Author
Andrea Dávalos
Other affiliations: Cornell University
Bio: Andrea Dávalos is an academic researcher from State University of New York at Cortland. The author has contributed to research in topics: Introduced species & Alliaria petiolata. The author has an hindex of 14, co-authored 31 publications receiving 610 citations. Previous affiliations of Andrea Dávalos include Cornell University.
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Leipzig University1, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg2, Universidade Positivo3, University of Vigo4, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária5, ETH Zurich6, Moscow State University7, University of Freiburg8, University of Jena9, University of Catania10, Wageningen University and Research Centre11, Free University of Berlin12, Senckenberg Museum13, Colorado State University14, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization15, University of Nairobi16, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation17, National Scientific and Technical Research Council18, Brandenburg University of Technology19, Cornell University20, University College Dublin21, United States Forest Service22, University of Toronto23, Aberystwyth University24, State University of New York at Cortland25, National University of Luján26, University of Trier27, University of the Philippines Mindanao28, Razi University29, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek30, Kyushu University31, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency32, Aarhus University33, Northern Kentucky University34, Lincoln University (Missouri)35, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad36, Fukushima University37, Matej Bel University38, Lancaster University39, Université d'Abobo-Adjamé40, Tarbiat Modares University41, Pachhunga University College42, University of São Paulo43, University of Hawaii at Hilo44, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources45, Oklahoma State University–Stillwater46, Forest Research Institute47, University of Extremadura48, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven49, Research Institute for Nature and Forest50, Natural Resources Institute Finland51, University of Alcalá52, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology53, King Abdulaziz University54, University of Minnesota55, Federal University of Maranhão56, Jagiellonian University57, Technical University of Berlin58, University of Wisconsin-Madison59, Leibniz Association60, Braunschweig University of Technology61, University of Innsbruck62, Russian Academy of Sciences63, Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics64, Khalsa College, Amritsar65, University of La Laguna66, Kōchi University67, Universidad Pública de Navarra68, McGill University69, The Nature Conservancy70, University of Giessen71, Henan University72, University of Saint Mary73
TL;DR: It was found that local species richness and abundance typically peaked at higher latitudes, displaying patterns opposite to those observed in aboveground organisms, which suggest that climate change may have serious implications for earthworm communities and for the functions they provide.
Abstract: Soil organisms, including earthworms, are a key component of terrestrial ecosystems. However, little is known about their diversity, their distribution, and the threats affecting them. We compiled a global dataset of sampled earthworm communities from 6928 sites in 57 countries as a basis for predicting patterns in earthworm diversity, abundance, and biomass. We found that local species richness and abundance typically peaked at higher latitudes, displaying patterns opposite to those observed in aboveground organisms. However, high species dissimilarity across tropical locations may cause diversity across the entirety of the tropics to be higher than elsewhere. Climate variables were found to be more important in shaping earthworm communities than soil properties or habitat cover. These findings suggest that climate change may have serious implications for earthworm communities and for the functions they provide.
223 citations
Leipzig University1, University of Helsinki2, University of Copenhagen3, University of Minnesota4, Université de Sherbrooke5, Cornell University6, University of Toronto7, Purdue University8, Université du Québec à Montréal9, Northern Kentucky University10, Oklahoma State University–Stillwater11, University of Georgia12, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point13, Northwestern University14
TL;DR: It is found that plant diversity significantly declined with increasing richness of introduced earthworm ecological groups, and there is evidence that introduced earthworms are associated with declines in plant diversity in North American forests.
Abstract: Globally, biological invasions can have strong impacts on biodiversity as well as ecosystem functioning. While less conspicuous than introduced aboveground organisms, introduced belowground organisms may have similarly strong effects. Here, we synthesize for the first time the impacts of introduced earthworms on plant diversity and community composition in North American forests. We conducted a meta-analysis using a total of 645 observations to quantify mean effect sizes of associations between introduced earthworm communities and plant diversity, cover of plant functional groups, and cover of native and non-native plants. We found that plant diversity significantly declined with increasing richness of introduced earthworm ecological groups. While plant species richness or evenness did not change with earthworm invasion, our results indicate clear changes in plant community composition: cover of graminoids and non-native plant species significantly increased, and cover of native plant species (of all functional groups) tended to decrease, with increasing earthworm biomass. Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that introduced earthworms facilitate particular plant species adapted to the abiotic conditions of earthworm-invaded forests. Further, our study provides evidence that introduced earthworms are associated with declines in plant diversity in North American forests. Changing plant functional composition in these forests may have long-lasting effects on ecosystem functioning.
