scholarly journals A new comprehensive trait database of European and Maghreb butterflies, Papilionoidea

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Middleton-Welling ◽  
Leonardo Dapporto ◽  
Enrique García-Barros ◽  
Martin Wiemers ◽  
Piotr Nowicki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Vegetation Changes ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Multinomial Data ◽  
Northwest Africa ◽  
Indicator Group ◽  
Information Sets ◽  
Ecological Conservation ◽  
Abundance And Distribution

Abstract Trait-based analyses explaining the different responses of species and communities to environmental changes are increasing in frequency. European butterflies are an indicator group that responds rapidly to environmental changes with extensive citizen science contributions to documenting changes of abundance and distribution. Species traits have been used to explain long- and short-term responses to climate, land-use and vegetation changes. Studies are often characterised by limited trait sets being used, with risks that the relative roles of different traits are not fully explored. Butterfly trait information is dispersed amongst various sources and descriptions sometimes differ between sources. We have therefore drawn together multiple information sets to provide a comprehensive trait database covering 542 taxa and 25 traits described by 217 variables and sub-states of the butterflies of Europe and Maghreb (northwest Africa) which should serve for improved trait-based ecological, conservation-related, phylogeographic and evolutionary studies of this group of insects. We provide this data in two forms; the basic data and as processed continuous and multinomial data, to enhance its potential usage.

scholarly journals Effect of cold fronts on the benthic macrofauna of exposed sandy beaches with contrasting morphodynamics

2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliana dos Santos Alves ◽  
Paulo Ricardo Pezzuto
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Sandy Beaches ◽  
Benthic Macrofauna ◽  
Swash Zone ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Cold Fronts ◽  
Rapid Restoration ◽  
Abundance And Distribution

The aim of this study was to determine the short-term environmental changes caused by the simultaneous passage of a high energy event on two sandy beaches with different morphodynamic states and their influence on the richness, abundance and distribution of the benthic macrofauna. Two microtidal exposed sandy beaches with contrasting morphodynamics were simultaneously sampled before, during and after the passage of two cold fronts in Santa Catarina. The reflective beach showed a higher susceptibility to the increase in wave energy produced by the passage of cold fronts and was characterized by rapid and intense erosive processes in addition to a capacity for rapid restoration of the beach profile. As regards the dissipative beach, erosive processes operated more slowly and progressively, and it was characterized further by a reduced capacity for the recovery of its sub-aerial profile. Although the intensity of the environmental changes was distinct as between the morphodynamic extremes, changes in the composition, richness and abundance of macrobenthos induced by cold fronts were not evident for either of the beaches studied. On the other hand, alterations in the distribution pattern of the macrofauna were observed on the two beaches and were related to variations in sea level, position of the swash zone and moisture gradient, suggesting that short-term accommodations in the spatial structure of the macrobenthos occur in response to changes in environmental conditions in accordance with the temporal dynamics characteristic of each morphodynamic state.

Ecological succession as an aspect of structure in fossil communities

Paleobiology ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth R. Walker ◽  
Leonard P. Alberstadt
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Niche Specialization ◽  
Pattern Diversity ◽  
Physical Environments ◽  
Autogenic Succession ◽  
Succession Stage ◽  
Stratigraphic Sequences

Succession involves changes in a community through time, whether internally or externally controlled. As succession progresses, niche specialization, species diversity (variety and equitability), complexity of food chains, and pattern diversity increase; net production and species growth rate decrease. We apply the succession concept to three types of ancient community sequences: 1) fossil reefs (Ordovician—Cretaceous in age), 2) short-term successions occurring through thin stratigraphic intervals, and 3) long-term successions occurring through thicker stratigraphic intervals. Ancient reefs show four vertical zones: (1) a basal stabilization zone (autogenic), 2) the overlying colonization zone (autogenic, pioneer stage), 3) the diversification zone, the bulk of most reefs (diversification culminating in climax), and 4) the uppermost domination zone. The first three zones represent autogenic succession but the final stage may involve allogenic succession. Short-term succession usually occurs where periodic allogenic catastrophes wipe out the community which is rebuilt through autogenic succession. Opportunistic pioneer species are important and in our examples (Ordovician, Silurian, and Cretaceous) are species which pave soft substrata. Paleozoic strophomenid brachiopods filled this role, and inoceramid pelecypods served the function in the Mesozoic. The succession which begins with opportunists progresses to a climax community of equilibrists. Repetition of catastrophe-succession couplets produces a cyclic stratigraphic record. Long-term successions are recorded in thicker stratigraphic sequences, and are of two types: 1) autogenic succession in unchanging physical environments and 2) allogenic succession in changing physical environments. Our examples of these are from the Devonian Haragan-Bois D'Arc formations of Oklahoma and the Lime Creek Formation of Iowa. This type of succession represents a temporal-spatial mosaic. The Haragan data (unchanging environments) indicate characteristic, intergrading, and ubiquitous species in the brachiopod communities. Most ubiquitous species in the pioneer community were eurytopic opportunists. The Lime Creek data allows testing of the prediction that environmental changes cause regression to an earlier succession stage. The brachiopod communities after environmental changes have more ubiquitous and intergrading eurytopic species. These represent an earlier stage in the succession.

