Nutrition from aquatic food diversityHere we reframe the role of aquatic foods in global food systems as a highly diverse food group, which can supply critical nutrients [1][2][3]13

Fruit‐eating animals play important roles as seed dispersal agents in terrestrial systems. Yet, the extent to which seed dispersal by nocturnal omnivores may facilitate germination and the recruitment of plant communities has rarely been investigated. Characterizing their roles in seed dispersal is necessary to provide a more complete picture of how seed dispersal processes affect ecosystem functioning. We investigated the roles and impacts of two species of nocturnal omnivorous lemur species, Microcebus jollyae and M. rufus, on seed dispersal in Madagascar's rain forests, through analysis of fecal samples and germination experiments. Data show that these lemur species, which are among the world's smallest primates, dispersed 22 plant species from various forest strata and that the defecated seeds germinated faster and at higher rates than control seeds for the eight plant species we tested. Even though mouse lemurs dispersed both native and non‐native plant species, non‐native plant species represented a relatively small proportion (17%). These results demonstrate that overlooked nocturnal omnivores can act as important seed dispersers, which may have critical implications for forest regeneration and the maintenance of plant diversity in fragmented/degraded forests. Finally, we provide critical insights into the previously unobserved behavior and diet of endangered nocturnal lemurs for their effective conservation.Abstract in Malagasy is available with online material.

No abstract

Coccotrypes rhizophorae (Coleoptera), an insect native to Indonesia, has been introduced to several American countries, including Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. C. rhizophorae is the principal pest of mangrove species in the genus Rhizophora. Here, we examine the damage caused by C. rhizophorae infestations in a mangrove forest at eleven locations along the Ecuadorian coast throughout one year. We collected 13,200 Rhizophora spp. propagules in total (1,200 individuals per site per year). The total C. rhizophorae infestation rate was 45%. The total prevalence of Rhizophora spp. propagules infested by C. rhizophorae was significantly higher during the rainy season (55%) compared to the dry season. Bellavista Island, Corazón and Fragatas Island, and Guayaquil Historical Park showed higher damage prevalence compared to other sites. In all sites and in both seasons, the prevalent location of damage in affected propagules was in the basal area (59,81%). There was an inverse relationship between the population size inside the propagule (larvae and adults) and rainfall. The number of holes created by C. rhizophorae in Rhizophora spp. propagules was associated with the damage intensity. These results are critical for the management, conservation, and restoration of mangrove forests in Ecuador and other countries where C. rhizophorae is present.

Species interactions shape the diversity and resilience of ecological networks. Plant and animal traits, as well as phylogeny, affect interaction likelihood, driving variation in network structure and tolerance to disturbance. We investigated how traits and phylogenetic effects influenced network‐wide interaction probabilities and examined the consequences of extinction on the structure and robustness of ecological networks. We combined both mutualistic and antagonistic interactions of animals (55 species, Infraorder Lemuriformes, Order Primates) and their food plants (590 genera) throughout Madagascar to generate ecological networks. We tested the effects of both lemur and plant traits, biogeographic factors and phylogenetic relatedness on interaction probability in these networks using exponential random graph models. Next, we simulated animal and plant extinction to analyse the effects of extinction on network structure (connectance, nestedness and modularity) and robustness for mutualistic, antagonistic and combined plant–animal networks. Both animal and plant traits affected their interaction probabilities. Large, frugivorous lemurs with a short gestation length, occurring in arid habitats, and with a Least Concern threat level had a high interaction probability in the network, given all other variables. Closely related plants were more likely to interact with the same lemur species than distantly related plants, but closely related lemurs were not more likely to interact with the same plant genus. Simulated lemur extinction tended to increase connectance and modularity, but decrease nestedness and robustness, compared to pre‐extinction networks. Networks were more tolerant to plant than lemur extinctions. Lemur–plant interactions were highly trait structured and the loss of both lemurs and plants threatened the tolerance of mutualistic, antagonistic and combined networks to future disturbance.