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opencc-zeroDec 2023View details →

Experimental evolution under varying sex ratio and behavioral plasticity in response to perceived competitive environment independently affect calling effort in male crickets

The operational sex ratio (OSR) is a key component influencing the magnitude of sexual selection driving the evolution of male sexual traits, but males often also retain the ability to plastically modulate trait expression depending on the current environment. Here we employed an experimental evolution approach to determine whether the OSR affects the evolution of male calling effort in decorated crickets, a costly sexual trait, and whether plasticity in calling effort is altered by the OSR under which males have evolved. Calling effort of males from two selection regimes maintained at different OSRs over 18–20 generations (male- versus female-biased) was recorded at two different levels of perceived competition, in the absence of rivals or in the presence of an experimentally muted competitor. The effect of the OSR on the evolution of male calling effort was modest and in the opposite direction predicted by theory. Instead, the immediate competitive environment strongly influenced male calling effort as males called more in the presence of a rival, revealing considerable plasticity in this trait. This increased calling effort came at a cost, however, as males confined with a muted rival experienced significantly higher mortality.

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2023View details →

Data set for "Drought response of the boreal forest carbon sink is driven by understory-tree composition"

This data set is a compilation of 1) environmental conditions, 2) biometric- and chamber-based annual CO2 fluxes, 3) vegetation phenological greenness, and 4) forest-floor environmental conditions, all measured over the Krycklan Catchment Study (KCS, <a href="https://www.slu.se/Krycklan">https://www.slu.se/Krycklan</a>), a multi-scale long-term monitored boreal catchment spanning 68 km2 in northern Sweden. The environmental measurements cover the period 1991–2020. Specifically, meteorological conditions measured close to the central part of the KCS at the Svartberget reference climate station (64°14′N, 19°46′E, 225 m.a.s.l.) included air temperature at 1.7 m above ground (Ta, °C), global radiation at 1.7 m above ground (Rg, MJ m-2), and precipitation (P, mm). Drought conditions were characterized by the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) computed at 3-month time scale. SPEI was retrieved from the 0.5° gridded dataset supplied in the Global SPEI Database (SPEIbase v2.8, <a href="https://spei.csic.es/database.html">https://spei.csic.es/database.html</a>). The data set comprises monthly values obtained during the long-term reference period 1991–2020 (LT91–20), the baseline period 2016–2017 (BL16–17), and the drought year 2018 (D18). The standardized anomaly (ɀ-score) was used to identify extreme environmental measurements during both the BL16–17 and D18 periods relative to the LT91–20 period. Annual CO2 flux estimates were collected in 50 forest stands located across the KCS during the period 2016–2018 using biometric- and chamber-based methods. However, to prevent confounding effects, one forest stand that was subjected to thinning operations in spring 2018 was excluded from the analysis. The selected forest stands encompassed different landscape attributes such as 1) soil type (i.e., sediment and till), 2) dominant tree species (i.e., pine and spruce), and 3) stand age classes (i.e., initiation, young, middle-aged, mature, and old-growth stands). The annual CO2 fluxes included the net ecosystem production (NEP) and its component fluxes, i.e., net primary production (NPP), total heterotrophic respiration (RH), net primary production of trees (NPPt) and its above- and belowground components (ANPPt and BNPPt, respectively), and net primary production of understory (NPPu) and its above- and belowground components (ANPPu and BNPPu, respectively). The impact of drought on annual CO2 fluxes was evaluated by calculating both the absolute and relative anomalies (∆X and δX, respectively) of D18 relative to BL16–17. To identify the temporal shift of the dominant contributor to ∆NEP, a moving-window correlation was conducted between the absolute anomaly of NEP (∆NEP) and the absolute anomalies of understory and tree NPP (∆NPPu and ∆NPPt, respectively), using a 7-forest-stand window with 1-forest-stand step. The study assessed the phenological greenness of the understory and trees in a ⁓110 years-old mixed-species forest stand in the central part of the KCS from 2016 to 2018. The greenness index (gcc) was derived from hourly images collected through digital repeat photography at the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) Svartberget ecosystem station (SE-Svb, 64°15′N, 19°46′E, 270 m.a.s.l., <a href="https://www.icos-sweden.se/svartberget">https://www.icos-sweden.se/svartberget</a>). Web cameras were used to capture images below- and above-tree canopy to define the gcc index for understory (gccu) and trees (gcct), respectively. The gccu and gcct values were then normalized (0–1) to describe the seasonal minimum and maximum of vegetation biomass development. A locally estimated scatterplot smoothing (loess) curve fit was then used through the normalized data points to improve visualization. The impact of drought on mean estimates of gccu and gcct during the growing season was evaluated by calculating the absolute and relative anomalies (∆X and δX, respectively) of D18 relative to BL16–17. Environmental conditions at the forest-floor interface were measured in each of the 50 forest stands located across the KCS during the period 2016–2018. As before, one forest stand that was subjected to thinning operations in spring 2018 was excluded from the analysis to prevent confounding effects. The measured conditions included the below-canopy air temperature (Tabc, °C), soil temperature at 10 cm depth (Ts, °C), and soil volumetric water content at 5 cm depth (SWC, %). The data set includes mean monthly and mean May-August values estimated during the BL16–17 and D18 periods, for which the absolute and relative anomalies (∆X and δX, respectively) were calculated. This data set consists of four Microsoft Excel workbooks: 1_dataset_environmental_conditions.xlxs 2_dataset_biometric_&_chamber-based_CO2_fluxes.xlxs 3_dataset_vegetation_phenological_greenness.xlxs 4_dataset_forest-floor_environmental_conditions.xlxs Further details can be found in Martínez-García et al. “Drought response of the boreal forest carbon sink is driven by understory-tree composition” (Nature Geoscience, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01374-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01374-9</a>). Contact information: Ph.D. Eduardo Martínez García1,2 (<a href="mailto:eduardo.martinez@slu.se">eduardo.martinez@slu.se</a>, <a href="eduardo.martinezgarcia@luke.fi">eduardo.martinezgarcia@luke.fi</a>, <a href="mailto:edu.martinez.garcia@gmail.com">edu.martinez.garcia@gmail.com</a>) Professor Matthias Peichl1 (<a href="mailto:matthias.peichl@slu.se">matthias.peichl@slu.se</a>) 1 Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Skogsmarksgränd 17, SE-901 83, Umeå, Sweden 2 Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790, Helsinki, Finland

