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Villalva P, Palomares F, Zanin M. Effect of uneven tolerance to human disturbance on dominance interactions of top predators. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024:e14364. [PMID: 39225252 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities may alter felid assemblage structure, facilitating the persistence of tolerant species (commonly mesopredators), excluding ecologically demanding ones (top predators) and, consequently, changing coexistence rules. We aimed to determine how human activities influence intraguild relationships among top predators and their cascading effects on mesopredators, which remain poorly understood despite evidence of top carnivore decline. We used structural equation modeling at a continental scale to investigate how habitat quality and quantity, livestock density, and other human pressures modified the intraguild relations of the 3 species that are at the top of the food chain in the Neotropics: jaguars (Panthera onca), pumas (Puma concolor), and ocelots (Leopardus pardalis). We included presence-absence data derived from systematic studies compiled in Neocarnivores data set for these felid species at 0.0833° resolution. Human disturbance reduced the probability of jaguar occurrence by -0.35 standard deviations. Unexpectedly, the presence of sheep (Ovis aries) or goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) and jaguars was positively related to the presence of pumas, whereas puma presence was negatively related to the presence of ocelots. Extent of forest cover had more of an effect on jaguar (β = 0.23) and ocelot (β = 0.12) occurrences than the extent of protected area, which did not have a significant effect. The lack of effect of human activities on puma presence and the positive effect of small livestock supports the notion that pumas are more adaptable to habitat disturbance than jaguars. Our findings suggest that human disturbance has the potential to reverse the hierarchical competition dominance among large felids, leading to an unbalanced community structure. This shift disadvantages jaguars and elevates the position of pumas in the assemblage hierarchy, resulting in the exclusion of ocelots, despite their relatively lower susceptibility to anthropogenic disturbance. Our results suggest that conservation efforts should extend beyond protected areas to encompass the surrounding landscape, where complexities and potential conflicts are more pronounced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Villalva
- Integrative Ecology Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
- Department of Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Francisco Palomares
- Conservation Biology Department, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Marina Zanin
- Ecology Department, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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2
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Pipins S, Baillie JEM, Bowmer A, Pollock LJ, Owen N, Gumbs R. Advancing EDGE Zones to identify spatial conservation priorities of tetrapod evolutionary history. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7672. [PMID: 39237497 PMCID: PMC11377708 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51992-5] [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: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The biodiversity crisis is pruning the Tree of Life in a way that threatens billions of years of evolutionary history and there is a need to understand where the greatest losses are predicted to occur. We therefore present threatened evolutionary history mapped for all tetrapod groups and describe patterns of Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species. Using a complementarity procedure with uncertainty incorporated for 33,628 species, we identify 25 priority tetrapod EDGE Zones, which are insufficiently protected and disproportionately exposed to high human pressure. Tetrapod EDGE Zones are spread over five continents, 33 countries, and 117 ecoregions. Together, they occupy 0.723% of the world's surface but harbour one-third of the world's threatened evolutionary history and EDGE tetrapod species, half of which is endemic. These EDGE Zones highlight areas of immediate concern for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and communicators looking to safeguard the tetrapod Tree of Life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Pipins
- On the Edge, London, UK.
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, UK.
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, Berkshire, UK.
- Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet DTP, Grantham Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | | | - Alex Bowmer
- On the Edge, London, UK
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Laura J Pollock
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Rikki Gumbs
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, Berkshire, UK
- EDGE of Existence Programme, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
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3
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Scholten RC, Veraverbeke S, Chen Y, Randerson JT. Spatial variability in Arctic-boreal fire regimes influenced by environmental and human factors. NATURE GEOSCIENCE 2024; 17:866-873. [PMID: 39267694 PMCID: PMC11387193 DOI: 10.1038/s41561-024-01505-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
Wildfire activity in Arctic and boreal regions is rapidly increasing, with severe consequences for climate and human health. Regional long-term variations in fire frequency and intensity characterize fire regimes. The spatial variability in Arctic-boreal fire regimes and their environmental and anthropogenic drivers, however, remain poorly understood. Here we present a fire tracking system to map the sub-daily evolution of all circumpolar Arctic-boreal fires between 2012 and 2023 using 375 m Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite active fire detections and the resulting dataset of the ignition time, location, size, duration, spread and intensity of individual fires. We use this dataset to classify the Arctic-boreal biomes into seven distinct 'pyroregions' with unique climatic and geographic environments. We find that these pyroregions exhibit varying responses to environmental drivers, with boreal North America, eastern Siberia and northern tundra regions showing the highest sensitivity to climate and lightning density. In addition, anthropogenic factors play an important role in influencing fire number and size, interacting with other factors. Understanding the spatial variability of fire regimes and its interconnected drivers in the Arctic-boreal domain is important for improving future predictions of fire activity and identifying areas at risk for extreme events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca C Scholten
- Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Sander Veraverbeke
- Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Yang Chen
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA USA
| | - James T Randerson
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA USA
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4
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Liu Q, Tang X, Hang T, Wu Y, Liu Y, Song T, Song Y. Exploring the performance of protected areas in alleviating future human pressure. AMBIO 2024; 53:1323-1335. [PMID: 38653867 PMCID: PMC11300414 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-024-02023-6] [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: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Protected areas (PAs) are effective in mitigating human pressures, yet their future pressure alleviating effects remain unclear. In this study, we employed the ConvLSTM model to forecast the future human footprint and analyzed human pressure trends using Theil-Sen median and Mann-Kendall tests. We further evaluated the mitigating effects of PAs within their buffer zones (1-10 km) and the contributions of different IUCN categories of PAs to mitigating human pressure using linear regression models. The results indicate that by 2035, the average human pressure value is expected to increase by 11%, with trends exhibiting a polarized pattern. Furthermore, PAs also effectively mitigate human pressure within their 1 km buffer zones. Different categories of PAs vary in their effectiveness in mitigating human pressure, and stricter conservation areas are not always the most effective. This study can offer insights for evaluating the effectiveness of PAs in reducing human pressure and advocate for their targeted management in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqi Liu
- Department of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
- Department of Environmental Design, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Xiaolan Tang
- Department of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China.
- Academy of Chinese Ecological Progress and Forestry Studies, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Tian Hang
- Interdisciplinary Program in Landscape Architecture, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Integrated Major in Smart City Global Convergence, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunfei Wu
- Department of Art and Design, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- Department of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianrui Song
- Department of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China
| | - Youngkeun Song
- Department of Environmental Design, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Landscape Architecture, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Integrated Major in Smart City Global Convergence, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
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5
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Ma D, Abrahms B, Allgeier J, Newbold T, Weeks BC, Carter NH. Global expansion of human-wildlife overlap in the 21st century. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadp7706. [PMID: 39167651 PMCID: PMC11338222 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adp7706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the extent to which people and wildlife overlap in space and time is critical for the conservation of biodiversity and ecological services. Yet, how global change will reshape the future of human-wildlife overlap has not been assessed. We show that the potential spatial overlap of global human populations and 22,374 terrestrial vertebrate species will increase across ~56.6% and decrease across only ~11.8% of the Earth's terrestrial surface by 2070. Increases are driven primarily by intensification of human population densities, not change in wildlife distributions caused by climate change. The strong spatial heterogeneity of future human-wildlife overlap found in our study makes it clear that local context is imperative to consider, and more targeted area-based land-use planning should be integrated into systematic conservation planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deqiang Ma
- Institute for Global Change Biology, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Briana Abrahms
- Department of Biology, Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jacob Allgeier
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Tim Newbold
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Brian C. Weeks
- Institute for Global Change Biology, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Neil H. Carter
- Institute for Global Change Biology, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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6
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Ridley FA, Rushton SP, Hickinbotham EJ, Suggitt AJ, McGowan PJK, Mair L. Global mismatches between threat mapping research effort and the potential of threat abatement actions to reduce extinction risk. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14271. [PMID: 38623873 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14271] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Threat mapping is a necessary tool for identifying and abating direct threats to species in the ongoing extinction crisis. There are known gaps in the threat mapping literature for particular threats and geographic locations, and it remains unclear if the distribution of research effort is appropriately targeted relative to conservation need. We aimed to determine the drivers of threat mapping research effort and to quantify gaps that, if filled, could inform actions with the highest potential to reduce species' extinction risk. We used a negative binomial generalized linear model to analyze research effort as a function of threat abatement potential (quantified as the potential reduction in species extinction risk from abating threats), species richness, land area, and human pressure. The model showed that threat mapping research effort increased by 1.1 to 1.2 times per standardized unit change in threat abatement potential. However, species richness and land area were stronger predictors of research effort overall. The greatest areas of mismatch between research effort and threat abatement potential, receiving disproportionately low research effort, were related to the threats to species of agriculture, aquaculture, and biological resource use across the tropical regions of the Americas, Asia, and Madagascar. Conversely, the threat of linear infrastructure (e.g., roads and rails) across regions, the threat of biological resource use (e.g., hunting or collection) in sub-Saharan Africa, and overall threats in North America and Europe all received disproportionately high research effort. We discuss the range of methodological and sociopolitical factors that may be behind the overall trends and specific areas of mismatch we found. We urge a stronger emphasis on targeting research effort toward those threats and geographic locations where threat abatement activities could make the greatest contribution to reducing global species extinction risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca A Ridley
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Stephen P Rushton
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Emily J Hickinbotham
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Andrew J Suggitt
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Philip J K McGowan
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Louise Mair
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Zhang C, Wang Y, Chang J, Li J, Pan S, Yang B, Zhan X, Dai Q. Global patterns of human-wildlife spatial associations and implications for differentiating conservation strategies. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14279. [PMID: 38682658 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14279] [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: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the global patterns of human and wildlife spatial associations is essential for pragmatic conservation implementation, yet analytical foundations and indicator-based assessments that would further this understanding are lacking. We integrated the global distributions of 30,664 terrestrial vertebrates and human pressures to map human-nature index (HNI) categories that indicate the extent and intensity of human-wildlife interactions. Along the 2 dimensions of biodiversity and human activity, the HNI allowed placement of terrestrial areas worldwide in one of 4 HNI categories: anthropic (human-dominated areas), wildlife-dominated (little human influence and rich in wildlife), co-occurring (substantial presence of humans and wildlife), and harsh-environment (limited presence of humans and wildlife) areas. The HNI varied considerably among taxonomic groups, and the leading driver of HNI was global climate patterns. Co-occurring regions were the most prevalent (35.9%), and wildlife-dominated and anthropic regions encompassed 26.45% and 6.50% of land area, respectively. Our results highlight the necessity for customizing conservation strategies to regions based on human-wildlife spatial associations and the distribution of existing protected area networks. Human activity and biodiversity should be integrated for complementary strategies to support conservation toward ambitious and pragmatic 30×30 goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengcheng Zhang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Yihong Wang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiang Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Junsheng Li
- Command Center for Comprehensive Survey of Natural Resources, China Geological Survey Bureau, Beijing, China
| | - Shengkai Pan
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Biao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, China
| | - Xiangjiang Zhan
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Dai
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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8
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Guo Y, Han J, Bao H, Wu Y, Shen L, Xu X, Chen Z, Smith P, Abdalla M. A systematic analysis and review of soil organic carbon stocks in urban greenspaces. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 948:174788. [PMID: 39019284 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Urban greenspaces typically refer to urban wetland, urban forest and urban turfgrass. They play a critical role in carbon sequestration by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere; however, their capacity to retain and store carbon in the form of soil organic carbon (SOC) varies significantly. This study provides a systematic analysis and review on the capacity of different urban greenspace types in retaining and storing SOC in 30 cm soil depth on a global scale. Data came from 78 publications on the subject of SOC stocks, covering different countries and climate zones. Overall, urban greenspace types exerted significant influences on the spatial pattern of SOC stocks, with the highest value of 18.86 ± 11.57 kg m-2 (mean ± standard deviation) in urban wetland, followed by urban forest (6.50 ± 3.65 kg m-2), while the lowest mean value of 4.24 ± 3.28 kg m-2 was recorded in urban turfgrass soil. Soil organic carbon stocks in each urban greenspace type were significantly affected by climate zones, management/environmental settings, and selected soil properties (i.e. soil bulk density, pH and clay content). Furthermore, our analysis showed a significantly negative correlation between SOC stocks and human footprint in urban wetland, but a significantly positive relationship in urban forest and urban turfgrass. A positive correlation between SOC stocks and human footprint indicates that increased human activity and development can enhance SOC stocks through effective management and green infrastructure. Conversely, a negative correlation suggests that improper management of human activities can degrade SOC stocks. This highlights the need for sustainable practices to maintain or enhance SOC accumulation in urban greenspaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Guo
- Research Institute for Urban Planning and Sustainability, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China; School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jiatong Han
- College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Haijun Bao
- Research Institute for Urban Planning and Sustainability, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China.