101 citations
TL;DR: Forest ecosystems in eastern North America face multiple threats or stressors including plant and animal invasions and increased white-tailed deer herbivory, and single and combined effects of stressors were species-specific and varied according to plant stage and demographic parameter.
Abstract: Summary
Forest ecosystems in eastern North America face multiple threats or stressors including plant and animal invasions and increased white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herbivory While each stressor may have independent detrimental effects on native biota, stressors often co-occur and are likely to have interactive effects Despite recognition that concurrent processes drive plant demographic responses, few studies evaluate independent and combined effect of stressors
Using a network of 12 sites that varied in non-native plant cover and introduced earthworm density and biomass, we experimentally assessed effects of deer exclusion (30 × 30 m paired plots), slug exclusion and nutrient addition on survival, growth and fecundity of four rare forest understorey plant species (Aristolochia serpentaria L, Agrimonia rostellata Wallr, Carex retroflexa Muhl ex Willd and Trillium erectum L)
We found that single and combined effects of stressors were species-specific and varied according to plant stage and demographic parameter Interactions were prevalent among all studied stressors and, for most cases, did not follow predicted responses
We found detrimental deer herbivory effects on reproductive A rostellata and non-consumptive effects on A serpentaria and T erectum Negative deer effects follow underlying predictions, and override effects of other stressors, even when other concurrent processes are at play
Contrary to expectations, we did not find negative effects of non-native plants Earthworms had positive effects on A rostellata and C retroflexa (especially when deer were excluded), but negative effects on T erectum Slug effects were dependent on other stressors, especially on interactions with non-native plants and earthworms Nutrient addition had a negative effect on survival of A serpentaria and T erectum, but positive effects on C retroflexa and T erectum growth
Synthesis We found prevalent but unpredictable interactions among all study factors and plant species Negative direct and indirect deer effects overrode impacts of all other stressors we investigated A multifactor approach is critical to predict plant responses to concurrent environmental forces Assessment of combined effects should form an essential component of subsequent research on plant demography and management of declining species
51 citations
University of Minnesota1, Cornell University2, University of Helsinki3, Saint Mary's University4, State University of New York at Cortland5, Leipzig University6, City University of New York7, Institute of Ecosystem Studies8, University of Wisconsin–Platteville9, Oklahoma State University–Stillwater10, University of Georgia11, University of Western Sydney12
TL;DR: The diversity of cascade effects, combined with the vast area invaded by earthworms, lead to regionally important changes in ecological functioning, which create cascade complexes that interact with climate change and other environmental changes.
Abstract: Non-native, invasive earthworms are altering soils throughout the world. Ecological cascades emanating from these changes stem from earthworm-caused changes in detritus processing occurring at a mid-point in the trophic pyramid, rather than the more familiar bottom-up or top-down cascades. They include fundamental changes (microcascades) in soil morphology, bulk density, nutrient leaching, and a shift to warmer, drier soil surfaces with loss of organic horizons. In North American temperate and boreal forests, microcascades cause effects of concern to society (macrocascades), including changes in CO2 sequestration, disturbance regimes, soil quality, water quality, forest productivity, plant communities, and wildlife habitat, and facilitation of other invasive species. Interactions among these changes create cascade complexes that interact with climate change and other environmental changes. The diversity of cascade effects, combined with the vast area invaded by earthworms, lead to regionally important changes in ecological functioning.
50 citations
TL;DR: Deer access and earthworm density synergistically interacted resulting in highest B. thunbergii ring-growth in open plots at sites with higher earthworms density, indicating successful long-term control of invasive plants may require a reduction in deer abundance, rather than just removing invasive plant species.
49 citations
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6,278 citations
01 Jan 2011
TL;DR: The GMTED2010 layer extents (minimum and maximum latitude and longitude) are a result of the coordinate system inherited from the 1-arcsecond SRTM.
