| 1. |
- Aguirre-Gutierrez, Jesus, et al.
(author)
-
Butterflies show different functional and species diversity in relationship to vegetation structure and land use
- 2017
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In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1466-822X .- 1466-8238. ; 26:10, s. 1126-1137
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AimBiodiversity is rapidly disappearing at local and global scales also affecting the functional diversity of ecosystems. We aimed to assess whether functional diversity was correlated with species diversity and whether both were affected by similar land use and vegetation structure drivers. Better understanding of these relationships will allow us to improve our predictions regarding the effects of future changes in land use on ecosystem functions and services. LocationThe Netherlands. MethodsWe compiled a dataset of c.3 million observations of 66 out of 106 known Dutch butterfly species collected across 6,075 sampling locations during a period of 7 years, together with very high-resolution maps of land use and countrywide vegetation structure data. Using a mixed-effects modelling framework, we investigated the relationship between functional and species diversity and their main land use and vegetation structure drivers. ResultsWe found that high species diversity does not translate into high functional diversity, as shown by their different spatial distribution patterns in the landscape. Functional and species diversity are mainly driven by different sets of structural and land use parameters (especially average vegetation height, amount of vegetation between 0.5 and 2m, natural grassland, sandy soils vegetation, marsh vegetation and urban areas). We showed that it is a combination of both vegetation structural characteristics and land use variables that defines functional and species diversity. Main conclusionsFunctional diversity and species diversity of butterflies are not consistently correlated and must therefore be treated separately. High functional diversity levels occurred even in areas with low species diversity. Thus, conservation actions may differ depending on whether the focus is on conservation of high functional diversity or high species diversity. A more integrative analysis of biodiversity at both species and trait levels is needed to infer the full effects of environmental change on ecosystem functioning.
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| 2. |
- Aguirre-Gutiérrez, Jesús, et al.
(author)
-
Functional traits help to explain half-century long shifts in pollinator distributions
- 2016
-
In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Changes in climate and land use can have important impacts on biodiversity. Species respond to such environmental modifications by adapting to new conditions or by shifting their geographic distributions towards more suitable areas. The latter might be constrained by species’ functional traits that influence their ability to move, reproduce or establish. Here, we show that functional traits related to dispersal, reproduction, habitat use and diet have influenced how three pollinator groups (bees, butterflies and hoverflies) responded to changes in climate and land-use in the Netherlands since 1950. Across the three pollinator groups, we found pronounced areal range expansions (>53%) and modelled range shifts towards the north (all taxa: 17–22 km), west (bees: 14 km) and east (butterflies: 11 km). The importance of specific functional traits for explaining distributional changes varied among pollinator groups. Larval diet preferences (i.e. carnivorous vs. herbivorous/detritivorous and nitrogen values of host plants, respectively) were important for hoverflies and butterflies, adult body size for hoverflies, and flight period length for all groups. Moreover, interactions among multiple traits were important to explain species’ geographic range shifts, suggesting that taxon-specific multi-trait analyses are needed to predict how global change will affect biodiversity and ecosystem services.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Bengtsson, Bengt Å., et al.
(author)
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Fjärilar
- 2010. - 1
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In: Rödlistade arter i Sverige 2010. - Uppsala : Artdatabanken i samarbete med Naturvårdsverket. - 9789188506351 ; , s. 361-392
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)
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| 5. |
- Bergek, Sara, et al.
(author)
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From individuals to populations : Impacts of environmental pollution on natural eelpout populations
- 2012
-
In: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. - : Elsevier BV. - 0147-6513 .- 1090-2414. ; 79, s. 1-12
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Investigating how individuals are affected by environmental pollution is relatively straightforward, for example through conducting field studies or laboratory toxicity tests. Exploring such effects at a population level is considerably more difficult. Nonetheless, the exploration of population-level effects is important as the outcomes may differ from those seen at the individual level. Eelpout (Zoarces viviparus L) have been used for several years as a bioindicator for hazard substances in both the field and laboratory tests, and individual effects on reproduction have been reported. However, the influence of these effects at the population level remained unexplored. In this study, four Leslie matrix models were parameterized using data from non-polluted eelpout populations (Skagerrak, Baltic Proper, Gulf of Bothnia and Gulf of Finland). The four sites represent an environmental gradient in salinity. Furthermore, life-history data revealed differences between the sites with growth rate, fecundity, age at maturity and longevity being the most significant. The effect of pollution on natural eelpout populations was then simulated by combining the outputs from the Leslie matrices with data from laboratory and field studies exploring reproductive impairment in contaminated environments. Our results show that despite differences in life-history characteristics between sites, survival of early life stages (i.e. larvae and zero-year-old fish) was the most important factor affecting population growth and persistence for all sites. The range of change in survival of larvae necessary to change population dynamics (i.e. growth) and persistence is well within the range documented in recipient and experimental studies of chemicals and industrial waste waters. Overall, larval malformation resulting from environmental pollution can have large effects on natural populations, leading to population losses and possibly even extinction. This study hereby contributes valuable knowledge by extending individual-level effects of environmental contaminants to the population level. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 6. |
- Betzholtz, Per-Eric, et al.
(author)
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Associations of 16-Year Population Dynamics in Range-Expanding Moths with Temperature and Years since Establishment
- 2023
-
In: Insects. - : MDPI. - 2075-4450. ; 14:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Simple Summary There has been a widespread decline of many plants and animals driven at least partly by climate change. This pattern is not universal, and certain taxa are increasing in abundance and distribution. A better understanding of population dynamics and range expansions in different areas and how different taxa respond to changing temperatures is therefore important, as we are facing a warmer and more fluctuating climate in the future. In this study, we show that range-expanding moths in southeastern Sweden have increased their species richness over time and that abundance and population growth increase during years with higher temperatures. We also show that population growth in range-expanding moths is fastest in the first years after establishment in an area. These shifts in distribution and abundance of moths may lead to rapid and dramatic changes in community compositions, with potentially widespread consequences for species interactions and ecosystem functioning. Parallel to the widespread decline of plants and animals, there is also an ongoing expansion of many species, which is especially pronounced in certain taxonomic groups and in northern latitudes. In order to inform an improved understanding of population dynamics in range-expanding taxa, we studied species richness, abundance and population growth in a sample of 25,138 individuals representing 107 range-expanding moth species at three light-trap sites in southeastern Sweden over 16 years (from 2005 to 2020) in relation to temperature and years since colonisation. Species richness and average abundance across range-expanding moths increased significantly over time, indicating a continuous influx of species expanding their ranges northward. Furthermore, average abundance and population growth increased significantly with increasing average ambient air temperature during the recording year, and average abundance also increased significantly with increasing temperature during the previous year. In general, population growth increased between years (growth rate > 1), although the population growth rate decreased significantly in association with years since colonisation. These findings highlight that, in contrast to several other studies in different parts of the world, species richness and abundance have increased in southeastern Sweden, partly because the warming climate enables range-expanding moths to realise their capacity for rapid distribution shifts and population growth. This may lead to fast and dramatic changes in community composition, with consequences for species interactions and the functioning of ecosystems. These findings are also of applied relevance for agriculture and forestry in that they can help to forecast the impacts of future invasive pest species.
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| 7. |
- Betzholtz, Per-Eric, et al.
(author)
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Colour pattern variation can inform about extinction risk in moths
- 2017
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In: Animal Conservation. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1367-9430 .- 1469-1795. ; 20:1, s. 72-79
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Theory posits that species with inter-individual variation in colour patterns should beless vulnerable to extinction, compared with species that do not vary in colour. Toevaluate this prediction, we explored whether differences in colour pattern diversitywas associated with extinction risk, using red-list status for more than 350 species ofnoctuid moths in Sweden. We also evaluated six other species characteristics thathave been proposed to influence extinction risk namely: host plant niche breadth,habitat type, area of occupancy, body size, overwintering life-history stage and lengthof flight activity period. We found that species with variable colour patterns hadreduced extinction risk overall compared with species having non-variable colourpatterns, and that this difference was pronounced more strongly among species havingsmaller areas of occupancy. There were also significant associations with hostplant niche breadth and habitat type, extinction risk being lower on average in polyphagousspecies and in generalist species that occupied different habitat types. Thesefindings represent the first evidence for insects that variable colouration is associatedwith reduced extinction risks. Information on colour pattern variation is readily availablefor many taxa and may be used as a cost-effective proxy for endangerment inthe work of halting national and global biodiversity loss.
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| 8. |
- Betzholtz, Per-Eric, et al.
