ALBERT

Description:    We gathered data for a four-year period (2004–2007) on the nesting ecology and reproductive performance of Eleonora’s falcon in the Aegean Sea. We investigated in an indirect way the relation between clutch size and pre-laying food availability, the significance of site and pair quality on productivity, and the effects of habitat and intraspecific competition on breeding success. Overall, the species selected nest sites sheltered from sun exposure but not from the prevailing wind. Hatching, fledging, and breeding success rates were estimated at 64, 72%, and 60%, respectively. Fledglings per breeding pair ranged from 1.19 to 1.75, and fledglings per successful pair from 1.84 to 2.0, between the years. Productivity depended on parental care rather than nest-site quality. Breeding parameters varied significantly between the years, exhibiting a strong spatial yet local effect. Low success rates were recorded in specific colonies, which were attributed to adverse weather conditions and habitat degradation. Insect food availability prior to egg-laying, estimated via plant biomass, was positively correlated to clutch size. Meanwhile, low wind strengths in August, large distances from the mainland, and population size in the vicinity of the colonies had negative effects on breeding success. Considering data at the Mediterranean scale, a longitudinal trend is observed across the breeding range of this species, with breeding parameters slightly decreasing from west to east. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s11284-011-0912-6 Authors S. M. Xirouchakis, Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, 714 09 Heraklion, Crete, Greece J. Fric, Hellenic Ornithological Society/BirdLife-Greece, V. Herakliou 24, 106 82 Athens, Greece C. Kassara, Section of Animal Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 265 00 Patras, Greece D. Portolou, Hellenic Ornithological Society/BirdLife-Greece, V. Herakliou 24, 106 82 Athens, Greece A. Dimalexis, Nature Conservation Consultants (NCC), Gythiou 4 Chalandri, 152 31 Athens, Greece G. Karris, Department of Environment Technology and Ecology, Technological Educational Institute of the Ionian Islands, A. Kalvou Square, 291 00 Zakynthos, Greece C. Barboutis, Department of Biology, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, 714 09 Heraklion, Greece P. Latsoudis, Hellenic Ornithological Society/BirdLife-Greece, V. Herakliou 24, 106 82 Athens, Greece S. Bourdakis, Hellenic Ornithological Society/BirdLife-Greece, V. Herakliou 24, 106 82 Athens, Greece E. Kakalis, Biodiversity Management Lab, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Xenia Building A, 811 00 Mytilini, Lesvos, Greece S. Sfenthourakis, Section of Animal Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 265 00 Patras, Greece Journal Ecological Research Online ISSN 1440-1703 Print ISSN 0912-3814

Description:    Quercus forest regeneration is limited by different factors, post-dispersal predation being one of the most critical stages. We analysed seed removal of four coexisting Quercus species ( Q. ilex, Q. suber, Q. faginea and Q. pyrenaica ) in a Mediterranean forest located in Southern Spain. Marked and weighed acorns from each of the species were placed in experimental units with or without exclusion of large herbivores and in two microhabitat types ( Q. ilex shade or open). Acorn removal was monitored for 120 days in order to test the effect of exclusion of large herbivore and microhabitat type on seed removal rates and species selection. Interestingly, the results of microhabitat and species selection differed depending on the presence of large herbivores. Removal was faster in sites without exclusion, where most seeds (≈85%) disappeared during the first 9 days. In these sites, no differences in seed removal were found between different microhabitats, but seeds of two species, those with higher seed mass ( Q. suber and Q. pyrenaica ) were most preferred. However, under exclusion of large herbivores, seed removal was affected by the microhabitat, this being greater in Q. ilex shaded microhabitats, which showed a higher structural diversity. Also, species selection was completely different under exclusion of large herbivores, and seeds of Q. ilex and Q. faginea were removed faster. These results highlight the importance of large herbivore activity on seed removal and its effect on microhabitat and species selection. Therefore, specific selection by seed consumers may modify seedling recruitment and may have an important influence on the relative abundance of coexisting Quercus species. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s11284-012-0927-7 Authors Victoria González-Rodríguez, Área de Ecología, Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio Celestino Mutis, Campus de Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain Rafael Villar, Área de Ecología, Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio Celestino Mutis, Campus de Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain Journal Ecological Research Online ISSN 1440-1703 Print ISSN 0912-3814

