Nectarivorous Species Research Articles

Pollination by multiple species of nectar foraging Hymenoptera in Prasophyllum innubum, a critically endangered orchid of the Australian Alps

Context Australia has numerous threatened species of terrestrial orchid, with a particularly high incidence of rarity in the genus Prasophyllum R.Br. Although there has been research on mycorrhizal associations and propagation, little is known about the reproductive ecology of threatened Prasophyllum. Understanding which animals are responsible for pollination and the impact of herbivores on reproduction may inform conservation actions. Aims For the nationally Critically Endangered Prasophyllum innubum, we aimed to determine the pollinator species, test for self-pollination, quantify levels of reproductive success and herbivory, and identify herbivores. Methods Pollinator observations were undertaken at wild populations of P. innubum, whereas an experiment testing for self-pollination was undertaken in shadehouse conditions. We quantified reproductive success and herbivory at two populations and attempted to identify herbivores using game cameras. Key results Pollination occurred via three species of bee and a sphecid wasp, all of which attempted feeding on floral nectar. Fruit set averaged 72–84% at wild sites, whereas only 6% of flowers set fruit via self-pollination when insects were excluded. Just 4% of inflorescences were completely consumed by herbivores, and no herbivory was captured on camera. Conclusions P. innubum has a generalist rewarding pollination system that confers high levels of reproductive success, with herbivory having little impact on reproduction. Implications Pollinator availability is unlikely to restrict conservation translocation site selection of P. innubum because of a generalist pollination system. If herbivores are a threat for this species, it is likely to be through alteration of habitat rather than direct grazing.

Using generalised additive models to visualise the annual cycle of primary feather moult patterns

Moult is a vital but energy-demanding event in a bird's phenological cycle. Primary moult is the shedding of old feathers and the regeneration of new flight feathers to maintain efficient functioning of these critical structures. Life history events, such as moult, breeding and migration, are typically separated from one another temporally because of the costs associated with moult Thus, extrapolation of other life-history events is possible from an understanding of the primary moult schedule in species for which data are easier to collect This study aimed to explore the primary moult patterns of nine nectarivorous species (seven Sunbirds and two Sugarbirds) using data extracted from the South African Bird Ringing Unit (SAFRING) database. Logistic generalised additive models (GAMs) were fitted to active/inactive moult observations to explore annual primary moult patterns. Breeding patterns based on the presence of brood patches in females were also analysed using GAMs for species with sufficient data. The GAMs illustrated the annual patterns well, with the probability of moult having clear peaks and troughs, allowing intuitive understanding of annual life-history patterns, such as the probability of breeding. Generally, GAMs hold potential to be used as a supplementary tool to study the timing of primary moult GAMs appear especially useful for species with no well-defined annual moult period.

Constitutive Innate Immunity of Migrant and Resident Long-Nosed Bats (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) in the Drylands of Mexico

In contrast to birds, the relationship between migration and immunity has been scarcely studied in bats. We examined how the expression of the humoral portion of the constitutive immunity varied in a bat with partial, sex-biased migration: the lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae (Phyllostomidae)). The lesser long-nosed bat is a nectarivorous species distributed in the arid and semi-arid regions of North and Central America. We evaluated the bacteria-killing abilities (BKAs) of the plasma of male and female lesser long-nosed bats on the Pacific coast in different periods of the year. Because adult males are resident, they were used to explore the effect of reproductive activity on BKA, and we predicted higher values in mating males (i.e., individuals presenting scrotal testicles and a fresh dorsal patch). In contrast to males, most females migrate to cactus deserts in northern Mexico during pregnancy and lactation, and then return to the dry forests of west-central Mexico to mate. We predicted that the combined effect of breeding and migration would have an adverse effect on BKA; therefore, migratory pregnant and lactating females were expected to exhibit a lower BKA than mating females in west-central Mexico. We compared the BKAs of females captured in October and December in central Mexico, and we predicted that migratory females that had recently arrived in October should exhibit a lower BKA than females captured two months later. In addition, we compared the BKAs between lactating females and young in northern Mexico and predicted lower values in recently born individuals. We found that the BKAs of males were higher in reproductive individuals than in non-reproductive individuals. We found a significant difference in the BKAs between females at the two extremes of their migratory range: the values of pregnant females in Sonora and females in December were higher than those of females captured in October. Finally, we found no difference in BKAs between lactating females and young individuals. Our findings indicate that the basal levels of the innate humoral component are heightened in mating males, that this response is reduced in females that recently returned to their mating grounds, and that the constitutive immunity of young individuals matures early, probably in anticipation of the potential to encounter pathogens during their migration to west-central Mexico.

