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Terschanski J, Nunes MH, Aalto I, Pellikka P, Wekesa C, Maeda EE. The role of vegetation structural diversity in regulating the microclimate of human-modified tropical ecosystems. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 360:121128. [PMID: 38776661 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Vegetation regulates microclimate stability through biophysical mechanisms such as evaporation, transpiration and shading. Therefore, thermal conditions in tree-dominated habitats will frequently differ significantly from standardized free-air temperature measurements. The ability of forests to buffer temperatures nominates them as potential sanctuaries for tree species intolerant to the increasingly challenging thermal conditions established by climate change. Although many factors influencing thermal conditions beneath the vegetation cover have been ascertained, the role of three-dimensional vegetation structure in regulating the understory microclimate remains understudied. Recent advances in remote sensing technologies, such as terrestrial laser scanning, have allowed scientists to capture the three-dimensional structural heterogeneity of vegetation with a high level of accuracy. Here, we examined the relationships between vegetation structure parametrized from voxelized laser scanning point clouds, air and soil temperature ranges, as well as offsets between field-measured temperatures and gridded free-air temperature estimates in 17 sites in a tropical mountain ecosystem in Southeast Kenya. Structural diversity generally exerted a cooling effect on understory temperatures, but vertical diversity and stratification explained more variation in the understory air and soil temperature ranges (30%-40%) than canopy cover (27%), plant area index (24%) and average stand height (23%). We also observed that the combined effects of stratification, canopy cover and elevation explained more than half of the variation (53%) in understory air temperature ranges. Stratification's attenuating effect was consistent across different levels of elevation. Temperature offsets between field measurements and free-air estimates were predominantly controlled by elevation, but stratification and structural diversity were influential predictors of maximum and median temperature offsets. Moreover, stable understory temperatures were strongly associated with a large offset in daytime maximum temperatures, suggesting that structural diversity primarily contributes to thermal stability by cooling daytime maximum temperatures. Our findings shed light on the thermal influence of vertical vegetation structure and, in the context of tropical land-use change, suggest that decision-makers aiming to mitigate the thermal impacts of land conversion should prioritize management practices that preserve structural diversity by retaining uneven-aged trees and mixing plant species of varying sizes, e.g., silvopastoral, or agroforestry systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Terschanski
- Department of Geography, University of Bonn, Regina-Pacis-Weg 3, 53113, Bonn, Germany; Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 4, 00100, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Matheus Henrique Nunes
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 4, 00100, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, 20742, Maryland, United States.
| | - Iris Aalto
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 4, 00100, Helsinki, Finland; School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, United Kingdom.
| | - Petri Pellikka
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 4, 00100, Helsinki, Finland; State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, Wuhan University, PR China; Wangari Maathai Institute for Environmental and Peace Studies, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, 00625, Kangemi, Kenya.
| | - Chemuku Wekesa
- Taita Taveta Research Centre, Kenya Forestry Research Institute - KEFRI, P.O. Box 1206-70304, Wundanyi, Kenya.
| | - Eduardo Eiji Maeda
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 4, 00100, Helsinki, Finland; Finnish Meteorological Institute - FMI, Erik Palménin Aukio 1, 00101, Helsinki, Finland.
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Pashkevich MD, Marshall CAM, Freeman B, Reiss-Woolever VJ, Caliman JP, Drewer J, Heath B, Hendren MT, Saputra A, Stone J, Timperley JH, Draper W, Gbarway A, Geninyan B, Goll B, Guahn M, Gweh AN, Hadfield P, Jah MT, Jayswen S, Jones T, Kandie S, Koffa D, Korb J, Koon N, Manewah B, Medrano LM, Palmeirim AF, Pett B, Rocha R, Swope-Nyantee E, Tue J, Tuolee J, Van Dessel P, Vincent A, Weah R, Widodo R, Yennego AJ, Yonmah J, Turner EC. The socioecological benefits and consequences of oil palm cultivation in its native range: The Sustainable Oil Palm in West Africa (SOPWA) Project. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171850. [PMID: 38521255 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Agriculture is expanding rapidly across the tropics. While cultivation can boost socioeconomic conditions and food security, it also threatens native ecosystems. Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), which is grown pantropically, is the most productive vegetable oil crop worldwide. The impacts of oil palm cultivation have been studied extensively in Southeast Asia and - to a lesser extent - in Latin America but, in comparison, very little is known about its impacts in Africa: oil palm's native range, and where cultivation is expanding rapidly. In this paper, we introduce a large-scale research programme - the Sustainable Oil Palm in West Africa (SOPWA) Project - that is evaluating the relative ecological impacts of oil palm cultivation under traditional (i.e., by local people) and industrial (i.e., by a large-scale corporation) management in Liberia. Our paper is twofold in focus. First, we use systematic mapping to appraise the literature on oil palm research in an African context, assessing the geographic and disciplinary focus of existing research. We found 757 publications occurring in 36 African countries. Studies tended to focus on the impacts of palm oil consumption on human health and wellbeing. We found no research that has evaluated the whole-ecosystem (i.e., multiple taxa and ecosystem functions) impacts of oil palm cultivation in Africa, a knowledge gap which the SOPWA Project directly addresses. Second, we describe the SOPWA Project's study design and-using canopy cover, ground vegetation cover, and soil temperature data as a case study-demonstrate its utility for assessing differences between areas of rainforest and oil palm agriculture. We outline the socioecological data collected by the SOPWA Project to date and describe the potential for future research, to encourage new collaborations and additional similar projects of its kind in West Africa. Increased research in Africa is needed urgently to understand the combined ecological and sociocultural impacts of oil palm and other agriculture in this unique region. This will help to ensure long-term sustainability of the oil palm industry-and, indeed, all tropical agricultural activity-in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Pashkevich
- Insect Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom; Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Cicely A M Marshall
- Forest Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - Benedictus Freeman
- William R. Tolbert, Jr. College of Agriculture and Forestry, Fendall Campus, University of Liberia, Montserrado County, Liberia
| | - Valentine J Reiss-Woolever
- Insect Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-Pierre Caliman
- Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology Research Institute (SMARTRI), Jalan Teuku Umar 19, Pekanbaru, 28112, Riau, Indonesia
| | - Julia Drewer
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, United Kingdom
| | - Becky Heath
- Insect Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew T Hendren
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Ari Saputra
- Golden Veroleum Liberia, 17(th) St, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Jake Stone
- Insect Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan H Timperley
- Insect Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - William Draper
- William R. Tolbert, Jr. College of Agriculture and Forestry, Fendall Campus, University of Liberia, Montserrado County, Liberia
| | - Abednego Gbarway
- Forestry Development Authority of the Government of Liberia, Whein Town, Mount Barclay, Liberia
| | - Bility Geninyan
- Forestry Development Authority of the Government of Liberia, Whein Town, Mount Barclay, Liberia
| | - Blamah Goll
- Forestry Development Authority of the Government of Liberia, Whein Town, Mount Barclay, Liberia
| | - Marshall Guahn
- William R. Tolbert, Jr. College of Agriculture and Forestry, Fendall Campus, University of Liberia, Montserrado County, Liberia
| | - Andrew N Gweh
- William R. Tolbert, Jr. College of Agriculture and Forestry, Fendall Campus, University of Liberia, Montserrado County, Liberia
| | - Peter Hadfield
- Ecology Solutions Ltd, Unit 4 Cokenach Estate, Royston, SG8 8DL, United Kingdom
| | - Morris T Jah
- Forestry Development Authority of the Government of Liberia, Whein Town, Mount Barclay, Liberia
| | | | - Tiecanna Jones
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies and Climate Change, University of Liberia, Capitol Hill, Monrovia, Liberia
| | | | | | - Judith Korb
- Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg D-79104, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Ana F Palmeirim
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Brogan Pett
- SpiDiverse, Biodiversity Inventory for Conservation (BINCO), 3380 Walmersumstraat, Glabbeek, Belgium; Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, UK
| | - Ricardo Rocha
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Abraham Vincent
- Forestry Development Authority of the Government of Liberia, Whein Town, Mount Barclay, Liberia
| | - Romeo Weah
- Forestry Development Authority of the Government of Liberia, Whein Town, Mount Barclay, Liberia
| | - Rudy Widodo
- Golden Veroleum Liberia, 17(th) St, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Alfred J Yennego
- William R. Tolbert, Jr. College of Agriculture and Forestry, Fendall Campus, University of Liberia, Montserrado County, Liberia
| | - Jerry Yonmah
- Forestry Development Authority of the Government of Liberia, Whein Town, Mount Barclay, Liberia
| | - Edgar C Turner
- Insect Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
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von Groß V, Sibhatu KT, Knohl A, Qaim M, Veldkamp E, Hölscher D, Zemp DC, Corre MD, Grass I, Fiedler S, Stiegler C, Irawan B, Sundawati L, Husmann K, Paul C. Transformation scenarios towards multifunctional landscapes: A multi-criteria land-use allocation model applied to Jambi Province, Indonesia. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 356:120710. [PMID: 38547822 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
In tropical regions, shifting from forests and traditional agroforestry to intensive plantations generates conflicts between human welfare (farmers' demands and societal needs) and environmental protection. Achieving sustainability in this transformation will inevitably involve trade-offs between multiple ecological and socioeconomic functions. To address these trade-offs, our study used a new methodological approach allowing the identification of transformation scenarios, including theoretical landscape compositions that satisfy multiple ecological functions (i.e., structural complexity, microclimatic conditions, organic carbon in plant biomass, soil organic carbon and nutrient leaching losses), and farmers needs (i.e., labor and input requirements, total income to land, and return to land and labor) while accounting for the uncertain provision of these functions and having an actual potential for adoption by farmers. We combined a robust, multi-objective optimization approach with an iterative search algorithm allowing the identification of ecological and socioeconomic functions that best explain current land-use decisions. The model then optimized the theoretical land-use composition that satisfied multiple ecological and socioeconomic functions. Between these ends, we simulated transformation scenarios reflecting the transition from current land-use composition towards a normative multifunctional optimum. These transformation scenarios involve increasing the number of optimized socioeconomic or ecological functions, leading to higher functional richness (i.e., number of functions). We applied this method to smallholder farms in the Jambi Province, Indonesia, where traditional rubber agroforestry, rubber plantations, and oil palm plantations are the main land-use systems. Given the currently practiced land-use systems, our study revealed short-term returns to land as the principal factor in explaining current land-use decisions. Fostering an alternative composition that satisfies additional socioeconomic functions would require minor changes ("low-hanging fruits"). However, satisfying even a single ecological indicator (e.g., reduction of nutrient leaching losses) would demand substantial changes in the current land-use composition ("moonshot"). This would inevitably lead to a profit decline, underscoring the need for incentives if the societal goal is to establish multifunctional agricultural landscapes. With many oil palm plantations nearing the end of their production cycles in the Jambi province, there is a unique window of opportunity to transform agricultural landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker von Groß
- Forest Economics and Sustainable Land-use Planning, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany.
