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1. Exploitation of a marine subsidy by a terrestrial invader

   https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-024-03500-5  

   Winters, Christopher; Jurgela, Grace; Holway, David (December 2024, Biological Invasions)

   Abstract Intertidal environments receive energy from marine ecosystems in the form of marine wrack, which makes up the base of a food web that includes both intertidal and terrestrial consumers. Consumption of wrack by terrestrial consumers can elevate their abundance and alter how they interact with organisms in adjacent terrestrial environments. Although rarely documented, terrestrial invaders may exploit marine wrack subsides and potentially disrupt intertidal and terrestrial food webs. Here, we examine consumption of marine wrack resources by the introduced Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), which occurs commonly on beaches in southern California. In controlled trials the Argentine ant readily scavenged arthropod detritivores (amphipods and flies) abundant in wrack. In spite of obvious risks (e.g., exposure to tides, desiccation, thermal stress) associated with intertidal foraging, Argentine ant activity on beaches was comparable to that in spatially-paired, scrub environments. Foraging on beaches allowed ants to access higher densities of arthropod prey and carrion compared to those found in scrub environments. Stable isotope analyses provide evidence for extensive assimilation of marine-derived resources. Values of δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C for the Argentine ant were higher at beach sites than at scrub sites, and Argentine ant δ¹⁵N values broadly overlapped those of intertidal consumers at beach sites. Although ants are known to forage in intertidal environments, this study provides a novel example of an introduced ant species exploiting a cross-boundary subsidy. 

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2. Ant nests differentially affect soil chemistry across elevational gradients

   https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-022-00869-1  

   Sankovitz, M.; Purcell, J. (July 2022, Insectes Sociaux)

   Abstract Ants alter soil moisture and nutrient distributions during foraging and nest construction. Here, we investigated how the effects of ants on soil vary with elevation. We compared moisture, carbon, and nitrogen levels in soil samples taken both within nests and nearby the nests (control) of two subterranean ant species. Using a paired design, we sampled 17 sites along elevation gradients in two California mountain ranges (Formica francoeuriin the San Jacinto mountains andFormica sibyllain the Sierra Nevada). We observed an interaction between soil carbon and nitrogen composition and elevation in each mountain range. At lower elevations, nest soil had lower amounts of carbon and nitrogen than control soil, but at higher elevations, nest soil had higher amounts of carbon and nitrogen than control soil. However, our sampling method may only breach the interior of ant nests in some environments. The nest soil moisture did not show any elevational patterns in either mountain range. Ants likely modulate soil properties differently across environmental gradients, but testing this effect must account for variable nest architecture and other climate and landscape differences across diverse habitats. 

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3. Post-Hurricane Michael damage assessment using ADCIRC storm surge hindcast, image classification, and LiDAR

   https://doi.org/10.34237/1008741  

   Davis, Joshua; Mitsova, Diana; Briggs, Tynon; Briggs, Tiffany (January 2019, Shore & Beach)

   null (Ed.)

   Wave forcing from hurricanes, nor’easters, and energetic storms can cause erosion of the berm and beach face resulting in increased vulnerability of dunes and coastal infrastructure. LIDAR or other surveying techniques have quantified post-event morphology, but there is a lack of in situ hydrodynamic and morphodynamic measurements during extreme storm events. Two field studies were conducted in March 2018 and April 2019 at Bethany Beach, Delaware, where in situ hydrodynamic and morphodynamic measurements were made during a nor’easter (Nor’easter Riley) and an energetic storm (Easter Eve Storm). An array of sensors to measure water velocity, water depth, water elevation and bed elevation were mounted to scaffold pipes and deployed in a single cross-shore transect. Water velocity was measured using an electro-magnetic current meter while water and bed elevations were measured using an acoustic distance meter along with an algorithm to differentiate between the water and bed during swash processes. GPS profiles of the beach face were measured during every day-time low tide throughout the storm events. Both accretion and erosion were measured at different cross-shore positions and at different times during the storm events. Morphodynamic change along the back-beach was found to be related to berm erosion, suggesting an important morphologic feedback mechanism. Accumulated wave energy and wave energy flux per unit area between Nor’easter Riley and a recent mid-Atlantic hurricane (Hurricane Dorian) were calculated and compared. Coastal Observations: JALBTCX/NCMP emergency-response airborne Lidar coastal mapping & quick response data products for 2016/2017/2018 hurricane impact assessments 