| | - Yuzhe Wu
- School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Liyin Shen
- Research Institute for Urban Planning and Sustainability, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Xiangrui Xu
- Research Institute for Urban Planning and Sustainability, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Ziwei Chen
- Research Institute for Urban Planning and Sustainability, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Pete Smith
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK
| | - Mohamed Abdalla
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK
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9
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Wang H, Liu W, Dai G, Ma Y, Yang L, Zhang Z. The effectiveness of natural reserves from the perspective of habitat quality in the southern section of the Hengduan Mountains, Southwestern China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 363:121380. [PMID: 38852415 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121380] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Natural reserves (NRs) play key roles in habitat integrity conservation and biodiversity loss mitigation, and the assessment of the conservation effectiveness of NRs is needed to better manage them. Habitat quality (HQ) comprehensively reflects habitat integrity and biodiversity, but the conservation effectiveness of NRs from the perspective of HQ has rarely been determined at high spatial resolution. Taking the southern section of the Hengduan Mountains (SSHM) in Southwest China as an example, combining an InVEST-HQ model and spatiotemporal change detection methods, the effectiveness of NRs from the perspective of HQ at 30-m spatial resolution was assessed in this study. The effectiveness disparities of NRs across different properties (i.e., management level, conservation target, size, and establishment age) was analyzed and the human pressures on NRs was investigated. The results showed that the HQ of the NRs is good in the SSHM, with the area ratio of the Higher and Highest HQ ≥ 93%. Most of the NR area (94.11%) was effective at improving or maintaining a good HQ. With regard to NR properties, county NRs, NRs designated to conserving wild animals, middle NRs, and younger NRs were more effective, corresponding to management level, conservation target, size, and establishment age, respectively. The human footprint for an effective area is significantly lower than that for an ineffective area, consistent with higher HQ in the effective area and lower HQ in the ineffective area. These findings support the management and zoning of NRs in the SSHM to ensure their effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Ecosecurity of Southwest China and School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
| | - Weihong Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Ecosecurity of Southwest China and School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Guanghui Dai
- Yunnan Academy of Forestry and Grassland, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Yuxin Ma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Ecosecurity of Southwest China and School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Lang Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Ecosecurity of Southwest China and School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Zhiming Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Ecosecurity of Southwest China and School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
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Allen BJ, Hill DJ, Burke AM, Clark M, Marchant R, Stringer LC, Williams DR, Lyon C. Projected future climatic forcing on the global distribution of vegetation types. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230011. [PMID: 38583474 PMCID: PMC10999268 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0011] [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: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Most emissions scenarios suggest temperature and precipitation regimes will change dramatically across the globe over the next 500 years. These changes will have large impacts on the biosphere, with species forced to migrate to follow their preferred environmental conditions, therefore moving and fragmenting ecosystems. However, most projections of the impacts of climate change only reach 2100, limiting our understanding of the temporal scope of climate impacts, and potentially impeding suitable adaptive action. To address this data gap, we model future climate change every 20 years from 2000 to 2500 CE, under different CO2 emissions scenarios, using a general circulation model. We then apply a biome model to these modelled climate futures, to investigate shifts in climatic forcing on vegetation worldwide, the feasibility of the migration required to enact these modelled vegetation changes, and potential overlap with human land use based on modern-day anthromes. Under a business-as-usual scenario, up to 40% of terrestrial area is expected to be suited to a different biome by 2500. Cold-adapted biomes, particularly boreal forest and dry tundra, are predicted to experience the greatest losses of suitable area. Without mitigation, these changes could have severe consequences both for global biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ecological novelty and planetary stewardship: biodiversity dynamics in a transforming biosphere'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany J. Allen
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel 4056, Switzerland
- Computational Evolution Group, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Daniel J. Hill
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Ariane M. Burke
- Département d'Anthropologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Michael Clark
- Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK
- Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3BD, UK
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Robert Marchant
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, YO10 5NG, UK
| | - Lindsay C. Stringer
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, YO10 5NG, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
- York Environmental Sustainability Institute, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - David R. Williams
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Christopher Lyon
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, YO10 5NG, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
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11
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Robinson JG, LaBruna D, O’Brien T, Clyne PJ, Dudley N, Andelman SJ, Bennett EL, Chicchon A, Durigan C, Grantham H, Kinnaird M, Lieberman S, Maisels F, Moreira A, Rao M, Stokes E, Walston J, Watson JEM. Scaling up area-based conservation to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework's 30x30 target: The role of Nature's Strongholds. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002613. [PMID: 38771730 PMCID: PMC11108224 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002613] [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] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), signed in 2022 by Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, recognized the importance of area-based conservation, and its goals and targets specify the characteristics of protected and conserved areas (PCAs) that disproportionately contribute to biodiversity conservation. To achieve the GBF's target of conserving a global area of 30% by 2030, this Essay argues for recognizing these characteristics and scaling them up through the conservation of areas that are: extensive (typically larger than 5,000 km2); have interconnected PCAs (either physically or as part of a jurisdictional network, and frequently embedded in larger conservation landscapes); have high ecological integrity; and are effectively managed and equitably governed. These areas are presented as "Nature's Strongholds," illustrated by examples from the Congo and Amazon basins. Conserving Nature's Strongholds offers an approach to scale up initiatives to address global threats to biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G. Robinson
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Danielle LaBruna
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Peter J. Clyne
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Sandy J. Andelman
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Avecita Chicchon
- Andes-Amazon Initiative, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Carlos Durigan
- Wildlife Conservation Society Brasil, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Hedley Grantham
- Center for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Bush Heritage Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Sue Lieberman
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Fiona Maisels
- Wildlife Conservation Society Congo, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Adriana Moreira
- Global Environmental Facility, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Madhu Rao
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- World Commission on Protected Areas, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Emma Stokes
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Joe Walston
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - James EM Watson
- School of The Environment, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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12
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Engert JE, Campbell MJ, Cinner JE, Ishida Y, Sloan S, Supriatna J, Alamgir M, Cislowski J, Laurance WF. Ghost roads and the destruction of Asia-Pacific tropical forests. Nature 2024; 629:370-375. [PMID: 38600390 PMCID: PMC11078755 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07303-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Roads are expanding at the fastest pace in human history. This is the case especially in biodiversity-rich tropical nations, where roads can result in forest loss and fragmentation, wildfires, illicit land invasions and negative societal effects1-5. Many roads are being constructed illegally or informally and do not appear on any existing road map6-10; the toll of such 'ghost roads' on ecosystems is poorly understood. Here we use around 7,000 h of effort by trained volunteers to map ghost roads across the tropical Asia-Pacific region, sampling 1.42 million plots, each 1 km2 in area. Our intensive sampling revealed a total of 1.37 million km of roads in our plots-from 3.0 to 6.6 times more roads than were found in leading datasets of roads globally. Across our study area, road building almost always preceded local forest loss, and road density was by far the strongest correlate11 of deforestation out of 38 potential biophysical and socioeconomic covariates. The relationship between road density and forest loss was nonlinear, with deforestation peaking soon after roads penetrate a landscape and then declining as roads multiply and remaining accessible forests largely disappear. Notably, after controlling for lower road density inside protected areas, we found that protected areas had only modest additional effects on preventing forest loss, implying that their most vital conservation function is limiting roads and road-related environmental disruption. Collectively, our findings suggest that burgeoning, poorly studied ghost roads are among the gravest of all direct threats to tropical forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayden E Engert
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Mason J Campbell
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Joshua E Cinner
- College of Arts, Society and Education, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Thriving Oceans Research Hub, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yoko Ishida
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sean Sloan
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Geography, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jatna Supriatna
- Research Center for Climate Change, and Department of Biology, University of Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia
| | - Mohammed Alamgir
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jaime Cislowski
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - William F Laurance
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
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13
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Masto NM, Blake-Bradshaw AG, Highway CJ, Keever AC, Feddersen JC, Hagy HM, Cohen BS. Human access constrains optimal foraging and habitat availability in an avian generalist. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 34:e2952. [PMID: 38417451 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2952] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Animals balance costs of antipredator behaviors with resource acquisition to minimize hunting and other mortality risks and maximize their physiological condition. This inherent trade-off between forage abundance, its quality, and mortality risk is intensified in human-dominated landscapes because fragmentation, habitat loss, and degradation of natural vegetation communities is often coupled with artificially enhanced vegetation (i.e., food plots), creating high-risk, high-reward resource selection decisions. Our goal was to evaluate autumn-winter resource selection trade-offs for an intensively hunted avian generalist. We hypothesized human access was a reliable cue for hunting predation risk. Therefore, we predicted resource selection patterns would be spatiotemporally dependent upon levels of access and associated perceived risk. Specifically, we evaluated resource selection of local-scale flights between diel periods for 426 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) relative to wetland type, forage quality, and differing levels of human access across hunting and nonhunting seasons. Mallards selected areas that prohibited human access and generally avoided areas that allowed access diurnally, especially during the hunting season. Mallards compensated by selecting for high-energy and greater quality foraging patches on allowable human access areas nocturnally when they were devoid of hunters. Postseason selection across human access gradients did not return to prehunting levels immediately, perhaps suggesting a delayed response to reacclimate to nonhunted activities and thus agreeing with the assessment mismatch hypothesis. Last, wetland availability and human access constrained selection for optimal natural forage quality (i.e., seed biomass and forage productivity) diurnally during preseason and hunting season, respectively; however, mallards were freed from these constraints nocturnally during hunting season and postseason periods. Our results suggest risk-avoidance of human accessible (i.e., hunted) areas is a primary driver of resource selection behaviors by mallards and could be a local to landscape-level process influencing distributions, instead of forage abundance and quality, which has long-been assumed by waterfowl conservation planners in North America. Broadly, even an avian generalist, well adapted to anthropogenic landscapes, avoids areas where hunting and human access are allowed. Future conservation planning and implementation must consider management for recreational access (i.e., people) equally important as foraging habitat management for wintering waterfowl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M Masto
- Tennessee Technological University, College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Cookeville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Abigail G Blake-Bradshaw
- Tennessee Technological University, College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Cookeville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Cory J Highway
- Tennessee Technological University, College of Arts and Sciences, Cookeville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Allison C Keever
- Tennessee Technological University, College of Arts and Sciences, Cookeville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jamie C Feddersen
- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Migratory Gamebird Program, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Heath M Hagy
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System, Stanton, Tennessee, USA
| | - Bradley S Cohen
- Tennessee Technological University, College of Arts and Sciences, Cookeville, Tennessee, USA
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Danet A, Giam X, Olden JD, Comte L. Past and recent anthropogenic pressures drive rapid changes in riverine fish communities. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:442-453. [PMID: 38291153 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02271-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Understanding how and why local communities change is a pressing task for conservation, especially in freshwater systems. It remains challenging because of the complexity of biodiversity changes, driven by the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of human pressures. Using a compilation of riverine fish community time series (93% between 1993 and 2019) across the Palaearctic, Nearctic and Australasia realms, we assessed how past and recent anthropogenic pressures drive community changes across both space and time. We found evidence of rapid changes in community composition of 30% per decade characterized by important changes in the dominant species, together with a 13% increase in total abundance per decade and a 7% increase in species richness per decade. The spatial heterogeneity in these trends could be traced back to the strength and timing of anthropogenic pressures and was mainly mediated by non-native species introductions. Specifically, we demonstrate that the negative effects of anthropogenic pressures on species richness and total abundance were compensated over time by the establishment of non-native species, a pattern consistent with previously reported biotic homogenization at the global scale. Overall, our study suggests that accounting for the complexity of community changes and its drivers is a crucial step to reach global conservation goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Danet
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA.
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
| | - Xingli Giam
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Julian D Olden
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lise Comte
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA
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Nadal J, Sáez D, Volponi S, Serra L, Spina F, Margalida A. The effects of cities on quail (Coturnix coturnix) migration: a disturbing story of population connectivity, health, and ecography. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:266. [PMID: 38353774 PMCID: PMC10867070 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12277-4] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The increasing impact of human activities on ecosystems is provoking a profound and dangerous effect, particularly in wildlife. Examining the historical migration patterns of quail (Coturnix coturnix) offers a compelling case study to demonstrate the repercussions of human actions on biodiversity. Urbanization trends, where people gravitate toward mega-urban areas, amplify this effect. The proliferation of artificial urban ecosystems extends its influence across every biome, as human reliance on infrastructure and food sources alters ecological dynamics extensively. We examine European quail migrations pre- and post-World War II and in the present day. Our study concentrates on the Italian peninsula, investigating the historical and contemporary recovery of ringed quail populations. To comprehend changes in quail migration, we utilize trajectory analysis, open statistical data, and linear generalized models. We found that while human population and economic growth have shown a linear increase, quail recovery rates exhibit a U-shaped trajectory, and cereal and legume production displays an inverse U-shaped pattern. Generalized linear models have unveiled the significant influence of several key factors-time periods, cereal and legume production, and human demographics-on quail recovery rates. These factors closely correlate with the levels of urbanization observed across these timeframes. These insights underscore the profound impact of expanding human populations and the rise of mega-urbanization on ecosystem dynamics and services. As our planet becomes more urbanized, the pressure on ecosystems intensifies, highlighting the urgent need for concerted efforts directed toward conserving and revitalizing ecosystem integrity. Simultaneously, manage the needs and demands of burgeoning mega-urban areas. Achieving this balance is pivotal to ensuring sustainable coexistence between urban improvement and the preservation of our natural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Nadal
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Wildlife, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Avd. Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198, Lleida, Spain.
| | - David Sáez
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Wildlife, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Avd. Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Stefano Volponi
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta, 9, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia BO, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Serra
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta, 9, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia BO, Italy
| | - Fernando Spina
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta, 9, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia BO, Italy
| | - Antoni Margalida
- Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
- Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (CSIC), Avda. Nuestra Señora de la Victoria, 12, 22700, Jaca, Spain
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16
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Cowan MA, Dunlop JA, Gibson LA, Moore HA, Setterfield SA, Nimmo DG. Movement ecology of an endangered mesopredator in a mining landscape. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:5. [PMID: 38233871 PMCID: PMC10795371 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00439-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Efficient movement and energy expenditure are vital for animal survival. Human disturbance can alter animal movement due to changes in resource availability and threats. Some animals can exploit anthropogenic disturbances for more efficient movement, while others face restricted or inefficient movement due to fragmentation of high-resource habitats, and risks associated with disturbed habitats. Mining, a major anthropogenic disturbance, removes natural habitats, introduces new landscape features, and alters resource distribution in the landscape. This study investigates the effect of mining on the movement of an endangered mesopredator, the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus). Using GPS collars and accelerometers, we investigate their habitat selection and energy expenditure in an active mining landscape, to determine the effects of this disturbance on northern quolls. METHODS We fit northern quolls with GPS collars and accelerometers during breeding and non-breeding season at an active mine site in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. We investigated broad-scale movement by calculating the movement ranges of quolls using utilisation distributions at the 95% isopleth, and compared habitat types and environmental characteristics within observed movement ranges to the available landscape. We investigated fine-scale movement by quolls with integrated step selection functions, assessing the relative selection strength for each habitat covariate. Finally, we used piecewise structural equation modelling to analyse the influence of each habitat covariate on northern quoll energy expenditure. RESULTS At the broad scale, northern quolls predominantly used rugged, rocky habitats, and used mining habitats in proportion to their availability. However, at the fine scale, habitat use varied between breeding and non-breeding seasons. During the breeding season, quolls notably avoided mining habitats, whereas in the non-breeding season, they frequented mining habitats equally to rocky and riparian habitats, albeit at a higher energetic cost. CONCLUSION Mining impacts northern quolls by fragmenting favoured rocky habitats, increasing energy expenditure, and potentially impacting breeding dispersal. While mining habitats might offer limited resource opportunities in the non-breeding season, conservation efforts during active mining, including the creation of movement corridors and progressive habitat restoration would likely be useful. However, prioritising the preservation of natural rocky and riparian habitats in mining landscapes is vital for northern quoll conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Cowan
- Gulbali Institute, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia.
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - J A Dunlop
- Gulbali Institute, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - L A Gibson
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, WA, 6151, Australia
| | - H A Moore
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, WA, 6151, Australia
| | - S A Setterfield
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - D G Nimmo
- Gulbali Institute, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia
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17
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de Araujo HFP, Machado CCC, da Silva JMC. The distribution and conservation of areas with microendemic species in a biodiversity hotspot: a multi-taxa approach. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16779. [PMID: 38239293 PMCID: PMC10795537 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Microendemic species are species with very small geographic distributions (ranges). Their presence delimitates areas with microendemic species (AMs), denoting a spatial unit comprising at least one population of at least one microendemic species. AMs are assumed to be distributed distinctively and associated with specific ecological, historical, and anthropogenic attributes. However, the level of influence of these factors remains unclear. Thus, we studied the distribution patterns of microendemic species within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest to (a) identify the region's AMs; (b) evaluate whether ecological (latitude, altitude, distance from the coastline), historical (climate stability), and anthropogenic (ecological integrity) attributes distinguish AMs from non-AMs; and (c) assess the conservation status of the Atlantic Forest's AMs. Methods We mapped the ranges of 1,362 microendemic species of angiosperms, freshwater fishes, and terrestrial vertebrates (snakes, passerine birds, and small mammals) to identify the region's AMs. Further, spatial autoregressive logit regression models were used to evaluate whether latitude, altitude, distance from the coastline, Climate Stability Index, and ecological integrity can be used to discern AMs from non-AMs. Moreover, the AMs' conservation status was assessed by evaluating the region's ecological integrity and conservation efforts (measured as the proportion of AMs in protected areas). Results We identified 261 AMs for angiosperm, 205 AMs for freshwater fishes, and 102 AMs for terrestrial vertebrates in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, totaling 474 AMs covering 23.8% of the region. The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is a large and complex biogeographic mosaic where AMs represent islands or archipelagoes surrounded by transition areas with no microendemic species. All local attributes help to distinguish AMs from non-AMs, but their impacts vary across taxonomic groups. Around 69% of AMs have low ecological integrity and poor conservation efforts, indicating that most microendemic species are under threat. This study provides insights into the biogeography of one of the most important global biodiversity hotspots, creating a foundation for comparative studies using other tropical forest regions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Célia C. C. Machado
- Center of Applied Biological and Social Sciences, State University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - José Maria Cardoso da Silva
- Department of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, United States of America
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Wang X, Yang C, Qiao H, Hu J. More than two-fifths of the protected land in a global biodiversity hotspot in southwest China is under intense human pressure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167283. [PMID: 37778545 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167283] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Habitat loss is the main threat to global biodiversity in the Anthropocene. To prevent this, protected areas are the most effective means for safeguarding biodiversity. However, extensive habitat protection under human pressure can undermine its effectiveness. Using the Hengduan Mountains, a global biodiversity hotspot in southwest China as an indicator, we assessed the extent and intensity of human pressure to highlight how these pressures have changed over time. We found that most ecoregions had high levels of intact habitat loss relative to areal protection by national nature reserves (NNRs). More than two-fifths of protected land is under intense human pressure, and lower elevation or smaller NNRs were subject to higher pressure. These increases have predominantly occurred in lower elevation NNRs, showing that elevation gradients correlate with increasing pressure. While protected areas are increasingly established, they are experiencing intense human pressure. Our findings provide useful insights for assessing resilience of protected areas and to prioritize areas where future conservation plans and actions should be focused in a changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Wang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Yang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China; Sichuan Zoige Alpine Wetland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huijie Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Junhua Hu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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19
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Luo J, Luan B, Xue F, Qi X, Zhu M, Xu P, Zhang L. Uncovering the relationship between floating marine litter and human activities in watersheds. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 198:115893. [PMID: 38096693 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115893] [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: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Rivers serve as the primary pathway for transporting floating marine litter (FML) from land to sea. However, the complex dynamics of transboundary rivers pose a significant obstacle when examining the impact of watershed-based human activities on FML distribution. This study conducts year-long monthly monitoring of FML using trawl and visual surveys in the coastal water of a peninsula dominated by indigenous rivers in south China. Overall, small pieces debris dominates FML in the nearshore waters of the peninsula, with meso-sized (0.5 cm-2.5 cm) FML accounting for 73.93 % of the total. The density of FML is more profoundly influenced by human activities within watersheds rather than its composition. Moreover, the association between human activity and FML density exhibits greater significant compared to variations based on geography and seasonality. This study provides a scientific basis for coastal protection and contributes for understanding of the mechanisms of marine litter transfer from land to sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianing Luo
- Green Infrastructure Institute, Peking University Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Bo Luan
- Green Infrastructure Institute, Peking University Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China.
