The Invisible Hand of the Periodic Table: How Micronutrients Shape Ecology

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 52(1), P. 199 - 219

Published: Aug. 20, 2021

Beyond the better-studied carbohydrates and macronutrients nitrogen phosphorus, a remaining 20 or so elements are essential for life have distinct geographical distributions, making them of keen interest to ecologists. Here, I provide framework understanding how shortfalls in micronutrients like iodine, copper, zinc can regulate individual fitness, abundance, ecosystem function. With special focus on sodium, show simple experiments manipulating biogeochemistry reveal why many variables that ecologists study vary dramatically from place place. conclude with discussion Anthropocene's changing temperature, precipitation, atmospheric CO 2 levels contributing nutrient dilution (decreases quality at base food webs).

Language: Английский

---

Assessing pollen nutrient content: a unifying approach for the study of bee nutritional ecology

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 377(1853)

Published: May 2, 2022

Poor nutrition and landscape changes are regularly cited as key factors causing the decline of wild managed bee populations. However, what constitutes ‘poor nutrition’ for bees currently is inadequately defined. Bees collect eat pollen: it their only solid food source provides a broad suite required macro- micronutrients. also generalist foragers thus different pollen types they can be highly nutritionally variable. Therefore, characterizing multidimensional nutrient content needed to fully understand nutritional resource. Unfortunately, use analytical approaches assess has complicated between-studies comparisons blurred our understanding content. In current study, we start by reviewing common methods used estimate protein lipids found in pollen. Next, using monofloral Brassica Rosa pollen, experimentally reveal biases results these methods. Finally, collective data propose unifying approach analysing This will help researchers better study ecology—including foraging behaviour, regulation health—of other feeders. article part theme issue ‘Natural processes influencing pollinator health: from chemistry landscapes’.

Language: Английский

---

The elements of life: A biocentric tour of the periodic table

Advances in microbial physiology/Advances in Microbial Physiology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 127

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Language: Английский

---

Application of ionomics and ecological stoichiometry in conservation biology: Nutrient demand and supply in a changing environment

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 272, P. 109622 - 109622

Published: June 10, 2022

The application of ionomics and ecological stoichiometry benefits conservation biology with necessary evolutionary relevance, allowing unresolved problems to be addressed. use enables consideration that changes in the environmental nutritional supply affect ecophysiology, behavior, health fitness individuals, influencing their interactions population functioning. resulting knowledge can help promote better restoration strategies. Ultimately, facilitate improved forecasting mitigation negative effects current global change. Here, we present theoretical background followed by biological conservation. We also propose avenues for future research. For example, larval adult pollinating insects belong different feeding guilds, larvae rely on various stoichiometrically (im)balanced foods (showing herbivory, pollinivory, detritivory or even carnivory). Therefore, ecology diversity pollinators may shaped quality food, which is required physiological development into fully functional adults. Although a stoichiometric balance during crucial pollinator fitness, focused needs Another example atmospheric CO2 increases leading nutrient dilution plant tissues, aggravating imbalances consumers challenging Earth's herbivore populations. CO2-driven food webs, ecosystems human wellbeing. However, our understanding this phenomenon minimal. These other studied solved using stoichiometry.

Language: Английский

---

Plants other than animal-pollinated herbs provide wild bees with vital nutrients

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 52, P. e02984 - e02984

Published: May 10, 2024

Adult pollinators that forage primarily for energy have traditionally guided our understanding of plant–pollinator interactions, leading to assumptions about the importance different plants pollinators. Consequently, pollinator conservation strategies potentially overlook balance juvenile diets. I studied a representative bee, Osmia bicornis, explore contributions various nutritional quality diet. Using ecological stoichiometry and micronutrient ecology, investigated proportions vital body-building chemical elements (C, N, P, S, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn Cu; henceforth "nutrients") in larval pollen loads. considered botanical origin, location sexual dimorphism niche as factors influencing nutrient Redundancy analysis indicated main factor determining proportion was which accounted 70.17% variation; contributed 20.21%, sex 8.43%. Among 30 taxa composing loads, determinants content were oak, maple, chestnut, cabbage family, buttercup, grasses. Trees wind-pollinated provided important nutrients. Oak maple contributors nutrients essential growth body development (N, Cu, Zn). Grasses buttercups is bees. Complex habitat management schemes extending beyond traditional seed mixes are conservation, non-obvious plant species provide should be included efforts create complex landscape enabling balanced