| | - Kibrom T Sibhatu
- International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Alexander Knohl
- Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable land-use, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany; Bioclimatology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Matin Qaim
- Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Bonn, 53113, Germany
| | - Edzo Veldkamp
- Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Dirk Hölscher
- Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable land-use, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany; Tropical Silviculture and Forest Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Delphine Clara Zemp
- Conservation Biology Lab, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, 2000, Switzerland
| | - Marife D Corre
- Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Ingo Grass
- Department of Ecology of Tropical Agricultural Systems, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70599, Germany
| | - Sebastian Fiedler
- Ecosystem Modelling, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | | | - Bambang Irawan
- Forestry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jambi, Jambi, 36122, Indonesia; Center of Excellence for Land-Use Transformation Systems, University of Jambi, Jambi, 36122, Indonesia
| | - Leti Sundawati
- Department of Forest Management, IPB University, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia
| | - Kai Husmann
- Forest Economics and Sustainable Land-use Planning, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Carola Paul
- Forest Economics and Sustainable Land-use Planning, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany; Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable land-use, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
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4
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Dahlsjö CA, Atkins T, Malhi Y. Large invertebrate decomposers contribute to faster leaf litter decomposition in Fraxinus excelsior-dominated habitats: Implications of ash dieback. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27228. [PMID: 38495134 PMCID: PMC10943353 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Leaf litter decomposition is a major component of nutrient cycling which depends on the quality and quantity of the leaf material. Ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior, decay time ∼ 0.4 years) are declining throughout Europe due to a fungal pathogen (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), which is likely to alter biochemical cycling across the continent. The ecological impact of losing species with fast decomposing leaves is not well quantified. In this study we examine how decomposition of three leaf species with varying decomposition rates including ash, sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus, decay time ∼ 1.4 years), and beech (Fagus sylvatica, decay time ∼ 6.8 years) differ in habitats with and without ash as the dominant overstorey species. Ten plots (40 m × 40 m) were set up in five locations representing ash dominated and non-ash dominated habitats. In each plot mesh bags (30 cm × 30 cm, 0.5 mm aperture) with a single leaf species (5 g) were used to include (large holes added) and exclude macrofauna invertebrates (with a focus on decomposer organisms such as earthworms, millipedes, and woodlice). The mesh bags were installed in October 2020 and retrieved without replacement at exponential intervals after 6, 12, 24 and 48 weeks. Total leaf mass loss was highest in the ash dominated habitat (ash dominated: 88.5%, non-ash dominated: 66.5%) where macrofauna were the main contributor (macrofauna: 96%, microorganisms/mesofauna: 4%). The difference between macrofauna vs microorganisms and mesofauna was less pronounced in the non-ash dominated habitat (macrofauna: 68%, microorganisms/mesofauna: 31%). Our results suggest that if ash dominated habitats are replaced by species such as sycamore, beech, and oak, the role of macrofauna decomposers will be reduced and leaf litter decomposition rates will decrease by 25%. These results provide important insights for future ash dieback management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia A.L. Dahlsjö
- School of Geography and the Environment, South Parks Road, OX1 3QY, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Thomas Atkins
- School of Geography and the Environment, South Parks Road, OX1 3QY, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Yadvinder Malhi
- School of Geography and the Environment, South Parks Road, OX1 3QY, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, University of Oxford, UK
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Bartholomew DC, Hayward R, Burslem DFRP, Bittencourt PRL, Chapman D, Bin Suis MAF, Nilus R, O'Brien MJ, Reynolds G, Rowland L, Banin LF, Dent D. Bornean tropical forests recovering from logging at risk of regeneration failure. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17209. [PMID: 38469989 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Active restoration through silvicultural treatments (enrichment planting, cutting climbers and liberation thinning) is considered an important intervention in logged forests. However, its ability to enhance regeneration is key for long-term recovery of logged forests, which remains poorly understood, particularly for the production and survival of seedlings in subsequent generations. To understand the long-term impacts of logging and restoration we tracked the diversity, survival and traits of seedlings that germinated immediately after a mast fruiting in North Borneo in unlogged and logged forests 30-35 years after logging. We monitored 5119 seedlings from germination for ~1.5 years across a mixed landscape of unlogged forests (ULs), naturally regenerating logged forests (NR) and actively restored logged forests via rehabilitative silvicultural treatments (AR), 15-27 years after restoration. We measured 14 leaf, root and biomass allocation traits on 399 seedlings from 15 species. Soon after fruiting, UL and AR forests had higher seedling densities than NR forest, but survival was the lowest in AR forests in the first 6 months. Community composition differed among forest types; AR and NR forests had lower species richness and lower evenness than UL forests by 5-6 months post-mast but did not differ between them. Differences in community composition altered community-weighted mean trait values across forest types, with higher root biomass allocation in NR relative to UL forest. Traits influenced mortality ~3 months post-mast, with more acquisitive traits and relative aboveground investment favoured in AR forests relative to UL forests. Our findings of reduced seedling survival and diversity suggest long time lags in post-logging recruitment, particularly for some taxa. Active restoration of logged forests recovers initial seedling production, but elevated mortality in AR forests lowers the efficacy of active restoration to enhance recruitment or diversity of seedling communities. This suggests current active restoration practices may fail to overcome barriers to regeneration in logged forests, which may drive long-term changes in future forest plant communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Bartholomew
- School of Geography, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Richmond, UK
| | - Robin Hayward
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | | | - Daniel Chapman
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | | | - Reuben Nilus
- Forest Research Centre Sepilok, Sandakan, Malaysia
| | - Michael J O'Brien
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Almería, Spain
| | - Glen Reynolds
- SE Asia Rainforest Research Partnership, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Lucy Rowland
- School of Geography, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Daisy Dent
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
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Davidson G, Speldewinde P, Manin BO, Cook A, Weinstein P, Chua TH. Forest Restoration and the Zoonotic Vector Anopheles balabacensis in Sabah, Malaysia. ECOHEALTH 2024; 21:21-37. [PMID: 38411846 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-024-01675-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Anthropogenic changes to forest cover have been linked to an increase in zoonotic diseases. In many areas, natural forests are being replaced with monoculture plantations, such as oil palm, which reduce biodiversity and create a mosaic of landscapes with increased forest edge habitat and an altered micro-climate. These altered conditions may be facilitating the spread of the zoonotic malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi in Sabah, on the island of Borneo, through changes to mosquito vector habitat. We conducted a study on mosquito abundance and diversity in four different land uses comprising restored native forest, degraded native forest, an oil palm estate and a eucalyptus plantation, these land uses varying in their vegetation types and structure. The main mosquito vector, Anopheles balabacensis, has adapted its habitat preference from closed canopy rainforest to more open logged forest and plantations. The eucalyptus plantations (Eucalyptus pellita) assessed in this study contained significantly higher abundance of many mosquito species compared with the other land uses, whereas the restored dipterocarp forest had a low abundance of all mosquitos, in particular, An. balabacensis. No P. knowlesi was detected by PCR assay in any of the vectors collected during the study; however, P. inui, P. fieldi and P. vivax were detected in An. balabacensis. These findings indicate that restoring degraded natural forests with native species to closed canopy conditions reduces abundance of this zoonotic malarial mosquito vector and therefore should be incorporated into future restoration research and potentially contribute to the control strategies against simian malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gael Davidson
- School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Albany, Australia
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Peter Speldewinde
- School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Albany, Australia
| | - Benny Obrain Manin
- Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre (BMHRC), Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Angus Cook
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Philip Weinstein
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Tock H Chua
- Edulife Berhad, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
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Abstract
Tree canopies are one of the most recognizable features of forests, providing shelter from external influences to a myriad of species that live within and below the tree foliage. Canopy disturbances are now increasing across European forests, and climate-change-induced drought is a key driver, together with pests and pathogens, storms and fire. These disturbances are opening the canopy and exposing below-canopy biodiversity and functioning to novel light regimes-spatial and temporal characteristics of light distribution at forest floors not found previously. The majority of forest biodiversity occurs in the shade within and below tree canopies, and numerous ecosystem processes are regulated at the forest floor. Altered light regimes, in interaction with other global change drivers, can thus strongly impact forest biodiversity and functioning. As recent European droughts are unprecedented in the past two millennia, and this has initiated probably the largest pulse of forest disturbances in almost two centuries, we urgently need to quantify, understand and predict the impacts of novel light regimes on below-canopy forest biodiversity and functions. This will be a crucial element in delivering much-needed information for policymakers and managers to adapt European forests to future no-analogue conditions.
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Rojas-Castillo OA, Kepfer Rojas S, Juen L, Montag LFDA, Carvalho FG, Mendes TP, Chua KWJ, Wilkinson CL, Amal MNA, Fahmi-Ahmad M, Jacobsen D. Meta-analysis contrasting freshwater biodiversity in forests and oil palm plantations with and without riparian buffers. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14172. [PMID: 37650444 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
The expansion of oil palm plantations has led to land-use change and deforestation in the tropics, which has affected biodiversity. Although the impacts of the crop on terrestrial biodiversity have been extensively reviewed, its effects on freshwater biodiversity remain relatively unexplored. We reviewed the research assessing the impacts of forest-to-oil palm conversion on freshwater biota and the mitigating effect of riparian buffers on these impacts. We searched for studies comparing taxa richness, species abundance, and community composition of macroinvertebrates, amphibians, and fish in streams in forests (primary and disturbed) and oil palm plantations with and without riparian buffers. Then, we conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the overall effect of the land-use change on the 3 taxonomic groups. Twenty-nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. On average, plantations lacking buffers hosted 44% and 19% fewer stream taxa than primary and disturbed forests, respectively. Stream taxa on plantations with buffers were 24% lower than in primary forest and did not differ significantly from disturbed forest. In contrast, stream community composition differed between forests and plantations regardless of the presence of riparian buffers. These differences were attributed to agrochemical use and altered environmental conditions in the plantations, including temperature changes, worsened water conditions, microhabitat loss, and food and shelter depletion. On aggregate, abundance did not differ significantly among land uses because increases in generalist species offset the population decline of vulnerable forest specialists in the plantation. Our results reveal significant impacts of forest-to-oil palm conversion on freshwater biota, particularly taxa richness and composition (but not aggregate abundance). Although preserving riparian buffers in the plantations can mitigate the loss of various aquatic species, it cannot conserve primary forest communities. Therefore, safeguarding primary forests from the oil palm expansion is crucial, and further research is needed to address riparian buffers as a promising mitigation strategy in agricultural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Alberto Rojas-Castillo
- Freshwater Biology Section, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sebastian Kepfer Rojas
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Leandro Juen
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | | | | | - Thiago Pereira Mendes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agricultura e Ambiente, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais e Biodiversidade, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Kenny Wei Jie Chua
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Clare L Wilkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | | | - Muhammad Fahmi-Ahmad
- Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Dean Jacobsen
- Freshwater Biology Section, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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9
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Ismaeel A, Tai APK, Santos EG, Maraia H, Aalto I, Altman J, Doležal J, Lembrechts JJ, Camargo JL, Aalto J, Sam K, Avelino do Nascimento LC, Kopecký M, Svátek M, Nunes MH, Matula R, Plichta R, Abera T, Maeda EE. Patterns of tropical forest understory temperatures. Nat Commun 2024; 15:549. [PMID: 38263406 PMCID: PMC10805846 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44734-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Temperature is a fundamental driver of species distribution and ecosystem functioning. Yet, our knowledge of the microclimatic conditions experienced by organisms inside tropical forests remains limited. This is because ecological studies often rely on coarse-gridded temperature estimates representing the conditions at 2 m height in an open-air environment (i.e., macroclimate). In this study, we present a high-resolution pantropical estimate of near-ground (15 cm above the surface) temperatures inside forests. We quantify diurnal and seasonal variability, thus revealing both spatial and temporal microclimate patterns. We find that on average, understory near-ground temperatures are 1.6 °C cooler than the open-air temperatures. The diurnal temperature range is on average 1.7 °C lower inside the forests, in comparison to open-air conditions. More importantly, we demonstrate a substantial spatial variability in the microclimate characteristics of tropical forests. This variability is regulated by a combination of large-scale climate conditions, vegetation structure and topography, and hence could not be captured by existing macroclimate grids. Our results thus contribute to quantifying the actual thermal ranges experienced by organisms inside tropical forests and provide new insights into how these limits may be affected by climate change and ecosystem disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ismaeel
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Amos P K Tai
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Erone Ghizoni Santos
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heveakore Maraia
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Branisovska 31, CZ 370 05, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, CZ 370 05, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Iris Aalto
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
- School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XP, UK
| | - Jan Altman
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1, CZ-252 43, Průhonice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16521, Praha 6-Suchdol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Doležal
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, CZ 370 05, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1, CZ-252 43, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Jonas J Lembrechts
- Research Group Plants and Ecosystems, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - José Luís Camargo
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragment Project (BDFFP) - National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), CP 478, 69067-375, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Juha Aalto
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 503, FI-00101, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kateřina Sam
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Branisovska 31, CZ 370 05, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, CZ 370 05, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | | | - Martin Kopecký
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1, CZ-252 43, Průhonice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16521, Praha 6-Suchdol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Svátek
- Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Matheus Henrique Nunes
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Radim Matula
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16521, Praha 6-Suchdol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Plichta
- Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Temesgen Abera
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Environmental Informatics, Faculty of Geography, Philipps Universität-Marburg, Deutschhausstrasse, 12, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Eduardo Eiji Maeda
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 503, FI-00101, Helsinki, Finland.
