities assigned by experts were either no better than random or actually poorer than random. Our results cast considerable doubt on research underpinned by dispersal proxies and scrutiny of previous research results may be warranted. Greater progress may lie in employing innovative survey and experimental design to measure actual dispersal in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms frequently migrate from one ecosystem to another. Yet, despite the potential importance of this process in modulating the environment and the microbial ecosystem, our understanding of the fundamental forces that govern microbial dispersion is still lacking. Moreover, while theoretical models and in-vitro experiments have highlighted the contribution of species interactions to community assembly, identifying such interactions in vivo, specifically in communities as complex as the human gut, remains challenging. To address this gap, here we introduce a robust and rigorous computational framework, termed Relative Dispersion Ratio (RDR) analysis, and leverage data from well-characterized fecal microbiota transplant trials, to rigorously pinpoint dependencies between taxa during the colonization of human gastrointestinal tract. Our analysis identifies numerous pairwise dependencies between co-colonizing microbes during migration between gastrointestinal environments. We further demonstrate that identified dependencies agree with previously reported findings from in-vitro experiments and population-wide distribution patterns. Finally, we explore metabolic dependencies between these taxa and characterize the functional properties that facilitate effective dispersion. Collectively, our findings provide insights into the principles and determinants of community dynamics following ecological translocation, informing potential opportunities for precise community design. Microbial migration profoundly impacts ecosystems. Here, the authors introduce a statistical approach to explore microbial dispersion following fecal microbiota transplant, uncovering dependencies between colonizing taxa, with insights into community dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful aquatic biological invasions are often dependent on human vectors. The Chinese pond mussel Sinanodonta woodiana is a fast-growing, high-filtering, and highly fecund unionid bivalve that has expanded rapidly throughout Europe in the last several decades. Human-mediated vectors such as fish aquaculture and pet shop trade are believed to be primary drivers of the mussel's spread, but the specific dispersal pathways of S. woodiana remain unclear. We analyzed eleven microsatellites in 245 S. woodiana individuals from seven wild populations and three pet shops to assess genetic relatedness potential sources, and dispersal pathways of S. woodiana in Bavaria, Germany. Wild populations shared a single mitochondrial haplotype present in all European populations and shop-sourced individuals were genetically similar to wild populations. Only one wild population was structurally different than all other populations, which may be explained by its dispersal trajectory. Our results provide the first genetically informed insights into S. woodiana dispersal in the context of human activity. We underscore the value of genetic tools in invasive species management, which can uncover patterns of dispersal even on local scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metacommunity theory enhances our understanding of how ecological processes regulate community structure. Yet, unraveling the complexities of soil nematode metacommunity structures across various spatial scales and determining the factors influencing these patterns remains challenging. Therefore, we conducted an investigation on soil nematode metacommunities spanning from north to south in the Northeastern China. Our aim was to test whether nematode metacommunities were structured by different drivers under three land covers (i.e., farmland, grassland and woodland) at the local and regional scales. The results revealed that the Clementsian, Gleasonian and their quasi‐structures of soil nematodes collectively accounted for 93% of the variation across the three land covers at the local and regional scales. These structures suggest that the soil nematode metacommunities in the Northeast China responded to fluctuations in environmental gradients. At the local scale, metacommunities were primarily shaped by biological interactions. At the regional scale, environmental heterogeneity, dispersal limitation and biological interactions all contributed to nematode metacommunities. Meanwhile, biological interactions under three land covers were represented within different trophic groups, with plant parasites predominant in farmlands and bacterivores in grasslands and woodlands. In conclusion, the metacommunity structures of soil nematodes remain stable at different spatial scales and land covers. Biological interactions are widespread among nematodes regardless of changes in spatial scales and land covers. This study reveals the importance of nematode sensitivity to the environment and biological interactions in shaping the nematode metacommunities, potentially enhancing our understanding of the spatial patterns of nematode metacommunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a small passerine known to be highly sedentary. Throughout a 30‐year capture–mark–recapture study, we have obtained occasional reports of recoveries far outside our main metapopulation study system, documenting unusually long dispersal distances. Our records constitute the highest occurrence of long‐distance dispersal events recorded for this species in Scandinavia. Such long‐distance dispersals radically change the predicted distribution of dispersal distances and connectedness for our study metapopulation. Moreover, it reveals a much greater potential for colonization than formerly recorded for the house sparrow, which is an invasive species across four continents. These rare and occasional long‐distance dispersal events are challenging to document but may have important implications for the genetic composition of small and isolated populations and for our understanding of dispersal ecology and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In species with resource-defense mating systems (such as most temperate-breeding