(author)
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Ecological characteristics associated with high mobility in night-active moths
- 2013
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In: Basic and Applied Ecology. - Elsevier : Elsevier BV. - 1439-1791 .- 1618-0089. ; 14:3, s. 271-279
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mobility is an important factor influencing the range and persistence of local populations. However, mobility is very difficult to measure empirically and thus is poorly known in most taxa. Since ecological characteristics have been suggested as good estimators of mobility, we here explore the association between ecological characteristics and mobility. We surveyed night-active moths on a Swedish island, situated 16 km from the mainland, and compared ecological characteristics of the non-resident moths found on the island with those of a species pool of assumed potential vagrants from the neighbouring mainland. Species associated with high mobility were characterised by a large range, a high population density, an activity period during warm temperatures and by being habitat generalists or preferring open habitats. The generally assumed view of poly- and oligophagous species being more mobile than monophagous species was obscured by the effect of population density. Poly- and oligophagous species had higher population densities than did monophagous species, which probably explain their higher mobility found in this study. Our result highlights the need to consider the influence of ecological characteristics on mobility. This in turn will have implications for an increased understanding of distribution patterns, population persistence and how to prioritise conservation actions, especially since habitats and climate are under dramatic changes. In taxa where data on mobility are poor, ecological characteristics can be used as a proxy for mobility.
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| 9. |
- Betzholtz, Per-Eric, et al.
(author)
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Increased Abundance Coincides with Range Expansions and Phenology Shifts : A Long-Term Case Study of Two Noctuid Moths in Sweden
- 2023
-
In: Diversity. - : MDPI. - 1424-2818. ; 15:12
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Environmental and climatic changes are inducing population declines in numerous species. However, certain species demonstrate remarkable resilience, exhibiting both population growth and range expansion. This longitudinal study in Sweden carried out over two decades (2004–2023) examines the noctuid moths Mythimna albipuncta and Hoplodrina ambigua. Abundance and phenology data were gathered from three light traps in southeastern Sweden and integrated with distribution and phenology data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. In M. albipuncta, the distribution area expanded from 7 to 76 occupied grids (60 km2) and the abundance increased from 7 to 6136 individuals, while in H. ambigua, the distribution area expanded from 1 to 87 occupied grids and the abundance increased from 0 to 6937 individuals, during the course of the study. Furthermore, a positive yearly association was observed between the number of occupied grids and light trap abundance for each species. We also found significant extensions in the adult flight periods of more than 100 days in both species. Light traps emerged as an effective monitoring tool, with light trap abundance as a reliable proxy for distribution changes. Our findings demonstrate that the studied species cope very well with environmental and climatic changes. Given their role as dominant links between primary producers and higher trophic levels, abundance and distribution shifts of these ecological engineers have the potential to cascade up and down in the ecosystem.
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| 10. |
- Betzholtz, Per-Eric, et al.
(author)
-
Inter-individual variation in colour patterns in noctuid moths characterizes long-distance dispersers and agricultural pests
- 2019
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In: Journal of applied entomology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0931-2048 .- 1439-0418. ; 143:9, s. 992-999
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A high capacity for long‐distance dispersal is a key to success for species confronted with environmental heterogeneity, habitat modification, fragmentation and loss. However, dispersal capacity is difficult to quantify and therefore poorly known in most taxa. Here, we report on a test for an association of variation in dispersal capacity with variable colouration of noctuid moths. First, using data from 12 experienced lepidopterologists, we showed that despite variation among experts in average assessments, different species are consistently classified as having non‐variable, variable or highly variable colour patterns when assessed by different experts. We then compared the incidence of non‐resident species with high inter‐individual variation in colour patterns recorded on the isolated island Utklippan (n = 47), with that in a species pool of potential long‐distance dispersers from the nearest mainland (n = 295). Species with high inter‐individual colour pattern variation were over‐represented on the island compared with species having non‐variable colouration. This finding constitutes rare evidence from the wild of long‐distance dispersal, measured on a spatial scale relevant for moths when tracking habitats in fragmented and changing landscapes or when keeping pace with environmental challenges associated with climate change. Finally, we showed that Swedish noctuid moths classified as agricultural pests (n = 28) had more variable colour patterns compared with non‐pests (n = 368). The majority of agricultural pests were also recorded on the isolated island, an outcome that is indicative of pest species having high dispersal capacity. Data on colour pattern variation may thus offer a simple and cost‐effective proxy to estimate dispersal capacity and can also help identify potential pest species. Our findings are potentially useful when modelling and predicting population and range dynamics of species in spatiotemporally heterogeneous environments, with direct implications for conservation biology and pest management.
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| 11. |
- Betzholtz, Per-Eric, et al.
(author)
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Mobility is related to species traits in noctuid moths
- 2011
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In: Ecological Entomology. - : Wiley. - 0307-6946 .- 1365-2311. ; 36, s. 369-376
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Abstract. 1. Mobility is important for the understanding of how species survive infragmented landscapes and cope with increasing rates of habitat and climate change.However, mobility is a difficult trait to explore and is poorly known in most taxa.Species traits have been studied in relation to range shifts, extinction risks, andresponses to habitat area and isolation, and have also been suggested as good estimatorsof mobility. Here we explore the relation between mobility and species traits in noctuidmoths.2. We sampled noctuid moths by an automatic light-trap on an island far out in theBaltic Sea. We compared traits of the non-resident species on the island with traits ofa species pool of assumed potential migrants from the Swedish mainland.3. Mobility was significantly related to adult activity period, length of flightperiod, and the interaction between host-plant specificity and distribution area. Widelydistributed host-plant generalists were more mobile than host-plant specialists withmore restricted distribution, and species with an adult activity period in August toSeptember moved to the island to a higher extent than species with an adult activityperiod in May to July. Our results remained qualitatively robust in additional analyses,after controlling for phylogeny and including all species recorded on the island, exceptfor the trait ‘length of flight period’.4. Our results highlight the importance of the relation between mobility and speciestraits. Noctuid moths with certain traits move over longer distances than earlier known.This finding is important to include when predicting range dynamics in fragmentedand changing landscapes, and when conservation measures of species are devised.
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| 12. |
- Betzholtz, Per-Eric, et al.
(author)
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With that diet, you will go far : trait-based analysis reveals a link between rapid range expansion and a nitrogen-favoured diet
- 2013
-
In: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences. - : The Royal Society. - 0962-8452 .- 1471-2954. ; 280:1750, s. 1-6
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent global change has had a substantial influence on the distribution of organisms, and many species are currently expanding their ranges. To evaluate the underlying processes, long-term data with good geographic resolution are essential. One important but generally overlooked data source is offered by the taxon-specific national catalogues of first provincial records that are kept in many countries. Here, we use such data to quantify trait-based influences on range expansion in Swedish butterflies and moths between 1973 and 2010. Of 282 species meeting pre-defined quality criteria, 170 expanded their northern range margin, with a mean expansion rate of 2.7 km per year. The analyses demonstrate that habitat and diet generalists, forest species and species active during warm conditions have expanded their ranges more rapidly than other species. Notably, range expansion in diet specialists was positively related to a nitrogen-favoured larval diet, an effect not found among oligo- or polyphagous species. In contrast to the general view, this shows that specialist species can undergo rapid range expansion. We suggest that increased areas of nitrogen-rich habitat, and increased availability of a nitrogen-favoured diet, are among the most important drivers of range expansions, potentially having far-reaching consequences for a wide variety of organisms.
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| 13. |
- Boman, Magnus, et al.
(author)
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Human Grid : En förstudie
- 2007. - 2
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Vi har granskat förutsättningarna och möjligheterna att implementera Human Grid: en så kallad mellanprogramvara för att integrera samarbetsfrämjande IT-lösningar som redan idag finns i datorer och telefoner, med hänsyn tagen till formella och informella sociala nätverk.
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| 14. |
- Carvalheiro, Luisa G., et al.
