Feeding habits and multifunctional classification of soil‐associated consumers from protists to vertebrates

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 97(3), P. 1057 - 1117

Published: Jan. 20, 2022

Soil organisms drive major ecosystem functions by mineralising carbon and releasing nutrients during decomposition processes, which supports plant growth, aboveground biodiversity and, ultimately, human nutrition. ecologists often operate with functional groups to infer the effects of individual taxa on services. Simultaneous assessment roles multiple is possible using food-web reconstructions, but our knowledge feeding habits many insufficient based limited evidence. Over last two decades, molecular, biochemical isotopic tools have improved understanding various soil organisms, yet this still be synthesised into a common framework. Here, we provide comprehensive review consumers in soil, including protists, micro-, meso- macrofauna (invertebrates), soil-associated vertebrates. We integrated existing group classifications findings gained novel methods compiled an overarching classification across focusing key universal traits such as food resource preferences, body masses, microhabitat specialisation, protection hunting mechanisms. Our summary highlights strands evidence that commonly used ecology models are types resources. In cases, omnivory observed down species level taxonomic resolution, challenging realism traditional distinct resource-based energy channels. Novel methods, stable isotope, fatty acid DNA gut content analyses, revealed previously hidden facets trophic relationships consumers, assimilation, multichannel levels, niche differentiation importance alternative food/prey, well transfers compartments. Wider adoption development open interoperable platforms assemble morphological, ecological data will enable refinement expansion multifunctional soil. The serve reference for working changes biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships, making research more accessible reproducible.

Language: Английский

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From feces to data: A metabarcoding method for analyzing consumed and available prey in a bird‐insect food web

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 9(1), P. 631 - 639

Published: Dec. 21, 2018

Abstract Diets play a key role in understanding trophic interactions. Knowing the actual structure of food webs contributes greatly to our biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The research prey preferences different predators requires knowledge not only consumed, but also what is available. In this study, we applied DNA metabarcoding analyze diet 4 bird species (willow tits Poecile montanus , Siberian cinctus great Parus major blue Cyanistes caeruleus ) by using feces nestlings. availability their assumed (Lepidoptera) was determined from larvae (frass) collected main foraging habitat, birch ( Betula spp.) canopy. We identified 53 nestling feces, which 11 (21%) were detected frass samples (eight lepidopterans). Approximately 80% represented lepidopterans, line with earlier studies on parids' diet. A subsequent laboratory experiment showed threshold for fecal sample size barcoding success, suggesting that smallest do contain enough larval be high‐throughput sequencing. To summarize, apply first time combined approach identify available (through frass) consumed (via feces), expanding scope precision future dietary insectivorous birds.

Language: Английский

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Table for five, please: Dietary partitioning in boreal bats

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 8(22), P. 10914 - 10937

Published: Oct. 12, 2018

Differences in diet can explain resource partitioning apparently similar, sympatric species. Here, we analyzed 1,252 fecal droppings from five species (Eptesicus nilssonii, Myotis brandtii, M. daubentonii, mystacinus, and Plecotus auritus) to reveal their dietary niches using DNA metabarcoding. We identified nearly 550 prey 13 arthropod orders. Two main orders (Diptera Lepidoptera) formed the majority of for all species, constituting roughly 80%-90% diet. All had different assemblages. also found significant differences size between bat Our results on composition remain mostly unchanged when either read counts as a proxy quantitative or presence-absence data, indicating strong biological pattern. conclude that although bats share major components ecology (nocturnal life style, insectivory, echolocation), differ feeding behavior, suggesting may have distinctive evolutionary strategies. Diet analysis helps illuminate history traits various adding sparse ecological knowledge, which be utilized conservation planning.

Language: Английский

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Towards a global synthesis of Collembola knowledge: challenges and potential solutions

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 1, 2020

Collembola are among the most abundant and diverse soil microarthropods, which found in almost all (semi)terrestrial environments often serve as model organisms empirical studies. Diverse data collected on biology ecology of over last century waiting for synthesis studies, while developing technologies may facilitate generation new knowledge. research 2020 is entering stage global this opinion paper we address main challenges that community collembologists facing avenue. We first discuss present status social context taxonomy potential use novel to describe species. then focus aspects ecology, reviewing processes dispersal, environmental biotic filtering, from spatial scale microhabitat globe. also involvement ecosystem proxies, such functional traits, can be used predict roles Finally, provide recommendations how improve collection by using standard methods better handling practices. call (1) integrating morphological descriptions with high-resolution photographs genetic barcodes species user friendly software machine learning approaches deposition structured taxonomic knowledge web platforms; (2) multiscale studies biodiversity distribution processes, especially including dispersal mechanisms; (3) recording sharing functional, not only morphological, trait controlled experiments field surveys; (4) meta-analysis topics Collembola, conservation its diversity, feeding behaviour, protection mechanisms different species, effects land climate change collembolan communities; (5) joint efforts covering gaps knowledge, underexplored regions (predominantly tropics subtropics) methodologies; (6) integration open databases. believe could make ongoing changes society. To progress across these 2040, have established #GlobalCollembola, a distributed-effort community-driven initiative aims abundance, traits literature coordinate key gaps.

