Impacts of water stress removal and disturbance regimes on Mediterranean dry grasslands diversity and succession

Our goal was to disentangle the effects of stress removal and disturbance on plant communities of a Mediterranean rangeland, La Crau (southeastern France). We compared undisturbed reference steppe vegetation with vegetation impacted by changes in land use such as earlier phases of cultivation (dating back 20 years) and/or current water infiltrations (revealed by the presence of Brachypodium ph?nicoïdes), since the establishment of adjacent hay meadows. We considered plots with and without brambles (Rubus ulmifolius), an indigenous shrub species that had colonized the area after the land-use changes. We monitored the composition and measured the taxonomic richness and richness of functional groups, evenness and similarities of plant communities. The species richness of the undisturbed community was significantly higher than that of all disturbed plant communities. Although cultivation led to the dominance of ruderal species, the removal of water stress had a stronger negative impact, enabling the establishment of herbaceous competitor species such as B. ph?nicoïdes. The dominance of this species resulted in a significant decline in species richness and evenness after water stress removal. The presence of brambles correlating with former cultivation and/or current water infiltration did not have a significant impact on plant species richness in the vicinity of bramble bushes, although it significantly modified the composition of the adjacent herbaceous vegetation. Our study highlights again the low resilience of Mediterranean dry grasslands after disturbance. While both the disturbance and the water stress removal resulted in changes within the plant community, our findings reveal a stronger impact of the water stress removal. Water infiltration led to decreased plant species richness and evenness because the greater availability of water favored competitor species over the stress-tolerant xeric species. Therefore, for restoring the original steppe species richness, the priority will be to control water infiltrations, even before any scrub-clearing is undertaken to control bramble colonization.     

Historical perspectives on human-assisted biological invasions

Of all the things we have done to the Earth so far, which one is likely to make the most indelible mark? I have been posing this question to students and colleagues for some time, and usually receive one of three reasonable replies: habitat destruction, human overpopulation, or global climate change. Yet as bad as all these maladies are, they are, to some extent, reversible on time scales to which we can relate. The remedies for these problems, despite mammoth cultural and economic obstacles, can be visualized generally in terms of technology and scientific theory. Only the will is lacking. On longer geological and evolutionary time scales, most such human impacts, if corrected soon, would be mere blips, perturbations of the ecosphere that would leave only a few detectable traces in the fossil record a million years hence.     

Impacts of disturbance on migratory waterfowl

It is well known that disturbance from human activities can cause temporary changes in behaviour and locally affect temporal and spatial distribution of migratory and wintering waterfowl. But it is also known that, to some extent, birds can compensate for disturbance by altering their behaviour or habituating to human activities. Comparatively little is known about how these reactions to disturbance may impact on the large-scale dispersion of waterfowl and, ultimately, on their population dynamics. To be able to answer these questions, a better theoretical framework, based on optimal foraging theory incorporating predation risk, and field experiments are required. Furthermore, we need to study the waterfowl throughout their winter ranges to interpret the overall impacts of disturbance. This paper examines two cases where the impacts of disturbance have been assessed from field experiments. In one study, disturbance effects of shooting were tested by setting up experimental reserves in two Danish coastal wetlands. Over a 5-year period, these became two of the most important staging areas for coastal waterfowl, and the national totals of key species were significantly increased. A national management plan which will establish more than 50 new shooting-free refuges on Danish coastal areas within the next 5 years is likely to boost waterfowl numbers even more. Such retention of birds at more northerly sites on the fiyway should result in a more efficient resource utilization and may positively affect the population dynamics where numbers are affected by winter resources. In a second study, the impacts of disturbance by farmers on spring fattening of Pink-footed Geese Anser brachyrhynchus were analysed. In undisturbed areas in northern Norway, abdominal profiles of the geese increased rapidly, whereas in disturbed sites they did not. Subsequently, geese that had used undisturbed sites reproduced better than geese from disturbed sites.     

