using experimental evolution to investigate geographic range limits
... To solve this conundrum, we must know which traits are under selection at and beyond the range boundary, and why they do not evolve to allow range expansion. Many mechanisms have been proposed to limit the potential for adaptive evolution at range boundaries. Some hypotheses propose that marginal po ...
... To solve this conundrum, we must know which traits are under selection at and beyond the range boundary, and why they do not evolve to allow range expansion. Many mechanisms have been proposed to limit the potential for adaptive evolution at range boundaries. Some hypotheses propose that marginal po ...
Urban Systems - Stockholm Resilience Centre
... Interestingly, the number of plant species in urban areas often correlates with the human population size. Species number often increases with log number of human inhabitants, and that relationship is stronger than the correlation with city area. The age of the city also affects species richness; la ...
... Interestingly, the number of plant species in urban areas often correlates with the human population size. Species number often increases with log number of human inhabitants, and that relationship is stronger than the correlation with city area. The age of the city also affects species richness; la ...
Ant-mediated seed dispersal does not facilitate niche expansion
... along abiotic gradients (moisture, temperature, light) for removal by key seed dispersers from the ant genus Aphaenogaster. We also examine plant aggregation along the same gradients. 4. Ant-mediated dispersal services decrease significantly with increasing soil moisture and ultimately fail at levels ...
... along abiotic gradients (moisture, temperature, light) for removal by key seed dispersers from the ant genus Aphaenogaster. We also examine plant aggregation along the same gradients. 4. Ant-mediated dispersal services decrease significantly with increasing soil moisture and ultimately fail at levels ...
Ch5WithgottPPT2
... • Population ecology = investigates the quantitative dynamics of how individuals within a species interact • Community ecology = focuses on interactions among species • Ecosystem ecology = studies living and nonliving components of systems to reveal patterns ...
... • Population ecology = investigates the quantitative dynamics of how individuals within a species interact • Community ecology = focuses on interactions among species • Ecosystem ecology = studies living and nonliving components of systems to reveal patterns ...
habitat loss, trophic collapse, and the decline of ecosystem services
... themselves from the bottom up (Thornton et al. 1988, Thornton 1996); the island was first colonized by plants, then herbivores, and only after 50 years were there sufficient resources for predators to colonize. As natural habitats are eroded in size, the net decline in species diversity has traditiona ...
... themselves from the bottom up (Thornton et al. 1988, Thornton 1996); the island was first colonized by plants, then herbivores, and only after 50 years were there sufficient resources for predators to colonize. As natural habitats are eroded in size, the net decline in species diversity has traditiona ...
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... there has been a renewed interest in and understanding of indirect interactions and their importance in the ecology of complex assemblages (reviewed by Menge, 1997). This was, of course, an older tradition dating back to Darwin’s ‘‘web of complex ‘interactions’ ’’ (Darwin, 1859). It generated some a ...
... there has been a renewed interest in and understanding of indirect interactions and their importance in the ecology of complex assemblages (reviewed by Menge, 1997). This was, of course, an older tradition dating back to Darwin’s ‘‘web of complex ‘interactions’ ’’ (Darwin, 1859). It generated some a ...
Tree heterogeneity, resource availability, and larger scale processes
... Abstract Processes acting on different spatial and temporal scales may influence local species richness. Ant communities are usually described as interactive and therefore determined by local processes. In this paper we tested two hypotheses linked to the question of why there is local variation in ...
... Abstract Processes acting on different spatial and temporal scales may influence local species richness. Ant communities are usually described as interactive and therefore determined by local processes. In this paper we tested two hypotheses linked to the question of why there is local variation in ...
The difference between the Greater and Lesser Antilles can be
... character displacement. 3. The large and small anoles of the Northern Lesser Antilles. The situation here is uncertain, but in a different way than in the just discussed case of A. richardii and A. aeneus. The wattsi ⫹ schwartzi ⫹ pogus clade of small anoles today occurs on the St. Kitts, Antigua, a ...
... character displacement. 3. The large and small anoles of the Northern Lesser Antilles. The situation here is uncertain, but in a different way than in the just discussed case of A. richardii and A. aeneus. The wattsi ⫹ schwartzi ⫹ pogus clade of small anoles today occurs on the St. Kitts, Antigua, a ...