Palynological characterisation of palm honey (Sabal yapa) produced in Yucatan (Mexico)

The palm honey (Sabal yapa C. Wright ex Becc.) (Sabal honey henceforth) is one of 22 unifloral honeys recognised in the Yucatan Peninsula. This honey is harvested in February and March when Sabal yapa bloom but encompasses other important melliferous plants during the harvest season. A melissopalynological study of 24 honey samples from Tizimín, Yucatan (Mexico) was used to determine if Sabal honey is monofloral or multifloral, and to investigate the pollen contribution of other plants. Consequently, we determined the plant resources foraged by Apis mellifera. After analysis, 54 different pollen types were identified with the number of pollen types per honey sample ranging between nine and 21, with a mean of 14.75. Asteraceae and Fabaceae were the most diverse families and represented the highest percentage of contribution in pollen spectra. Sabal yapa pollen had a mean content of 56.9% (with a range of 45.4% to 84%). Bursera simaruba, Haematoxylum campechianum, Piscidia piscipula and Viguiera dentata were categorised as secondary pollen. Important minor pollen corresponded to Caesalpinia gaumeri, Ceiba pentandra, Pisonia aculeata, Thouinia paucidentata, and Trixis inula. Pollen composition revealed details of not only the rich native flora that accompanies Sabal yapa, but traditional human activities that occur around the apiaries. As expected, pollen of nectariferous species predominate in the samples, but also a number of nectarless species were found. Honeybees foraged mostly in trees present in remnants of primary vegetation, or at its different succession stages. Sabal honey could be labelled as monofloral.

The effect of inflorescence display size and flower position on pollination success in two deceptive and one rewarding orchid.

Inflorescence display size and flower position on the inflorescence play important roles in plant reproduction, in the formation of fruits and are primarily linked to pollinator behaviour. We used three orchids to determine how visitation rates and choice of pollinator depend on number and position of the flowers along the inflorescence. We measured reproductive success in (1) natural conditions, (2) hand-pollination experiments and (3) an experimental design, by modifying composition of inflorescences in populations of two deceptive orchids, Orchis anthropophora and O. italica, and one rewarding orchid, Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragrans. There were no differences in natural fruit production in relation to flower position on the inflorescence (i.e. upper versus lower part), suggesting no preference of pollinators for different parts of the inflorescence. Hand-pollination experiments highlighted low pollen limitation in A. coriophora subsp. fragrans but high limitation in O. italica and O. anthropophora. Reproductive success of deceptive orchids in experimental plots decreased significantly when flowers on the upper half of the inflorescence were removed leading to reduced floral display, while reproductive success of the nectariferous species did not differ significantly. Our data highlight that in the examined orchids there is no clear relationship between fruit formation and flower position along inflorescences. Thus we can affirm that, for orchids, the entire inflorescence plays a dominant role in insect attraction but the part of the flower spike does not influence the choice of the insect. This implies that all flowers have the same possibility of receiving visits from pollinators, and therefore each flower has the same opportunity to set fruit.

Coming home: modelling the mating roost of the endangered bat Leptonycteris nivalis

