Moderation is best: Effects of grazing intensity on plant-flower visitor networks in Mediterranean communities

The structure of pollination networks is an important indicator of ecosystem stability and functioning. Livestock grazing is a frequent land use practice that directly affects the abundance and diversity of flowers and pollinators and, therefore, may indirectly affect the structure of pollination networks. We studied how grazing intensity affected the structure of plant-flower visitor networks along a wide range of grazing intensities by sheep and goats, using data from 11 Mediterranean plant-flower visitor communities from Lesvos Island, Greece. We hypothesized that intermediate grazing might result in higher diversity as predicted by the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, which could in turn confer more stability to the networks. Indeed, we found that networks at intermediate grazing intensities were larger, more generalized, more modular, and contained more diverse and even interactions. Despite general responses at the network level, the number of interactions and selectiveness of particular flower visitor and plant taxa in the networks responded differently to grazing intensity, presumably as a consequence of variation in the abundance of different taxa with grazing. Our results highlight the benefit of maintaining moderate levels of livestock grazing by sheep and goats to preserve the complexity and biodiversity of the rich Mediterranean communities, which have a long history of grazing by these domestic animals.The research has been co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund—ESF) and Greek National funds through the Operational Program “Education and Lifelong Learning” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF)—Research Funding Program: THALES: Investing in knowledge society through the European Social FundPeer Reviewe

Risk to pollinators from anthropogenic electro-magnetic radiation (EMR): evidence and knowledge gaps

Worldwide urbanisation and use of mobile and wireless technologies (5G, Internet of Things) is leading to the proliferation of anthropogenic electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and campaigning voices continue to call for the risk to human health and wildlife to be recognised. Pollinators provide many benefits to nature and humankind, but face multiple anthropogenic threats. Here, we assess whether artificial light at night (ALAN) and anthropogenic radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (AREMR), such as used in wireless technologies (4G, 5G) or emitted from power lines, represent an additional and growing threat to pollinators. A lack of high quality scientific studies means that knowledge of the risk to pollinators from anthropogenic EMR is either inconclusive, unresolved, or only partly established. A handful of studies provide evidence that ALAN can alter pollinator communities, pollination and fruit set. Laboratory experiments provide some, albeit variable, evidence that the honey bee Apis mellifera and other invertebrates can detect EMR, potentially using it for orientation or navigation, but they do not provide evidence that AREMR affects insect behaviour in ecosystems. Scientifically robust evidence of AREMR impacts on abundance or diversity of pollinators (or other invertebrates) are limited to a single study reporting positive and negative effects depending on the pollinator group and geographical location. Therefore, whether anthropogenic EMR (ALAN or AREMR) poses a significant threat to insect pollinators and the benefits they provide to ecosystems and humanity remains to be established

Habitat protection and removal of encroaching shrubs support the recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning

Livestock overgrazing causes environmental degradation, species invasion, biodiversity loss, and productivity decline, with profound consequences for ecological sustainability and human livelihoods. Habitat protection can mitigate such impacts, but we know little about how the long-term recovery of plant communities from livestock overgrazing depends on the presence of encroaching shrubs. Here, we explored how shrub encroachment mediates the effects of habitat protection (i.e., livestock exclusion and creation of UNESCO protected areas) on biodiversity recovery and ecosystem functioning (i.e., biomass productivity). We leveraged a long-term (15–25 years) experiment of livestock exclusion and complemented it with the removal of an encroaching shrub species in pasture areas and protected areas. We reveal that habitat protection has positive effects on patterns of recovery. Yet, the effects of habitat protection are mediated by shrub encroachment. Encroaching shrubs have net positive effects on plant diversity in pasture areas but inhibit biodiversity recovery in protected areas. The combination of habitat protection and the removal of encroaching shrubs best enhances the recovery of plant diversity and biomass productivity. A potential underlying mechanism is the shift in plant interactions from facilitation for recruitment and associated resistance to competition for water. Understanding species interactions is key to guiding conservation and restoration actions which can turn degraded ecosystems back into functional, species-rich communities

Metapopulation dynamics of a one-host-two-parasitoid laboratory system

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Does spatial population structure affect seed set in pollen-limited

Plant population size has been shown to affect insect visitation and reproductive success. Small populations are at risk because individuals are more likely to be affected by stochastic processes and inbreeding depression (Allee effect). Additionally, several studies have found that plants in small populations also experience lower pollinator visitation rates, which may further decrease reproduction. In this study, seed set, pollinator visitation and pollen limitation of Thymus capitatus (L.) was assessed in 32 patches in eight populations of various sizes on the island of Lesvos, Greece. All populations except one were significantly pollen-limited. We found that although free-pollinated flowers produced more seeds in larger populations this was not due to higher pollinator visitation rates as flowers which received pollen supplements also produced more seeds in larger populations. We hypothesize that the higher seed set is due to a generally greater genetic variability or better habitat quality. We show that honeybee visitation alone significantly decreases pollen limitation

An inexpensive low-cost video monitoring system for automated recording of behavior and ecological interactions

Active, real-time observation of behavior is a time-consuming task, which is heavily resource-limited. At the same time, simultaneous observation of several individuals is often paramount to increase statistical rigor and eliminate potential temporal or environmental bias, especially in natural settings. This paper describes a low-cost video recording system created by using “off-the-shelf” components. The system is easy to use and can automatically record a wide variety of behavior and related ecological interactions and evolutionary processes. The system is sensitive enough to record the behavior of a broad range of animals from planarians, and small insects to humans. It can also be used to measure the behavior of plants. The system will also work during daylight hours or at night and can run continuously and autonomously for 48 hours, or longer if the video capture is motion-triggered or if bigger capacity batteries and data storage facilities are used

The Influence of a Shortened Magazine Supply Duration on Newsstand Magazine Sales

This article examines how shortened magazine supply duration of magazines effects newsstand sales. Based on a quasi-experimental design, panel data are gathered from a total of 33 newsstand vendors in cooperation with a magazine wholesaler in southwestern Germany. As results show, a shortening in magazines' supply duration does not lead to a significant decrease in a newsstand vendor's or a wholesaler's overall revenues. Furthermore, diverse categories of magazines are affected differently by a shortening of supply durations.