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43 results for “forest specialists”
Data for: Specialist carabids in mixed montane forests are positively associated with biodiversity-oriented forestry and abundance of roe deer
<p>The ongoing transition within forest management towards more biodiversity-oriented practices, such as close-to-nature forestry and retention forestry, may benefit forest fauna such as forest-specialized ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). However, it remains unclear how forest carabids are jointly affected by these practices in Central European montane forests, which host particularly sensitive, range-restricted carabid species, and where biodiversity-oriented forestry is widely applied. Moreover, roe deer (<em>Capreolus capreolus</em>), the most common large herbivore in these forests, is intensively managed to reduce browsing pressure, but it is yet unknown how this may affect carabids, alongside the effect of silviculture. On 66 1-ha plots in the Black Forest region of Germany, we sampled carabids with pitfall traps, measured roe deer abundances using camera trapping, and measured several structural variables directly related to close-to-nature and retention practices, as well as variables describing microclimate and landscape-level forest cover. We found that the carabid assemblage was dominated by forest specialists, with little influence from fragmentation of the surrounding forest. Higher broadleaf share (and canopy cover for montane specialists) was correlated with higher carabid activity-density. Increasing stand maturity (and lying deadwood volume for montane specialists), was correlated with higher species richness. Plots with higher roe deer abundances showed higher carabid richness and activity-density. Assemblage composition changed along the altitudinal gradient, and both richness and activity-density increased with elevation. Thus, carabid communities, including montane specialists and several species of conservation interest, stand to benefit from close-to-nature and retention practices, if applied throughout the altitude range of montane forests. Forest carabids may additionally profit from maintaining higher roe deer abundances, but further research is needed to understand this causal link, as well as to weigh the costs and benefits of deer culling for forest biodiversity.</p>
Native generalist natural enemies and an introduced specialist parasitoid together control an invasive forest insect
<p>Specialized natural enemies have long been considered a major force driving the population dynamics of outbreaking forest insects. While research has traditionally focused on the role of specialist parasitoids, recent studies and reviews reflect an appreciation of complex interactions among many regulatory factors. The sources suggest that specialist parasitoids and generalist predators can each inflict strong top‐down effects and that specialists and generalists can interact to regulate insect herbivore populations. Here we use the model study organism winter moth (<i>Operophtera brumata</i>) in its invasive range in the northeast United States to investigate interactions between the introduced, host-specific tachinid parasitoid <i>Cyzenis albicans</i> and native, generalist pupal predators. Prior research in Canada showed that predation of winter moth pupae increased after <i>C. albicans </i>establishment. To explain this phenomenon, the following hypotheses have been suggested: (1) parasitoids suppress the winter moth population to a density that can be maintained by generalist predators, (2) unparasitized pupae are preferred by predators and thus experience higher mortality rates, or (3) <i>C. albicans </i>sustain higher predator populations throughout the year more effectively than winter moth alone. We tested these hypotheses by deploying winter moth pupae over six years spanning 2005 to 2017 and by modeling pupal predation rates as a function of winter moth density and <i>C. albicans </i>establishment. We also compared predation rates of unparasitized and parasitized pupae and considered additional mortality by a native pupal parasitoid. We found support for the first hypothesis; we detected both temporal and spatial density dependence, but only in the latter years of the study when winter moth densities were lower. We found no evidence for the latter two hypotheses. Our findings suggest that pupal predators have a regulatory effect on winter moth populations only after populations have been reduced, presumably by the introduction of the host-specific parasitoid <i>C. albicans</i>.</p>
Native generalist natural enemies and an introduced specialist parasitoid together control an invasive forest insect
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Data from: Underrepresentation of dietary specialist larval Lepidoptera in small forest fragments: Testing alternative mechanisms
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Data for: Specialist carabids in mixed montane forests are positively associated with biodiversity-oriented forestry and abundance of roe deer
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Data from: Complex patch geometries maximize species richness at the expense of forest specialists
<p>Habitat loss and fragmentation are the greatest threats to reptiles and amphibians (herpetofauna) around the globe, but especially in the Neotropics where high diversity and ongoing land-use change coincide. Persistence of biodiversity in fragmented systems relies both on characteristics of habitat patches, and on the permeability of the landscape that separates the patches (the 'matrix'). We sought to understand: (a) how the herpetofauna community differs between forest reserves, patches, corridors, and matrices, and (b) the landscape characteristics that increase suitability of a habitat patch. We conducted herpetofauna surveys in patches, corridors, matrices, and preserves (54 total sites) in a fragmented landscape in Costa Rica for three seasons. We recorded 1663 individuals of 52 species. We found that the herpetofauna community differed, and had lower richness and abundance, in the matrix compared to the other three habitat types. Patches and corridors supported a similar community to the forest preserves, demonstrating the conservation value of small forest remnants. Water body presence was an important predictor of richness and abundance in both patches and matrices. While total richness increased in patches with more edge, this was driven by the response of generalist species, whereas the prime indicator species of forest preserves decreased in patches with complex shapes. The differing response to landscape characteristics between specialist and generalist species demonstrates the importance of considering specific taxa when setting conservation goals, rather than using richness measures alone. Our findings can help guide preservation of forest fragments to optimize biodiversity conservation in mixed forest-pastoral landscapes.</p>