Description:    The traditional way to deal with hunting interests is often focused on predator control. This approach requires a detailed understanding of predator responses to game management. Control methods can be non-selective and, consequently, can potentially have a negative impact on non-target predator species, affecting carnivore guild. In order to assess the potential risks associated with non-selective predator control in the presence of intraguild competition, the classical Lotka–Volterra competition model was used, but with two additional factors: a linear factor for capture mortality (mortality caused by predator control) and a factor for vacated niche occupancy associated with immigration. Simulation in a scenario with three species revealed that one of them, the red fox Vulpes vulpes , which presented the highest intrinsic growth rate, can show population increases even under moderate control, whereas the population of European badger Meles meles , with a lower intrinsic growth rate, was reduced and, in some cases, may even become extinct. Lastly, the stone marten Martes foina presented a differential response, depending on the removal intensity and strategy employed. This behaviour is compatible with the results observed in a Mediterranean environment subjected to two types of game management: non-selective predator control (culling) and no control. In areas with non-selective control and moderate predator removal, the red fox population remained stable, while the stone marten and the European badger populations reduced markedly or disappeared. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s11284-012-0931-y Authors Jorge G. Casanovas, Hydrobiology and Game, Superior Technical School of Forestry Engineers, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain Joan Barrull, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain Isabel Mate, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain Juan M. Zorrilla, Department Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/José Antonio Novais 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain Jordi Ruiz-Olmo, General Directorate of Natural Environment and Biodiversity, Department of Agriculture, Lifestock, Fisheries, Nourishment and Natural Environment, Generalitat of Catalonia, Doctor Roux 80, 08017 Barcelona, Spain Joaquim Gosàlbez, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain Miquel Salicrú, Department of Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain Journal Ecological Research Online ISSN 1440-1703 Print ISSN 0912-3814

Description:    Plants affect soil conditions, which in turn alter plant growth and interspecific competition, forming plant–soil feedback (PSF) systems. PSF is a good example of bidirectional interactions between biomes and the non-living environments, acting as a major driving force of community structure and ecosystem function. Among the major types of PSF mediated by various soil components, there are many holes in our knowledge of the interactions between PSF mediated by plant species-specific litter and PSF mediated by soil microbes. Here I discuss the role of the functional diversity of microbial decomposers in litter-mediated PSF and also propose new hypotheses on the role of microbial diversity in PSF mediated by pathogenic and mutualistic soil microbes. I also review how PSF interacts with human-induced environmental change, i.e., direct drivers of change in the ecosystem (e.g. climate change and the invasion of alien species). Many authors have suggested that the impact of alien plant species on ecosystems is mediated by PSF, which also interacts with other direct drivers, such as climate change. Using a simple model of litter-mediated PSF with microbial decomposers, I confirm that the interactions between PSF and other direct drivers affect the invasion process of alien species. The model also demonstrates that the functional diversity of microbial decomposers accelerates or decelerates the speed of the invasion depending on the environmental change scenarios. Further theoretical and empirical studies are needed to derive general predictions on how exogenous environmental change induced by human activities alters communities and ecosystems through disturbance or modification of endogenous community–ecosystem interactions, such as the functioning of PSF. Content Type Journal Article Category Miyadi Award Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s11284-012-0937-5 Authors Takeshi Miki, Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617 Taiwan Journal Ecological Research Online ISSN 1440-1703 Print ISSN 0912-3814