生物入侵对鸟类的生态影响

生物入侵是全球生物多样性面临的最主要威胁之一, 入侵种在改变入侵地环境的同时也使当地的生物受到极大影响。鸟类在生态系统中处于较高的营养级, 生态系统中任何一个环节的变化都可能对鸟类造成一定的影响。本文回顾了哺乳动物、鸟类、无脊椎动物和植物等不同生物类群的入侵对本地鸟类生态影响方面的研究进展。外来生物对鸟类的影响主要表现在以下几方面: (1)外来哺乳动物对成鸟、幼鸟或鸟卵的捕食作用; (2)外来鸟类与本地鸟类竞争栖息地和食物资源, 与当地的近缘种杂交而造成基因流失; (3)外来无脊椎动物改变本地鸟类的栖息环境和食物状况, 甚至直接捕食本地鸟类; (4)外来植物入侵改变入侵地的植物群落组成和结构, 造成本地鸟类的栖息地丧失或破碎化, 并通过改变入侵地生态系统的食物链结构而对高营养级的鸟类产生影响。最后, 作者还提出了该领域有待解决的问题和今后可能的研究方向。     

The fungal dimension of biological invasions

Fungi represent an essential component of biodiversity, not only because of the large number of species, but also for their ecological, evolutionary and socio-economic significance. Yet, until recently, fungi received scant consideration in ecology, especially invasion ecology. Their under-representation is largely the result of a lack of scientific knowledge of fungal biodiversity and ecology. With the exception of pathogenic fungi, which cause emergent infectious diseases, the impact of fungal invasions is often difficult to quantify owing to limited baseline data on fungal communities. Here, we aim to raise awareness among mycologists and ecologists of the fungal dimension of invasions and of the need to intensify research in fungal ecology to address issues of future introductions.     

Impacts of extreme climatic events on competition during grassland invasions

Phytometers of five C3 and five C4 species were transplanted into three different grasslands to study the effects of extreme climatic events on community invasibility and competition. Single extreme heating (eight hours at 52.5 °C) and rainfall (the equivalent of 100 mm) events in factorial combinations were superimposed on the grassland communities. A novel technique involving portable computer‐controlled chambers was used to create the heating events. In order to generate predictions of response to the extreme climatic events, the 10 phytometer species were categorized on the basis of 12 key plant functional traits. Using principal component analysis, two functional types (FTs) were identified as most likely to be advantaged (FT1, fast‐growing C4 annuals) and disadvantaged (FT2, slower‐growing C3 perennials) by an extreme climatic event. Competition between the resident vegetation and FT1 plus other C4 phytometers was consistently more intense within the exclusively C3 community compared to the dry C3/C4 community or moist C3/C4 community. The single extreme heating event had the greatest impact on competition, lowering the intensity of competition between the phytometers and resident vegetation. Our results indicate that competition is highly important in limiting the invasion of C3 grasslands by C4 species. The FT1 and FT2 responses confirmed predictions based on plant functional traits, whether growing as phytometers or as part of the resident vegetation. Future increases in climatic variability and the incidence of extreme climatic events are expected to suppress C3 competitive dominance and promote invasion of C4 species, in particular, the FT1 species.     

Allee effects in biological invasions

Understanding the dynamics of small populations is obviously important for declining or rare species but is also particularly important for invading species. The Allee effect, where fitness is reduced when conspecific density is low, can dramatically affect the dynamics of biological invasions. Here, we summarize the literature of Allee effects in biological invasions, revealing an extensive theory of the consequences of the Allee effect in invading species and some empirical support for the theory. Allee effects cause longer lag times, slower spread and decreased establishment likelihood of invasive species. Expected spatial ranges, distributions and patterns of species may be altered when an Allee effect is present. We examine how the theory can and has been used to detect Allee effects in invasive species and we discuss how the presence of an Allee effect and its successful or unsuccessful detection may affect management of invasives. The Allee effect has been shown to change optimal control decisions, costs of control and the estimation of the risk posed by potentially invasive species. Numerous ways in which the Allee effect can influence the efficacy of biological control are discussed.     

Global change and biological invasions

Invasion by exotic species is one of the serious socio-economic, environmental and ecological problems currently faced by mankind. Biological invasions have changed the species composition, structure and function of ecosystems, and are seriously threatening global biodiversity, economy and human health (Iqbal et al. 2021; Wang et al. 2020; Yang et al. 2021; Zhao et al. 2020; Zheng et al. 2015). Biological invasions have resulted in an economic loss of at least US$ 1.288 trillion over the past few decades worldwide (Diagne et al. 2021). As a consequence of these far-reaching impacts, biological invasions have become a hot research topic in modern ecology, and attract major attention from international organizations, governments and scientists all over the world. There is a complex interaction between biological invasions and global environmental change. Biological invasions are not only passengers of global change, but can also be major drivers of global change (MacDougall and Turkington 2005). Other components of global change, such as atmospheric CO₂ enrichment, global warming, nitrogen deposition, changes in precipitation regimes, habitat fragmentation and land-use change, affect species distributions and resource dynamics of ecosystems, and consequently drive invasion success of many exotic species. On the other hand, invasion by exotic species can also alter basic ecosystem properties, which in turn affect many components of global change. Research on the patterns, processes and mechanisms of biological invasion can shed light on the drivers and consequences of biological invasions in the light of global change, and serve as a scientific basis for forward-thinking management plans. The overarching challenge is to understand the basic ecological interactions of, e.g., invasive and native species, plants and soil, and plants and animals.     