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4. Meta-analysis reveals less sensitivity of non-native animals than natives to extreme weather worldwide

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02235-1  

   Gu, Shimin; Qi, Tianyi; Rohr, Jason R.; Liu, Xuan (December 2023, Nature Ecology & Evolution)

   Extreme weather events (EWEs; for example, heatwaves, cold spells, storms, floods and droughts) and non-native species invasions are two major threats to global biodiversity and are increasing in both frequency and consequences. Here we synthesize 443 studies and apply multilevel mixed-effects metaregression analyses to compare the responses of 187 non-native and 1,852 native animal species across terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems to different types of EWE. Our results show that marine animals, regardless of whether they are non-native or native, are overall insensitive to EWEs, except for negative effects of heatwaves on native mollusks, corals and anemone. By contrast, terrestrial and freshwater non-native animals are only adversely affected by heatwaves and storms, respectively, whereas native animals negatively respond to heatwaves, cold spells and droughts in terrestrial ecosystems and are vulnerable to most EWEs except cold spells in freshwater ecosystems. On average, non-native animals displayed low abundance in terrestrial ecosystems, and decreased body condition and life history traits in freshwater ecosystems, whereas native animals displayed declines in body condition, life history traits, abundance, distribution and recovery in terrestrial ecosystems, and community structure in freshwater ecosystems. By identifying areas with high overlap between EWEs and EWE-tolerant non-native species, we also provide locations where native biodiversity might be adversely affected by their joint effects and where EWEs might facilitate the establishment and/or spread of non-native species under continuing global change. 

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5. Impact of Hurricane Sandy on salt marshes of New Jersey

   https://doi.org/DOI 10.1016/j.ecss.2016.09.006  

   Elsey-Quirk, T. (January 2016, Estuarine, coastal and shelf science)

   Hurricane Sandy, one of the largest Atlantic hurricanes on record, made landfall as an extratropical cyclone on the coast of New Jersey (29 October 2012) along a track almost perpendicular to the coast. Ten days later a northeaster caused heavy precipitation and elevated water levels along the coast. Two years of pre-storm monitoring and research in marshes of Barnegat Bay and the Delaware Estuary provided an opportunity to evaluate the impacts of Hurricane Sandy and the succeeding northeaster across the region. Peak water levels during Sandy ranged from 111 to 184 cm above the marsh surface in Barnegat Bay and 75 to 135 cm above the marsh surface in the Delaware Estuary. Despite widespread flooding and damage to coastal communities, the storm had modest and localized impacts on coastal marshes of New Jersey. Measurements made on the marsh platform illustrated localized responses to the storms including standing biomass removal, and changes in peak biomass the following summer. Marsh surface and elevation changes were variable within marshes and across the region. Localized elevation changes over the storm period were temporary and associated with subsurface processes. Over the long-term, there was no apparent impact of the 2012 storms, as elevations and regression slopes pre- and several months post-storm were not significant. Vegetation changes in the summer following the fall 2012 storms were also variable and localized within and among marshes. These results suggest that Hurricane Sandy and the succeeding northeaster did not have a widespread long-term impact on saline marshes in this region. Possible explanations are the dissipation of surge and wave energy from the barrier island in Barnegat Bay and the extreme water levels buffering the low-lying marsh surface from waves, winds, and currents, and carrying suspended loads past the short-statured marsh grasses to areas of taller vegetation and/or structure. These findings demonstrate that major storms that have substantial impacts on infrastructure and communities can have short-term localized effects on coastal marshes in the vicinity of the storm track.   

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