opencc-zeroDec 2023View details →

Data from: movement or plasticity: acoustic responses of a torrent frog to stream geophony

Vocalization is the main form of communication in many animals, including frogs, which commonly emit advertisement calls to attract females and maintain spacing. In noisy environments such as streams, mechanisms to maximize signaling efficiency may include vocal plasticity and/or movement of individuals to quieter sections, but which strategy is used is still uncertain. We investigated the influence of stream geophony on the advertisement call of the torrent frog Hylodes perere in the Atlantic Rainforest, southeastern Brazil. In a mark-recapture study, we tested if males remain in their territories and thus adjust their advertisement calls to maximize their communication. We ran mixed linear and generalized models to verify the relation of call parameters and stream geophony, body size and environmental temperature. We found that males remained in the same location across time, increased call intensity in noisier environments but did not reduce call effort. Males also increased the dominant frequency in these situations, suggesting a modulation in this parameter. Our results indicate that territoriality is an important factor to males to increase call intensity to surpass stream noise instead of repositioning along the stream. However, because call effort was maintained, we suggest that sexual selection is crucial in this system, favoring males that better detect others and adjust their call efficiency. This is the first study to evaluate simultaneously frog movements and adaptations to geophony, which contributes to the investigation of the concomitant environmental and sexual selective pressures in species that communicate in noisy environments.

opencc-zeroJan 2024View details →

Data from: Background matching can reduce responsiveness of jumping spiders to stimuli in motion

