Remarks and advice to the study of early arthropod succession near melting glaciers

Melting glaciers give a unique possibility to study how life colonizes newly exposed ground. Research during the last two decades has shown that arthropods play a key role in establishing the first functioning ecosystems. However, there are still gaps in our knowledge about this succession process a...

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Main Authors: Sigmund Hågvar, Barbara Valle, Mauro Gobbi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2024.2335687
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author Sigmund Hågvar
Barbara Valle
Mauro Gobbi
author_facet Sigmund Hågvar
Barbara Valle
Mauro Gobbi
author_sort Sigmund Hågvar
collection DOAJ
description Melting glaciers give a unique possibility to study how life colonizes newly exposed ground. Research during the last two decades has shown that arthropods play a key role in establishing the first functioning ecosystems. However, there are still gaps in our knowledge about this succession process and a need to identify key research directions. Good case studies are the basis for a general understanding of patterns and driving forces in primary succession. We present remarks and advice on this topic, using examples from European studies. We explore the driving forces supporting the early ecosystem, discuss the ability of certain micro- and macroarthropods to be pioneers, and highlight the autecology of pioneer species and their role in building early trophic networks. Relevant research questions are identified. Different colonization patterns are discussed, and we stress the importance of a geoecological approach to the succession. We discuss relevant methods to collect sufficient material, how to tackle the scale problem and “ecological noise,” and the importance of a good taxonomic resolution. The present “package” of updated knowledge, research questions, and advice about fieldwork practice is meant especially for ecologists who are in their early phase of investigating succession in glacier forelands.
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spelling doaj-art-9a0a6bc832b345e6873f12f71ef3a6472025-01-13T14:40:40ZengTaylor & Francis GroupArctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research1523-04301938-42462024-12-0156110.1080/15230430.2024.2335687Remarks and advice to the study of early arthropod succession near melting glaciersSigmund Hågvar0Barbara Valle1Mauro Gobbi2Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, NorwayDepartment of Life Sciences, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, ItalyClimate and Ecology Unit, Research and Museum Collections Office, MUSE-Science Museum, Trento, ItalyMelting glaciers give a unique possibility to study how life colonizes newly exposed ground. Research during the last two decades has shown that arthropods play a key role in establishing the first functioning ecosystems. However, there are still gaps in our knowledge about this succession process and a need to identify key research directions. Good case studies are the basis for a general understanding of patterns and driving forces in primary succession. We present remarks and advice on this topic, using examples from European studies. We explore the driving forces supporting the early ecosystem, discuss the ability of certain micro- and macroarthropods to be pioneers, and highlight the autecology of pioneer species and their role in building early trophic networks. Relevant research questions are identified. Different colonization patterns are discussed, and we stress the importance of a geoecological approach to the succession. We discuss relevant methods to collect sufficient material, how to tackle the scale problem and “ecological noise,” and the importance of a good taxonomic resolution. The present “package” of updated knowledge, research questions, and advice about fieldwork practice is meant especially for ecologists who are in their early phase of investigating succession in glacier forelands.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2024.2335687Arthropodscarabid beetlesCollembolamelting glaciersreviewspiders
spellingShingle Sigmund Hågvar
Barbara Valle
Mauro Gobbi
Remarks and advice to the study of early arthropod succession near melting glaciers
Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
Arthropods
carabid beetles
Collembola
melting glaciers
review
spiders
title Remarks and advice to the study of early arthropod succession near melting glaciers
title_full Remarks and advice to the study of early arthropod succession near melting glaciers
title_fullStr Remarks and advice to the study of early arthropod succession near melting glaciers
title_full_unstemmed Remarks and advice to the study of early arthropod succession near melting glaciers
title_short Remarks and advice to the study of early arthropod succession near melting glaciers
title_sort remarks and advice to the study of early arthropod succession near melting glaciers
topic Arthropods
carabid beetles
Collembola
melting glaciers
review
spiders
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2024.2335687
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AT barbaravalle remarksandadvicetothestudyofearlyarthropodsuccessionnearmeltingglaciers
AT maurogobbi remarksandadvicetothestudyofearlyarthropodsuccessionnearmeltingglaciers