The Mexican Long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) is the largest nectarivorous species in the New World, and one of three migratory nectarivores in Mexico. It is considered an ‘Endangered Species’ under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and ‘Threatened’ by the Mexican Federal List of Endangered Species. In 1994, a Recovery Plan was developed by the USFWS with the participation of Mexican and American researchers, and the most urgent actions to ensure the species protection were identified. Locating and protecting roosts are among the most urgent tasks recognized. With this study, we aimed to identify the most suitable areas potentially holding additional mating roosts of Leptonycteris nivalis, and we conducted surveys of these areas to confirm its presence, and to assess the reproductive state of individuals. We used Maxent, the Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Production (GARP), and Bioclim algorithms to generate an agreement map of the potential distribution of additional mating roosts, and we implemented a Euclidian multidimensional distances analysis to identify ecologically similar regions to “La Cueva del Diablo”, the only mating roost known for the species. We identified suitable areas in the states of Morelos, Puebla and the State of Mexico. We visited seventeen caves distributed in ten different localities in these areas. For two consecutive years, we found the species in a cave called: “La Cueva de los Coyotes”, located in the State of Mexico, where we captured eighteen individuals, including a pregnant female. The location of an unknown roost so far, occupied by individuals of L. nivalis, and among them a pregnant female, allows us to reflect about the reproductive dynamics of the species. In that sense, reproductive populations may be splitting into smaller colonies to mate, other than “La Cueva del Diablo”, or pregnant females might me moving to additional and nearby roosts to spend the rest of the winter season. Using these tools and further refinements we may be able to locate additional mating roosts, thus, providing more possibilities for the application of conservation measures for the protection of the species.

Season and sugar concentration affect bird behaviour at urban sugar-water feeders

ABSTRACT Sugar-water bird feeding in residential backyards is increasingly popular, but its effects on wildlife are poorly understood. One concern is whether it results in maladaptive behaviour, such as reliance on artificial food or increased aggression due to increased density of visiting individuals. We studied sugar-water feeder-associated bird behaviour in two cities with different climates. We investigate whether season, city, or sugar concentration influenced bird foraging activity and aggressiveness. We then test whether feeder presence affected backyard bird composition. Birds were most aggressive and used sugar-water feeders most actively in winter, especially the omnivorous native tauhou (Zosterops lateralis). We also found city and seasonal differences in sugar-water feeder usage and aggression. Further, in Auckland, the city with the warmer climate, New Zealand’s largest nectarivorous species, tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), was more likely to be aggressive at feeders with higher sugar concentrations but foraged longer at feeders with lower sugar concentrations. Neither feeder presence nor sugar concentration influenced garden bird species richness or abundance. We discuss the effects of sugar-water feeding on bird behaviour at the global and local scale and suggest future study directions.

Floral gland diversity in Pleurothallidinae (Epidendroideae–Orchidaceae)

Pleurothallidinae are a diverse Neotropical subtribe of Orchidaceae pollinated by Diptera. Here, our goal was to map how myophily and deceptive sapromyophily appears in the Pleurothallidinae’ lineages, analyzing the morphological and topological variations of the floral glands in a phylogenetic framework. Scanning electron and light microscopy were employed to examine the glands located on the ovary, sepals, and labellum of twenty-eight species belonging to the subtribe. Colleters could be considered as a new morphological synapomorphy due to their widespread occurrence on the external ovary wall, while multicellular and unicellular oil-producing glands were also identified on this organ for the first time. Myophilous or nectariferous species usually have unicellular trichomes on the labellum and this trait appears in four lineages restricted to the basal nodes of the phylogenetic tree. Sapromyophilous species normally possess sticky-exudate glands and/or osmophores, the former being considered as an evolutionary novelty in Pleurothallidinae lineages. Sepaline osmophores are commonly found in myophilous and sapromyophilous species. Osmophores constituted by unicellular secretory trichomes mostly occur on the labellum and probably have a unique relationship with directional evolution related to sapromyophily. The diversity in the secretion of the labellum's glands includes monosaccharides, polysaccharides, and lipophilic compounds, which lead us to propose that heterochronic events are involved to the synthesis of these compounds by pleurothallidineaen species.

Peculiarities of the Middle Prydniprovia forest plantations use with the participation of Robinia pseudoacacia as raw material land for beekeeping

