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opencc-by-4.0Jul 2021View details →

Pistil length and width, pollen diameter, pollen tube elongations, fruitset, seedset and germination rates in european invasive populations of Ludwigia grandiflora subsp. hexapetala in the two floral morphs

Mating system influences local population genetic structure, effective size, offspring fitness and functional variation. Determining the respective importance of self- and cross-fertilization in hermaphroditic flowering plants is thus important to understand their ecology and evolution. The worldwide invasive species, Ludwigia grandiflora subsp. hexapetala (Lgh) presents two floral morphs: one self-compatible short-styled morph (S-morph) and one self-incompatible long-styled morph (L-morph). Most invasive populations worldwide are only composed of self-incompatible L-morphs, which questions the importance of sexual reproduction during the invasion. In this study, we identified the mating systems of western European experimental and natural populations of Lgh by comparing structural characteristics of pollen and style, by studying self- and cross-pollen tube elongations and the viability of the resulting seeds and seedlings in both morphs. The dataset provides measures of pistil length and width; pollen diameter; pollen tube elongations along time after pollination; fruitset, seedset and germination rate in in situ monomorphic L-morph and S-morph populations of western europe invasive Lgh. These data support the manuscript "Late-acting self-incompatible system, preferential allogamy and delayed selfing in the heterostylous invasive populations of Ludwigia grandiflora subsp. hexapetala" by Luis O. Portillo Lemus, Marilyne Harang, Michel Bozec, Jacques Haury, Solenn Stoeckel and Dominique Barloy arguing for a mixed mating system in a European invasive populations of Ludwigia grandiflora subsp. hexapetala.

Interindividual plasticity in metabolic and thermal tolerance traits from populations subjected to recent anthropogenic heating

To better understand temperature's role in the interaction between local evolutionary adaptation and physiological plasticity, we investigated acclimation effects on metabolic performance and thermal tolerance among natural Fundulus heteroclitus populations from different thermal environments. F. heteroclitus populations experience large daily and seasonal temperature variations, as well as local mean temperature differences across their large geographic cline. In this study, we focus on three populations: one locally heated (32°C) by thermal effluence (TE) from the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, NJ and two nearby reference populations that do not experience local heating (28°C). After acclimation to 12°C or 28°C, we quantified whole animal metabolic rate (WAM), critical thermal maximum (CTMax) and substrate specific cardiac metabolic rate (CaM, substrates: glucose, fatty acids, lactate plus ketones plus ethanol, and endogenous [i.e., no added substrates]) in ~160 individuals from these three populations. Populations showed few significant differences due to large interindividual variation within each population and variation in acclimation response within any single trait. In general, for WAM and CTMax the interindividual variation in acclimation response (log2 ratio 28°C/12°C) was a function of performance at 12°C with greater acclimation response for individuals that had lower 12°C performance. In contrast, for CaM the rates when acclimated and assayed at 12°C or 28°C were nearly identical. The small differences in CaM between 12°C and 28°C temperature were partially explained by cardiac remodeling where individuals acclimated to 12°C had larger hearts than individuals acclimated to 28°C, resulting in a higher CaM rate per unit heart mass at 28°C than 12°C. Correlation among physiological traits were dependent on acclimation temperature. For example, WAM was negatively correlated with CTMax at 12°C but positively correlated at 28°C. Additionally, glucose substrate supported higher cardiac metabolism than fatty acid, and fatty acid supported higher cardiac metabolism than LKA or endogenous. However, these responses were highly variable with some individuals using much more FA than glucose. These data suggest a complex relationship between specific, temperature-dependent physiological traits.

opencc-by-4.0Jun 2019View details →

The effect of tropical forest modification on primate population density and diversity