(author)
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Soil eutrophication shaped the composition of pollinator assemblages during the past century
- 2020
-
In: Ecography. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0906-7590 .- 1600-0587. ; 43, s. 209-221
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Atmospheric nitrogen deposition and other sources of environmental eutrophication have increased substantially over the past century worldwide, notwithstanding the recent declining trends in Europe. Despite the recognized susceptibility of plants to eutrophication, few studies evaluated how impacts propagate to consumers, such as pollinators. Here we aim to test if soil eutrophication contributes to the temporal dynamics of pollinators and their larval resources. We used a temporally and spatially explicit historical dataset with information on species occurrences to test if soil eutrophication, and more specifically nitrogen deposition, contributes to the patterns of change of plant and pollinator richness in the Netherlands over an 80 yr period. We focus on bees and butterflies, two groups for which we have good knowledge of larval resources that allowed us to define groups of species with different nitrogen related diet preferences. For each group we estimated richness changes between different 20-yr periods at local, regional and national scale, using analytical methods developed for analyzing richness changes based on collection data. Our findings suggest that the impacts of soil eutrophication on plant communities propagate to higher trophic levels, but with a time-lag. Pollinators with nitrogen-related diet preferences were particularly affected, in turn potentially impairing the performance of pollinator-dependent plants. Pollinator declines continued even after their focal plants started to recover. In addition, our results suggest that current levels of nitrogen deposition still have a negative impact on most groups here analyzed, constraining richness recoveries and accentuating declines. Our results indicate that the global increase in nitrogen availability plays an important role in the ongoing pollinator decline. Consequently, species tolerances to soil nitrogen levels should be considered across all trophic levels in management plans that aim to halt biodiversity loss and enhance ecosystems services worldwide.
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| 15. |
- Dahlberg, Markus, et al.
(author)
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Sockenkyrkorna : kulturarv och bebyggelsehistoria
- 2008
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Book (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Kyrkomiljöerna och kyrkobyggnaderna bär unika kulturhistoriska värden. För vår förståelse av landskapsutveckling och bebyggelsehistoria från vikingatid till nutid utgör sockenkyrkorna ett källmaterial i paritet med de fasta fornlämningarna för vår förhistoria. Denna rapport tecknar en översiktlig bild av Sveriges kyrkor från medeltiden till 1950, både som landskapselement och byggnadsverk. Hittills utgivna landskapsrapporter finns förtecknade på omslagets insida. I denna volym ges de rikstäckande perspektiven.
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| 16. |
- Dahlgren, Hedda, et al.
(author)
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Sexual function in primiparous women : a prospective study
- 2022
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In: International Urogynecology Journal. - : Springer. - 0937-3462 .- 1433-3023. ; 33:6, s. 1567-1582
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this prospective study was to examine the impact of sociodemographic, pregnancy and obstetric characteristics on sexual function 12 months postpartum in primiparous women. We hypothesized that sexual function would decrease after childbirth.METHODS: Between 1 October 2014 and 1 October 2017, all nulliparous women in early pregnancy registering for maternity health care in Region Örebro County, Sweden, were invited to participate in this prospective study. A total of 958 women were included. Sexual activity and function were measured at early pregnancy, 8 weeks postpartum and 12 months postpartum using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12). The associations between sociodemographic, pregnancy and obstetric characteristics and sexual activity and function from early pregnancy to 12 months postpartum were examined using linear and logistic models based on generalized estimating equations.RESULTS: We found that the prevalence of sexually active women decreased from 98.0% in early pregnancy to 66.7% at 8 weeks postpartum, but increased to 90.0% at 12 months postpartum. Age ≥ 35 years, second-degree perineal tear and current breastfeeding were statistically significant risk factors for sexual inactivity at 12 months postpartum. Poor self-reported health in early pregnancy was statistically significantly associated with decreased sexual function at 12 months postpartum.CONCLUSIONS: A majority of women resumed sexual activity at 8 weeks postpartum and most women at 12 months postpartum; the decrease in sexual function at 12 months postpartum was small and few risk factors were observed.
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| 17. |
- De Palma, Adriana, et al.
(author)
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Predicting bee community responses to land-use changes : effects of geographic and taxonomic biases
- 2016
-
In: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 6, s. 1-14
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Land-use change and intensification threaten bee populations worldwide, imperilling pollination services. Global models are needed to better characterise, project, and mitigate bees' responses to these human impacts. The available data are, however, geographically and taxonomically unrepresentative; most data are from North America and Western Europe, overrepresenting bumblebees and raising concerns that model results may not be generalizable to other regions and taxa. To assess whether the geographic and taxonomic biases of data could undermine effectiveness of models for conservation policy, we have collated from the published literature a global dataset of bee diversity at sites facing land-use change and intensification, and assess whether bee responses to these pressures vary across 11 regions (Western, Northern, Eastern and Southern Europe; North, Central and South America; Australia and New Zealand; South East Asia; Middle and Southern Africa) and between bumblebees and other bees. Our analyses highlight strong regionally-based responses of total abundance, species richness and Simpson's diversity to land use, caused by variation in the sensitivity of species and potentially in the nature of threats. These results suggest that global extrapolation of models based on geographically and taxonomically restricted data may underestimate the true uncertainty, increasing the risk of ecological surprises.
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| 18. |
- Forsman, Anders, et al.
(author)
-
Faster poleward range shifts in moths with more variable colour patterns
- 2016
-
In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6, s. 1-8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Range shifts have been documented in many organisms, and climate change has been implicated asa contributing driver of latitudinal and altitudinal range modifications. However, little is known aboutwhat species trait(s) allow for faster environmental tracking and improved capacity for distributionexpansions. We used data for 416 species of moths, and show that range limits in Sweden have shifted tothe north by on average 52.4 km per decade between 1973 and 2014. When also including non-expandingspecies, average expansion rate was 23.2 km per decade. The rate of boundary shifts increased withincreasing levels of inter-individual variation in colour patterns and decreased with increasing latitude. Theassociation with colour patterns indicate that variation in this functionally important trait enables speciesto cope with novel and changing conditions. Northern range limits also increased with average abundanceand decreased with increasing year-to-year abundance fluctuations, implicating production of dispersersas a driver of range dynamics. Studies of terrestrial animals show that rates of poleward shifts differbetween taxonomic groups, increase over time, and depend on study duration and latitude. Knowledge ofhow distribution shifts change with time, location, and species characteristics may improve projections ofresponses to climate change and aid the protection of biodiversity
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| 19. |
- Forsman, Anders, et al.
(author)
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Variable coloration is associated with dampened population fluctuations in noctuid moths
- 2015
-
In: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences. - London : Royal Society of London. - 0962-8452 .- 1471-2954. ; 282:1808, s. 1-9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Theory and recent reviews state that greater genetic and phenotypic variation should be beneficial for population abundance and stability. Experimental evaluations of this prediction are rare, of short duration and conducted under controlled environmental settings. The question whether greater diversity in functionally important traits stabilizes populations under more complex ecological conditions in the wild has not been systematically evaluated. Moths are mainly nocturnal, with a large variation in colour patterns among species, and constitute an important food source for many types of organisms. Here, we report the results of a long-term (2003-2013) monitoring study of 115 100 noctuid moths from 246 species. Analysis of time-series data provide rare evidence that species with higher levels of inter-individual variation in colour pattern have higher average abundances and undergo smaller between-year fluctuations compared with species having less variable colour patterns. The signature of interspecific temporal synchronization of abundance fluctuations was weak, suggesting that the dynamics were driven by species-specific biotic interactions rather than by some common, density-independent factor(s). We condude that individual variation in colour patterns dampens population abundance fluctuations, and suggest that this may partly reflect that colour pattern polymorphism provides protection from visually oriented predators and parasitoids.
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| 20. |
- Forsman, Anders, 1962-, et al.
(author)
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Variable colour patterns indicate multidimensional, intraspecific trait variation and ecological generalization in moths
- 2020
-
In: Ecography. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0906-7590 .- 1600-0587. ; 43:6, s. 823-833
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Animal colour patterns long have provided information about key processes that drive the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of biological diversity. Theory and empirical evidence indicate that variation in colour patterns and other traits among individuals generally improves the performance of populations and species, for example by reducing predation risk, increasing establishment success, improving resilience to environmental change, and decreasing risk of extinction. However, little is known about whether and how variation in colour pattern among species is associated with variation in other phenotypic dimensions. To address this issue, we analysed associations of colour pattern with morphological, behavioural and life-history traits on the basis of data for nearly 400 species of noctuid moths. We found that moths with more variable colour patterns had longer flight activity periods, more diverse habitats and a greater number of host plant species than species with less variable colour patterns. Variable coloration in adult noctuid moths therefore can be considered as indicative of broader niches and generalist diets. Colour pattern variability was not significantly associated with overwintering stage or body size (wing span), and it was independent of whether the colour pattern of the larvae was non-variable, variable or highly variable. Colour pattern variation during the larval stage tended to increase as the duration of the flight activity period increased, but was independent of the length of the larval period, diet breadth and habitat use. The realization that information on colour pattern variation in adult moths, and possibly other organisms, offers a proxy for niche breadth and dietary generalization can inform management and conservation biology.
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| 21. |
- Franceschini, N, et al.
