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For amphibians that oviposit in temporary aquatic systems, there is a high risk of desiccation-induced offspring mortality when water evaporates prior to the completion of embryo or tadpole development. Such a strong selective pressure has led to the evolution of a variety of traits in reproducing females and their offspring to improve the odds of reproductive success when free-standing water is temporarily available. Herein, we describe an adaptive function of froth nesting in the Sandpaper Frog, Lechriodus fletcheri, as a possible maternal strategy for protecting embryos from the immediate risk of desiccating in highly ephemeral pools that frequently dry prior to hatching. Field observations revealed that embryos located near the core of nests remained alive and continued to develop for several days after becoming stranded out of water due to declining water levels, with embryo viability maintained long enough for additional rainfall to recharge pools and support hatching of tadpoles into water in some cases. In laboratory trials, the proportion of embryos surviving in nests exposed to desiccating conditions was positively correlated with nest volume, while the rate of water loss relative to nest mass declined, both of which are likely a function of reduced surface area relative to volume in larger nests. We suggest that the encapsulation of embryos within an aerated mucus shields them from desiccation by trapping moisture around their external surfaces. As embryos of L. fletcheri complete development rapidly, the ability for the froth nest to protect against desiccation for several days may allow embryogenesis to be completed largely out of water despite the larval phase not being terrestrial. These results suggest froth nesting has played an important role in facilitating this species' use of ephemeral habitats that most other amphibians with aquatic reproductive modes are incapable of exploiting.
John Gould; Jose Valdez; John Clulow; Simon Clulow. Left High and Dry: Froth Nesting Allows Eggs of the Anuran Amphibian to Complete Embryogenesis in the Absence of Free-Standing Water. Ichthyology & Herpetology 2021, 109, 537 -544.
AMA StyleJohn Gould, Jose Valdez, John Clulow, Simon Clulow. Left High and Dry: Froth Nesting Allows Eggs of the Anuran Amphibian to Complete Embryogenesis in the Absence of Free-Standing Water. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 2021; 109 (2):537-544.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohn Gould; Jose Valdez; John Clulow; Simon Clulow. 2021. "Left High and Dry: Froth Nesting Allows Eggs of the Anuran Amphibian to Complete Embryogenesis in the Absence of Free-Standing Water." Ichthyology & Herpetology 109, no. 2: 537-544.
Deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon have been steadily increasing since 2007. Recent government policy, the projected growth of agriculture, and the expansion of the cattle industry are expected to further pressure primates within the Amazon basin. In this study, we examined the anthropogenic impact on the widely distributed black-headed night monkey, Aotus nigriceps, whose distribution and population status have yet to be assessed. We (1) modeled potential species distribution in A. nigriceps, (2) estimated the impact of habitat loss on population trends, and (3) highlight landscape-based conservation actions that maximize the potential for their long-term sustainability. We found the black-headed night monkey to be restricted by several biotic and environmental factors including forest cover, isothermality, precipitation, temperature, and elevation. Over the last two decades, over 132,908 km2 of tree cover (18%) has been lost within their currently recognized range based on satellite imagery. Based on a balance training omission, predicted area, and threshold values (BPTP), suitable habitat was only 67% (1,069,948 km2) of their hypothesized range, a loss of 16.5% from 2000, with just nearly a third of suitable habitat currently within protected areas. Over the last two decades, an estimated minimum 1.6 million individuals have been lost due to loss of suitable habitat. Projected deforestation rates equate to an additional loss of 94,458 km2 of suitable habitat over the next decade. Although classified as a species of Least Concern, we suggest that A. nigriceps may likely be more at risk than previously described. The future impact of the continued expansion of monoculture crops, cattle ranching, and wildfires is still unknown. However, we outline several steps to ensure the long-term viability of this nocturnal primate and other sympatric species throughout the Amazon Basin.
William D. Helenbrook; Jose W. Valdez. Species distribution and conservation assessment of the black-headed night monkey (Aotus nigriceps): a species of Least Concern that faces widespread anthropogenic threats. Primates 2021, 1 -9.
AMA StyleWilliam D. Helenbrook, Jose W. Valdez. Species distribution and conservation assessment of the black-headed night monkey (Aotus nigriceps): a species of Least Concern that faces widespread anthropogenic threats. Primates. 2021; ():1-9.
Chicago/Turabian StyleWilliam D. Helenbrook; Jose W. Valdez. 2021. "Species distribution and conservation assessment of the black-headed night monkey (Aotus nigriceps): a species of Least Concern that faces widespread anthropogenic threats." Primates , no. : 1-9.