Motion and camouflage were previously considered to be mutually exclusive, as sudden movements can be easily detected. Background matching, for instance, is a well-known, effective camouflage strategy where the color and pattern of a stationary animal match its surrounding background. However, background matching may lose its efficacy when the animal moves, as the boundaries of the animal become more defined against its background. Recent evidence shows otherwise, as camouflaged objects can be less detectable than uncamouflaged objects even while in motion. Here, we explored if the detectability of computer-generated stimuli varies with the speed of motion, background (matching and unmatching) and size of stimuli in six species of jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae). Our results showed that in general, the responsiveness of all six salticid species tested decreased with increasing stimulus speed regardless of whether the stimuli were conspicuousness or camouflaged. Importantly, salticid responses to camouflaged stimuli were significantly lower compared to conspicuous stimuli. There were significant differences in motion detectability across species when the stimuli were conspicuous, suggesting differences in visual acuity in closely related species of jumping spiders. Furthermore, small stimuli elicited significantly lower responses than large stimuli across species and speeds. Our results thus suggest that background matching is effective even when stimuli are in motion, reducing the detectability of moving stimuli.

opencc-zeroJan 2024View details →

Data from: A species' response to spatial climatic variation does not predict its response to climate change

The dominant paradigm for assessing ecological responses to climate change assumes that future states of individuals and populations can be predicted by current, species-wide performance variation across spatial climatic gradients. However, if the fates of ecological systems are better predicted by past responses to in situ climatic variation through time, this current analytical paradigm may be severely misleading. Empirically testing whether spatial or temporal climate responses better predict how species respond to climate change has been elusive, largely due to restrictive data requirements. Here we leverage a newly collected network of ponderosa pine tree-ring time series to test whether statistically inferred responses to spatial versus temporal climatic variation better predict how trees have responded to recent climate change. When compared to observed tree growth responses to climate change since 1980, predictions derived from spatial climatic variation were wrong in both magnitude and direction. This was not the case for predictions derived from climatic variation through time, which were able to replicate observed responses well. Future climate scenarios through the end of the 21st century exacerbated these disparities. These results suggest that the currently dominant paradigm of forecasting the ecological impacts of climate change based on spatial climatic variation may be severely misleading over decadal to centennial timescales.

opencc-zeroJan 2024View details →

Data for: Temporal variations in female moose responses to roads and logging in the absence of wolves

Animal movements, needed to acquire food resources, avoid predation risk, and find breeding partners, are influenced by annual and circadian cycles. Decisions related to movement reflect a quest to maximize benefits while limiting costs, especially in heterogeneous landscapes. Predation by wolves (Canis lupus) has been identified as the major driver of moose (Alces alces) habitat selection patterns, and linear features have been shown to increase wolf efficiency to travel, hunt and kill prey. However, few studies have described moose behavioral response to roads and logging in Canada in the absence of wolves. We thus characterized temporal changes (i.e., day phases and biological periods) in eastern moose (Alces alces americana) habitat selection and space use patterns near a road network in a wolf-free area located south of the St. Lawrence River (eastern Canada). We used telemetry data collected on 18 females between 2017 and 2019 to build resource selection functions and mixed linear regressions to explain variations in habitat selection patterns, home-range size and movement rates. Female moose selected forest stands providing forage when movement was not impeded by snow cover (i.e., spring/green-up, summer/rearing, fall/rut) and stands offering protection against incidental predation during calving. In winter, home-range size decreased with an increasing proportion of stands providing food and shelter against harsh weather, limiting the energetic costs associated with movement. Our results reaffirmed the year-round aversive effect of roads, even in the absence of wolves, but the magnitude of this avoidance differed between day phases, being lower during the "dusk-night-dawn" phase, perhaps due to a lower level of human activity on and near roads. Female moose behavior in our study area was similar to what was observed in landscapes where moose and wolves cohabit, suggesting that the risk associated with humans, perceived as another type of predator, and with incidental predators (coyote Canis latrans, black bear Ursus americanus), equates that of wolf predation in heavily managed landscapes.

opencc-zeroFeb 2024View details →

Data from: Response to MHC-based olfactory cues in a mate choice context in two species of darter (Percidae: Etheostoma)