(author)
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GWAS and colocalization analyses implicate carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaque loci in cardiovascular outcomes
- 2018
-
In: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 9:1, s. 5141-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Carotid artery intima media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaque are measures of subclinical atherosclerosis associated with ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD). Here, we undertake meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in 71,128 individuals for cIMT, and 48,434 individuals for carotid plaque traits. We identify eight novel susceptibility loci for cIMT, one independent association at the previously-identified PINX1 locus, and one novel locus for carotid plaque. Colocalization analysis with nearby vascular expression quantitative loci (cis-eQTLs) derived from arterial wall and metabolic tissues obtained from patients with CHD identifies candidate genes at two potentially additional loci, ADAMTS9 and LOXL4. LD score regression reveals significant genetic correlations between cIMT and plaque traits, and both cIMT and plaque with CHD, any stroke subtype and ischemic stroke. Our study provides insights into genes and tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms linking atherosclerosis both to its functional genomic origins and its clinical consequences in humans.
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| 22. |
- Franceschini, N., et al.
(author)
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GWAS and colocalization analyses implicate carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaque loci in cardiovascular outcomes
- 2018
-
In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 9:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Carotid artery intima media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaque are measures of subclinical atherosclerosis associated with ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD). Here, we undertake meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in 71,128 individuals for cIMT, and 48,434 individuals for carotid plaque traits. We identify eight novel susceptibility loci for cIMT, one independent association at the previously-identified PINX1 locus, and one novel locus for carotid plaque. Colocalization analysis with nearby vascular expression quantitative loci (cis-eQTLs) derived from arterial wall and metabolic tissues obtained from patients with CHD identifies candidate genes at two potentially additional loci, ADAMTS9 and LOXL4. LD score regression reveals significant genetic correlations between cIMT and plaque traits, and both cIMT and plaque with CHD, any stroke subtype and ischemic stroke. Our study provides insights into genes and tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms linking atherosclerosis both to its functional genomic origins and its clinical consequences in humans. © 2018, The Author(s).
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| 23. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
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Anthropogenic Influence on Moth Populations : A Comparative Study in Southern Sweden
- 2023
-
In: Insects. - : MDPI. - 2075-4450. ; 14:8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As moths are vital components of ecosystems and serve as important bioindicators, understanding the dynamics of their communities and the factors influencing these dynamics, such as anthropogenic impacts, is crucial to understand the ecological processes. Our study focuses on two provinces in southern Sweden, V & auml;sterg & ouml;tland and Sm & aring;land, where we used province records from 1974 to 2019 in combination with light traps (in 2020) to record the presence and abundance of moth species, subsequently assessing species traits to determine potential associations with their presence in anthropogenically modified landscapes. This study design provides a unique opportunity to assess temporal changes in moth communities and their responses to shifts in environmental conditions, including anthropogenic impacts. Across the V & auml;sterg & ouml;tland and Sm & aring;land provinces in Sweden, we recorded 776 moth taxa belonging to fourteen different taxonomic families of mainly Macroheterocera. We captured 44% and 28% of the total moth species known from these provinces in our traps in Bor & aring;s (V & auml;sterg & ouml;tland) and Kalmar (Sm & aring;land), respectively. In 2020, the species richness and abundance were higher in Bor & aring;s than in Kalmar, while the Shannon and Simpson diversity indices revealed a higher species diversity in Kalmar. Between 1974 and 2019, the colonisation rates of the provinces increased faster in Sm & aring;land. Ninety-three species were found to have colonised these provinces since 1974, showing that species richness increased over the study period. We reveal significant associations between the probability of a species being present in the traps and distinct traits compared to a provincial species pool. Traits over-represented in the traps included species with a high variation in colour patterns, generalist habitat preferences, extended flight periods, lower host plant specificity, and overwintering primarily as eggs. Our findings underscore the ongoing ecological filtering that favours certain species-specific traits. This study sheds light on the roles of climate change and anthropogenic impacts in shaping moth biodiversity, offers key insights into the ecological processes involved, and can guide future conservation efforts.
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| 24. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Both population size and patch quality affect local extinctions and colonizations.
- 2010
-
In: Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences. - : The Royal Society. - 1471-2954. ; 277, s. 79-85
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Currently, the habitat of many species is fragmented, resulting in small local populations with individuals occasionally dispersing between the remaining habitat patches. In a solitary bee metapopulation, extinction probability was related to both local bee population sizes and pollen resources measured as host plant population size. Patch size, on the other hand, had no additional predictive power. The turnover rate of local bee populations in 63 habitat patches over 4 years was high, with 72 extinction events and 31 colonization events, but the pollen plant population was stable with no extinctions or colonizations. Both pollen resources and bee populations had strong and independent effects on extinction probability, but connectivity was not of importance. Colonizations occurred more frequently within larger host plant populations. For metapopulation survival of the bee, large pollen plant populations are essential, independent of current bee population size.
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| 25. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Butterfly diversity and seasonality of Ta Phin mountain area (N. Vietnam, Lao Cai province)
- 2017
-
In: Journal of Insect Conservation. - : Springer. - 1366-638X .- 1572-9753. ; 21:3, s. 465-475
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Human pressures on the environment are changing spatially and temporally, with profound implications for the planet's biodiversity. Butterflies are important indicators for environmental change and are a suitable group to detect areas of high conservation concern and prioritize conservation efforts. To obtain data to support urgently-needed conservation measures, we surveyed the butterfly fauna in a mountainous region of northern Vietnam, using transect counts over 8 months (121 survey days) from June 2014 to April 2015. In total, we recorded > 26,000 butterflies belonging to 231 species, including at least two species new to Vietnam, three red-listed and protected species listed by CITES. Most species were rare: we recorded members of 100 species ae5 times and 52 species just once. Males dominated the sample, accounting for 81% of all observed butterflies and all members of 84 observed species. Species richness and abundance were highest in July, and there were surprisingly large changes in species composition between months. Species richness curves reached saturation, indicating that we detected most species present in the area, except for members of two families (Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae). Our results highlight the importance of thorough studies using standardized methods, capable of detecting most species in an area, over a whole season. There are urgent needs to integrate butterflies into conservation programs and use their potential as indicator species of habitat degradation and land use intensity.
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| 26. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Climate-dependent dispersal rates in metapopulations of burnet moths
- 2012
-
In: Journal of Insect Conservation. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1366-638X .- 1572-9753. ; 16:6, s. 941-947
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Predicted climate change implies warmer weather and a higher frequency of extreme weather situations. The consequences of the warm July in 2003 was investigated in contrast to the cold July in 2004 in southern Sweden with focus on the dispersal rate of two species of burnet moths (Zygaenidae). During an extensive mark-release-recapture program in metapopulations of burnet moths substantial differences in inter habitat patch dispersal rates were observed. For two species of Zygaena it was 2.14 and 2.18 times higher during the warm year. Measured patch dispersal rate significantly declined towards the edges of the large study-area, suggesting that individuals disperse outside the study-area. No significant differences in dispersal rates were found between the two species studied. The dispersal rates were similar for both females and males, and no density dependent effects on dispersal or effects of amount of nectar rich flowers were found. Dispersal events appeared as distinct movements, often reaching several kilometres. We conclude that dispersal depend on climatic conditions. Exceptionally warm years may be especially important for survival of certain species in metapopulation systems and this may be crucial for the survival of populations during scenarios of climate change.
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| 27. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Climate-driven changes in pollinator assemblages during the last 60 years in an Arctic mountain region in Northern Scandinavia
- 2012
-
In: Journal of Insect Conservation. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1366-638X .- 1572-9753. ; 16:2, s. 227-238
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Climate change is occurring more rapidly in the Arctic than elsewhere, and is predicted to have a large impact on biodiversity, since entire cold-adapted ecosystems are likely to disappear. Here, we highlight changes in the insect species richness and community composition of wild bees, butterflies and moths over 60 years in an area situated above the tree limit (Padjelanta National Park) in northern Sweden. Although there were changes in habitat availability, indicated by a significant decrease in the area of a glacier (from 22 km(2) in 1898 to 7.5 km(2) in 2009), and an increase in the area of birch forest in the National Park, we nevertheless found relatively moderate changes in the insect communities. Indeed, the observed number of species increased from 52 in 1944 to 64 in 2008. Remarkably, the mean number of butterflies and moths per site, but not wild bee species, increased significantly. Among the species that were recorded in both periods, the average altitude of 17 species had shifted downhill, 12 shifted uphill, and the altitude of the remaining 17 had not changed. While alterations in community composition were greater at the highest altitudes, changes in the insect community were smaller than expected, indeed much smaller than those reported from agricultural landscapes in North-West Europe. Interestingly, our results suggest that lower alpine altitudes (600-800 m a.s.l.) have become colonized by southern species, but also that high alpine areas (above 1,000 m a.s.l.) have recently become colonized by high alpine species previously absent from these sites, likely as a result of increasing habitat availability. We conclude that wild bee, butterfly, and moth communities in Arctic areas in northern Sweden are in flux, as a result of climate change and suggest that increased attention must be given to conservation planning in cold areas. In addition, we propose that monitoring programs should be established, because more pronounced climate-driven changes can be expected in the future.
