Abstract Communities assemble through a combination of stochastic processes, which can make environmentally similar communities divergent (high β‐diversity), and deterministic convergent (low β‐diversity). Top predators influence both stochasticity (e.g. colonization extinction events) determinism size the realized species pool), in community assembly, thus their net effect is unknown. We investigated how predatory fish influenced scaling prey diversity ponds at local regional spatial...

Species delimitation attempts to match species-level taxonomy with actual evolutionary lineages. Such taxonomic conclusions are typically, but not always, based on patterns of congruence across multiple data sources and methods analyses. Here, we use this pluralistic approach species help resolve uncertainty in boundaries phrynosomatid sand lizards the genus Holbrookia. Specifically, Spot-tailed Earless Lizard (H. lacerata) was historically divided into a northern l. southern subcaudalis)...

The relationship between an island’s size and the number of species on that island—the island species–area (ISAR)—is one most well-known patterns in biogeography forms basis for understanding biodiversity loss response to habitat fragmentation. Nevertheless, there is contention about exactly how estimate ISAR influence three primary ecological mechanisms drive it — random sampling, disproportionate effects, heterogeneity. Key this estimates are often confounded by sampling measures (i.e.,...

Accurate identification of animal species is necessary to understand biodiversity richness, monitor endangered species, and study the impact climate change on distribution within a specific region. Camera traps represent passive monitoring technique that generates millions ecological images. The vast numbers images drive automated analysis as essential, given manual assessment large datasets laborious, time-consuming, expensive. Deep learning networks have been advanced in last few years...

Abstract We surveyed freshwater ponds (localities) nested within watersheds (regions) to evaluate the relationship between productivity and animal species richness at different spatial scales. In where were relatively distant from one another (likely reducing level of interpond dispersal many organisms), we found a scale‐dependent productivity–diversity relationship; local scales (among ponds), diversity was hump‐shaped function productivity, whereas regional watersheds), monotonically...

Species immigration history can structure ecological communities through priority effects, which are often mediated by competition. As competition tends to be stronger between species with more similar niches, we hypothesize that phylogenetic relatedness, under niche conservatism, may a reasonable surrogate of similarity species, and thus influence the strength effects. We tested this hypothesis using laboratory microcosm experiment in established bacterial pools different levels relatedness...

Irreplaceable, self-organizing landforms and the endemic ecologically specialized biodiversity they support are threatened globally by anthropogenic disturbances. Although outcome of disrupting is somewhat understood, little information exists that documents population consequences landform disturbance on biodiversity. Conservation strategies for species dependent upon have been difficult to devise because require understanding complex feedbacks create maintain configuration demography...

Although defining population structure according to discrete habitat patches is convenient for metapopulation theories, taking this approach may overlook within populations continuously distributed across landscapes. For example, landscape features direct the movement of organisms and define density distribution individuals, which can generate spatial localized dynamics as well among them. Here, we use neighborhood concept, describes relative scale individual movements, illustrate how a...

Although predator effects on the number of locally coexisting species are well understood, there few formal predictions how these local influence patterns prey diversity at larger spatial scales. Building theory island biogeography, we develop a simple model that describes predators can alter scaling in metacommunities and compares generalist specialist regional diversity. Generalist predators, which consume randomly with respect to identity, predicted reduce α‐diversity increase β‐diversity...

A central goal of invasion biology is to elucidate mechanisms regulating community invasibility. Darwin's naturalization hypothesis, one the oldest hypotheses in biology, emphasizes importance phylogenetic relatedness (PR) between resident and invader species for predicting Alternatively, a recent extension diversity-invasibility hypothesis predicts that diversity (PD) communities influences Neither these has undergone rigorous experimental testing, relative contributions PR PD invasibility...

Habitat fragmentation is a major driver of biodiversity loss and among reptiles has been attributed as cause species decline. The negative effect habitat also shown to be worse for that are specialists. Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus arenicolus Degenhardt Jones, 1972) specializes on the shinnery oak (Quercus havardii Rydb.) sand-dune landform Mescalero–Monahans Sandhills ecosystem in western Texas eastern New Mexico, USA. This fragmented by roads well pads used extraction oil gas...

Abstract Although much work has been conducted on coastal populations of the American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ), less is known about population dynamics and genetic structure alligators confined to inland habitats. DNA microsatellite loci, derived from alligator, were used investigate patterns variation within between distributed at localities in Texas. These data evaluate discreteness different stocks relative their basic ecology these sites. Observed mean heterozygosities...

In addition to having a positive effect on species richness (species-area relationships [SARs]), habitat area can influence the presence of predators, which indirectly prey richness. While these direct and indirect effects occur simultaneously, no research has examined how predation might contribute SAR variation. We extend MacArthur Wilson's equilibrium theory island biogeography by including predation-induced shifts in extinction predict that predators will reduce slopes SARs. provide...

Metacommunities occupy landscapes, yet few studies of metacommunity structure consider contributions multiple landscape elements explicitly. Previous have focused on measures focal habitat connectivity as proxies for dispersal to distinguish among alternative models. However, it is also clear that species and are shaped by composition configuration. Slow integration explicit heterogeneity into the concept has both limited our understanding how landscape–dispersal interactions shape...

Context Research has shown many negative effects of roads and traffic on wildlife other biodiversity. The direct indirect mechanisms through which harm animal populations vary across taxa, making mitigation road a great challenge for conservation. As such, large toolkit species-specific management techniques may be needed to mitigate the dunes sagebrush lizard, Sceloporus arenicolus, is psammophilic (sand-loving) habitat specialist endemic Mescalero–Monahans Sandhills ecosystem New Mexico...

Abstract ContextAdvancements in camera-trap technology have provided wildlife researchers with a new technique to better understand their study species. This improved method may be especially useful for many conservation-reliant snake species that can difficult detect because of rarity and life histories secretive behaviours. AimsHere, we report the results 6-month camera-trapping using time lapse-triggered camera traps snakes, particular federally listed Louisiana pinesnake (Pituophis...

Abstract Reptile species endemic to dune ecosystems worldwide possess morphological and behavioral adaptations for burying in sand. Specializations subsurface breathing among these animals are advantageous only where sand conditions permit. The patchy distributions of many psammophilic presumably due the occurrence suitable areas attributes facilitate locomotion, burying, nesting. endemic, dune‐dwelling S celoporus arenicolus does not occur grain size composition is relatively fine,...

Population studies of the dunes sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus arenicolus) suggest that fluctuations in population dynamics this are driven by spatial and temporal variation annual recruitment. Although survival eggs or embryos is known to contribute greatly recruitment many other species, little about these early life history stages their contributions S. arenicolus. Here we describe first 3 observations nesting wild for All took place between 2005 2011 at Caprock Wildlife Area, 48 km east...

Abstract The massasauga Sistrurus catenatus was historically divided into three subspecies, but this long-standing taxonomy has recently been called question. Genetic research now recognizes a split of the species eastern S. and western tergeminus, with latter two desert t. edwardsii prairie tergeminus. Although distinction between geographically isolated populations tergeminus is well-supported genetically, geographic relationships among remain unresolved because incomplete sampling...

We examined genetic relationships among individuals and populations of the species Holbrookia lacerata, spot-tailed earless lizard, using whole mitochondrial genomes. Lizards were collected from south, central west Texas. found significant amounts structure evidence two major reciprocally monophyletic groups lizards in lacerata occurs on Edwards Plateau adjacent regions West Texas north Balcones Escarpment, while subcaudalis South Mexico south Escarpment. These recognised subspecies...