Description:    Forest ecosystems are self-fertilizing systems, and development of forest stands depends on nutrient supply via biogeochemical cycling within the ecosystem. Therefore, it is important to clarify the nutrient cycle mediating growth and development. In addition, long-term hydrochemical monitoring is needed to understand the influence of environmental changes on biogeochemical cycling in forest ecosystems. The Oyasan Experimental Forest Watershed (OEFW) is located in the Field Museum Oyasan, the university forest of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, in Gunma prefecture, Japan. OEFW comprises two small adjacent forested watersheds—A-watershed and B-watershed—with respective areas of 1.3 and 1.8 ha. A-watershed is a reestablished forest planted with sugi (Japanese cedar; Cryptomeria japonica ) and hinoki (Japanese cypress; Chamaecyparis obtusa ) in 1976, and has been managed intensively with fertilizer application. By contrast, B-watershed is an established forest planted with sugi and hinoki in 1907. No forest practices have been carried out except for thinning of suppressed trees in 1983. However, the sugi plantation on the lowest slope (18% of the watershed area) was cut in 2000, and sugi was replanted the following year. In this data paper, we present data on the daily precipitation, discharge, pH, and concentrations of major nutrients (Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , K + , Na + , NH 4 + , Cl − , NO 3 − , and SO 4 2− ) in rainwater and stream water since November 1978. The arithmetical mean pH of precipitation, stream water in A- and B-watershed from the beginning of the monitoring to the present were 4.77 ± 0.67, 6.85 ± 0.41 and 6.88 ± 0.36 (average ± SD), respectively. The arithmetical mean concentrations in precipitation in mmol c  L −1 were 0.030 ± 0.030 for Ca 2+ , 0.010 ± 0.011 for Mg 2+ , 0.009 ± 0.013 for K + , 0.020 ± 0.024 for Na + , 0.035 ± 0.041 for NH 4 + , 0.026 ± 0.029 for Cl − , 0.033 ± 0.038 for NO 3 − , and 0.046 ± 0.043 for SO 4 2− . The mean concentrations in stream water in A-watershed were 0.180 ± 0.032 for Ca 2+ , 0.073 ± 0.013 for Mg 2+ , 0.018 ± 0.009 for K + , 0.182 ± 0.024 for Na + , 0.010 ± 0.010 for NH 4 + , 0.060 ± 0.008 for Cl − , 0.111 ± 0.038 for NO 3 − , and 0.074 ± 0.012 for SO 4 2− ; whereas for B-watershed the mean concentrations were 0.169 ± 0.025 for Ca 2+ , 0.079 ± 0.016 for Mg 2+ , 0.018 ± 0.005 for K + , 0.192 ± 0.026 for Na + , 0.010 ± 0.010 for NH 4 + , 0.065 ± 0.010 for Cl − , 0.093 ± 0.025 for NO 3 − , and 0.087 ± 0.011 for SO 4 2− . Content Type Journal Article Category Data Paper Pages 1-1 DOI 10.1007/s11284-012-0926-8 Authors Rieko Urakawa, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509 Japan Hiroto Toda, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509 Japan Kikuo Haibara, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509 Japan Yoshinori Aiba, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509 Japan Journal Ecological Research Online ISSN 1440-1703 Print ISSN 0912-3814

Description:    Understanding and predicting the dynamics of organisms is a central objective in ecology and conservation biology, and modelling provides a solution to tackling this problem. However, the complex nature of ecological systems means that for a thorough understanding of ecological dynamics at hierarchical scales, a set of modeling approaches need to be adopted. This review illustrates how modelling approaches can be used to understand the dynamics of organisms in applied ecological problems, focussing on mechanistic models at a local scale and statistical models at a broad scale. Mechanistic models incorporate ecological processes explicitly and thus are likely to be robust under novel conditions. Models based on behavioural decisions by individuals represent a typical example of the successful application of mechanistic models to applied problems. Considering the data-hungry nature of such mechanistic models, model complexity and parameterisation need to be explored further for a quick and widespread implementation of this model type. For broad-scale phenomena, statistical models play an important role in dealing with problems that are often inherent in data. Examples include models for quantifying population trends from long-term, large-scale data and those for comparative methods of extinction risk. Novel statistical approaches also allow mechanistic models to be parameterised using readily obtained data at a macro scale. In conclusion, the complementary use and improvement of multiple model types, the increased use of novel model parameterisation, the examination of model transferability and the achievement of wider biodiversity information availability are key challenges for the effective use of modelling in applied ecological problems. Content Type Journal Article Category Miyadi Award Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s11284-012-0928-6 Authors Tatsuya Amano, Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ UK Journal Ecological Research Online ISSN 1440-1703 Print ISSN 0912-3814

Description:    We have assessed the effects of habitat fragmentation on understory tree communities in mesic temperate forests of the Tokachi plain of northern Japan. Tree community composition was analyzed across 13 forest fragments of various sizes ranging from 0.30 to 8.51 ha. The community composition varied along the edge-to-interior gradient: there was a lower abundance of shade-tolerant shrubs in forest edges than in forest interiors, while saplings of dominant canopy trees and pioneer trees were more abundant near the edges. The edge influence extended approximately 56 m into the forest interiors. Even the interior area of small fragments were likely to be affected not only by the nearest edge but also by more distant edges. Consequently, most areas in fragments smaller than 2 ha were covered by these “edge-type” communities. These results indicate that it is of primary importance to conserve and restore forests with an area at least larger than several hectares to sustain forest-interior tree communities. Content Type Journal Article Category Note and Comment Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s11284-012-0995-8 Authors Satoshi N. Suzuki, Institute of Mountain Science, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-Minowa-mura, Nagano, 399-4598 Japan Hiroshi Tomimatsu, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Osaki, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan Yoshiko Oishi, Department of Life Science and Agriculture, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555 Japan Yasuo Konno, Department of Life Science and Agriculture, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555 Japan Journal Ecological Research Online ISSN 1440-1703 Print ISSN 0912-3814

