Oak Woodlands Research Articles

Studies on Neotropical Pseudophyllinae: Integrative description of Dentotibium gen. nov., and of a toothed foretibia katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) that sings from burrows in branches

Herein, we describe the genus Dentotibiumgen. nov. and the species D. ramucantorissp. nov, a toothed foretibia katydid within the subfamily Pseudophyllinae from Colombia. This new katydid is a forest dweller inhabiting oak woodlands between 1600 and 2300 m above sea level, only found in the western slopes of the Eastern Andes of Boyacá Department, Colombia. This new species burrows in woody branches and shows big heads in both sexes. The appearance of Dentotibiumgen. nov. is similar to that of Trichotettix Stål, 1873 but differs in having tubercles over the dorsal margin of the foretibiae. It is also close to Nastonotus Bolívar, 1890, but differs from in lacking the three black stripes in the vertex and having a less marked frontal suture and smoother face. Males sing all night long, and their calling song consists of periodic syllables with three differentiable phases. Seasonal calling activity lowers remarkably during the dry season (Jun–Aug). DNA barcoding sequences for the paratypes made available in a previous study are included here.

Cortinarius (Basidiomycota, Cortinariaceae) section Crassispori revisited: resolving the C. chevassutii complex and demystifying C. variebulbus

Numerous collections made in deciduous and evergreen oak woodlands of Europe allowed us to re-evaluate, both morphologically and molecularly, the systematic position and taxonomic boundaries of Cortinarius chevassutii f. personatus. This infraspecific taxon and Cortinarius chevassutii share the same ecological niche, an identical distribution pattern, and can even co-occur in the same spot, making their distinction quite challenging, morphologically. However, the phylogenetic analysis of our broad dataset supports two reproductively isolated taxa that both deserve the rank of species. According to recent findings, Cortinarius pseudobulliardioides is the name to apply to the former C. chevassutii f. personatus. Based on present knowledge, spore size and average length/width ratio represents the most reliable diagnostic criterion to separate the two species. Additionally, through next generation sequencing (Illumina) of its holotype, we here reveal the phylogenetic position of Cortinarius variebulbus within the same sect. Crassispori. Recent phylogenetically confirmed collections of this species allow us to document and illustrate this taxon for the first time.

Overstorey leaf production and emergence of sassafras saplings in a southwest Missouri oak woodland: An analysis based upon long-term effects of fire

Overstorey leaf production and emergence of sassafras saplings in a southwest Missouri oak woodland: An analysis based upon long-term effects of fire

Overstory and fuel traits drive moisture dynamics of mesophytic and pyrophytic leaf litter and 10-h woody debris fuels in a mixed longleaf pine-hardwood woodland

BackgroundFollowing decades of fire exclusion, many open pine and oak forests across the central and eastern US are shifting to closed-canopy forests that are increasingly dominated by shade-tolerant, fire-sensitive species (i.e., mesophytes). As mesophytes encroach into historically pyrophytic landscapes, changes in crown traits and understory microclimate may interact with fine fuel traits to influence fuel moisture retention, and ultimately, fire behavior. To better understand potential interactions among overstory trees and underlying fine fuels that occur during mesophyte encroachment, we measured in situ drying rates of leaf litter and 10-h woody debris of three functional groups (pyrophytic pine, pyrophytic oak, and mesophytic oak) in gaps and beneath overstory trees of each functional group within a longleaf pine-mixed oak woodland along with crown (area, volume, cover), leaf litter (curling, thickness, specific leaf area, volume), and woody debris (density) traits of each functional group and understory microclimate (vapor pressure deficit (VPD)).ResultsWe found that leaf litter from pyrophytic and mesophytic oaks had higher initial moisture content than pyrophytic pines, but pyrophytic pine and pyrophytic oak leaf litter dried 1.5 times faster than that of mesophytic oaks, likely due to their greater leaf curl, thickness, and volume. Initial moisture content of mesophytic oak woody fuels was lower than that of pyrophytic pine and pyrophytic oak, potentially because of higher wood density, but there were no differences in fuel drying rates. Regardless of fuel functional type, leaf litter and woody fuels dried 1.5 times faster in gaps and underneath pyrophytic pine compared to mesophytic oaks, likely due to the more open conditions in these areas. Notably overstory functional group and time of the day interacted to influence VPD, with VPD increasing throughout the day for all groups, but more so for gaps and beneath pyrophytic pines than either oak functional group.ConclusionsThus, fuel and crown traits differentially impacted understory microclimate and leaf litter and 10-h woody debris drying rates, leading to slower drying of fuels of encroaching mesophytes compared to pyrophytic pines and oaks, which could lead to reduced forest flammability, and consequently, the continued encroachment of mesophytic species into fire-dependent pine and oak forests.