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10
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Liu Y, Jin X, Huang S, Liu Y, Kong Z, Wu L, Ge G. Co-Occurrence Patterns of Soil Fungal and Bacterial Communities in Subtropical Forest-Transforming Areas. Curr Microbiol 2024; 81:64. [PMID: 38225342 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03608-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Soil microbial communities are engineers of important biogeochemical processes and play a critical role in regulating the functions and stability of forest ecosystem. However, few studies have assessed microbial interactions during forest conversion, which is essential to the understanding of the structure and function of soil microbiome. Herein, we investigated the co-occurrence network pattern and putative functions of fungal and bacterial communities in forest-transforming areas (five sites that cover the typical forests) using high-throughput sequencing of the ITS genes and 16S rRNA. Our study showed that the bacterial network had higher average connectivity and more links than fungal network, which might indicate that the bacterial community had more complex internal interactions compared with fungal one. Alphaproteobacteria_unclassfied, Telmatobacter, 0319-6A21 and Latescibacteria_unclassfied were the keystone taxa in bacterial network. For the fungal community network, the keystone taxon was Ceratobasidium. A structural equation model indicated that the available potassium and total organic carbon were important soil environmental factors, which affected all microbial modules, including bacterial and fungi. Total nitrogen had significant effects on the bacterial module that contains a relatively rich group of nitrogen cycling functions, and pH influenced the bacterial module which have higher potential functions of carbon cycling. And, more fungal modules were directly affected by forest structure (S Tree) compared with bacterial ones. This study provides new insights into our understanding of the feedback of underground creatures to forest conversion and highlights the importance of microbial modules in the nutrient cycling process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Liu
- School of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Xin Jin
- School of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Shihao Huang
- School of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Yizhen Liu
- School of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Zhaoyu Kong
- School of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Lan Wu
- School of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
| | - Gang Ge
- School of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
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11
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Souza DC, Souza LR, Couto EV, Caxambú MG, Peron AP. Effect of slope on the forest structure of the Atlantic Forest domain in southern Brazil. BRAZ J BIOL 2024; 84:e258048. [DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.258048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract The mosaic landscape composition of forest fragments located on high slopes, shallow soils hinder ecological interactions and the survival of plant species. This study aimed to show, in an environment with these characteristics, the effect of the environmental gradient relating the soil, slope, and vegetation of a fragment of the Montane Seasonal Semideciduous Forest. The forest structure was sampled in 12 continuous rectangular plots, with 30 X 20m, totaling 0.72ha. Soil samples were taken by drilling every 20m along the hydrographic divisor and opening of three trenches used as soil sampling sites for in situ determination of soil color, horizon, and nutrients. Horizons were classified as O/A/Cr in the altered rock with a marked presence of gravels, and the soil was classified as Litholic Neosol. The area has a steep slope, from 18.05% to 36.99%. Linear regression analysis indicated an opposite pattern for species richness in relation to slope and a positive relationship between slope and the number of standing dead individuals. Species richness was also positively related to the distance from forest edges. The evaluation evidenced the strong influence of slope and human activities in forest remnant as common to several high-altitude remnants, and small conservation actions can guarantee their maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. C. Souza
- Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Brasil
| | - L. R. Souza
- Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Brasil
| | - E. V. Couto
- Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Brasil
| | | | - A. P. Peron
- Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Brasil; Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Brasil
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12
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Gonzalez VH, Manweiler R, Smith AR, Oyen K, Cardona D, Wcislo WT. Low heat tolerance and high desiccation resistance in nocturnal bees and the implications for nocturnal pollination under climate change. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22320. [PMID: 38102400 PMCID: PMC10724170 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49815-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Predicting insect responses to climate change is essential for preserving ecosystem services and biodiversity. Due to high daytime temperatures and low humidity levels, nocturnal insects are expected to have lower heat and desiccation tolerance compared to diurnal species. We estimated the lower (CTMin) and upper (CTMax) thermal limits of Megalopta, a group of neotropical, forest-dwelling bees. We calculated warming tolerance (WT) as a metric to assess vulnerability to global warming and measured survival rates during simulated heatwaves and desiccation stress events. We also assessed the impact of body size and reproductive status (ovary area) on bees' thermal limits. Megalopta displayed lower CTMin, CTMax, and WTs than diurnal bees (stingless bees, orchid bees, and carpenter bees), but exhibited similar mortality during simulated heatwave and higher desiccation tolerance. CTMin increased with increasing body size across all bees but decreased with increasing body size and ovary area in Megalopta, suggesting a reproductive cost or differences in thermal environments. CTMax did not increase with increasing body size or ovary area. These results indicate a greater sensitivity of Megalopta to temperature than humidity and reinforce the idea that nocturnal insects are thermally constrained, which might threaten pollination services in nocturnal contexts during global warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor H Gonzalez
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA.
| | - Rachel Manweiler
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
| | - Adam R Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Kennan Oyen
- Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - David Cardona
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama, Republic of Panama
| | - William T Wcislo
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama, Republic of Panama
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13
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Fabolude GO, David OA, Akanmu AO, Nakalembe C, Komolafe RJ, Akomolafe GF. Impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on forest vegetation cover, health, and diversity within Doma forest reserve, Nigeria. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1270. [PMID: 37792066 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11802-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Forest encroachment is a common practice that has led to the destruction of canopy trees in the Guinea savanna part of Nigeria. This study investigated the influence of human activities on vegetation health and species composition of Doma forest reserve located in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Landsat satellite data from 1986 to 2021 were utilized to assess forest cover change, land surface temperature (LST), and vegetation indices (VIs). The results show that dense woodland vegetation in the Doma forest reserve depreciated between 1991 and 1999 by 17.82% before increasing by 7.37% between 1999 and 2021. Similarly, vegetation greenness (measured by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Green Chlorophyll Vegetation Index (GCVI), and leaf area index (LAI)) of the forest mirrored the changes observed in the forest cover. The LST extracted for each year was correlated with all VIs, and an inverse relationship was observed in all relationships analyzed. The decline in greenness between 1999 and 2011 was attributed to increasing lumbering, bush burning, and sand dredging activities. Results also showed the current diversity state (H1 = 0.23), evenness (0.63), and the volume of tree (1.31 m3) species in the heart of the Doma forest reserve. However, a high (25%) native tree species in the Fabaceae family correlated with a dramatic increase in the VIs and an increase in dense woodland cover indicating the importance of Fabaceae in forest ecosystem regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gift O Fabolude
- Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
| | - Oyinade A David
- Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Oye, Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Akinlolu O Akanmu
- Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Catherine Nakalembe
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, 2181 Lefrak Hall, College Park, MD, 20740, USA
| | - Ronke J Komolafe
- Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Oye, Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Gbenga F Akomolafe
- Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Federal University of Lafia, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
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14
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Saager ES, Iwamura T, Jucker T, Murray KA. Deforestation for oil palm increases microclimate suitability for the development of the disease vector Aedes albopictus. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9514. [PMID: 37308504 PMCID: PMC10260943 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35452-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
A major trade-off of land-use change is the potential for increased risk of infectious diseases, a.o. through impacting disease vector life-cycles. Evaluating the public health implications of land-use conversions requires spatially detailed modelling linking land-use to vector ecology. Here, we estimate the impact of deforestation for oil palm cultivation on the number of life-cycle completions of Aedes albopictus via its impact on local microclimates. We apply a recently developed mechanistic phenology model to a fine-scaled (50-m resolution) microclimate dataset that includes daily temperature, rainfall and evaporation. Results of this combined model indicate that the conversion from lowland rainforest to plantations increases suitability for A. albopictus development by 10.8%, moderated to 4.7% with oil palm growth to maturity. Deforestation followed by typical plantation planting-maturation-clearance-replanting cycles is predicted to create pulses of high development suitability. Our results highlight the need to explore sustainable land-use scenarios that resolve conflicts between agricultural and human health objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- E S Saager
- Centre for Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - T Iwamura
- Department F.-A. Forel for Aquatic and Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - T Jucker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - K A Murray
- MRC Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, London, UK
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15
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Ponti S, Guglielmin M. How can the floor area types of a university campus mitigate the increase of urban air temperature? LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s11355-023-00553-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
AbstractThe urban heat island (UHI) under the current climate change scenario could have a major impact on the lives of urban residents. The presence of green areas undoubtedly mitigates the UHI, and modifies some selected anthropized surfaces with particular characteristics (e.g., albedo). Here, we use a university campus as a good template of the urban context to analyze the mitigation effect of different surface types on the air temperature warming. This study provides some of the best practices for the future management of land surface types in urban areas. Through the development of a simple air temperature mitigation index (ATMI) that uses the temperature, water content (WC), and albedo of the investigated surface types, we find the green and anthropized surfaces according to their areal distribution and mitigation effects. The findings address the importance of poorly managed green areas (few annual mowings) and anthropized materials that permit a good balance between water retention capacity and high albedo. In the case of impervious surfaces, priority should be given to light-colored materials with reduced pavement units (blocks or slabs) to reduce the UHI.
