Biology subjects

van Bodegom, P. M.

Publications and source records attributed to van Bodegom, P. M..

10 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Street light choice matters: impacts of presence and color on wild plants

Anthropogenic light at night (ALAN) is rapidly expanding, affecting wildlife and ecosystems. Color is an important factor in designing responsible outdoor lighting strategies, yet color choice effects on plants remain largely unknown. We investigate how different colors of street lighting influence the morphology and nighttime assimilation rates of two wild plant species, Hypochaeris radicata and Rumex acetosa. Using a semi-natural mesocosm setting, plants were exposed to nightly red, green, and white streetlights, with a dark control, over an eight-week period. Red light significantly increased leaf length and petiole elongation compared to other treatments. Nighttime transpiration and stomatal conductance also strongly increased under both red and white light. These findings highlight that ALAN, particularly red and white light, can disrupt plant growth and physiological processes, which can potentially affect overall ecosystem dynamics. Theres also a species-specific effect to morphological parameters which is absent for the assimilation parameters. Striking a balance between functionality and ecological impact is challenging, given that certain light colors negatively affect plants, while those same colors may be preferred by other organisms. A deeper understanding is needed to guide informed decisions on plant and wildlife protection.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

The future abundance of key bird species for pathogen transmission in the Netherlands

Wild birds serve as reservoirs and vectors for many different pathogens and changes in their distribution and abundance due to environmental change will influence disease risk. We study three species which are highly abundant in north-western Europe and which can transmit a wide range of diseases including avian influenza and West Nile virus: blackbirds, mallards and house sparrows. Using the Netherlands as a case study, we created random forest models for predicting the distribution and abundance of these species, both now and in the future. Climate, land use and vegetative cover were all important predictors of bird abundance. The three species had different spatial distributions, largely related to their preferred habitat and food availability. In the future, mallard and house sparrow populations were predicted to increase, while there was little change for blackbirds. Quantifying the consequences of these abundance changes is complicated as there are many factors to consider, however increased pathogen reservoirs will likely increase disease risk and changes in distribution may affect local outbreak risk. The future abundance maps created in this study, and the methods used to create them, will be useful tools for disease modellers and policymakers to estimate future disease risk and to plan accordingly.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

Invertebrate species distributions in urban ecosystems are driven by habitat availability, not by anthropogenic drivers

Rapid urbanisation puts pressure on biodiversity by habitat fragmentation and habitat quality among others. These habitat changes are known to affect species dispersal and connectivity and ultimately species distribution in many ecosystems. However, little is known about the changing urban species distributions which in turn influence community assembly. New DNA-based sampling methods combined with species distribution modelling provide a way to quantitatively estimate urban community assembly through assessing many species distributions and their drivers simultaneously. We investigated species distributions of entire communities in the city of The Hague (the Netherlands) by sampling DNA with two distinct methods: collecting data on invertebrate occurrence with traditional trapping (bulk; n = 205) and a novel Environmental DNA method (eDNA; n = 207). After DNA sequencing, species were identified using Operational Taxonomic Units. Subsequently, individual species presence and absence were used in Species Distribution Models (SDMs), based on spatial information on vegetation and anthropogenic influences. The results show a difference in coverage of sampling methods (bulk vs. eDNA), indicating their complementary information. The models on species distributions were generally significantly better than random models (59.5%), and performed well during calibration (90.4%, AUC > 0.70). In contrast, during validation very few SDMs (1.3%, AUC > 0.70) performed adequately in predicting species distributions. Through this novel combination of DNA sampling with SDMs we show that density and structure of vegetation, as well as distance to water are more important for urban invertebrate distribution than direct anthropogenic pressures. This suggests that dispersal is not a limiting factor in The Hagues urban environment. The availability of a variety of urban green infrastructures seems sufficient to attract many of the species observed. Hence, ensuring sufficient green infrastructure in the urban environment should be the first priority to enhance biodiversity in the urban environment. HighlightsO_LIVegetation and water indicators are the most important predictors for accurate assessment of species distribution C_LIO_LIAnthropogenic pressures have lower impact on urban species distributions C_LIO_LIDNA-SDM combinations show potential in guiding urban planners in evidence-based decision making C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2023

Solution to what? Global review of nature-based solutions, urban challenges, and outcomes