Beetle assemblage distribution along edge–forest gradient in a managed oak forest

Abstract Forest management practices creating small‐scale forest edge habitats in managed forests have substantial impacts on the formation of beetle assemblages. In 2021, we conducted research in a managed oak woodland in Central Slovakia using three flight interception traps (FITs) to study beetle assemblages. Two FITs were installed at the forest edge, facing both, the clearing and the closed‐stand forest, while the third FIT was positioned 100 m within the closed‐canopy forest. We employed a novel methodological approach, which involved separately collected subsamples within the ecotone using FITs differentiated as ‘ecotone inwards’ and ‘ecotone outwards’ to capture distinct directional movements at the edge. We recorded 5.997 beetle specimens, encompassing 417 species across 284 genera and 58 families. We found that the species diversity and abundance of beetles were not significantly different between the FITs. However, the species composition was significantly different. The partial detrended canonical correspondence analysis suggests that these compositional differences might be closely associated with the distribution of trophic guilds, indicating varied responses to habitat modifications induced by forest edge creation. The results of our study showed that phloephagous, saproxylophagous, xylomycetophagous, xylophagous and zoophagous beetles exhibited a positive association with the forest edge, while mycophagous, phytophagous and saprophagous groups were distinctly associated with the closed‐canopy forest. Our analyses indicated that the ‘ecotone outward’ part of forest edges of managed forest may attract higher number of trophic groups, while the ‘ecotone inward’ part of the forest edge hosted high abundances of phloephagous and xylomycetophagous species.

Looking at the modern landscape of submediterranean Greece through a palaeoecological lens

The importance of understanding the long-lasting legacy of past land use on modern ecosystems has long been acknowledged. However, the magnitude and persistence of such legacies have been assessed only occasionally. Northern Greece has been a gateway of farming into mainland Europe during the Neolithic, thus providing a perfect setting to assess the potential impact of land-use history on present-day ecosystems. Additionally, the marked Holocene climatic variability of the southern Balkans makes it possible to investigate climate-vegetation-land use interactions over long timescales. Here, we have studied a sediment record from Limni Vegoritis (Northern Greece) spanning the past ∼9000 years using palaeoecological proxies (pollen, spores, stomata, microscopic charcoal). We aimed to reconstruct long-term vegetation dynamics in submediterranean Greece, to assess the environmental factors controlling them and to establish the legacies of the long history of land use in the modern landscape. We found that the Early Holocene afforestation, mainly oak woodlands, was delayed because of suboptimal moisture conditions. Later, colder and drier conditions during the rapid climate change centred around the ‘8.2 ka event’ triggered woodland opening and the spread of wooded (Juniperus) steppe vegetation. First indicators of farming activities are recorded during this period, but their abundances are too low to explain the concurrent large deforestation episode. Later, pinewoods (probably dominated by Pinus nigra) with deciduous Quercus spread and dominated the landscape for several millennia. These forests experienced repeated multi-centennial setback-recovery episodes associated with land-use intensification, but pines eventually declined ∼2500–2000 years ago during Classical times under heavy land use comprising intense pastoralism. This was the starting point for the present-day landscape, where the main ‘foundation’ taxon of the ancient forests (Pinus cf. nigra) is missing, therefore attesting to the strong imprint that historical land use has left on the modern landscape.

