Biology subjects

Behm, J. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Behm, J. E..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Predicting and quantifying coexistence outcomes between resident and invading species using trait and abundance data

A major challenge in invasion ecology is determining which introduced species pose a threat to resident species through competitive displacement. Here, we provide a statistical framework rooted in coexistence theory to calculate coexistence outcomes - including competitive displacement - between resident and invading species. Advantageously, our framework uses readily available trait and abundance data rather than the demographic data traditionally used in coexistence theory applications which is often difficult to collect for most species. Our framework provides methods for predicting displacement that has yet to manifest in incipient invasions, and for quantifying displacement in ongoing invasions. We apply this framework to the native and introduced gecko species on Curacao and predict the displacement of all three native species by introduced species and quantify that the displacement of one native species is already underway. Our results affirm that trait and abundance data are suitable proxies to reasonably predict and quantify coexistence outcomes.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2023

The great acceleration of island saturation by species introductions in the Anthropocene has altered species-area relationships

The species-area relationship (SAR) is a fundamental pattern of island biogeography which is often curvilinear due to reduced accumulation of species on mid-sized island caused by island isolation and the lack of speciation present on larger islands. The curvature of SARs represents lower saturation of species on mid-sized islands and therefore accelerated species accumulation should linearize island SARs. In the Anthropocene, island species accumulation has accelerated from introduced species. We hypothesize three new patterns. First, the saturation of species for the most unsaturated islands should increase more from introduced species than other islands. Second, SARs should become more linear as islands accumulate more species. Third, introduced species should greatly accelerate the island saturation process. We assessed these patterns for the reptile and amphibian of the Caribbean, a global hotspot of biodiversity. Mid-sized Caribbean islands are now more saturated causing a linearization of contemporary herpetofauna SARs resulting from a ca. 30 myr and 40 myr acceleration of island saturation for reptiles and amphibians, respectively. Thus, humans within the last few hundreds of years--starting with European colonization of the Americas--have greatly accelerated the natural process of island saturation by 30 million years within the Caribbean global biodiversity hotspot.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Multiscale assessment of oviposition habitat associations and implications for management in the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), an emerging invasive pest

O_LIControl of incipient invaders--established invasive species in the early stages of spreading-- can be inhibited by incomplete knowledge of the species habitat use. By identifying consistent habitat associations for incipient invaders early, control efforts can be more effective. Yet, because habitat associations are the result of multiscale processes, approaches are needed for integrating data collected across scales to identify them. C_LIO_LIWe employed a hierarchical, multiscale approach to identify oviposition habitat associations in the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) an incipient invasive species of high concern in the United States. We targeted the oviposition habitat spatial scales most likely to be used by lanternflies and the spatial scales of explanatory environmental variables most easily used by managers to locate egg masses to control. We explored whether habitat associations exist for oviposition habitat use and how well habitat use is explained by the duration sites have been invaded. Finally, because habitat associations are likely driven by fitness, we determined if the use of any habitat types were associated with higher fitness as measured by the number of eggs per egg mass (i.e., fecundity). C_LIO_LISpotted lanternflies exhibited oviposition habitat associations at the landscape, site, and tree scales. Overall, lanternflies oviposited more frequently at sites and on trees with low canopy cover in the surrounding landscape, on trees from the Acer genus, and in the crowns of larger trees beyond the reach of managers without special equipment. The duration a site had been invaded had opposing effects at the site and tree scales which indicates the need for scale-dependent management approaches. C_LIO_LIDespite the consistent habitat associations identified, no environmental variables explained variation in lanternfly fecundity, indicating more work is needed to identify environmental drivers of spotted lanternfly fitness. C_LIO_LISynthesis and applications. Our results indicate a multiscale approach is needed for spotted lanternfly control with unique strategies for locating egg masses at sites and on trees that vary in invasion duration. Additionally, our results suggest that multiscale investigations of habitat associations would likely inform the control of other invasive species as well. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

A functional trait approach reveals the effects of landscape context on ecosystem services provided by urban birds

Land use intensification in urban areas can have profound effects on biological communities that provide valuable ecosystem services to urban residents. We used a functional response and effect trait approach to determine how bird species responses to local and landscape-scale habitat of urban green spaces affects the supply of cultural and regulating ecosystem services. We sampled bird communities and habitat variables in urban green spaces that varied in local and landscape-scale habitat composition and compiled a dataset of species response and effect traits related to nesting, foraging, diet, and visual and acoustic aesthetic appeal. Overall, the landscape-scale context of a green space had a stronger influence on species abundances than local-scale habitat. Landscape-scale impervious surface surrounding our study sites interacted with response traits related to nesting in human-built structures, clutch size, and consumption of invertebrates to drive bird species abundances. Because correlations between response and effect traits can influence the effect traits available to provide ecosystem services at a site, we explored the correlation of these three response traits to a suite of effect traits and found the response traits were correlated with several effect traits related to diet and regulating services but correlated with few of the plumage and acoustic traits that produce cultural services. Finally, we found that effect traits associated with cultural and regulating ecosystem services varied strongly along the landscape-scale gradient of urbanization. Sites with high impervious surface cover are expected to have low levels of invertebrate pest control and visual appeal but high levels of acoustic appeal, diet evenness (generalism), and granivory. Overall, our study highlights the key role of landscape-scale habitat in driving bird-mediated ecosystem services and underscores the importance of regional urban planning to create healthy and livable cities.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2021

Paninvasion severity assessment of a US grape pest to disrupt the global wine market

Economic impacts from plant pests are often felt at the regional scale, yet some impacts expand to the global scale through the alignment of a pests invasion potentials. Such globally invasive species (i.e., paninvasives) are like the human pathogens that cause pandemics. Like pandemics, assessing paninvasion risk for an emerging regional pest is key for stakeholders to take early actions that avoid market disruption. Here, we develop the paninvasion severity assessment framework and use it to assess a rapidly spreading regional U.S. grape pest, the spotted lanternfly planthopper (Lycorma delicatula; SLF), to spread and disrupt the global wine market. We found that SLF invasion potentials are aligned globally because important viticultural regions with suitable environments for SLF establishment also heavily trade with invaded U.S. states. If the U.S. acts as an invasive bridgehead, Italy, France, Spain, and other important wine exporters are likely to experience the next SLF introductions. Risk to the global wine market is high unless stakeholders work to reduce SLF invasion potentials in the U.S. and globally.

ecology↗