Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Royal Society, The
Résumé : There is broad consensus that the diversity of functional traits within species assemblages drives several ecological processes. It is also widely recognized that rare species are the first to become extinct following human-induced disturbances. Surprisingly, however, the functional importance of rare species is still poorly understood, particularly in tropical species-rich assemblages where the majority of species are rare, and the rate of species extinction can be high. Here, we investigated the consequences of local and regional extinctions on the functional structure of species assemblages. We used three extensive datasets (stream fish from the Brazilian Amazon, rainforest trees from French Guiana, and birds from the Australian Wet Tropics) and built an integrative measure of species rarity versus commonness, combining local abundance, geographical range, and habitat breadth. Using different scenarios of species loss, we found a disproportionate impact of rare species extinction for the three groups, with significant reductions in levels of functional richness, specialization, and originality of assemblages, which may severely undermine the integrity of ecological processes. The whole breadth of functional abilities within species assemblages, which is disproportionately supported by rare species, is certainly critical in maintaining ecosystems particularly under the ongoing rapid environmental transitions.
ISSN: 0962-8452

hal-01532639
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01532639
DOI : 10.1098/rspb.2016.0084
PRODINRA : 384617

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé :  
Drier periods from the late Pleistocene and early Holocene have been hypothesized to have caused the disappearance of various rainforest species over large geographical areas in South America and restricted the extant populations to mesic sites. Subsequent improvement in climatic conditions has been associated with recolonization. Changes in population size associated with these extinction-recolonization events should have affected genetic diversity within species. However, these historical hypotheses and their genetic consequences have rarely been tested in South America. Here, we examine the diversity of the chloroplast and nuclear genomes in a Neotropical rainforest tree species, Vouacapoua americana (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae) in French Guiana. The chloroplast diversity was analyzed using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method (six pairs of primers) in 29 populations distributed over most of French Guiana, and a subset of 17 populations was also analyzed at nine polymorphic microsatellite loci. To determine whether this species has experienced extinction-recolonization, we sampled populations in areas supposedly not or only slightly affected by climatic changes, where the populations would not have experienced frequent extinction, and in areas that appear to have been recently recolonized. In the putatively recolonized areas, we found patches of several thousands of hectares homogeneous for chloroplast variation that can be interpreted as the effect of recolonization processes from several geographical origins. In addition, we observed that, for both chloroplast and nuclear genomes, the populations in newly recolonized areas exhibited a significantly smaller allelic richness than others. Controlling for geographic distance, we also detected a significant correlation between chloroplast and nuclear population differentiation. This result indicates a cytonuclear disequilibrium that can be interpreted as a historical signal of a genetic divergence between fragmented populations. In conclusion, the spatial genetic structure of contemporary V. americana populations shows evidence that this species has experienced large extinction-recolonization events, which were possibly caused by past climatic change.
ISSN: 0014-3820

hal-01032194
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032194
DOI : 10.1111/j.0014-3820.2003.tb01517.x

Éditeur(s) : Gauthier-Villars
Résumé : Over 400,000 km of low level aeromagnetic data were collected by US Navy research organization over the Arctic Basin and Greenland-Norwegian Sea during the years 1972 to 1978. These data provide new constraints on the crustal structure and tectonic evolution of this vast region. Magnetic anomalies over continental fragments (Lomonosov Ridge and Chukchi Borderland) are irregular, with local short-wavelength features indicating relatively shallow basement. Sea-floor spreading between Scandinavia and Greenland commenced about 58 m.y.b.p. during the reversed period preceding anomaly 24. Spreading between the Lomonosov Ridge and Eurasia also began at this time or possibly somewhat earlier. An extinct spreading axis in the Canada Basin is indicated by gravity and magnetic data.
Oceanologica Acta, Special issue (0399-1784) (Gauthier-Villars), 1981

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00245/35663/34171.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00245/35663/