Complex and highly saturated soundscapes in restored oak woodlands reflect avian richness and abundance.

Temperate woodlands are biodiverse natural communities threatened by land use change and fire suppression. Excluding historic disturbance regimes of periodic groundfires from woodlands causes degradation, resulting from changes in the plant community and subsequent biodiversity loss. Restoration, through prescribed fire and tree thinning, can reverse biodiversity losses, however, because the diversity of woodland species spans many taxa, efficiently quantifying biodiversity can be challenging. We assessed whether soundscapes in an eastern North American woodland reflect biodiversity changes during restoration measured in a concurrent multitrophic field study. In five restored and five degraded woodland sites in Wisconsin, USA, we sampled vegetation, measured arthropod biomass, conducted bird surveys, and recorded soundscapes for five days of every 15-day period from May to August 2022. We calculated two complementary acoustic indices: Soundscape Saturation, which focuses on all acoustically active species, and Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI), which was developed to study vocalizing birds. We used generalized additive models to predict both indices based on Julian date, time of day, and level of habitat degradation. We found that restored woodlands had higher arthropod biomass, and higher richness and abundance of breeding birds. Additionally, soundscapes in restored sites had higher mean Soundscape Saturation and higher mean ACI. Restored woodland acoustic indices exhibited greater magnitudes of daily and seasonal peaks. We conclude that woodland restoration results in higher soundscape saturation and complexity, due to greater richness and abundance of vocalizing animals. This bioacoustic signature of restoration offers a promising monitoring tool for efficiently documenting differences in woodland biodiversity.

Aboveground versus soil-mediated effects of an invasive grass on fire-dependent forbs in an oak woodland.

Most work on plant competition intensity in general has focused on how aboveground and belowground competition for resources between plants changes with soil resource availability. In contrast, much work on the competitive effects of non-native invasive species on native species has focused on other mechanisms (e.g., allelopathy and microbial changes) and has largely ignored how these effects interact with mechanisms of resource competition along productivity gradients. We examined aboveground effects of an invasive grass, Microstegium vimineum, along with soil differences between invaded and non-invaded areas on two native perennial herbs at a productive and an unproductive oak woodland site in north Mississippi, USA. We transplanted 32 individuals each of Helianthus silphioides and Potentilla simplex from uninvaded areas into natural patches dominated by M. vimineum at each of the sites. Each transplant was randomly assigned to a pot with either native soil or soil from around M. vimineum roots. Aboveground competition was manipulated by securing M. vimineum shoots in a non-shading position around the transplant. We monitored survival of all transplants weekly in the growing seasons of 2020 and 2021. Transplant survival of H. silphioides was lowest in M. vimineum soil at the more productive site when M. vimineum was not pinned back. Transplant survival of P. simplex was lower at the more productive site but was mostly unresponsive to pinning and soil treatments. Synthesis. Our results suggest that soil-mediated legacy effects of an invader may reduce some native species' ability to compete for light at productive sites.

Soil macrofauna diversity and biomass associated with the “fertility islands” beneath oak trees in a semi-arid woodland