Preconditions for the creation of artificial forest plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia L. in Kaniv Prydniprovia region, which were planted on ravine-beam systems and Dnipro cliffs during forest reclamation measures fighting against erosion processes, are presented. At the beginning of the 20th century, it began to be widely used in afforestation of areas with heavily washed-out soils, in particular on the steep slopes of ravines, on their bottoms and on the slopes of landslide terraces. Artificially created Robinia pseudoacacia plantations, in addition to their soil protection and water retention role, had a significant list of useful properties: wood source, medicinal plant, raw material base for beekeeping. Ecological and coenotic features of artificially formed plantations and spontaneously formed phytocenoses of Robinia pseudoacacia are reflected. A list of accompanying tree, shrub and herbaceous species of nectar- and pollen-bearing ecosystems of the Kaniv Nature Reserve, which grow in artificial plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia, which may also have some raw material value for beekeeping, has been formed. The data of phenological observations on the beginning of its flowering on the territory of Kaniv Nature Reserve during the last 50 years are given, where, depending on the temperature conditions in diffe rent years, it began to bloom in the time range of 30 days. The dependence of honey productivity of an apiary with a constant number of bee colonies on certain characteristics of weather conditions during the last 10 years is analyzed. The performance of the Robinia pseudoacacia honey harvest is not stable due to differences in weather conditions from year to year. There is a slight direct positive relationship between the amount of honey obtained and the sum of average daily temperatures for the second and third decade of May.

In search of bachelorettes: Observations of male Leptonycteris yerbabuenae with dorsal patches across its range

The lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) is a partially migratory, nectarivorous species that exhibits reproductive asynchrony across its range. Both migratory and resident populations of sexually active males of L. yerbabuenae may form an odoriferous dorsal patch during their mating season. This is created by smearing saliva, urogenital fluids, and anal secretions over the interscapular dorsal region with their feet. Dorsal patches are believed to influence female mate choice. We synthesized the sightings of male dorsal patches across the species’ range, including gathering new observations of male L. yerbabuenae with dorsal patches captured at the northern extent of their range and citing previously unreported observations that we obtained by contacting other researchers. We also conducted a literature review to include all previously documented records of male L. yerbabuenae presenting dorsal patches. We document the first observations of male L. yerbabuenae with dorsal patches in the southwestern United States. In the Big Hatchet Mountains in New Mexico, we captured 1 male with a developed dorsal patch (i. e., bare dorsal skin with sticky fur) on 25 July 2019 and two others on the night of 13 August 2019. New observations of males with developed dorsal patches were obtained from Hilltop Mine in Arizona (June 2006 or 2007) and at a hummingbird feeder at a residence near the Hilltop Mine (July 2013). A male with a recovering dorsal patch (i. e., bare dorsal skin with regenerating fur) was also captured in a roost near Patagonia, Arizona, in late August 2008 and at a hummingbird feeder at a residence near Silver City, New Mexico (September 2021). All previously published records of males with dorsal patches occurred in roosts in Mexico during known mating seasons. These new observations suggest that L. yerbabuenae may breed in New Mexico and Arizona between June and August, but follow-up studies are needed to confirm this behavior. Much of the reproductive biology of this important pollinator remains unknown. Therefore, identifying regions where males present dorsal patches may not only assist in locating and protecting mating roosts, but would also further our understanding of the population ecology of this migratory species.

Impacts of a large hydroelectric dam on the Madeira River (Brazil) on floodplain avifauna

ABSTRACT Hydroelectric dams represent an important threat to seasonally flooded environments in the Amazon basin. We aimed to evaluate how a dam in the Madeira River, one of the largest tributaries of the Amazonas River, affected floodplain avifauna. Bird occurrence was recorded through simultaneous passive acoustic monitoring in early successional vegetation and floodplain forest downstream from the dam and upstream in sites impacted by permanent flooding after dam reservoir filling. Species were identified through manual inspection and semi-automated classification of the recordings. To assess the similarity in vegetation between downstream and upstream sites, we used Landsat TM/ETM+ composite images from before (2009-2011) and after (2016-2018) reservoir filling. Downstream and upstream floodplain forest sites were similar before, but not after dam construction. Early successional vegetation sites were already different before dam construction. We recorded 195 bird species. While species richness did not differ between upstream and downstream sites, species composition differed significantly. Ten species were indicators of early successional vegetation upstream, and four downstream. Ten species were indicators of floodplain forest upstream, and 31 downstream. Seven of 24 floodplain specialist species were detected by the semi-automated classification only upstream. While we found some bird species characteristic of early successional vegetation in the upstream sites, we did not find most species characteristic of tall floodplain forest. Predominantly carnivorous, insectivorous, and nectarivorous species appear to have been replaced by generalist and widely distributed species.