| | - Fei Xue
- Center for Human-Oriented Environment and Sustainable Design, School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Xiaoli Qi
- Green Infrastructure Institute, Peking University Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Mingjian Zhu
- School of Design, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Peng Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong Province, China
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Essl F, García‐Rodríguez A, Lenzner B, Alexander JM, Capinha C, Gaüzère P, Guisan A, Kühn I, Lenoir J, Richardson DM, Rumpf SB, Svenning J, Thuiller W, Zurell D, Dullinger S. Potential sources of time lags in calibrating species distribution models. JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY 2024; 51:89-102. [PMID: 38515765 PMCID: PMC10952696 DOI: 10.1111/jbi.14726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The Anthropocene is characterized by a rapid pace of environmental change and is causing a multitude of biotic responses, including those that affect the spatial distribution of species. Lagged responses are frequent and species distributions and assemblages are consequently pushed into a disequilibrium state. How the characteristics of environmental change-for example, gradual 'press' disturbances such as rising temperatures due to climate change versus infrequent 'pulse' disturbances such as extreme events-affect the magnitude of responses and the relaxation times of biota has been insufficiently explored. It is also not well understood how widely used approaches to assess or project the responses of species to changing environmental conditions can deal with time lags. It, therefore, remains unclear to what extent time lags in species distributions are accounted for in biodiversity assessments, scenarios and models; this has ramifications for policymaking and conservation science alike. This perspective piece reflects on lagged species responses to environmental change and discusses the potential consequences for species distribution models (SDMs), the tools of choice in biodiversity modelling. We suggest ways to better account for time lags in calibrating these models and to reduce their leverage effects in projections for improved biodiversity science and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Essl
- Division of BioInvasions, Global Change & Macroecology, Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Adrián García‐Rodríguez
- Division of BioInvasions, Global Change & Macroecology, Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Bernd Lenzner
- Division of BioInvasions, Global Change & Macroecology, Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | | | - César Capinha
- Centre of Geographical StudiesInstitute of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of LisbonLisboaPortugal
- Associate Laboratory TERRALisbonPortugal
| | - Pierre Gaüzère
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRSLECAGrenobleF‐38000France
| | | | - Ingolf Kühn
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZHalleGermany
- Martin Luther University Halle‐WittenbergHalleGermany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | - Jonathan Lenoir
- UMR CNRS 7058, Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés (EDYSAN)Université de Picardie Jules VerneAmiensFrance
| | - David M. Richardson
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Centre for Invasion BiologyStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
- Department of Invasion EcologyCzech Academy of Sciences, Institute of BotanyPrůhoniceCzech Republic
| | - Sabine B. Rumpf
- Department of Environmental SciencesUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Jens‐Christian Svenning
- Department of Biology, Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO) & Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE)Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Wilfried Thuiller
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRSLECAGrenobleF‐38000France
| | - Damaris Zurell
- Institute for Biochemistry and BiologyUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Stefan Dullinger
- Division of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation, Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
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Geng M, Li X, Mu H, Yu G, Chai L, Yang Z, Liu H, Huang J, Liu H, Ju Z. Human footprints in the Global South accelerate biomass carbon loss in ecologically sensitive regions. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:5881-5895. [PMID: 37565368 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Human activities have placed significant pressure on the terrestrial biosphere, leading to ecosystem degradation and carbon losses. However, the full impact of these activities on terrestrial biomass carbon remains unexplored. In this study, we examined changes in global human footprint (HFP) and human-induced aboveground biomass carbon (AGBC) losses from 2000 to 2018. Our findings show an increasing trend in HFP globally, resulting in the conversion of wilderness areas to highly modified regions. These changes have altered global biomes' habitats, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. We also found accelerated AGBC loss driven by HFP expansion, with a total loss of 19.99 ± 0.196 PgC from 2000 to 2018, especially in tropical regions. Additionally, AGBC is more vulnerable in the Global South than in the Global North. Human activities threaten natural habitats, resulting in increasing AGBC loss even in strictly protected areas. Therefore, scientifically guided planning of future human activities is crucial to protect half of Earth through mitigation and adaptation under future risks of climate change and global urbanization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqing Geng
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuecao Li
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing for Agri-Hazards, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Haowei Mu
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guojiang Yu
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Chai
- International College, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongwen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haimeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianxi Huang
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing for Agri-Hazards, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Han Liu
- Key Laboratory of Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation, Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengshan Ju
- Key Laboratory of Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation, Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing, China
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22
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Sofi II, Shah MA, Ganie AH. Integrating human footprint with ensemble modelling identifies priority habitats for conservation: a case study in the distributional range of Arnebia euchroma, a vulnerable species. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:914. [PMID: 37395941 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11528-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Climate change-driven rapid alteration of ecosystems globally is further complicated by growing anthropogenic pressures, especially in the ecologically sensitive mountainous regions. However, these two major drivers of change have largely been considered separately in species distribution models, thus compromising their reliability. Here, we integrated ensemble modelling with the human pressure index for predicting distribution and mapping priority regions across a whole range of occurrences for vulnerable species, Arnebia euchroma. Our results identified 3.08% of the study area as 'highly suitable', 2.45% as 'moderately suitable', and 94.45% as 'not suitable' or 'least suitable'. Compared to current climatic conditions, future RCP scenarios of 2050 and 2070 showed a significant loss in habitat suitability and a slight shift in the distribution pattern of the target species. By excluding the high-pressure areas of the human footprint from the predicted suitable habitats, we were able to identify the unique areas (70% of the predicted suitable area) that need special attention for conservation and restoration. Such models, if well implemented, may play a pivotal role in achieving the effective targets under the aegis of the current UN decade on ecological restoration (2021-2030) in accordance with SDG 15.4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irfan Iqbal Sofi
- University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
| | - Manzoor A Shah
- University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Aijaz H Ganie
- University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
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23
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Preece ND, van Oosterzee P, Lawes MJ. Reforestation success can be enhanced by improving tree planting methods. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 336:117645. [PMID: 36871451 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117645] [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: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Successful cost-effective reforestation plantings depend substantially on maximising sapling survival from the time of planting, yet in reforestation programs remarkably little attention is given to management of saplings at the planting stage and to planting methods used. Critical determinants of sapling survival include their vigour and condition when planted, the wetness of the soil into which saplings are planted, the trauma of transplant shock from nursery to natural field soils, and the method and care taken during planting. While some determinants are outside planters' control, careful management of specific elements associated with outplanting can significantly lessen transplanting shock and improve survival rates. Results from three reforestation experiments designed to examine cost-effective planting methods in the Australian wet tropics provided the opportunity to examine the effects of specific planting treatments, including (1) watering regime prior to planting, (2) method of planting and planter technique, and (3) site preparation and maintenance, on sapling survival and establishment. Focusing on sapling root moisture and physical protection during planting improved sapling survival by at least 10% (>91% versus 81%) at 4 months. Survival rates of saplings under different planting treatments were reflected in longer-term survival of trees at 18-20 months, differing from a low of 52% up to 76-88%. This survival effect was evident more than 6 years after planting. Watering saplings immediately prior to planting, careful planting using a forester's planting spade in moist soil and suppressing grass competition using appropriate herbicides were critical to improved plant survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noel D Preece
- College of Science & Engineering, Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Cairns, Qld, 4811, Australia; Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia.