Éditeur(s) : Amer Geophysical Union
Résumé : Bolide impacts and large-scale volcanic eruptions have been proposed as possible causes of the massive extinction of life that has occurred episodically in Earth's history. In spite of the catastrophic disruption of the local environment that accompanies bolide impacts and volcanic eruptions, it has been difficult to explain why these events sometimes lead to global extinction of species. We propose that, in some cases, the missing link may be provided by hypercanes, runaway hurricanes that are capable of injecting massive amounts of water and aerosols into the middle and upper stratosphere, where they may have profound effects on atmospheric chemistry and radiative transfer. Hypercanes are theorized to occur when the sea surface temperature exceeds a critical threshold, which may occur when sea water is locally heated by bolide impact, shallow-sea volcanism, or possibly, by overturning of superheated brine pools formed by underwater volcanic activity. Simulations using a convection-resolving nonhydrostatic, axisymmetric numerical model show that hypercanes can indeed develop when the sea surface temperature is high, and that they inject large amounts of mass into the stratosphere.
Journal Of Geophysical Research-atmospheres (2169-897X) (Amer Geophysical Union), 1995-07 , Vol. 100 , N. D7 , P. 13755-13765

Droits : 1995 by the American Geophysical Union.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00258/36966/35611.pdf
DOI:10.1029/95JD01368
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00258/36966/

Éditeur(s) : Inter-Research
Résumé : The widespread use of Agent Orange (a mixture of phenoxyl herbicides) over Southern Vietnam by US Forces led to the decimation of mangrove forests in the Mekong Delta. Mangrove trees Avicennia alba were sampled across the Mekong Delta; their age was assessed using models based on internode growth and samples were genotyped for 6 microsatellite loci. The evolution of genetic diversity over time elapsed since local extinction was reconstructed and compared with the genetic diversity of an unaffected population from Thailand, The results show that genetic diversity of the A. alba population is still increasing in the Mekong Delta 3 decades after the end of the Vietnam War, but is reaching an asymptotic level that is comparable to the adjacent non-affected population of Thailand. This might be a sign of genetic recovery, but may also reveal a limitation, either of genetic enrichment due to current predominance of auto-recruitment or of demographic increase due to intraspecific competition in this pioneer species. In any case, these results, although encouraging, demonstrate that genetic recovery after complete or almost complete population depletion continues over a longer time-scale than apparent demographic recovery.
Marine Ecology Progress Series (0171-8630) (Inter-Research), 2009-09 , Vol. 390 , P. 129-135

Droits : Inter-Research 2009
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6898.pdf
DOI:10.3354/meps08183
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/6898/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Ecological Society of America
Résumé : Line transect surveys are widely used in neotropical rainforests to estimate the population abundance of medium- and large-sized vertebrates. The use of indices such as Encounter Rate has been criticized because the probability of animal detection may fluctuate due to the heterogeneity of environmental conditions among sites. In addition, the morphological and behavioral characteristics (biological traits) of species affect their detectability. In this study, we compared the extent to which environmental conditions and species' biological traits bias abundance estimates in terra firme rainforests in French Guiana. The selected environmental conditions included both physical conditions and forest structure covariates, while the selected biological traits included the morphological and behavioral characteristics of species. We used the distance sampling method to model the detection probability as an explicit function of environmental conditions and biological traits and implemented a model selection process to determine the relative importance of each group of covariates. Biological traits contributed to the variability of animal detectability more than environmental conditions, which had only a marginal effect. Detectability was best for large animals with uniform or disruptive markings that live in groups in the canopy top. Detectability was worst for small, solitary, terrestrial animals with mottled markings. In the terra firme rainforests which represent ~80% of the Amazonia and Guianas regions, our findings support the use of relative indices such as the encounter rate to compare population abundance between sites in species-specific studies. Even though terra firme rainforests may appear similar between regions of Amazonia and the Guianas, comparability must be ensured, especially in forests disturbed by human activity. The detection probability can be used as an indicator of species' vulnerability to hunting and, thus, to the risk of local extinction. Only a few biological trait covariates are required to correctly estimate the detectability of the majority of medium- and large-sized vertebrates. Thus, a biological trait model could be useful in predicting the detection probabilities of rare, uncommon or localized species for which few data are available to fit the detection function.
ISSN: 1051-0761

hal-01555267
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01555267
DOI : 10.1002/eap.1549
PRODINRA : 396614
PUBMED : 28419598