Maureen McClung - Biology Department | UNC Chapel Hill
... which are subject to several problems. Hutchinson (1958) himself identified the pitfalls in his theory when he first introduced the n-dimensional hypervolume. His theory assumes the niche to be equally optimal in all areas, however it is inevitably suboptimal near borders. It also assumes that all e ...
... which are subject to several problems. Hutchinson (1958) himself identified the pitfalls in his theory when he first introduced the n-dimensional hypervolume. His theory assumes the niche to be equally optimal in all areas, however it is inevitably suboptimal near borders. It also assumes that all e ...
Learning objectives
... 7. Describe the questions that might be asked in a study addressing the limits of the geographic distribution of a particular species. 8. Explain how dispersal may contribute to a species’ distribution. 9. Distinguish between the potential and actual range of a species. 10. Explain how habitat selec ...
... 7. Describe the questions that might be asked in a study addressing the limits of the geographic distribution of a particular species. 8. Explain how dispersal may contribute to a species’ distribution. 9. Distinguish between the potential and actual range of a species. 10. Explain how habitat selec ...
Sustaining multiple ecosystem functions in grassland communities requires higher biodiversity
... functions simultaneously (8–10). Although initial empirically based models using individual plant species’ traits suggest that higher species richness is required to provide ecosystem multifunctionality (2, 11), this hypothesis remains untested in established communities of interacting species over ...
... functions simultaneously (8–10). Although initial empirically based models using individual plant species’ traits suggest that higher species richness is required to provide ecosystem multifunctionality (2, 11), this hypothesis remains untested in established communities of interacting species over ...
MULTIPLE CONTROLS OF COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND
... Abstract. The structure and dynamics of ecological communities can be determined by both top-down (e.g., predation) and bottom-up (e.g., energy inputs) processes, which can act synergistically and across spatial and temporal scales. Here we aimed at understanding the role of multiple controls in a M ...
... Abstract. The structure and dynamics of ecological communities can be determined by both top-down (e.g., predation) and bottom-up (e.g., energy inputs) processes, which can act synergistically and across spatial and temporal scales. Here we aimed at understanding the role of multiple controls in a M ...
Ecological Dynamics on Yellowstone`s Northern Range
... managers, a desirable state usually is defined by a consistent harvest of the target species, stable vegetation communities, and a small loss of the target animals to severe weather. Restoration ecologists, on the other hand, try to achieve desired ecosystem dynamics by reducing or eliminating human ...
... managers, a desirable state usually is defined by a consistent harvest of the target species, stable vegetation communities, and a small loss of the target animals to severe weather. Restoration ecologists, on the other hand, try to achieve desired ecosystem dynamics by reducing or eliminating human ...
Maureen McClung - Biology Department | UNC Chapel Hill
... which are subject to several problems. Hutchinson (1958) himself identified the pitfalls in his theory when he first introduced the n-dimensional hypervolume. His theory assumes the niche to be equally optimal in all areas, however it is inevitably suboptimal near borders. It also assumes that all e ...
... which are subject to several problems. Hutchinson (1958) himself identified the pitfalls in his theory when he first introduced the n-dimensional hypervolume. His theory assumes the niche to be equally optimal in all areas, however it is inevitably suboptimal near borders. It also assumes that all e ...
The role of ecophysiological studies in the genus Prosopis
... impact than water availability on the growth traits of species in arid regions, as these abiotic parameters influence seed production, stem growth and root development (Cony et al., 1998; Squeo, 2007). Thus, it is important to investigate the effects of these environmental factors on the reproductiv ...
... impact than water availability on the growth traits of species in arid regions, as these abiotic parameters influence seed production, stem growth and root development (Cony et al., 1998; Squeo, 2007). Thus, it is important to investigate the effects of these environmental factors on the reproductiv ...
"Ecosystem Engineers". - Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
... other types of ecological interactions, such as abiotic resource uptake and direct resource competition; role as predator, prey, pollinator or disperser. (It is worth noting here that direct resource competition can sometimes be viewed as the result of ecosystem engineering, e.g. tree shading of und ...
... other types of ecological interactions, such as abiotic resource uptake and direct resource competition; role as predator, prey, pollinator or disperser. (It is worth noting here that direct resource competition can sometimes be viewed as the result of ecosystem engineering, e.g. tree shading of und ...
