A5075814069- Plant and animal studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Urban Green Space and Health
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration
- Conservation, Ecology, Wildlife Education
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Mollusks and Parasites Studies
- Urban Agriculture and Sustainability
University of Basel
2003-2023
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research
2023
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
2023
Stellenbosch University
1970-2021
Amt für Umwelt
2020
University of Sheffield
2007-2012
Molina Center for Energy and the Environment
2009
University of York
2006-2007
Abstract Habitat loss and fragmentation are among the biggest threats to biodiversity. Anthropogenic habitat leads small isolated remnant plant animal populations. The combination of increased random genetic drift, inbreeding, reduced gene flow may substantially reduce variation However, magnitude these responses depend on several poorly understood factors including organism group, type both fragment surrounding matrix, life‐history traits, time since fragmentation. We compiled data for 83...
ABSTRACT Aim In ectotherms, the colour of an individual's cuticle may have important thermoregulatory and protective consequences. cool environments, ectotherms should be darker, to maximize heat gain, larger, minimize loss. Dark colours also predominate under high UV‐B conditions because melanin offers protection. We test these predictions in ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) across space through time based on a new, spatially temporally explicit, global‐scale combination assemblage‐level...
Invertebrates constitute a substantial proportion of terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity are critical to ecosystem function. However, their inclusion in monitoring conservation planning management has lagged behind better-known, more widely appreciated taxa. Significant progress invertebrate surveys, systematics bioindication, both globally locally, means that use is becoming increasingly feasible. Here we outline challenges solutions the integration invertebrates into objectives...
Urbanisation is increasing worldwide and regarded a major driver of environmental change altering local species assemblages in urban green areas. Forests are one the most frequent habitat types landscapes harbouring many native providing important ecosystem services. By using multi-taxa approach covering range trophic ranks, we examined influence degree urbanisation forest size on richness functional diversity plants, ground surface-active ants spiders. We conducted field surveys twenty-six...
1 Some species have expanded their ranges during recent climate warming and the availability of breeding habitat species' dispersal ability are two important factors determining expansions. The exploitation a wide range larval host plants should increase an herbivorous insect to track by increasing availability. Therefore we investigated whether performance on different changed towards its boundary, under warmer temperatures. 2 We studied polyphagous butterfly Polygonia c-album, which is...
Abstract 1. Habitat fragmentation is considered one of the major threats to invertebrate diversity in semi‐natural grassland. However, effects habitat through mowing on rich insect fauna these grasslands have not been sufficiently investigated and experiments are especially rare. 2. We studied impact small‐scale grassland orthopterans over 7 years an experiment which allowed us additionally investigate effect frequent Orthoptera communities. 3. Overall, density species richness increased...
Urbanisation is increasing worldwide and regarded a major driver of environmental change altering local species assemblages. Private domestic gardens contribute significant share total green area in cities, but their biodiversity has received relatively little attention. Previous studies mainly considered plants, flying invertebrates such as bees butterflies, birds. By using multi-taxa approach focused on less mobile, ground-dwelling invertebrates, we examined the influence garden...
Understanding the role of thermal tolerances in determining species distributions is important for assessing responses to climate change. Two hypotheses linking physiology with have been put forward-the climatic variability hypothesis and extreme hypothesis. The predicts selection individuals broad tolerance more variable conditions values under conditions. However, no study has tested predictions these simultaneously several taxonomic groups along elevational gradients. Here, we related...
Abstract Thermal performance traits are regularly used to make forecasts of the responses ectotherms anthropogenic environmental change, but such do not always differentiate between fundamental and realised thermal niches. Here we determine relative extents which variation in niches accounts for current species abundance occupancy assess effects niche‐choice on future‐climate response estimations. We investigated microclimate macroclimate temperatures alongside abundance, occupancy, critical...
Abstract. 1. Grassland fragmentation is expected to influence the abundance of different invertebrate species a extent. Fragmentation‐related effects are particular importance in that interact with many other species. 2. The density and spatial distribution nests 15 ant experimentally fragmented calcareous grasslands at three sites Northern Swiss Jura mountains were examined. Fragments size (0.25 m 2 , 2.25 20.25 ) isolated by 5‐m wide strip frequently mown vegetation. Control plots...
Background The Fynbos (FB) and Succulent Karoo biomes (SKB) have high regional plant diversity despite relatively low productivity. Local in the region varies but is moderate. For insects, previous work suggests that strict phytophages, not other taxa, may richness. However, what has yet to be investigated whether local insect species richness of FB SKB unusual for a this productivity level at latitude, also high. Here we determine case ants. Methodology/Principal Findings We use data from...
Predicting and understanding the biological response to future climate change is a pressing challenge for humanity. In 21st century, many species will move into higher latitudes elevations as warms. addition, relative abundances of within local assemblages are likely change. Both effects have implications how ecosystems function. Few biodiversity forecasts, however, take account both shifting ranges changing abundances. We provide novel analysis predicting potential changes assemblage-level...
Habitat fragmentation is a major driver of biodiversity loss, but observed effects vary and may depend on the group examined. Time since explain some differences between taxonomical groups, as species thus composition respond with delay to changes in their environment. Impacts drivers global change be underestimated short-term studies. In our study we experimentally fragmented nutrient-poor dry calcareous grasslands studied response richness, individual density various groups invertebrates...
Abstract Urbanization is occurring around the globe, changing environmental conditions and influencing biodiversity ecosystem functions. Urban domestic gardens represent a small‐grained mosaic of diverse habitats for numerous species. The challenging in urban support species possessing certain traits, exclude other Functional diversity therefore often altered gardens. By using multi‐taxa approach focused on native grassland plants ground‐dwelling invertebrates with overall low mobility...
Elevational gradients along mountain slopes offer opportunities to study key factors shaping species diversity patterns. Several environmental change over short distances the elevational gradient in predictable ways. However, different taxa respond these differently resulting various proposed models for biodiversity patterns transects. Using a multi-taxa approach, we investigated effects of elevation, area, habitat and soil characteristics on richness, individual abundance composition six...
Theory predicts that at higher trophic levels species are especially vulnerable to habitat fragmentation due small population size and dependence on particular prey species. Using aphids as model organism, we tested the hypothesis herbivore abundance increases in fragmented habitats a result of reduced predator parasitoid densities. In 3 year‐study, examined dynamics with respect host plant ant nest density experimentally calcareous grasslands two sites northern Jura mountains. Fragments...
As elements of green infrastructure, railway embankments are important corridors in urban environments connecting otherwise isolated habitat fragments. They interrupted when railways cross major roads. It is not known whether dispersing animals use bridges to We examined the function a set-aside iron-steel bridge crossing 12 m wide road with high traffic density Basel (Switzerland) for animals. installed drift fences traps on single-track, 32 long and 6 simple gravel bed, collected daily 9...