Mate choice is hypothesized to play an important role in maintaining high diversity at major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes in vertebrates. Many studies have revealed that females across taxa prefer the scent of males with MHC genotypes different to their own. In this study we tested the "opposites-attract" hypothesis in two species of darter with known differences in female criteria used in mate choice: in the fantail darters (a paternal-care species), females prefer males with visual traits related to nest guarding and egg tending, while in rainbow darters (not a paternal-care species) female mate choice criteria are unknown. In dichotomous mate-choice trials, we presented females of both species with the scents of conspecific males with MHC class IIb genotypes that were either similar or dissimilar to that of the focal female. We evaluated the proportion of time each female spent with each male and calculated the average strength of female preference for both species. Female fantail darters demonstrated a preference for the scent of males with similar (rather than dissimilar) MHC genotypes, but this result was not statistically significant. Rainbow darter females showed no preference for the scent of males with similar or dissimilar MHC genotypes. Our results do not support the "opposites-attract" hypothesis in darters.

opencc-by-4.0Feb 2025View details →

Effect of older age and/or ACL injury on the dose–response relationship between ambulatory load magnitude and immediate load-induced change in serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein

The data presented here was used in the models in the pulication doi <a title="Persistent link using digital object identifier" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2024.100993" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2024.100993</a>. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of age, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and sex on resting sCOMP concentration, on the immediate load-induced sCOMP kinetics after a 30-minute treadmill walking stress, and on the dose-response relationship between ambulatory load magnitude and the load-induced sCOMP change. Overall, data of 85 participants in four groups (20–30 years healthy, HEA20–30, n=24; 20–30 years ACL-injured, ACL20–30, n=23; 40–60 years healthy, HEA40–60, n=23; 40–60 years ACL-injured, ACL40–60, n=15) were included in this dataset. ACL injured participants suffered from an ACL injury 2-10 years prior to inclusion. The dateaset includes, patient data and serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (sCOMP) concentration measured on three testdays (m1, m2, m3) immediately before (t0) and immediately after 30 minutes of treadmill walking (t1) where the ambulatory loads were 80% bodyweight (BW), 100% BW or 120% BW (block randomized order). This dateset represents a subset of data collected in the parent study. The detailed experimental protocol of the parent study has been described in Herger, S., Vach, W., Nüesch, C., Liphardt, A. M., Egloff, C., & Mündermann, A. (2022). Dose-response relationship of in vivo ambulatory load and mechanosensitive cartilage biomarkers—The role of age, tissue health and inflammation: A study protocol. PLoS One, 17(8), e0272694. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272694">https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272694</a>

opencc-by-nc-nd-4.0Feb 2024View details →

Adaptation to numerosity affects the pupillary light response

The dataset reports per participant and condition averages of peak pupil constrictions (columns P_...) and reported numerosity (columns B_...) from two experiments run with 12 and 13 participants (rows) in "Adaptation to numerosity affects the pupillary light response" (Scientific Reports, 2024) by Caponi, Castaldi, Burr and Binda. Pupil constrictions and numerosity reports were elicited by 500 ms long stimuli of constant luminance but variable numerosity, presented following two types of adapters: low numerosity or high numerosity. Column headers identify the measure (P for pupil constriction and B for behavioural responses), the adaptation condition (low and high) and the numerosity of the array (10, 14, 20, 28 and 40). The averages of these values are reported in Figure 2A-B of the publication. Columns "B_lmh40" and "P_hmlALL" correspond to the data in Figure 2C, quantifying the adaptation effect on reported numerosity and on pupil constrictions respectively.