Abstract: For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. 10. Diagram showing the GMTED2010 layer extents (minimum and maximum latitude and longitude) are a result of the coordinate system inherited from the 1-arc-second SRTM
802 citations
Leipzig University1, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg2, Universidade Positivo3, University of Vigo4, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária5, ETH Zurich6, Moscow State University7, University of Freiburg8, University of Jena9, University of Catania10, Wageningen University and Research Centre11, Free University of Berlin12, Senckenberg Museum13, Colorado State University14, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization15, University of Nairobi16, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation17, National Scientific and Technical Research Council18, Brandenburg University of Technology19, Cornell University20, University College Dublin21, United States Forest Service22, University of Toronto23, Aberystwyth University24, State University of New York at Cortland25, National University of Luján26, University of Trier27, University of the Philippines Mindanao28, Razi University29, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek30, Kyushu University31, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency32, Aarhus University33, Northern Kentucky University34, Lincoln University (Missouri)35, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad36, Fukushima University37, Matej Bel University38, Lancaster University39, Université d'Abobo-Adjamé40, Tarbiat Modares University41, Pachhunga University College42, University of São Paulo43, University of Hawaii at Hilo44, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources45, Oklahoma State University–Stillwater46, Forest Research Institute47, University of Extremadura48, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven49, Research Institute for Nature and Forest50, Natural Resources Institute Finland51, University of Alcalá52, King Abdulaziz University53, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology54, University of Minnesota55, Federal University of Maranhão56, Jagiellonian University57, Technical University of Berlin58, University of Wisconsin-Madison59, Leibniz Association60, Braunschweig University of Technology61, University of Innsbruck62, Russian Academy of Sciences63, Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics64, Khalsa College, Amritsar65, University of La Laguna66, Kōchi University67, Universidad Pública de Navarra68, McGill University69, The Nature Conservancy70, University of Giessen71, Henan University72, University of Saint Mary73
TL;DR: It was found that local species richness and abundance typically peaked at higher latitudes, displaying patterns opposite to those observed in aboveground organisms, which suggest that climate change may have serious implications for earthworm communities and for the functions they provide.
Abstract: Soil organisms, including earthworms, are a key component of terrestrial ecosystems. However, little is known about their diversity, their distribution, and the threats affecting them. We compiled a global dataset of sampled earthworm communities from 6928 sites in 57 countries as a basis for predicting patterns in earthworm diversity, abundance, and biomass. We found that local species richness and abundance typically peaked at higher latitudes, displaying patterns opposite to those observed in aboveground organisms. However, high species dissimilarity across tropical locations may cause diversity across the entirety of the tropics to be higher than elsewhere. Climate variables were found to be more important in shaping earthworm communities than soil properties or habitat cover. These findings suggest that climate change may have serious implications for earthworm communities and for the functions they provide.
223 citations
TL;DR: The impact of invasive plants on the population dynamics of resident insect species has been rarely examined, but invasive plants can influence the spatial and temporal dynamics of native insect (meta)populations and communities, ultimately leading to changes at the landscape level.
Abstract: Invasive plants can disrupt a range of trophic interactions in native communities. As a novel resource they can affect the performance of native insect herbivores and their natural enemies such as parasitoids and predators, and this can lead to host shifts of these herbivores and natural enemies. Through the release of volatile compounds, and by changing the chemical complexity of the habitat, invasive plants can also affect the behavior of native insects such as herbivores, parasitoids, and pollinators. Studies that compare insects on related native and invasive plants in invaded habitats show that the abundance of insect herbivores is often lower on invasive plants, but that damage levels are similar. The impact of invasive plants on the population dynamics of resident insect species has been rarely examined, but invasive plants can influence the spatial and temporal dynamics of native insect (meta)populations and communities, ultimately leading to changes at the landscape level.
203 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, a 50+ year chronosequence of Alliaria petiolata invasion was studied and the authors found that a marked decline in its phytotoxin production and a consequent decline in their impact on three native species, across a 50 + year timeline of invasion.
Abstract: Invasive species can quickly transform biological communities due to their high abundance and strong impacts on native species, in part because they can be released from the ecological forces that limit native populations. However, little is known about the long-term dynamics of invasions; do invaders maintain their dominant status over long time spans, or do new ecological and evolutionary forces eventually develop to limit their populations? Alliaria petiolata is a Eurasian species that aggressively invades North American forest understories, in part due to the production of toxic phytochemicals. Here we document a marked decline in its phytotoxin production and a consequent decline in their impact on three native species, across a 50+ year chronosequence of Alliaria petiolata invasion. Genetic evidence suggests that these patterns result from natural selection for decreased phytotoxin production rather than founder effects during introduction and spread. These patterns are consistent with the finding of slowing A. petiolata population growth and rebounding native species abundance across a separate chronosequence in Illinois, U.S. These results suggest that this invader is developing evolutionary limits in its introduced range and highlight the importance of understanding the long-term processes that shape species invasions and their impacts.
196 citations