songbirds), male dispersal is often considered to be limited in both frequency and spatial extent. When dispersal occurs within a breeding season, the favored explanation is ecological resource tracking. In contrast, movements of male birds associated with temporary emigration, such as polyterritoriality (i.e., defense of an additional location after attracting a female in the initial territory), are usually attributed to mate searching. We suggest that male dispersal and polyterritoriality are functionally related and that mate searching may be a unifying hypothesis for predicting the within-season movements of male songbirds. Here, we test three key predictions derived from this hypothesis in Wood Warblers (Phylloscopus sibilatrix). We collected data on the spatial behavior of 107 males between 2017 and 2019 and related male movements to a new territory (in both a dispersal and a polyterritorial context) to mating potential in the current territory. Most males dispersed from their territories within days or weeks after failing to attract a female, despite occupying territories in apparently suitable habitat. Probability of polyterritoriality by paired males increased after the peak fertile period of their mate. Males never dispersed following nest predation if the female remained to renest. Thus, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that both movement types are functionally related to mate searching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Understanding the distance–decay relationship (DDR) has been considered important because it reflects a combination of several ecological processes such as dispersal limitation and environmental sorting. However, effects of human disturbances on DDR are poorly known, especially in freshwater lakes. This study is aimed to examine how anthropogenic eutrophication modified the relationships between three facets (taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic) of macroinvertebrate beta diversity and geographic and environmental distances across 30 freshwater lakes. Location: The Yangtze River floodplain, China. Methods: We used Mantel tests to examine the relationships between multiple facets of assemblage dissimilarities (overall beta diversity, replacement and richness difference components) and geographic and environmental distances. Distance‐based redundancy analysis (dbRDA) and associated variation partitioning procedures were applied to explore the relative contributions of environmental and spatial factors on the three facets of beta diversity. Results: We found that none of the three beta diversity facets was related to geographic distance, but all were significantly related to environmental distance, mainly mirroring eutrophication‐related variables. Based on the variation partitioning approach, the macroinvertebrate assemblages examined were almost exclusively structured by environmental factors associated with eutrophication, while spatial variables had a negligible effect. Nevertheless, the different facets of beta diversity did not decrease (i.e., no homogenization trend) in lake groups showing the highest eutrophication levels, implying complex influences of anthropogenic disturbances in driving homogenization or differentiation in assemblage compositional dissimilarity. Main Conclusions: Our findings suggested that the high degrees of eutrophication acted as an environmental filter to significantly modify the spatial distance–decay relationships, possibly via decreasing the importance of dispersal limitation in shaping macroinvertebrate assemblages in the studied lakes. Given the sensitivity of beta diversity patterns to eutrophication we found in this study, we recommend that the role of anthropogenic disturbances should be incorporated into research on general ecological patterns like the DDR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying important demographic drivers of population dynamics is fundamental for understanding life‐history evolution and implementing effective conservation measures. Integrated population models (IPMs) coupled with transient life table response experiments (tLTREs) allow ecologists to quantify the contributions of demographic parameters to observed population change. While IPMs can estimate parameters that are not estimable using any data source alone, for example, immigration, the estimated contribution of such parameters to population change is prone to bias. Currently, it is unclear when robust conclusions can be drawn from them.We sought to understand the drivers of a rebounding southern elephant seal population on Marion Island using the IPM–tLTRE framework, applied to count and mark–recapture data on 9500 female seals over nearly 40 years. Given the uncertainty around IPM–tLTRE estimates of immigration, we also aimed to investigate the utility of simulation and sensitivity analyses as general tools for evaluating the robustness of conclusions obtained in this framework.Using a Bayesian IPM and tLTRE analysis, we quantified the contributions of survival, immigration and population structure to population growth. We assessed the sensitivity of our estimates to choice of multivariate priors on immigration and other vital rates. To do so we make a novel application of Gaussian process priors, in comparison with commonly used shrinkage priors. Using simulation, we assessed our model's ability to estimate the demographic contribution of immigration under different levels of temporal variance in immigration.The tLTRE analysis suggested that adult survival and immigration were the most important drivers of recent population growth. While the contribution of immigration was sensitive to prior choices, the estimate was consistently large. Furthermore, our simulation study validated the importance of immigration by showing that our estimate of its demographic contribution is unlikely to result as a biased overestimate.Our results highlight the connectivity between distant populations of southern elephant seals, illustrating that female dispersal can be important in regulating the abundance of local populations even when natal site fidelity is high. More generally, we demonstrate how robust ecological conclusions may be obtained about immigration from the IPM–tLTRE framework, by combining sensitivity analysis and simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]