Éditeur(s) : EDP Sciences
Résumé : Monitoring the abundance of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) is necessary to assess population trends and risks of collapse. This note presents a study aimed at comparing three techniques for the direct estimation of green turtle numbers in their foraging habitats (seagrass beds and reef flats). The experiment was carried out at Mayotte Island, Western Indian Ocean. The techniques involved were surveys by snorkel, and aerial surveys using a microlight aircraft and a paramotor. Each technique had shortcomings and advantages. While each technique provided estimations of turtle numbers only surveys by snorkel permitted identification of species and sex, whenever visibility and turtle behaviour permitted. Along the shorelines, and over foraging areas, the paramotor was found to be most suitable for direct estimations of turtle numbers. The major advantage of this technique lied in its capability to obtain a synoptic snapshot of turtle distribution over foraging areas. Linear surveys from a microlight aircraft are better suited to monitor foraging areas located further away from the shore.
Le suivi de l'abondance de tortues vertes (Chelonia mydas) est nécessaire pour évaluer l'évolution et éventuellement, le risque d'extinction des populations. L'objectif de cette expérience est de comparer trois techniques d'observation permettant l'évaluation directe de l'abondance totale de tortues vertes sur les aires d'alimentation (herbiers et platiers récifaux). L'étude a été conduite à l'île de Mayotte (ouest de l'océan Indien). Les techniques testées sont le comptage sous-marin et les comptages aériens à partir d'un ultra léger motorisé (ULM) et d'un paramoteur. Les limites de chaque technique utilisée ont été mises en évidence. L'abondance totale des tortues a été estimée par les trois techniques. Seuls, les comptages sous-marins ont permis de préciser des caractéristiques biologiques tels que l'espèce et le sexe, lorsque les conditions de visibilité et le comportement des tortues le permettaient. Le paramoteur paraît le plus adapté pour une estimation directe de l'abondance sur les aires d'alimentation situées à proximité immédiate de la côte. Cette technique permet de disposer d'un état de la répartition des tortues sur les aires d'alimentation à un moment donné. Pour les zones d'alimentation plus éloignées de la côte, l'usage de l'ULM est nécessaire pour réaliser les comptages à partir de transects linéaires.
Aquatic Living Resources (0990-7440) (EDP Sciences), 2005-04 , Vol. 18 , N. 2 , P. 193-198

Droits : EDP Sciences, IFREMER, IRD 2005
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2005/publication-432.pdf
DOI:10.1051/alr:2005021
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/432/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Nature Publishing Group
Résumé : International audience
Coral reefs are among the most species-rich and threatened ecosystems on Earth, yet the extent to which human stressors determine species occurrences, compared with biogeography or environmental conditions, remains largely unknown. With ever-increasing human-mediated disturbances on these ecosystems, an important question is not only how many species can inhabit local communities, but also which biological traits determine species that can persist (or not) above particular disturbance thresholds. Here we show that human pressure and seasonal climate variability are disproportionately and negatively associated with the occurrence of large-bodied and geographically small-ranging fishes within local coral reef communities. These species are 67% less likely to occur where human impact and temperature seasonality exceed critical thresholds, such as in the marine biodiversity hotspot: the Coral Triangle. Our results identify the most sensitive species and critical thresholds of human and climatic stressors, providing opportunity for targeted conservation intervention to prevent local extinctions.
ISSN: 2041-1723

hal-01282870
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01282870
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01282870/document
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01282870/file/ncomms10491.pdf
DOI : 10.1038/ncomms10491

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley-Blackwell
Résumé : 1. This study focuses on the importance in hyperdiverse regions, such as the Amazonian forest, of accelerating and optimising the census of invertebrate communities.2. We carried out low-intensity sampling of tropical moth (Lepidoptera) assemblages in disturbed forest fragments in Brazil.3. We combined DNA barcoding and taxonomists' expertise to produce fast and accurate surveys of local diversity, including the recognition and census of undescribed and endemic species.4. Integrating expert knowledge of species distributions, we show that despite limited sampling effort, our approach revealed an unexpectedly high number of new and endemic species in severely threatened tropical forest fragments.5. These results highlight the risk of silent centinelan extinctions and emphasise the urgent need for accelerated invertebrate surveys in high-endemism and human-impacted tropical forests.
EISSN: 1752-458X

hal-01602363
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01602363
DOI : 10.1111/icad.12187
PRODINRA : 389851