Geographical and temporal distribution of hawkmoth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) species in Africa.

BackgroundHawkmoths consist of species where most adults are nocturnal, but there are some day-flying genera. Hawkmoth species have a wide variety of life-history traits, comprising species with adults (mostly nectarivorous though with some exceptions, honey-feeding), but there are also species that do not feed at all. The nectarivorous species are an important component of tropical ecosystems, with significant roles as major pollinators of both crops and wild flora with the pollination done by the adult stage. Pollinators are in decline world-wide and there is need for baseline data to provide information about their conservation strategies. Species occurrence data from Museum collections have been shown to be of great value as a tool for prioritising conservation actions in Africa. The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) have a large and active entomology collection that is in continuous growth. The NMK’s collection of hawkmoths had not been digitised prior to 2017. This moth family Sphingidae includes about 1,602 species and 205 genera worldwide (Kitching et al. 2018) with the majority of these species occurring in Africa. These moth species can also be used as indicators in biodiversity assessments as they can be easily sampled and identified. However, hawkmoths have rarely been surveyed over the long term for this purpose. Long-term datasets are of unquestionable significance for understanding and monitoring temporal changes in biodiversity. These hawkmoth data have addressed one of the most significant challenges to insect conservation, the lack of baseline information concerning species diversity and distribution and have provided key historic hawkmoth species diversity and distribution data that can be used to monitor their populations in the face of climate change and other environmental degradation issues that are facing the world today. The publication of the hawkmoth species occurrence data records in GBIF has enhanced data visibility to a wider audience promoting availability for use.New informationThe hawkmoth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) collection at the National Museums of Kenya was digitised from 2017 – 2020 and this paper presents details of species occurrence records as in the insect collection at the NMK, Nairobi, Kenya.The collection holds 5,095 voucher specimens consisting of 88 genera and 208 species. The collection covers the period between 1904 and 2020.The geographical distribution of the hawkmoths housed at the NMK covers East Africa at 81.41%, West Africa at 7.20%, Southern Africa at 6.89%, Central Africa at 4.02% and North Africa at 0.2%.

Floral Nectar Chemistry in Orchids: A Short Review and Meta-Analysis.

Nectar is one of the most important flower traits, shaping plant–pollinator interactions and reproductive success. Despite Orchidaceae including numerous nectariferous species, nectar chemistry in this family has been infrequently studied. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compile data about nectar attributes in different orchid species. The scarcity of data restricted analyses to sugar concentration and composition. Our results suggest that the most important factor shaping nectar traits in orchids is the pollinator type, although we also found differentiation of nectar traits according to geographical regions. In spurred orchids, the length of the spur impacted nectar traits. We recommend the development of studies on nectar chemistry in orchids, including a wider range of species (both in taxonomic and geographical contexts), as well as extending the analyses to other nectar components (such as amino acids and secondary metabolites). The nectar biome would be also worth investigating, since it could affect the chemical composition of nectar. This will enrich the understanding of the mechanisms of plants–pollinators interactions.

Pollination and nectar larceny by birds and bees in novel forests of the Hawaiian Islands

The extinction of native species and introduction of non-native species may lead to the disruption of biotic interactions. Pollination is a critical ecosystem process that often requires mutualisms between animals and plants. Non-native animals may interact with native flowering plants, with the potential to pollinate or steal nectar (larceny) from flowers without pollination. In the Hawaiian Islands, many native plants have lost their original pollinators. Birds and insects are known to visit native plant flowers, but it is unclear whether they pollinate or steal nectar, whether native and non-native species differ in their interactions with flowers, and what influences visitation to flowers. On Oʻahu, we deployed camera traps and conducted in-person observations on four at-risk species of Hawaiian lobelioids (Campanulaceae). We observed birds, mammals, and insects visiting flowers, with a native bird and native bee visiting most frequently. Regardless of native versus non-native status, bees made contact with reproductive structures during most visits (90.5% of visits), while birds stole nectar during most visits (99.3% of visits). Bee and bird visitation increased with the number of flowers on focal plants. Bird visitation also increased with canopy cover and the number of nearby conspecific flowers and decreased with the number of nearby heterospecific flowers. Our results indicate that bees may pollinate plants that were historically bird-pollinated, while native and non-native birds have neutral or negative impacts on these plants. Broadly, we contribute to an understanding of how native plant pollination can be altered in changing ecosystems.

