Life Cycles, Development and Size

Walter, David; Proctor, H. C.

doi:10.1007/978-94-007-7164-2_4

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…A plausible explanation for this trend is the series of environmental changes preceding the wet period. After enduring alternating flood and dry conditions for several months, factors such as substrate moisture, salinity, and food availability undergo significant shifts across habitats [16,48,49]. In wetland ecosystems, terrestrial plant litter accumulates during dry spells and undergoes partial in-situ decomposition, enriching the humic material reservoir.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of Soil Mesofauna Communities in a Tropical Urban Coastal Wetland: Responses to Spatiotemporal Fluctuations in Phreatic Level and Salinity

Gloria,

Hernández,

Pinto-Pacheco

et al. 2023

Preprint

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This research explored the influence of spatiotemporal variations in phreatic levels and salinity on the patterns and interactions of soil mesofauna communities in a tropical urban coastal wetland. It delineated significant variations in phreatic levels and salinity, with distinct regimes characterizing different habitats and hydroperiods. A total of 120 mesofauna morphotypes across 42 taxa were identified, revealing habitat differences and similarities, and the ecosystem biodiversity. Moderate correlations were established between phreatic levels, salinity, and mesofauna richness and abundance, with habitat type and phreatic level emerging as significant predictors in the regression model. Our findings indicate that shallow phreatic levels in conjunction with oligohaline salinity conditions foster a more favorable abiotic environment, thereby promoting increased biodiversity. The study underscores the dynamic and adaptive nature of mesofauna communities in response to changing environmental conditions, offering valuable insights for effective costal urban wetland management, particularly in the context of multiple stressors such as global and regional climate change, sea level rise, and human activities. The bio-sensor capacity of soil mesofauna emerges as a vital tool for monitoring and facilitating adaptive ecosystem management, thereby ensuring their long-term health and sustainability.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of Soil Mesofauna Communities in a Tropical Urban Coastal Wetland: Responses to Spatiotemporal Fluctuations in Phreatic Level and Salinity

Gloria,

Hernández,

Pinto-Pacheco

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…A plausible explanation for this trend is the series of environmental changes preceding these periods. After enduring alternating flood and dry conditions for several months, factors such as soil moisture, salinity, and food availability undergo significant shifts across habitats [26,60,61]. In wetland ecosystems, terrestrial plant litter accumulates during dry spells and undergoes partial in-situ decomposition, enriching the humic material reservoir.…”

Section: R Review 23mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Dynamics of Soil Mesofauna Communities in a Tropical Urban Coastal Wetland: Responses to Spatiotemporal Fluctuations in Phreatic Level and Salinity

Ortiz-Ramírez,

Hernández,

Pinto-Pacheco

et al. 2024

Arthropoda

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Coastal wetlands, vital for ecological diversity, have been significantly altered by anthropogenic activities, particularly in the Caribbean. These changes have created a complex mosaic of habitats and physicochemical conditions, further stressed by climate variability and sea-level rise. This study, conducted in Las Cucharillas Natural Reserve, a tropical urban coastal wetland in Puerto Rico, aimed to determine the effects of spatiotemporal variations in phreatic levels and salinity on soil mesofauna assemblages, crucial bio-indicators of environmental change. In 2020 and 2021, soil samples were collected from five diverse habitat types during different hydroperiods. Each sample was taken under four randomly selected plant types and processed using lighted Tullgren–Berlese extractors. Phreatic level and salinity were also measured. A total of 43 families were quantified, underscoring distinct habitat differences, similarities, and overall ecosystem diversity. Moderate correlations between phreatic levels, salinity, and mesofauna richness and abundance were determined. Peak richness and abundance were quantified at shallow (−0.03 to −0.07 m) and slightly moderate (−0.12 to −0.17 m) phreatic levels where oligohaline salinity (>0.5 to 5.0 ppt) prevails. The study highlights the adaptability of mesofauna to environmental shifts and their potential as biosensors for effective coastal wetland management amid climatic and anthropogenic pressures.

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“…Feather mites are ectosymbionts found on almost all birds (Walter & Proctor 2013). Their entire life cycle is spent on their living hosts, mainly on the wing and tail flight feathers, where they are usually queuing between the feather barbs (i.e., the primary branches of the feather rachis; Figure 1) or next to the rachis (Kelso & Nice 1963; Choe & Kim 1989; Yamasaki et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their entire life cycle is spent on their living hosts, mainly on the wing and tail flight feathers, where they are usually queuing between the feather barbs (i.e., the primary branches of the feather rachis; Figure 1) or next to the rachis (Kelso & Nice 1963; Choe & Kim 1989; Yamasaki et al, 2018). They are often said to feed on the preen gland secretions and organic material trapped in them (Dubinin 1951; OConnor 1982; Proctor 2003; Walter & Proctor 2013; Galván et al, 2008). Still, other evidence suggests a lower relevance of preen waxes as food resources (Pap et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host space, not energy or symbiont size, constrains feather mite abundance across passerine bird species

Labrador

Serrano

Doña

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Comprehending symbiont abundance among host species is a major ecological endeavour, and the metabolic theory of ecology has been proposed to understand what constraints symbiont populations. We parameterized metabolic theory equations to predict how bird species' body size and the body size of their feather mites relate to mite abundance according to four potential energy (microbial abundance, uropygial gland size) and space constraints (wing area, number of feather barbs). Predictions were compared with the empirical scaling of feather mite abundance from 26,604 birds of 106 passerine species, using phylogenetic modelling and quantile regression. Feather mite populations were strongly constrained by host space (number of feather barbs) and not energy. Moreover, feather mite species' body size was unrelated to their abundance or to the body size of their host species. We discuss the implications of our results for our understanding of the bird-feather mite system and for symbiont abundance in general.

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Life Cycles, Development and Size

Cited by 4 publications

References 72 publications

Dynamics of Soil Mesofauna Communities in a Tropical Urban Coastal Wetland: Responses to Spatiotemporal Fluctuations in Phreatic Level and Salinity

Dynamics of Soil Mesofauna Communities in a Tropical Urban Coastal Wetland: Responses to Spatiotemporal Fluctuations in Phreatic Level and Salinity

The Dynamics of Soil Mesofauna Communities in a Tropical Urban Coastal Wetland: Responses to Spatiotemporal Fluctuations in Phreatic Level and Salinity

Host space, not energy or symbiont size, constrains feather mite abundance across passerine bird species

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