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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Evolution of Termite Symbiosis Informed by Transcriptome-Based Phylogenies

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 29(21), P. 3728 - 3734.e4

Published: Oct. 17, 2019

Language: Английский

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Forest microbiome and global change

Nature Reviews Microbiology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 21(8), P. 487 - 501

Published: March 20, 2023

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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Soil fauna: occurrence, biodiversity, and roles in ecosystem function

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 131 - 159

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

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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Global engineering effects of soil invertebrates on ecosystem functions

Nature, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 12, 2025

Language: Английский

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Climatic and local stressor interactions threaten tropical forests and coral reefs

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 375(1794), P. 20190116 - 20190116

Published: Jan. 27, 2020

Tropical forests and coral reefs host a disproportionately large share of global biodiversity provide ecosystem functions services used by millions people. Yet, ongoing climate change is leading to an increase in frequency magnitude extreme climatic events the tropics, which, combination with other local human disturbances, unprecedented negative ecological consequences for tropical reefs. Here, we overview how where extremes are affecting most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth summarize interactions between global, regional stressors forest reef systems through impacts resilience. We also discuss some key challenges opportunities promote mitigation adaptation changing at scales. This article part theme issue 'Climate ecosystems: threats, solutions'.

Language: Английский

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The ecosystem services provided by social insects: traits, management tools and knowledge gaps

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 95(5), P. 1418 - 1441

Published: June 11, 2020

ABSTRACT Social insects, i.e. ants, bees, wasps and termites, are key components of ecological communities, important ecosystem services (ESs) providers. Here, we review the literature in order to ( i ) analyse particular traits social insects that make them good suppliers ESs; ii compile assess management strategies improve provided by insects; iii detect gaps our knowledge about provide. provide at least 10 however, many poorly understood or valued. Relevant include high biomass numerical abundance, a diversity mutualistic associations, ability build biogenic structures, versatile production chemical defences, simultaneous delivery several ESs, presence castes division labour, efficient communication cooperation, capacity store food, long lifespan. All these characteristics enhance as ES providers, highlighting their potential, constancy efficiency services. In turn, stress tolerant easy manage, so increasing ESs they We emphasise need for conservation approach services, well potential use help restore habitats degraded human activities. addition, evaluate both disservices an integrated way, because some species among most problematic invasive native pests. Finally, propose two areas research will lead greater more appreciation producers decision‐makers.

Language: Английский

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Ant‐termite interactions: an important but under‐explored ecological linkage

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 95(3), P. 555 - 572

Published: Dec. 25, 2019

ABSTRACT Animal interactions play an important role in understanding ecological processes. The nature and intensity of these can shape the impacts organisms on their environment. Because ants termites, with high biomass range functions, have considerable effects environment, interaction between them is for ecosystem Although manner which termites interact becoming increasingly well studied, there has been no synthesis to date available literature. Here we review synthesise all existing literature ant–termite interactions. We infer that ant predation most important, widespread, studied type interaction. Predatory species regulate termite populations subsequently slow down decomposition wood, litter soil organic matter. As a consequence they also affect plant growth distribution, nutrient cycling availability. some are specialised predators, probably level opportunistic by generalist species, hence impact processes known provide varies at level. fruitful future research direction will be evaluate broader To do this it necessary quantify efficacy both particular communities as whole regulating different biomes. envisage work require combination methods, including DNA barcoding gut contents along field observations exclusion experiments. Such combined approach assessing how influences entire ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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