Description: This data represents orang-utan nest survey data, collected to investigate the effects of habitat disturbance on orang-utan populations. Our surveys were conducted in and around the SAFE project site, including areas of Ulu Segama forest reserves and surrounding oil palm estates, covering a total study area of ca. 13,000ha. We conducted nest surveys between April and August 2017, using the standing crop method. Transects were surveyed once by teams of two to four people walking at a steady pace of roughly 0.5km/hr. The data primarily contains perpendicular distances from directly under each nest we encountered to the transect line. We assigned a decay category to each nest, ranging from 1 (new nest) to 5 (heavily degraded). Additionally we recoded the location of each nest, the height of the nest and DBH of the host tree. Project: This dataset was collected as part of the following SAFE research project: <a href="https://www.safeproject.net/projects/project_view/30">The effect of tropical forest modification on primate population density and diversity.</a>Funding: These data were collected as part of research funded by: <ul><li>NERC - Human Modified Tropical Forest (HMTF) (Standard grant, NE/K016407/1, <a href=" http://lombok.nerc-hmtf.info/"> http://lombok.nerc-hmtf.info/</a>)</li><li>Primate Society of Great Britain (Conservation grant, NA, <a href="http://www.psgb.org/conservation_grants.php">http://www.psgb.org/conservation_grants.php</a>)</li></ul>This dataset is released under the CC-BY 4.0 licence, requiring that you cite the dataset in any outputs, but has the additional condition that you acknowledge the contribution of these funders in any outputs.Permits: These data were collected under permit from the following authorities:<ul><li>Sabah Biodiversity Centre (Research licence JKM/MBS.1000-2/2 JLD.4(104))</li></ul>XML metadata: GEMINI compliant metadata for this dataset is available <a href="https://www.safeproject.net/datasets/xml_metadata?id=5109892">here</a>Files: This consists of 1 file: Orangutan_Transect_Data.xlsxOrangutan_Transect_Data.xlsxThis file contains dataset metadata and 1 data tables:<ol><li>Orang-utan nest survey data (described in worksheet Distance_data)Description: Data from orang-utan nest surveys, using the standing crop method to collect perpendicular distances of orang-utan nests from line transects.Number of fields: 13Number of data rows: 677Fields: <ul><li>Region: Area in which the survey took place (Field type: id)</li><li>Habitat_Type: Habitat type of the transect location (Field type: id)</li><li>Transect: Transect ID (Field type: location)</li><li>TranLenght: Transect length (Field type: numeric)</li><li>Side: Side of the transect nest was located (L = left, R= Right and OT= On transect) (Field type: categorical)</li><li>Dist: Perpendicular distance from direct under nest to the transect line (Field type: numeric)</li><li>Slope: Angle of slope from transect line (measured to compensate for measuring perpendicular distance of steel slopes) (Field type: numeric)</li><li>Class: Age class of east nest (From 1 = new nest to 5 = very old nest) (Field type: numeric)</li><li>Nest_Height: Height of each nest in host tree (Field type: numeric trait)</li><li>DBH: DBH of host tree (Field type: numeric)</li><li>Lat_Y: Nest location latitude (Field type: latitude)</li><li>Long_X: Nest location longitude (Field type: longitude)</li><li>Elevation: Height above sea leave at each nest location (Field type: numeric)</li></ul></li></ol>Date range: 2017-04-01 to 2017-08-28Latitudinal extent: 4.5607 to 4.7828Longitudinal extent: 117.4636 to 117.7008Taxonomic coverage: All taxon names are validated against the GBIF backbone taxonomy. If a dataset uses a synonym, the accepted usage is shown followed by the dataset usage in brackets. Taxa that cannot be validated, including new species and other unknown taxa, morphospecies, functional groups and taxonomic levels not used in the GBIF backbone are shown in square brackets.<div>&ensp;-&ensp; Animalia &ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp; Chordata &ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp; Mammalia &ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp; Primates &ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp; Hominidae &ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp; Pongo &ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp;&ensp;-&ensp; Pongo pygmaeus </div>

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2021View details →

Genetic disruption of synthesis pathways of Arabidopsis secondary metabolites dramatically affects root-associated nematode populations directly and via modulation of microbial communities

Dataset of nematode, fungal and bacterial sequence reads of Arabidopsis roots. Dataset of fungal and bacterial sequence reads of Arabidopsis microbial suspension. DNA concentration of Arabidopsis root microbial suspension. Meloidogyne incognita J2 invasion into tomato roots. qPCR dataset of Meloidogyne hapla infection pressure into Arabidopsis roots.