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16
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Pfeifer M, Sallu SM, Marshall AR, Rushton S, Moore E, Shirima DD, Smit J, Kioko E, Barnes L, Waite C, Raes L, Braunholtz L, Olivier PI, Ishengoma E, Bowers S, Guerreiro-Milheiras S. A systems approach framework for evaluating tree restoration interventions for social and ecological outcomes in rural tropical landscapes. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20210111. [PMID: 36373913 PMCID: PMC9661959 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The science guiding design and evaluation of restoration interventions in tropical landscapes is dominated by ecological processes and outcomes and lacks indicators and methods that integrate human wellbeing into the restoration process. We apply a new systems approach framework for tree restoration in forest-agricultural landscapes to show how this shortcoming can be addressed. Demonstrating 'proof of concept', we tested statistical models underlying the framework pathways with data collected from a case study in Tanzania. Local community perceptions of nature's values were not affected by levels of self-reported wildlife-induced crop damage. But mapped predictions from the systems approach under a tree restoration scenario suggested differential outcomes for biodiversity indicators and altered spatial patterns of crop damage risk, expected to jeopardize human wellbeing. The predictions map anticipated trade-offs in costs and benefits of restoration scenarios, which we have started to explore with stakeholders to identify restoration opportunities that consider local knowledge, value systems and human wellbeing. We suggest that the framework be applied to other landscapes to identify commonalities and differences in forest landscape restoration outcomes under varying governance and land use systems. This should form a foundation for evidence-based implementation of the global drive for forest landscape restoration, at local scales. This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding forest landscape restoration: reinforcing scientific foundations for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Pfeifer
- Modelling, Evidence and Policy RG, SNES, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Susannah M. Sallu
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Andrew R. Marshall
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York YO10 5NG, UK
- Forest Research Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, QLD 4556, Australia
| | - Stephen Rushton
- Modelling, Evidence and Policy RG, SNES, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Eleanor Moore
- Modelling, Evidence and Policy RG, SNES, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Deo D. Shirima
- Department of Ecosystem and Conservation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, PO Box 3010, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Josephine Smit
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
- Southern Tanzania Elephant Program, PO Box 2494, Iringa, Tanzania
| | - Esther Kioko
- Entomology, National Museums Kenya, PO Box 40658-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lauren Barnes
- Modelling, Evidence and Policy RG, SNES, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Catherine Waite
- Forest Research Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, QLD 4556, Australia
| | - Leander Raes
- IUCN Centre for Economy and Finance, Washington DC, USA
| | - Laura Braunholtz
- Modelling, Evidence and Policy RG, SNES, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Pieter I. Olivier
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
- M.A.P Scientific Services, Pretoria 0145, South Africa
| | - Evodius Ishengoma
- Department of Ecosystem and Conservation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, PO Box 3010, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Sam Bowers
- College of Science and Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK
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17
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Banin LF, Raine EH, Rowland LM, Chazdon RL, Smith SW, Rahman NEB, Butler A, Philipson C, Applegate GG, Axelsson EP, Budiharta S, Chua SC, Cutler MEJ, Elliott S, Gemita E, Godoong E, Graham LLB, Hayward RM, Hector A, Ilstedt U, Jensen J, Kasinathan S, Kettle CJ, Lussetti D, Manohan B, Maycock C, Ngo KM, O'Brien MJ, Osuri AM, Reynolds G, Sauwai Y, Scheu S, Silalahi M, Slade EM, Swinfield T, Wardle DA, Wheeler C, Yeong KL, Burslem DFRP. The road to recovery: a synthesis of outcomes from ecosystem restoration in tropical and sub-tropical Asian forests. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20210090. [PMID: 36373930 PMCID: PMC9661948 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Current policy is driving renewed impetus to restore forests to return ecological function, protect species, sequester carbon and secure livelihoods. Here we assess the contribution of tree planting to ecosystem restoration in tropical and sub-tropical Asia; we synthesize evidence on mortality and growth of planted trees at 176 sites and assess structural and biodiversity recovery of co-located actively restored and naturally regenerating forest plots. Mean mortality of planted trees was 18% 1 year after planting, increasing to 44% after 5 years. Mortality varied strongly by site and was typically ca 20% higher in open areas than degraded forest, with height at planting positively affecting survival. Size-standardized growth rates were negatively related to species-level wood density in degraded forest and plantations enrichment settings. Based on community-level data from 11 landscapes, active restoration resulted in faster accumulation of tree basal area and structural properties were closer to old-growth reference sites, relative to natural regeneration, but tree species richness did not differ. High variability in outcomes across sites indicates that planting for restoration is potentially rewarding but risky and context-dependent. Restoration projects must prepare for and manage commonly occurring challenges and align with efforts to protect and reconnect remaining forest areas. The abstract of this article is available in Bahasa Indonesia in the electronic supplementary material. This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding forest landscape restoration: reinforcing scientific foundations for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay F. Banin
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, UK
| | - Elizabeth H. Raine
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, UK
| | - Lucy M. Rowland
- Department of Geography, University of Exeter, Laver Building, North Park Road, Exeter EX4 4QE, UK
| | - Robin L. Chazdon
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre, Forest Research Institute, University of Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, 4556, Queensland, Australia
| | - Stuart W. Smith
- Asian School of Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
- Ecology, Conservation and Zoonosis Research and Enterprise Group, School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, UK
| | - Nur Estya Binte Rahman
- Asian School of Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Adam Butler
- Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, JCMB, The King's Buildings, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK
| | - Christopher Philipson
- Permian Global Research Limited, Savoy Hill House, 7–10 Savoy Hill, London WC2R 0BU, UK
| | - Grahame G. Applegate
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre, Forest Research Institute, University of Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, 4556, Queensland, Australia
| | - E. Petter Axelsson
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd, Umeå 907 36, Sweden
| | - Sugeng Budiharta
- Research Centre for Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN), Jl. Raya Jakarta-Bogor KM. 46, Cibinong, Bogor, West Java 16911, Indonesia
| | - Siew Chin Chua
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Block S3 #05-01 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | | | - Stephen Elliott
- Environmental Science Research Centre, Science Faculty and Forest Restoration Research Unit, Biology Department, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Elva Gemita
- PT Restorasi Ekosistem Indonesia, Jl. Dadali No. 32, Bogor 16161, Indonesia
| | - Elia Godoong
- Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88400, Malaysia
| | - Laura L. B. Graham
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre, Forest Research Institute, University of Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, 4556, Queensland, Australia
- Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, BOSF Mawas Program, Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, 73111, Indonesia
| | - Robin M. Hayward
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Andy Hector
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Ulrik Ilstedt
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd, Umeå 907 36, Sweden
| | - Joel Jensen
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd, Umeå 907 36, Sweden
| | - Srinivasan Kasinathan
- Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru, Karnataka 570 017, India
| | - Christopher J. Kettle
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
- Bioversity International, Via di San Domenico, 00153 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniel Lussetti
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd, Umeå 907 36, Sweden
| | - Benjapan Manohan
- Environmental Science Research Centre, Science Faculty and Forest Restoration Research Unit, Biology Department, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Colin Maycock
- Forever Sabah, Jalan Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88300, Malaysia
| | - Kang Min Ngo
- Asian School of Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Michael J. O'Brien
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, c/Tulipán s/n., E-28933 Móstoles, Madrid, 28933, Spain
| | - Anand M. Osuri
- Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311, ‘Amritha’, 12th Main, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru, Karnataka 570 017, India
| | - Glen Reynolds
- South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership, Danum Valley Field Centre, PO Box 60282, Lahad Datu, Sabah 91112, Malaysia
| | - Yap Sauwai
- Conservation & Environmental Management Division, Yayasan Sabah Group, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88817, Malaysia
| | - Stefan Scheu
- J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, Göttingen 37073, Germany
- Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mangarah Silalahi
- PT Restorasi Ekosistem Indonesia, Jl. Dadali No. 32, Bogor 16161, Indonesia
| | - Eleanor M. Slade
- Asian School of Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Tom Swinfield
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - David A. Wardle
- Asian School of Environment, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Charlotte Wheeler
- Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Jalan CIFOR, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
| | - Kok Loong Yeong
- South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership, Danum Valley Field Centre, PO Box 60282, Lahad Datu, Sabah 91112, Malaysia
- Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - David F. R. P. Burslem
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, Scotland AB24 3UU, UK
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18
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Vinod N, Slot M, McGregor IR, Ordway EM, Smith MN, Taylor TC, Sack L, Buckley TN, Anderson-Teixeira KJ. Thermal sensitivity across forest vertical profiles: patterns, mechanisms, and ecological implications. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 237:22-47. [PMID: 36239086 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Rising temperatures are influencing forests on many scales, with potentially strong variation vertically across forest strata. Using published research and new analyses, we evaluate how microclimate and leaf temperatures, traits, and gas exchange vary vertically in forests, shaping tree, and ecosystem ecology. In closed-canopy forests, upper canopy leaves are exposed to the highest solar radiation and evaporative demand, which can elevate leaf temperature (Tleaf ), particularly when transpirational cooling is curtailed by limited stomatal conductance. However, foliar traits also vary across height or light gradients, partially mitigating and protecting against the elevation of upper canopy Tleaf . Leaf metabolism generally increases with height across the vertical gradient, yet differences in thermal sensitivity across the gradient appear modest. Scaling from leaves to trees, canopy trees have higher absolute metabolic capacity and growth, yet are more vulnerable to drought and damaging Tleaf than their smaller counterparts, particularly under climate change. By contrast, understory trees experience fewer extreme high Tleaf 's but have fewer cooling mechanisms and thus may be strongly impacted by warming under some conditions, particularly when exposed to a harsher microenvironment through canopy disturbance. As the climate changes, integrating the patterns and mechanisms reviewed here into models will be critical to forecasting forest-climate feedback.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Vinod
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90039, USA
| | - Martijn Slot
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Panama City, Panama
| | - Ian R McGregor
- Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
| | - Elsa M Ordway
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90039, USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Marielle N Smith
- Department of Forestry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2DG, UK
| | - Tyeen C Taylor
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Lawren Sack
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90039, USA
| | - Thomas N Buckley
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Kristina J Anderson-Teixeira
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Panama City, Panama
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19
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Hickey LJ, Nave LE, Nadelhoffer KJ, Clay C, Marini AI, Gough CM. Mechanistically-grounded pathways connect remotely sensed canopy structure to soil respiration. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158267. [PMID: 36030858 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Variation in the soil-to-atmosphere C flux, or soil respiration (Rs), is influenced by a suite of biotic and abiotic factors, including soil temperature, soil moisture, and root biomass. However, whether light detection and ranging (lidar)-derived canopy structure is tied to soil respiration through its simultaneous influence over these drivers is not known. We assessed relationships between measures of above- and belowground vegetation density and complexity, and evaluated whether Rs is linked to remotely sensed canopy structure through pathways mediated by established biotic and abiotic mechanisms. Our results revealed that, at the stand-scale, canopy rugosity-a measure of complexity-and vegetation area index were coupled to soil respiration through their effects on light interception, soil microclimate, and fine root mass density, but this connection was stronger for complexity. Canopy and root complexity were not spatially coupled at the stand-scale, with canopy but not root complexity increasing through stand development. Our findings suggest that remotely sensed canopy complexity could be used to infer spatial variation in Rs, and that this relationship is grounded in known mechanistic pathways. The broad spatial inference of soil respiration via remotely sensed canopy complexity requires multi-site observations of canopy structure and Rs, which is possible given burgeoning open data from ecological networks and satellite remote sensing platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Hickey
- Biology Department, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Lucas E Nave
- Biological Station and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Knute J Nadelhoffer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Cameron Clay
- Biology Department, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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20
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Gillerot L, Landuyt D, Oh R, Chow W, Haluza D, Ponette Q, Jactel H, Bruelheide H, Jaroszewicz B, Scherer-Lorenzen M, De Frenne P, Muys B, Verheyen K. Forest structure and composition alleviate human thermal stress. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:7340-7352. [PMID: 36062391 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Current climate change aggravates human health hazards posed by heat stress. Forests can locally mitigate this by acting as strong thermal buffers, yet potential mediation by forest ecological characteristics remains underexplored. We report over 14 months of hourly microclimate data from 131 forest plots across four European countries and compare these to open-field controls using physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) to reflect human thermal perception. Forests slightly tempered cold extremes, but the strongest buffering occurred under very hot conditions (PET >35°C), where forests reduced strong to extreme heat stress day occurrence by 84.1%. Mature forests cooled the microclimate by 12.1 to 14.5°C PET under, respectively, strong and extreme heat stress conditions. Even young plantations reduced those conditions by 10°C PET. Forest structure strongly modulated the buffering capacity, which was enhanced by increasing stand density, canopy height and canopy closure. Tree species composition had a more modest yet significant influence: that is, strongly shade-casting, small-leaved evergreen species amplified cooling. Tree diversity had little direct influences, though indirect effects through stand structure remain possible. Forests in general, both young and mature, are thus strong thermal stress reducers, but their cooling potential can be even further amplified, given targeted (urban) forest management that considers these new insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loïc Gillerot
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
- Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dries Landuyt
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Rachel Oh
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Winston Chow
- School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Daniela Haluza
- Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Quentin Ponette
- Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Hervé Jactel
- Biogeco, INRAE, University of Bordeaux, Cestas, France
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- Institute of Biology, Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Bogdan Jaroszewicz
- Białowieża Geobotanical Station, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Pieter De Frenne
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Bart Muys
- Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kris Verheyen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
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21
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da Silva DA, Pfeifer M, Vibrans AC. Conspecific density plays a pivotal role in shaping sapling community in highly fragmented subtropical forests. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Augusto da Silva
- Environmental Engineering Graduate Program Regional University of Blumenau Blumenau São Paulo Brazil
| | - Marion Pfeifer
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Modelling, Evidence and Policy Group Newcastle University Newcastle Upon Tyne UK
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22
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Mudi S, Paramanik S, Behera MD, Prakash AJ, Deep NR, Kale MP, Kumar S, Sharma N, Pradhan P, Chavan M, Roy PS, Shrestha DG. Moderate resolution LAI prediction using Sentinel-2 satellite data and indirect field measurements in Sikkim Himalaya. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:897. [PMID: 36251087 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10530-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The leaf area index (LAI) has been traditionally used as a photosynthetic variable. LAI plays an essential role in forest cover monitoring and has been identified as one of the important climate variables. However, due to challenges in field sampling, complex topography, and availability of cloud-free optical satellite data, LAI assessment on larger scale is still unexplored in the Sikkim Himalayan area. We used two optical instruments, digital hemispherical photography (DHP) and LAI-2200C, to assess the LAI across four different forests following 20 × 20 m2 elementary sampling units (ESUs) in the Himalayan state of Sikkim, India. The use of Sentinel-2 derived vegetation indices (VIs) demonstrated a better correlation with the DHP based LAI estimates than using LAI-2200C. Further, the combination of both reflectance bands and VIs were integrated to predict the LAI maps using random forest model. The temperate evergreen forests demonstrated the highest LAI value, while the predicted maps exhibited LAI maxima of 3.4. The estimated vs predicted LAI for DHP and LAI-2200C based estimation demonstrated reasonably good (R2 = 0.63 and R2 = 0.68, respectively) agreement. Further, improvements on the LAI prediction can be attempted by minimizing errors from the inherent field protocols, optimizing the density of field measurements, and representing heterogeneity. The recent rise of frequent forest fires in Sikkim Himalaya prompts for better understanding of fuel load in terms of surface fuel or canopy fuel that can be linked to LAI. The high-resolution LAI map could serve as input to forest fuel bed characterization, especially in seasonal forests with significant variations in green leaves and litter, thereby offering inputs for forest management in changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujoy Mudi
- Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land Sciences, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, India
| | - Somnath Paramanik
- Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land Sciences, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, India.