Éditeur(s) : Université de la Réunion
Résumé : The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is an emblematic species of marine life. However, nowadays it is subject to many threats (poaching, by-catch). Even if there is deep growing measures for its protection, the green turtle still is an endangered species and it is listed in Appendix I of Washington Convention (CITES). In order to elaborate efficient conservation and management plans, perfect knowledge of green turtle biology, but also of its population structure and their characteristics, are needed. In this thesis, we have assessed genetic structure of green turtle populations in the South-Western Indian Ocean by using genetic tools. In all, 1551 tissue samples have been collected from our study zone and from our control site French Polynesia (37 samples). All kinds if individuals were sampled (except males in reproductive phase) from 15 sampling sites including nesting, foraging, and immature development site. We used both control region of mitochondrial DNA and 6 microsatellite loci to better infer maternal and paternal lineages. We identified 29 haplotypes in the South-Western Indian Ocean. They are distributed in 3 independent and highly divergent clades, including one composed with haplotypes from Atlantic Ocean. For 7 of these haplotypes, it was the first time they were detected in the study zone. Fifteen haplotypes were previously undescribed, distributed in all the 3 clades. These new haplotypes seem to be specific to the South-Western Indian Ocean, which is then an original zone. Besides, we found a high allelic richness. These results show the South-western Indian Ocean is rich and very diversified. This region plays an important role in the global diversity of the species. The South-Western Indian Ocean is one of the two contact zones presently known between the two metapopulations of green turtles (Atlantic-Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific). This contact induces a genetic cline based on CM8 (Atlantic) and C3 (Indo-Pacific) haplotype frequencies. Analysis of the microsatellite differentiation between individuals provides evidence of genetic exchanges between the two metapopulations in the region. The South-Western Indian Ocean participates to green turtle global genetic mixing. Studying the influence of several intrinsic and extrinsic factors on population structuring provides useful information for management plan elaboration. We found no significant difference between genetic structures of foraging females and males, contrary to immature turtles which seem to be organised in 'regional pools'. This organisation could be due to both immature natal homing and influence of oceanic currents. High mitochondrial differentiation of nesting females and low global microsatellite differentiation of our samples indicate male-mediated gene flow among populations of the study zone. The genetic composition of a sampling site presents no significant variation along the year, even if we could notice some trends. Nevertheless, it can be significantly different from a year to an other one. This may result from alternation of distinct populations on the same site. We noticed different evolution in 10 or 20 years of the genetic composition depending on the sampling site. Geographic distance seems not to have significant influence on population structuring concerning microsatellite markers. Nesting females of Saziley Beach (Mayotte Island, Comoros Archipelago) present genetic divergence from females nesting in the two other sampled beaches of this island. The observed population structure shows no contradiction with the organisation of oceanic currents in the South-Western Indian Ocean. Comparing the results from the two genetic markers used, we identified 8 genetic differentiated clusters of turtles in the study zone and at least 6 distinct populations. These clusters constitute 8 potential management units (MUs) which could serve as basis in the elaboration of conservation and management plans.
La tortue verte (Chelonia mydas) constitue l'un des espèces emblématiques de la vie marine, pourtant de nombreuses menaces pèsent de nos jours encore sur sa survie (braconnage, captures accidentelles). Ainsi, malgré l'essor de mesures de protection menées à travers pour sa sauvegarde, la tortue verte constitue une espèce 'en danger d'extinction' et figure dans l'Annexe I de la Convention de Washington (CITES). Afin d'élaborer des plans de gestion et de conservation qui soient efficaces, il est important d'avoir une parfaite connaissance de la biologie de la tortue verte, mais aussi de la structure de ses populations et de leurs caractéristiques. C'est dans ce cadre que s'inscrit la présente étude. L'objectif de cette étude était d'acquérir des connaissances sur la structure des populations de tortues vertes dans le sud-ouest de l'océan Indien grâce à l'utilisation de l'outil génétique. Au total, 1551 échantillons de tissu ont été collectés dans la zone d'étude et dans notre site témoin la Polynésie française (37 échantillons). Toutes les catégories d'individus ont été échantillonnées (excepté les mâles en phase de reproduction) et les 15 sites d'échantillonnage