Single species acute lethal toxicity tests are not predictive of relative population, community and ecosystem effects of two salinity types

Human mediated salinity increases are occurring in freshwaters globally, with consequent negative effects on freshwater biodiversity. Salinity comprises multiple anions and cations. While total concentrations are typically used to infer effects, individual ion concentrations and ion ratios are critical in determining effects. Moreover, estimates of toxicity from single species laboratory tests, may not accurately predict relative effects on populations, communities and ecosystems. Here we compare salinity increases from synthetic marine salts (SMS) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) in an outdoor mesocosm experiment in south-eastern Australia. We found different effects of salt types on stream macroinvertebrates at the population, community, and ecosystem function levels, where similar effects were predicted from single species laboratory tests. Our results caution against the use of single species laboratory derived toxicological data to predict both environmentally safe salinity levels and the relative effects of different salt sources on freshwater biodiversity.

Multiple-model stock assessment frameworks for precautionary management and conservation on fishery-targeted coastal dolphin populations off Japan

1. Stock assessment approaches are often oversimplified due to lack of biological knowledge and insufficient data. In spite of worldwide attention, fishery-targeted coastal dolphin species in Japan have lacked in-depth quantitative stock assessments because of limited time-series of population size and an absence of associated biological information. We consequently developed integrated population models that analyzed multiple sources of data simultaneously with published biological information within a Bayesian framework. 2. We estimate population status and trends for three main species targeted by fisheries, bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus, Risso's dolphins Grampus griseus, and short-finned pilot whales Globicephala macrorhynchus, using single-species age-aggregated and age-structured population dynamics models. Models were fit to absolute abundance estimates from systematic line-transect surveys, four series of abundance indices calculated from fisher's logbooks, and historical catch records. Published biological information was used to develop prior distributions for the biological parameters. We assessed the possible effects of ecological disturbance and competition using state-space and multispecies models. 3. The multispecies model was selected by the model selection both for the age-aggregated and the age-structured approaches. 4. Single-species assessments found that population size declined 4.2% (Risso's dolphin) to 8.0% (bottlenose dolphin) for three species since the late 1800s based on median posterior values, while the state-space and multispecies models found that environmental disturbance and an interaction among species could have reduced population size more substantially. 5. 'Policy implications' Simple single-species models are often used to provide conservation and management advice for wild animals but, in this case, results from such models are overly optimistic because they overlook important ecological process. In contrast, current population status could be less favorable if environmental disturbance and interspecific competition actually control population dynamics. Even if that is not the case, considering ecological process in the model will provide more precautionary ways. Our approach of combining multiple modelling frameworks is applicable to many other management systems, and offers increased confidence in estimated status and trends over assessments that consider only a single model.

opencc-zeroJan 2022View details →

Pairing functional connectivity with population dynamics to prioritize corridors for Southern California spotted owls

Aim: Land use change, climate change, and shifts to disturbance regimes make successful wildlife management challenging, particularly when ongoing urbanization constrains habitat and movement. Preserving and maintaining landscape connectivity is a potential strategy to support wildlife responding to these stressors. Using a novel model framework, we determined the population-level benefit of a set of identified potential corridors for spotted owl population viability. Location: Southern California, United States. Methods: Combining habitat suitability and dynamic metapopulation models, we compared the benefit of corridors to the Southern California spotted owl population, measured as the increase in the expected minimum abundance, both now and under a future climate. Our approach considered key corridor characteristics important to conservation decisions, namely, corridor irreplaceability and local population network benefit. Results: We identified two corridors likely to increase Southern California spotted owl expected minimum abundance under current climate conditions. At the regional scale, of the 16 corridors evaluated, one corridor was irreplaceable (i.e. no other corridors in the network could provide a similar increase in abundance when the irreplaceable corridor was removed) and one corridor was identified as redundant (i.e. remaining corridors in the network can provide some of the increases in abundance offered by the removed corridor). Both putative corridors connected two large, populous, and similarly-sized patches. Additionally, we identified two more corridors at the local scale. We found that, under climate change, population declines may limit the benefit of connectivity for a range-restricted species like the spotted owl. Main Conclusions: Our analytical approach highlights important criteria for corridor identification and prioritization, namely, irreplaceability versus redundancy, local versus regional benefit, and corridor impact in a changing landscape. With the capability of incorporating estimated functional connectivity into population dynamics, our modeling framework advances connectivity decision making for other species of conservation concern and archetypal taxa within ecological communities.