Human modification of natural landscapes is a key threatening process contributing to the decline of global biodiversity. Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to this threat, with over a third of species threatened as a direct result. However, some habitat modifications may be less detrimental than others, with some species known to successfully thrive in certain artificial habitats while others undergo further declines. Yet, recognizing how amphibians respond to different habitat modifications remains limited, particularly on a global scale. Herein, we examine the known artificial habitat associations of amphibian species globally, demonstrating artificial habitat use is dependent on their conservation status, life history, taxonomic order, and geographical location. Approximately one-third of all amphibians were found to use artificial habitats, including nearly half of all non-threatened and one-sixth of threatened species, with usage decreasing as conservation status increased. Terrestrial, generalist, and caecilian species were much more likely to use artificial habitats. Non-threatened species were more likely to utilize artificial habitats such as aquaculture ponds, pastureland, canals, excavations, urban areas, and rural gardens. Plantations, heavily degraded former forests, and wastewater treatment areas contained a greater proportion of threatened species, particularly in Afrotropical, Indomalayan, and Oceanian regions. Countries with the most amphibians utilizing artificial habitats were Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Madagascar, and Ecuador. However, the greatest number of threatened species using artificial habitats were found in Mexico, Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, and China. We highlight the potential value or threat of each artificial habitat type, which may be used to better focus valuable conservation efforts.
J.W. Valdez; J. Gould; J.I. Garnham. Global assessment of artificial habitat use by amphibian species. Biological Conservation 2021, 257, 109129 .
AMA StyleJ.W. Valdez, J. Gould, J.I. Garnham. Global assessment of artificial habitat use by amphibian species. Biological Conservation. 2021; 257 ():109129.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJ.W. Valdez; J. Gould; J.I. Garnham. 2021. "Global assessment of artificial habitat use by amphibian species." Biological Conservation 257, no. : 109129.
Despite the important role of fungi for ecosystems, relatively little is known about the factors underlying the dynamics of their diversity. Moreover, studies do not typically consider their dark diversity: the species absent from an otherwise suitable site. Here, we examined potential drivers of local fungal dark diversity in temperate woodland and open habitats using LiDAR and in-situ field measurements, combined with a systematically collected and geographically comprehensive macro-fungi and plant data set. For the first time, we also estimated species pools of fungi by considering both plant and fungi co-occurrences. The most important LiDAR variables for explaining fungal dark diversity were amplitude and echo ratio, which represent vegetation structure. These results suggest that the local fungal dark diversity is highest in production forests like plantations and lowest in more open forests and in open habitats with little woody vegetation. Plant species richness was the strongest explanatory factor overall and negatively correlated with local fungal dark diversity. Soil fertility showed a positive relationship with dark diversity in open habitats. These findings indicate that the local dark diversity of macro-fungi is highest in areas with a relatively high human impact (typically areas with low plant species richness and high soil fertility). Overall, this study brings novel insights into local macro-fungi dark diversity patterns, suggesting that a multitude of drivers related to both soil and vegetation act simultaneously to determine fungal dark diversity.
Jose W. Valdez; Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg; Camilla Fløjgaard; Lars Dalby; Kevin K. Clausen; Meelis Pärtel; Norbert Pfeifer; Markus Hollaus; Michael H. Wimmer; Rasmus Ejrnæs; Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund. Relationships between macro-fungal dark diversity and habitat parameters using LiDAR. Fungal Ecology 2021, 51, 101054 .
AMA StyleJose W. Valdez, Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg, Camilla Fløjgaard, Lars Dalby, Kevin K. Clausen, Meelis Pärtel, Norbert Pfeifer, Markus Hollaus, Michael H. Wimmer, Rasmus Ejrnæs, Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund. Relationships between macro-fungal dark diversity and habitat parameters using LiDAR. Fungal Ecology. 2021; 51 ():101054.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJose W. Valdez; Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg; Camilla Fløjgaard; Lars Dalby; Kevin K. Clausen; Meelis Pärtel; Norbert Pfeifer; Markus Hollaus; Michael H. Wimmer; Rasmus Ejrnæs; Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund. 2021. "Relationships between macro-fungal dark diversity and habitat parameters using LiDAR." Fungal Ecology 51, no. : 101054.
Reptiles are one of the most popular exotic pets in the world, with over a third of all described species currently being traded. However, the most commonly available reptiles are typically non-threatened, captive-bred, and/or domestically obtained, which means they are also largely unregulated and unmonitored, resulting in a large portion of the reptile pet trade remaining unknown. In this study, the past, current, and future trends of the most popular reptiles in the pet trade were examined. Google Trends was used to determine the global popularity of the most popular pets from 2004 to 2020 and compared to the results from an online survey sent to individuals involved in the reptile trade. The most popular pets from the previous five years were also compared globally across regions and countries. The results determined that the most popular reptile species during the last decade is by far bearded dragons, followed by ball pythons and leopard geckos. Although the survey results were similar when asked what the top reptiles were, most respondents named ball pythons as the most popular reptile. However, when asked what reptiles had lost the most popularity during the previous decade, the survey respondents named green iguanas, Burmese pythons, chameleons, red-eared sliders, and green anoles, concurring with what was found with Google Trends. The reptiles thought to be more popular in the upcoming decade by the survey participants were blue-tongued skinks, tegus, uromastyx, crested geckos, and ball pythons—most of which did indeed show an increase in popularity during the last decade, as indicated with Google Trends. The results from Google Trends demonstrated that ball pythons and crested geckos have increased their popularity more than any other reptile in the last two decades. Reptile popularity also differed between countries, with bearded dragons the most popular reptile in Australia, Western Europe, the U.S., and Canada. Leopard geckos were the most popular reptile in Italy and Turkey, and ball pythons were the reptile of choice in Mexico, Indonesia, and India. The general finding of this study is that the reptiles declining in popularity were mostly wild-caught or restricted due to regulations, while current and future species were captive-bred and available in many varieties or morphs. The most popular species were also docile, medium-sized, and easy to handle, with relatively simple care requirements. This study demonstrates that Google Trends can be a useful tool for determining relative popularity among reptiles, or any other pet group, with results closely mirroring those obtained through direct surveying of people involved in the pet trade. However, unlike surveys, this analysis is quick, quantifiable, and can show what is popular and in-demand not only at the global level but at much finer scales. Thus, Google Trends can be a valuable tool in many research applications, especially in topics that may otherwise be difficult to monitor and quantify.