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| 28. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Differences in phenology, daily timing of activity, and associations of temperature utilization with survival in three threatened butterflies
- 2022
-
In: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 12:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We used observational data collected during a mark-recapture study that generated a total of 7503 captures of 6108 unique individuals representing three endangered butterfly species to quantify inter-and intraindividual variation in temperature utilization and examine how activity patterns vary according to season, time of day, and ambient temperature. The Marsh Fritillary, the Apollo, and the Large Blue differed in utilized temperatures and phenology. Their daily activity patterns responded differently to temperature, in part depending on whether they were active in the beginning, middle or end of the season, in part reflecting interindividual variation and intraindividual flexibility, and in part owing to differences in ecology, morphology, and colouration. Activity temperatures varied over the season, and the Apollo and the Large Blue were primarily active at the highest available ambient temperatures (on the warmest days and during the warmest part of the day). The Marsh Fritillary was active early in the season and decreased activity during the highest temperatures. The relationship between individual lifespan and the average temperature was qualitatively different in the three species pointing to species-specific selection. Lifespan increased with an increasing range of utilized temperatures in all species, possibly reflecting that intra-individual flexibility comes with a general survival benefit.
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| 29. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Habitat associations and occupancy patterns of burnet moths (Zygaenidae) in semi-natural pastures in Sweden
- 2004
-
In: Entomologica Fennica. - 0785-8760. ; 15:2, s. 91-101
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Burnets were surveyed in 100 semi-natural pastures in the province of Ostergotland, southeastern Sweden. We analysed the presence/absence of burnets in relation to habitat characteristics, and species richness of butterflies and plants. Five species were found (Adscita statices, Zygaena osterodensis, Z. viciae, Z. filipendulae and Z. lonicerae), all occurring in 33%-36% of the localities. Among these, four are nationally red-listed. More species were found on (1) large semi-natural pastures, compared with small, (2) low- to medium-grazed semi-natural pastures, compared with heavily grazed, and (3) open semi-natural pastures, compared with wooded. A. statices and Z. viciae had a higher frequency of occupancy at localities surrounded by a large density of pastures, but the occurence of the other species did not rely on this variable. The number of burnet species per locality was positively correlated with the number of butterfly species, and slightly positively correlated with species richness of plants. The difference in species richness among burnets, butterflies and plants may be explained by different responses to grazing pressure; the species richness of burnets and butterflies peaked in localities with a low grazing pressure, while species richness of plants was unaffected by grazing. As burnets are easily surveyed and indicate a high butterfly-species richness, they may be suitable indicators of species richness of pastures. As uniform management with heavy grazing is detrimental for burnets and for many butterflies, it should be avoided at localities with a species-rich fauna.
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| 30. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
High population variability and source-sink dynamics in a solitary bee species
- 2013
-
In: Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0012-9658. ; 94:6, s. 1400-1408
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Although solitary bees are considered to play key roles in ecosystem functions, surprisingly few studies have explored their population dynamics. We investigated the population dynamics of a rare, declining, solitary bee (Andrena humilis) in a landscape of 80 km 2 in southern Sweden from 2003 to 2011. Only one population was persistent throughout all years studied; most likely this population supplied the surrounding landscape with 11 smaller, temporary local populations. Despite stable pollen availability, the size of the persistent population fluctuated dramatically in a two-year cycle over the nine years, with 490-1230 nests in odd-numbered years and 21-48 nests in even-numbered years. These fluctuations were not significantly related to climatic variables or pollen availability. Nineteen colonization and 14 extinction events were recorded. Occupancy decreased with distance from the persistent population and increased with increasing resource (pollen) availability. There were significant positive correlations between the size of the persistent population and patch occupancy and colonization. Colonizations were generally more common in patches closer to the persistent population, whereas extinctions were independent of distance from the persistent population. Our results highlight the complex population dynamics that exist for this solitary bee species, which could be due to source-sink dynamics, a prolonged diapause, or can represent a bet-hedging strategy to avoid natural enemies and survive in small habitat patches. If large fluctuations in solitary bee populations prove to be widespread, it will have important implications for interpreting ecological relationships, bee conservation, and pollination.
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| 31. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
How can we preserve and restore species richness of pollinating insects on agricultural land?
- 2008
-
In: Ecography. - : Wiley. - 1600-0587 .- 0906-7590. ; 31:6, s. 698-708
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- During recent decades, concern about the loss of biodiversity on agricultural land has increased, and semi-natural grasslands have been highlighted as critical habitats. Temperate European agricultural landscapes require distinct and appropriate management to prevent further impoverishment of the flora and fauna. This is especially urgent for pollinating insects that provide important ecosystem services. Our aim was to examine how species richness of three important groups of pollinating insects; solitary bees, butterflies and burnet moths are related to different farm characteristics, and if there are any differences between these three groups. A further aim was to test if red-listed species are related to any farm characteristics. Species richness of solitary bees, butterflies and burnets was measured on all seminatural grasslands at 16 farms in a forest-dominated area of 50 km2 in southern Sweden, using systematic transect walks in April to September 2003 (only butterflies and burnets) and 2005. Species richness of solitary bees and butterflies was intercorrelated, both before and after controlling for the area of semi-natural grassland. Species richness of solitary bees increased with the area of semi-natural grassland. After controlling for the effect of the area of semi-natural grassland species richness was strongly positively related with the density of the plant Knautia arvensis and negatively related with the proportion of grazed grassland. The results were similar for solitary bees and butterflies. The number of red-listed solitary bees was positively related to the proportion of meadows with late harvest(after mid-July) and decreased with increased farm isolation. The number of burnet species (all red-listed) was positively related to vegetation height, flower density and the proportion of meadows with late harvest on a farm. Areas with a high density of K. arvensis and with traditional hay-meadow with late harvest present, harbour most species. Promoting traditional hay-meadows, late extensive grazing and the herb K. arvensis, people managing agricultural biodiversity can encompass high species richness of pollinating insects and support red-listed species. Further, we suggest that the density of K. arvensis at a farm can be used as a biodiversity indicator, at least for pollinating insects.
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| 32. |
- Franzén, Markus
(author)
-
Insect Diversity in Changing Landscapes
- 2007
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- During recent decades, concern about the loss of biodiversity has increased. To change this negative trend there is an urgent need for effective conservation measures and there are ample evidence that conservation of organisms without an understanding of their ecology and behaviour is impossible. At the Kullaberg Nature Reserve in the south-western part of Sweden butterflies exhibited a disastrous decline with a loss of 45% of the fauna during the last 50 years. Considering all Macrolepidoptera, extinction rate was 7 times higher than the colonisation rate. Mark release recapture studies in Småland show that realistic estimates of dispersal distance often are underestimated and a study-area of at least 50 km2 are required to obtain realistic dispersal data for burnet moths (Zygaenidae). To obtain adequate measures of dispersal, the marked population should be large, preferably over 500 recaptured individuals. In the warm July 2003 burnets were more mobile, with 2.14 and 2.18 times higher between habitat patch dispersal rates compared to July in 2004 when the temperature was below normal. For the specialised solitary bee Andrena hattorfiana a pollen budget was calculated and used to predict critical resources for a given size of the specialised bee population. The local bee populations were dominated by small local populations. Only 16% of the patches were occupied four consecutive years and only one patch had a local bee population >20 females all four years. Both the size of the host plant population and the bee population had strong and independent effects on extinction probability. Colonisations occurred more frequent at larger host plant populations. During the four year study the bee declined severely, but the host plant was relatively constant. The most important farm characteristics to predict species richness of butterflies and solitary bees were the density of the plant Knautia arvensis, the proportion of grazed semi-natural grassland (negative) and the proportion of meadows with late harvest (after mid-July). People managing agricultural biodiversity can encompass high species richness of pollinating insects and support red-listed species by preserve and restore areas with a high density of K. arvensis and manage at least 20% of the grasslands as traditional hay meadows or left ungrazed.
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| 33. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Land use and occurrence of Andrena hattorfiana and other threatened wild bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) at Stenbrohult, Linnaeus' birth place.
