Drivers of geophagy by red brocket deer (Mazama americana) at Amazonian interior forest mineral licks

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Mineral licks are key ecological components of the Amazon rainforest, providing critical dietary functions for herbivorous and frugivorous mammals birds, which help maintain structure function forest itself through seed nutrient dispersal. One most frequent visitors interior mineral in is red brocket deer (

Language: Английский

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The Scarcity of Specific Nutrients in Wild Bee Larval Food Negatively Influences Certain Life History Traits

Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 9(12), P. 462 - 462

Published: Dec. 11, 2020

Bee nutrition studies have focused on food quantity rather than quality, and details of bee biology the functioning bees in ecosystems. Ecological stoichiometry has been proposed for nutritional ecology as an ecosystem-oriented approach complementary to traditional approaches. It uses atomic ratios chemical elements foods organisms metrics ask ecological questions. However, information is needed fitness effects mismatches between demand supply specific food. We performed first laboratory feeding experiment wild Osmia bicornis, investigating impact Na, K, Zn scarcity larval fitness-related life history traits (mortality, cocoon development, imago body mass). showed that shaped by element availability food; this effect may be sex-specific, where Na might influence female mass, while influences male mortality trade-off K allocation cocoons adults development. These results elucidate mechanisms underlying ecology, behavioral population within context nutrient cycling web.

Language: Английский

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Geographical variation in ant foraging activity and resource use is driven by climate and net primary productivity

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 48(6), P. 1448 - 1459

Published: March 28, 2021

Abstract Aim Foraging activity is critical for animal survival. Comprehending how ecological drivers influence foraging behaviour would benefit our understanding of the link between animals and processes. Here, we evaluated on ant relative resource use. Location Six Brazilian biomes: Amazon, Atlantic rainforest, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pampa Pantanal. Taxon Formicidae. Methods We assessed use by sampling across 60 sites. placed baited tubes that contained one five liquid resources (sugar, lipids, amino acid, sodium distilled water). used model selection to assess (temperature, precipitation, temperature seasonality net primary productivity) Results was higher in wetter, more productive less thermally seasonal environments. The acids increased at temperatures while lipids decreased. sugar drier environments with high‐temperature acid decreased those complex: increasing decreasing precipitation. Furthermore, greater where high. Main conclusions demonstrate are correlated field large spatial scales. search encompasses different interactions involving ants abiotic biotic components ecosystem. Thus, suggest changes climate NPP, which intensity way resources, will result ant‐mediated

Language: Английский

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Ecological and behavioral mechanisms of density‐dependent habitat expansion in a recovering African ungulate population

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 91(4)

Published: July 9, 2021

Abstract Major disturbances can temporarily remove factors that otherwise constrain population abundance and distribution. During such windows of relaxed top‐down and/or bottom‐up control, ungulate populations grow rapidly, eventually leading to resource depletion density‐dependent expansion into less‐preferred habitats. Although many studies have explored the demographic outcomes ecological impacts these processes, fewer examined individual‐level mechanisms by which they occur. We investigated in Gorongosa National Park, where Mozambican Civil War devastated large‐mammal between 1977 1992. Gorongosa’s recovery has been marked proliferation waterbuck ( Kobus ellipsiprymnus ), an historically marginal 200‐kg antelope species, is now roughly 20‐fold more abundant than before war. show after years unrestricted growth, depleted food availability their preferred floodplain habitat increasingly expanded avoided savanna habitat. This was demographically skewed: mixed‐sex groups prime‐age individuals remained common floodplain, while bachelors, loners, subadults populated savanna. By coupling DNA metabarcoding forage analysis, we two habitats ate radically different diets, were digestible protein‐rich savanna; thus, although both achieved positive net energy balance, energetic performance higher floodplain. Analysis daily activity patterns from high‐resolution GPS‐telemetry, accelerometry, animal‐borne video revealed spent less time eating, perhaps accommodate tougher, lower‐quality diets. Waterbuck also had ectoparasites those Thus, plasticity foraging behavior diet selection enabled tolerate costs spillover, at least short term; however, already poorer implies occupancy may become prohibitively costly as heterospecific competitors predators continue recover Gorongosa. Our results suggest provide a indicator onset limitation likelihood subsequent decline, but reliable inference hinges on understanding mechanistic basis observed behavioral shifts.