| | - Penny van Oosterzee
- College of Science & Engineering, Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Cairns, Qld, 4811, Australia; Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia
| | - Michael J Lawes
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
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24
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Tucker MA, Schipper AM, Adams TSF, Attias N, Avgar T, Babic NL, Barker KJ, Bastille-Rousseau G, Behr DM, Belant JL, Beyer DE, Blaum N, Blount JD, Bockmühl D, Pires Boulhosa RL, Brown MB, Buuveibaatar B, Cagnacci F, Calabrese JM, Černe R, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Chan AN, Chase MJ, Chaval Y, Chenaux-Ibrahim Y, Cherry SG, Ćirović D, Çoban E, Cole EK, Conlee L, Courtemanch A, Cozzi G, Davidson SC, DeBloois D, Dejid N, DeNicola V, Desbiez ALJ, Douglas-Hamilton I, Drake D, Egan M, Eikelboom JAJ, Fagan WF, Farmer MJ, Fennessy J, Finnegan SP, Fleming CH, Fournier B, Fowler NL, Gantchoff MG, Garnier A, Gehr B, Geremia C, Goheen JR, Hauptfleisch ML, Hebblewhite M, Heim M, Hertel AG, Heurich M, Hewison AJM, Hodson J, Hoffman N, Hopcraft JGC, Huber D, Isaac EJ, Janik K, Ježek M, Johansson Ö, Jordan NR, Kaczensky P, Kamaru DN, Kauffman MJ, Kautz TM, Kays R, Kelly AP, Kindberg J, Krofel M, Kusak J, Lamb CT, LaSharr TN, Leimgruber P, Leitner H, Lierz M, Linnell JDC, Lkhagvaja P, Long RA, López-Bao JV, Loretto MC, Marchand P, Martin H, Martinez LA, McBride RT, McLaren AAD, Meisingset E, Melzheimer J, Merrill EH, Middleton AD, Monteith KL, Moore SA, Van Moorter B, Morellet N, Morrison T, Müller R, Mysterud A, Noonan MJ, O'Connor D, Olson D, Olson KA, Ortega AC, Ossi F, Panzacchi M, Patchett R, Patterson BR, de Paula RC, Payne J, Peters W, Petroelje TR, Pitcher BJ, Pokorny B, Poole K, Potočnik H, Poulin MP, Pringle RM, Prins HHT, Ranc N, Reljić S, Robb B, Röder R, Rolandsen CM, Rutz C, Salemgareyev AR, Samelius G, Sayine-Crawford H, Schooler S, Şekercioğlu ÇH, Selva N, Semenzato P, Sergiel A, Sharma K, Shawler AL, Signer J, Silovský V, Silva JP, Simon R, Smiley RA, Smith DW, Solberg EJ, Ellis-Soto D, Spiegel O, Stabach J, Stacy-Dawes J, Stahler DR, Stephenson J, Stewart C, Strand O, Sunde P, Svoboda NJ, Swart J, Thompson JJ, Toal KL, Uiseb K, VanAcker MC, Velilla M, Verzuh TL, Wachter B, Wagler BL, Whittington J, Wikelski M, Wilmers CC, Wittemyer G, Young JK, Zięba F, Zwijacz-Kozica T, Huijbregts MAJ, Mueller T. Behavioral responses of terrestrial mammals to COVID-19 lockdowns. Science 2023; 380:1059-1064. [PMID: 37289888 DOI: 10.1126/science.abo6499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020 reduced human mobility, providing an opportunity to disentangle its effects on animals from those of landscape modifications. Using GPS data, we compared movements and road avoidance of 2300 terrestrial mammals (43 species) during the lockdowns to the same period in 2019. Individual responses were variable with no change in average movements or road avoidance behavior, likely due to variable lockdown conditions. However, under strict lockdowns 10-day 95th percentile displacements increased by 73%, suggesting increased landscape permeability. Animals' 1-hour 95th percentile displacements declined by 12% and animals were 36% closer to roads in areas of high human footprint, indicating reduced avoidance during lockdowns. Overall, lockdowns rapidly altered some spatial behaviors, highlighting variable but substantial impacts of human mobility on wildlife worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlee A Tucker
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500, GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Aafke M Schipper
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500, GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Nina Attias
- Instituto de Conservação de Animais Silvestres (ICAS), Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Tal Avgar
- Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322 USA
| | - Natarsha L Babic
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Kristin J Barker
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | | | - Dominik M Behr
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH - 8057 Zürich
- Botswana Predator Conservation, Private Bag 13, Maun, Botswana
| | - Jerrold L Belant
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Dean E Beyer
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Niels Blaum
- University of Potsdam, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Am Mühlenberg 3, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - J David Blount
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 S 1400 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Dirk Bockmühl
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Michael B Brown
- Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Eros, PO Box 86099, Windhoek, Namibia
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Conservation Ecology Center, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
| | | | - Francesca Cagnacci
- Animal Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Justin M Calabrese
- Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS), Goerlitz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, 4094 Campus Dr, College Park, MA, USA
| | - Rok Černe
- Slovenia Forest service, Večna pot 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Simon Chamaillé-Jammes
- CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Aung Nyein Chan
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Conservation Ecology Center, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
- Dept. Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA
| | | | - Yannick Chaval
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
- LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, F-31320 Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - Yvette Chenaux-Ibrahim
- Department of Biology and Environment, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage, MN 55605 USA
| | - Seth G Cherry
- Parks Canada Agency, Box 220, Radium Hot Springs, BC, V0A 1M0, Canada
| | - Duško Ćirović
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Emrah Çoban
- KuzeyDoğa Society, Ortakapı Mah. Şehit Yusuf Cad. 69, 36100 Kars, Turkey
| | - Eric K Cole
- U.S. Fish and Wildlfe Service, National Elk Refuge, PO Box 510, Jackson, WY 83001
| | - Laura Conlee
- Missouri Department of Conservation, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | | | - Gabriele Cozzi
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH - 8057 Zürich
- Botswana Predator Conservation, Private Bag 13, Maun, Botswana
| | - Sarah C Davidson
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, 43210 Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Nandintsetseg Dejid
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Arnaud L J Desbiez
- Instituto de Conservação de Animais Silvestres (ICAS), Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), Murrayfield, Edinburgh, UK
- Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (IPÊ), Nazaré Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Iain Douglas-Hamilton
- Save the Elephants, Marula Manor, Marula Lane, Karen, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
- Department of Zoology, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
| | - David Drake
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706 USA
| | - Michael Egan
- Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901
- LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, F-31320 Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - Jasper A J Eikelboom
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - William F Fagan
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, 4094 Campus Dr, College Park, MA, USA
| | - Morgan J Farmer
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Julian Fennessy
- Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Eros, PO Box 86099, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Shannon P Finnegan
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Christen H Fleming
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, 4094 Campus Dr, College Park, MA, USA
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA, USA
| | - Bonnie Fournier
- Wildlife and Fish Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, P.O. Box 1320, Yellowknife, NT, Canada
| | - Nicholas L Fowler
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 43961 Kalifornsky Beach Road, Suite B, Soldotna, AK 99669, USA
| | - Mariela G Gantchoff
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469 USA
| | - Alexandre Garnier
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
- Parc National des Pyrénées, 65000 Tarbes, France
| | - Benedikt Gehr
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Chris Geremia
- Yellowstone Center for Resources, PO Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
| | - Jacob R Goheen
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071 USA
| | - Morgan L Hauptfleisch
- Biodiversity Research Centre, Namibia University of Science and Technnology Pvt bag 13388 Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program, Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59801
| | - Morten Heim
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Terrestrial Ecology Department, P.O. Box 5685 Torgarden, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Anne G Hertel
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Marco Heurich
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Straße 2, 94481 Grafenau, Germany
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for forest and wildlife management, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Campus Evenstad, Inland Norway University of Applied Science, NO-2480 Koppang, Norway
| | - A J Mark Hewison
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
- LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, F-31320 Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - James Hodson
- Wildlife and Fish Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, P.O. Box 1320, Yellowknife, NT Canada X1A 2L9
| | - Nicholas Hoffman
- Ecological Program, Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center, Annville, PA 17003, USA
| | - J Grant C Hopcraft
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow UK G12 8QQ
| | - Djuro Huber
- Veterinary Biology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Edmund J Isaac
- Department of Biology and Environment, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage, MN 55605 USA
| | - Karolina Janik
- City of New York Parks and Recreation, Wildlife Unit, 1234 5th Avenue, 5th Floor, NY 10029
| | - Miloš Ježek
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Örjan Johansson
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 739 93, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
- Snow Leopard Trust, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - Neil R Jordan
- Botswana Predator Conservation, Private Bag 13, Maun, Botswana
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation Society, Sydney, NSW, 2088, Australia
| | - Petra Kaczensky
- Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Norway
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Austria
| | - Douglas N Kamaru
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071 USA
- Wildlife Department, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Private Bag-10400, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Matthew J Kauffman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Todd M Kautz
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Roland Kays
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC, 27601, USA
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Allicia P Kelly
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, P.O. Box 2668, Yellowknife, NT Canada X1A 2P9
| | - Jonas Kindberg
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NO-7484 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE- 901 83 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Miha Krofel
- Department of Forestry, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred- Kowalke- Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Josip Kusak
- Veterinary Biology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Clayton T Lamb
- Biological Sciences Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Tayler N LaSharr
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 804 East Fremont, Laramie, WY 82072
| | - Peter Leimgruber
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Conservation Ecology Center, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
| | - Horst Leitner
- Büro für Wildökologie und Forstwirtschaft, Klagenfurth, Austria
| | - Michael Lierz
- Clinic for birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
| | - John D C Linnell
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Terrestrial Ecology Department, P.O. Box 5685 Torgarden, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
- Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Anne Evenstads vei 80, 2480 Koppang, Norway
| | | | - Ryan A Long
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844 USA
| | - José Vicente López-Bao
- Biodiversity Research Institute (CSIC - Oviedo University - Principality of Asturias), Oviedo University, E-33600 Mieres, Spain
| | - Matthias-Claudio Loretto
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Life Sciences, Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management Group, 85354 Freising, Germany
- Berchtesgaden National Park, 83471 Berchtesgaden, Germany
| | - Pascal Marchand
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Direction de la Recherche et de l'Expertise, Unité Ongulés Sauvages, Juvignac, France
| | - Hans Martin
- Wildlife Biology Program, Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59801
| | - Lindsay A Martinez
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Roy T McBride
- Faro Moro Eco Research, Estancia Faro Moro, Departmento de Boquerón, Paraguay
| | - Ashley A D McLaren
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 7B8, Canada
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Highway 5, PO Box 900, Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, X0E 0P0, Canada
| | - Erling Meisingset
- Department of Forestry and Forestry resources, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Tingvoll gard, NO-6630 Tingvoll, Norway
| | - Joerg Melzheimer
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Evelyn H Merrill
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Arthur D Middleton
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Kevin L Monteith
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 804 East Fremont, Laramie, WY 82072
| | - Seth A Moore
- Department of Biology and Environment, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage, MN 55605 USA
| | - Bram Van Moorter
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Terrestrial Ecology Department, P.O. Box 5685 Torgarden, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Nicolas Morellet
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
- LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, F-31320 Auzeville-Tolosane, France
| | - Thomas Morrison
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow UK G12 8QQ
| | - Rebekka Müller
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Atle Mysterud
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Michael J Noonan
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David O'Connor
- Save Giraffe Now, 8333 Douglas Avenue, Suite 300, Dallas, Texas 75225
- The Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- National Geographic Partners, 1145 17th Street NW, Washington DC 20036, USA
| | | | - Kirk A Olson
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Mongolia Program. Post 20A, Box 21, Ulaanbaatar 14200, Mongolia
| | - Anna C Ortega
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
- Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071 USA
| | - Federico Ossi
- Animal Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Manuela Panzacchi
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Terrestrial Ecology Department, P.O. Box 5685 Torgarden, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Robert Patchett
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Sir Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews, KY16 9TH, UK
| | - Brent R Patterson
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - Rogerio Cunha de Paula
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Atibaia, SP, 12952011 Brazil