Effects of biological invasions on forest carbon sequestration

There has been a rapidly developing literature on the effects of some of the major drivers of global change on carbon (C) sequestration, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂) enrichment, land use change, nitrogen (N) deposition and climate change. However, remarkably little attention has been given to one major global change driver, namely biological invasions. This is despite growing evidence that invasive species can dramatically alter a range of aboveground and belowground ecosystem processes, including those that affect C sequestration. In this review, we assess the evidence for the impacts of biological invaders on forest C stocks and C sequestration by biological invaders. We first present case studies that highlight a range of invader impacts on C sequestration in forest ecosystems, and draw on examples that involve invasive primary producers, decomposers, herbivores, plant pathogens, mutualists and predators. We then develop a conceptual framework for assessing the effects of invasive species on C sequestration impacts more generally, by identifying the features of biological invaders and invaded ecosystems that are thought to most strongly regulate C in forests. Finally we assess the implications of managing invasive species on C sequestration. An important principle that emerges from this review is that the direct effects of invaders on forest C are often smaller and shorter‐term than their indirect effects caused by altered nutrient availability, primary productivity or species composition, all of which regulate long‐term C pools and fluxes. This review provides a conceptual basis for improving our general understanding of biological invaders on ecosystem C, but also points to a paucity of primary data that are needed to determine the quantitative effects of invaders on ecosystem processes that drive C sequestration.     

Evolutionary indirect effects of biological invasions

Just as ecological indirect effects can have a wide range of consequences for community structure and ecosystem function, theory suggests that evolutionary indirect effects can also influence community dynamics and the outcome of species interactions. There is little empirical evidence documenting such effects, however. Here, I use a multi-generation selection experiment in the field to investigate: (1) how the exotic plant Medicago polymorpha and the exotic insect herbivore Hypera brunneipennis affect the evolution of anti-herbivore resistance traits in the native plant Lotus wrangelianus and (2) how observed Lotus evolutionary responses to Hypera alter interactions between Lotus and other members of the herbivore community. In one of two study populations, I document rapid evolutionary changes in Lotus resistance to Hypera in response to insecticide treatments that experimentally reduced Hypera abundance, and in response to Medicago-removal treatments that also reduced Hypera abundance. These evolutionary changes in response to Hypera result in reduced attack by aphids. Thus, an evolutionary change caused by one herbivore species alters interactions with other herbivore taxa, an example of an eco-evolutionary feedback. Given that many traits mediate interactions with multiple species, the effects of evolutionary changes in response to one key biotic selective agent may often cascade through interaction webs to influence additional community members.     

An evolutionary perspective of biological invasions

The workshop on the Evolutionary Perspective of Biological Invasions in Terrestrial Ecosystems was held in Halle, Germany from 30 September to 3 October 2002.     

The evolutionary consequences of biological invasions

A major challenge of invasion biology is the development of a predictive framework that prevents new invasions. This is inherently difficult because different biological characteristics are important at the different stages of invasion: opportunity/transport, establishment and spread. Here, we draw from recent research on a variety of taxa to examine the evolutionary causes and consequences of biological invasions. The process of introduction may favour species with characteristics that promote success in highly disturbed, human-dominated landscapes, thus exerting novel forms of selection on introduced populations. Moreover, evidence is accumulating that multiple introductions can often be critical to the successful establishment and spread of introduced species, as they may be important sources of genetic variation necessary for adaptation in new environments or may permit the introduction of novel traits. Thus, not only should the introduction of new species be prevented, but substantial effort should also be directed to preventing the secondary introduction of previously established species (and even movement of individuals among introduced populations). Modern molecular techniques can take advantage of genetic changes postintroduction to determine the source of introduced populations and their vectors of spread, and to elucidate the mechanisms of success of some invasive species. Moreover, the growing availability of genomic tools will permit the identification of underlying genetic causes of invasive success.     