Language: Английский

---

Litter chemical traits strongly drove the carbon fractions loss during decomposition across an alpine treeline ecotone

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 753, P. 142287 - 142287

Published: Sept. 8, 2020

Language: Английский

---

Stoichiometric niche, nutrient partitioning and resource allocation in a solitary bee are sex-specific and phosphorous is allocated mainly to the cocoon

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: Jan. 12, 2021

Life histories of species may be shaped by nutritional limitations posed on populations. Yet, populations contain individuals that differ according to sex and life stage, each which having different demands experiencing specific limitations. We studied patterns resource assimilation, allocation excretion during the growth solitary bee Osmia bicornis (two sexes) under natural conditions. Adopting an ecological perspective, we assert organisms ingest mutable organic molecules are transformed physiological processes immutable atoms chemical elements composing these allocated functions, thereby influencing organismal fitness history. Therefore, using framework stoichiometry, investigated multielemental (C, N, S, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu) compositions six components elemental budget: food (pollen), eggs, pupae, adults, cocoons excreta. The sexes differed fundamentally in assimilation acquired atoms, phenotypes, stoichiometric niches for all components. Phosphorus, supports larval growth, was mainly (55-75%) cocoon after development complete. Additionally, majority (60-99%) Mg Zn cocoon, probably conferring protection. conclude holometabolous insects, considering only composition adult body within context ecology does not provide a complete picture. Low ratios C other nutrients, low N:P high Na concentrations excreta important local-scale nutrient cycling. Limited access hinder sex-dependent manner, N P limitations, commonly considered elsewhere, play roles O. bicornis. Sexual dimorphism due scarcity stage influence population function should conservation efforts.

Language: Английский

---

Sodium-enriched floral nectar increases pollinator visitation rate and diversity

Biology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 18(3)

Published: March 1, 2022

Plants have evolved a variety of approaches to attract pollinators, including enriching their nectar with essential nutrients. Because sodium is an nutrient for and concentration in can vary both within among species, we explored whether experimentally floral five plant species would influence pollinator visitation diversity. We found that the number visits by pollinators increased on plants sodium-enriched nectar, regardless relative receiving control nectar. Similarly, visiting was twice controls. Our findings suggest may play important but unappreciated role ecology evolution plant–pollinator mutualisms.

Language: Английский

---

Uncovering the significance of the ratio of food K:Na in bee ecology and evolution

Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 104(8)

Published: May 26, 2023

Abstract Bees provide important ecological services, and many species are threatened globally, yet our knowledge of wild bee ecology evolution is limited. While evolving from carnivorous ancestors, bees had to develop strategies for coping with limitations imposed on them by a plant‐based diet, nectar providing energy essential amino acids pollen as an extraordinary, protein‐ lipid‐rich food nutritionally similar animal tissues. Both display one characteristic common plants, high ratio potassium sodium (K:Na), potentially leading underdevelopment, health problems, death. We discuss why how the K:Na contributes considering this factor in future studies will new knowledge, more accurately depicting relationship their environments. Such understanding plants function interact needed effectively protect bees.

Language: Английский

---

Soil–plant–gall relationships: from gall development to ecological patterns

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 99(6), P. 1948 - 1975

Published: June 18, 2024

ABSTRACT The adaptive nature of the galler habit has been tentatively explained by nutrition, microenvironment, and enemy hypotheses. Soil attributes have direct relationships with these three hypotheses at cellular macroecological scales, but their influence restricted previously to effects on nutritional status host plant gall richness abundance. Herein, we discuss ionome patterns within tissues significance for development, physiology, structure, nutrition gallers. Previous ecological chemical quantification focused extensively nitrogen carbon contents, evoking carbon‐nutrient defence hypothesis as an explanation establishing plant–gall interaction. Different elements are involved in cell wall composition dynamics, antioxidant activity, regulation water dynamics. An overview different soil–plant–gall highlights complexity requirements gallers, which strongly influenced environmental soil traits. profiles interact determine outcome plant–herbivore interactions need be addressed considering not only features also plant's physiological quantitative qualitative results iron metabolism tissues, well roles essential element physiology reproduction gallers suggest that it may represent a key resource, aligning hypothesis, providing integrative higher diversity iron‐rich soils.

Language: Английский

---