Functional connectivity is a key factor for the persistence of many specialist species in fragmented landscapes. However, estimates have rarely been validated by observation dispersal movements. In this study, we estimated functional real landscape modelling endangered natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) using cost distance. Cost distance allows evaluation 'effective distances', which are distances corrected costs involved moving between habitat patches spatially explicit We parameterized...

Moths and other insects are attracted by artificial light sources. This flight-to-light behaviour disrupts their general activity focused on finding resources, such as mating partners, increases predation risk. It thus has substantial fitness costs. In illuminated urban areas, spindle ermine moths Yponomeuta cagnagella were reported to have evolved a reduced response. Yet, the specific mechanism remained unknown, was hypothesized involve either changes in visual perception or flight ability...

For organisms with indeterminate growth, life history theory predicts that in environments where experience high survival rates or gain fecundity age size, natural selection favors delayed maturity.In semelparous perennial plants the onset of reproduction is regulated by a threshold size for flowering.We tested this prediction comparing sand dune populations facultative biennial herb Cynoglossum officinale.We collected data on flowering probability, survival, and growth rate relation to...

Abstract Pollinator preference may influence the origin and dynamics of plant hybrid zones. Natural populations between red-flowered Iris fulva blue-flowered brevicaulis are found in southern Louisiana. The genetic structure these reflects a lack intermediate genotypes. We observed pollinator behaviour an experimental array with five plants each I. fulva, brevicaulis, their F1, first backcross generation direction, to obtain data on flower type preferences transitions types. most abundant...

Abstract Several models of hybrid zone evolution predict the same spatial patterns genotypic distribution whether or not structuring is due to environment‐dependent ‐independent selection. In this study, we tested for evidence selection in an Iris fulva × brevicaulis population by examining genotypes relation environmental gradients. We selected 201 Louisiana plants from within a known (80 m 80 m) and placed them four different classes ( I. fulva, ‐like hybrid, ) based on seven...

Using a variety of techniques was estimated energy expenditure and allocation in free—living green iguanas (Iguana iguana) seasonal environment on Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. 1) Daily (DEE) measured by means the doubly labeled water (DLW) technique, using 1 8 O deuterium ( 2 H). The method validated at ambient temperature humidity levels occurring Curacao. Energy expenditures from DLW differed 2.1 ± 8.2% compared to respirometry balance methods. This value falls with range deviations...

Flight is an essential biological ability of many insects, but energetically costly. Environments under rapid human-induced change are characterized by habitat fragmentation and may impose constraints on the energy income budget organisms. This may, in turn, affect locomotor performance willingness to fly. We tested flight metabolic rates meadow brown butterflies (Maniola jurtina) two contrasted agricultural landscapes: intensively managed, nectar-poor (IL) versus extensively nectar-rich...

Biodiversity is negatively affected by light pollution, caused artificial at night (ALAN). Light-emitting diodes facilitate new lighting technologies to mediate the negative effects of ALAN, such as dynamic ALAN where intensity can be adjusted traffic density. Organisms living in highly light-polluted areas may show adaptations mitigate ALAN. In a split-brood rearing experiment, larvae two moth species (Ochropleura plecta and Agrotis exclamationis) originating from low-medium high-medium...

.— The plant genera in which natural hybridization is most prevalent tend to be outcrossing perennials with some mechanism for clonal (i.e., asexual) reproduction. Although reproduction fertile, sexually reproducing hybrid populations could have important evolutionary consequences, little attention has been paid quantifying this parameter such populations. In the present study, we examined frequency and spatial patterning of two Louisiana iris Allozyme analysis both revealed relatively high...

Sparing zones from mowing has been proposed, and applied, to improve local conditions for survival reproduction of insects in hay meadows. However, little is known about the efficiency refuge consequences populations. We studied population densities butterflies before after zone 15 meadows 2009 2011. also behaviour meadow brown (Maniola jurtina) comparing nectar use, interactions flights mowing. Densities grassland this doubled on average The density females M. jurtina increased fourfold,...

1. Flowering in Senecio jacobaea is dependent on plant size at the time of vernalization and photoinduction spring. We present data genetic variation threshold for this species. 2. Field measurements revealed ample phenotypic flowering a natural sand dune population S. jacobaea. The parental generation artificial selection experiment, carried out climate chamber, showed that character was also very high. 3. In experiment offspring from different lines were compared. 56% largest plants did...

Echium vulgare is a gynodioecious species; hermaphrodite and female individuals occur in the same population. Flowers of are smaller produce less nectar. Female plants were equally frequently approached by bumblebees. After an approach bumblebees visited more flowers on plants. As result, individual received 50% visits. In contrast, produced seeds, suggesting that relation between seed set number visits was influenced resource availability. Per visit removed 16.5% pollen present anthers....

The impact of climate fluctuations during the Pleistocene on geographic structure genetic variation in plant populations is well documented, but there a lack studies annual species at European scale. present study aimed to infer history widespread Rhinanthus angustifolius C. Gmelin (Orobanchaceae). We explored chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) twenty-nine covering entire distribution area species. Five AFLP groups were identified, suggesting...