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At least 1,045 records · Page 58Linked to original sources

USGS1989

Interaction assessment: Rationale and a test using plants

A non-manipulative method for deriving empirical expressions of population growth parameters from simple field data is presented. The derived expressions can be used to assess the intensity and form of density dependence and interspecies interactions, and have potential for parameterizing more mechanistic models of population dynamics and for use in applied ecology, e.g. land management or environmental risk assessment. The method is based on an assertion of invariant expected fitness across occupied microhabitats. Hence, its success depends upon the degree to which that assertion holds. The assertion, as used here, is broadly applicable. Thus, the method can be expected to yield reliable results even in nonequilibrium communities. Here, we apply the method to data on six desert plant species. Expressions generated from data in one stand, in one year, successfully predict plant cover values in other stands and years. The predicted patterns of plant species interactions are discussed in the light of current knowledge and theorics of desert succession.

Evolutionary Ecology↗

USGS2023

Unravelling the influence of landscape alteration from flow alteration on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage response in the Delaware River Basin

Quantifying the effects of streamflow alteration on assemblage response is central to understanding the role humans play in shaping aquatic environments. These changes represent a level of complexity that impedes developing quantitative links between flow and ecological response because stream hydrology is strongly intertwined with natural and anthropogenic factors. Better management outcomes require disentangling these linkages. Benthic macroinvertebrate data were combined with GIS-derived natural and anthropogenic basin characteristics to identify factors associated with changes in flow processes and assemblage characteristics. Models linking streamflow metrics and macroinvertebrate response at basin and subregion scales were developed using boosted regression tree (BRT) analysis. Basin-scale BRT analyses revealed that links between macroinvertebrate response and flow metrics were often obscured, whereas more homogeneous subregions were better able to discern relations with flow. Urban land cover was the primary factor accounting for changes in flow characteristics. Elevation, land cover, and high flow frequency were the principal variables driving changes in assemblage structure within subregions. Assemblage metrics and traits were equally useful for building response models and were affected similarly by streamflow alteration. Results indicate that response models should be developed based on upland and coastal subregions. However, when defining subregions, care should be taken to maintain data sufficiency. Developing practical flow-protection standards that support a balance between human water requirements and ecological integrity requires models that reduce uncertainty and identify management-relevant drivers. However, effective management often differs by location and models developed at the subregion level may be more applicable to management and stakeholder interests.

Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania↗

USGS2006

Ecology of an estuarine mysid shrimp in the Columbia River (USA)

The estuarine mysid, Neomysis mercedis, has colonized John Day and other run-of-the-river Reservoirs of the Columbia River, over 400 km from the estuary. In John Day Reservoir N. mercedis numbers peaked (2 m-3) in August in areas near the dam in association with lower water velocity and softer bottom than at the upstream sampling sites. Neomysis broods were primarily released in late spring and early fall. Gut content analysis showed that Neomysis feeds mostly on cladoceran zooplankton and rotifers in John Day Reservoir. Diel vertical migration was documented, with daytime distribution restricted to the bottom and preferentially to the soft-textured sediments in the deepest areas. Common pelagic fishes in the reservoir, especially juvenile American shad (Alosa sapidissima) and chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), are daytime zooplankton feeders that cannot prey on Neomysis owing to mysid diel vertical migration. Thus, Neomysis has become an important food web component in John Day Reservoir. We also collected N. mercedis further upstream in Lower Granite Reservoir, where another estuarine crustacean, Corophium salmonis, also is reported, underscoring the need to better understand the role of these estuarine invertebrates in the trophic ecology of the Columbia River. Copyright ?? 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Oregon, Washington↗

USGS2026

Birds, breakpoints, and baselines: How citizen science data can reveal ecological boundaries in Kenya’s Upper Tana watershed