Rodent ectoparasite diversity in response to anthropogenic disturbance

Rodents are important hosts for ectoparasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites, which means they are also important intermediate hosts for many zoonotic diseases. As anthropogenic environments bring humans and rodents into closer contact, an understanding of host-ectoparasite ecology is essential to predict and manage disease spillover risks. We aimed to understand how disturbances in vegetation cover affect rodent ectoparasite diversity, prevalence, spatial segregation, host (i.e. sex, genus, size, habitat domain), and environmental (i.e. vegetation structure, forest cover, rainfall) variables in the state of Michoacan, Mexico. We compared these variables by trapping rodents in five paired disturbed (reduced vegetation cover, regular human presence) and undisturbed (no reduction in vegetation cover, no human presence) sites in the summer and autumn of 2022. From 108 trapped rodents, we collected 123 ectoparasites on 34 individuals. We found no difference in rodent diversity, ectoparasite diversity, or ectoparasite prevalence between disturbed and undisturbed sites. However, ground-dwelling and male rodents had a higher probability of carrying ectoparasites than arboreal and female rodents. Rodents with ectoparasites were not spatially clustered; rather, they were randomly distributed across trapping grids. We also identified two rodent genera (Rattus and Sigmodon) that carry ectoparasites of medical importance and that are in close contact with humans. Our results highlight the necessity of constant monitoring of rodents, ectoparasites, and their associated transmittable diseases. Assessing these interactions and how they are affected by anthropogenic disturbance could better inform management decisions and support the need for rodent conservation programs in the area.

Data from: Seasonal bee communities vary in their responses to resources at local and landscape scales: Implication for land managers

Context: There is great interest in land management practices for pollinators; however, a quantitative comparison of landscape and local effects on bee communities is necessary to determine if adding small habitat patches can increase bee abundance or species richness. The value of increasing floral abundance at a site is undoubtedly influenced by the phenology and magnitude of floral resources in the landscape, but due to the complexity of measuring landscape-scale resources, these factors have been understudied. Objectives: To address this knowledge gap, we quantified the relative importance of local versus landscape scale resources for bee communities, identified the most important metrics of local and landscape quality, and evaluated how these relationships vary with season. Methods: We studied season-specific relationships between local and landscape quality and wild-bee communities at 33 sites in the Finger Lakes region of New York, USA. We paired site surveys of wild bees, plants, and soil characteristics with a multi-dimensional assessment of landscape composition, configuration, insecticide toxic load, and a spatio-temporal evaluation of floral resources at local and landscape scales. Results: We found that the most relevant spatial scale and landscape factor varied by season. Early-season bee communities responded primarily to landscape resources, including the presence of flowering trees and wetland habitats. In contrast, mid to late-season bee communities were more influenced by local conditions, though bee diversity was negatively impacted when sites were embedded in highly agricultural landscapes. Soil composition had complex impacts on bee communities, and likely reflects effects on plant community flowering. Conclusions: Early-season bees can be supported by adding flowering trees and wetlands, while mid to late-season bees can be supported by local addition of summer and fall flowering plants. Sites embedded in landscapes with a greater proportion of natural areas will host a greater bee species diversity.

opencc-by-4.0Mar 2024View details →

Investigating the Utility of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Canopy Temperature and Leaf Greenness Responses to Water-Restriction for the Improvement of Irrigation Management Data

Traits that rapidly respond to stress in important agricultural crops have the potential to provide growers with actionable feedback. E.g., traits that respond to water-restriction could inform irrigation systems by identifying crop water status and requirements in real-time. This would be particularly useful for potato, which is extremely susceptible to drought. We conducted two pot experiments and one field experiment to evaluate the utility of two traits, canopy temperature and leaf greenness, for informing irrigation management in potatoes. We also evaluated the efficacy of Phenospex PlantEye F500 sensors for the remote sensing of leaf greenness. We found that canopy temperatures of the cvs. Maris Piper (Spring Pot Experiment, +0.8°C; Autumn Pot Experiment, +5.3°C) and Désirée (Autumn Pot Experiment, +2.5°C) increased with water-restriction and that the canopy temperatures of Maris Piper return to baseline within three days after the resumption of well-watered conditions. We also found that these responses varied between cultivars, with predictable outcomes based on reported and corroborated drought tolerance ratings. We found inconclusive evidence of leaf greenness increasing due to water-restriction (Spring Pot Experiment, +0.8°C; Autumn Pot Experiment, +5.3°C) and found no evidence that post-drought recovery periods return this trait to baseline. However, leaf greenness measurements from the Phenospex PlantEye F500 were moderately to strongly correlated with SPAD values, suggesting this tool might be useful in the screening of drought-tolerant cultivars in the future.