Jose Valdez. Using Google Trends to Determine Current, Past, and Future Trends in the Reptile Pet Trade. Animals 2021, 11, 676 .
AMA StyleJose Valdez. Using Google Trends to Determine Current, Past, and Future Trends in the Reptile Pet Trade. Animals. 2021; 11 (3):676.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJose Valdez. 2021. "Using Google Trends to Determine Current, Past, and Future Trends in the Reptile Pet Trade." Animals 11, no. 3: 676.
Aim Arthropods as vertebrate predators is a generally overlooked aspect in ecology due to the cryptic nature of these events, the relatively small size of arthropods and the difficulty in finding published data. This study represents the largest global assessment of arthropods preying on vertebrates to provide a conceptual framework, identify global patterns and provide a searchable database. Location Global. Time period Present. Major taxa studied Arthropods and vertebrates. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted. Results Over 1,300 recorded observations were collated from 89 countries. Arthropod predators were from 6 classes and 83 families. Vertebrate prey were from 5 classes and 163 families. Spiders represented over half of all predatory events and were the main predator for all vertebrates except birds, which were mostly preyed upon by praying mantises. Forty percent of all prey were amphibians, specifically frogs. Depredated reptiles were nearly all lizards, half of mammal prey were bats, nearly a third of fish were Cypriniformes and half of bird prey were passerines. Predation by spiders was mainly documented from the U.S., Brazil and Australia, and biased mostly everywhere except the U.S.; insect predatory events were mainly documented from Europe, Australia and the Americas, and biased toward North America; amphibian events were mainly from the Americas and strongly biased everywhere, except for the U.S. and Australia; reptiles events were recorded mostly from the Americas and Australia, and biased towards the U.S. and Australia; predation on birds were mainly from the Americas, Australia and Europe, and biased towards Central America and Europe; and mammal events were mostly reported from North and Central America, Australia, and Asia, and strongly biased everywhere except Brazil. Main conclusions This study demonstrates that arthropods are underestimated predators of vertebrates. Recognizing and quantifying these predator–prey interactions is vital for identifying patterns and the potential impact of these relationships on shaping vertebrate populations and communities.
Jose W. Valdez. Arthropods as vertebrate predators: A review of global patterns. Global Ecology and Biogeography 2020, 29, 1691 -1703.
AMA StyleJose W. Valdez. Arthropods as vertebrate predators: A review of global patterns. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 2020; 29 (10):1691-1703.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJose W. Valdez. 2020. "Arthropods as vertebrate predators: A review of global patterns." Global Ecology and Biogeography 29, no. 10: 1691-1703.
Despite the important role of fungi for ecosystems, relatively little is known about the factors underlying the dynamics of their diversity. Moreover, studies do not typically consider their dark diversity: the species absent from an otherwise suitable site. Here, we examined potential drivers of local fungal dark diversity in temperate woodland and open habitats using LiDAR and in-situ field measurements, combined with a systematically collected and geographically comprehensive macro-fungi and plant data set. For the first time, we also estimated species pools of fungi by considering both plant and fungi co-occurrences. The most important LiDAR variables for modelling fungal dark diversity were amplitude and echo ratio, which are both thought to represent vegetation structure. These results suggest that the local fungal dark diversity is highest in production forests like plantations and lowest in more open forests and in open habitats with little woody vegetation. Plant species richness was the strongest explanatory factor overall and negatively correlated with local fungal dark diversity. Soil fertility showed a positive relationship with dark diversity in open habitats. These findings may indicate that the local dark diversity of macro-fungi is highest in areas with a relatively high human impact (typically areas with low plant species richness and high soil fertility). Overall, this study brings novel insights into local macro-fungi dark diversity patterns, suggesting that a multitude of drivers related to both soil and vegetation act in concert to determine fungal dark diversity.