The developmental history of peatlands at Muskiki and Marguerite lakes, Alberta

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (12) ◽  
pp. 3534-3544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Kubiw ◽  
Michael Hickman ◽  
Dale F. Vitt
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Warm Period ◽  
Vegetation Changes ◽  
Developmental History ◽  
Peat Accumulation ◽  
Fire Activity ◽  
History Of ◽  
Peat Stratigraphy

The peat stratigraphy of fens at Muskiki Lake (52°50′N, 116°51′W) and Marguerite Lake (54°38′N, 110°43′W) in central Alberta was examined to determine the developmental history of the fens on the basis of radiocarbon dating and bryophyte macrofossil analyses. Peat accumulation at Muskiki Lake peatland began about 9000 years BP via lake filling. Expansion of the peatland by paludification and vegetation changes, including string and flark formation, are secondary occurrences, the latter occurring subsequent to environmental changes, including mid-Holocene thermal events. Peat inception at Marguerite Lake began about 2400 years BP via paludification. This delay, relative to Muskiki Lake peatland, may be related to the mid-Holocene warm period. Fire activity and increased wetness, as well as autogenic successional processes, altered species composition and abundance.

scholarly journals A global database for metacommunity ecology, integrating species, traits, environment and space

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alienor Jeliazkov ◽  
Darko Mijatovic ◽  
Stéphane Chantepie ◽  
Nigel Andrew ◽  
Raphaël Arlettaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Global Database ◽  
Metacommunity Ecology ◽  
Species Trait ◽  
Spatial Coordinates ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Case Basis

AbstractThe use of functional information in the form of species traits plays an important role in explaining biodiversity patterns and responses to environmental changes. Although relationships between species composition, their traits, and the environment have been extensively studied on a case-by-case basis, results are variable, and it remains unclear how generalizable these relationships are across ecosystems, taxa and spatial scales. To address this gap, we collated 80 datasets from trait-based studies into a global database for metaCommunity Ecology: Species, Traits, Environment and Space; “CESTES”. Each dataset includes four matrices: species community abundances or presences/absences across multiple sites, species trait information, environmental variables and spatial coordinates of the sampling sites. The CESTES database is a live database: it will be maintained and expanded in the future as new datasets become available. By its harmonized structure, and the diversity of ecosystem types, taxonomic groups, and spatial scales it covers, the CESTES database provides an important opportunity for synthetic trait-based research in community ecology.

scholarly journals Gloxinia—An Open-Source Sensing Platform to Monitor the Dynamic Responses of Plants

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 3055
Author(s):  
Olivier Pieters ◽  
Tom De Swaef ◽  
Peter Lootens ◽  
Michiel Stock ◽  
Isabel Roldán-Ruiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Dynamic Responses ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Data Logging ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Sensing Platforms

The study of the dynamic responses of plants to short-term environmental changes is becoming increasingly important in basic plant science, phenotyping, breeding, crop management, and modelling. These short-term variations are crucial in plant adaptation to new environments and, consequently, in plant fitness and productivity. Scalable, versatile, accurate, and low-cost data-logging solutions are necessary to advance these fields and complement existing sensing platforms such as high-throughput phenotyping. However, current data logging and sensing platforms do not meet the requirements to monitor these responses. Therefore, a new modular data logging platform was designed, named Gloxinia. Different sensor boards are interconnected depending upon the needs, with the potential to scale to hundreds of sensors in a distributed sensor system. To demonstrate the architecture, two sensor boards were designed—one for single-ended measurements and one for lock-in amplifier based measurements, named Sylvatica and Planalta, respectively. To evaluate the performance of the system in small setups, a small-scale trial was conducted in a growth chamber. Expected plant dynamics were successfully captured, indicating proper operation of the system. Though a large scale trial was not performed, we expect the system to scale very well to larger setups. Additionally, the platform is open-source, enabling other users to easily build upon our work and perform application-specific optimisations.

Testing temporal stability of the larval digenean community in Heleobia conexa (Mollusca: Cochliopidae) and its possible use as an indicator of environmental fluctuations

Parasitology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. MERLO ◽  
J. A. ETCHEGOIN
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Temporal Stability ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Buenos Aires Province ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Environmental Disturbances ◽  
Preferred Habitat ◽  
Environmental Fluctuations ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Potential Use

SUMMARYLarval digeneans have been proposed as indicators of abundance and diversity of vertebrate and other hosts as well as environmental disturbances. To evaluate its response to environmental changes and its potential use as an indicator of environmental fluctuations, the temporal stability of the community of larval digeneans in Heleobia conexa was comparatively analysed in 4 separate years (1996, 1999, 2004 and 2005) in Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Buenos Aires province, Argentina). In total, 4579 specimens of H. conexa were collected and 22 digenean species were observed. Overall prevalence presented inter-annual and seasonal differences. These differences correlate with seasonal changes in composition of the vertebrate definitive host community and with the elimination of the preferred habitat of H. conexa in 1999. In general, the larval digenean community of H. conexa showed a yearly re-establishment following the annual cycle of H. conexa and the presence of definitive hosts. This annual restructuring allowed inferences about the effects of short-term environmental changes in the lagoon. According to these observations, the larval digenean community of H. conexa could be considered as a good bio-indicator with quick response to environmental disturbances.

Krill (Euphausiacea) demography and variability in abundance and distribution

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (S3) ◽  
pp. 151-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Siegel
Keyword(s):  
Energy Flow ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Survival Strategies ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Species Survival ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Abundance And Distribution ◽  
Geographical Locations

Among euphausiids, there are many species that are represented by enormous numbers of individuals and are of considerable importance to various ecosystems, as well as to human exploitation. Considerable progress has been made regarding quantitative aspects of krill biology. This detailed knowledge about krill population parameters is necessary to answer questions about the importance of euphausiids to energy flow through certain ecosystems. This information also helps in assessing the importance of seasonal or long-term climate effects on variation in euphausiid populations because variability is not simply noise. Hypotheses have been developed as to how large seasonal or latitudinal environmental changes affect species survival strategies in poor conditions and maintenance of a stable population level. This paper discusses aspects of the spatial distribution with regard to seasonal and interannual changes, developments to define genetically distinct populations, and results of long-term variability in krill abundance and biomass for various species in different geographical locations.

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