Risk response towards roads is consistent across multiple species in a temperate forest ecosystem

Roads can have diverse impacts on wildlife species, and while some species may adapt effectively, others may not. Studying multiple species' responses to the same infrastructure in a given area can help understand this variation and reveal the effects of disturbance on the ecology of wildlife communities. This study investigates the behavioural responses of four species with distinctive ecological and behavioural traits to roads in the protected Bohemian Forest Ecosystem in Central Europe: European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), a solitary herbivore; red deer (Cervus elaphus) a gregarious herbivore; wild boar (Sus scrofa), a gregarious omnivore and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), a solitary large carnivore. We used GPS data gathered from each species to study movement behaviour and habitat selection in relation to roads using an integrated step selection analysis. For all species and sexes, we predicted increased movement rates in response to roads, selection of vegetation cover near roads and open areas after road crossings, and increased road avoidance during the day. We found remarkably similar behavioural responses towards roads across species. The behavioural adaptations to road exposure, such as increased movement rates and selection for vegetation cover, were analogous to responses to natural predation risk. Roads were more strongly avoided during daytime, when traffic volume was high. Road crossings were more frequent at twilight and at night within open areas offering food resources. Gregarious animals exposed to roads favoured stronger road avoidance over faster movements. Ungulates crossed roads more at twilight, coinciding with commuter traffic during winter. Despite differences in the ecology and behaviour of the four species, our results showed similar adaptations towards a common threat. These insights can be used by managers to promote safer road crossings where roads interfere with animals' natural behaviour. The continuous expansion of the global transportation network should be accompanied by efforts to understand and minimise the impact of roads on wildlife to assist wildlife management and ensure conservation.

opencc-by-4.0Mar 2024View details →

Numerical data for "Signatures of Kondo-Majorana interplay in ac response"

Raw numerical data used to produce figures 2-8 in the article Signatures of Kondo-Majorana interplay in ac response, published as Phys. Rev. B 109, 075432 (2024), DOI:  10.1103/PhysRevB.109.075432, and other data obtained within the same project.

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2023View details →

Cross-reactive CD8+ T cell responses to tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and homologous microbiota-derived antigens (MoAs)

Background: We have recently shown extensive sequence and conformational homology between tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and antigens derived from microorganisms (MoAs). The present study aimed to assess the breadth of T-cell recognition specific to MoAs and the corresponding TAAs in healthy subjects (HS) and patients with cancer (CP). Method: A library of >100 peptide-MHC (pMHC) combinations was used to generate DNA-barcode labelled multimers. Homologous peptides were selected from the Cancer Antigenic Peptide Database, as well as Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes-derived peptides. They were incubated with CD8+ T cells from the peripheral blood of HLA-A*02:01 healthy individuals (n=10) and cancer patients (n=16). T cell recognition was identified using tetramer-staining analysis. Cytotoxicity assay was performed using as target cells TAP-deficient T2 cells loaded with MoA or the paired TuA. Results: A total of 66 unique pMHC recognized by CD8+ T cells across all groups were identified. Of these, 21 epitopes from microbiota were identified as novel immunological targets. Reactivity against selected TAAs was observed for both HS and CP. pMHC tetramer staining confirmed CD8+ T cell populations cross-reacting with CTA SSX2 and paired microbiota epitopes. Moreover, PBMCs activated with the MoA where shown to release IFNγ as well as to exert cytotoxic activity against cells presenting the paired TuA. Conclusions: Several predicted microbiota-derived MoAs are recognized by T cells in HS and CP. Reactivity against TAAs was observed also in HS, primed by the homologous bacterial antigens. CD8+ T cells cross-reacting with MAGE-A1 and paired microbiota epitopes were identified in three subjects. Therefore, the microbiota can elicit an extensive repertoire of natural memory T cells to TAAs, possibly able to control tumor growth (“natural anti-cancer vaccination”). In addition, non-self MoAs can be included in preventive/therapeutic off-the-shelf cancer vaccines with more potent anti-tumor efficacy than those based on TAAs.

