Ecosystem Engineers in a Self-organized Soil

Soil Science, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 181(3/4), P. 91 - 109

Published: March 1, 2016

Soils are self-organized ecological systems within which organisms interact a nested suite of discrete scales. Microorganisms form communities and physical structures at the smallest scale (microns), followed by community their predators organized in microfoodwebs (tens microns), functional domains built ecosystem engineers (centimeters to meters), ecosystems, landscapes. Ecosystem engineers, principally plant roots, earthworms, termites, ants, play key roles creating habitats for other controlling activities through biochemical processes. The biogenic, organic, organomineral that they produce accumulate soil space three-dimensional mosaics domains, inhabited specific smaller (microfauna mesofauna, microorganisms) drive processes pathways. also signaling energy-rich molecules act as mediators biological engineering Energy-rich may selectively activate microbial populations trigger priming effects, resulting degradation, synthesis, sequestration organic substrates. Signaling inform producers' respective presences change physiologies modifying gene expression eliciting hormonal responses. Protection plants against pests diseases is largely achieved via these At highest scales, delivery services emerges functioning each other. integrity different subsystems quality interconnections precondition an optimum sustainable services. Lastly, we present seven general research questions whose resolution will provide firmer base proposed conceptual framework while offering new insights use resource.

Language: Английский

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A theoretical foundation for multi-scale regular vegetation patterns

Nature, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 541(7637), P. 398 - 401

Published: Jan. 1, 2017

Language: Английский

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How Soil Biota Drive Ecosystem Stability

Trends in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 23(12), P. 1057 - 1067

Published: Oct. 1, 2018

Language: Английский

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Discovery of fairy circles in Australia supports self-organization theory

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 113(13), P. 3551 - 3556

Published: March 14, 2016

Significance Pattern-formation theory predicts that vegetation gap patterns, such as the fairy circles of Namibia, emerge through action pattern-forming biomass–water feedbacks and patterns should be found elsewhere in water-limited systems around world. We report here exciting discovery fairy-circle remote outback Australia. Using fieldwork, sensing, spatial pattern analysis, mathematical modeling, pattern-formation we show Australian share with their Namibian counterparts same characteristics but are driven by a different feedback. These observations line central universality principle support applicability this to wider contexts self-organization ecology.

Language: Английский

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Termite sensitivity to temperature affects global wood decay rates

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 377(6613), P. 1440 - 1444

Published: Sept. 22, 2022

Deadwood is a large global carbon store with its size partially determined by biotic decay. Microbial wood decay rates are known to respond changing temperature and precipitation. Termites also important decomposers in the tropics but less well studied. An understanding of their climate sensitivities needed estimate change effects on pools. Using data from 133 sites spanning six continents, we found that termite discovery consumption were highly sensitive (with increasing >6.8 times per 10°C increase temperature)-even more so than microbes. Termite greatest tropical seasonal forests, savannas, subtropical deserts. With tropicalization (i.e., warming shifts climates), will likely as termites access Earth's surface.

Language: Английский

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Behavioural ecology at the spatial–social interface

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 98(3), P. 868 - 886

Published: Jan. 23, 2023

ABSTRACT Spatial and social behaviour are fundamental aspects of an animal's biology, their spatial environments indelibly linked through mutual causes shared consequences. We define the ‘spatial–social interface’ as intersection individuals' phenotypes environments. Behavioural variation at spatial–social interface has implications for ecological evolutionary processes including pathogen transmission, population dynamics, evolution systems. link a foundation theory, vocabulary, methods. provide examples future directions integration introduce key concepts approaches that either implicitly or explicitly integrate processes, example, graph density‐dependent habitat selection, niche specialization. Finally, we discuss how movement ecology helps interface. Our review integrates behavioural identifies testable hypotheses

Language: Английский

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Genomic data provide insights into the classification of extant termites

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Aug. 7, 2024

The higher classification of termites requires substantial revision as the Neoisoptera, most diverse termite lineage, comprise many paraphyletic and polyphyletic taxa. Here, we produce an updated using genomic-scale analyses. We reconstruct phylogenies under substitution models with ultraconserved elements analyzed concatenated matrices or within multi-species coalescence framework. Our is further supported by analyses controlling for rogue loci taxa, topological tests. show that Neoisoptera are composed seven family-level monophyletic lineages, including Heterotermitidae Froggatt, Psammotermitidae Holmgren, Termitogetonidae raised from subfamilial rank. species-rich Termitidae 18 subfamily-level new subfamilies Crepititermitinae, Cylindrotermitinae, Forficulitermitinae, Neocapritermitinae, Protohamitermitinae, Promirotermitinae; revived Amitermitinae Kemner, Microcerotermitinae Mirocapritermitinae Kemner. Building taxonomic on foundation unambiguously lineages makes it highly resilient to potential destabilization caused future availability novel phylogenetic markers methods. stability guaranteed modularity classification, designed accommodate as-yet undescribed species uncertain affinities herein delimited in form families subfamilies.

Language: Английский

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Termites mitigate the effects of drought in tropical rainforest

Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 363(6423), P. 174 - 177

Published: Jan. 11, 2019

Forest termites mitigate the effects of drought In many tropical regions, where is predicted to become more frequent in coming years, are key components ecosystem function. Ashton et al. experimentally manipulated termite communities quantify their role during 2015–2016 “super El Niño” a Malaysian rainforest. Termite relative abundance than doubled control plots drought, maintaining three major processes: decomposition, nutrient heterogeneity, and moisture retention. Seedling mortality increased were suppressed. Science , this issue p. 174

Language: Английский

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Effects of time delay and space on herbivore dynamics: linking inducible defenses of plants to herbivore outbreak

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: June 18, 2015

Abstract Empirical results indicate that inducible defenses of plants have effects on herbivore populations. However, little is known about how influences outbreak when space effect considered. To reveal the relationship between and outbreak, we present a mathematical model to describe interaction them. It was found time delay plays dual in persistence populations: (i) large value may be associated with small density populations thus causes run higher risk extinction; (ii) moderate beneficial for maintaining determined range which promote Additionally, revealed promotes growth average during their period implied drive resilience Our findings highlight close outbreak.

Language: Английский

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Termites

Soil Science, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 181(3/4), P. 157 - 165

Published: March 1, 2016

Termites are undoubtedly key soil organisms in tropical and subtropical soils. They engineers influencing the physical, chemical, biological properties of soils and, consequently, water dynamics ecosystems. To appreciate effect termites on soil, there is a need for thorough understanding ecological needs building strategies mechanisms regulating termite diversity at local regional scales. Termite impacts can be differentiated four different scales: (i) landscape scale, where act as heterogeneity drivers; (ii) profile bioturbators; (iii) aggregate they reorganizers; (iv) last, clay mineral weathering agents. Last, we discuss recent literature engineering published last 10 years major journals science suggest new research topics that could contribute to improved knowledge impact dynamics.

Language: Английский

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