Fertility islands are patches of soil beneath the trees and shrub's canopy and contain higher nutrient availability and water content than the surrounding areas in arid and semi-arid lands. Fertility islands are home to various soil organisms that play a crucial role in nutrient cycling. This study aimed to determine the influence of fertility islands beneath the coppiced oak trees on soil macrofauna diversity and biomass in semi-arid oak woodland. For this purpose, two main microhabitats, including beneath the patches of oak sprout-clumps (BPSC) and the interspaces (SBSC), were considered. Each microhabitat was divided into four classes with respect to the number of sprouts per sprout-clumps (N = 1–3, N = 3–10, N = 10–20, and N > 20) and distance gradient from the canopy (D = 0 m, D = 1–3 m, D = 3–5 m, and D > 5 m). Soil physical and chemical properties, soil macrofauna taxonomic group diversity, and biomass were measured for each microhabitat class. Most of the soil's physical and chemical properties, such as soil litter, soil organic carbon (SOC), available phosphorus (P), moisture content, and electrical conductivity (EC), were higher in BPSC than in SBSC. These properties were influenced by the structure (number of sprouts) of oak sprout-clumps and the distance gradient from the canopy. Soil macrofauna individuals (density), biomass, and diversity were higher in BPSC than in SBSC. A significant difference in soil macrofauna groups composition was found only at the canopy edge and was not affected by increasing distance from the canopy. The soil macrofauna diversity was positively correlated with soil moisture, SOC, and P. It was concluded that the sprout-clumps' structure influences the quality of fertility islands beneath the oak sprout-clumps and consequently dictates the variation of soil macrofauna composition and biomass.

Ungulates Mitigate the Effects of Drought and Shrub Encroachment on the Fire Hazard of Mediterranean Oak Woodlands

Ungulates Mitigate the Effects of Drought and Shrub Encroachment on the Fire Hazard of Mediterranean Oak Woodlands

Downed wood removal effects on survival and site fidelity of woodrats in a California oak woodland

AbstractOwing to the increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires in the western United States, the removal of woody debris (downed dead wood and snags) from fire‐prone landscapes is being evaluated for wildfire mitigation. Consequently, the study of the ecological value of coarse woody debris to sustain dependent species has become of foremost importance. From 2004–2009, we used a before‐after control‐impact (BACI) study design to assess the effects of downed wood removal on a population of big‐eared woodrats (Neotoma macrotis) in an oak woodland (Quercus spp.) in coastal‐central California, USA. Using Pollock's robust design mark‐recapture analyses (with 12 primary capture occasions represented by trapping each spring and fall, and secondary occasions composed of 3 trap nights), we estimated survival and emigration rates. Further, applying mixed‐effects models, we evaluated the effects of 7 habitat attributes on woodrat abundance and reproduction. Following the experimental removal of downed wood from the 11 randomly selected treatment plots, woodrat survival was higher (P = 0.013), and emigration was lower (P = 0.007) among 11 control plots on which downed wood was retained. Woodrat abundance within plots was best predicted by stem density, demonstrating positive demographic associations with habitat complexity. Plot‐level reproductive success (i.e., the presence of juveniles within a plot during spring) was more likely with increasing snag density. These findings indicate that snags and downed dead wood are key components of high‐quality habitat for big‐eared woodrats. Management of woody debris to mitigate wildfire risk should consider the ecological value of this habitat attribute for big‐eared woodrats and other dependent species.

Restoration age affects microbial-herbaceous plant interactions in an oak woodland.

In degraded ecosystems, soil microbial communities (SMCs) may influence the outcomes of ecological restoration. Restoration practices can affect SMCs, though it is unclear how variation in the onset of restoration activities in woodlands affects SMCs, how those SMCs influence the performance of hard-to-establish woodland forbs, and how different woodland forbs shape SMCs. In this study, we quantified soil properties and species abundances in an oak woodland restoration chronosequence (young, intermediate, and old restorations). We measured the growth of three woodland forb species when inoculated with live whole-soil from young, intermediate, or old restorations. We used DNA metabarcoding to characterize SMCs of each inoculum treatment and the soil after conditioning by each plant species. Our goals were to (1) understand how time since the onset of restoration affected soil abiotic properties, plant communities, and SMCs in a restoration chronosequence, (2) test growth responses of three forb species to whole-soil inoculum from restoration sites, and (3) characterize changes in SMCs before and after conditioning by each forb species. Younger restored woodlands had greater fire-sensitive tree species and lower concentrations of soil phosphorous than intermediate or older restored woodlands. Bacterial and fungal soil communities varied significantly among sites. Forbs exhibited the greatest growth in soil from the young restoration. Each forb species developed a unique soil microbial community. Our results highlight how restoration practices affect SMCs, which can in turn affect the growth of hard-to-establish forb species. Our results also highlight that the choice of forb species can alter SMCs, which could have long-term potential consequences for restoration success.