Tropical watersheds are increasingly threatened by climate change, land-use conversion, and resource extraction, yet conventional biodiversity monitoring in these systems is often spatially and temporally limited. Citizen science offers a complementary approach, enabling biodiversity data collection over large areas that can supplement professional scientific surveys. We analyzed 10 years (2012–2022) of Upper Tana Watershed bird data from the Kenya Bird Map project, covering 114 pentads (9 × 9 km) within a 17,000 km 2 watershed to assess patterns of bird community composition and distribution across this watershed and to also evaluate the effects of environmental variables, seasonality, and sampling effort to help inform improvements in future citizen science projects. Citizen (or community) scientists recorded 575 species (>50% of Kenya’s total avifauna) in 74 families. Asymptotic species accumulation indicates that most probable species present in the watershed were detected. Threshold indicator taxa analysis revealed distinct ecological boundaries along elevation (∼1,500 m), precipitation (∼1,100 mm), and mean temperature (∼19°C) gradients, corresponding to a turnover from xeric savanna to mesic montane forest assemblages. Notably, bird communities showed little seasonal differentiation between wet and dry periods, consistent with dominance by resident year-round species. Data limitations including uneven survey distribution and frequency, absence of abundance metrics, and coarse representation of local environmental conditions that likely reduced our ability to detect fine-scale species–habitat relationships. Addressing these gaps through spatially balanced sampling at greater resolution, greater survey frequency in underrepresented areas, and improved capture of habitat metrics could strengthen the use of citizen-science bird data for watershed bioassessment. Our findings demonstrate that structured citizen-science initiatives can identify ecological boundaries and inform adaptive management of tropical socio-ecological systems under rapid environmental change.

Upper Tana watershed↗

USGS2010

Evaluation of nontarget effects of methoprene applied to catch basins for mosquito control

The mosquito larvicide methoprene is a juvenile growth hormone mimic that is widely used to control mosquito larvae in stormwater catch basins. This study addresses two concerns pertaining to methoprene's use for mosquito control. First, measurements of methoprene concentrations were made from water in catch basins that had been treated with methoprene and from an adjoining salt pond near where the treated catch basins emptied. The concentrations of methoprene in catch basins and at drainage outlets after application at the rates currently used for mosquito control in southern Rhode Island were 0.5 ppb and lower, orders of magnitude below what has been determined as detrimental to organisms other than mosquitoes. Second, the effects of methoprene on the communities that live in catch basins were evaluated both in simulated catch basins in the laboratory and in actual catch basins in the field. We found no evidence of declines in abundances of any taxa attributable to the application. Furthermore, we found no consistent changes in community-level parameters (e.g., taxonomic richness, and dominance-diversity relationships) related to methoprene application in either field or laboratory trials.

Journal of Vector Ecology↗

USGS2026

Tracking Pacific salmon migrations with a prototype eDNA autosampler

Pacific salmon ( Oncorhynchus spp.) are keystone species that support commercial and recreational fisheries and play a significant role in Indigenous cultures. As a keystone species, they are commonly monitored to assess population metrics and adult and juvenile migration. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has been successfully applied to salmon monitoring, but these efforts have relied on manually collected samples which can limit temporal resolution and increase field effort. Here, we evaluated a prototype autonomous eDNA sampler for fine-scale tracking of adult salmon migrations in the Lake Washington Ship Canal (LWSC) in Washington state, USA. The autosampler was deployed approximately 3 km upstream of the Ballard Locks, where returning adult salmon are counted daily, for 4 months during the adult salmon return in 2022, and it collected eDNA samples twice daily (day and night) onto self-preserving filters. We tested eDNA samples for Chinook Salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ), Sockeye Salmon ( O. nerka ) and Coho Salmon ( O. kisutch ) and results were compared with daily adult counts at the Ballard Locks. eDNA detection lagged visual counts by approximately 5 days for Sockeye and Coho salmon and approximately 23 days for Chinook Salmon. The extensive time lag in eDNA detection for Chinook Salmon was likely due to a thermal barrier, delaying their migration through the LWSC. We found no clear effect of day versus night sampling on eDNA detection probability. Two additional experiments were performed: one to assess eDNA degradation on used self-preserving filters stored in the autosampler and another to assess whether our 3 L system flush volume was sufficient to prevent residual eDNA from being carried over from one sample to the next. We found no apparent eDNA degradation but potential for sample-to-sample carry over at this flush volume. Our study highlights the need to consider strategic placement of the autosampler intake to optimize eDNA capture and testing of flush volumes to minimize sample-to-sample carryover. Autonomous eDNA sampling provided efficient, high-frequency, and fine-scale surveillance of salmon migrations and offers a scalable approach for a wide variety of monitoring applications.