comprennent à la fois des sites de ponte, d'alimentation et de développement pour les immatures. Deux types de marqueurs ont été utilisés : la région contrôle de l'ADN mitochondrial et 6 loci microsatellites, afin d'appréhender au mieux l'apport des lignées maternelles et paternelles. Nous avons pu mettre en évidence la présence dans le sud-ouest de l'océan Indien de 29 haplotypes distincts, appartenant à trois clades fortement divergents dont l'un constitué d'haplotypes originaires de l'océan Atlantique. Parmi ces haplotypes, 7 ont été détectés pour la première fois dans la zone d'étude, et 15 autres n'ont jamais été précédemment décrits chez cette espèce. Ils sont présents dans chacun des 3 clades d'haplotypes. Ces nouveaux haplotypes semblent spécifiques à la région, et en font une zone originale. On observe par ailleurs une grande richesse allélique dans les effectifs analysés. Ces résultats montrent que le sud-ouest de l'océan Indien est une zone riche et très diversifiée. Cette région joue un rôle important dans la diversité génétique globale de l'espèce. Le sud-ouest de l'océan Indien constitue l'une des deux seules zones connues à l'heure actuelle de contact entre les deux métapopulations de tortues vertes (Atlantique-Méditerranée et Indo-Pacifique). Ce contact a entraîné la formation d'un cline génétique portant principalement sur les fréquences relatives des haplotypes CM8 (Atlantique) et C3 (Indo-Pacifique). Les résultats obtenus lors de l'analyse microsatellite de la différenciation entre les individus originaires des deux métapopulations montrent que le sud-ouest de l'océan Indien constitue une zone d'échanges génétiques entre les deux métapopulations, participant au brasage génétique de l'espèce. L'étude de facteurs, intrinsèques et extrinsèques, pouvant influencer la structuration des populations apportent de nombreuses informations qui pourraient s'avérer utiles lors de l'élaboration de plans de gestion. La structure des femelles et des mâles en alimentation ne diffère pas, contrairement à celle des immatures qui semble s'organiser en 'pools régionaux' qui seraient le fruit de l'interaction d'un comportement de philopatrie et d'une influence des courants océaniques. La forte différenciation mitochondriale des femelles en ponte et la très faible différenciation microsatellite observée à l'échelle de la région, indiquent l'existence de flux de gènes via les mâles. La composition génétique d'un site ne varie pas de manière significative au cours de l'année. Par contre, elle peut varier d'une année à l'autre, signifiant l'alternance dans certains sites de ponte de plusieurs populations distinctes. L'évolution de la composition génétique d'un groupe, au cours de 10 ou 20 ans, diffère selon le site considéré. La distance ne semble pas influencer de manière significative la structuration des populations au niveau microsatellite. Les femelles en ponte sur la plage de Saziley (Mayotte) diffèrent génétiquement de celles pondant sur les deux autres plages de l'île. La structure observée des populations est en accord avec l'organisation des courants océanique dans la région. La confrontation des résultats obtenus à partir des deux marqueurs génétiques utilisés, permet la détermination de 8 ensembles génétiquement différenciés dans la zone d'étude et l'identification d'au moins 6 populations distinctes. Ces ensembles constituent autant d'unités de gestion (MUs) potentielles qui pourront servir de base à l'élaboration de plans de gestion et de conservation.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2007/these-3532.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/3532/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : The evolutionary potential of long-lived species, such as forest trees, is fundamental for their local persistence under climate change (CC). Genome–environment association (GEA) analyses reveal if species in heterogeneous environments at the regional scale are under differential selection resulting in populations with potential preadaptation to CC within this area. In 79 natural [i]Fagus sylvatica[/i] populations, neutral genetic patterns were characterized using 12 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, and genomic variation (144 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) out of 52 candidate genes) was related to 87 environmental predictors in the latent factor mixed model, logistic regressions and isolation by distance/environmental (IBD/IBE) tests. SSR diversity revealed relatedness at up to 150m intertree distance but an absence of large-scale spatial genetic structure and IBE. In the GEA analyses, 16 SNPs in 10 genes responded to one or several environmental predictors and IBE, corrected for IBD, was confirmed. The GEA often reflected the proposed gene functions, including indications for adaptation to water availability and temperature. Genomic divergence and the lack of large-scale neutral genetic patterns suggest that gene flow allows the spread of advantageous alleles in adaptive genes. Thereby, adaptation processes are likely to take place in species occurring in heterogeneous environments, which might reduce their regional extinction risk under CC
ISSN: 0028-646X