Jose W. Valdez; Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg; Camilla Fløjgaard; Lars Dalby; Kevin K. Clausen; Meelis Pärtel; Norbert Pfeifer; Markus Hollaus; Michael H. Wimmer; Rasmus Ejrnæs; Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund. Relationships between macro-fungal dark diversity and habitat parameters using LiDAR. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleJose W. Valdez, Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg, Camilla Fløjgaard, Lars Dalby, Kevin K. Clausen, Meelis Pärtel, Norbert Pfeifer, Markus Hollaus, Michael H. Wimmer, Rasmus Ejrnæs, Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund. Relationships between macro-fungal dark diversity and habitat parameters using LiDAR. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJose W. Valdez; Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg; Camilla Fløjgaard; Lars Dalby; Kevin K. Clausen; Meelis Pärtel; Norbert Pfeifer; Markus Hollaus; Michael H. Wimmer; Rasmus Ejrnæs; Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund. 2020. "Relationships between macro-fungal dark diversity and habitat parameters using LiDAR." , no. : 1.
Species richness is the most commonly used metric to quantify biodiversity. However, examining dark diversity, the group of missing species which can potentially inhabit a site, can provide a more thorough understanding of the processes influencing observed biodiversity and help evaluate the restoration potential of local habitats. So far, dark diversity has mainly been studied for specific habitats or large‐scale landscapes, while less attention has been given to variation across broad environmental gradients or as a result of local conditions and biotic interactions. In this study, we investigate the importance of local environmental conditions in determining dark diversity and observed richness in plant communities across broad environmental gradients. Using the ecospace concept, we investigate how these biodiversity measures relate to abiotic gradients (defined as position), availability of biotic resources (defined as expansion), spatiotemporal extent of habitats (defined as continuity), and species interactions through competition. Position variables were important for both observed diversity and dark diversity, some with quadratic relationships, for example, plant richness showing a unimodal response to soil fertility corresponding to the intermediate productivity hypothesis. Interspecific competition represented by community mean Grime C had a negative effect on plant species richness. Besides position‐related variables, organic carbon was the most important variable for dark diversity, indicating that in late‐succession habitats such as forests and shrubs, dark diversity is generally low. The importance of highly competitive species indicates that intermediate disturbance, such as grazing, may facilitate higher species richness and lower dark diversity.
Camilla Fløjgaard; Jose Valdez; Lars Dalby; Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund; Kevin K. Clausen; Rasmus Ejrnæs; Meelis Pärtel; Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg. Dark diversity reveals importance of biotic resources and competition for plant diversity across habitats. Ecology and Evolution 2020, 10, 6078 -6088.
AMA StyleCamilla Fløjgaard, Jose Valdez, Lars Dalby, Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund, Kevin K. Clausen, Rasmus Ejrnæs, Meelis Pärtel, Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg. Dark diversity reveals importance of biotic resources and competition for plant diversity across habitats. Ecology and Evolution. 2020; 10 (12):6078-6088.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCamilla Fløjgaard; Jose Valdez; Lars Dalby; Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund; Kevin K. Clausen; Rasmus Ejrnæs; Meelis Pärtel; Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg. 2020. "Dark diversity reveals importance of biotic resources and competition for plant diversity across habitats." Ecology and Evolution 10, no. 12: 6078-6088.
Deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon have been steadily increasing since 2007. Recent government policy, projected growth of agriculture, and expansion of the cattle industry is expected to further pressure primates within the Amazon basin. In this study, we examined the anthropogenic impact on the widely distributed black-headed night monkey, Aotus nigriceps, whose distribution and population status have yet to be assessed. We 1) modeled species distribution in A. nigriceps; 2) estimated impact of habitat loss on population trends; and 3) highlight landscape-based conservation actions which maximize potential for their long-term sustainability. We found the black-headed night monkey to be restricted by several biotic and environmental factors including forest cover, elevation, isothermality, and precipitation. Over the last two decades, over 132,908 km2 of tree cover (18%) has been lost within their documented range. We found this species occupies only 49% of habitat within in their range, a loss of 19% from their estimated 2000 distribution, and just over 34% of occupied areas were in protected areas. Projected deforestation rates of A. nigriceps equates to an additional loss of 23,084 km2 of occupied habitat over the next decade. This study suggests that although classified as a species of Least Concern, A. nigriceps may have a much smaller range and is likely more at risk than previously described. The future impact of continued expansion of mono-cultured crops, cattle ranching, and wildfires is still unknown. However, expanded use of participatory REDD+, sustainable agroforestry in buffer zones, secured land tenor for indigenous communities, wildlife corridors, and the expansion of protected areas can help ensure viability for this nocturnal primate and other sympatric species throughout the Amazon Basin.
William D Helenbrook; Jose Valdez. Species distribution modeling and conservation assessment of the black-headed night monkey (Aotus nigriceps): A species of least concern that faces widespread anthropogenic threats. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleWilliam D Helenbrook, Jose Valdez. Species distribution modeling and conservation assessment of the black-headed night monkey (Aotus nigriceps): A species of least concern that faces widespread anthropogenic threats. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleWilliam D Helenbrook; Jose Valdez. 2020. "Species distribution modeling and conservation assessment of the black-headed night monkey (Aotus nigriceps): A species of least concern that faces widespread anthropogenic threats." , no. : 1.