Ungulates mitigate the effects of drought and shrub encroachment on the fire hazard of Mediterranean oak woodlands.

Climate change is increasing the frequency of droughts and the risk of severe wildfires, which can interact with shrub encroachment and browsing by wild ungulates. Wild ungulate populations are expanding due, among other factors, to favorable habitat changes resulting from land abandonment or land-use changes. Understanding how ungulate browsing interacts with drought to affect woody plant mortality, plant flammability, and fire hazard is especially relevant in the context of climate change and increasing frequency of wildfires. The aim of this study is to explore the combined effects of cumulative drought, shrub encroachment, and ungulate browsing on the fire hazard of Mediterranean oak woodlands in Portugal. In a long-term (18 years) ungulate fencing exclusion experiment that simulated land abandonment and management neglect, we investigated the population dynamics of the native shrub Cistus ladanifer, which naturally dominates the understory of woodlands and is browsed by ungulates, comparing areas with (no fencing) and without (fencing) wild ungulate browsing. We also modeled fire behavior in browsed and unbrowsed plots considering drought and nondrought scenarios. Specifically, we estimated C. ladanifer population density, biomass, and fuel load characteristics, which were used to model fire behavior in drought and nondrought scenarios. Overall, drought increased the proportion of dead C. ladanifer shrub individuals, which was higher in the browsed plots. Drought decreased the ratio of live to dead shrub plant material, increased total fuel loading, shrub stand flammability, and the modeled fire parameters, that is, rate of surface fire spread, fireline intensity, and flame length. However, total fuel load and fire hazard were lower in browsed than unbrowsed plots, both in drought and nondrought scenarios. Browsing also decreased the population density of living shrubs, halting shrub encroachment. Our study provides long-term experimental evidence showing the role of wild ungulates in mitigating drought effects on fire hazard in shrub-encroached Mediterranean oak woodlands. Our results also emphasize that the long-term effects of land abandonment can interact with climate change drivers, affecting wildfire hazard. This is particularly relevant given the increasing incidence of land abandonment.

Fragmentation and Connectivity in dehesa Ecosystems Associated with Cerambyx spp. Dispersion and Control: A Graph-Theory Approach

Xylophagous insects play a crucial role in forest ecosystems, contributing to population dynamics. The “Cerambyx complex” (CC) constitutes an emerging pest in Mediterranean oak woodlands. We studied the fragmentation and connectivity of holm and cork oak stands in Andalusia (Spain), and the relationships with the current dispersion of CC, as well as the effect on the connectivity and dispersion patterns with the implementation of nests of a predator bird (Garrulus glandarius) to reduce insect populations in highly connected areas. The Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) was used to assess the spatial distribution of CC. Connectivity was assessed using graphs theory (Graphab 2.6) to characterize the importance of patches and linkages for contributing to dispersal. We selected the Eurasian jay (G. glandarius) as a reference bird species to generate “barriers” to the dispersion of the CC. We used the probability of connectivity (PC) and the flux (F) to compare the effect of the introduction of Eurasian jay nets. Results showed an increasing trend in the distribution and incidence of CC during the period 2001–2016, resulting in 7.3% and 13.1% mortality rates for Q. ilex and Q. suber, respectively. The connectivity model using only Q. ilex and Q. suber forests as reference habitats was not enough to explain the distribution of CC. The value of PC and F metrics decreased by 38.09% and 20.59% by introducing 300 nests of Eurasian jay. Our methodology provides a pest management tool using connectivity metrics, which can be integrated with other variables to control pest outbreaks and pest dispersion.