Activity of forest specialist bats decreases towards wind turbines at forest sites
<p><span>Worldwide, wind turbines are increasingly being built at forest sites to meet the goals of national climate strategies. Yet, the impact on forest ecosystems and biodiversity is barely understood. Bats may be heavily affected by wind turbines in forests, because many species depend on forest ecosystems for roosting and hunting and can experience high fatality rates at wind turbines. <br></span></p> <p><span>We performed acoustic surveys in 24 temperate forests in the low mountain ranges of Central Germany to monitor changes in the acoustic activity of bats in relation to wind turbine proximity, rotor size, vegetation structure and season. Call sequences were identified and assigned to one of three functional guilds: open-space, edge-space and narrow-space foragers, the latter being mainly forest specialists. <br></span></p> <p><span>Based on the response behaviour of bats towards wind turbines in open landscapes, we predicted decreasing bat activity towards wind turbines at forest sites, especially for narrow-space foragers. <br></span></p> <p><span>Vertical vegetation heterogeneity had a strong positive effect on all bats, yet responses to wind turbines in forests varied across foraging guilds. Activity of narrow-space foragers decreased towards turbines over distances of several hundred meters, especially towards turbines with large rotors and during midsummer months. The activity of edge-space foragers did not change with distance to turbines or season, whereas the activity of open-space foragers increased close to turbines only in late summer. </span><span><br></span></p> <p><span><em>Synthesis and applications</em>: We show that narrow-space foragers avoid wind turbines in forests over a spatial scale of several hundred meters. This response was most apparent towards turbines with large rotors. Since forests are an important habitat for this guild, we advise to exclude forests with diverse vegetation structure as potential wind turbine sites and to consider compensation measures to account for habitat degradation associated with the operation of wind turbines in forests.</span></p>
Activity of forest specialist bats decreases towards wind turbines at forest sites
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Data from: Complex patch geometries maximize species richness at the expense of forest specialists
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Tree composition mitigates the negative effects of urbanization on specialist and generalist forest moth communities
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Population genetics, demographic and evolutionary history of the Dudley’s lousewort, a rare redwood forest specialist (Pedicularis dudleyi)
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Data from: Age‐dependent habitat relationships of a burned forest specialist emphasise the role of pyrodiversity in fire management
1. Variation in fire characteristics, termed pyrodiversity, plays an important role in structuring post-fire communities, but little is known about the importance of pyrodiversity for individual species. The availability of diverse post-fire habitats may be key for fire-associated species if they require different resources at different life history stages. 2. We tested for age-specific habitat relationships in the black-backed woodpecker, a post-fire specialist. We used radio-telemetry to track fledgling and adult woodpeckers in burned forests and built resource selection functions to compare the effect of stand-, tree-, and snag-level covariates between adults and fledglings. 3. Fledgling black-backed woodpeckers selected habitat with more live trees than adults, and used more heterogeneous habitats burned at lower severity, illustrating strong age-dependent effects on habitat selection. Within selected stands, fledglings were less likely to use snags and more likely to use live trees when compared to adults, but both age classes showed strong positive selection for larger-diameter trees (live and dead). Over the 60 days after leaving their nests, fledglings showed an increasing propensity to use snags rather than live trees. 4. Our results provide evidence that the predation–starvation hypothesis, which posits a trade-off between foraging efficiency and the need to minimize predation risk, plays a role in structuring the age-dependent habitat use of a burned forest specialist. Adult black-backed woodpeckers selected resources associated with food availability, but these resources occurred in relatively open, exposed habitat. Fledglings selected habitat that provided increased cover, perhaps as a strategy to reduce predation risk. 5. Synthesis and applications. Globally, fires are increasing in severity and extent, leading to increased focus on fire-associated species that play keystone roles in facilitating biodiversity resilience. Our findings suggest that a diversity of patches burned at different severities may benefit post-fire specialists like the black-backed woodpecker at multiple life history stages. The increasing prevalence of large, homogeneously high-severity "megafires" may present an emerging threat even to post-fire specialists, and we urge land managers to consider opportunities to promote pyrodiversity in the face of novel fire regimes.
