Global Change Biology,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
29(20), P. 5744 - 5759
Published: July 17, 2023
Ongoing
anthropogenic
change
is
altering
the
planet
at
an
unprecedented
rate,
threatening
biodiversity,
and
ecosystem
functioning.
Species
are
responding
to
abiotic
pressures
both
individual
population
levels,
with
changes
affecting
trophic
interactions
through
consumptive
pathways.
Collectively,
these
impacts
alter
goods
services
that
natural
ecosystems
will
provide
society,
as
well
persistence
of
all
species.
Here,
we
describe
physiological
behavioral
responses
species
global
on
levels
result
in
detectable
diet
across
terrestrial
marine
ecosystems.
We
illustrate
shifts
dynamics
food
webs
implications
for
animal
communities.
Additionally,
highlight
myriad
tools
available
researchers
investigate
consumption
patterns
interactions,
arguing
data
a
crucial
component
ecological
studies
change.
suggest
holistic
approach
integrating
complexities
choice
environmental
drivers
may
be
more
robust
resolving
trends
predicting
web
responses,
potentially
identifying
early
warning
signs
diversity
loss.
Ultimately,
despite
growing
body
long-term
datasets,
there
remains
dearth
ecology
temporal
scales,
shortcoming
must
resolved
elucidate
vulnerabilities
changing
biophysical
conditions.
Biotropica,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
57(2)
Published: Feb. 24, 2025
ABSTRACT
Mutualistic
species
often
must
survive
periods
of
their
development
without
mutualist
partner,
but
we
lack
a
clear
understanding
the
ecological
mechanisms
that
maintain
mutualisms
despite
these
gaps
in
partnership.
In
ant‐plant
protection
mutualisms,
plants
house
ant
colonies
deter
herbivores.
Yet
juvenile
ant‐plants
symbiotic
and
withstand
herbivory
pressure
until
they
are
colonized
by
ants.
A
sapling's
ability
to
host
ants
or
employ
alternative
direct
defenses,
such
as
leaf
secondary
metabolites,
may
depend
on
access
key
resources,
like
light,
soil
nutrients,
water.
Alternatively,
receive
biotic
at
little
resource
cost
from
generalist
predators,
spiders.
We
examined
whether
Cecropia
trees
maintained
sapling
chemical
defenses
were
associated
with
resources.
surveyed
three
naturally
occurring
across
rainfall
gradient
northwest
Costa
Rica.
found
both
defense
regulated
availability
fertility,
water
saplings.
Rather
than
trade
off,
larger
saplings
more
resources
likely
invest
strategies,
whereas
smaller
fewer
appeared
have
defense.
also
although
spiders
common
resource‐poor,
undefended
saplings,
did
not
reduce
herbivory.
This
study
highlights
importance
determining
performance
during
early
ontogenetic
stages.
Global Ecology and Biogeography,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
34(4)
Published: April 1, 2025
ABSTRACT
Aim
Introduced
species
can
establish
in
climates
outside
of
their
native
niche
and
undergo
‘niche
shifts’.
However,
studies
shifts
generally
rely
on
above‐ground
climate
data,
neglecting
the
potential
buffering
effect
ground‐level
or
soil
climates.
Location
Global.
Time
Period
Present.
Major
Taxa
Studied
Formicidae.
Methods
Here,
we
investigated
impact
temperatures
95
introduced
ant
using
both
ordination
hypervolume‐based
approaches.
We
compared
air
temperature
temperature.
Results
Overall,
between
65.2%
82%
(depending
metric)
exhibited
smaller
when
considering
temperature,
with
varying
levels
correlation
air‐
soil‐temperature
across
(Correlation
coefficient
range:
0.56–0.73).
Furthermore,
conditions
were
more
uncoupled
than
expected
at
random.
This
suggests
that
use
microrefugia
this
may
explain
lower
observed
microclimatic
conditions.
Ecological
traits,
nesting
type,
forest
cover
spatial
spread
did
not
consistently
differences
metrics
among
species.
highlights
need
for
experimental
research
to
explore
versus
ground‐climatic
shifts.
Main
Conclusions
overall
highlight
importance
incorporating
ecologically
relevant
particularly
small,
ground‐dwelling
organisms
like
ants.
study
emphasises
ongoing
a
nuanced
understanding
intricate
interplay
context
dynamics.
Ultimately,
soil‐level
datasets
improve
habitat
suitability
models,
leading
accurate
predictions
establishment
success
Ecological Entomology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: May 23, 2025
Abstract
Land
use
changes
can
alter
resource
availability
and
microclimate
variables
in
tropical
ecosystems,
generally
altering
community
structure
by
decreasing
species
richness
changing
its
composition.
These
affect
foraging
activity,
nutrient
preferences
consequently
ecosystem
functions.
Our
aim
was
to
assess
how
activity
preference
are
influenced
land
microclimate.
We
sampled
ants
(Formicidae)
at
32
sites
undergoing
conversion
from
natural
habitats
coffee
systems
two
Neotropical
biomes:
the
Atlantic
rainforest
Cerrado.
assessed
(amino
acids,
carbohydrates,
lipids
sodium)
predation
using
mealworm
larvae,
while
also
measuring
temperature
humidity.
found
same
foraged
for
different
resources,
likely
because
generalist
perform
these
activities
on
ground.
Furthermore,
energetic
resources
(carbohydrates
lipids)
positively
correlated
with
larvae.
This
indicates
that
limitation
of
contribute
an
increase
predatory
activity.
Moreover,
ant
amino
acids
decreases
increasing
temperature,
indicating
prefer
consume
support
metabolic
processes.
In
conclusion,
is
primarily
carried
out
species.
addition,
nutrients,
driven
limitations,
linked
increases
rising
temperatures
decrease
acids.
Thus,
conserving
mitigating
may
enhance
larval
insect
function
habitats.