Language: Английский

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Behavioral, ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying caterpillar-ant symbioses

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 52, P. 100898 - 100898

Published: March 5, 2022

At least 30 different groups in seventeen butterfly and moth families (Lepidoptera) include ant-associated caterpillars. The life histories of more than 900 species have been documented from the Lycaenidae Riodinidae, with relationships ranging parasitism to mutualism. Caterpillars that appear secrete food rewards for ants are not necessarily mutualists, a number known manipulate deceptive chemical vibratory signals. functional variability exocrine glands deployed as 'ant organs' makes them prone convergence, it remains unclear whether ant association originated once lycaenids riodinids. relative costs benefits caterpillar integration is context dependent: both top-down bottom-up effects influence evolution associations.

Language: Английский

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Detritivores maintain stoichiometric homeostasis, but alter body size and population density in response to altitude induced stoichiometric mismatches

Geoderma, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 446, P. 116897 - 116897

Published: April 27, 2024

Language: Английский

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Cascading effects of freshwater salinization on plankton communities in the Sierra Nevada

Limnology and Oceanography Letters, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 8(1), P. 30 - 37

Published: Dec. 5, 2020

Abstract Runoff containing road salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) causes the salinization of inland freshwaters, with potentially severe impacts on aquatic species. We performed a mesocosm experiment to test effects plankton community structure in an oligotrophic mountain lake limited history elevated concentrations. exposed communities gradient 30 concentrations ranging from 1 2900 Cl − mg L −1 for 6 weeks. Adding increased zooplankton biomass at < 500 while reducing phytoplankton biomass. Zooplankton declined precipitously higher concentrations, showing mirror image increase. The initial increase addition suggests that are salt‐limited low ionic Additionally, inverse response and salinity mainly affects via changes top‐down regulation by grazers.

Language: Английский

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Behavioural regulation of mineral salt intake in honeybees: a self-selection approach

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

Published: May 2, 2022

Minerals are required in small amounts to sustain metabolic activity animals, but mineral deficiencies can also lead bottlenecks and excesses induce toxicity. For these reasons, we could reasonably expect that micronutrients actively regulated around nutritional optima. Honeybees have co-evolved with flowering plants such their main sources of nutrients floral pollen nectar. Like other insects, honeybees balance intake multiple macronutrients during food consumption using a combination pre- post-ingestive mechanisms. How they regulate mechanisms has rarely been studied. Using two-choice feeding assays, tested whether caged broodless young workers preferred solutions containing individual salts (NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2) or metals (FeCl3, CuCl2, ZnCl2, MnCl2) concentration-dependent manner. We found adult only self-select optimize dietary specific concentrations sodium, iron copper. Bees largely avoided high concentration minimize These experiments demonstrate the limits regulation honeybees. This is first study compare this form behaviour one organism for eight different micronutrients. article part theme issue 'Natural processes influencing pollinator health: from chemistry landscapes'.

Language: Английский

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Soil salinization and chemically mediated plant–insect interactions in a changing climate

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 60, P. 101130 - 101130

Published: Oct. 13, 2023

Language: Английский

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A long‐term study on food choices and nutritional goals of a leaf‐eating primate

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Efficient foraging plays a critical role in fitness, yet food choices and underlying nutritional goals vary among animals. To understand those therefore the importance of different resources, many studies estimate preferences by applying electivity indices that account for resource availabilities. However, general applicability biologically relevant scenarios is unclear. Our major aims were to find effective methods animals' investigate long‐term red colobus monkey ( Piliocolobus tephrosceles ) Kibale National Park, Uganda, an endangered folivore. We used simulations conditions evaluate help interpret our results. Then, we data collected between 2006 2016 on feeding behavior ecology determine consumption frequencies foods their preferences. Based these results concentrations young leaves frequently consumed tree species, investigated protein‐to‐fiber ratio diet. highlight limitations scenarios. Further, clearly chose over other plant parts, and, considering species part, fed items, but few dominated The availability spatial distribution varied across most foods, remained mostly stable time. Protein‐to‐fiber had no association with preference leaves. underline comparing assess resources. provide robust understanding leaf‐eating animal can ultimately be implementing more conservation measures directing habitat protection or restoration efforts toward

Language: Английский

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