Recent population differentiation in the habitat specialist Glossy Antshrike (Aves: Thamnophilidae) across Amazonian seasonally flooded forests: Complete matrix
<p>We assessed population structure and the spatio-temporal pattern of diversification in the Glossy Antshrike <i>Sakesphorus luctuosus</i> (Aves, Thamnophilidae) to understand the processes shaping the evolutionary history of Amazonian floodplains and address unresolved taxonomic controversies surrounding its species limits. By targeting ultraconserved elements (UCEs) from 32 specimens of <i>S. luctuosus</i>, we identified independent lineages and estimated their differentiation, divergence times and migration rates. We also estimated current and past demographic histories for each recovered lineage. We found evidence confirming that <i>S. luctuosus</i> consists of a single species, comprising at least four populations, with some highly admixed individuals and overall similar levels of migration between populations. We confirmed the differentiation of the Araguaia River basin population (<i>S. l.</i> <i>araguayae</i>), and gathered circumstantial evidence indicating that the taxon <i>S. hagmanni</i> may represent a highly introgressed population between 3 distinct phylogroups of <i>S. luctuosus</i>. Divergence time estimates between populations seem to be recent, occurring during the last 183 kya. Signs of population expansions were detected for populations attributed to subspecies <i>S. l. luctuosus</i>, but the <i>S. l. araguayae </i>population had probably maintained its effective size through time. Our results support<b> </b>that <i>S. luctuosus</i> has had a complex population history, resulting from a high dependence on southeastern "clear-water" habitats and their availability through time. Spatial and demographic expansions towards the western "white water" flooded forests might still be ongoing. Our study reinforces the view that isolation due to absence of suitable habitat has been an important driver of population differentiation within Amazonian flooded forests, but also that differences between <i>várzeas</i> ("white water" floodplains, mostly in southwestern Amazonia) and <i>igapós</i> ("clear- water" floodplains, especially located in the east) should be further explored as powerful drivers of micro-evolution.</p>
Recent population differentiation in the habitat specialist Glossy Antshrike (Aves: Thamnophilidae) across Amazonian seasonally flooded forests: Final SNPs dataset
<p>We assessed population structure and the spatio-temporal pattern of diversification in the Glossy Antshrike <i>Sakesphorus luctuosus</i> (Aves, Thamnophilidae) to understand the processes shaping the evolutionary history of Amazonian floodplains and address unresolved taxonomic controversies surrounding its species limits. By targeting ultraconserved elements (UCEs) from 32 specimens of <i>S. luctuosus</i>, we identified independent lineages and estimated their differentiation, divergence times and migration rates. We also estimated current and past demographic histories for each recovered lineage. We found evidence confirming that <i>S. luctuosus</i> consists of a single species, comprising at least four populations, with some highly admixed individuals and overall similar levels of migration between populations. We confirmed the differentiation of the Araguaia River basin population (<i>S. l.</i> <i>araguayae</i>), and gathered circumstantial evidence indicating that the taxon <i>S. hagmanni</i> may represent a highly introgressed population between 3 distinct phylogroups of <i>S. luctuosus</i>. Divergence time estimates between populations seem to be recent, occurring during the last 183 kya. Signs of population expansions were detected for populations attributed to subspecies <i>S. l. luctuosus</i>, but the <i>S. l. araguayae </i>population had probably maintained its effective size through time. Our results support<b> </b>that <i>S. luctuosus</i> has had a complex population history, resulting from a high dependence on southeastern "clear-water" habitats and their availability through time. Spatial and demographic expansions towards the western "white water" flooded forests might still be ongoing. Our study reinforces the view that isolation due to absence of suitable habitat has been an important driver of population differentiation within Amazonian flooded forests, but also that differences between <i>várzeas</i> ("white water" floodplains, mostly in southwestern Amazonia) and <i>igapós</i> ("clear- water" floodplains, especially located in the east) should be further explored as powerful drivers of micro-evolution.</p>
Data from: Patterns and predictors of β-diversity in the fragmented Brazilian Atlantic forest: a multiscale analysis of forest specialist and generalist birds
