Robert W. Howe

University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

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Amy Wolf

University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

Gerald J. Niemi

University of Minnesota, Duluth

Norman A. Bourg

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

Daniel J. Johnson

University of Florida

Zhanqing Hao

Northwestern Polytechnical University

William J. McShea

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

Stuart J. Davies

ForestGEO

I‐Fang Sun

National Dong Hwa University

Nathan G. Swenson

University of Notre Dame

Sean M. McMahon

Smithsonian Institution

Cooperative Institutions

ForestGEO

104

National Museum of Natural History

Universiti Brunei Darussalam

John Wiley & Sons (United States)

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Ecological Society of America

University of Minnesota

Smithsonian Institution

University of Minnesota, Duluth

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Stochastic dilution effects weaken deterministic effects of niche‐based processes in species rich forests

Ecology (2015)

Xugao Wang Thorsten Wiegand Nathan J. B. Kraft Nathan G. Swenson Stuart J. Davies

Recent theory predicts that stochastic dilution effects may result in species-rich communities with statistically independent species spatial distributions, even if the underlying ecological processes structuring the community are driven by deterministic niche differences. Stochastic dilution is a consequence of the stochastic geometry of biodiversity where the identities of the nearest neighbors of individuals of a given species are largely unpredictable. Under such circumstances, the outcome of deterministic species interactions may vary greatly among individuals of a given species. Consequently, nonrandom patterns in the biotic neighborhoods of species, which might be expected from coexistence or community assembly theory (e.g., individuals of a given species are neighbored by phylogenetically similar species), are weakened or do not emerge, resulting in statistical independence of species spatial distributions. We used data on phylogenetic and functional similarity of tree species in five large forest dynamics plots located across a gradient of species richness to test predictions of the stochastic dilution hypothesis. To quantify the biotic neighborhood of a focal species we used the mean phylogenetic (or functional) dissimilarity of the individuals of the focal species to all species within a local neighborhood. We then compared the biotic neighborhood of species to predictions from stochastic null models to test if a focal species was surrounded by more or less similar species than expected by chance. The proportions of focal species that showed spatial independence with respect to their biotic neighborhoods increased with total species richness. Locally dominant, high-abundance species were more likely to be surrounded by species that were statistically more similar or more dissimilar than expected by chance. Our results suggest that stochasticity may play a stronger role in shaping the spatial structure of species rich tropical forest communities than it does in species poorer forests. These findings represent an important step towards understanding the factors that govern the spatial configuration of local biotic communities. The stochastic dilution effect is a simple geometric mechanism that can explain why species' spatial distributions in species-rich communities approximate independence from their biotic neighborhood, even if deterministic niche processes are in effect.

Dilution

10.1890/14-2357.1

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Citations (53)

Science Education (1983)

Leopold E. Klopfer N Bingham James J. Gallagher Mary Budd Robert W. Howe

10.1002/sce.v67:3

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Trends and Issues Related to the Preparation of Teachers for Environmental Education. [Environmental Education Information Report.].

John F. Disinger Robert W. Howe

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Increasing marsh bird abundance in coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes, 2011–2021, likely caused by increasing water levels

Ornithological Applications (2023)

Douglas C. Tozer Annie Bracey Giuseppe E. Fiorino Thomas Gehring Erin E. Gnass Giese

Abstract Wetlands of the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America (i.e., lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario) provide critical habitat for marsh birds. We used 11 years (2011–2021) of data collected by the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program at 1,962 point-count locations in 792 wetlands to quantify the first-ever annual abundance indices and trends of 18 marsh-breeding bird species in coastal wetlands throughout the entire Great Lakes. Nine species (50%) increased by 8–37% per year across all of the Great Lakes combined, whereas none decreased. Twelve species (67%) increased by 5–50% per year in at least 1 of the 5 Great Lakes, whereas only 3 species (17%) decreased by 2–10% per year in at least 1 of the lakes. There were more positive trends among lakes and species (n = 34, 48%) than negative trends (n = 5, 7%). These large increases are welcomed because most of the species are of conservation concern in the Great Lakes. Trends were likely caused by long-term, cyclical fluctuations in Great Lakes water levels. Lake levels increased over most of the study, which inundated vegetation and increased open water-vegetation interspersion and open water extent, all of which are known to positively influence abundance of most of the increasing species and negatively influence abundance of all of the decreasing species. Coastal wetlands may be more important for marsh birds than once thought if they provide high-lake-level-induced population pulses for species of conservation concern. Coastal wetland protection and restoration are of utmost importance to safeguard this process. Future climate projections show increases in lake levels over the coming decades, which will cause “coastal squeeze” of many wetlands if they are unable to migrate landward fast enough to keep pace. If this happens, less habitat will be available to support periodic pulses in marsh bird abundance, which appear to be important for regional population dynamics. Actions that allow landward migration of coastal wetlands during increasing lake levels by removing or preventing barriers to movement, such as shoreline hardening, will be useful for maintaining marsh bird breeding habitat in the Great Lakes.