An inverse relationship between egg and clutch size has been found repeatedly across animal groups, including birds, reptiles and amphibians, and is considered to be a result of resource limitations and physical constraints on the reproducing female. However, few studies have contextualised this relationship with respect to various environmental selecting pressures and life history traits that have also likely influenced the selection of an optimal egg/clutch size combination, while even fewer have tested these interrelationships using robust natural history datasets. In this study, we aimed to test current hypothesises regarding these relationships on both egg and clutch sizes among the Australian Anurans, which to date have not received this kind of investigation. Specifically, we looked at the influence of environmental selecting pressures (egg laying location, environment persistence and bioregion) and life history traits (adult female body size, egg development type, parental care level, breeding period and temporal breeding pattern). As expected, a clear inverse relationship was found between egg and clutch size, while female body size was positively related to both. Generally speaking, smaller clutches of larger eggs tended to be produced by species that i) oviposit terrestrially, ii) showcase direct development and iii) possess high levels of parental care. Temporal breeding pattern was strongly related to clutch size only, with large clutches occurring in explosive breeding species, while breeding habitat was strongly related to egg size only, with large eggs sizes occurring in terrestrial species. Altogether, these findings indicate that numerous factors have likely influenced the evolution of an optimal clutch type in this group, highlighting the importance of incorporating such variables into animal studies on egg and clutch sizes.
John Gould; Chad Beranek; Jose Valdez; Michael Mahony. Quality versus quantity: The balance between egg and clutch size among Australian amphibians is related to life history and environmental conditions. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleJohn Gould, Chad Beranek, Jose Valdez, Michael Mahony. Quality versus quantity: The balance between egg and clutch size among Australian amphibians is related to life history and environmental conditions. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohn Gould; Chad Beranek; Jose Valdez; Michael Mahony. 2020. "Quality versus quantity: The balance between egg and clutch size among Australian amphibians is related to life history and environmental conditions." , no. : 1.
Arthropod predators preying on vertebrates is generally overlooked in ecological studies, as it is not typically observed in nature and generally considered a rare event. This is likely due to the cryptic nature of these predatory events, the relatively small size of arthropods, and the difficulty in collating published data which is scattered throughout the literature. Although arthropods are known to readily hunt and consume vertebrates, very little is known about these predatory events. In this study, a systematic literature review was conducted to provide a conceptual framework, identify global patterns, and create a searchable database of arthropod preying on vertebrates. This study represents the largest global assessment of arthropod predators and vertebrate prey with over a thousand recorded observations collated from over 80 countries across every continent except Antarctica, where no arthropod predator exists. Arthropod predators were represented by six classes (insects, arachnids, centipedes, and crustaceans: Malacostraca, Ostracoda, Hexanauplia) and over 80 families. Vertebrate prey were represented by five classes (birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish) and 160 families. The most common prey were frogs consisting of over a third of all observations. The most commonly preyed reptiles were nearly all lizards, half of mammal prey were bats, nearly a third of fish were Cypriniformes, and half of bird prey were passerines. Spiders represented over half of all predatory events found and were the main predator for all vertebrates except birds, which were preyed mostly upon praying mantises. However, prey varied between spider families. For insects, true bugs (Hemiptera) and beetles preyed mostly on amphibians while the aquatic Odonata larvae preyed on amphibians and fish. Decapod predators were observed preying equally between reptiles, birds, and amphibians; with centipedes preying mainly on reptiles and mammals. Predation was mostly recorded from the Americas and Australia, with countries and regions varying between predator and prey groups. This study demonstrates that arthropods are indeed an overlooked predator of vertebrates. Recognizing and quantifying these predator-prey interactions is vital for identifying patterns and the potential impact of these relationships on shaping vertebrate populations and communities. Understanding the possible threat of arthropod predators may be especially important to improve the success of conservation efforts by accounting for predators which may currently be overlooked.
Jose Valdez. Arthropods as Vertebrate Predators: A Review of Global Patterns. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleJose Valdez. Arthropods as Vertebrate Predators: A Review of Global Patterns. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJose Valdez. 2020. "Arthropods as Vertebrate Predators: A Review of Global Patterns." , no. : 1.
Christopher J. Topping; Lars Dalby; Jose Valdez. Landscape-scale simulations as a tool in multi-criteria decision making to support agri-environment schemes. Agricultural Systems 2019, 176, 1 .
AMA StyleChristopher J. Topping, Lars Dalby, Jose Valdez. Landscape-scale simulations as a tool in multi-criteria decision making to support agri-environment schemes. Agricultural Systems. 2019; 176 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristopher J. Topping; Lars Dalby; Jose Valdez. 2019. "Landscape-scale simulations as a tool in multi-criteria decision making to support agri-environment schemes." Agricultural Systems 176, no. : 1.