| | - Mukunda Dev Behera
- Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land Sciences, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, India
| | - A Jaya Prakash
- Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land Sciences, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, India
| | - Nikhil Raj Deep
- Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land Sciences, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, India
| | - Manish P Kale
- CDAC 3Rd Floor, RMZ Westend Center 3, Westend IT Park, Nagras Road, Aundh, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Shubham Kumar
- Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land Sciences, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, India
| | - Narpati Sharma
- Department of Science and Technology, Vigyan Bhawan, Deorali Gangtok, 737102, Sikkim, India
| | - Prerna Pradhan
- Department of Science and Technology, Vigyan Bhawan, Deorali Gangtok, 737102, Sikkim, India
| | - Manoj Chavan
- CDAC 3Rd Floor, RMZ Westend Center 3, Westend IT Park, Nagras Road, Aundh, Pune, 411007, India
| | | | - Dhiren G Shrestha
- Department of Science and Technology, Vigyan Bhawan, Deorali Gangtok, 737102, Sikkim, India
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23
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Xing S, Hood ASC, Dial RJ, Fayle TM. Species turnover in ant assemblages is greater horizontally than vertically in the world's tallest tropical forest. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9158. [PMID: 35919394 PMCID: PMC9336171 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Abiotic and biotic factors structure species assembly in ecosystems both horizontally and vertically. However, the way community composition changes along comparable horizontal and vertical distances in complex three‐dimensional habitats, and the factors driving these patterns, remains poorly understood. By sampling ant assemblages at comparable vertical and horizontal spatial scales in a tropical rainforest, we tested hypotheses that predicted differences in vertical and horizontal turnover explained by different drivers in vertical and horizontal space. These drivers included environmental filtering, such as microclimate (temperature, humidity, and photosynthetic photon flux density) and microhabitat connectivity (leaf area), which are structured differently across vertical and horizontal space. We found that both ant abundance and richness decreased significantly with increasing vertical height. Although the dissimilarity between ant assemblages increased with vertical distance, indicating a clear distance‐decay pattern, the dissimilarity was higher horizontally where it appeared independent of distance. The pronounced horizontal and vertical structuring of ant assemblages across short distances is likely explained by a combination of microclimate and microhabitat connectivity. Our results demonstrate the importance of considering three‐dimensional spatial variation in local assemblages and reveal how highly diverse communities can be supported by complex habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Xing
- School of Ecology Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou P. R. China
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Amelia S. C. Hood
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Centre for Agri‐Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development University of Reading Reading UK
| | - Roman J. Dial
- Institute of Culture and Environment Alaska Pacific University Anchorage Alaska USA
| | - Tom M. Fayle
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences Queen Mary University of London London UK
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24
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Newbery DM, Lingenfelder M. Stem girth changes in response to soil water potential in lowland dipterocarp forest in Borneo: An individualistic time-series analysis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0270140. [PMID: 35771743 PMCID: PMC9246238 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Time-series data offer a way of investigating the causes driving ecological processes as phenomena. To test for possible differences in water relations between species of different forest structural guilds at Danum (Sabah, NE Borneo), daily stem girth increments (gthi), of 18 trees across six species were regressed individually on soil moisture potential (SMP) and temperature (TEMP), accounting for temporal autocorrelation (in GLS-arima models), and compared between a wet and a dry period. The best-fitting significant variables were SMP the day before and TEMP the same day. The first resulted in a mix of positive and negative coefficients, the second largely positive ones. An adjustment for dry-period showers was applied. Interactions were stronger in dry than wet period. Negative relationships for overstorey trees can be interpreted in a reversed causal sense: fast transporting stems depleted soil water and lowered SMP. Positive relationships for understorey trees meant they took up most water at high SMP. The unexpected negative relationships for these small trees may have been due to their roots accessing deeper water supplies (if SMP was inversely related to that of the surface layer), and this was influenced by competition with larger neighbour trees. A tree-soil flux dynamics manifold may have been operating. Patterns of mean diurnal girth variation were more consistent among species, and time-series coefficients were negatively related to their maxima. Expected differences in response to SMP in the wet and dry periods did not clearly support a previous hypothesis differentiating drought and non-drought tolerant understorey guilds. Trees within species showed highly individual responses when tree size was standardized. Data on individual root systems and SMP at several depths are needed to get closer to the mechanisms that underlie the tree-soil water phenomena in these tropical forests. Neighborhood stochasticity importantly creates varying local environments experienced by individual trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M. Newbery
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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25
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Iglesias-Carrasco M, Wong BBM, Jennions MD. In the shadows: wildlife behaviour in tree plantations. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:838-850. [PMID: 35710479 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Destruction of natural habitats for tree plantations is a major threat to wildlife. These novel environments elicit behavioural changes that can either be detrimental or beneficial to survival and reproduction, with population - and community - level consequences. However, compared with well-documented changes following other forms of habitat modification, we know little about wildlife behavioural responses to tree plantations, and even less about their associated fitness costs. Here, we highlight critical knowledge gaps in understanding the ecological and evolutionary consequences of behavioural shifts caused by tree plantations and discuss how wildlife responses to plantations could be critical in determining which species persist in these highly modified environments.
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26
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Asad S, Vitalis V, Guharajan R, Abrams JF, Lagan P, Kissing J, Sikui J, Wilting A, Rödel MO. Variable species but similar amphibian community responses across habitats following reduced impact logging. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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27
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Köpp Hollunder R, Garbin ML, Rubio Scarano F, Mariotte P. Regional and local determinants of drought resilience in tropical forests. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8943. [PMID: 35646321 PMCID: PMC9130645 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The increase in severity of droughts associated with greater mortality and reduced vegetation growth is one of the main threats to tropical forests. Drought resilience of tropical forests is affected by multiple biotic and abiotic factors varying at different scales. Identifying those factors can help understanding the resilience to ongoing and future climate change. Altitude leads to high climate variation and to different forest formations, principally moist or dry tropical forests with contrasted vegetation structure. Each tropical forest can show distinct responses to droughts. Locally, topography is also a key factor controlling biotic and abiotic factors related to drought resilience in each forest type. Here, we show that topography has key roles controlling biotic and abiotic factors in each forest type. The most important abiotic factors are soil nutrients, water availability, and microclimate. The most important biotic factors are leaf economic and hydraulic plant traits, and vegetation structure. Both dry tropical forests and ridges (steeper and drier habitats) are more sensitive to droughts than moist tropical forest and valleys (flatter and wetter habitats). The higher mortality in ridges suggests that conservative traits are not sufficient to protect plants from drought in drier steeper habitats. Our synthesis highlights that altitude and topography gradients are essential to understand mechanisms of tropical forest's resilience to future drought events. We described important factors related to drought resilience, however, many important knowledge gaps remain. Filling those gaps will help improve future practices and studies about mitigation capacity, conservation, and restoration of tropical ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renan Köpp Hollunder
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia IB, CCS, Ilha do Fundão Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Mário Luís Garbin
- Departamento de Biologia Centro de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e da Saúde Alto Universitário Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo Alegre Brazil
| | - Fabio Rubio Scarano
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia IB, CCS, Ilha do Fundão Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil
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28
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Xu N, Zhao Q, Zhang Z, Zhang Q, Wang Y, Qin G, Ke M, Qiu D, Peijnenburg WJGM, Lu T, Qian H. Phyllosphere Microorganisms: Sources, Drivers, and Their Interactions with Plant Hosts. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:4860-4870. [PMID: 35435673 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c01113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The leaves of plants are colonized by various microorganisms. In comparison to the rhizosphere, less is known about the characteristics and ecological functions of phyllosphere microorganisms. Phyllosphere microorganisms mainly originate from soil, air, and seeds. The composition of phyllosphere microorganisms is mainly affected by ecological and abiotic factors. Phyllosphere microorganisms execute multiple ecological functions by influencing leaf functions and longevity, seed mass, fruit development, and homeostasis of host growth. A plant can respond to phyllosphere microorganisms by secondary metabolite secretion and its immune system. Meanwhile, phyllosphere microorganisms play an important role in ecological stability and environmental safety assessment. However, as a result of the instability of the phyllosphere environment and the poor cultivability of phyllosphere microorganisms in the current research, there are still many limitations, such as the lack of insight into the mechanisms of plant-microorganism interactions, the roles of phyllosphere microorganisms in plant growth processes, the responses of phyllosphere microorganisms to plant metabolites, etc. This review summarizes the latest progress made in the research of the phyllosphere in recent years. This is beneficial for deepening our understanding of phyllosphere microorganisms and promoting the research of plant-atmosphere interactions, plant pathogens, and plant biological control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuohan Xu
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianqiu Zhao
- Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenyan Zhang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Zhang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Wang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoyan Qin
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingjing Ke
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, People's Republic of China
| | - Danyan Qiu
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, People's Republic of China
| | - W J G M Peijnenburg
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center for Safety of Substances and Products, Post Office Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Tao Lu
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, People's Republic of China
| | - Haifeng Qian
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, People's Republic of China
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29
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Williamson J, Teh E, Jucker T, Brindle M, Bush E, Chung AYC, Parrett J, Lewis OT, Rossiter SJ, Slade EM. Local‐scale temperature gradients driven by human disturbance shape the physiological and morphological traits of dung beetle communities in a Bornean oil‐palm‐forest mosaic. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Williamson
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road London UK
| | - Enoch Teh
- Asian School of the Environment Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue Singapore City Singapore
| | - Tommaso Jucker
- School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Ave Bristol UK
| | - Matilda Brindle
- Department of Anthropology University College London 14 Taviton Street London
| | - Emma Bush
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Arboretum Pl Edinburgh UK
| | - Arthur Y. C. Chung
- Forest Research Centre, Sabah Forestry Department, P.O. Box 1407, 90715 Sandakan Sabah Malaysia
| | - Jonathan Parrett
- Evolutionary Biology Group, Faculty of Biology Adam Mickiewicz University ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6 Poznań Poland
| | - Owen T. Lewis
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Stephen J. Rossiter
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road London UK
| | - Eleanor M. Slade
- Asian School of the Environment Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue Singapore City Singapore
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
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Abstract
The analysis of common properties of growth for crops is the basis for further understanding crop growth in different regions. We used four typical crops of China, winter wheat, summer maize, rice, and cotton, to build an integrated model suitable for simulating the growth of different crops. The rates and characteristics of crop growth were systematically analysed based on semirelative and fully relative logistic models of crop growth, and a comprehensive, fully relative logistic model for the four crops was established. The spatial distributions of the maximum leaf area index (LAImax) and maximum dry-matter accumulation (DMAmax) for the four crops were analysed. The semirelative and fully relative growth models exhibited different characteristics of crop growth. The essential characteristics of growth and the characteristics of the crops at each stage of growth were better represented by the fully relative logistic growth model than by the semirelative model. The comprehensive, fully relative logistic model fitted the growth of all four crops well. LAImax and DMAmax varied greatly amongst the four crops and were strongly regionally distributed. These indicators for the same crop were differentially spatially variable, and the two indicators were not significantly correlated, except for rice. LAImax and DMAmax in different regions could be obtained using a binary quadratic equation of water consumption and growing degree days for the crops. This study provides a novel method for quantitatively judging the status of crop growth, predicting crop yields, and planning for regional agricultural planting.