Data for: Key bacterial groups maintain stream multifunctionality in response to episodic drying

Microbial biodiversity is fundamental to maintain ecosystem functioning in seasonally variable ecosystems. However, it remains unclear how alterations in water availability caused by seasonal drying compromise the ability of stream microbes to maintain multiple functions simultaneously (i.e., multifunctionality). Using data from 32 streams, we investigated how the phenology of seasonal drying influences stream microbial biodiversity and their capacity to sustain multifunctionality. Our results showed that stream multifunctionality and most bacteria did not respond to changes in drying phenology. Only two bacterial groups, the drying-resistant Sphingobacteriia and the drying-sensitive Acidobacteria_Gp7, exhibited positive associations with multifunctionality, whereas bacterial diversity showed a negative correlation with functions. Among these biodiversity aspects, Sphingobacteriia showed the strongest capacity to maintain multifunctionality at low and moderate performance levels. Our findings will help to better understand the mechanisms through which biodiversity sustains the functioning of seasonally variable streams and their responses to global change.

Data and code for: Nonlinear life table response analysis: Decomposing nonlinear and nonadditive population growth responses to changes in environmental drivers

Life table response experiments (LTREs) decompose differences in population growth rate between environments into separate contributions from each underlying demographic rate. However, most LTRE analyses make the unrealistic assumption that the relationships between demographic rates and environmental drivers are linear and independent, which may result in diminished accuracy when these assumptions are violated. In this study, we compare the relative efficacy of linear and second-order LTRE analyses in capturing changes in population growth rate caused by environmental driver changes. To explore this question, we analyze demographic data collected for three long-lived plant species: Ardisia escallonioides (Pascarella & Horvitz, 1998), Silene acaulis, and Bistorta vivipara (Doak & Morris, 2010). This repository includes data files containing vital rate (survival, growth, reproduction) observations or models for our three case studies, as well as an R script in which we use these demographic data to calculate linear and second-order LTRE approximations of changes in population growth rate for each system and generate the figures we present in our paper.

Fast-slow traits predict competition network structure and its response to resources and enemies

Plants interact in complex networks but how network structure depends on resources, natural enemies, and species resource-use strategy remains poorly understood. Here, we quantified competition networks among 18 plants varying in fast-slow strategy, by testing how increased nutrient availability and reduced foliar pathogens affected intra- and inter-specific interactions. Our results show that nitrogen and pathogens altered several aspects of network structure, often in unexpected ways due to fast and slow-growing species responding differently. Nitrogen addition increased competition asymmetry in slow-growing networks, as expected, but decreased it in fast-growing networks. Pathogen reduction made networks more even and less skewed because pathogens targeted weaker competitors. Surprisingly, pathogens and nitrogen dampened each other's effect. Our results show that plant growth strategy is key to understanding how competition responds to resources and enemies, a prediction from classic theories that has rarely been tested by linking functional traits to competition networks.

De novo transcriptome assembly and discovery of drought-responsive genes in eastern white spruce (Picea glauca)

Forests face an escalating threat from the increasing frequency of extreme drought events driven by climate change. To address this challenge, it is crucial to understand how widely distributed species of economic or ecological importance may respond to drought stress. Here, we used RNA-sequencing to investigate transcriptome responses at increasing levels of water stress in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), distributed across North America. We began by generating an expanded transcriptome assembly emphasizing short-term drought stress at different developmental stages. We also analyzed differential gene expression at four time points over 22 days in a controlled drought stress experiment involving 2-year-old plants and three genetically unrelated clones. De novo transcriptome assembly and gene expression analysis revealed a total of 33,287 transcripts (18,934 annotated unique genes), with 4,425 unique drought-responsive genes. Many transcripts that had predicted functions associated with photosynthesis, cell wall organization, and water transport were down-regulated under drought conditions, while transcripts linked to abscisic acid response and defense response were up-regulated. Our study highlights a previously uncharacterized effect of drought stress on lipid metabolism genes in conifers and significant changes in the expression of several transcription factors, suggesting a regulatory response potentially linked to drought response or acclimation. Our research represents a fundamental step in unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying short-term drought responses in white spruce seedlings. In addition, it provides a valuable source of new genetic data that could contribute to genetic selection strategies aimed at enhancing the drought resistance and resilience of white spruce to changing climates.