In highly ephemeral freshwater habitats, predatory vertebrates are typically unable to become established, leaving an open niche often filled by macroinvertebrate predators. However, these predators are faced with the challenge of finding sufficient food sources as the rapid rate of desiccation prevents the establishment of extended food chains and limits the number of prey species present. It could therefore be advantageous for predators to synchronize their phenology with that of their prey within sites of extreme ephemerality. We report the first case of adult diving beetles (Hydaticus parallelus) ovipositing their eggs within spawn of an amphibian species (sandpaper frog, Lechriodus fletcheri). This behavior was found among several pools used by L. fletcheri for reproduction. Beetle eggs oviposited in frog spawn were found to hatch within 24 h of the surrounding L. fletcheri eggs, with the larvae becoming voracious consumers of the hatched tadpoles. Although it has yet to be established experimentally whether this is an adaptive behavior, the laying of eggs among potential future tadpole prey in this instance should confer significant fitness benefits for the offspring upon hatching, ensuring that they are provided an immediate source of food at the start of their development and potentially throughout. This oviposition behavior might be common among diving beetles and could form a significant predatory threat for amphibians with a free‐swimming larval stage in ephemeral freshwater habitats.
John Gould; Jose W. Valdez; John Clulow; Simon Clulow. Diving beetle offspring oviposited in amphibian spawn prey on the tadpoles upon hatching. Entomological Science 2019, 22, 393 -397.
AMA StyleJohn Gould, Jose W. Valdez, John Clulow, Simon Clulow. Diving beetle offspring oviposited in amphibian spawn prey on the tadpoles upon hatching. Entomological Science. 2019; 22 (4):393-397.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohn Gould; Jose W. Valdez; John Clulow; Simon Clulow. 2019. "Diving beetle offspring oviposited in amphibian spawn prey on the tadpoles upon hatching." Entomological Science 22, no. 4: 393-397.
Freshwater fish represent half of all fish species and are the most threatened vertebrate group. Given their considerable passion and knowledge, aquarium hobbyists can play a vital role in their conservation. CARES is made up of many organizations, whose purpose is to encourage aquarium hobbyists to devote tank space to the most endangered and overlooked freshwater fish to ensure their survival. We found the CARES priority list contains nearly six hundred species from twenty families and two dozen extinct-in-the-wild species. The major families were typically those with the largest hobbyist affiliations such as killifish, livebearers, and cichlids, the latter containing half of CARES species. CARES included every IUCN threatened species of Pseudomugilidae and Valenciidae, but only one percent of threatened Characidae, Cobitidae, and Gobiidae species. No Loricariidae in CARES were in the IUCN red list as they have not been scientifically described. Tanzania and Mexico contained the largest amount of species, with the latter containing the most endemics. Many species were classified differently than the IUCN, including a third of extinct-in-the-wild species classified as least concern by the IUCN. This vast disconnect exemplifies the importance of future collaboration and information exchange required between hobbyists, the scientific community, and conservation organizations.
Jose W. Valdez; Kapil Mandrekar. Assessing the Species in the CARES Preservation Program and the Role of Aquarium Hobbyists in Freshwater Fish Conservation. Fishes 2019, 4, 49 .
AMA StyleJose W. Valdez, Kapil Mandrekar. Assessing the Species in the CARES Preservation Program and the Role of Aquarium Hobbyists in Freshwater Fish Conservation. Fishes. 2019; 4 (4):49.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJose W. Valdez; Kapil Mandrekar. 2019. "Assessing the Species in the CARES Preservation Program and the Role of Aquarium Hobbyists in Freshwater Fish Conservation." Fishes 4, no. 4: 49.
The amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is an infectious disease responsible for the worldwide decline of amphibian species. To mitigate these declines, it is necessary to identify the various vectors by which the fungus can be transmitted between individuals and populations. The objective of this study was to determine whether adult female mosquitoes can carry and transfer Bd fungal cells. Mosquitoes were exposed to netting soaked in a live Bd zoospore suspension to determine whether they are able to externally acquire the fungus. Another group was placed into containers with a sterile and Bd-inoculated agar plate to determine whether mosquitoes could transfer Bd between these surfaces. Bd DNA was found to be present on mosquito legs exposed to inoculated netting and agar plates suggesting that Bd can be transmitted by the mosquito over short distances. This is the first study to demonstrate that an insect host may be a mechanical vector of Bd and suggests that we should begin to consider the role of mosquitoes in the dissemination and control of the fungus.
John Gould; Jose W. Valdez; Michelle P. Stockwell; Simon Clulow; Michael J. Mahony. Mosquitoes as a potential vector for the transmission of the amphibian chytrid fungus. Zoology and Ecology 2019, 29, 39 -44.
AMA StyleJohn Gould, Jose W. Valdez, Michelle P. Stockwell, Simon Clulow, Michael J. Mahony. Mosquitoes as a potential vector for the transmission of the amphibian chytrid fungus. Zoology and Ecology. 2019; 29 (1):39-44.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohn Gould; Jose W. Valdez; Michelle P. Stockwell; Simon Clulow; Michael J. Mahony. 2019. "Mosquitoes as a potential vector for the transmission of the amphibian chytrid fungus." Zoology and Ecology 29, no. 1: 39-44.