In response to multiple societal challenges faced in cities, nature-based solutions (NbS) are gaining prominence as means to support sustainable and resilient urban planning. However, NbS are being implemented in cities around the globe without comprehensive evidence on their effectiveness in addressing urban challenges. Based on a systematic mapping methodology, we synthesized 547 empirical cases of NbS in 197 cities globally, yielding 799 outcomes encompassing biodiversity, health well-being, and regulating ecosystem services. To structure this evidence we developed an urban NbS classification and categories of urban challenges and outcomes. Effectiveness of NbS was assessed through synthesizing which urban challenges are addressed by NbS, which outcomes are generated, and how these outcomes perform compared to alternative solutions. Our analysis suggests that specific urban challenges were mostly linked to closely related outcomes, but rarely to multiple outcomes. Specifically, forests & trees and general parks were commonly used to enhance health and well-being, while grassland and gardens were applied to mitigate biodiversity loss. Furthermore, urban NbS generally yielded positive effects compared to non-NbS, particularly in relation to microclimate mitigation and mental health outcomes. However, we note a scarcity of evidence on multifunctional NbS, especially on studies that report multiple outcomes related to biodiversity and well-being simultaneously. Our study provides a foundation for further understanding NbS effectiveness and can inform urban planners and policymakers with measurable evidenced-based targets for the application of NbS.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Drivers of plant intraspecific variation are trait-specific

O_LIThe importance of intraspecific trait variation (ITV) in community dynamics is increasingly being recognised, but the drivers of ITV have not yet been well-studied. Here, we analysed whether environmental conditions, biotic interactions and species features are related to ITV on a global scale. C_LIO_LIWe compiled a global species ITV database including 2064 species which occurred in 1068 communities (plots) across 19 countries with 11 functional traits. The magnitudes of species ITV in this database were calculated according to the trait-gradient analysis which is independent of the length of the environmental gradient. C_LIO_LIWe found that different traits had different main drivers, so we consider the drivers of ITV to be trait-specific. However, our findings still brought some order among these idiosyncratic patterns: leaf economics spectrum traits were more related to environmental conditions and leaf morphology traits were more related to biotic interactions. Size-related traits were related to both abiotic and biotic conditions. C_LIO_LIOur research suggests that the drivers of ITV deviated from the drivers of the mean trait values and that some trait coordination may fall apart upon climate change. Thus, our analysis enhances our understanding of trait variation and has important implications for models predicting vegetation responses to environmental change. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Genetic adaptation rates differ by trait and plant type-a comprehensive meta-analysis

O_LIPlants can respond to changing climatic conditions through genetic adaptation of their functional traits. Despite the relevance of adaptation to climate change, much remains unknown about plant genetic adaptation rates, including whether these rates differ among plant characteristics and trait types. C_LIO_LIWe performed a meta-analysis to investigate patterns of genetic adaptation rates and assess how these rates differ among plant species groups, growth forms and trait types, using a newly compiled database from 74 studies, comprising 35 functional traits across 72 angiosperm species. This database specifically focuses on genetic adaptation of plant functional traits, as separating from phenotypic plasticity. C_LIO_LIBoth annual and generational adaptation rates of plant traits decrease non-linearly with increasing elapsed time since divergence. Plants adapt fastest when first introduced to a changing environment, but these rates go slow subsequently. Overall, shrubs have higher adaptation rates than trees, which confers shrubs an adaptive advantage over trees. Different adaptation rates among growth forms, life histories and trait types suggest an important additional mechanism through which climate change may affect community composition. C_LIO_LIOur study has important implications regarding plant adaptation to new environments and will improve the prediction of vegetation responses and ecosystem functioning upon climate change. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

A unified urban green infrastructure classification for assessing ecosystem services and biodiversity

Green infrastructure (GI) classifications are widely applied to predict and assess its suitability for urban biodiversity and ecosystem service (ES) provisioning. However, there is no consolidated classification, which hampers elucidating synthesis and consolidated relationships across ES and biodiversity. In this research, we aim to bridge the gap between urban GI research on ES and biodiversity by providing a standardized common classification that enables consistent spatial analysis. We analyzed GI classifications used across five ES and four taxa in scientific literature. GI classes were analyzed based on name, definition and characteristics. Results were used to create a novel classification scheme accounting for both ES and biodiversity. We show that many GI classes are unique to a ES or taxon, indicating a lack of multifunctionality of the classification applied. Among the universally used classes, diversity in their definitions is large, reducing our mechanistic understanding of multifunctionality in GI. Finally, we show that most GI classes are solely based on land-use or land-cover, lacking in-depth detail on vegetation. Through standardization and incorporation of key characteristics, we created a consolidated classification. This classification is fully available through openly-accessible databases. Our consolidated standardized classification accommodates interdisciplinary research on ES and biodiversity and allows elucidating urban biodiversity and ES relationships into greater detail, facilitating cross-comparisons and integrated assessments. This will provide a foundation for future research efforts into GI multi-functionality and urban greening policies.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2021