| | - John Payne
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wibke Peters
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Wildlife Management, Bavarian State Institute for Forestry, Hans-Carl-von Carlowitz Platz 1, 85354 Freising
| | - Tyler R Petroelje
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Benjamin J Pitcher
- Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation Society, Sydney, NSW, 2088, Australia
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Boštjan Pokorny
- Faculty of Environmental Protection, Trg mladosti 7, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia
- Slovenian Forestry Institute, Večna pot 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
| | - Kim Poole
- Aurora Wildlife Research, 1918 Shannon Point Rd., Nelson, BC, V1L 6K1 Canada
| | - Hubert Potočnik
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marie-Pier Poulin
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071 USA
| | - Robert M Pringle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544 USA
| | - Herbert H T Prins
- Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, De Elst 1, 6708 WD, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Nathan Ranc
- Animal Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge MA 02138, USA
| | - Slaven Reljić
- Veterinary Biology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Oikon Ltd, Institute of Applied Ecology, Trg Senjskih uskoka 1-2, HR-10020 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Benjamin Robb
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Ralf Röder
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christer M Rolandsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Terrestrial Ecology Department, P.O. Box 5685 Torgarden, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Christian Rutz
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Sir Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews, KY16 9TH, UK
| | - Albert R Salemgareyev
- Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Gustaf Samelius
- Snow Leopard Trust, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
- Nordens Ark, 456 93 Hunnebostrand, Sweden
| | - Heather Sayine-Crawford
- Wildlife and Fish Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, P.O. Box 1320, Yellowknife, NT Canada X1A 2L9
| | - Sarah Schooler
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Çağan H Şekercioğlu
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 S 1400 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- KuzeyDoğa Society, Ortakapı Mah. Şehit Yusuf Cad. 69, 36100 Kars, Turkey
- Koç University Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, Rumelifeneri, Istanbul, Sarıyer, Turkey
| | - Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation Polish Academy of Sciences, Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
- Departamento de Ciencias Integradas, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Física, Matemáticas y Computación, Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Paola Semenzato
- Animal Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Dimension Research, Ecology and Environment (D.R.E.Am. Italia), Via Garibaldi, 3, 52015 Pratovecchio Stia (AR), Italy
| | - Agnieszka Sergiel
- Institute of Nature Conservation Polish Academy of Sciences, Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
| | - Koustubh Sharma
- Snow Leopard Trust, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
- Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- Snow Leopard Foundation, Kyrgyzstan Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore 570002, India
| | - Avery L Shawler
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Johannes Signer
- Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Göttingen Germany
| | - Václav Silovský
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic
| | - João Paulo Silva
- 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
| | - Richard Simon
- City of New York Parks and Recreation, Wildlife Unit, 1234 5th Avenue, 5th Floor, NY, NY, 10029
| | - Rachel A Smiley
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 804 East Fremont, Laramie, WY 82072
| | - Douglas W Smith
- Yellowstone Center for Resources, PO Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
| | - Erling J Solberg
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Terrestrial Ecology Department, P.O. Box 5685 Torgarden, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Diego Ellis-Soto
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Max Planck - Yale Center for Biodiversity Movement and Global Change, Yale University
| | - Orr Spiegel
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Jared Stabach
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Conservation Ecology Center, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
| | - Jenna Stacy-Dawes
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA, 92027 USA
| | - Daniel R Stahler
- Yellowstone Center for Resources, PO Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
| | - John Stephenson
- Grand Teton National Park, PO Drawer 170, Moose, Wyoming 83012 USA
| | - Cheyenne Stewart
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, 700 Valley View Dr. Sheridan, WY 82801
| | - Olav Strand
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Terrestrial Ecology Department, P.O. Box 5685 Torgarden, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Peter Sunde
- Aarhus University, Department of Ecoscience - Wildlife Ecology, C.F. Møllers Allé 4-8, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | | | - Jonathan Swart
- Welgevonden Game Reserve, P.O. Box 433, Vaalwater, South Africa
| | - Jeffrey J Thompson
- Guyra Paraguay - CONACYT, Asunción, Paraguay
- Instituto Saite, Asunción, Paraguay
| | - Katrina L Toal
- City of New York Parks and Recreation, Wildlife Unit, 1234 5th Avenue, 5th Floor, NY, NY, 10029
| | - Kenneth Uiseb
- Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Meredith C VanAcker
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Conservation Ecology Center, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
- Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, NY, NY 10027
| | - Marianela Velilla
- Guyra Paraguay - CONACYT, Asunción, Paraguay
- Instituto Saite, Asunción, Paraguay
- School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, 1064 E Lowell St, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
| | - Tana L Verzuh
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 804 East Fremont, Laramie, WY 82072
| | - Bettina Wachter
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Brittany L Wagler
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 804 East Fremont, Laramie, WY 82072
| | - Jesse Whittington
- Park Canada, Banff National Park Resource Conservation. PO Box 900, Banff, Alberta, Canada. T1L 1K2
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Christopher C Wilmers
- Center for Integrated Spatial Research, Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz CA, 95064 USA
| | - George Wittemyer
- Save the Elephants, Marula Manor, Marula Lane, Karen, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - Julie K Young
- USDA National Wildlife Research Center, Predator Research Facility, Millville, UT 84326 USA
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322 USA
| | - Filip Zięba
- Tatra National Park, Kuźnice 1, 34-500, Zakopane, Poland
| | | | - Mark A J Huijbregts
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500, GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas Mueller
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Conservation Ecology Center, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Skinner EB, Glidden CK, MacDonald AJ, Mordecai EA. Human footprint is associated with shifts in the assemblages of major vector-borne diseases. NATURE SUSTAINABILITY 2023; 6:652-661. [PMID: 37538395 PMCID: PMC10399301 DOI: 10.1038/s41893-023-01080-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Predicting how increasing intensity of human-environment interactions affects pathogen transmission is essential to anticipate changing disease risks and identify appropriate mitigation strategies. Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are highly responsive to environmental changes, but such responses are notoriously difficult to isolate because pathogen transmission depends on a suite of ecological and social responses in vectors and hosts that may differ across species. Here we use the emerging tools of cumulative pressure mapping and machine learning to better understand how the occurrence of six medically important VBDs, differing in ecology from sylvatic to urban, respond to multidimensional effects of human pressure. We find that not only is human footprint-an index of human pressure, incorporating built environments, energy and transportation infrastructure, agricultural lands and human population density-an important predictor of VBD occurrence, but there are clear thresholds governing the occurrence of different VBDs. Across a spectrum of human pressure, diseases associated with lower human pressure, including malaria, cutaneous leishmaniasis and visceral leishmaniasis, give way to diseases associated with high human pressure, such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. These heterogeneous responses of VBDs to human pressure highlight thresholds of land-use transitions that may lead to abrupt shifts in infectious disease burdens and public health needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise B. Skinner
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Andrew J. MacDonald
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Earth Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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Fuchs B, Joly K, Hilderbrand GV, Evans AL, Rodushkin I, Mangipane LS, Mangipane BA, Gustine DD, Zedrosser A, Brown L, Arnemo JM. Toxic elements in arctic and sub-arctic brown bears: Blood concentrations of As, Cd, Hg and Pb in relation to diet, age, and human footprint. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 229:115952. [PMID: 37116674 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Contamination with arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) is a global concern impairing resilience of organisms and ecosystems. Proximity to emission sources increases exposure risk but remoteness does not alleviate it. These toxic elements are transported in atmospheric and oceanic pathways and accumulate in organisms. Mercury accumulates in higher trophic levels. Brown bears (Ursus arctos), which often live in remote areas, are long-lived omnivores, feeding on salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) and berries (Vaccinium spp.), resources also consumed by humans. We measured blood concentrations of As, Cd, Hg and Pb in bears (n = 72) four years and older in Scandinavia and three national parks in Alaska, USA (Lake Clark, Katmai and Gates of the Arctic) using high-resolution, inductively-coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry. Age and sex of the bears, as well as the typical population level diet was associated with blood element concentrations using generalized linear regression models. Alaskan bears consuming salmon had higher Hg blood concentrations compared to Scandinavian bears feeding on berries, ants (Formica spp.) and moose (Alces). Cadmium and Pb blood concentrations were higher in Scandinavian bears than in Alaskan bears. Bears using marine food sources, in addition to salmon in Katmai, had higher As blood concentrations than bears in Scandinavia. Blood concentrations of Cd and Pb, as well as for As in female bears increased with age. Arsenic in males and Hg concentrations decreased with age. We detected elevated levels of toxic elements in bears from landscapes that are among the most pristine on the planet. Sources are unknown but anthropogenic emissions are most likely involved. All study areas face upcoming change: Increasing tourism and mining in Alaska and more intensive forestry in Scandinavia, combined with global climate change in both regions. Baseline contaminant concentrations as presented here are important knowledge in our changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Fuchs
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Campus Evenstad, 2480, Koppang, Norway.
| | - Kyle Joly
- National Park Service, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, 99709, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA.
| | - Grant V Hilderbrand
- National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office, 99501, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
| | - Alina L Evans
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Campus Evenstad, 2480, Koppang, Norway
| | - Ilia Rodushkin
- Division of Geosciences, Luleå University of Technology, 97187, Luleå, Sweden; ALS Scandinavia AB, 97187, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Lindsey S Mangipane
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management, 99503, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
| | - Buck A Mangipane
- Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, National Park Service, 99501, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
| | - David D Gustine
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management, 99503, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
| | - Andreas Zedrosser
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3800, Bø in Telemark, Norway; Institute for Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ludovick Brown
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, J1K 2R1, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Jon M Arnemo
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Campus Evenstad, 2480, Koppang, Norway; Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden
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Stock A, Murray CC, Gregr EJ, Steenbeek J, Woodburn E, Micheli F, Christensen V, Chan KMA. Exploring multiple stressor effects with Ecopath, Ecosim, and Ecospace: Research designs, modeling techniques, and future directions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 869:161719. [PMID: 36693571 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the cumulative effects of multiple stressors is a research priority in environmental science. Ecological models are a key component of tackling this challenge because they can simulate interactions between the components of an ecosystem. Here, we ask, how has the popular modeling platform Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) been used to model human impacts related to climate change, land and sea use, pollution, and invasive species? We conducted a literature review encompassing 166 studies covering stressors other than fishing mostly in aquatic ecosystems. The most modeled stressors were physical climate change (60 studies), species introductions (22), habitat loss (21), and eutrophication (20), using a range of modeling techniques. Despite this comprehensive coverage, we identified four gaps that must be filled to harness the potential of EwE for studying multiple stressor effects. First, only 12% of studies investigated three or more stressors, with most studies focusing on single stressors. Furthermore, many studies modeled only one of many pathways through which each stressor is known to affect ecosystems. Second, various methods have been applied to define environmental response functions representing the effects of single stressors on species groups. These functions can have a large effect on the simulated ecological changes, but best practices for deriving them are yet to emerge. Third, human dimensions of environmental change - except for fisheries - were rarely considered. Fourth, only 3% of studies used statistical research designs that allow attribution of simulated ecosystem changes to stressors' direct effects and interactions, such as factorial (computational) experiments. None made full use of the statistical possibilities that arise when simulations can be repeated many times with controlled changes to the inputs. We argue that all four gaps are feasibly filled by integrating ecological modeling with advances in other subfields of environmental science and in computational statistics.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Stock
- Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, AERL Building, 429-2202 Main Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, BC, Canada.
