Effective ecosystem monitoring requires a multi‐scaled approach

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 95(6), P. 1706 - 1719

Published: July 9, 2020

ABSTRACT Ecosystem monitoring is fundamental to our understanding of how ecosystem change impacting natural resources and vital for developing evidence‐based policy management. However, the different types monitoring, along with their recommended applications, are often poorly understood contentious. Varying definitions strict adherence a specific type can inhibit effective leading poor program development, implementation outcomes. In an effort develop more consistent clear programs, we here review main recommend widespread adoption three classifications namely, targeted, surveillance landscape monitoring. Landscape conducted over large areas, provides spatial data, enables questions relating where when occurring be addressed. Surveillance uses standardised field methods inform on what changing in environments direction magnitude that change, whilst targeted designed around testable hypotheses defined areas best approach determining causes change. The classification system flexible incorporate interests, objectives, targets characteristics as well scales temporal frequencies, while also providing valuable structure consistency across distinct programs. To support argument, examine ability each six key routinely posed such occurring, managed? As demonstrate, has its own strengths weaknesses, which should carefully considered relative desired results. Using this scheme, scientists land managers design programs suited needs. Finally, assert most serious environmental challenges, it essential include information from these all facets achieved through close collaboration between scales. With renewed importance type, greater commitment monitor cooperatively, will placed address some greatest challenges.

Language: Английский

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The evolution, ecology, and conservation of hummingbirds and their interactions with flowering plants

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 97(3), P. 923 - 959

Published: Jan. 13, 2022

ABSTRACT The ecological co‐dependency between plants and hummingbirds is a classic example of mutualistic interaction: rely on floral nectar to fuel their rapid metabolisms, more than 7000 plant species for pollination. However, threats are mounting, with 10% 366 considered globally threatened 60% in decline. Despite the important implications these population declines, no recent review has examined plant–hummingbird interactions wider context evolution, ecology, conservation. To provide this overview, we ( i ) assess extent which have coevolved over millions years, ii examine mechanisms underlying interaction frequencies hummingbird specialization, iii explore factors driving decline populations, iv map out directions future research We find that, despite close associations hummingbirds, acquiring evidence coevolution versus one‐sided adaptation) difficult because data fitness outcomes both partners required. Thus, linking reproduction not only major avenue coevolutionary work, but also studies networks, rarely incorporate pollinator effectiveness. Nevertheless, past decade, growing body literature networks suggests that form relationships primarily based overlapping phenologies trait‐matching bill length flower length. On other hand, species‐level specialization appears depend local community context, such as abundance availability. Finally, although commonly viewed resilient opportunists thrive brushy habitats, range size forest dependency key predictors extinction risk. A critical direction how potential stressors – habitat loss fragmentation, climate change, introduction non‐native may interact affect they pollinate.

Language: Английский

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Macroevolution of the plant–hummingbird pollination system

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 99(5), P. 1831 - 1847

Published: May 5, 2024

ABSTRACT Plant–hummingbird interactions are considered a classic example of coevolution, process in which mutually dependent species influence each other's evolution. Plants depend on hummingbirds for pollination, whereas rely nectar food. As step towards understanding this review focuses the macroevolutionary consequences plant–hummingbird interactions, relatively underexplored area current literature. We synthesize prior studies, illustrating origins and dynamics hummingbird pollination across different angiosperm clades previously pollinated by insects (mostly bees), bats, passerine birds. In some cases, crown age pre‐dates plants they pollinate. other plant groups transitioned to early establishment bird group Americas, with build‐up both diversities coinciding temporally, hence suggesting co‐diversification. Determining what triggers shifts away from remains major open challenge. The impact diversification is complex, many tropical lineages experiencing increased after acquiring flowers that attract hummingbirds, others no change or even decrease rates. This mixed evidence suggests extrinsic intrinsic factors, such as local climate isolation, important covariables driving adapted pollination. To guide future we discuss mechanisms contexts under clade individual (e.g. traits, foraging behaviour, degree specialization), could conclude commenting how signals mutualism relate highlighting unbalanced focus side interaction, advocating use species‐level interaction data studies.

Language: Английский

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Assessing ecological interactions in urban areas using citizen science data: Insights from hummingbird–plant meta-networks in a tropical megacity

Urban forestry & urban greening, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 74, P. 127658 - 127658

Published: June 23, 2022

Language: Английский

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Morphology and niche evolution influence hummingbird speciation rates

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 290(1997)

Published: April 18, 2023

How traits affect speciation is a long-standing question in evolution. We investigate whether rates are affected by the themselves or of their evolution, hummingbirds, clade with great variation rates, morphology and ecological niches. Further, we test two opposing hypotheses, postulating that promoted trait conservatism or, alternatively, divergence. To address these questions, analyse morphological (body mass bill length) niche (temperature precipitation position breadth, mid-elevation), using variety methods to estimate correlate them evolutionary rates. When it comes traits, find faster smaller hummingbirds shorter bills, living at higher elevations experiencing greater temperature ranges. As for increases divergence but not traits. Together, results reveal interplay mechanisms through which different (conservatism divergence) influence origination hummingbird diversity.

