Plant communities and their ecosystem functions are expected to be more resilient to future habitat fragmentation and deterioration if the species comprising the communities have a wide range of dispersal and persistence strategies. However, the extent to which the diversity of dispersal and persistence traits in plant communities is determined by the current and historical characteristics of sites and their surrounding landscape has yet to be explored.Using quantitative information on long-distance seed dispersal potential by wind and animals (dispersal in space) and on species' persistence/longevity (dispersal in time), we (i) compared levels of dispersal and persistence trait diversity (functional richness, FRic, and functional divergence, FDiv) in seminatural grassland plant communities with those expected by chance, and (ii) quantified the extent to which trait diversity was explained by current and historical landscape structure and local management history - taking into account spatial and phylogenetic autocorrel.Null model analysis revealed that more grassland communities than expected had a level of trait diversity that was lower or higher than predicted, given the level of species richness. Both the range (FRic) and divergence (FDiv) of dispersal and persistence trait values increased with grassland age. FDiv was mainly explained by the interaction between current grazing intensity and the amount of grassland habitat in the surrounding landscape in 1938.. The study suggests that the variability of dispersal and persistence traits in grassland plant communities is driven by deterministic assembly processes, with both history and current management (and their interactions), playing a major role as determinants of trait diversity. While a long continuity of grazing management is likely to have promoted the diversity of dispersal and persistence traits in present-day grasslands, communities in sites that are well grazed at the present day, and were also surrounded by large amounts of grassland in the past, showed the highest diversity of dispersal and persistence strategies. Our results indicate that the historical context of a site within a landscape will influence the extent to which current grazing management is able to maintain a diversity of dispersal and persistence strategies and buffer communities (and their associated functions) against continuing habitat fragmentation.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4258074 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12199 | DOI Listing |
Toxicology
December 2024
Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability (RISS), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan.
Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are advanced biomaterials valued for their strength, lightweight nature, and low thermal expansion, making them suitable for diverse industrial applications. However, their potential inhalation risks necessitate thorough safety evaluations. This study investigates the pulmonary inflammatory effects and retention of CNFs following intratracheal instillation in rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Biomater
December 2024
Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose & Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging, Ministry of Education; Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China; Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, China. Electronic address:
Delayed wound healing in patients with diabetes remains a major health challenge worldwide. Uncontrolled bacterial infection leads to excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and persistent inflammatory responses, which seriously hinder conventional physiological healing processes after injury. Biofilms, as protective barriers for bacteria, pose a critical obstacle to effective bacterial eradication.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Biol Macromol
December 2024
Jiangxi Provincial Engineering Research Center of Bamboo Advanced Materials and Conversion, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China. Electronic address:
Natural building blocks like chitins for self-assembling into complex materials have garnered significant interest owing to the inherent and diverse functionalities. However, challenges persist in the assembly of chitin-based composites, primarily stemming from chitin's poor solubility and compatibility. Herein, a quercetin-mediated multiple crosslinking strategy was developed to enhance compatibility by quercetin-mediated interfacial interactions between chitin and inorganic materials, achieving a series of chitin-based composite hydrogels with high performances.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChemosphere
December 2024
BRIC-National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad 500032, Telangana, India; BRIC- Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad- 121001, Haryana, India. Electronic address:
Endosulfan (Ed), a widely used organochlorine pesticide, is classified as a persistent organic pollutant (POP). Its long half-life, resistance to degradation, and bioaccumulation in the food chain contaminates soil, water, and air. Such widespread environmental damage triggers monitoring its levels for ensuring compliance with safety regulations and protecting public health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrob Ecol
December 2024
Department of Animal Health, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
Demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides are a mainstay of modern agriculture due to their widespread use for crop protection against plant-pathogenic fungi. However, DMI residues can disperse and persist in the environment, potentially affecting non-target fungi. Previous research has demonstrated that DMIs and other fungicides inhibit yeast growth in floral nectar microbial communities and decrease fungal richness and diversity of exposed flowers with no apparent effect on bacteria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!