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31
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Gregory N, Ewers RM, Chung AYC, Cator LJ. Oil palm expansion increases the vectorial capacity of dengue vectors in Malaysian Borneo. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0009525. [PMID: 35294445 PMCID: PMC8959159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in land-use and the associated shifts in environmental conditions can have large effects on the transmission and emergence of mosquito-borne disease. Mosquito-borne disease are particularly sensitive to these changes because mosquito growth, reproduction, survival and susceptibility to infection are all thermally sensitive traits, and land use change dramatically alters local microclimate. Predicting disease transmission under environmental change is increasingly critical for targeting mosquito-borne disease control and for identifying hotspots of disease emergence. Mechanistic models offer a powerful tool for improving these predictions. However, these approaches are limited by the quality and scale of temperature data and the thermal response curves that underlie predictions. Here, we used fine-scale temperature monitoring and a combination of empirical, laboratory and temperature-dependent estimates to estimate the vectorial capacity of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes across a tropical forest–oil palm plantation conversion gradient in Malaysian Borneo. We found that fine-scale differences in temperature between logged forest and oil palm plantation sites were not sufficient to produce differences in temperature-dependent demographic trait estimates using published thermal performance curves. However, when measured under field conditions a key parameter, adult abundance, differed significantly between land-use types, resulting in estimates of vectorial capacity that were 1.5 times higher in plantations than in forests. The prediction that oil palm plantations would support mosquito populations with higher vectorial capacity was robust to uncertainties in our adult survival estimates. These results provide a mechanistic basis for understanding the effects of forest conversion to agriculture on mosquito-borne disease risk, and a framework for interpreting emergent relationships between land-use and disease transmission. As the burden of Ae. albopictus-vectored diseases, such as dengue virus, increases globally and rising demand for palm oil products drives continued expansion of plantations, these findings have important implications for conservation, land management and public health policy at the global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichar Gregory
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Berkshire, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Robert M. Ewers
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | | | - Lauren J. Cator
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Berkshire, United Kingdom
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32
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Woon JS, Atkinson D, Adu-Bredu S, Eggleton P, Parr CL. Termites have wider thermal limits to cope with environmental conditions in savannas. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:766-779. [PMID: 35157309 PMCID: PMC9307009 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The most diverse and abundant family of termites, the Termitidae, evolved in African tropical forests. They have since colonised grassy biomes such as savannas. These open environments have more extreme conditions than tropical forests, notably wider extremes of temperature and lower precipitation levels and greater temporal fluctuations (of both annual and diurnal variation). These conditions are challenging for soft‐bodied ectotherms, such as termites, to survive in, let alone become as ecologically dominant as termites have. Here, we quantified termite thermal limits to test the hypothesis that these physiological limits are wider in savanna termite species to facilitate their existence in savanna environments. We sampled termites directly from mound structures, across an environmental gradient in Ghana, ranging from wet tropical forest through to savanna. At each location, we quantified both the Critical Thermal Maxima (CTmax) and the Critical Thermal Minima (CTmin) of all the most abundant mound‐building Termitidae species in the study areas. We modelled the thermal limits in two separate mixed‐effects models against canopy cover at the mound, temperature and rainfall, as fixed effects, with sampling location as a random intercept. For both CTmax and CTmin, savanna species had significantly more extreme thermal limits than forest species. Between and within environments, areas with higher amounts of canopy cover were significantly associated with lower CTmax values of the termite colonies. CTmin was significantly positively correlated with rainfall. Temperature was retained in both models; however, it did not have a significant relationship in either. Sampling location explained a large proportion of the residual variation, suggesting there are other environmental factors that could influence termite thermal limits. Our results suggest that savanna termite species have wider thermal limits than forest species. These physiological differences, in conjunction with other behavioural adaptations, are likely to have enabled termites to cope with the more extreme environmental conditions found in savanna environments and facilitated their expansion into open tropical environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel S Woon
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - David Atkinson
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Stephen Adu-Bredu
- CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Natural Resources Management, CSIR College of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Paul Eggleton
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Catherine L Parr
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witswatersrand, Wits, South Africa
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33
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Almeida-Maués PCR, Bueno AS, Palmeirim AF, Peres CA, Mendes-Oliveira AC. Assessing assemblage-wide mammal responses to different types of habitat modification in Amazonian forests. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1797. [PMID: 35110574 PMCID: PMC8810785 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05450-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropical forests are being heavily modified by varying intensities of land use ranging from structural degradation to complete conversion. While ecological responses of vertebrate assemblages to habitat modification are variable, such understanding is critical to appropriate conservation planning of anthropogenic landscapes. We assessed the responses of medium/large-bodied mammal assemblages to the ecological impacts of reduced impact logging, secondary regrowth, and eucalyptus and oil palm plantations in Eastern Brazilian Amazonia. We used within-landscape paired baseline-treatment comparisons to examine the impact of different types of habitat modification in relation to adjacent primary forest. We examined assemblage-wide metrics including the total number of species, number of primary forest species retained in modified habitats, abundance, species composition, and community integrity. We ranked all types of habitat modification along a gradient of assemblage-wide impact intensity, with oil palm and eucalyptus plantations exerting the greatest impact, followed by secondary regrowth, and selectively logging. Selectively-logged and secondary forests did not experience discernible biodiversity loss, except for the total number of primary forest species retained. Secondary forests further experienced pronounced species turnover, with loss of community integrity. Considering the biodiversity retention capacity of anthropogenic habitats, this study reinforces the landscape-scale importance of setting aside large preserved areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula C R Almeida-Maués
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas - LABEV, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.,Faculdade Estácio de Castanhal, Castanhal, PA, Brazil.,Unama Parque Shopping, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Anderson S Bueno
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Farroupilha, Júlio de Castilhos, RS, Brazil
| | - Ana Filipa Palmeirim
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK.,CIBIO-InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Carlos A Peres
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - Ana Cristina Mendes-Oliveira
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas - LABEV, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil. .,School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
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34
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Mohd Hanafiah K, Abd Mutalib AH, Miard P, Goh CS, Mohd Sah SA, Ruppert N. Impact of Malaysian palm oil on sustainable development goals: co-benefits and trade-offs across mitigation strategies. SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE 2022; 17:1639-1661. [PMID: 34667481 PMCID: PMC8517301 DOI: 10.1007/s11625-021-01052-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Palm oil (PO) is an important source of livelihood, but unsustainable practices and widespread consumption may threaten human and planetary health. We reviewed 234 articles and summarized evidence on the impact of PO on health, social and economic aspects, environment, and biodiversity in the Malaysian context, and discuss mitigation strategies based on the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The evidence on health impact of PO is equivocal, with knowledge gaps on whether moderate consumption elevates risk for chronic diseases, but the benefits of phytonutrients (SDG2) and sensory characteristics of PO seem offset by its high proportion of saturated fat (SDG3). While PO contributes to economic growth (SDG9, 12), poverty alleviation (SDG1, 8, 10), enhanced food security (SDG2), alternative energy (SDG9), and long-term employment opportunities (SDG1), human rights issues and inequities attributed to PO production persist (SDG8). Environmental impacts arise through large-scale expansion of monoculture plantations associated with increased greenhouse gas emissions (SDG13), especially from converted carbon-rich peat lands, which can cause forest fires and annual trans-boundary haze; changes in microclimate properties and soil nutrient content (SDG6, 13); increased sedimentation and change of hydrological properties of streams near slopes (SDG6); and increased human wildlife conflicts, increase of invasive species occurrence, and reduced biodiversity (SDG14, 15). Practices such as biological pest control, circular waste management, multi-cropping and certification may mitigate negative impacts on environmental SDGs, without hampering progress of socioeconomic SDGs. While strategies focusing on improving practices within and surrounding plantations offer co-benefits for socioeconomic, environment and biodiversity-related SDGs, several challenges in achieving scalable solutions must be addressed to ensure holistic sustainability of PO in Malaysia for various stakeholders. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11625-021-01052-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khayriyyah Mohd Hanafiah
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
- Life Sciences, Macfarlane Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004 Australia
| | - Aini Hasanah Abd Mutalib
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
- Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu Malaysia
| | - Priscillia Miard
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
| | - Chun Sheng Goh
- Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia, Sunway University, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor Malaysia
| | | | - Nadine Ruppert
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
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35
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Romshoo SA, Bhat MA, Beig G. Particulate pollution over an urban Himalayan site: Temporal variability, impact of meteorology and potential source regions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 799:149364. [PMID: 34371409 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Five-year (2013-2017) particulate matter (PM) data observed at an urban site, Srinagar, Kashmir Himalaya, India was used to examine the temporal variability, meteorological impacts and potential source regions of PM. The daily mean PM10 and PM2.5 concentration was 135 ± 112 μg/m3 and 87 ± 93 μg/m3 respectively with significant intra- and inter-daily variation. The annual PM10 and PM2.5 concentration was 2.0-3.2 and 1.7-2.8 times higher than the annual Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards (PM10 = 60 μg/m3 and PM2.5 = 40 μg/m3). PM concentration shows a bimodal diurnal pattern with morning and evening peaks, which coincide with the increased anthropogenic activity and shallow planetary boundary layer (PBL). The combined effect of the low temperature, low wind speed, shallow and stable PBL and geomorphic setup of Kashmir valley leads to the accumulation of particulate pollution during autumn and winter and the converse meteorological conditions leads to dispersion, dilution and deposition during spring and summer. High precipitation rate (>15 mm/day) removes the coarse particles (PM10) more efficiently than fine particles (PM2.5), while as the moderate to high humid conditions (55-95%) leads to the accumulation and growth of more PM. It was observed that ~80% of the air masses arriving at the site during spring, autumn and winter are westerlies. Source contribution analysis revealed that highly potential source regions of PM at the site are neighboring Pakistan, Afghanistan, parts of Iran and Trans-Gangetic Plains, which could contribute high concentration of the PM10 (>250 μg/m3) and PM2.5 (>150 μg/m3) during autumn and winter. The high PM load observed at the site during autumn and winter, with major contribution from the anthropogenic source emissions like biomass and coal burning, fossil fuel combustion and suspension of road dust, is aggravated by the geomorphic and meteorological setup of the Kashmir valley.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakil Ahmad Romshoo
- Department of Geoinformatics, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190006, India.