Species richness is the most commonly used metric to quantify biodiversity. However, examining dark diversity, the group of missing species which can potentially inhabit a site, can provide a more thorough understanding of the processes influencing observed biodiversity and help evaluate the restoration potential of local habitats. So far, dark diversity has mainly been studied for specific habitats or largescale landscapes while less attention has been given to variation across broad environmental gradients or as a result of local conditions and biotic interactions. In this study, we investigate the importance of local environmental conditions in determining dark diversity and observed richness in plant communities across broad environmental gradients. We use the ecospace concept to investigate how abiotic gradients (defined as position), availability of biotic resources (defined as expansion), spatiotemporal extent of habitats (defined as continuity), as well as species interactions through competition, relate to these biodiversity measures. Position variables were important for both plant richness and dark diversity, some with quadratic relationships, e.g., plant richness showing a unimodal response to soil fertility corresponding to the intermediate productivity hypothesis. Competition represented by community mean Grime C showed a negative correlation with plant richness. Besides position, organic carbon was the most important variable for dark diversity, indicating that in late succession habitats such as forests and shrubs, dark diversity is generally low. The importance of Grime C indicate that intermediate disturbance, such as grazing, may facilitate higher species richness and lower dark diversity. Comparing various biodiversity metrics and their influencing factors might reveal important drivers of biodiversity changes and result in better conservation decision-making.
Camilla Flojgaard; Jose Valdez; Lars Dalby; Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund; Kevin Kuhlmann Clausen; Rasmus Ejrnaes; Meelis Partel; Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg. Dark diversity reveals importance of biotic resources and competition for plant diversity across broad environmental gradients. 2019, 1 .
AMA StyleCamilla Flojgaard, Jose Valdez, Lars Dalby, Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund, Kevin Kuhlmann Clausen, Rasmus Ejrnaes, Meelis Partel, Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg. Dark diversity reveals importance of biotic resources and competition for plant diversity across broad environmental gradients. . 2019; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCamilla Flojgaard; Jose Valdez; Lars Dalby; Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund; Kevin Kuhlmann Clausen; Rasmus Ejrnaes; Meelis Partel; Ane Kirstine Brunbjerg. 2019. "Dark diversity reveals importance of biotic resources and competition for plant diversity across broad environmental gradients." , no. : 1.
In highly ephemeral freshwater habitats, predatory vertebrates are typically unable to become established, leaving an open niche often filled by macroinvertebrate predators. However, these predators are faced with the challenge of finding sufficient food sources as the rapid rate of desiccation prevents the establishment of extended food chains and limits the number of prey species present. It could therefore be advantageous for adults to oviposit their offspring in the presence of future prey within sites of extreme ephemerality. We report the first case of adult diving beetles ovipositing their eggs within spawn of the sandpaper frog, Lechriodus fletcheri. This behaviour was found among several pools used by L. fletcheri for reproduction. Beetle eggs oviposited in frog spawn were found to hatch within 24 hours of the surrounding L. fletcheri eggs, with the larvae becoming voracious consumers of the hatched tadpoles. Although it has yet to be established experimentally whether this is an adaptive behaviour, the laying of eggs among potential future tadpole prey in this instance should confer significant fitness benefits for the offspring upon hatching, ensuring that they are provided an immediate source of food at the start of their development and potentially throughout. This oviposition behaviour may be common among diving beetles and could form a significant predatory threat for amphibians with a free-swimming larval stage in ephemeral freshwater habitats.
John Gould; Jose W. Valdez; Simon Clulow; John Clulow. Diving beetle offspring oviposited in amphibian spawn prey on the tadpoles upon hatching. 2019, 666008 .
AMA StyleJohn Gould, Jose W. Valdez, Simon Clulow, John Clulow. Diving beetle offspring oviposited in amphibian spawn prey on the tadpoles upon hatching. . 2019; ():666008.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohn Gould; Jose W. Valdez; Simon Clulow; John Clulow. 2019. "Diving beetle offspring oviposited in amphibian spawn prey on the tadpoles upon hatching." , no. : 666008.
Gastropods are known to secrete mucus for a variety of purposes, including locomotion, reproduction, adhesion to surfaces and lubrication. A less commonly known function of mucus secretion in this group involves its use as a defence against predation. Amongst the terrestrial slugs, mucus that serves this particular purpose has been studied for only a handful of species under laboratory conditions, where it is thought to be produced to make individuals unpalatable or difficult to consume. However, the mechanisms of how these defensive secretions operate and their effectiveness in deterring predation in the natural world have not been described in much detail. In this study, we provide evidence of adhesive mucus secretions in the red triangle slug (Triboniophorus graeffei) as an adaptation against predation. Field observations of a large red‐eyed green tree frog (Litoria chloris) trapped in the mucus secretions of a nearby T. graeffei revealed that this mucus serves to incapacitate predators rather than just an overall deterrence. Mechanical stimulation of T. graeffei under laboratory conditions revealed that adhesive secretions were produced from discrete sections of the dorsal surface when disturbed, leading to the production of a highly sticky and elastic mucus that was unlike the thin and slippery mucus used during locomotion. The adhesiveness of the defensive secretions was strengthened and reactivated when in contact with water. This appears to not only be the first description of defensive mucus production in this slug species but one of the first natural observations of slug secretions incapacitating a relatively large vertebrate. The biomechanical properties of this mucus and its ability to maintain and strengthen its hold under wet conditions make it potentially useful in the development of new adhesive materials.