Washington↗

USGS2014

Call broadcasting and automated recorders as tools for anuran surveys in a subarctic tundra landscape

Relatively little is known about population ecology of anurans in arctic and subarctic tundra regions, in part because it is difficult to survey anurans in these landscapes. Anuran survey protocols developed for temperate regions have limited applicability in arctic and subarctic tundra landscapes, which may lack roads and vehicle access, and experience variable and inclement weather during short anuran breeding seasons. To evaluate approaches to address some of the limitations of surveying anurans in tundra landscapes, we assessed the effectiveness of using breeding call broadcasts to increase detection of Boreal Chorus Frogs ( Pseudacris maculata ) and Wood Frogs ( Lithobates sylvaticus ) near Cape Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. We also evaluated how counts of anurans derived from automated audio recorders compared with those obtained simultaneously by observers. We detected on average 0.4 additional Wood Frogs per survey when we broadcasted calls ( x̄ = 0.82, SD = 1.38), an increase of > 40% compared to surveys without broadcasts ( x̄ = 1.24, SD = 1.51; Wilcoxon test; Z = 2.73, P = 0.006). In contrast, broadcasting Boreal Chorus Frog calls did not increase the number of chorus frog detections (Wilcoxon test; Z < 0.001, P > 0.90). Detections of Wood Frogs in a 100-m radius were lower via automated recorders ( x̄ = 0.60, SD = 0.87 SD) than by observers during simultaneous surveys ( x̄ = 0.96, SD = 1.27 Z = 2.07, P = 0.038), but those of Boreal Chorus Frogs were not different (x = 1.72, SD = 1.31; x̄ = 1.44, SD = 1.5; Z = 1.55, P > 0.121). Our results suggest that broadcasting calls can increase detection of Wood Frogs, and that automated recorders are useful in detecting both Wood Frogs and Boreal Chorus Fogs in arctic and subarctic tundra landscapes.

The Journal of North American Herpetology↗

USGS2016

State-and-transition models: Conceptual versus simulation perspectives, usefulness and breadth of use, and land management applications

State-and-Transition Simulation Modeling (STSM) is a quantitative analysis method that can consolidate a wide array of resource management issues under a “what-if” scenario exercise. STSM can be seen as an ensemble of models, such as climate models, ecological models, and economic models that incorporate human dimensions and management options. This chapter presents STSM as a tool to help synthesize information on social–ecological systems and to investigate some of the management issues associated with exotic annual Bromus species, which have been described elsewhere in this book. Definitions, terminology, and perspectives on conceptual and computer-simulated stochastic state-and-transition models are given first, followed by a brief review of past STSM studies relevant to the management of Bromus species. A detailed case study illustrates the usefulness of STSM for land management. As a whole, this chapter is intended to demonstrate how STSM can help both managers and scientists: (a) determine efficient resource allocation for monitoring nonnative grasses; (b) evaluate sources of uncertainty in model simulation results involving expert opinion, and their consequences for management decisions; and (c) provide insight into the consequences of predicted local climate change effects on ecological systems invaded by exotic annual Bromus species.

Book chapter↗

USGS2017

Using multiple data types and integrated population models to improve our knowledge of apex predator population dynamics

Current management of large carnivores is informed using a variety of parameters, methods, and metrics; however, these data are typically considered independently. Sharing information among data types based on the underlying ecological, and recognizing observation biases, can improve estimation of individual and global parameters. We present a general integrated population model (IPM), specifically designed for brown bears ( Ursus arctos ), using three common data types for bear ( U . spp.) populations: repeated counts, capture–mark–recapture, and litter size. We considered factors affecting ecological and observation processes for these data. We assessed the practicality of this approach on a simulated population and compared estimates from our model to values used for simulation and results from count data only. We then present a practical application of this general approach adapted to the constraints of a case study using historical data available for brown bears on Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA. The IPM provided more accurate and precise estimates than models accounting for repeated count data only, with credible intervals including the true population 94% and 5% of the time, respectively. For the Kodiak population, we estimated annual average litter size (within one year after birth) to vary between 0.45 [95% credible interval: 0.43; 0.55] and 1.59 [1.55; 1.82]. We detected a positive relationship between salmon availability and adult survival, with survival probabilities greater for females than males. Survival probabilities increased from cubs to yearlings to dependent young ≥2 years old and decreased with litter size. Linking multiple information sources based on ecological and observation mechanisms can provide more accurate and precise estimates, to better inform management. IPMs can also reduce data collection efforts by sharing information among agencies and management units. Our approach responds to an increasing need in bear populations’ management and can be readily adapted to other large carnivores.