1. Biodiversity maintenance in human-altered landscapes (HALs) depends on the species turnover among localities, but the patterns and determinants of β-diversity in HALs are poorly known. In fact, declines, increases, and neutral shifts in β-diversity have all been documented, depending on the landscape, ecological group and spatial scale of analysis. 2. We shed some light on this controversy by assessing the patterns and predictors of bird β-diversity across multiple spatial scales considering forest specialist and habitat generalist bird assemblages. 3. We surveyed birds from 144 point counts in 36 different forest sites across two landscapes with different amount of forest cover in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. We analysed β-diversity among points, among sites, and between landscapes with multiplicative diversity partitioning of Hill numbers. We tested whether β-diversity among points was related to within-site variations in vegetation structure, and if β-diversity among sites was related to site location and/or to differences among sites in vegetation structure and landscape composition (i.e. percent forest and pasture cover surrounding each site). 4. β-diversity between landscapes was lower than among sites and among points in both bird assemblages. In forest specialist birds, the landscape with less forest cover showed the highest β-diversity among sites (bird differentiation among sites), but generalist birds showed the opposite pattern. At the local scale, however, the less forested landscape showed the lowest β-diversity among points (bird homogenisation within sites), independently of the bird assemblage. β-diversity among points was weakly related to vegetation structure, but higher β-diversity values were recorded among sites that were more isolated from each other, and among sites with higher differences in landscape composition, particularly in the less forested landscape. 5. Our findings indicate that patterns of bird β-diversity vary across scales and are strongly related to landscape composition. Bird assemblages are shaped by both environmental filtering and dispersal limitation, particularly in less forested landscapes. Conservation and management strategies should therefore prevent deforestation in this biodiversity hotspot.
Data from: Genomic reconstruction of 100 000-year grassland history in a forested country: population dynamics of specialist forbs
Grassland ecosystems worldwide have been extensively converted to other land uses and are globally imperiled. Because many grasslands have been maintained by human activities, understanding their origin and history is fundamentally important to better contemporary management. However, existing methods to reconstruct past vegetation can produce contrasting views on grassland history. Here, we inferred demographic histories of 40 populations of four grassland forb species throughout Japan using high-resolution genome sequences and model-flexible demographic simulation based on the site frequency spectrum. Although two species showed a slight decline in population size between 100 000–10 000 years ago, our results suggest that population sizes of studied species have been maintained within the range of 0.5–2.0 times the most recent estimates for at least 100 000 years across Japan. Our results suggest that greater than 90% declines in Japanese grasslands and subsequent losses of grassland species in the last 100 years are geologically and biologically important and will have substantial consequences for Japanese biota and culture. People have had critical roles in maintaining disturbance-dependent grassland ecosystems and biota in this warm and wet forested country. In these contexts, disturbances associated with forest harvesting and traditional extensive farming have the potential to maintain grassland ecosystems and can provide important opportunities to reconcile resource production and conservation of grassland biodiversity.
Response of Avian communities to edges of tropical montane forests: Implications for the future of endemic habitat specialists
<p>Tropical montane landscapes harbor diverse flora and fauna, and many species there are ecological specialists with narrow elevational distributions, limited geographic ranges, and small global populations. Along elevational gradients, environmental conditions and community composition change dramatically over small spatial scales. As forests are disturbed and edges formed with modified habitat, natural communities could be affected differently across elevations by the many physical and biotic changes at edges. We asked whether forest edges produced altered patterns of avian species composition along a cloud forest - dry forest gradient on the Pacific slope of the Tilarán mountains in Monteverde, Costa Rica. A strong moisture gradient produces cloud forests near the ridgetops, with a concentration of species endemic to the Costa Rica – Panama highlands that are habitat specialists. We conducted 552 point counts across 110 locations from 1100 to 1800 m elevation, yielding 6586 detections of 115 species in 10 km<sup>2</sup> of montane forest. We analyzed differences in species composition and single-species abundances between interior and near-edge forest habitats for species grouped by geographic range size. Species composition changed markedly from forest edge to interior in cloud forest habitats, but not in drier forests downslope. Endemic species, especially in cloud forest, were detected less frequently in mature forest near edges than in mature forest interior, and this difference was more pronounced than for cosmopolitan species. On tropical mountainsides, we can expect habitat-specialist endemic species to be more sensitive to further habitat modification. This sensitivity could limit the resilience of tropical bird communities.</p>
Juvenile survival of a burned forest specialist in response to variation in fire characteristics
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Data from: Specialist foragers in forest bee communities are small, social or emerge early
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Response of Avian communities to edges of tropical montane forests: Implications for the future of endemic habitat specialists
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Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.
DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.