John Gould; Jose W. Valdez; Rose Upton. Adhesive defence mucus secretions in the red triangle slug ( Triboniophorus graeffei ) can incapacitate adult frogs. Ethology 2019, 1 .
AMA StyleJohn Gould, Jose W. Valdez, Rose Upton. Adhesive defence mucus secretions in the red triangle slug ( Triboniophorus graeffei ) can incapacitate adult frogs. Ethology. 2019; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohn Gould; Jose W. Valdez; Rose Upton. 2019. "Adhesive defence mucus secretions in the red triangle slug ( Triboniophorus graeffei ) can incapacitate adult frogs." Ethology , no. : 1.
Gastropods are known to secrete mucus for a variety of purposes, including locomotion, reproduction, adhesion to surfaces, and lubrication. A less commonly known function of mucus secretion in this group involves its use as a defence against predation. Among the terrestrial slugs, mucus that serves this particular purpose has been studied for only a handful of species under laboratory conditions, where it is thought to be produced for self-fouling or to make individuals difficult to consume. However, the mechanisms of how these defensive secretions operate and their effectiveness in deterring predation in the natural world have not be described in much detail. In this study, we provide evidence of adhesive mucus secretions in the red triangle slug (Triboniophorus graeffei) as an adaptation against predation. Field observations of a large red-eyed green tree frog (Litoria chloris) trapped in the mucus secretions of a nearby T. graeffei revealed that this mucus serves to incapacitate predators rather than just simply as an overall deterrence. Mechanical stimulation of T. graeffei under laboratory conditions revealed that adhesive secretions were produced from discrete sections of the dorsal surface when disturbed, leading to the production of a highly sticky and elastic mucus that was unlike the thin and slippery mucus used during locomotion. The adhesiveness of the defensive secretions was strengthened and reactivated when in contact with water. This appears to not only be the first description of defensive mucus production in this slug species but one of the first natural observations of the use of adhesive defence secretions to incapacitate a predator. The biomechanical properties of this mucus and its ability to maintain and strengthen its hold under wet conditions make it potentially useful in the development of new adhesive materials.
John Gould; Jose W. Valdez; Rose Upton. Adhesive defence mucus secretions in the red triangle slug (Triboniophorus graeffei) can incapacitate adult frogs. 2019, 544775 .
AMA StyleJohn Gould, Jose W. Valdez, Rose Upton. Adhesive defence mucus secretions in the red triangle slug (Triboniophorus graeffei) can incapacitate adult frogs. . 2019; ():544775.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohn Gould; Jose W. Valdez; Rose Upton. 2019. "Adhesive defence mucus secretions in the red triangle slug (Triboniophorus graeffei) can incapacitate adult frogs." , no. : 544775.
Seedling emergence in plant communities depends on the composition in the soil seed bank, in combination with species-specific responses to the environment. It is generally assumed that this juvenile transition, known as the recruitment niche, is a crucial filter that determines species’ distributions and plant community assemblies. The relative importance of this filter, however, has been widely debated. Empirical descriptions of the recruitment niche are scarce, as most field studies focus on environmental effects at later life stages. In this study, we examine the importance of the recruitment niche for predicting plant communities across a hydrological gradient in a disturbed and undisturbed area in Lake Schmiechen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. We combine a seed bank experiment, measuring germination in water basins under standardized conditions and different water levels, with field observations of plant communities along a hydrological gradient in plowed and undisturbed transects in a former agricultural wetland. We find that hydrology consistently predicted plant community composition in both the germination experiment and in the field. The hydrological recruitment niches measured in the seed bank experiment correlated with the hydrological niche in both the plowed and undisturbed area, with slightly stronger correlation in the plowed area. We explain the latter by the fact that the seed bank experiment most closely resembles the plowed area, whereas succession and competitive interactions become more important in the undisturbed area. Our results support the view that the recruitment niche is an important driver of species composition, in both the plowed and undisturbed area. Recognizing the recruitment niche and the response of seeds within a seed bank to environmental gradients and anthropogenic disturbance is necessary to understand and predict future plant community composition.
Jose W. Valdez; Florian Hartig; Sabine Fennel; Peter Poschlod. The Recruitment Niche Predicts Plant Community Assembly Across a Hydrological Gradient Along Plowed and Undisturbed Transects in a Former Agricultural Wetland. Frontiers in Plant Science 2019, 10, 88 .
AMA StyleJose W. Valdez, Florian Hartig, Sabine Fennel, Peter Poschlod. The Recruitment Niche Predicts Plant Community Assembly Across a Hydrological Gradient Along Plowed and Undisturbed Transects in a Former Agricultural Wetland. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2019; 10 ():88.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJose W. Valdez; Florian Hartig; Sabine Fennel; Peter Poschlod. 2019. "The Recruitment Niche Predicts Plant Community Assembly Across a Hydrological Gradient Along Plowed and Undisturbed Transects in a Former Agricultural Wetland." Frontiers in Plant Science 10, no. : 88.