Ecology and Evolution↗

USGS2008

Advances and limitations of individual-based models to analyze and predict dynamics of mangrove forests: A review

Mangrove ecosystems are considered vulnerable to climate change as coastal development limits the ecosystem services and adaptations important to their survival. Although they appear rather simple in terms of species diversity, their ecology is complex due to interacting geophysical forces of tides, surface runoff, river and groundwater discharge, waves, and constituents of sediment, nutrients and saltwater. These interactions limit developing a comprehensive framework for science-based sustainable management practices. A suite of models have been developed independently by various academic and government institutions worldwide to understand the dynamics of mangrove ecosystems and to provide ecological forecasting capabilities under different management scenarios and natural disturbance regimes. The models have progressed from statistical tables representing growth and yield to more sophisticated models describing various system components and processes. Among these models are three individual-based models (IBMs) (FORMAN, KIWI, and MANGRO). A comparison of models’ designs reveal differences in the details of process description, particularly, regarding neighbor competition among trees. Each model has thus its specific range of applications. Whereas FORMAN and KIWI are most suitable to address mangrove forest dynamics of stands, MANGRO focuses on landscape dynamics on larger spatial scale. A comparison of the models and a comparison of the models with empirical knowledge further reveal the general needs for further field and validation studies to advance our ecological understanding and management of mangrove wetlands.

Aquatic Botany↗

USGS2024

Environmental drivers and spatial patterns of antibiotic-resistant, enteric coliforms across a forest–urban riverscape

Antibiotic resistant bacteria are prevalent environmental contaminants in freshwaters, and antibiotic resistance genes circulate throughout the urban water cycle. The increase of antibiotic resistant pathogens threatens public health through direct and indirect exposure, and natural resource managers need information on the spatial patterns of antibiotic resistant bacteria and environmental factors associated with their distribution to improve water quality monitoring and to better assess human, animal, and environmental health risks. We collected water and epilithic biofilm samples and measured physicochemical environmental variables at 29 sites distributed longitudinally in the Green-Duwamish River basin, Washington, USA. We characterized catchment-wide patterns of gram-negative fecal indicator bacteria and hypothesized that the presence of antibiotic resistance would be associated with environmental heterogeneity, bacterial primary ecology, stream compartment, and stream type. Antibiotic resistance was determined by microbial growth on selective media supplemented with 3 different antibiotics (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, or tetracycline). Phenotypic antibiotic resistance was positively associated with disturbance, but resistance to at least 1 antibiotic was also detected in undeveloped river segments, with an 83% overall detection rate (i.e., 24 out of 29 sites, 17 in the mainstem and 7 in tributaries). The most probable number of Escherichia coli was associated with higher levels of antibiotic resistance of non- E. coli coliforms across the basin (ρ = 0.38, p < 0.01) but was not associated with antibiotic resistance of E. coli . Phenotypic resistance was highest among non- E. coli coliforms in the water column of tributaries draining moderately to extensively developed subcatchments. Generalized linear mixed-effects model results showed that 18% of the variance in presence of antibiotic resistance was explained by the fixed effects (summed CV across environmental variables, stream type, primary ecology, and stream compartment), and when a spatial random effect was included, the model explained 27% of the variance. Our study provides new evidence that environmental factors and bacterial primary ecology are important underlying factors associated with spatial patterns of antibiotic resistant enteric coliforms. We used macroecological concepts and a riverscape approach to characterize the distribution of antibiotic resistance with methods applicable to municipalities.

Freshwater Science↗

USGS2023

Ecological harm and economic damages of chemical contamination to linked aquatic-terrestrial food webs: A study-design tool for practitioners

Contamination of aquatic ecosystems can have cascading effects on terrestrial consumers by altering the availability and quality of aquatic insect prey. Comprehensive assessment of these indirect food-web effects of contaminants on natural resources and their associated services necessitates using both ecological and economic tools. In the present study we present an aquatic-terrestrial assessment tool (AT2), including ecological and economic decision trees, to aid practitioners and researchers in designing contaminant effect studies for linked aquatic-terrestrial insect-based food webs. The tool is tailored to address the development of legal claims by the US Department of the Interior's Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program, which aims to restore natural resources injured by oil spills and hazardous substance releases into the environment. Such cases require establishing, through scientific inquiry, the existence of natural resource injury as well as the determination of the monetary or in-kind project-based damages required to restore this injury. However, this tool is also useful to researchers interested in questions involving the effects of contaminants on linked aquatic-terrestrial food webs. Stylized cases exemplify how application of AT2 can help practitioners and researchers design studies when the contaminants present at a site are likely to lead to injury of terrestrial aerial insectivores through loss of aquatic insect prey and/or dietary contaminant exposure. Designing such studies with ecological endpoints and economic modeling inputs in mind will increase the relevance and cost-effectiveness of studies, which can in turn improve the outcomes of cases and studies involving the ecological effects of contaminants on food webs.