- 2004
-
In: Entomologisk tidskrift. - 0013-886X. ; 125:1-2, s. 1-10
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- During the last decades a striking decline has been observed for wild bees throughout central and north-western Europe, including Sweden. in an area of 64 km' in the parish of Stenbrohult, southern Smaland Andrena hattorfiana, Andrena humilis, Nomada armata and Panurgus hanksianus were studied (in Sweden red-listed as VU, EN, EN and VU). We present occurrence patterns in relation to habitat types for these bee species. They are to a large extent dependent on the herbs Knautia arvensis (occurred in 80% of the 1 x 1 km squares in the study area in 1970-74), Leontodon hispidus (52% of the squares) and Hypochoeris radicata (48% of the squares) for pollen. Andrena hattorfiana was recorded from 72 habitat patches (453 individuals recorded from 38 (59%) squares of 1 x 1 km) and its cuckoo bee Nomada armata from five sites (9 individuals in five (8%) squares of I x 1 km). Unmanaged grasslands supported the largest numbers of Andrena hattorfiana in the study area, but traditionally hay meadows with late harvest supported the highest density and the largest local populations. Panurgus banksianus was recorded from two localities (>30 individuals in 2 (3%) squares of I x I km). Andrena humilis was only found on meadows with late harvest (>51 individuals in 3 (5%) squares of I x l km), frequently visiting flowers of Leontodon hispidus. This is currently the only known larger population in Sweden. The patches with the largest numbers of bees, regarding both species richness and number of individuals of these four species, were meadows managed with late summer mowing. On flower rich meadows in Rashult (in the central part of the study area) all four bee species occurred together. No threatened bees were found at heavily grazed localities.
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| 34. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Long-distance movements, large population sizes and density-dependent dispersal in three threatened butterfly species
- 2024
-
In: Insect Conservation and Diversity. - : WILEY. - 1752-458X .- 1752-4598.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 1. This study investigates the ecology of three threatened butterfly species on a 60 km2 site in Gotland, Southeast Sweden, using mark-recapture methods from 2017 to 2020. 2. Nearly 30,000 captures were recorded, with average lifespans of 6 days for Euphydryas aurinia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) and Parnassius apollo (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) and 2 days for Phengaris arion (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). 3.Population size, density and maximum flight distances varied between species, with E. aurinia at 7.2 km, P. apollo at 6.4 km and P. arion at 2.5 km. 4.Movement data showed the lognormal kernel fit better than gamma, negative exponential and half-normal kernels for distance travelled per time unit across species and sexes. 5. Generalised linear models revealed significant positive density-dependent emigration and negative density-dependent immigration in all three species. 6. Despite available suitable habitats, these species face threats from limestone quarry expansions, agricultural intensification, modified forestry practices, natural succession and climate change, highlighting the need for proactive conservation and strategic habitat management.
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| 35. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Pollen harvesting and reproductive rates in specialized solitary bees
- 2007
-
In: Annales Zoologici Fennici. - 0003-455X .- 1797-2450. ; 44:6, s. 405-414
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Andrena humilis is an endangered oligolectic solitary bee and has declined in recent decades throughout western Europe. The aim of this study was to explore the pollen harvesting pattern and to determine the reproductive rate in specialized andrenid bees. We measured the amount of pollen required to produce one brood-cell, the pollen harvesting rate and compared our results with data for other specialized andrenid bee species. Pollen-foraging trips were registered and the activity events (entering, leaving or digging) recorded at the nests. The mean number of pollen-foraging trips per day was 5.3 and an average bee nest was active (and open) 88 min day(-1). The bees were highly efficient in harvesting pollen and spent on average 10.7 min to complete one pollen-foraging trip. Most pollen-foraging trips (77%) were completed in less than 15 min. The duration of pollen-foraging trips increased over the day, presumably because pollen became more costly to harvest. Based on pollen counts (pollen loads on bees and pollen provisions) an average bee required 3.85 foraging trips to complete one brood cell and one bee managed to accomplish 1.37 brood cells in one day with suitable weather. In the literature we found data on an additional 19 specialized andrenid bee species. Andrena humilis seems to be extremely efficient compared with most other species, with an average trip for pollen lasting almost one hour (average for andrenid bees = 46 min). An extremely low reproductive rate seems to be a common trait among specialized bees in the family Andrenidae with an average 0.9 offspring produced per day and less than ten offspring produced during the whole lifetime. The high degree of specialisation and the low reproductive rate among andrenid bees can explain the severe decline in many species today.
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| 36. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Population Fluctuations and Synchrony of Grassland Butterflies in Relation to Species Traits
- 2013
-
In: PLOS ONE. - San Francisco : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 8:10
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Population fluctuations and synchrony influence population persistence; species with larger fluctuations and more synchronised population fluctuations face higher extinction risks. Here, we analyse the effect of diet specialisation, mobility, length of the flight period, and distance to the northern edge of the species' distribution in relation to between-year population fluctuations and synchrony of butterfly species. All butterfly species associated with grasslands were surveyed over five successive years at 19 grassland sites in a forest-dominated landscape (50 km(2)) in southern Sweden. At both the local and regional level, we found larger population fluctuations in species with longer flight periods. Population fluctuations were more synchronous among localities in diet specialists. Species with a long flight period might move more to track nectar resources compared to species with shorter flight period, and if nectar sources vary widely between years and localities it may explain that population fluctuations increase with increasing flight length. Diet generalists can use different resources (in this case host plants) at different localities and this can explain the lower synchrony in population fluctuations among generalist species. Higher degree of synchrony is one possible explanation for the higher extinction risks that have been observed for more specialised species. Therefore, diet specialists are more often threatened and require more conservation efforts than generalists.
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| 37. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Positive shifts in species richness and abundance of moths over five decades coincide with community-wide phenotypic trait homogenisation
- 2023
-
In: Journal of Insect Conservation. - : Springer. - 1366-638X .- 1572-9753. ; 27, s. 323-333
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- While some species rapidly decline, compromising vital ecosystem services, others are stable or even increasing in abundance. We studied shifts in species richness and abundance of moths over five decades in Central Sweden and examined whether and how changes were associated with phenotypic traits. We combined information from captures in a light trap in historical time (the 1970s) and contemporarily (2019) with provincial colonisation records. Both community species richness and the abundance of moths increased between the time periods. A large fraction (38%) of the 410 species were not present in both periods, 101 species had colonised the area (an estimated influx of about 2.5 new species per year), and 51 species had disappeared (an estimated local extinction rate of about 1.16 species per year). Abundance increased with an increasing number of host plants and with increasing colour pattern variation. The composition of the community shifted towards species characterised by smaller wingspan and larger ranges. The functional trait variability of the moth community was homogenised from the historical to the contemporary period, in line with reports from other species communities in modern landscapes. However, our finding of a concomitant increase in species richness and total abundance differs from the results of many recent studies of insect communities in other geographic regions.Implication for insect conservationWe conclude that the entire boreal moth fauna is undergoing a substantial biogeographical shift, changing to the moth species historically occurring at more southern latitudes. The alterations in species composition, overall abundance, and community-wide trait distribution described here may cascade up and down in the ecosystem because moths are important pollinators, herbivores, and prey.
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| 38. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Predicting extinction risk of butterflies and moths (Macrolepidoptera) from distribution patterns and species characteristics
- 2007
-
In: Journal of Insect Conservation. - : Springer Netherlands. - 1366-638X .- 1572-9753. ; 11:4, s. 367-390
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- An extensive follow-up study of day- and night-active Macrolepidoptera was performed during 2004 at the Kullaberg Nature Reserve located in the south-western part of Sweden. Butterflies were surveyed in an area of 100 km2 and night-active moths were trapped in the core area of the reserve. Macrolepidopteran species resident in the area in the 1950s were compared with species resident in the area in 2004. As much as 159 of 597 species (27%) resident in the area in 1950s were not found at all in 2004 and 22 species (4%) had colonised the area. Butterflies exhibited a disastrous decline with a loss of 45% of the fauna, and day-active species had declined more than night-active species had. Species distribution pattern and species characteristics were used to predict the probability that a species had become extinct or colonised the area. Species limited to one or a few food plants, with a short flight-period or restricted to non-forest habitats were all associated with a high extinction risk. Species occurring in fewer European countries and recorded from few provinces in Sweden were all associated with a higher extinction risk compared with ubiquitous species. For expanding species (colonisers), the best predictor was their distribution area in Sweden and colonising species were more likely to be limited to a few provinces in the southernmost part of Sweden. Species extinct from Kullaberg also have decreased in Finland and species that had colonised Kullaberg also have increased in Finland, while the species with no change in Kullaberg are also relatively constant in Finland. Indeed, the macrolepidopteran fauna was severely reduced in the last 50 years and almost 70% of the habitat specialists were lost. For red-listed species the situation was found to be alarming. Almost 70% of red-listed species, resident in the area in the 1950s, was not found in 2004. This study highlights that species composition changes rapidly even in protected nature reserves and that similar changes in the macrolepidopteran fauna seem to occur over large areas.