hal-01309135
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01309135
PRODINRA : 343710
DOI : 10.1111/nph.13809

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
The extinct Odontopterygiformes are the sole birds known to possess strong and sharp bony pseudoteeth, the shape and location of which are closely mimetic of real teeth. The structure of the pseudoteeth is investigated here in a late Pliocene/early Pleistocene species, Pelagornis mauretanicus, using X-ray microtomography and thin sections. The results are interpreted with regard to the pseudotooth mode of growth, and have implications concerning aspects of Pelagornis ecology. The larger pseudoteeth are hollow and approximately cone-shaped, and the smaller ones are rostro-caudally constricted. The walls of pseudoteeth are composed of bone tissue of the fibro-lamellar type, which is intensively remodeled by Haversian substitution. The jaw bones display the same structure as the pseudoteeth, but their vascular canals are oriented parallel to the long axis of the bones, whereas they are perpendicular to this direction in the pseudoteeth. There is no hiatus or evidence of a fusion between the pseudoteeth and the jaw bones. Two possible models for pseudotooth growth are derived from the histological data. The most plausible model is that pseudotooth growth began after the completion of jaw bone growth, as a simple local protraction of periosteal osteogenic activity. Pseudotooth development thus occurred relatively late during ontogeny. The highly vascularized structure and the relative abundance of parallel-fibered bone tissue in the pseudoteeth suggest poor mechanical capabilities. The pseudoteeth were most likely covered and protected by the hardened, keratinized rhamphotheca in the adult during life. The late development of the pseudoteeth would involve a similarly late and/or partial hardening of the rhamphotheca, as displayed by extant Anseriformes, Apterygiformes and some Charadriiformes. This would add support to the hypothesis of a close phylogenetic relationship between Odontopterygiformes and Anseriformes. The late maturation of the Pelagornis feeding apparatus, and hence the delayed capability for efficient prey catching, suggests that Pelagornis was altricial.
ISSN: 1932-6203

hal-01545486
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01545486
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0080372

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag (Germany)
Résumé : 5 pages
International audience
This study investigates the recent evolution of a rich parasite community associated with one of the world's most invasive species, the cichlid fish Oreochromis mossambicus. Populations from the species' native range (Mozambique) are compared to a population from New Caledonia (Wester Pacific), an island where the species was introduced in 1954. The results support the complete local extinction of the gill parasite community in the course of the invasion process. Up to six gill parasite species per locality were documented in the O. mossambicus native range, and previous surveys consistently reported at least one parasite species introduced along African cichlid species established out of Africa. The absence of parasites in New Caledonia is therefore exceptional. This can be attributed to local factors, such as a strong initial population bottleneck, the likely absence of multiple host introductions, and the frequent occurrence of brackish watersheds that might enhance the probability for natural deparasitation.
ISSN: 0932-0113

hal-01356378
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01356378
PUBMED : 27334451
DOI : 10.1007/s00436-016-5168-1

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Ecological signs of Earth's biosphere forewarn an alarming trajectory towards a global mass-extinction. Assessing species performance and susceptibilities to decline is essential to comprehend and reverse this trend. Yet it is challenging, given difficulties associated with quantifying individual and population processes that are variable across time, space, and life-stages. We describe a new approach to estimating and comparing species performances that combines empirical data, a novel theoretical consideration of population dynamics, and modern statistics. Our approach allows for a more realistic continuous representation of individual performances along development stages while taking into account non-linearity, and natural variability as captured by spatio-temporally replicated observations. We illustrate its application in a coral meta-assemblage composed of populations of the three major reef-building taxa Acropora, Pocillopora, Porites. Using a unique set of highly replicated observations of individual coral dynamics under various environmental conditions, we show how taxa differ in their investment in recruitment and size-specific aptitude for growth and survival, notably through different use of clonal shrinkage, fragmentation, fission, and fusion processes. Our results reveal contrasting life-history trade-offs among taxa which, along with differing patterns of density-dependent recruitment, modulate species responses to decline. These differences in coral life history traits reflect opposing life-strategies, imply regulation at differing life-stages, and explain divergence in species trajectories. Our findings indicate a high potential for resilience in Pocillopora and Porites populations, thanks respectively to a sustained recruitment that promotes demographic elasticity through replacement of individuals, and a steady resistance to mortality which confers persistence through lingering of individuals. Resilience in Acropora appears more arbitrary, given high susceptibility to perturbations and dependency of recruitment on presence of established local populations. We identify management actions that can complement Acropora's life history and benefit recovery of its populations following mortality events. Our regression-modelling approach to quantifying and comparing species performances in different population processes is applicable to all taxa, as illustrated even those with complex clonal life histories, and can be implemented at wide spatio-temporal and taxonomic coverage. It can promote more accurate representation of species dynamics in both descriptive and predictive modelling approaches. The semi-parametric contrast curve method we develop facilitates comparing response variables along continuous explicative metrics while accounting for multiple sources of complexity in empirical data. It should widely benefit investigations in ecology and quantitative science.
ISSN: 1476-945X

hal-01212337
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01212337
DOI : 10.1016/j.ecocom.2015.07.003