Changes in bryophyte functional composition during post-fire succession

Climate and land-use changes are altering fire regimes in many regions around the world. To date, most studies have focused on the effects of altered fire regimes on woody and herbaceous communities, while the mechanisms driving post-fire bryophyte succession remain poorly understood, particularly in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Here, we examined changes in bryophyte functional composition along a post-fire chronosequence (ranging from 1 to 20+ years) in Pyrenean oak woodlands (northeastern Portugal). To do so, we defined bryophyte functional groups based on seven morphological, reproductive, and life history traits. Then, we fitted linear and structural equation models to disentangle the direct and indirect effects of fire (time since fire and fire intensity), vegetation structure, climate, topography, and edaphic conditions on the abundance of each group. We identified two main functional groups: early colonizers (species with traits associated with strong colonization ability and desiccation tolerance) and perennial stayers (species with high competitive ability, i.e., large perennial mosses). Overall, the abundance of early colonizer species decreased with time since fire and increased with fire intensity, while the opposite was observed for perennial stayers. Thus, successional dynamics reflected a trade-off between species' competitive and colonization abilities, highlighting the role of biotic interactions later in succession. Patterns of functional composition were also consistent with changes in environmental conditions during succession, suggesting that species may experience stressful conditions (i.e., high radiation and low water availability) in early stages of post-fire succession. Our results also indicate that increased fire intensity may alter successional trajectories, leading to long-term changes in bryophyte communities. By understanding the response of bryophyte communities to fire, we were able to identify species with potential use as soil restoration materials.

Abiotic factors impact on oak forest decline in Lorestan Province, Western Iran

The Zagros oak forests in Iran are facing a concerning decline due to prolonged and severe drought conditions over several decades, compounded by the simultaneous impact of temperature on oak populations. This study in oak woodlands of central Zagros forests in Lorestan province analyzed abiotic factors such as climate properties, topographic features, land use, and soil properties from 1958 to 2022. We found that higher elevation areas with steeper slopes and diverse topography show significant potential for enhancing oak tree resilience in the face of climate change. Additionally, traditional land use practices like livestock keeping and dryland farming contribute to a widespread decline in oak populations. Preserving forest biodiversity and ensuring ecological sustainability requires immediate attention. Implementing effective land-use management strategies, such as protecting and regulating human-forest interaction, and considering meteorological factors to address this issue is crucial. Collaborative efforts from stakeholders, policymakers, and local communities are essential to oppose destructive suburban sprawl and other developments. Sustainable forestry practices should be implemented to improve the living standards of local communities that rely on forests and traditional livestock keeping, offer forestry-related jobs, and ensure social security. Such efforts are necessary to promote conservation awareness and sustainable practices, safeguarding this unique and vital ecosystem for future generations.

The importance of habitat type and historical fire regimes in arthropod community response following large-scale wildfires.

Novel wildfire regimes are rapidly changing global ecosystems and pose significant challenges for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. In this study, we used DNA metabarcoding to assess the response of arthropod pollinator communities to large-scale wildfires across diverse habitat types in California. We sampled six reserves within the University of California Natural Reserve System, each of which was partially burned in the 2020 Lightning Complex wildfires in California. Using yellow pan traps to target pollinators, we collected arthropods from burned and unburned sites across multiple habitat types including oak woodland, redwood, scrub, chamise, grassland, forest, and serpentine habitats. We found no significant difference in alpha diversity values between burned and unburned sites; instead, seasonal variations played a significant role in arthropod community dynamics, with the emergence of plant species in Spring promoting increased pollinator richness at all sites. When comparing all sites, we found that burn status was not a significant grouping factor. Instead, compositional differences were largely explained by geographic differences, with distinct communities within each reserve. Within a geographic area, the response of arthropods to fire was dependent on habitat type. While communities in grasslands and oak woodlands exhibited recovery following burn, scrublands experienced substantial changes in community composition. Our study highlights the importance of examining community responses to wildfires across broad spatial scales and diverse habitat types. By understanding the nuanced dynamics of arthropod communities in response to fire disturbances, we can develop effective conservation strategies that promote resilience and maintain biodiversity in the face of increasing wildfire frequency and severity driven by climate change.

