The role of environmental generalist species in ecosystem function

Richmond, Courtney; Breitburg, Denise L.; Rose, Kenneth A.

doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2005.03.002

Cited by 106 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 67 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In contrast, the most specialized oligophagous-phytophagous bugs were associated with unburnt sites. This gradient of bug feeding specialization in burnt and unburnt sites fits the ecological theory as generalist and specialist species are distributed, respectively, in variable and stable environments according to some energetic costs (Richmond et al, 2005). In stable environments, generalists cannot outperform specialists due to the inherent extra physiological and behavioral costs associated with a generalist strategy, which accommodate multiple prey types or are adapted Table 6).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Habitat structure and host plant specialization drive taxonomic andfunctional composition of Heteroptera in postfire successional habitats

Mateos¹,

Goula²,

Sauras³

et al. 2018

Turk J Zool

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Changes in habitat structure are the main driving forces for responses of animal assemblages to fire. According to the disturbance theory, generalist species are expected to outperform specialists in variable environments. Thus, we hypothesized that omnivorous and polyphagous species will become more abundant in unstable postfire successional vegetation, whereas monophagous (specialists), due to their strong dependence on host plants, are expected to respond according to the responses of plant hosts. We compared the responses of true bug (Heteroptera) assemblages in stable (unburnt) versus unstable (postfire successional) environments as this group shows a high diversity of feeding strategies. Redundancy analysis fitted our hypothesis as omnivorous and polyphagous bugs responded positively to fire whereas oligophagous bugs did not. Thus, the most generalized bugs in terms of diet were found in disturbed (burnt) habitats whereas specialized bugs were found in undisturbed (unburnt) habitats. Moreover, the most specialized bugs (monophagous species) responded to fire in accordance to the responses of their specific host plants. Although based on small bipartite networks, the lower modularity in burnt sites corresponded to a scenario of lower segregation of plant resources and fits the higher presence of generalist bugs in these sites. Our results suggest that plant-bug trophic interactions shape the response of Heteroptera to fire, and this response seems to be mediated by the degree of feeding specialization.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Habitat structure and host plant specialization drive taxonomic andfunctional composition of Heteroptera in postfire successional habitats

Mateos¹,

Goula²,

Sauras³

et al. 2018

Turk J Zool

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Conservation of an "evolutionary memory", and phenotypic plasticity may be manifest as generalist or specialist behaviour of the different coccolithophore species with respect to pCO 2 (Richmond et al, 2005). The preservation of C. pelagicus' calcification ability may be enhanced because this species prefers a high pCO 2 niche.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A coccolithophore concept for constraining the Cenozoic carbon cycle

Henderiks

Rickaby²

2007

Biogeosciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. An urgent question for future climate, in light of increased burning of fossil fuels, is the temperature sensitivity of the climate system to atmospheric carbon dioxide (pCO 2 ). To date, no direct proxy for past levels of pCO 2 exists beyond the reach of the polar ice core records. We propose a new methodology for placing a constraint on pCO 2 over the Cenozoic based on the physiological plasticity of extant coccolithophores. Specifically, our premise is that the contrasting calcification tolerance 1 of various extant species of coccolithophore to raised pCO 2 reflects an "evolutionary memory" of past atmospheric composition. The different times of evolution of certain morphospecies allows an upper constraint of past pCO 2 to be placed on Cenozoic timeslices. Further, our hypothesis has implications for the response of marine calcifiers to ocean acidification. Geologically "ancient" species, which have survived large changes in ocean chemistry, are likely more resilient to predicted acidification.

show abstract

“…Taxonomic homogenization might affect community responses to climate change depending of the effects on functional diversity. However, generalist species may be able to resist a wide range of environmental conditions, sustaining, despite low nutrient stocks and higher decomposition rates, more stable community biomass and species composition throughout some yet unpredictable level of climate change (Richmond et al, 2005).…”

Section: Floristic Composition and Diversity And Its Relations To C Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon and nitrogen stock and fluxes in coastal Atlantic Forest of southeast Brazil: potential impacts of climate change on biogeochemical functioning

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Atlantic Forest is one of the most important biomes of Brazil. Originally covering approximately 1.5 million of km 2 , today this area has been reduced to 12% of its original size. Climate changes may alter the structure and the functioning of this tropical forest. Here we explore how increases in temperature and changes in precipitation distribution could affect dynamics of carbon and nitrogen in coastal Atlantic Forest of the southeast region of Brazil The main conclusion of this article is that the coastal Atlantic Forest has high stocks of carbon and nitrogen above ground, and especially, below ground. An increase in temperature may transform these forests from important carbon sinks to carbon sources by increasing loss of carbon and nitrogen to the atmosphere. However, this conclusion should be viewed with caution because it is based on limited information. Therefore, more studies are urgently needed to enable us to make more accurate predictions.Keywords: Atlantic Forest, biogeochemistry, carbon, climatic changes, nitrogen, topography. Estoques e fluxos de carbono e nitrogênio nas zonas costeiras da Mata Atlântica do sudeste do Brasil: potenciais impactos das mudanças climáticas sobre o funcionamento biogeoquímico ResumoA Mata Atlântica é um dos mais importantes biomas do Brasil. Sua cobertura original estendia-se por aproximadamente 1,5 milhão de km 2 . Atualmente, sua área ocupa somente 12% de sua cobertura original. As mudanças climáticas podem alterar a estrutura e o funcionamento dessa floresta tropical. Neste artigo, discute-se como aumentos na temperatura do ar e mudanças na distribuição das chuvas podem afetar a dinâmica do carbono e do nitrogênio na Mata Atlântica litorânea da Região Sudeste brasileira, cuja disponibilidade de informações é maior. A principal conclusão deste artigo é que essas florestas detêm elevados estoques de carbono e nitrogênio acima do solo e, especialmente, abaixo do solo. Um aumento na temperatura do ar pode transformar essas florestas de sumidouros para fontes de carbono para a atmosfera por meio de um aumento nos processos de decomposição. Entretanto, essas conclusões devem ser vistas com cautela já que estão baseadas em um número limitado de informações. Portanto, é urgente que um número maior de informações seja produzido, permitindo conclusões mais robustas no futuro.Palavras-chave: biogeoquímica, carbono, Mata Atlântica, mudanças climáticas, nitrogênio, topografia.

show abstract

The role of environmental generalist species in ecosystem function

Cited by 106 publications

References 67 publications

Habitat structure and host plant specialization drive taxonomic andfunctional composition of Heteroptera in postfire successional habitats

Habitat structure and host plant specialization drive taxonomic andfunctional composition of Heteroptera in postfire successional habitats

A coccolithophore concept for constraining the Cenozoic carbon cycle

Carbon and nitrogen stock and fluxes in coastal Atlantic Forest of southeast Brazil: potential impacts of climate change on biogeochemical functioning

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About