| | - Mudasir Ahmad Bhat
- Department of Geoinformatics, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190006, India
| | - Gufran Beig
- Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune 411008, Maharashtra, India
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36
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Dataset on microclimate and drone-based thermal patterns within an oil palm agroforestry system. Data Brief 2021; 39:107615. [PMID: 34877382 PMCID: PMC8633855 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2021.107615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Microclimate and Land Surface Temperature (LST) are important analytical variables used to understand complex oil palm agroforestry systems and their effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functions. In order to examine experimental effects of tree species richness (0, 1, 2, 3 or 6), plot size (25 m2, 100 m2, 400 m2, 1600 m2) and stand structural complexity on microclimate and Land Surface Temperature, related data were collected following a strict design. The experiment was carried out in the Jambi province, in Sumatra (Indonesia), as part of the collaborative project EFForTS [Ecological and Socioeconomic Functions of Tropical Lowland Rainforest Transformation Systems]. Microclimate data collected using miniaturized data loggers combined with drone-based thermal data were considered within an oil palm plantation enriched with six target tree species. The timeframe considered for data analysis was 20th September 2017 to 26th September 2017. The experiment data can be used for comparison with data from conventional oil palm agroforestry systems in the tropics. They can more specifically be used as reference to assess microclimate and Land Surface Temperature patterns within similar agroforestry systems.
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37
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Duque L, Poelman EH, Steffan-Dewenter I. Plant age at the time of ozone exposure affects flowering patterns, biotic interactions and reproduction of wild mustard. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23448. [PMID: 34873217 PMCID: PMC8648743 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02878-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure of plants to environmental stressors can modify their metabolism, interactions with other organisms and reproductive success. Tropospheric ozone is a source of plant stress. We investigated how an acute exposure to ozone at different times of plant development affects reproductive performance, as well as the flowering patterns and the interactions with pollinators and herbivores, of wild mustard plants. The number of open flowers was higher on plants exposed to ozone at earlier ages than on the respective controls, while plants exposed at later ages showed a tendency for decreased number of open flowers. The changes in the number of flowers provided a good explanation for the ozone-induced effects on reproductive performance and on pollinator visitation. Ozone exposure at earlier ages also led to either earlier or extended flowering periods. Moreover, ozone tended to increase herbivore abundance, with responses depending on herbivore taxa and the plant age at the time of ozone exposure. These results suggest that the effects of ozone exposure depend on the developmental stage of the plant, affecting the flowering patterns in different directions, with consequences for pollination and reproduction of annual crops and wild species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Duque
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Erik H Poelman
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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38
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Modelling climatic suitability for myrtle rust with a widespread host species. Biol Invasions 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02689-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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39
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Power CC, Nielsen A, Sheil D. Even small forest patches increase bee visits to flowers in an oil palm plantation landscape. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Candice C. Power
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) Ås Norway
- Department of Biology Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE) Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
| | - Anders Nielsen
- Department of Landscape and Biodiversity Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) Ås Norway
- Department of Biosciences Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES) University of Oslo Oslo Norway
| | - Douglas Sheil
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) Ås Norway
- Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The Netherlands
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) Bogor Indonesia
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40
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Kallow S, Quaghebeur K, Panis B, Janssens SB, Dickie J, Gueco L, Swennen R, Vandelook F. Using seminatural and simulated habitats for seed germination ecology of banana wild relatives. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:14644-14657. [PMID: 34765131 PMCID: PMC8571623 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecologically meaningful seed germination experiments are constrained by access to seeds and relevant environments for testing at the same time. This is particularly the case when research is carried out far from the native area of the studied species.Here, we demonstrate an alternative-the use of glasshouses in botanic gardens as simulated-natural habitats to extend the ecological interpretation of germination studies. Our focal taxa were banana crop wild relatives (Musa acuminata subsp. burmannica, Musa acuminata subsp. siamea, and Musa balbisiana), native to tropical and subtropical South-East Asia. Tests were carried out in Belgium, where we performed germination tests in relation to foliage-shading/exposure to solar radiation and seed burial depth, as well as seed survival and dormancy release in the soil. We calibrated the interpretation of these studies by also conducting an experiment in a seminatural habitat in a species native range (M. balbisiana-Los Baños, the Philippines), where we tested germination responses to exposure to sun/shade. Using temperature data loggers, we determined temperature dynamics suitable for germination in both these settings.In these seminatural and simulated-natural habitats, seeds germinated in response to exposure to direct solar radiation. Seed burial depth had a significant but marginal effect by comparison, even when seeds were buried to 7 cm in the soil. Temperatures at sun-exposed compared with shaded environments differed by only a few degrees Celsius. Maximum temperature of the period prior to germination was the most significant contributor to germination responses and germination increased linearly above a threshold of 23℃ to the maximum temperature in the soil (in simulated-natural habitats) of 35℃.Glasshouses can provide useful environments to aid interpretation of seed germination responses to environmental niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Kallow
- Royal Botanic Gardens KewMillennium Seed BankArdinglyUK
- Department of BiosystemsKatholieke Universiteit LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Meise Botanic GardenMeiseBelgium
| | - Katrijn Quaghebeur
- Department of BiosystemsKatholieke Universiteit LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Meise Botanic GardenMeiseBelgium
| | - Bart Panis
- Department of BiosystemsKatholieke Universiteit LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical AgricultureLeuvenBelgium
| | - Steven B. Janssens
- Meise Botanic GardenMeiseBelgium
- Biology DepartmentKatholieke Universiteit LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - John Dickie
- Royal Botanic Gardens KewMillennium Seed BankArdinglyUK
| | - Lavernee Gueco
- National Plant Genetic Resources LaboratoryInstitute of Plant BreedingCollege of Agriculture and Food ScienceUniversity of the PhilippinesLagunaPhilippines
| | - Rony Swennen
- Department of BiosystemsKatholieke Universiteit LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculturec/o Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyArushaTanzania
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41
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Coupling Photosynthetic Measurements with Biometric Data to Estimate Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) in Mediterranean Pine Forests of Different Post-Fire Age. FORESTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/f12091256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Quantification of forest Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) is important for understanding ecosystem function and designing appropriate carbon mitigation strategies. Coupling forest biometric data with canopy photosynthesis models can provide a means to simulate GPP across different stand ages. In this study we developed a simple framework to integrate biometric and leaf gas-exchange measurements, and to estimate GPP across four Mediterranean pine forests of different post-fire age. We used three different methods to estimate the Leaf Area Index (LAI) of the stands, and monthly gas exchange data to calibrate the photosynthetic light response of the leaves. Upscaling of carbon sequestration at the canopy level was made by implementing a Big Leaf and a Sun/Shade model, using both average and variant (monthly) photosynthetic capacity values. The Big Leaf model simulations systematically underestimated GPP compared to the Sun/Shade model simulations. Our simulations suggest an increasing GPP with age up to a stand maturity stage. The shape of the GPP trend with stand age was not affected by the method used to parameterise the model. At the scale of our study, variability in stand and canopy structure among the study sites seems to be the key determinant of GPP.
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42
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Gagliardi S, Avelino J, Virginio Filho EDM, Isaac ME. Shade tree traits and microclimate modifications: Implications for pathogen management in biodiverse coffee agroforests. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacques Avelino
- CIRAD UMR PHIM Turrialba Costa Rica
- PHIM Plant Health Institute Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD Montpellier France
- Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) Turrialba Costa Rica
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43
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De Frenne P, Lenoir J, Luoto M, Scheffers BR, Zellweger F, Aalto J, Ashcroft MB, Christiansen DM, Decocq G, De Pauw K, Govaert S, Greiser C, Gril E, Hampe A, Jucker T, Klinges DH, Koelemeijer IA, Lembrechts JJ, Marrec R, Meeussen C, Ogée J, Tyystjärvi V, Vangansbeke P, Hylander K. Forest microclimates and climate change: Importance, drivers and future research agenda. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:2279-2297. [PMID: 33725415 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Forest microclimates contrast strongly with the climate outside forests. To fully understand and better predict how forests' biodiversity and functions relate to climate and climate change, microclimates need to be integrated into ecological research. Despite the potentially broad impact of microclimates on the response of forest ecosystems to global change, our understanding of how microclimates within and below tree canopies modulate biotic responses to global change at the species, community and ecosystem level is still limited. Here, we review how spatial and temporal variation in forest microclimates result from an interplay of forest features, local water balance, topography and landscape composition. We first stress and exemplify the importance of considering forest microclimates to understand variation in biodiversity and ecosystem functions across forest landscapes. Next, we explain how macroclimate warming (of the free atmosphere) can affect microclimates, and vice versa, via interactions with land-use changes across different biomes. Finally, we perform a priority ranking of future research avenues at the interface of microclimate ecology and global change biology, with a specific focus on three key themes: (1) disentangling the abiotic and biotic drivers and feedbacks of forest microclimates; (2) global and regional mapping and predictions of forest microclimates; and (3) the impacts of microclimate on forest biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the face of climate change. The availability of microclimatic data will significantly increase in the coming decades, characterizing climate variability at unprecedented spatial and temporal scales relevant to biological processes in forests. This will revolutionize our understanding of the dynamics, drivers and implications of forest microclimates on biodiversity and ecological functions, and the impacts of global changes. In order to support the sustainable use of forests and to secure their biodiversity and ecosystem services for future generations, microclimates cannot be ignored.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan Lenoir
- UMR 7058 CNRS "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés" (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Miska Luoto
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Brett R Scheffers
- Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Juha Aalto
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Weather and Climate Change Impact Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael B Ashcroft
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Ditte M Christiansen
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Guillaume Decocq
- UMR 7058 CNRS "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés" (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Karen De Pauw
- Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Sanne Govaert
- Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Caroline Greiser
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eva Gril
- UMR 7058 CNRS "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés" (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Arndt Hampe
- INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, BIOGECO, Cestas, France
| | - Tommaso Jucker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - David H Klinges
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Irena A Koelemeijer
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Ronan Marrec
- UMR 7058 CNRS "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés" (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | | | - Jérôme Ogée
- INRAE, Bordeaux Science Agro, ISPA, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Vilna Tyystjärvi
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Weather and Climate Change Impact Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Kristoffer Hylander
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Milodowski DT, Coomes DA, Swinfield T, Jucker T, Riutta T, Malhi Y, Svátek M, Kvasnica J, Burslem DFRP, Ewers RM, Teh YA, Williams M. The impact of logging on vertical canopy structure across a gradient of tropical forest degradation intensity in Borneo. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David T. Milodowski
- School of GeoSciences University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
- National Centre for Earth Observation University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
| | - David A. Coomes
- Department of Plant Sciences University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute Cambridge UK
| | - Tom Swinfield
- Department of Plant Sciences University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute Cambridge UK
- Centre for Conservation ScienceRoyal Society for the Protection of Birds Cambridge UK
| | - Tommaso Jucker
- Department of Plant Sciences University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute Cambridge UK
- School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol Bristol UK
| | - Terhi Riutta
- School of Geography and the Environment University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Faculty of Natural Sciences Imperial College London UK
| | - Yadvinder Malhi
- School of Geography and the Environment University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Martin Svátek
- Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology Mendel University in Brno Brno Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Kvasnica
- Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology Mendel University in Brno Brno Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Yit Arn Teh
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne UK
| | - Mathew Williams
- School of GeoSciences University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
- National Centre for Earth Observation University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
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45
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Belskii E, Belskaya E. Thermal effect of the Middle Ural copper smelter (Russia) and growth of birch leaves. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:26064-26072. [PMID: 33479877 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-12327-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Toxic effects of industrial emissions on vegetation have been extensively studied, and at the same time indirect effects of pollution are less known. In 2011 and 2015, we studied temperature regime and leaf growth for Betula pubescens and B. pendula in deciduous forests near the Middle Ural copper smelter (MUCS). At two polluted sites (1 and 2 km from the smelter) and two unpolluted sites (16 and 27 km), we logged continuously air temperatures during the growing season (May-August) and measured leaves until completion of growth (May-June). Near MUCS, daily mean air temperatures were 0.7-1.0 °C higher with daily temperature range 2.2-2.7 °C greater than at distant sites. Daily air temperature range decreased from spring to midsummer, suggesting that the ability of vegetation to mitigate temperature variations increases with plant biomass, which peaks in midsummer. Growth of birch leaves near MUCS began 4-10 days earlier and completed 3-7 days earlier than far away. Thermal sum over the leaf growth period did not differ between areas in 2011, and in 2015 was lower in the polluted than in the unpolluted area. The earlier leaf growth completion near MUCS can be attributed to higher air temperatures and more rapid accumulation of required thermal sums.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugen Belskii
- Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Eighth March Street 202, Yekaterinburg, Russia, 620144.
