A study of páramo plant-pollinator interactions on the sky islands of Colombia: specialization, modularity, and species roles

Alpine Botany, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 3, 2025

Language: Английский

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Understanding and predicting animal movements and distributions in the Anthropocene

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 4, 2025

Predicting animal movements and spatial distributions is crucial for our comprehension of ecological processes provides key evidence conserving managing populations, species ecosystems. Notwithstanding considerable progress in movement ecology recent decades, developing robust predictions rapidly changing environments remains challenging. To accurately predict the effects anthropogenic change, it important to first identify defining features human-modified their consequences on drivers movement. We review discuss these within framework, describing relationships between external environment, internal state, navigation motion capacity. Developing under novel situations requires models moving beyond purely correlative approaches a dynamical systems perspective. This increased mechanistic modelling, using functional parameters derived from principles decision-making. Theory empirical observations should be better integrated by experimental approaches. Models fitted new historic data gathered across wide range contrasting environmental conditions. need therefore targeted supervised approach collection, increasing studied taxa carefully considering issues scale bias, modelling. Thus, we caution against indiscriminate non-supervised use citizen science data, AI machine learning models. highlight challenges opportunities incorporating into management actions policy. Rewilding translocation schemes offer exciting collect environments, enabling tests model varied contexts scales. Adaptive frameworks particular, based stepwise iterative process, including refinements, provide mutual benefit conservation. In conclusion, verge transforming descriptive predictive science. timely progression, given that conditions are now more urgently needed than ever evidence-based policy decisions. Our aim not describe existing as well possible, but rather understand underlying mechanisms develop with reliable ability situations.

Language: Английский

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Tracking Small Animals in Complex Landscapes: A Comparison of Localisation Workflows for Automated Radio Telemetry Systems

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(10)

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT Automated radio telemetry systems (ARTS) have the potential to revolutionise our understanding of animal movement by providing a near‐continuous record individual locations in wild. However, localisation errors ARTS data can be very high, especially natural landscapes with complex vegetation structure and topography. This curtails research questions that may addressed this technology. We set up an grid valley heterogeneous cover Colombian high Andes applied analytical pipeline test effectiveness methods. performed calibration trials simulate high‐ or low‐flight, walking on ground, compared workflows varying decisions related signal cleaning, selection, smoothing, interpretation, along four multilateration approaches. also quantified influence spatial features system's accuracy. Results showed large variation error, ranging between 0.4–43.4 m 474–1929 m, depending method used. found selection higher strengths smoothing based temporal autocorrelation are useful tools improve Moreover, terrain ruggedness, height movement, type, location animals inside outside area error. In case study system, thousands points were successfully estimated for two high‐altitude hummingbird species previously lacked data. Our hummingbirds suggests grids used estimate small animals' home ranges, associations types, seasonality occurrence. present comparative pipeline, highlighting variety possible while processing Overall, provides guidance resolution estimates, broadening application tracking technology ecology wild populations.

Language: Английский

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Tracking small animals in complex landscapes: a comparison of localisation workflows for automated radio telemetry systems

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 17, 2024

Abstract Automated radio telemetry systems (ARTS) have the potential to revolutionise our understanding of animal movement by providing a near-continuous record individual locations in wild. However, localisation error data generated ARTS can be very high, especially natural landscapes with complex vegetation structure and topography. This curtails ecological questions that may addressed this technology. Here, we set up an grid valley heterogeneous cover Colombian high Andes applied analytical pipeline test effectiveness methods. We performed calibration trials simulate high-or low-flight, or walking on ground, compared workflows varying decisions related signal cleaning, selection, smoothing, interpretation, along four multilateration approaches. also quantified influence spatial features system’s accuracy. tested deploying tags two high-altitude hummingbirds, Great Sapphirewing ( Pterophanes cyanopterus ) Bronze-tailed Thornbill Chalcostigma heteropogon ). Results showed large variation error, ranging from only 0.4–43.4 m known 474–1929 m, depending method used. The lowest average median across tracks was 105 m. In particular, found selection higher strengths smoothing based temporal autocorrelation are useful tools improve Moreover, variables significantly include terrain ruggedness, height movement, type, location animals inside outside area. case study system, thousands points were successfully estimated for hummingbird species previously lacked ecology data. Our hummingbirds suggests grids used estimate small animals’ home ranges, associations types, seasonality occurrence. present comparative pipeline, highlighting variety possible while processing Overall, provides guidance resolution estimates, broadening application tracking technology wild populations.