CONSERVATION PLANNING IN THE GREATER ADDO NATIONAL
... have to be treated as special cases in the C-Plan analysis. Given that such species will mediate, or participate in, certain processes, it is recommended that SANP should maintain populations in the park, even if this requires an additional investment of resources. ...
... have to be treated as special cases in the C-Plan analysis. Given that such species will mediate, or participate in, certain processes, it is recommended that SANP should maintain populations in the park, even if this requires an additional investment of resources. ...
PARASITISM Definition. Parasitism is an association of two
... parasites may have parasites. A virus maybe a parasite in a Protozoan that itself is a parasite in some metazoan. Modifications for parasitic life: Simplification or loss of locomotory, digestive and sensory organs The parasites have enough food at hand and no enemies nearby. Therefore they do not n ...
... parasites may have parasites. A virus maybe a parasite in a Protozoan that itself is a parasite in some metazoan. Modifications for parasitic life: Simplification or loss of locomotory, digestive and sensory organs The parasites have enough food at hand and no enemies nearby. Therefore they do not n ...
Diversity of Interactions: A Metric for Studies of Biodiversity
... theory relies on a large number of untested assumptions, such as the concept that tropical organisms are more specialized. In the tropics, our knowledge of the basic life histories for plants and animals (e.g., Singer et al. 1982, Fortey 2008, Stork 2008) remains in its infancy. Rapidly accumulating ...
... theory relies on a large number of untested assumptions, such as the concept that tropical organisms are more specialized. In the tropics, our knowledge of the basic life histories for plants and animals (e.g., Singer et al. 1982, Fortey 2008, Stork 2008) remains in its infancy. Rapidly accumulating ...
full final report - Northeastern States Research
... 1) Are coyotes deer specialists, thereby filling the vacant niche of the wolf rather than co-opting the niche of extant carnivores? 2) How much do coyote diets overlap native carnivores, and by what means might they establish a stable coexistence? We constructed a timeline of coyote diet from the 19 ...
... 1) Are coyotes deer specialists, thereby filling the vacant niche of the wolf rather than co-opting the niche of extant carnivores? 2) How much do coyote diets overlap native carnivores, and by what means might they establish a stable coexistence? We constructed a timeline of coyote diet from the 19 ...
Conservation Systematics: The Bufo boreas Species Group
... family, genus, species, and variety) independent of the diversity within or among them. Ranks are an imprecise measure of diversity because they identify only a few categories in a world that can have a near infinite number of hierarchical levels. Even so, many conservation efforts are based on the ...
... family, genus, species, and variety) independent of the diversity within or among them. Ranks are an imprecise measure of diversity because they identify only a few categories in a world that can have a near infinite number of hierarchical levels. Even so, many conservation efforts are based on the ...
#590 - Frogs, Alligators and Pesticides
... Since 1993, scientists worldwide have been trying to understand why frog populations are reported to be steeply declining in relatively unspoiled environments on several continents. And since 1995 scientists have been struggling to explain why deformed frogs are being observed in large numbers in a ...
... Since 1993, scientists worldwide have been trying to understand why frog populations are reported to be steeply declining in relatively unspoiled environments on several continents. And since 1995 scientists have been struggling to explain why deformed frogs are being observed in large numbers in a ...
Ecological fitting
Ecological fitting is ""the process whereby organisms colonize and persist in novel environments, use novel resources or form novel associations with other species as a result of the suites of traits that they carry at the time they encounter the novel condition.” It can be understood as a situation in which a species' interactions with its biotic and abiotic environment seem to indicate a history of coevolution, when in actuality the relevant traits evolved in response to a different set of biotic and abiotic conditions. The simplest form of ecological fitting is resource tracking, in which an organism continues to exploit the same resources, but in a new host or environment. In this framework, the organism occupies a multidimensional operative environment defined by the conditions in which it can persist, similar to the idea of the Hutchinsonian niche. In this case, a species can colonize new environments (e.g. an area with the same temperature and water regime) and/or form new species interactions (e.g. a parasite infecting a new host) which can lead to the misinterpretation of the relationship as coevolution, although the organism has not evolved and is continuing to exploit the same resources it always has. The more strict definition of ecological fitting requires that a species encounter an environment or host outside of its original operative environment and obtain realized fitness based on traits developed in previous environments that are now co-opted for a new purpose. This strict form of ecological fitting can also be expressed either as colonization of new habitat or the formation of new species interactions.