Open water

10.1093/ornithapp/duad062

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The Distribution of the Storage Species of Cryptolestes (Col., Cucujidae)

Bulletin of Entomological Research (1957)

Robert W. Howe L. P. Lefkovitch

The present world distribution of six species of Cryptolestes found in stored produce is delineated from the evidence of specimens collected from a small number of countries and from specimens collected from produce examined in ships at British ports. It is concluded that C. ferrugineus (Steph.) is worldwide, being found in temperate and tropical areas and in humid and dry zones. The range of C. minutus (Ol.) is limited by low temperature and low humidity but it is more abundant than C. ferrugineus in the wet tropics. C. pusilloides (Steel & Howe) is at present confined to the southern hemisphere but may be spreading slowly. It seems unlikely that this species entered stored products handled by the shipping trade much before 1944. C. turcicus (Grouv.) has been identified from Europe, North and tropical Africa, Turkey, North America, Uruguay and Argentina, and C. spartii (Curt.) only from Europe, North Africa and Turkey. C. ugandae Steel & Howe is rare, being found only from Uganda, Nigeria and Ghana.

Tropical climate

10.1017/s000748530000290x

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Citations (52)

Introduction –- The principles and problems of storage and pest control

Outlook on Agriculture (1978)

Robert W. Howe

The purpose of crop storage ranges from the avoidance of starvation between one harvest and the next to the lucrative supply of delicate fruits out of season or geographically not otherwise obtainable. The fabric of storage can be as simple as a hole in the ground or as complex as a refrigerated force-ventilated building. The choice depends very largely on the economics of the produce but the problems, and the measures adopted to overcome them, are similar in principle.

10.1177/003072707800900501

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Citations (2)

Cooperative feeding of fledgelings by Crested Shrike-tits

Emu - Austral Ornithology (1980)

Robert W. Howe Richard Noske

Shrike

10.1080/01584197.1980.11799249

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Citations (2)

Environmental Education that Makes a Difference--Knowledge to Behavior Changes. ERIC/SMEAC Environmental Education Digest No. 4, 1988.

Robert W. Howe John F. Disinger

Environmental adult education

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West Nile Virus Exposure in Black Bears of Northeastern Wisconsin

Journal of Wildlife Management (2007)

Christopher J. Katz Scott C. Anderson Robert W. Howe ANDREW R. HINICKLE Nicole T. Waliszewski

ABSTRACT Knowledge of the distribution and pathology of West Nile virus (WNV) in black bears is a necessary tool that allows wildlife managers to implement a management plan, set harvest quotas, and relocate nuisance bears. We studied the presence and significance of WNV titers in free‐roaming black bears ( Ursus americanus ) in northeastern Wisconsin between February 2003 and March 2005. Serum neutralizing antibodies to WNV, with confirmation by plaque‐reduction neutralization test to both WNV and Saint Louis encephalitis, identified exposure in 13 of 74 (17.6%) bears. This compares with a 6% infection rate in black bears in Virginia and 22% in European brown bears ( Ursus arctos ). Pathologic effects from exposure to WNV were not seen in any of the black bears studied.

West Nile virus

10.2193/2005-708

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A METHOD FOR OBTAINING A CONTROLLED DAILY TEMPERATURE CYCLE

Annals of Applied Biology (1956)

Robert W. Howe

An apparatus is described which gives a controlled daily cycle of temperature. The hand of a 24 hr. clock is connected by a rod to the arm operating a thermostat contact and moves the contact slowly backwards and forwards. Its method of use is described and the shape of curve it produces is expressed as a mathematical formula. A method of obtaining a nearly constant relative humidity is described.

Thermostat

Constant (computer programming)

10.1111/j.1744-7348.1956.tb06857.x

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Citations (5)