Asynchrony between solitary bee emergence and flower availability reduces flower visitation rate and may affect offspring size

Climate change can disrupt plant-pollinator interactions when shifts in the timing of pollinator activity and flowering occur unequally (i.e., phenological asynchrony). Phenological asynchrony between spring-emerging solitary bees and spring-flowering plants may cause bees to experience food deprivation that can affect their reproductive success. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of food deprivation on solitary bee reproduction remain unknown. We investigated 1) whether food deprivation caused by phenological asynchrony affects solitary bee reproduction by influencing female lifespan and/or visitation to flowers, and 2) the relationship between the magnitude of asynchrony and bee responses. We simulated phenological asynchrony by depriving emerged female Osmia cornifrons (a spring-active solitary bee species) of nectar and pollen for 0 to 16 days. Following asynchrony treatments, we used flight cages to monitor 1) post-treatment female lifespan, 2) flower visitation, and 3) reproduction (i.e., total offspring, offspring weight, sex ratio). We found that post-treatment female lifespan was not affected by phenological asynchrony treatments, but that flower visitation rate and offspring weight decreased as the magnitude of asynchrony increased. Due to low offspring production and a lack of female offspring across treatments, we were unable to assess the effects of phenological asynchrony on total offspring produced or sex ratio. Findings suggest that post-emergence food deprivation caused by phenological asynchrony may affect offspring size by influencing nest-provisioning rates. In solitary bees, body size influences wintering survival, fecundity, and mating success. Thus, phenological asynchrony may have consequences for solitary bee populations that stem from reduced flower visitation rates, and these consequences may increase as the magnitude of asynchrony increases. Because many wild flowering plants and crops rely on pollination services provided by bees for reproductive success, bee responses to phenological asynchrony may also affect wild plant biodiversity and crop yields.

Sugar water feeding practices are associated with bird species composition in urban backyards

Abstract Feeding backyard birds with sugar water is increasingly popular in urban areas, but it has poorly understood effects on bird assemblages. In New Zealand, ca. 20% of households engaged in feeding wild birds use sugar water, often in an attempt to attract native, nectarivorous birds. Developing best practices for sugar water feeding could be a powerful tool for attracting these species in urban areas. However, it is currently unclear whether these feeders actually support native species, and, if so, which feeding practices are most effective in increasing visitation. We surveyed New Zealanders who provide sugar water to birds about their feeding practices via an online questionnaire. The aim of our research was to understand existing practices and their effect on attracting native species, as well as the motivations and social factors behind urban sugar water bird feeding. Our results show that this practice is popular throughout the country with the majority of households successful in attracting native nectarivorous species to their gardens. Sugar water feeder type had the largest effect on reported species richness at feeders in comparison to other factors (e.g. sugar concentration). Feeders specifically designed for nectarivorous birds, namely the Tui Nectar Feeder™, are more successful at attracting natives in comparison to other commonly used feeder types. Thus, individual householder decisions around feeder use can have important consequences for bird species composition in urban gardens. Future research is needed to understand the consequences of sugar water feeding for bird communities and individual bird health.

Differences in the bird community between a regenerating area and a native forest in Southeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT Restoration of degraded areas might be assessed via faunal communities of a particular region, and birds are one of the taxa most suitable in such assessments. This study evaluated the dynamics of a bird community in an area of Cerrado under natural regeneration, comparing it with one in the forest remnants. Birds were censused by a total of 24 point counts in both areas comprising 96 h of total sampling. Richness, abundance and diversity were greater at the regeneration area, possibly due to the heterogeneity of habitats, the consequent niche diversity, and the connectivity between patches of vegetation. Functional groups were also distinct between both sites, including species composition, feeding guilds and foraging strata. The regeneration site presented a higher abundance of omnivorous, granivorous and nectarivorous species, which might be related to the presence of sparser canopy, multiple opportunities for the development of grasses and forest-edge plants blooms in open areas. In contrast, higher abundance of invertebrate predators and frugivorous was found in the forested area, further confirming the relationship between those guilds and dense vegetation cover with closed canopies.

