Showing papers by "Walter Durka published in 2021"

Widespread vulnerability of flowering plant seed production to pollinator declines.

Abstract: Despite evidence of pollinator declines from many regions across the globe, the threat this poses to plant populations is not clear because plants can often produce seeds without animal pollinators. Here, we quantify pollinator contribution to seed production by comparing fertility in the presence versus the absence of pollinators for a global dataset of 1174 plant species. We estimate that, without pollinators, a third of flowering plant species would produce no seeds and half would suffer an 80% or more reduction in fertility. Pollinator contribution to plant reproduction is higher in plants with tree growth form, multiple reproductive episodes, more specialized pollination systems, and tropical distributions, making these groups especially vulnerable to reduced service from pollinators. These results suggest that, without mitigating efforts, pollinator declines have the potential to reduce reproduction for most plant species, increasing the risk of population declines.

Tree phylogenetic diversity structures multitrophic communities

Abstract: 1. Plant diversity begets diversity at other trophic levels. While species richness is the most commonly used measure for plant diversity, the number of evolutionary lineages (i.e. phylogenetic diversity) could theoretically have a stronger influence on the community structure of co-occurring organisms. However, this prediction has only rarely been tested in complex real-world ecosystems. 2. Using a comprehensive multitrophic dataset of arthropods and fungi from a species-rich subtropical forest, we tested whether tree species richness or tree phylogenetic diversity relates to the diversity and composition of organisms. 3. We show that tree phylogenetic diversity but not tree species richness determines arthropod and fungi community composition across trophic levels and increases the diversity of predatory arthropods but decreases herbivorous arthropod diver- sity. The effect of tree phylogenetic diversity was not mediated by changed abun- dances of associated organisms, indicating that evolutionarily more diverse plant communities increase niche opportunities (resource diversity) but not necessarily niche amplitudes (resource amount). 4. Our findings suggest that plant evolutionary relatedness structures multitrophic communities in the studied species-rich forests and possibly other ecosystems at large. As global change non-randomly threatens phylogenetically distinct plant species, far-reaching consequences on associated communities are expected.

Colonisation of secondary habitats in mining sites by Labidura riparia (Dermaptera: Labiduridae) from multiple natural source populations

Abstract: Open cast lignite mines, sand pits and military training areas represent human-made, secondary habitats for specialized xerothermophilous and psammophilous species. Rare species, including the earwig Labidura riparia, are found in high population densities in such sites. However, it is unknown from which sources colonisation took place and how genetic variation compares to that of ancient populations on natural sites. Using nine microsatellite markers, we analysed genetic variation and population structure of L. riparia in 21 populations in NE Germany both from secondary habitats such as lignite-mining sites, military training areas and a potassium mining heap, and rare primary habitats, such as coastal and inland dunes. Genetic variation was higher in populations from post-mining sites and former military training areas than in populations from coastal or inland dune sites. Overall population differentiation was substantial (FST = 0.08; FʹST = 0.253), with stronger differentiation among primary (FST = 0.196; FʹST = 0.473) than among secondary habitats (FST = 0.043; FʹST = 0.147). Differentiation followed a pattern of isolation by distance. Bayesian structure analysis revealed three gene pools representing primary habitats on a coastal dune and two different inland dunes. All populations from secondary habitats were mixtures of the two inland dune gene pools, suggesting multiple colonization of post-mining areas from different source populations and hybridisation among source populations. Populations of L. riparia from primary habitats deserve special conservation, because they harbour differentiated gene pools. The majority of the L. riparia populations, however, thrive in secondary habitats, highlighting their role for conservation. A dual strategy should be followed of conserving both remaining natural habitat harbouring particular intraspecific gene pools and secondary habitat inhabited by large admixed and genetically highly variable populations.