Language: Английский

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Locomotion and Energetics of Divergent Foraging Strategies in Hummingbirds: A Review

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 61(2), P. 736 - 748

Published: June 9, 2021

Synopsis Hummingbirds have two main foraging strategies: territoriality (defending a patch of flowers) and traplining (foraging over routine circuits isolated patches). Species are often classified as employing one or the other. Not only these strategies been inconsistently defined within behavioral literature, but this simple framework also neglects substantial evidence for flexible behavior displayed by hummingbirds. Despite limitations, research on hummingbird has explored distinct avenues selection that proponents either strategy presumably face: trapliners maximizing efficiency, territorialists favoring speed maneuverability resource defense. In earlier studies, functions were primarily examined through wing disc loading (ratio body weight to circular area swept out wings, WDL) predicted hovering costs, with expected exhibit lower WDL than thus costs. While pioneering models continue play role in current research, early studies constrained modest technology, original expectations regarding not held up when applied across complex assemblages. Current technological advances allowed innovative biomechanics/energetics flight, such allometric scaling relationships (e.g., area–flight performance) link between high burst lifting performance territoriality. Providing predictive based will allow us reexamine previous hypotheses, explore biomechanical trade-offs different strategies, which may yield divergent routes quintessential traplining. With morphofunctional lens, here we examine locomotor energetic facets dictate foraging, provide (a) predictions behavioral, biomechanical, associations traplining; (b) proposed methods testing them. By pursuing knowledge gaps, future could use variety traits help clarify operational definitions traplining, better apply them field.

Language: Английский

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Unexpected spatial aggregation between two species of hummingbirds and their inconsistent spatial interactions with native and exotic plants in an urban ecological reserve

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

Published: March 25, 2025

Hummingbirds play an important role as pollinators and are one of the primary examples animal–plant coevolution. However, factors such land‐use change, urbanization, exotic species introductions disappearance native plants can negatively affect persistence hummingbird populations. Thus, understanding ecological that may favour their presence is essential for effective conservation in urban areas. We conducted repeated surveys a scrubland reserve within Mexico City from 2015 to 2018, used conditional two‐species occupancy models estimate interaction factor, analyse effect five ( Agave salmiana , Echeveria gibbiflora Opuntia lasiacantha O. tomentosa Wigandia urens ) plant Leonotis nepetifolia on probability two hummingbirds: Broad‐billed Hummingbird Cynanthus latirostris Berylline Saucerottia beryllina ). Considering both could be competing similar resources, we also tested Hummingbird, assuming its dominance based larger body‐size. found evidence positive spatial interactions between hummingbirds, but did not find these consistent throughout 3 years monitoring, which indicate modification original hummingbird–plant networks resulting disturbance. In addition, there were no negative hummingbirds. Instead, detected aggregation during separate seasons, probably owing using other cue profitable sites. Even though populations thrive ecosystem, changes might reflect alterations structure functioning community. Therefore, consider it crucial continue studying population dynamics implications

Language: Английский

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Prescribed Fire Effects on Hummingbird Taxonomic and Functional Diversity in Pine–Oak Forests in West-Central Mexico

Birds, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6(2), P. 19 - 19

Published: April 11, 2025

Prescribed fires are a management strategy involving the controlled application of fire to achieve specific ecological objectives. In pine–oak forests in west-central Mexico, we conducted an experimental low-severity prescribed assess its effects on hummingbird diversity. We hypothesized that would enhance both taxonomic and functional diversity by modifying understory vegetation structure increasing floral resource availability. To test this, performed point count censuses fire-suppressed sites where wildfire had been excluded for over 40 years. Taxonomic was assessed using Hill numbers estimate true across different abundance weights, while evaluated through indices such as richness, evenness, divergence. Our results indicated did not affect overall exhibited comparable species richness. However, with concave summits showed significantly higher common highly abundant species. Notably, richness align site highest These findings suggest community is influenced combination history, topography, structure, recommend maintaining heterogeneous forest matrix, incorporating patches suppression, areas subjected varying severity. This multifaceted approach enhances biodiversity, promoting habitat heterogeneity ensuring persistence diverse assemblages fire-prone ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Estimating the risk of species interaction loss in mutualistic communities

PLoS Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 18(8), P. e3000843 - e3000843

Published: Aug. 31, 2020

Interactions between species generate the functions on which ecosystems and humans depend. However, we lack an understanding of risk that interaction loss poses to ecological communities. Here, quantify for 4,330 interactions from 41 empirical pollination seed dispersal networks across 6 continents. We estimate as a function vulnerability extinction (likelihood loss) contribution network feasibility, measure how much helps community tolerate environmental perturbations. Remarkably, find more vulnerable have higher contributions feasibility. Furthermore, tend similar feasibility than expected by chance, suggesting may be intrinsic properties interactions, rather only context. These results provide starting point prioritising conservation in future.

Language: Английский

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Ecological determinants of interactions as key when planning pollinator-friendly urban greening: A plant-hummingbird network example

Urban forestry & urban greening, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 64, P. 127298 - 127298

Published: Aug. 12, 2021

Language: Английский

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