对生物入侵的几点思考

生物入侵涉及异地迁徙及建群等复杂问题,涉及个体、种群、群落、生态系统等生态学的各个层次,又必不可少地要深入地去探索生物入侵过程中的快速进化和分子生态学基础。生物系统的超级复杂性加上环境和人为因素的极度随机性,充分显示了在这一领域从事研究的艰巨性和挑战性。入侵种具有两面性,因此,预防比治理更为关键。为了应对生物入侵,有待建立完善的国家和地区的防控系统、提高技术水平并加强有关诸多经济因素对生物入侵的影响的研究。     

媒介昆虫-病毒-植物互作对生物入侵的影响

媒介昆虫-病毒-植物互作关系复杂多样。虽然相关的研究较多, 然而有关三者互作对于生物入侵的影响还知之甚少。已有证据表明, 寄主植物对病毒的敏感性和对媒介昆虫的适合性、媒介昆虫对寄主的适应能力等因素影响三者互作关系。当寄主植物易感病并且对媒介昆虫的适合性低, 而媒介昆虫对寄主植物的适应能力强时, 媒介昆虫与植物病毒之间很可能建立间接互惠关系, 这种互惠可促进媒介昆虫入侵和病毒病流行。此外, 媒介昆虫与植物病毒之间中性或偏害的互作关系对于外来生物入侵的促进作用也不容忽视。鉴于三者互作对于生物入侵的重要性, 今后需要对不同物种所组成的多种组合进行比较研究, 并采用多种方法揭示互作的生理和分子机制。     

外来植物入侵对土壤生物多样性和生态系统过程的影响

随着科学家对生态系统地下部分的重视,评价外来植物入侵对土壤生态系统的影响成为当前入侵生态学领域的研究热点之一。本文综述了外来植物入侵对土壤微生物、土壤动物以及土壤碳、氮循环动态影响的研究,并探讨了其影响机制。已有的研究表明,植物入侵对土壤生物多样性及相关生态系统过程的影响均存在不一致的格局,影响机制也是复杂多样的。外来植物与土著植物凋落物的质与量、根系特征、物候等多种生理生态特性的差异可能是形成格局多样性和影响机制复杂性的最主要原因。今后,加强多尺度和多生态系统的比较研究、机制性研究、生物多样性和生态系统过程的整合性研究及土壤生态系统对植物入侵的反馈研究是评价外来植物入侵对土壤生态系统影响的发展趋势。     

Impacts of Dreissena invasions on benthic macroinvertebrate communities: a meta-analysis

Dreissenid mussels (the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and the quagga mussel Dreissena bugensis ) have invaded lakes and rivers throughout North America and Europe, where they have been linked to dramatic changes in benthic invertebrate community diversity and abundance. Through a meta-analysis of published data from 47 sites, we developed statistical models of Dreissena impact on benthic macroinvertebrates across a broad range of habitats and environmental conditions. The introduction of Dreissena was generally associated with increased benthic macroinvertebrate density and taxonomic richness, and with decreased community evenness (of taxa excluding Dreissena ). However, the strength of these effects varied with sediment particle size across sites. The effects of Dreissena differed among taxonomic and functional groups of macroinvertebrates, with positive effects on the densities of scrapers and predators, particularly leeches (Hirudinea), flatworms (Turbellaria), and mayflies (Ephemeroptera). Gastropod densities increased in the presence of Dreissena , but large-bodied snail taxa tended to decline. Dreissena was associated with declines in the densities sphaeriid clams and other large filter-feeding taxa, as well as burrowing amphipods ( Diporeia spp.), but had strong positive effects on gammarid amphipods. These patterns are robust to variation in the methodology of primary studies. The effects of Dreissena are remarkably concordant with those of ecologically similar species, suggesting universality in the interactions between introduced byssally attached mussels and other macroinvertebrates.     

The intermediate distance hypothesis of biological invasions

Biological invasions are a worldwide phenomenon, but the global flows between native and alien regions have rarely been investigated in a cross‐taxonomic study. We therefore lack a thorough understanding of the global patterns of alien species spread. Using native and alien ranges of 1380 alien species, we show that the number of alien species follows a hump‐shaped function of geographic distance. We observe distinct variations in the relationship between alien species exchanges and distance among taxonomic groups, which relate to the taxa‐specific dispersal modes and their pathways of introduction. We formulate a simple statistical model, combining trade volume and biogeographic dissimilarity, which reproduces the observed pattern in good agreement with reported data and even captures variations among taxonomic groups. This study demonstrates the universality of the intermediate distance hypothesis of alien species spread across taxonomic groups, which will help to improve the predictability of new alien species arrivals.