| | - C C Murray
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Institute of Ocean Sciences, 9860 West Saanich Road, Sidney, BC V8L 5T5, Canada
| | - E J Gregr
- Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, AERL Building, 429-2202 Main Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, BC, Canada; SciTech Environmental Consulting, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - J Steenbeek
- Ecopath International Initiative (EII) Research Association, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Woodburn
- Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, AERL Building, 429-2202 Main Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, BC, Canada
| | - F Micheli
- Hopkins Marine Station, Oceans Department, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA; Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - V Christensen
- Ecopath International Initiative (EII) Research Association, Barcelona, Spain; Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - K M A Chan
- Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, AERL Building, 429-2202 Main Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, BC, Canada; Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Serrano FC, Vieira-Alencar JPDS, Díaz-Ricaurte JC, Valdujo PH, Martins M, Nogueira CDC. The Wallacean Shortfall and the role of historical distribution records in the conservation assessment of an elusive Neotropical snake in a threatened landscape. J Nat Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2023.126350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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Toma TSP, Overbeck GE, Mendonça MDS, Fernandes G. Optimal references for ecological restoration: the need to protect references in the tropics. Perspect Ecol Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pecon.2023.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
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Virtanen EA, Kallio N, Nurmi M, Jernberg S, Saikkonen L, Forsblom L. Recreational land use contributes to the loss of marine biodiversity. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elina A. Virtanen
- Marine Research Centre Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Helsinki Finland
- Finnish Natural History Museum University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Niko Kallio
- Marine Research Centre Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Helsinki Finland
| | - Marco Nurmi
- Marine Research Centre Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Helsinki Finland
| | - Susanna Jernberg
- Marine Research Centre Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Helsinki Finland
| | - Liisa Saikkonen
- Freshwater Centre Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Helsinki Finland
| | - Louise Forsblom
- Marine Research Centre Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Helsinki Finland
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Daly EZ, Chabrerie O, Massol F, Facon B, Hess MC, Tasiemski A, Grandjean F, Chauvat M, Viard F, Forey E, Folcher L, Buisson E, Boivin T, Baltora‐Rosset S, Ulmer R, Gibert P, Thiébaut G, Pantel JH, Heger T, Richardson DM, Renault D. A synthesis of biological invasion hypotheses associated with the introduction–naturalisation–invasion continuum. OIKOS 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ella Z. Daly
- Univ. of Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution), UMR 6553 Rennes France
| | - Olivier Chabrerie
- Univ. de Picardie Jules Verne, UMR 7058 CNRS EDYSAN Amiens Cedex 1 France
| | - Francois Massol
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Inst. Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille France
| | - Benoit Facon
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier Institut Agro, Univ. Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Manon C.M. Hess
- Inst. Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie Marine et Continentale (IMBE), UMR: Aix Marseille Univ., Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD France
- Inst. de Recherche pour la Conservation des zones Humides Méditerranéennes Tour du Valat, Le Sambuc Arles France
| | - Aurélie Tasiemski
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Inst. Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille France
| | - Frédéric Grandjean
- Univ. de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7267 EBI‐Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, équipe EES Poitiers Cedex 09 France
| | | | | | - Estelle Forey
- Normandie Univ., UNIROUEN, INRAE, USC ECODIV Rouen France
| | - Laurent Folcher
- ANSES – Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l'Alimentation, de l'Environnement et du Travail, Laboratoire de la Santé des Végétaux – Unité de Nématologie Le Rheu France
| | - Elise Buisson
- Inst. Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie Marine et Continentale (IMBE), UMR: Aix Marseille Univ., Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD France
| | - Thomas Boivin
- INRAE, UR629 Écologie des Forêts Méditerranéennes, Centre de Recherche Provence‐Alpes‐Côte d'Azur Avignon France
| | | | - Romain Ulmer
- Univ. de Picardie Jules Verne, UMR 7058 CNRS EDYSAN Amiens Cedex 1 France
| | - Patricia Gibert
- UMR 5558 CNRS – Univ. Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Bât. Gregor Mendel Villeurbanne Cedex France
| | - Gabrielle Thiébaut
- Univ. of Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution), UMR 6553 Rennes France
| | - Jelena H. Pantel
- Ecological Modelling, Faculty of Biology, Univ. of Duisburg‐Essen Essen Germany
| | - Tina Heger
- Leibniz Inst. of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) Berlin Germany
- Technical Univ. of Munich, Restoration Ecology Freising Germany
| | - David M. Richardson
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Dept. Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
- Inst. of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
| | - David Renault
- Univ. of Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution), UMR 6553 Rennes France
- Inst. Universitaire de France Paris Cedex 05 France
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Soga M, Gaston KJ, Fukano Y, Evans MJ. The vicious cycle of biophobia. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:512-520. [PMID: 36707258 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.12.012] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
People can express irrational fears and disgust responses towards certain wild organisms. This so-called 'biophobia' can be useful and indeed necessary in some circumstances. Biophobia can, however, also lead to excessive distress and anxiety which, in turn, can result in people avoiding interactions with nature. Here, we highlight concern that this reduction in interactions with nature might lead to progressive increases in biophobia, entrenching it more in individuals and across society. We propose the 'vicious cycle of biophobia', a concept that encapsulates how excessive aversion towards nature might emerge and grow in society. The vicious cycle of biophobia risks accelerating the extinction of experience, leading to long-term adverse consequences for the conservation of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Soga
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
| | - Kevin J Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Yuya Fukano
- Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Maldwyn J Evans
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan; Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia
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33
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Chowdhury S, Jennions MD, Zalucki MP, Maron M, Watson JEM, Fuller RA. Protected areas and the future of insect conservation. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:85-95. [PMID: 36208964 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic pressures are driving insect declines across the world. Although protected areas (PAs) play a prominent role in safeguarding many vertebrate species from human-induced threats, insects are not widely considered when designing PA systems or building strategies for PA management. We review the effectiveness of PAs for insect conservation and find substantial taxonomic and geographic gaps in knowledge. Most research focuses on the representation of species, and few studies assess threats to insects or the role that effective PA management can play in insect conservation. We propose a four-step research agenda to help ensure that insects are central in efforts to expand the global PA network under the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawan Chowdhury
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Straße 159, 07743 Jena, Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Department of Ecosystem Services, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Michael D Jennions
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Myron P Zalucki
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Martine Maron
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - James E M Watson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Richard A Fuller
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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Estimates of wildlife species richness, occupancy, and habitat preference in a residential landscape in New York State. Urban Ecosyst 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01318-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Pillay R, Watson JEM, Hansen AJ, Jantz PA, Aragon-Osejo J, Armenteras D, Atkinson SC, Burns P, Ervin J, Goetz SJ, González-Del-Pliego P, Robinson NP, Supples C, Virnig ALS, Williams BA, Venter O. Humid tropical vertebrates are at lower risk of extinction and population decline in forests with higher structural integrity. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:1840-1849. [PMID: 36329351 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01915-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Reducing deforestation underpins global biodiversity conservation efforts. However, this focus on retaining forest cover overlooks the multitude of anthropogenic pressures that can degrade forest quality and imperil biodiversity. We use remotely sensed indices of tropical rainforest structural condition and associated human pressures to quantify the relative importance of forest cover, structural condition and integrity (the cumulative effect of condition and pressures) on vertebrate species extinction risk and population trends across the global humid tropics. We found that tropical rainforests of high integrity (structurally intact and under low pressures) were associated with lower likelihood of species being threatened and having declining populations, compared with forest cover alone (without consideration of condition and pressures). Further, species were more likely to be threatened or have declining populations if their geographic ranges contained high proportions of degraded forest than if their ranges contained lower proportions of forest cover but of high quality. Our work suggests that biodiversity conservation policies to preserve forest integrity are now urgently required alongside ongoing efforts to halt deforestation in the hyperdiverse humid tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeev Pillay
- Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - James E M Watson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew J Hansen
- Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Patrick A Jantz
- School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Jose Aragon-Osejo
- Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dolors Armenteras
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Patrick Burns
- School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Jamison Ervin
- United Nations Development Programme, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott J Goetz
- School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Brooke A Williams
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Oscar Venter
- Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
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Austen GE, Dallimer M, Irvine KN, Fisher JC, Fish RD, Davies ZG. The diversity of people's relationships with biodiversity should inform forest restoration and creation. Conserv Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12930] [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] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gail E. Austen
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) School of Anthropology and Conservation University of Kent Kent UK
| | - Martin Dallimer
- Sustainability Research Institute School of Earth and Environment University of Leeds Leeds UK
| | - Katherine N. Irvine
- Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Department James Hutton Institute Aberdeen UK
| | - Jessica C. Fisher
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) School of Anthropology and Conservation University of Kent Kent UK
| | - Robert D. Fish
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) School of Anthropology and Conservation University of Kent Kent UK
| | - Zoe G. Davies
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) School of Anthropology and Conservation University of Kent Kent UK
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37
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Asuk SA, Matthews TJ, Sadler JP, Pugh TAM, Ebu VT, Ifebueme NM, Kettridge N. Impact of human foraging on tree diversity, composition, and abundance in a tropical rainforest. Biotropica 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13180] [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)
- Sijeh A. Asuk
- School of Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
- Birmingham Institute of Forest Research University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management University of Calabar Calabar Nigeria
| | - Thomas J. Matthews
- School of Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
- Birmingham Institute of Forest Research University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
- CE3C – Centre for Ecology Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group and Universidade dos Açores – Depto de Ciências Agráriase Engenharia do Ambiente Angra do Heroísmo Portugal
| | - Jonathan P. Sadler
- School of Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
- Birmingham Institute of Forest Research University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
| | - Thomas A. M. Pugh
- School of Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
- Birmingham Institute of Forest Research University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - Vincent T. Ebu
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management University of Calabar Calabar Nigeria
| | - Nzube M. Ifebueme
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management University of Calabar Calabar Nigeria
| | - Nicholas Kettridge
- School of Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
- Birmingham Institute of Forest Research University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
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Asamoah EF, Di Marco M, Watson JEM, Beaumont LJ, Venter O, Maina JM. Land-use and climate risk assessment for Earth's remaining wilderness. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4890-4899.e4. [PMID: 36323323 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Earth's wilderness areas are reservoirs of genetic information and carbon storage systems, and are vital to reducing extinction risks. Retaining the conservation value of these areas is fundamental to achieving global biodiversity conservation goals; however, climate and land-use risk can undermine their ability to provide these functions. The extent to which wilderness areas are likely to be impacted by these drivers has not previously been quantified. Using climate and land-use change during baseline (1971-2005) and future (2016-2050) periods, we estimate that these stressors within wilderness areas will increase by ca. 60% and 39%, respectively, under a scenario of high emission and land-use change (SSP5-RCP8.5). Nearly half (49%) of all wilderness areas could experience substantial climate change by 2050 under this scenario, potentially limiting their capacity to shelter biodiversity. Notable climate (>5 km year-1) and land-use (>0.25 km year-1) changes are expected to occur more rapidly in the unprotected wilderness, including the edges of the Amazonian wilderness, Northern Russia, and Central Africa, which support unique assemblages of species and are critical for the preservation of biodiversity. However, an alternative scenario of sustainable development (SSP1-RCP2.6) would attenuate the projected climate velocity and land-use instability by 54% and 6%, respectively. Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and preserving the remaining intact natural ecosystems can help fortify these bastions of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernest F Asamoah