Data from: Exploring genomic variation associated with drought stress in Picea mariana populations

Predicted increases in drought and heat stress will likely induce shifts in species bioclimatic envelopes. Genetic variants adapted to water limitation may prove pivotal for species response under scenarios of increasing drought. In this study, we aimed to explore this hypothesis by investigating genetic variation in 16 populations of black spruce (Picea mariana) in relation to climate variables in Alaska. A total of 520 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped for 158 trees sampled from areas of contrasting climate regimes. We used multivariate and univariate genotype-by-environment approaches along with available gene annotations to investigate the relationship between climate and genetic variation among sampled populations. Nine SNPs were identified as having a significant association with climate, of which five were related to drought stress response. Outlier SNPs with respect to the overall environment were significantly overrepresented for several biological functions relevant for coping with variable hydric regimes, including osmotic stress response. This genomic imprint is consistent with local adaptation of black spruce to drought stress. These results suggest that natural selection acting on standing variation prompts local adaptation in forest stands facing water limitation. Improved understanding of possible adaptive responses could inform our projections about future forest dynamics and help prioritize populations that harbor valuable genetic diversity for conservation.

A shift to shorter cuticular hydrocarbons accompanies sexual isolation among Drosophila americana group populations

Because sensory signals often evolve rapidly, they could be instrumental in the emergence of reproductive isolation between species. However, pinpointing their specific contribution to isolating barriers, and the mechanisms underlying their divergence, remains challenging. Here we demonstrate sexual isolation due to divergence in chemical signals between two populations of Drosophila americana (SC and NE) and one population of D. novamexicana, and dissect its underlying phenotypic and genetic mechanisms. Mating trials revealed strong sexual isolation between Drosophila novamexicana males and SC Drosophila americana females, as well as more moderate bi-directional isolation between D. americana populations. Mating behavior data indicates SC D. americana males have the highest courtship efficiency and, unlike males of the other populations, are accepted by females of all species. Quantification of cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles—chemosensory signals that are used for species recognition and mate finding in Drosophila—shows that the SC D. americana population differs from the other populations primarily on the basis of compound carbon chain-length. Moreover, manipulation of male CHC composition via heterospecific perfuming—specifically perfuming D. novamexicana males with SC D. americana males—abolishes their sexual isolation from these D. americana females. Of a set of candidates, a single gene—elongase CG17821—had patterns of gene expression consistent with a role in CHC differences between species. Sequence comparisons indicate D. novamexicana and our Nebraska (NE) D. americana population share a derived CG17821 truncation mutation that could also contribute to their shared "short" CHC phenotype. Together, these data suggest an evolutionary model for the origin and spread of this allele and its consequences for CHC divergence and sexual isolation in this group.

Parallel and non-parallel divergence within polymorphic populations of brook stickleback, Culaea inconstans (Actinopterygii: Gasterosteidae)

Studying parallel evolution allows us to draw conclusions about the repeatability of adaptive evolution. Whereas populations likely experience similar selective pressures in similar environments, it is not clear if this will always result in parallel divergence of ecologically relevant traits. Our study investigates the extent of parallelism associated with the evolution of pelvic spine reduction in brook stickleback populations. We find that populations with parallel divergence in pelvic spine morphology do not exhibit parallel divergence in head and body morphology but do exhibit parallel divergence in diet. In addition, we compare these patterns associated with pelvic reduction in brook stickleback to well-studied patterns of divergence between spined and unspined threespine stickleback. Whereas spine reduction is associated with littoral habitats and a benthic diet in threespine stickleback, spine reduction in brook stickleback is associated with a planktonic diet. Hence, we find that pelvic spine divergence is associated with largely non-parallel ecological consequences across species.