How to recognise a healthy forest: Perspectives from private forest managers in Britain

The managers of private forests have critical roles in responding to forest health challenges. Basic knowledge of how they interpret and understand the health of their trees is, however, very sparse. Via an online survey of private forest managers in Britain, we reveal the basic characteristics of this group's understandings of tree and forest health both in general and, more specifically, in relation to the health (and ill health) of oak species. The survey generated 441 valid responses – from forest owners, forestry agents and other professionals. The majority of our respondents believe the forest(s) they manage to be healthy or very healthy, although vulnerable to future threats. We identify key themes within managers' understandings of the factors that promote tree health, and describe the visual signs of good- and ill-health used by them as indicators. Oak trees and oak woodlands were similarly judged to be healthy currently, but again this positivity was set against a sense of vulnerability and potential future decline. The biggest threat to oaks was considered to be browsing and bark stripping by mammals – a very long standing concern – rather than more recently emergent threats. Through this research we provide a clear sense of how forest managers think about, and make judgements on, the health of their trees and forests. This understanding needs to inform the increasing efforts by the forestry sector in engaging private forest managers in forest protection.

Fitness consequences of feeding-by-remating interactions in female Cerambyx welensii (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae)

Abstract The longhorn beetle, Cerambyx welensii (Küster) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is considered a critical factor in oak decline in southwestern Iberia, but populations vary over space and time, depending on several ecological factors. Adults feed on ripe fruits and tree exudates, and evidence suggests that feeding could impact fitness in hot, dry summers, especially under climate change. In the present study, we assessed the impact of adult feeding (sugar-fed, water-fed, or unfed) and remating (monandrous versus polyandrous) on female reproductive output. Lifetime fecundity increased with female size in most feeding–remating combinations. Sugar-fed females achieved the highest longevity and fecundity, unfed females the lowest, and water-fed females had intermediate values. The daily fecundity pattern was strongly dependent on female feeding. Longevity and fecundity of once-mated and remated females were similar in both unfed and water-fed groups; however, in sugar-fed females, remating enhanced fecundity and shortened life span. Preoviposition, oviposition, and postoviposition periods were distinctly affected by both diet and remating. Results show that females require sugar to maximise reproductive output and that a water supply may partially mitigate the fitness decline of unfed females. We conclude that female feeding must be considered to explain C. welensii spatio-temporal occupancy–abundance patterns in oak woodlands.

Discovery of a new tarantula species from the Madrean Sky Islands and the first documented instance of syntopy between two montane endemics (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Aphonopelma): a case of prior mistaken identity.

The Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona are renowned for their exceptional biodiversity and high levels of endemism. Morphological, genomic, behavioral, and distributional data were used to report the discovery of a remarkable new tarantula species from this range. Aphonopelmajacobii sp. nov. inhabits high-elevation mixed conifer forests in these mountains, but also co-occurs and shares its breeding period with A.chiricahua-a related member of the Marxi species group-in mid-elevation Madrean evergreen oak and pine-oak woodlands. This marks the first documented case of syntopy between two montane endemics in the Madrean Archipelago and adds to our knowledge of this threatened region's unmatched tarantula diversity in the United States. An emended diagnosis and redescription for A.chiricahua are also provided based on several newly acquired and accurately identified specimens. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial and genomic-scale data reveal that A.jacobii sp. nov. is more closely related to A.marxi, a species primarily distributed on the Colorado Plateau, than to A.chiricahua or the other Madrean Sky Island taxa. These data provide the evolutionary framework for better understanding the region's complex biogeographic history (e.g., biotic assembly of the Chiricahua Mountains) and conservation of these spiders.