Language: Английский

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Taxonomy and nomenclature of the giant hummingbirds (Patagona spp.) (Aves: Trochilidae)

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 5, 2024

Abstract Giant hummingbirds ( Patagona spp.) are extraordinarily large whose taxonomy has been muddled for two centuries. systematics were recently redefined in a study of migration, physiology, and genomics, revealing species: the Southern Hummingbird Northern Hummingbird. Here, we re-evaluate nomenclature genus light its newly-clarified biology species limits, analyzing data from 608 specimens wild-caught individuals spanning 1864–2023. The forms gigas peruviana both described based on multiple syntypes. No adequate syntypes P. extant, so designate neotype this taxon. We then critically consider identity usage , respectively, examine identification challenges that have fostered taxonomic uncertainty. endorse names genetic lectotype remains untested, but plumage appears to match northern species. found ∼33% major museum collections misidentified as ; provide list correct historical record. To facilitate future these cryptic species, comprehensive information plumage, measurements, seasonal ranges.

Language: Английский

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Toward a comparative framework for studies of altitudinal migration

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(9)

Published: Aug. 31, 2024

Abstract The study and importance of altitudinal migration has attracted increasing interest among zoologists. Altitudinal migrants are taxonomically widespread move across gradients as partial or complete migrants, subjecting them to a wide array environments ecological interactions. Here, we present brief synthesis recent developments in the field suggest future directions toward more inclusive comparative framework for migration. Our centers on working definition that hinges its biological relevance, which is scale‐dependent related fitness outcomes. We discuss linguistic nuances movements provide concrete steps compare phenomena traditionally disparate systems. Together, our outlines “phenotypic space” contextualizes biotic abiotic interactions encountered by from divergent lineages biomes. also summarize new opportunities, methods, challenges ongoing A persistent, primary challenge characterizing taxonomic extent within species. Fortunately, host methods have been developed help researchers assess prevalence migration—each with their own advantages disadvantages. An improved will allow disciplines groups better communicate test hypotheses regarding evolutionary drivers underlying variation populations

Language: Английский

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Precipitation tolerance determines elevational migration strategies of resident birds of the Western Ghats of India

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 17, 2024

Abstract Aim Avian elevational migration is a common, but less studied form of short-distance migration. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain this behavior, yet few studies tested those comprehensively. We examine four non mutually exclusive hypotheses—climatic constraint, limited foraging opportunities, body size, and dispersal ability—using comparative framework evaluate their support in explaining avian the monsoon-dominant Western Ghats. Location: Time period: 2013 - 2023. Major taxa studied: Birds. Methods used citizen science data from eBird quantify patterns resident birds Using robust curation new bias correction methods, we modeled 164 species across summer, monsoon winter seasons. built seasonal phylogenetic logistic regression models test effect species’ environmental tolerances, diet, body-size ability on likelihood. Results 43% exhibited at least one season. Most migrated between summer (57), followed by migrations (39) then (38). Species predominantly moved upslope (82%) downslope (87%), with no discernible pattern winter. broader temperature tolerances were more likely migrate all Additionally, associated wetter environments Lastly, narrower precipitation during monsoon, influenced diet. Main conclusions find for climatic constraint opportunities both direction likelihood Precipitation particularly strong driver migrants, especially under conditions. This suggests complex relationship tracking changes resource availability determining strategies region.

Language: Английский

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Towards a unified conceptual framework for studies of altitudinal migration: linguistic nuances, taxonomic prevalence, and emerging opportunities

Authorea (Authorea), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 5, 2024

The study and importance of altitudinal migration has attracted increasing interest among zoologists. Altitudinal migrants are taxonomically widespread move across environmental gradients that transect latitudinal as partial or complete migrants, subjecting them to a wide array environments ecological interactions. Here, we present brief synthesis recent development suggest future directions towards more inclusive conceptual framework for the migration. Our centers on working definition highlights biological relevance scale movement given taxon its life history. Even with revised definition, however, distinction between narrower phenomenon wider often blurs. We discuss nuances movements encourage comparisons taxa from divergent lineages biomes encounter different interactions physiological challenges their annual cycles. also summarize new opportunities, methods, ongoing A persistent, primary challenge is characterizing taxonomic extent within species. Fortunately, host methods have been developed help researchers assess prevalence migration—each own advantages disadvantages. An improved will allow disparate disciplines groups better communicate operate in comparative test hypotheses regarding evolutionary drivers underlying variation populations

Language: Английский

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Niche Theory and Species Range Limits along Elevational Gradients: Perspectives and Future Directions

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 55(1), P. 449 - 469

Published: Aug. 14, 2024

Despite two centuries of research, the mechanisms underlying formation species’ elevational range limits remain poorly understood. The climatic variability hypothesis highlights role conditions in shaping thermal tolerance and distribution ranges, while species interactions–abiotic stress underscores relative importance biotic factors abiotic along environmental gradients. We emphasize Darwin's perspective on ubiquity interspecific competition across gradients understanding how climate modulates interactions to shape distributions. Niche theory provides a comprehensive framework, combined with empirical explore influence traits, leading context-dependent that constrain In particular, application concept environmentally weighted performance can further elucidate these complex ecological mechanisms. Future research should integrate multiple approaches, including field laboratory manipulative experiments, theoretical modeling, interdisciplinary collaboration, improve our distributions mountain regions inform biodiversity conservation strategies face rapid change.

Language: Английский

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