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| 39. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Rapid plant colonization of the forelands of a vanishing glacier is strongly associated with species traits
- 2019
-
In: Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine research. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 1523-0430 .- 1938-4246. ; 51:1, s. 366-378
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recently developed glacier forelands provide valuable insights into vegetation dynamics. We studied the vascular plants in the glacier forelands of the Almajallojekna glacier in comparison to the plants in the surrounding area. The glacier is retreating rapidly at an average rate of 0.17 km(2) per year from 1898 to 2012. In the newly emerged glacier forelands, we found that 32 percent of the 381 plant taxa occurred in the surrounding region. Sixty-eight plant species were present on the youngest terrain (0-31 y), an additional thirteen species occurred on terrain aged 32-53 years, and an additional forty-two species were detected on terrain aged 54-114 years. Of the surrounding species pool, plant species that had successfully established in recently deglaciated terrains were characterized by high regional abundance and low seed weight, and they were more likely to be members of the plant families Saxifragaceae, Salicaceae, and Asteraceae. Woody plant species with a preference for well-drained soils were more likely to be present in the youngest terrain. Our results show that the vegetation of glacier forelands is developing rapidly depending on the plant species in the surrounding area and the species' life-history traits.
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| 40. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Regeneration patterns of native and introduced oak species in Sweden : Investigating the roles of latitude, age, and environmental gradients
- 2024
-
In: Forest Ecology and Management. - : Elsevier. - 0378-1127 .- 1872-7042. ; 561
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Oak species worldwide face substantial challenges in natural recruitment, significantly affecting biodiversity and ecosystem services. Oaks are a keystone species in northern temperate zones, influencing ecosystem dynamics. This study analysed oak regeneration patterns from 29 oak stands ( Quercus spp.) across southern Sweden up to the species ' northern range limit. The study focused on two native species, Q. robur and Q. petraea , and one introduced species, Q. rubra , used in Swedish forestry. We aimed to evaluate whether and how oak regeneration was i) associated with latitude, ii) influenced by ground moisture and nitrogen levels, and iii) correlated with stand age, as well as to iv) compare regeneration rates among the species. Contrary to the hypothesis that oak regeneration should decline towards the range margin, our results did not indicate any latitudinal association. This finding raises the possibility of a future northward range expansion for oaks. We also observed that oak regeneration was positively correlated with stand age, while increasing nitrogen and ground moisture levels were inversely related to regeneration. The positive age-dependent effect on recruitment also indicates that species recruitment dynamics within forests may be modified via age-dependent effects within the tree community, with implications for forestry and conservation management. Notably, the natural regeneration of the introduced Q. rubra indicates its successful adaptation to Swedish climate and forests. This study represents Sweden 's first large-scale analysis of oak regeneration across multiple oak species. Future research should prioritise longitudinal monitoring, particularly at the northern range limits, and further investigate the expansion of the potentially invasive Q. rubra .
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| 41. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
-
Regeneration patterns of native and introduced oak species in Sweden: Investigating the roles of latitude, age, and environmental gradients
- 2024
-
In: Forest Ecology and Management. - : ELSEVIER. - 0378-1127 .- 1872-7042. ; 561
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Oak species worldwide face substantial challenges in natural recruitment, significantly affecting biodiversity and ecosystem services. Oaks are a keystone species in northern temperate zones, influencing ecosystem dynamics. This study analysed oak regeneration patterns from 29 oak stands ( Quercus spp.) across southern Sweden up to the species ' northern range limit. The study focused on two native species, Q. robur and Q. petraea , and one introduced species, Q. rubra , used in Swedish forestry. We aimed to evaluate whether and how oak regeneration was i) associated with latitude, ii) influenced by ground moisture and nitrogen levels, and iii) correlated with stand age, as well as to iv) compare regeneration rates among the species. Contrary to the hypothesis that oak regeneration should decline towards the range margin, our results did not indicate any latitudinal association. This finding raises the possibility of a future northward range expansion for oaks. We also observed that oak regeneration was positively correlated with stand age, while increasing nitrogen and ground moisture levels were inversely related to regeneration. The positive age-dependent effect on recruitment also indicates that species recruitment dynamics within forests may be modified via age-dependent effects within the tree community, with implications for forestry and conservation management. Notably, the natural regeneration of the introduced Q. rubra indicates its successful adaptation to Swedish climate and forests. This study represents Sweden 's first large-scale analysis of oak regeneration across multiple oak species. Future research should prioritise longitudinal monitoring, particularly at the northern range limits, and further investigate the expansion of the potentially invasive Q. rubra .
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| 42. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
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Seed set differs in relation to pollen and nectar foraging flower visitors in an insect-pollinated herb
- 2009
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In: Nordic Journal of Botany. - : Wiley. - 0107-055X .- 1756-1051. ; 27:4, s. 274-283
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Assessing the relative contributions to seed sets of each of a plant species' floral visitors provides an indication of the relative influence of these visitors on the plants' reproductive success. In this study we compared the seed set of the gynodioecious Knautia arvensis (Dipsacaceae) in 49 local plant populations in two regions of southern Sweden. We measured the seed set for hermaphroditic and female plant individuals. In both plant sexes and both regions, the seed set was positively related to the abundance of Apidae. The seed set was negatively related to the abundance of pollen-foraging solitary bees (Halictidae, Megachilidae) and beetles (Oedemeridae, Malachidae). The seed set was not related to plant population size, plant density or female frequency. Our results confirm that pollination success in generalised plant-pollinator systems varies between pollinator groups. Flower-visitors foraging for pollen might not contribute to increased pollination success in generalised pollination systems.
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| 43. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
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Small local population sizes and high habitat patch fidelity in a specialized solitary bee
- 2009
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In: Journal of Insect Conservation. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1366-638X .- 1572-9753. ; 13:1, s. 89-95
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Andrena hattorfiana is a rare solitary bee which has declined during the last decades throughout western Europe. It is specialised to forage pollen from plants of the family Dipsacaceae. Knowledge of distribution, dispersal propensity, and local population sizes is essential for successful conservation of A. hattorfiana. The investigated local bee populations (n = 78) were dominated by small local populations and 60% were smaller than 10 female individuals and 80% were smaller than 50 female individuals. The area of the median occupied habitat patch was 1.25 hectare and harboured 7 female bees. Mark-release-recapture studies of female A. hattorfiana revealed a sedentary behaviour. Among pollen-foraging female bees the average registered distance moved was 46 m. The patch emigration rate was about 2%, with an observed maximum colonization distance of 900 m. Only 10% of the individuals crossed areas without the pollen plant within grassland patches, such as unpaved roads, stone walls and small tree-stands, even if these areas were less than 10 m wide. This study shows that solitary bees can occur in local populations of extremely small size and they have a sedentary behaviour. These are features that usually increase the risk of local population extinction.
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| 44. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
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Species-area relationships are controlled by species traits
- 2012
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 7:5, s. 1-10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The species-area relationship (SAR) is one of the most thoroughly investigated empirical relationships in ecology. Two theories have been proposed to explain SARs: classical island biogeography theory and niche theory. Classical island biogeography theory considers the processes of persistence, extinction, and colonization, whereas niche theory focuses on species requirements, such as habitat and resource use. Recent studies have called for the unification of these two theories to better explain the underlying mechanisms that generates SARs. In this context, species traits that can be related to each theory seem promising. Here we analyzed the SARs of butterfly and moth assemblages on islands differing in size and isolation. We tested whether species traits modify the SAR and the response to isolation. In addition to the expected overall effects on the area, traits related to each of the two theories increased the model fit, from 69% up to 90%. Steeper slopes have been shown to have a particularly higher sensitivity to area, which was indicated by species with restricted range (slope = 0.82), narrow dietary niche (slope = 0.59), low abundance (slope = 0.52), and low reproductive potential (slope = 0.51). We concluded that considering species traits by analyzing SARs yields considerable potential for unifying island biogeography theory and niche theory, and that the systematic and predictable effects observed when considering traits can help to guide conservation and management actions.
