A5002315913- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant and animal studies
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Forest ecology and management
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Marine and fisheries research
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
Ghent University
2016-2025
Ghent University Hospital
2008-2024
Research Institute for Nature and Forest
2024
Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network
2020
Ecological Society of America
2019
John Wiley & Sons (United States)
2019
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
2019
National Museums of Kenya
1998-2017
Field Museum of Natural History
2009
Roosevelt University
2009
Abstract The increasing urbanization process is hypothesized to drastically alter (semi‐)natural environments with a concomitant major decline in species abundance and diversity. Yet, studies on this effect of urbanization, the spatial scale at which it acts, are present inconclusive due large heterogeneity taxonomic groups scales relationship has been investigated among studies. Comprehensive analysing across multiple animal rare, hampering assessment how biodiversity generally responds...
Body size is intrinsically linked to metabolic rate and life-history traits, a crucial determinant of food webs community dynamics1,2. The increased temperatures associated with the urban-heat-island effect result in costs are expected drive shifts smaller body sizes 3 . Urban environments are, however, also characterized by substantial habitat fragmentation 4 , which favours mobile species. Here, using replicated, spatially nested sampling design across ten animal taxonomic groups, we show...
Vulnerability to habitat fragmentation Habitat caused by human activities has consequences for the distribution and movement of organisms. Betts et al. present a global analysis how exposure affects composition ecological communities (see Perspective Hargreaves). In dataset consisting 4489 animal species, regions that historically experienced little disturbance tended harbor higher proportion species vulnerable fragmentation. Species in more frequently disturbed were resilient. High-latitude...
Abstract Aichi Target 12 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) contains aim to ‘prevent extinctions known threatened species’. To measure degree which this was achieved, we used expert elicitation estimate number bird and mammal species whose were prevented by conservation action in 1993–2020 (the lifetime CBD) 2010–2020 timing 12). We found that 21–32 7–16 since 1993, 9–18 two seven 2010. Many remain highly may still become extinct. Considering 10 five did go extinct (or are...
What factors determine the persistence of species in fragmented habitats? To address this question, we studied relative impacts forest deterioration and fragmentation on bird 12 rainforest fragments Kenya, combining 6 years individual capture-recapture data with measurements current captures museum specimens. Species mobility, as estimated from species-specific dispersal rates, tolerance to habitat deterioration, change fluctuating asymmetry increasing disturbance, explained 88% variation...
The increasing conversion of agricultural and natural areas to human-dominated urban landscapes is predicted lead a major decline in biodiversity worldwide. Two conditions that typically differ between environments the surrounding landscape are increased temperature, high patch isolation habitat turnover rates. However, extent spatial scale at which these altered shape biotic communities through selection and/or filtering on species traits currently poorly understood. We sampled carabid...
Abstract Most of Earth's biodiversity is found in 36 hotspots, yet less than 10% natural intact vegetation remains. We calculated models projecting the future state most these hotspots for year 2050, based on climatic and agroeconomic pressure. Our project an increasing demand agricultural land resulting conversion >50% remaining about one third all 2–6 from This confirms that, short term, habitat loss greater concern climate change their biodiversity. Hotspots are severely threatened...
Despite the increasing knowledge on processes involved in acquisition and development of gut microbiota model organisms, factors influencing early successions natural populations remain poorly understood. In particular, little is known role rearing environment establishment wild birds. Here, we examined influence nesting Great tits (Parus major) by performing a partial cross-fostering experiment during intermediate stage nestling development. We found that cloacal great tit nestlings...
Urban sprawl increasingly affects the ecology of natural populations, including host-microbiota interactions, with observed differences in gut microbiota between urban and rural hosts. While different mechanisms could explain this pattern, dietary uptake constitutes a likely candidate. To assess contribution diet explaining urban-rural variation microbiota, we performed an aviary experiment which house sparrows were fed mimics or diets. Before experiment, hosted more diverse communities,...
The European biodiversity and forest strategies rely on sustainable management (SFM) to conserve biodiversity. However, current sustainability assessments hardly account for direct indicators. We focused multi-taxon to: i) gather map the existing information; ii) identify knowledge research gaps; iii) discuss its potential. established a network fit data species, standing trees, lying deadwood sampling unit description from 34 local datasets across 3591 units. A total of 8724 species were...
Aerial dispersal by ballooning is a passive flight, which wind drag generates an upward lift on silk thread. It likely to reflect aerial lottery, in the absence of flight direction control serious cost for long–distance fragmented landscape. For species occurring one patchily distributed habitat type, should evolve different way from morphological traits, directly linked active dispersal. Therefore, we expect that if risk landing unsuitable lower than probability reaching suitable habitat,...
Evolutionary studies typically focus on adaptations to particular environmental conditions, thereby often ignoring the role of possible constraints. Here we case variation in dorsal wing melanization a satyrine butterfly Pararge aegeria. Because melanin is complex polymer, its synthesis may be constrained if ambient conditions limit resource budget. This hypothesis was tested by comparing among butterflies that fed as larvae host grasses experiencing different drought‐stress treatments....
Density—dependent reproductive rate may be the result of all individuals in a population suffering reduced fecundity when density increases (Lack 1954), or it lower proportion living favorable places at high (Andrewartha and Birch 1954). We used key—factor analysis to investigate whether two red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) populations was dependent. Four k values were determined, indicating offspring mortality caused by: adult females not entering oestrus (k 1 ), oestrous giving birth 2...
We studied fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in the tarsus length of seven forest-restricted bird species, two which are globally critically endangered, three indigenous forest remnants a recently fragmented, afrotropical biodiversity hot spot. Based on mixed regression analysis and an extension Levene's test, individuals from most degraded fragment showed four- to sevenfold higher levels compared those least one, with intermediate moderately disturbed fragment. When comparing contemporary FA...
Summary Dispersal of endozoochorous seed involves uptake by a herbivore and exposure to different kinds digestive fluids during passage through the gastrointestinal tract. Assessment ecological significance endozoochory therefore requires examination survival rate seeds this phase. A feeding experiment was conducted with 19 plant species that are important constituents temperate semi‐natural grasslands five animal (two ruminants, two colon fermenters caecum fermenter). Mean retention time...
Understanding the causes and consequences of dispersal is a prerequisite for effective management natural populations. Rather than treating as fixed trait, it should be considered plastic process that responds to both genetic environmental conditions. Here, we consider how ambient temperature experienced by juvenile Erigone atra, spider inhabiting crop habitat, influences adult dispersal. This species exhibits 2 distinct forms dispersal, ballooning (long distance) rappelling (short...