Codes: A new approach to interspecific synchrony in population ecology using tail association

Standard methods for studying the association between two ecologically important variables provide only a small slice of the information content of the association, but statistical approaches are available that provide comprehensive information. In particular, available approaches can reveal tail associations, i.e., accentuated or reduced associations between the more extreme values of variables. We here study the nature and causes of tail associations between phenological or population-density variables of co-located species, and their ecological importance. We employ a simple method of measuring tail associations which we call the partial Spearman correlation. Using multidecadal, multi-species spatiotemporal datasets on aphid first flights and marine phytoplankton population densities, we assess the potential for tail association to illuminate two major topics of study in community ecology: the stability or instability of aggregate community measures such as total community biomass and its relationship with the synchronous or compensatory dynamics of the community's constituent species; and the potential for fluctuations and trends in species phenology to result in trophic mismatches. We find that positively associated fluctuations in the population densities of co-located species commonly show asymmetric tail associations, i.e., it is common for two species' densities to be more correlated when large than when small, or vice versa. Ordinary measures of association such as correlation do not take this asymmetry into account. Likewise, positively associated fluctuations in the phenology of co-located species also commonly show asymmetric tail associations. We provide evidence that tail associations between two or more species' population density or phenology time series can be inherited from mutual tail associations of these quantities with an environmental driver. We argue that our understanding of community dynamics and stability, and of phenologies of interacting species, can be meaningfully improved in future work by taking into account tail associations.

From individual to population level: Temperature and snow cover modulate fledging success through breeding phenology in Greylag geese (Anser anser)

Local weather conditions may be used as environmental cues by animals to optimize their breeding behaviour, and could be affected by climate change. We measured associations between climate, breeding phenology, and reproductive output in greylag geese (Anser anser) across 29 years (1990-2018). The birds are individually marked, which allows accurate long-term monitoring of life-history parameters for all pairs within the flock. We had three aims: (1) identify climate patterns at a local scale in Upper Austria, (2) measure the association between climate and greylag goose breeding phenology, and (3) measure the relationship between climate and both clutch size and fledging success. Ambient temperature increased 2°C across the 29-years study period, and higher winter temperature was associated with earlier onset of egg-laying. Using the hatch-fledge ratio, average annual temperature was the strongest predictor for the proportion of fledged goslings per season. There is evidence for an optimum time window for egg-laying (the earliest and latest eggs laid had the lowest fledging success). These findings broaden our understanding of environmental effects and population-level shifts which could be associated with increased ambient temperature and can thus inform future research about the ecological consequences of climate changes and reproductive output in avian systems.

opencc-by-4.0Apr 2020View details →

Modern phenotypic typing technologies for monitoring and evaluating heterogeneity in bacterial populations

Modern phenotypic typing technologies for monitoring and evaluating heterogeneity in bacterial populations Современные технологии фенотипического типирования для мониторинга и оценки гетерогенности бактериальных популяций

FIG. 8 in La chasse/pêche aux batraciens: aux origines de la vie des populations du bassin du lac Tchad? (L'exemple du Diamaré, Cameroun)

FIG. 8. – Commerçant de merlek. Région de Dogba.

FIG. 7 in La chasse/pêche aux batraciens: aux origines de la vie des populations du bassin du lac Tchad? (L'exemple du Diamaré, Cameroun)

FIG. 7. – Marché aux Anoures de Papata. Dessin de l'auteur.

FIG. 6 in La chasse/pêche aux batraciens: aux origines de la vie des populations du bassin du lac Tchad? (L'exemple du Diamaré, Cameroun)

FIG. 6. – Chasse à la merlek de mayo (Ptychadena sp.). Dessin de l'auteur.

FIG. 11 in La chasse/pêche aux batraciens: aux origines de la vie des populations du bassin du lac Tchad? (L'exemple du Diamaré, Cameroun)

FIG. 11. – Plat de merlek préparées. Giziga de Maroua.

FIG. 5 in La chasse/pêche aux batraciens: aux origines de la vie des populations du bassin du lac Tchad? (L'exemple du Diamaré, Cameroun)

FIG. 5. – Carte de situation.

FIG. 10 in La chasse/pêche aux batraciens: aux origines de la vie des populations du bassin du lac Tchad? (L'exemple du Diamaré, Cameroun)

FIG. 10. – Ptychadena sp. Merlek séchées (Marché de Papata).

FIG. 2 in La chasse/pêche aux batraciens: aux origines de la vie des populations du bassin du lac Tchad? (L'exemple du Diamaré, Cameroun)

FIG. 2. – Pyxicephalus et une Ptychadena trinodis.