A5053366261- Plant and animal studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Statistical and numerical algorithms
- Climate change and permafrost
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Biological Control of Invasive Species
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Entomological Studies and Ecology
- Advanced Statistical Methods and Models
- Environmental Policies and Emissions
- Statistical Methods and Applications
- Identification and Quantification in Food
University of Alberta
2013-2024
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
2016-2019
University of Canterbury
2014-2017
Complementary resource use and redundancy of species that fulfill the same ecological role are two mechanisms can respectively increase stabilize process rates in ecosystems. For example, predator complementarity determine prey consumption their stability, yet few studies take into account multiple attacking at different natural communities. Thus, it remains unclear whether these biodiversity important determinants entire predator-prey assemblages, such food-web interaction structure...
Abstract Species have strong indirect effects on others, and predicting these is a central challenge in ecology. Prey species sharing an enemy (predator or parasitoid) can be linked by apparent competition, but it unknown whether this process enough to community-wide structuring mechanism that could used predict future states of diverse food webs. Whether abundances are spatially coupled movement across different habitats also untested. Here, using field experiment, we show predicted...
Edge effects in fragmented natural habitats may be exacerbated by intensive land use the surrounding landscape. Given that most managed systems have higher primary productivity than adjacent systems, theory suggests bottom‐up subsidized consumers are likely to spill over from habitats. Furthermore, magnitude of spillover is differ between generalist and specialist consumers, because differences their ability full spectrum resources. However, it unknown whether there indeed asymmetrical...
Understanding the effects of biodiversity on community persistence and productivity is key to managing both natural production systems. Because rare species face greater danger extinction, evenness, a measure how similar abundances are across in community, seen as component biodiversity. However, previous studies have failed find consistent association evenness with survival biomass production. Here we provide theoretical framework for relationship among these three elements. We demonstrate...
Incorporating the evolutionary history of species into community ecology enhances understanding composition, ecosystem functioning and responses to environmental changes. Phylogenetic might partly explain impact fragmentation land-use change on assemblages interacting organisms even determine potential cascading effects across trophic levels. However, it remains unclear whether phylogenetic diversity basal resources is reflected at higher levels in food web. In particular, determinants...
Abstract Keystone species are disproportionately important for ecosystem functioning. While all engage in multiple interaction types with other species, keystone importance is often defined based on a single dimension of their Eltonian niche, that is, one type (e.g. predator). It remains unclear whether the unidimensional or if it extends across types. We conducted meta‐analysis tripartite networks examining niche mirrored dimensions, and this associated outcome, intimacy richness. show...
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are widely used for honey production and crop pollination, raising concern wild pollinators, as may compete with pollinators floral resources. The first sign of competition, before changes appear in pollinator abundance or diversity, be to interactions plants. Such a community can measured by looking at metrics resource use overlap plant-pollinator interaction networks. Studies bee effects on networks have usually not distinguished whether alter interactions, if...
Abstract Converting natural areas into land used for production causes dramatic changes in the configuration of landscapes. Both loss and fragmentation native habitats contribute to biodiversity world‐wide consequent creation artificial edges can have a significant influence on community assembly. The conservation value plantation forests has been identified specific species, but it is not clear whether exotic pine plantations also be preservation communities general. We studied composition...
Habitat fragmentation dramatically alters the spatial configuration of landscapes, with creation artificial edges affecting community structure and dynamics. Despite this, it is not known how different food webs in adjacent habitats assemble at their boundaries. Here we demonstrate that composition herbivore-parasitoid across between native plantation forests are randomly assembled from those communities. Rather, elevated proportions abundant, interaction-generalist parasitoid species...
Biological pest control (i.e. 'biocontrol') agents can have direct and indirect non-target impacts, predicting these effects (especially impacts) remains a central challenge in biocontrol risk assessment. The analysis of ecological networks offers promising approach to understanding the community-wide impacts (via interactions). Independently, species traits phylogenies been shown successfully predict interactions network structure (alleviating need collect quantitative interaction data),...
Abstract When planting flowers for pollinator conservation, determining what to plant is challenging because flower establishment can be time‐consuming and resource‐intensive. To alleviate this challenge, researchers have proposed methods mathematically determine from plant–pollinator interaction data which species pollinators prefer, defined as the likelihood that a will chosen by when offered on an equal basis with other species. We compared lists produced five sensible, peer‐reviewed...
Abstract Many species respond to risks and benefits of dispersal that vary over the short term through condition-dependent dispersal. We used wind tunnels investigate how abiotic factors, spiderling age, indicators environmental quality affect aerial behaviour spiderlings in Dolomedes triton (Walckenaer) (Araneae: Pisauridae), a denizen temporary habitats. More than half all exhibited preballooning, ballooning, or spanning behaviours. Warm temperatures (>22.5 °C) low speeds (<2.0...
Abstract Species morphological and behavioural traits are key determinants of which pollinator species interact with plant species. However, individuals within not identical in their this diversity could help us understand plant–pollinator interaction patterns. Using three independent data sets, we assessed whether bee intraspecific body size variation (ITV) sociality influenced specialisation, niche partitioning, centrality the network phylogenetic plants visited. We found that solitary...
Abstract Little is known about the distribution and natural history of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in western Canada. Filling knowledge gaps tracking this potentially changing fauna are important because likely pollinators pest control agents for crops. Hoverflies were collected using Malaise traps placed near fields seeded to canola central Alberta from May August 2021. Platycheirus varipes Curran represents a new species record Alberta. Two conservation concern two with extremely...
The prairies of Canada support a diversity insect pollinators that contribute pollination services to flowering crops and wild plants. Habitat loss use managed has increased conservation concerns for pollinators, as mounting evidence suggests honey bees (Apis mellifera) may reduce their abundance. Plant-pollinator community analyses often omit non-bee which can be valuable contributors services. Here, we experimentally introduced examine how abundance affects the species richness, diversity,...
Abstract The economic importance of insect pests in agricultural fields and the potential biological control by their natural enemies warrant foundational studies for development integrated pest management strategies. An survey was conducted alfalfa (Fabaceae) seed production southern Alberta, Canada, during bud, flowering, crop stages 2020 2021. We examined seasonal abundance Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze) (Hemiptera: Miridae), Lygus...
ABSTRACT Aim Understanding the organisation of wide variety ecological interactions is crucial to advancing our understanding and management real ecosystems. We aimed compile a ‘complete’ network tetrapod trophic non‐trophic for entire North American boreal forest biome that could be analysed gain insights into community function. In particular, we identify functionally important units (modules) species within network, compare how these changed seasonally with different types interactions....
Abstract Keystone species are disproportionately important for ecosystem functioning (1,2). However, while all engage in multiple interaction types with other species, the importance of keystone is often defined based on a single dimension their Eltonian niche (3), that is, one type (e.g., predator). Therefore, it remains unclear whether unidimensional or if extends across types. We conducted meta-analysis tripartite networks to examine mirrored dimensions, and this associated outcome,...
Abstract Biological pest control (i.e. ‘biocontrol’) agents can have direct and indirect non-target impacts, predicting these effects (especially impacts) remains a central challenge in biocontrol risk assessment. The analysis of ecological networks offers promising approach to understanding the community-wide impacts (via interactions). Independently, species traits phylogenies been shown successfully predict interactions network structure (alleviating need collect quantitative interaction...