Global trade-offs in tree functional traits

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWDue to massive energetic investments in woody support structures, trees are subject to unique physiological, mechanical, and ecological pressures not experienced by herbaceous plants. When considering trait relationships across the entire plant kingdom, plant trait frameworks typically must omit traits unique to large woody species, thereby limiting our understanding of how these distinct ecological pressures shape trait relationships in trees. Here, by considering 18 functional traits--reflecting leaf economics, wood structure, tree size, reproduction, and below-ground allocation--we quantify the major axes of variation governing trait expression of trees worldwide. We show that trait variation within and across angiosperms and gymnosperms is captured by two independent processes: one reflecting tree size and competition for light, the other reflecting leaf photosynthetic capacity and nutrient economies. By exploring multidimensional relationships across clusters of traits, we further identify a representative set of seven traits which captures the majority of variation in form and function in trees: maximum tree height, stem conduit diameter, specific leaf area, seed mass, bark thickness, root depth, and wood density. Collectively, this work informs future trait-based research into the functional biogeography of trees, and contributes to our fundamental understanding of the ecological and evolutionary controls on forest biodiversity and productivity worldwide.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2019

A comparative assessment of adult mosquito trapping methods to estimate spatial patterns of abundance and community composition in southern Africa

BackgroundAssessing adult mosquito populations is an important component of disease surveillance programs and ecosystem health assessments. Inference from adult trapping datasets involves comparing populations across space and time, but comparisons based on different trapping methods may be biased if traps have different efficiencies or sample different subsets of the mosquito community.\n\nMethodsWe compared four widely-used trapping methods for adult mosquito data collection in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa: Centers for Disease Control miniature light trap (CDC), Biogents Sentinel trap (BG), Biogents gravid Aedes trap (GAT) and a net trap. We quantified how trap choice and sampling effort influence inferences on the regional distribution of mosquito abundance, richness and community composition.\n\nResultsThe CDC and net traps together collected 96% (47% and 49% individually) of the 955 female mosquitoes sampled and 100% (85% and 78% individually) of the 40 species or species complexes identified. The CDC and net trap also identified similar regional patterns of community composition. However, inference on the regional patterns of abundance differed between these traps because mosquito abundance in the net trap was influenced by variation in weather conditions. The BG and GAT traps collected significantly fewer mosquitoes, limiting regional comparisons of abundance and community composition.\n\nConclusionsThis study represents the first systematic assessment of trapping methods in natural savanna ecosystems in southern Africa. We recommend the CDC trap or the net trap for future monitoring and surveillance programs.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2018

Human-induced decrease of ectomycorrhizal vegetation led to loss in global soil carbon content

Vegetation impacts on ecosystem functioning are mediated by mycorrhiza, a plant-fungal association formed by most plant species. Ecosystems dominated by distinct mycorrhizal types differ strongly in their biogeochemistry. Quantitative analyses of mycorrhizal impacts on ecosystem functioning are hindered by the absence of information on mycorrhizal distribution. We present the first global high-resolution maps of vegetation biomass distribution among main types of mycorrhizal associations. Arbuscular, ecto-, ericoid and non-mycorrhizal vegetation store 241{+/-}15, 100{+/-}17, 7{+/-}1.8 and 29 {+/-} 5.5 GT carbon in aboveground biomass, respectively. Soil carbon stocks in both topsoil and subsoil are positively related to the biomass fraction of ectomycorrhizal plants in the community, though the strength of this relationship varies across biomes. We show that human-induced transformations of Earths ecosystems have reduced ectomycorrhizal vegetation, with potential knock-on effects on terrestrial carbon stocks. Our work provides a benchmark for spatially explicit global quantitative assessments of mycorrhizal impacts on ecosystem functioning and biogeochemical cycles.\n\nOne Sentence SummaryFirst maps of the global distribution of mycorrhizal plants reveal global losses of ectomycorrhizal vegetation, and quantitative links between mycorrhizal vegetation patterns and terrestrial carbon stocks.

ecology↗