| | - Elena Belskaya
- Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Eighth March Street 202, Yekaterinburg, Russia, 620144
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46
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Young KI, Buenemann M, Vasilakis N, Perera D, Hanley KA. Shifts in mosquito diversity and abundance along a gradient from oil palm plantations to conterminous forests in Borneo. Ecosphere 2021; 12. [PMID: 33996190 DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Deforestation precipitates spillover of enzootic, vector-borne viruses into humans, but specific mechanisms for this effect have rarely been investigated. Expansion of oil palm cultivation is a major driver of deforestation. Here, we demonstrate that mosquito abundance decreased over ten stepwise distances from interior forest into conterminous palm plantations in Borneo. Diversity in interior plantation narrowed to one species, Aedes albopictus, a potential bridge vector for spillover of multiple viruses. A. albopictus was equally abundant across all distances in forests, forest-plantation edge, and plantations, while A. niveus, a known vector of sylvatic dengue virus, was found only in forests. A. albopictus collections were significantly female-biased in plantation but not in edge or forest. Our data reveal that the likelihood of encountering any mosquito is greater in interior forest and edge than plantation, while the likelihood of encountering A. albopictus is equivalent across the gradient sampled from interior plantation to interior forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine I Young
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, 1780 E University Ave, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003 USA
| | - Michaela Buenemann
- Department of Geography, New Mexico State University, 1780 E University Ave, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003 USA
| | - Nikos Vasilakis
- Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center of Tropical Diseases, and Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555 USA
| | - David Perera
- Institute of Health and Community Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Jalan Datuk Mohammad Musa, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Kathryn A Hanley
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, 1780 E University Ave, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003 USA
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47
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Griffiths HM, Eggleton P, Hemming-Schroeder N, Swinfield T, Woon JS, Allison SD, Coomes DA, Ashton LA, Parr CL. Carbon flux and forest dynamics: Increased deadwood decomposition in tropical rainforest tree-fall canopy gaps. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:1601-1613. [PMID: 33506557 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Tree mortality rates are increasing within tropical rainforests as a result of global environmental change. When trees die, gaps are created in forest canopies and carbon is transferred from the living to deadwood pools. However, little is known about the effect of tree-fall canopy gaps on the activity of decomposer communities and the rate of deadwood decay in forests. This means that the accuracy of regional and global carbon budgets is uncertain, especially given ongoing changes to the structure of rainforest ecosystems. Therefore, to determine the effect of canopy openings on wood decay rates and regional carbon flux, we carried out the first assessment of deadwood mass loss within canopy gaps in old-growth rainforest. We used replicated canopy gaps paired with closed canopy sites in combination with macroinvertebrate accessible and inaccessible woodblocks to experimentally partition the relative contribution of microbes vs. termites to decomposition within contrasting understorey conditions. We show that over a 12 month period, wood mass loss increased by 63% in canopy gaps compared with closed canopy sites and that this increase was driven by termites. Using LiDAR data to quantify the proportion of canopy openings in the study region, we modelled the effect of observed changes in decomposition within gaps on regional carbon flux. Overall, we estimate that this accelerated decomposition increases regional wood decay rate by up to 18.2%, corresponding to a flux increase of 0.27 Mg C ha-1 year-1 that is not currently accounted for in regional carbon budgets. These results provide the first insights into how small-scale disturbances in rainforests can generate hotspots for decomposer activity and carbon fluxes. In doing so, we show that including canopy gap dynamics and their impacts on wood decomposition in forest ecosystems can help improve the predictive accuracy of the carbon cycle in land surface models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Griffiths
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Paul Eggleton
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | | | - Tom Swinfield
- Department of Plant Sciences and Conservation Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Cambridge, UK
| | - Joel S Woon
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Steven D Allison
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - David A Coomes
- Department of Plant Sciences and Conservation Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Louise A Ashton
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Catherine L Parr
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits, South Africa
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48
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Boyle MJW, Bishop TR, Luke SH, Breugel M, Evans TA, Pfeifer M, Fayle TM, Hardwick SR, Lane‐Shaw RI, Yusah KM, Ashford ICR, Ashford OS, Garnett E, Turner EC, Wilkinson CL, Chung AYC, Ewers RM. Localised climate change defines ant communities in human‐modified tropical landscapes. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. W. Boyle
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Silwood Park UK
- Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore City Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong City Hong Kong
| | - Tom R. Bishop
- Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Sarah H. Luke
- School of Biological Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich UK
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Michiel Breugel
- Forest GEOSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute Panama
- Yale‐NUS College Singapore City Singapore
| | - Theodore A. Evans
- Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore City Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley Australia
| | - Marion Pfeifer
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Silwood Park UK
- School of Biology Newcastle University Newcastle Upon Tyne UK
| | - Tom M. Fayle
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Silwood Park UK
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation Universiti Malaysia Sabah Sabah Malaysia
| | | | | | - Kalsum M. Yusah
- Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation Universiti Malaysia Sabah Sabah Malaysia
| | | | - Oliver S. Ashford
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Integrative Oceanography Division Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego San Diego CA USA
| | - Emma Garnett
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Edgar C. Turner
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Silwood Park UK
- Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Clare L. Wilkinson
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Silwood Park UK
- Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore City Singapore
| | | | - Robert M. Ewers
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Silwood Park UK
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49
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Application of Remote Sensing to Assess the Biophysical Characteristics of Palm Oil Trees for Ecological Study. JOURNAL OF LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2478/jlecol-2020-0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Oil palms are an important crop for Malaysia as the main crop cultivated from agricultural lands for economic purposes. The livelihood of small growers is, in fact, very dependent on that industry. The present study employs the application of remote sensing of higher resolution to assess the biophysical characteristics of oil palms stands for a plantation in Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan, Malay Peninsula. Band combination with the use of natural, red, blue bands and red-edge spectrum was employed to obtain early information on the oil palm stands at the site. We subsequently employed fish eye camera to collect information on leaf area index at the field. The study also measured the height and diameter at breast height of all plots established in the site. Finally, correlation was performed to establish the relationships between height-to-leaf area index relations. Diameter at breast height measuring points was scattered at the upper part of the line that formed negative relationships (R2 = -0.0313). Height was positively associated with leaf area index, a bit weaker (R2 = 0.2323). Interpolation found plots at varying elevation level. Maximum height of the trees was recorded at the highest elevation in the site, presumably due to the higher solar radiation that enhances photosynthesis. Our study demonstrates the usefulness of the finding for implementation elsewhere in assessing the biophysical characteristics of oil palm trees. The study leads to further understanding of oil palms, specifically the biophysical characteristics associated with plant productivity assessment.
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50
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Does Sentinel-1A Backscatter Capture the Spatial Variability in Canopy Gaps of Tropical Agroforests? A Proof-of-Concept in Cocoa Landscapes in Cameroon. REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12244163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A reliable estimation and monitoring of tree canopy cover or shade distribution is essential for a sustainable cocoa production via agroforestry systems. Remote sensing (RS) data offer great potential in retrieving and monitoring vegetation status at landscape scales. However, parallel advancements in image processing and analysis are required to appropriately use such data for different targeted applications. This study assessed the potential of Sentinel-1A (S-1A) C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) backscatter in estimating canopy cover variability in cocoa agroforestry landscapes. We investigated two landscapes, in Center and South Cameroon, which differ in predominant vegetation: forest-savannah transition and forest landscape, respectively. We estimated canopy cover using in-situ digital hemispherical photographs (DHPs) measures of gap fraction, verified the relationship with SAR backscatter intensity and assessed predictions based on three machine learning approaches: multivariate bootstrap regression, neural networks regression, and random forest regression. Our results showed that about 30% of the variance in canopy gap fraction in the cocoa production landscapes was shared by the used SAR backscatter parameters: a combination of S-1A backscatter intensity, backscatter coefficients, difference, cross ratios, and normalized ratios. Based on the model predictions, the VV (co-polarization) backscatter showed high importance in estimating canopy gap fraction; the VH (cross-polarized) backscatter was less sensitive to the estimated canopy gap. We observed that a combination of different backscatter variables was more reliable at predicting the canopy gap variability in the considered type of vegetation in this study—agroforests. Semi-variogram analysis of canopy gap fraction at the landscape scale revealed higher spatial clustering of canopy gap, based on spatial correlation, at a distance range of 18.95 m in the vegetation transition landscape, compared to a 51.12 m spatial correlation range in the forest landscape. We provide new insight on the spatial variability of canopy gaps in the cocoa landscapes which may be essential for predicting impacts of changing and extreme (drought) weather conditions on farm management and productivity. Our results contribute a proof-of-concept in using current and future SAR images to support management tools or strategies on tree inventorying and decisions regarding incentives for shade tree retention and planting in cocoa landscapes.
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