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| 45. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
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Species traits predict island occupancy in noctuid moths
- 2012
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In: Journal of Insect Conservation. - : Springer Netherlands. - 1366-638X .- 1572-9753. ; 16:2, s. 155-163
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Knowing how species’ traits relate to processes that underlie occupancy patterns such as colonisation and population persistence, is important for our understanding of how species survive in fragmented and changing landscapes. We used automatic UV light-traps to sample noctuidmoths on two remote islands, and compared traits of island occupants with those of a species pool from mainland southeast Sweden. Widely distributed species, generalist species, species with a long adult activity period and species active late in the summer had higher probability of occupancy on the remote islands. The results were consistent between islands. The traits of host plant specificity and species with an adult activity period during late summer remained robust and were statistically significant after controlling for any possible phylogenetic bias. This indicates that species exhibiting those traits survive better when habitat and climate changes. It is crucial to includeour results in; (1) conservation planning, e.g. when devising conservation measures in fragmented landscapes; (2) for predictions of future occupancy patterns; and (3) ecosystem impact assessments, e.g. the importance of moths as pollinators, herbivores and being the functional link between parasitoids, plants, consumers and predators.
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| 46. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
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Urban moth communities suggest that life in the city favours thermophilic multi-dimensional generalists
- 2020
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In: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences. - : The Royal Society. - 0962-8452 .- 1471-2954. ; 287:1928, s. 1-10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Biodiversity is challenged worldwide by exploitation, global warming, changes in land use and increasing urbanization. It is hypothesized that communities in urban areas should consist primarily of generalist species with broad niches that are able to cope with novel, variable, fragmented, warmer and unpredictable environments shaped by human pressures. We surveyed moth communities in three cities in northern Europe and compared them with neighbouring moth assemblages constituting species pools of potential colonizers. We found that urban moth communities consisted of multi-dimensional generalist species that had larger distribution ranges, more variable colour patterns, longer reproductive seasons, broader diets, were more likely to overwinter as an egg, more thermophilic, and occupied more habitat types compared with moth communities in surrounding areas. When body size was analysed separately, results indicated that city occupancy was associated with larger size, but this effect disappeared when body size was analysed together with the other traits. Our findings indicate that urbanization imposes a spatial filtering process in favour of thermophilic species characterized by high intraspecific diversity and multi-dimensional generalist lifestyles over specialized species with narrow niches.
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| 47. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
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Variable color patterns influence continental range size and species-area relationships on islands
- 2019
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In: Ecosphere. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 2150-8925 .- 2150-8925. ; 10:1, s. 1-11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It has been hypothesized that species with more variable color patterns should have higher establishment success and be less sensitive to environmental changes and local extinction compared with species that do not vary in color. This difference in colonization/extinction balance should manifest as larger continental range distributions and modulate the species-area relationship on true islands. We evaluated these predictions using data for 1216 species of butterflies and moths that differed with regard to inter-individual variation in color pattern. We show that species with more variable color patterns have larger continental range sizes in Europe compared with non-variable species. We also provide rare evidence that the slope of the species-area relationship on islands is steeper for species having non-variable color patterns, suggesting that to preserve 60% of non-variable species would require an area twice as large compared to what would be needed to preserve 60% of variable species. Our findings suggest that combining information on ecological characteristics with presence/absence data from small and medium sized islands can help identify traits that drive species range patterns at the continental scale, and that individual variation in color pattern can be used as a proxy for ecological generalization and the ability to cope with environmental change.
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| 48. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
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What is the required minimum landscape size for dispersal studies?
- 2007
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In: Journal of Animal Ecology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2656 .- 0021-8790. ; 76:6, s. 1224-1230
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 1.Among small animals dispersal parameters are mainly obtained by traditional methods using population studies of marked individuals. Dispersal studies may underestimate the rate and distance of dispersal, and be biased because of aggregated habitat patches and a small study area. The probability of observing long distance dispersal events decreases with distance travelled by the organisms. In this study a new approach is presented to solve this methodological problem. 2. An extensive mark–release–recapture programme was performed in an area of 81 km2 in southern Sweden. To estimate the required size of the study area for adequate dispersal measures we examined the effect of study area size on dispersal distance using empirical data and a repeated subsampling procedure. In 2003 and 2004, two species of diurnal burnet moths (Zygaenidae) were studied to explore dispersal patterns. 3. The longest confirmed dispersal distance was 5600 m and in total 100 dispersal events were found between habitat patches for the two species. The estimated dispersal distance was strongly affected by the size of the study area and the number of marked individuals. For areas less than 10 km2 most of the dispersal events were undetected. Realistic estimates of dispersal distance require a study area of at least 50 km2. 4. To obtain adequate measures of dispersal, the marked population should be large, preferably over 500 recaptured individuals. This result was evident for the mean moved distance, mean dispersal distance and maximum dispersal distance. 5. In general, traditional dispersal studies are performed in small study areas and based on few individuals and should therefore be interpreted with care. Adequate dispersal measures for insects obtained by radio-tracking and genetic estimates (gene flow) is still a challenge for the future.
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| 49. |
- Franzén, Markus, et al.
(author)
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Yearly weather variation and surface temperature drives the spatiotemporal dynamics of a threatened butterfly and its host plant
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2296-701X. ; 10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It remains unclear to what extent yearly weather variation and spatial variation in microclimate influences the outcome of interacting plant-animal species and whether responses differ between life stages. We collected data over several years on 46 ha on File Hajdar, Gotland, Sweden, and executed a complete mapping of larva nests (n = 776) and imago (n = 5,952) of the marsh fritillary butterfly Euphydryas aurinia and its host plant Succisa pratensis. The phenology of the butterflies and the major nectar plants visited varied among years. The duration of the adult flight period decreased with increasing ambient air temperatures. The density of butterflies, host plants, and host plant leaf size increased between years with increasing precipitation in the preceding year, and decreased with increasing average ambient air temperature in the preceding year. In 2021-2022 we deployed a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a high-resolution thermal sensor to measure spatial variation in surface temperatures in the study area. We found that survival from the egg to the larva stage increased with increasing surface temperature and host plant density. Host plants and larva nests generally occupied warmer microhabitats compared to imago butterflies. The results further suggested that the relationships linking surface temperature to the densities of imago, larva, host plants, and leaf size differed qualitatively between years. In 2017, larva nests and host plant density increased with increasing surface temperatures, and butterflies showed a non-linear response with a density peak at intermediate temperatures. As a result of the extreme drought in 2018 there was a reduction in maximum leaf size, and in the densities of plants, larvae, and butterflies. Moreover, the slopes of the relationships linking the density of larvae, butterflies, and plants to temperature shifted from linear positive to negative or curvilinear. Our findings demonstrate how yearly weather variation and heterogeneous surface temperatures can drive the spatiotemporal distribution and dynamics of butterflies and their host plants. The context specificity of the responses indicated by our results makes it challenging to project how climate change will affect the dynamics of ecological communities.
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| 50. |
- Gerard, Maxence, et al.
(author)
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Patterns of size variation in bees at a continental scale : does Bergmann's rule apply?
- 2018
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In: Oikos. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0030-1299 .- 1600-0706. ; 127:8, s. 1095-1103
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Body size latitudinal clines have been widley explained by the Bergmann's rule in homeothermic vertebrates. However, there is no general consensus in poikilotherms organisms in particular in insects that represent the large majority of wildlife. Among them, bees are a highly diverse pollinators group with high economic and ecological value. Nevertheless, no comprehensive studies of species assemblages at a phylogenetically larger scale have been carried out even if they could identify the traits and the ecological conditions that generate different patterns of latitudinal size variation. We aimed to test Bergmann's rule for wild bees by assessing relationships between body size and latitude at continental and community levels. We tested our hypotheses for bees showing different life history traits (i.e. sociality and nesting behaviour). We used 142 008 distribution records of 615 bee species at 50 x 50 km (CGRS) grids across the West Palearctic. We then applied generalized least squares fitted linear model (GLS) to assess the relationship between latitude and mean body size of bees, taking into account spatial autocorrelation. For all bee species grouped, mean body size increased with higher latitudes, and so followed Bergmann's rule. However, considering bee genera separately, four genera were consistent with Bergmann's rule, while three showed a converse trend, and three showed no significant cline. All life history traits used here (i.e. solitary, social and parasitic behaviour; ground and stem nesting behaviour) displayed a Bergmann's cline. In general there is a main trend for larger bees in colder habitats, which is likely to be related to their thermoregulatory abilities and partial endothermy, even if a 'season length effect' (i.e. shorter foraging season) is a potential driver of the converse Bergmann's cline particularly in bumblebees.
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