Biology subjects

Bhandary, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Bhandary, S..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Local and Spatial Processes Shape the Collapse and Recovery of Mutualistic Networks

Ecosystems can undergo abrupt critical transitions even when environmental change is gradual, resulting in hysteresis, where recovery requires conditions far more favorable than those that triggered collapse. While previous research has mainly focused on local network dynamics, the role of spatial heterogeneity and dispersal in mutualistic ecosystem resilience remains less explored. This study examines how spatial structures--grid, random, small-world, and scale-free networks--interact with dispersal rates to influence ecosystem recovery and mutualistic network persistence. We find that with low dispersal, restoration cost is similar across spatial structures, but at intermediate dispersal rates, scale-free networks show faster recovery and smaller restoration costs. At high dispersal rates, increased connectivity initially reduces restoration cost; however, over time, homogenization weakens spatial heterogeneity, causing restoration cost to increase. Importantly, increasing nestedness can delay collapse but also extends the recovery distance, making ecosystems harder to restore. By adjusting dispersal rates and transitioning from homogeneous to heterogeneous spatial structures, we can decrease restoration cost and improve ecosystem stability, offering key insights for ecological management strategies.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2025

Landscape configuration and community structure jointlydetermine the persistence of mutualists under habitat loss

Habitat loss poses a major threat to biodiversity. Its effects on ecological communities depend on the complex interplay between the landscape configuration -- the patterns of connections between habitat patches, community structure -- the patterns of interactions between species, and habitat loss patterns. Despite their individual importance, their joint effect on species persistence remains poorly understood. We explore how these three factors influence the persistence of empirical mutualistic communities. By employing spatially explicit metacommunity models, we find that landscapes with a heterogeneous distribution of connections between habitat patches exhibit high persistence under spatially-uncorrelated habitat loss but are highly vulnerable to spatially-correlated loss, where adjacent habitat patches are destroyed sequentially. Homogeneous landscapes with regularly arranged patches have lower persistence than heterogeneous landscapes but are more resilient to correlated habitat loss. The metacommunity nested structure of species interactions enhances persistence, with varying magnitude depending on landscape configuration and the patterns of habitat loss. These results can guide conservation strategies by identifying landscape and community features that promote species persistence.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Rising Temperature Drives Tipping Points in Mutualistic Networks

The effect of climate warming on species physiological parameters, including growth rate, mortality rate, and handling time, is well established from empirical data. However, with an alarming rise in global temperature more than ever, predicting the interactive influence of these changes on mutualistic communities remains uncertain. Using 139 real plant-pollinator networks sampled across the globe and a modelling approach, we study the impact of species individual thermal responses on mutualistic communities. We show that at low mutualistic strength plant-pollinator networks are at potential risk of rapid transitions at higher temperatures. Evidently, generalist species plays a critical role in guiding tipping points in mutualistic networks. Further, we derive stability criteria for the networks in a range of temperatures using a two-dimensional reduced model. We identify network structures that can ascertain the delay of a community collapse. Until the end of this century, many real mutualistic networks can be under the threat of sudden collapse, and we frame strategies to mitigate them. Together, our results indicate that knowing individual species thermal responses and network structure can improve predictions for communities facing rapid transitions.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2020

Pre-departure psychological distress and associated factors among migrant workers of Nepal

IntroductionForeign employment is the most significant motivation for international migration in Nepal. However, migrant workers are vulnerable to many exploitations that lead to psychological distress during the pre-departure phase and at the destination. The study aimed to identify the prevalence and associated factors for psychological distress among migrant workers during the pre-departure phase. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study based on the representative sample of 445 migrant workers. A 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Pre-Departure Risk Factors Perception Scale (PD-RFPS) at the workplace were self-administered to migrant workers selected randomly attending the pre-departure orientation program. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the associated factors. ResultsPrevalence of psychological distress (Depression, Anxiety and Stress) was identified as 20.9% and female (AOR=2.02, p-value=0.041) and perception of bad working conditions (AOR=2.44, p-value=0.046) were found significantly associated with pre-departure psychological distress. ConclusionData suggests the presence of symptoms of psychological distress among migrant workers during the pre-departure phase and perception of risk factors at the workplace were found significantly associated with pre-departure psychological distress. Concern bodies should provide in-depth orientation on possible risk factors at the destination and coping skills for psychological distress during the pre-departure orientation program.

scientific communication and education↗