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry↗

USGS2022

Getting ahead of flash drought: From early warning to early action

Flash droughts, characterized by their unusually rapid intensification, have garnered increasing attention within the weather, climate, agriculture, and ecological communities in recent years due to their large environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Because flash droughts intensify quickly, they require different early warning capabilities and management approaches than are typically used for slower-developing “conventional” droughts. In this essay, we describe an integrated research-and-applications agenda that emphasizes the need to reconceptualize our understanding of flash drought within existing drought early warning systems by focusing on opportunities to improve monitoring and prediction. We illustrate the need for engagement among physical scientists, social scientists, operational monitoring and forecast centers, practitioners, and policy-makers to inform how they view, monitor, predict, plan for, and respond to flash drought. We discuss five related topics that together constitute the pillars of a robust flash drought early warning system, including the development of 1) a physically based identification framework, 2) comprehensive drought monitoring capabilities, and 3) improved prediction over various time scales that together 4) aid impact assessments and 5) guide decision-making and policy. We provide specific recommendations to illustrate how this fivefold approach could be used to enhance decision-making capabilities of practitioners, develop new areas of research, and provide guidance to policy-makers attempting to account for flash drought in drought preparedness and response plans.

Bulletin of American Meteorological Society (BAMS)↗

USGS2025

SiMPL wildlife magnets: A camera trap tool for detecting all creatures great and small

We created the SiMPL wildlife magnet—a baited camera trap design that allows passive monitoring of wildlife, particularly small- to medium-sized mammals. The SiMPL wildlife magnet is inexpensive and easy to construct. To evaluate its effectiveness, we conducted a two-year case study using 9 camera stations along an elevation gradient in the White Mountains of the northeastern United States. We examined how the detection probability of mammal species changed with the inclusion of a SiMPL wildlife magnet using data from pre-and post-establishment. We found a significant increase in community-level detection probability with the use of SiMPL wildlife magnets and for individual species, including red squirrels ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus ), American marten ( Martes americana ), and fisher ( Pekania pennanti ). Moreover, we were able to capture more species with SiMPL wildlife magnets than without, including flying squirrels ( Glaucomys spp.), various rodents ( Cricetidae spp.), black bears ( Ursus americanus ), moose ( Alces alces ), owls, and other birds. The SiMPL wildlife magnet is an effective, low-cost method for surveying wildlife communities, especially rodents and mesocarnivores. It addresses the limited field of view presented by other techniques for capturing small mammals on camera traps and enables efficient collection of phenology data, including vegetation and snowpack. This tool has several applications, including monitoring species' responses to management practices and global change.

Ecology and Evolution↗

USGS2011

Effects of grade control structures on fish passage, biological assemblages, and hydraulic environments in western Iowa streams: a multidisciplinary review

Land use changes and channelization of streams in the deep loess region of western Iowa have led to stream channel incision, altered flow regimes, increased sediment inputs, decreased habitat diversity and reduced lateral connectivity of streams and floodplains. Grade control structures (GCSs) are built in streams to prevent further erosion, protect infrastructure and reduce sediment loads. However, GCS can have a detrimental impact on fisheries and biological communities. We review three complementary biological and hydraulic studies on the effects of GCS in these streams. GCS with steep (≥1:4 rise : run) downstream slopes severely limited fish passage, but GCS with gentle slopes (≤1:15) allowed greater passage. Fish assemblages were dominated by species tolerant of degradation, and Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores were indicative of fair or poor biotic integrity. More than 50% of fish species had truncated distributions. After modification of GCS to reduce slopes and permit increased passage, IBI scores increased and several species were detected further upstream than before modification. Total macroinvertebrate density, biomass and taxonomic diversity and abundance of ecologically sensitive taxa were greater at GCS than in reaches immediately upstream, downstream or ≥1 km from GCS. A hydraulic study confirmed results from fish passage studies; minimum depths and maximum current velocities at GCS with gentle slopes (≤1:15) were more likely to meet minimum criteria for catfish passage than GCS with steeper slopes. Multidisciplinary approaches such as ours will increase understanding of GCS-associated factors influencing fish passage, biological assemblage structure and other ecological relationships in streams.