Language: Английский

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Global knowledge gaps in species interaction networks data

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 48(7), P. 1552 - 1563

Published: April 29, 2021

Abstract Ecological networks are increasingly studied at large spatial scales, expanding their focus from a conceptual tool for community ecology into one that also addresses questions in biogeography and macroecology. This effort is supported by increased access to standardized information on ecological networks, the form of openly accessible databases. Yet, there has been no systematic evaluation fitness purpose these data explore synthesis very scales. In particular, because sampling difficult task, they likely not have good representation diversity Earth's bioclimatic conditions, be spatially aggregated, therefore unlikely achieve broad representativeness. this paper, we analyse over 1300 mangal.io database, discuss coverage climates, geographic areas which deficit networks. Taken together, our results suggest while some about global structure available, it remains fragmented space, with further differences types interactions. causes great concerns both ability transfer knowledge region next, but forecast structural change under climate change.

Language: Английский

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High-throughput sequencing for community analysis: the promise of DNA barcoding to uncover diversity, relatedness, abundances and interactions in spider communities

Development Genes and Evolution, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 230(2), P. 185 - 201

Published: Feb. 10, 2020

Abstract Large-scale studies on community ecology are highly desirable but often difficult to accomplish due the considerable investment of time, labor and, money required characterize richness, abundance, relatedness, and interactions. Nonetheless, such large-scale perspectives necessary for understanding composition, dynamics, resilience biological communities. Small invertebrates play a central role in ecosystems, occupying critical positions food web performing broad variety ecological functions. However, it has been particularly adequately communities these animals because their exceptionally high diversity abundance. Spiders particular fulfill key roles as both predator prey terrestrial webs hence an important focus studies. In recent years, analyses have benefitted tremendously from advances DNA barcoding technology. High-throughput sequencing (HTS), metabarcoding, enables community-wide interactions at unprecedented scales fraction cost that was previously possible. Here, we review current state application technologies analysis spider We discuss amplicon-based metabarcoding molecular gut content assessing predator-prey relationships. also highlight applications third generation technology long read portable barcoding. then address development theoretical frameworks community-level studies, finally gaps future directions

Language: Английский

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Multiple dimensions of soil food-web research: History and prospects

European Journal of Soil Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 117, P. 103494 - 103494

Published: May 11, 2023

Language: Английский

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Accounting for species interactions is necessary for predicting how arctic arthropod communities respond to climate change

Ecography, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 44(6), P. 885 - 896

Published: March 22, 2021

Species interactions are known to structure ecological communities. Still, the influence of climate change on biodiversity has primarily been evaluated by correlating individual species distributions with local climatic descriptors, then extrapolating into future scenarios. We ask whether predictions arctic arthropod response can be improved accounting for interactions. For this, we use a 14‐year‐long, weekly time series from Greenland, resolved level mitogenome mapping. During study period, temperature increased 2°C and richness halved. show that abiotic variables alone, essentially unable predict responses, but included, predictive power models improves considerably. Cascading trophic effects thereby emerge as important in structuring change. Given need scale up species‐level community‐level projections change, these results represent major step forward ecology.

Language: Английский

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Out of the dark: Using energy flux to connect above‐ and belowground communities and ecosystem functioning

European Journal of Soil Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 73(1)

Published: July 27, 2021

Abstract Soil ecosystems are both particularly important to humans and vulnerable human‐made global change. Here, we identify some key aspects of soil community ecosystem research that need be more widely studied understand responses change enable us efficiently protect them. This perspective integrates multiple taxa trophic levels, combines structural variables with processes, considers energy channels rather than focusing on only bacterial, fungal, or plant‐derived resources. Moreover, it enables implementing the claim terrestrial should adopt an integrative view above–belowground processes. Having identified these areas requiring higher attention, suggest a wider application food‐web energetics approach calculating flux as suitable very powerful tool simultaneously integrate aspects. The metabolic theory quantify through networks universal currency multitrophic functioning. In addition whole‐community metrics, allows for quantifying various processes by summing up out autotrophs, detritus, animals their respective consumers. includes assessment otherwise hard quantify, such belowground herbivory predation. calculation requires data focal its demand, interactions, feeding preferences assimilation efficiency, which can measured, whereas other components inferred from readily available literature We outline how novel, high‐throughput methods, metabarcoding, combined energy‐flux improve our understanding structure hope article motivates fellow researchers approaches support further development this promising science. Highlights Multitrophic interactions bridge functioning ecosystems. An integrated quantification main in soil. Linking above‐ compartments provides deeper insights into whole‐ecosystem Quantifying systems those insights.

Language: Английский

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For flux's sake: General considerations for energy‐flux calculations in ecological communities

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(19), P. 12948 - 12969

Published: Sept. 14, 2021

Global change alters ecological communities with consequences for ecosystem processes. Such processes and functions are a central aspect of research vital to understanding mitigating the global change, but also those other drivers in organism communities. In this context, concept energy flux through trophic networks integrates food-web theory biodiversity-ecosystem functioning connects biodiversity multitrophic functioning. As such, energy-flux approach is strikingly effective tool answer questions ecology global-change research. This might seem straight forward, given that theoretical background software efficiently calculate readily available. However, implementation such calculations not always especially who new topic familiar concepts line research, as or metabolic theory. To facilitate wider use we thus provide guide adopting people method, struggling its implementation, simply looking reading, important resources, standard solutions problems everyone faces when starting quantify fluxes their community data. First, introduce ecology. Then, comprehensive explanation single steps towards calculating Finally, discuss remaining challenges exciting frontiers future

Language: Английский

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