Aquatic islands in the sky: 100 years of research on water-filled tree holes

Water-filled tree holes are unique ecosystems that may occur high up in tree crowns and are essentially aquatic islands in the sky. Insect larvae, mesofauna, and other organisms colonize the waterbodies and feed on the accumulating detritus. Water-filled tree holes are not only important habitats for these species but have been used as model systems in ecology. Here, we review more than 100 years of research on tree-hole inhabiting organisms and show that most studies focus on selected or even single species (most of which are mosquitoes), whereas only few studies examine groups other than insects, especially in the tropics. Using a vote counting of results and a meta-analysis of community studies, we show that the effects of tree-hole size and resources on abundance and richness were investigated most frequently. Both were found to have a positive effect, but effect sizes were modulated by site-specific environmental variables such as temperature or precipitation. We also show that parameters such as the height of the tree holes above ground, tree-hole density, predation, and detritus type can be important drivers of organism abundance or richness but are less often tested. We identify several important research gaps and potential avenues for future research. Specifically, future studies should investigate the structure, functions, and temporal dynamics of tree-hole food webs and their cross-system interactions, for example, with terrestrial predators that act as a connection to their terrestrial surroundings in meta-ecosystems. Global observational or experimental tree-hole studies could contribute pivotal information on spatial variation of community structure and environmental drivers of community assembly. With a better understanding of these unique aquatic habitats in terrestrial ecosystems, natural and artificial tree holes can not only serve as model systems for addressing fundamental ecological questions but also serve as indicator systems of the impacts of environmental change on ecosystems.

Automated summary

Water-filled tree holes are unique ecosystems that have been extensively studied, with a focus on selected insect species, particularly mosquitoes. The size and resources of tree holes have a positive effect on species abundance and richness, but this effect is modulated by environmental variables. Other factors such as tree hole height, density, predation, and detritus type may also influence organism abundance and richness, but have been less studied. Future research should investigate the structure, functions, and dynamics of tree-hole food webs, as well as their interactions with terrestrial predators. Global studies on tree holes could provide valuable information on community structure and environmental drivers. Understanding these aquatic habitats in terrestrial ecosystems can serve as models for ecological research and indicators of environmental change.