Iowa↗

USGS2024

Long-term storage at -20°C compromises fatty acid composition of polar bear adipose biopsies

This study aimed to gain insight into the influence of storage time and temperature on fatty acid (FA) signatures of biopsies of marine mammal adipose/blubber tissues. To examine storage effects, biopsy-type slices from larger pieces of adipose tissues from 2 polar bears Ursus maritimus were stored at either -20 or -80°C and subsequently analyzed for fatty acid composition initially (before storage), after 4 yr, and after 9 yr. At -20°C, after both 4 and 9 yr, proportions of polyunsaturated FAs significantly decreased, and proportions of monounsaturated FAs increased. Proportions of saturated FAs significantly increased only after 9 yr at -20°C in samples of 1 individual. After 4 and 9 yr of storage at -80°C, proportions of the 3 FA classes did not significantly change overall. Intra-individual differences in FA proportions increased over time in -20°C conditions, further pointing to biases stemming from inadequate storage conditions. These findings support the need to store biopsied fatty tissues (or other similarly thin and/or small adipose/blubber samples) at or below -80°C to adequately preserve FA signatures in samples over time for retrospective applications such as dietary studies.

Marine Ecology Progress Series↗

USGS2026

Ecological diffusion models are still useful in ecology

Context Connecting animal movement across scales—both among spatial scales and between individual and population level processes—is a central theme in ecology, including the sub-fields of movement and landscape ecology. However, most modeling frameworks operate at either the individual (Lagrangian) or population (Eulerian) level. Objectives We aimed to review how a partial differential equation (PDE) known as the ecological diffusion equation (EDE) offers connections among the scales of animal movement and how it can be embedded in commonly used statistical frameworks (e.g., hierarchical models) and fit to multiple types of data, such as count, presence-only, presence-absence, and telemetry data. In doing so, we also highlight emerging and promising avenues of research related to statistical EDE models. Methods We present how the EDE is derived from a simple set of first principles, can be used to represent both individual animal movement and spatiotemporal population dynamics, and can be fit to data by being applied in a hierarchical statistical framework. Finally, we review literature on recent applications and advances related to EDE models. Results In presenting the derivation of the EDE and reviewing recent advances and applications of EDE models, we established that the EDE can enable a mechanistic understanding of animal movement across scales, as well as the integration of multiple types of data. We also identified a number of topics where EDE models can be advanced to gain additional ecological insight. Conclusions Ecological diffusion is a process that emerges naturally from first principles governing animal movement and can be used to model both individual and population-level spatiotemporal dynamics. Statistical EDE models are related to other modeling frameworks, such as species distribution models, occupancy models, and step-selection analysis. The flexibility of hierarchical statistical modeling allows combining different types of data collected on movement and population dynamics, and the theoretical underpinnings of the EDE allow it to connect ecological processes occurring at fine and coarse spatial scales, as well as individual animal movement and population dynamics.

Landscape Ecology↗

USGS2021

The ecology and evolution of synchronized reproduction in long-lived plants

Populations of many long-lived plants exhibit spatially synchronized seed production that varies extensively over time, so that seed production in some years is much higher than on average, while in others, it is much lower or absent. This phenomenon termed masting or mast seeding has important consequences for plant reproductive success, ecosystem dynamics and plant–human interactions. Inspired by recent advances in the field, this special issue presents a series of articles that advance the current understanding of the ecology and evolution of masting. To provide a broad overview, we reflect on the state-of-the-art of masting research in terms of underlying proximate mechanisms, ontogeny, adaptations, phylogeny and applications to conservation. While the mechanistic drivers and fitness consequences of masting have received most attention, the evolutionary history, ontogenetic trajectory and applications to plant–human interactions are poorly understood. With increased availability of long-term datasets across broader geographical and taxonomic scales, as well as advances in molecular approaches, we expect that many mysteries of masting will be solved soon. The increased understanding of this global phenomenon will provide the foundation for predictive modelling of seed crops, which will improve our ability to manage forests and agricultural fruit and nut crops in the Anthropocene.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B:↗