Biodiversity Climate Shifts: shaping data transformation and evaluation

Ecosystem services provided by biodiversity are associated with supporting life on the planet. Climate change has negatively impacted biodiversity, altering the phenology and geographical distribution of species and the interaction between them. In megadiverse areas, such as tropical forests, studies of species interactions that consider all the species of flora and fauna are not feasible due to our limited knowledge of biodiversity and the necessity of extensive and costly fieldwork. Instead, Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) techniques can be used, together with other species information (e.g., pollination syndrome) as a proxy for these interactions to estimate spatial patterns of potential distribution dynamics. In this study, we modeled our process steps to obtain the estimated future climate shifts and identification of climatically stable areas over time. These areas may represent climatic refuges and future actions to increase the connectivity between them are strategies that could help mitigate potential future damage for biodiversity conservation. Our resulting evaluation data processing flow originated from our group process analysis applied to the Carajás region (Brazil) in which we identified the probable losses of nectarivorous bat species (pollinators), on the order of 66% (Costa et al. 2018); nectarivorous birds, on the order of 60% (Miranda et al. 2019); and bees, on the order of 85% (Giannini et al. 2020) until 2050. Our process, described using the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) is represented in Fig. 1. Our group is preparing a data paper with all of our generated data and programs/libraries to be released as soon as possible.

Patchy landscapes support more plant diversity and ecosystem services than wood grasslands in Mediterranean silvopastoral agroforestry systems

Plant diversity and proxy indicators of ecosystem services were assessed for three structural components of Mediterranean silvopastoral agroforestry systems: WL = cork oak woodlands, WG = cork oak wood grasslands, and OG = open grasslands. Our study was conducted in a long-term observatory located in NE Sardinia, characterized by fragmented land ownership and land use, which generates a patchy landscape that is different from the extensively studied large scale Iberian dehesas and montados. Our research question was focused on assessing whether, a “patchy” land use scenario made of the combination of WL, WG and OG or a “specialized” scenario could provide more plant diversity and ecosystem services than a “dehesa type” scenario including only WG under the same overall tree cover. The results showed that γ and β diversity, species unique to a position, C stock, cork and acorn production, Hemicryptophytes cover, nectariferous species cover, decreased and pastoral value, excellent and good forage species and legume cover, increased along the WL➔WG➔OG land use gradient. Isolated trees in WG and clearings in WL highly contributed to achieving mainly high C stock and plant diversity respectively. The results also showed that the “specialized” scenario can support higher biodiversity and better ecosystem services than the “dehesa type” scenario, but the “patchy” scenario made of all three components proved to support the highest level of both biodiversity and ecosystem services in Mediterranean silvopastoral agroforestry systems.

The external ear morphology and presence of tragi in Australian marsupials.

Multiple studies have described the anatomy and function of the external ear (pinna) of bats, and other placental mammals, however, studies of marsupial pinna are largely absent. In bats, the tragus appears to be especially important for locating and capturing insect prey. In this study, we aimed to investigate the pinnae of Australian marsupials, with a focus on the presence/absence of tragi and how they may relate to diet. We investigated 23 Australian marsupial species with varying diets. The pinnae measurements (scapha width, scapha length) and tragi (where present) were measured. The interaural distance and body length were also recorded for each individual. Results indicated that all nectarivorous, carnivorous, and insectivorous species had tragi with the exception of the insectivorous striped possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata), numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus), and nectarivorous sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps). No herbivorous or omnivorous species had tragi. Based on the findings in this study, and those conducted on placental mammals, we suggest marsupials use tragi in a similar way to placentals to locate and target insectivorous prey. The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) displayed the largest interaural distance that likely aids in better localization and origin of noise associated with prey detection. In contrast, the smallest interaural distance was exhibited by a macropod. Previous studies have suggested the hearing of macropods is especially adapted to detect warnings of predators made by conspecifics. While the data in this study demonstrate a diversity in pinnae among marsupials, including presence and absence of tragi, it suggests that there is a correlation between pinna structure and diet choice among marsupials. A future study should investigate a larger number of individuals and species and include marsupials from Papua New Guinea, and Central and South America as a comparison.