Description:    To evaluate the extent to which landslides affect community dynamics and consequent species diversity in a beech-dominated forest, differences in the composition and size structure of tree species were compared between landslide and adjacent stable (control) stands. Demography and changes in size were compared between the two stands over a 5-year period about 60 years after a landslide. In the control stand, replacement occurred even amongst late-successional species, with beech ( Fagus crenata )—the most dominant species—increasing in relative abundance. In the landslide stand, very few large individuals of late-successional species occurred, whereas large individuals of early-successional species occurred only in the landslide stand. The traits indicate that the landslide strongly facilitated species diversity, not only by reducing the dominance of late-successional species, but also by promoting recruitment of early-successional species. However, new recruitment of early-successional species was inhibited in the landslide stand, although we observed succeeding regeneration and subsequent population growth of late-successional species there. As a result, the relative dominance of late-successional species increased with succession after the landslide, thus decreasing future species diversity. In beech-dominant forest landscapes in Japan that include communities with different developmental stages, the mosaic of serial stages may facilitate species diversity after a landslide. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s11284-012-0996-7 Authors Kenji Seiwa, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Naruko, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan Yoshiko Miwa, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Naruko, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan Shigetoshi Akasaka, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Naruko, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan Hiroshi Kanno, Miyagi Environmental Conservation Institute, Sendai, Japan Mizuki Tomita, Tokyo University of Information Sciences, Chiba, Japan Tomoyuki Saitoh, Forestry and Forest Product Research Institute, Gifu, Japan Naoto Ueno, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Naruko, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan Megumi Kimura, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Naruko, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan Yoichi Hasegawa, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Naruko, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan Miki Konno, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Naruko, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan Kazuhiko Masaka, Forestry Research Institute, Hokkaido Research Organization, Koshunai, Bibai, Hokkaido 079-0198, Japan Journal Ecological Research Online ISSN 1440-1703 Print ISSN 0912-3814

Description: Erratum to: Differential photosynthetic characteristics between seedlings and saplings of Abies sachalinensis and Picea glehnii , in the field Content Type Journal Article Category Erratum Pages 1-2 DOI 10.1007/s11284-012-0987-8 Authors Edgard A. Bontempo e Silva, Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-19, Nishi-8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0819 Japan Shigeaki F. Hasegawa, Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-19, Nishi-8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0819 Japan Kiyomi Ono, Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-19, Nishi-8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0819 Japan Akihiro Sumida, Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-19, Nishi-8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0819 Japan Shigeru Uemura, Forest Research Station, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Nayoro, Japan Toshihiko Hara, Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-19, Nishi-8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0819 Japan Journal Ecological Research Online ISSN 1440-1703 Print ISSN 0912-3814

Description:    Allometric scaling models describing size-dependent biological relationships are important for understanding the adaptive responses of plants to environmental variation. In this study, allometric analysis was used to investigate the biomass allocation and morphology of three submerged macrophytes ( Potamogeton maackianus , Potamogeton malaianus and Vallisneria natans ) in response to water depth (1.0 and 2.5 m) in an in situ experiment. The three macrophytes exhibited different allometric strategies associated with distinct adjustments in morphology and biomass allocation in response to varying water depths. In deeper water, after accounting for the effects of plant size, P. maackianus and P. malaianus tended to enhance light harvesting by allocating more biomass to the stem, increasing shoot height and specific leaf area. V. natans tended to allocate more biomass to the leaf than to the basal stem (rosette), showing a higher leaf mass ratio and shoot height in deeper water. The three species decreased biomass allocation to roots as water depth increased. The main effect of water depth treatments was reduced light availability, which induced plastic shoot or leaf elongation. This shows that macrophytes have evolved responses to light limitation similar to those of terrestrial plants. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s11284-012-0991-z Authors Hui Fu, Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donghu South Road 7, Wuhan, 430072 People’s Republic of China Guixiang Yuan, Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donghu South Road 7, Wuhan, 430072 People’s Republic of China Te Cao, Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donghu South Road 7, Wuhan, 430072 People’s Republic of China Leyi Ni, Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donghu South Road 7, Wuhan, 430072 People’s Republic of China Meng Zhang, Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donghu South Road 7, Wuhan, 430072 People’s Republic of China Shengrui Wang, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Dayangfang BeiYuan Road 8, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100012 People’s Republic of China Journal Ecological Research Online ISSN 1440-1703 Print ISSN 0912-3814