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, 2109 Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Moreno Di Marco
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - James E M Watson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, QLD, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Linda J Beaumont
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, 2109 Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Oscar Venter
- Natural Resource and Environmental Studies Institute, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada
| | - Joseph M Maina
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, 2109 Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Cao Y, Wang F, Tseng TH, Carver S, Chen X, Zhao J, Yu L, Li F, Zhao Z, Yang R. Identifying ecosystem service value and potential loss of wilderness areas in China to support post-2020 global biodiversity conservation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 846:157348. [PMID: 35842159 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157348] [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: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Preserving wilderness areas is one of the key goals in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework(GBF). However, far too little attention has been paid to identifying wilderness conservation priorities on the national scale. In this study, we developed a methodological framework to evaluate the ecosystem service values, potential loss and conservation priorities of wilderness areas in China, providing guidance for wilderness conservation. First, we assessed the conservation value of wilderness areas and found that wilderness areas provided more ecosystem services than non-wilderness areas per unit area in most ecoregions. Then we identified threatened wilderness areas under multiple scenarios due to land use and land cover change. We found that 5.82 % of the existing wilderness areas were projected to be lost by 2100. Finally, wilderness conservation priorities were identified considering both conservation values and potential loss, and 11.24 % of existing wilderness areas were highlighted as conservation priorities. This methodological framework could be applied to other countries to support post-2020 global biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Cao
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Fangyi Wang
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Tz-Hsuan Tseng
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Steve Carver
- Wildland Research Institute, School of Geography, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Earth System Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Institute for Global Change Studies, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Jianqiao Zhao
- Department of Earth System Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Institute for Global Change Studies, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Le Yu
- Department of Earth System Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Institute for Global Change Studies, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Feng Li
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Zhicong Zhao
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Rui Yang
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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40
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Sánchez CA, Penrose MT, Kessler MK, Becker DJ, McKeown A, Hannappel M, Boyd V, Camus MS, Padgett-Stewart T, Hunt BE, Graves AF, Peel AJ, Westcott DA, Rainwater TR, Chumchal MM, Cobb GP, Altizer S, Plowright RK, Boardman WSJ. Land use, season, and parasitism predict metal concentrations in Australian flying fox fur. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 841:156699. [PMID: 35710009 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Urban-living wildlife can be exposed to metal contaminants dispersed into the environment through industrial, residential, and agricultural applications. Metal exposure carries lethal and sublethal consequences for animals; in particular, heavy metals (e.g. arsenic, lead, mercury) can damage organs and act as carcinogens. Many bat species reside and forage in human-modified habitats and could be exposed to contaminants in air, water, and food. We quantified metal concentrations in fur samples from three flying fox species (Pteropus fruit bats) captured at eight sites in eastern Australia. For subsets of bats, we assessed ectoparasite burden, haemoparasite infection, and viral infection, and performed white blood cell differential counts. We examined relationships among metal concentrations, environmental predictors (season, land use surrounding capture site), and individual predictors (species, sex, age, body condition, parasitism, neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio). As expected, bats captured at sites with greater human impact had higher metal loads. At one site with seasonal sampling, bats had higher metal concentrations in winter than in summer, possibly owing to changes in food availability and foraging. Relationships between ectoparasites and metal concentrations were mixed, suggesting multiple causal mechanisms. There was no association between overall metal load and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio, but mercury concentrations were positively correlated with this ratio, which is associated with stress in other vertebrate taxa. Comparison of our findings to those of previous flying fox studies revealed potentially harmful levels of several metals; in particular, endangered spectacled flying foxes (P. conspicillatus) exhibited high concentrations of cadmium and lead. Because some bats harbor pathogens transmissible to humans and animals, future research should explore interactions between metal exposure, immunity, and infection to assess consequences for bat and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia A Sánchez
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Michael T Penrose
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | | | - Daniel J Becker
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | | | | | - Victoria Boyd
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Health and Biosecurity Business Unit, The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Melinda S Camus
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ticha Padgett-Stewart
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Brooklin E Hunt
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Amelia F Graves
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Alison J Peel
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Thomas R Rainwater
- Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center and Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University, Georgetown, SC, USA
| | | | - George P Cobb
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Sonia Altizer
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Raina K Plowright
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Wayne S J Boardman
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
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41
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Lüttgert L, Heisterkamp S, Jansen F, Klenke R, Kreft K, Seidler G, Bruelheide H. Repeated habitat mapping data reveal gains and losses of plant species. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lina Lüttgert
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle Germany
| | - Samuel Heisterkamp
- Ministry of Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture (BUKEA) Hamburg Germany
| | - Florian Jansen
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences University of Rostock Rostock Germany
| | - Reinhard Klenke
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Leipzig Germany
| | | | - Gunnar Seidler
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle Germany
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Leipzig Germany
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42
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Luther DA, Cooper WJ, Jirinec V, Wolfe JD, Rutt CL, Bierregaard Jr RO, Lovejoy TE, Stouffer PC. Long-term changes in avian biomass and functional diversity within disturbed and undisturbed Amazonian rainforest. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221123. [PMID: 35975441 PMCID: PMC9382209 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent long-term studies in protected areas have revealed the loss of biodiversity, yet the ramifications for ecosystem health and resilience remain unknown. Here, we investigate how the loss of understory birds, in the lowest stratum of the forest, affects avian biomass and functional diversity in the Amazon rainforest. Across approximately 30 years in the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, we used a historical baseline of avian communities to contrast the avian communities in today's primary forest with those in modern disturbed habitat. We found that in primary rainforest, the reduced abundance of insectivorous species led to reduced functional diversity, but no reduction of biomass, indicating that species with similar functional traits are less likely to coexist in modern primary forests. Because today's forests contain fewer functionally redundant species-those with similar traits-we argue that avian communities in modern primary Amazonian rainforests are less resilient, which may ultimately disrupt the ecosystem in dynamic and unforeseen ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Luther
- Biology Department, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - W. Justin Cooper
- Biology Department, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Vitek Jirinec
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, AM, Brazil
- Integral Ecology Research Center, 239 Railroad Avenue, Blue Lake, CA 95525, USA
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University AgCenter and Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Jared D. Wolfe
- College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA
| | - Cameron L. Rutt
- Biology Department, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, AM, Brazil
- American Bird Conservancy, The Plains, VA 20198, USA
| | | | - Thomas E. Lovejoy
- Environmental Science and Policy Department, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Philip C Stouffer
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, AM, Brazil
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University AgCenter and Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
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43
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Nine actions to successfully restore tropical agroecosystems. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:963-975. [PMID: 35961912 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.07.007] [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: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Well-designed approaches to ecological restoration can benefit nature and society. This is particularly the case in tropical agroecosystems, where restoration can provide substantial socioecological benefits at relatively low costs. To successfully restore tropical agroecosystems and maximise benefits, initiatives must begin by considering 'who' should be involved in and benefit from restoration, and 'what', 'where', and 'how' restoration should occur. Based on collective experience of restoring tropical agroecosystems worldwide, we present nine actions to guide future restoration of these systems, supported by case studies that demonstrate our actions being used successfully in practice and highlighting cases where poorly designed restoration has been damaging. We call for increased restoration activity in tropical agroecosystems during the current UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
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44
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Pérez-Hämmerle KV, Moon K, Venegas-Li R, Maxwell S, Simmonds JS, Venter O, Garnett ST, Possingham HP, Watson JEM. Wilderness forms and their implications for global environmental policy and conservation. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13875. [PMID: 34961974 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13875] [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: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
With the intention of securing industry-free land and seascapes, protecting wilderness entered international policy as a formal target for the first time in the zero draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Given this increased prominence in international policy, it is timely to consider the extent to which the construct of wilderness supports global conservation objectives. We evaluated the construct by overlaying recently updated cumulative human pressure maps that offer a global-scale delineation of industry-free land as wilderness with maps of carbon stock, species richness, and ground travel time from urban centers. Wilderness areas took variable forms in relation to carbon stock, species richness, and proximity to urban centers, where 10% of wilderness areas represented high carbon and species richness, 20% low carbon and species richness, and 3% high levels of remoteness (>48 h), carbon, and species richness. Approximately 35% of all remaining wilderness in 2013 was accessible in <24 h of travel time from urban centers. Although the construct of wilderness can be used to secure benefits in specific contexts, its application in conservation must account for contextual and social implications. The diverse characterization of wilderness under a global environmental conservation lens shows that a nuanced framing and application of the construct is needed to improve understanding, communication, and retention of its variable forms as industry-free places.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina-Victoria Pérez-Hämmerle
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Katie Moon
- School of Business, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rubén Venegas-Li
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sean Maxwell
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jeremy S Simmonds
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Oscar Venter
- Natural Resources & Environmental Studies Institute, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephen T Garnett
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Hugh P Possingham
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - James E M Watson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Program, Bronx, New York, USA
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45
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Human Activity Intensity and Its Spatial-Temporal Evolution in China’s Border Areas. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11071089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring human activities in border areas is challenging due to the complex geographical environment and diverse people. China has the longest terrestrial boundary and the highest number of neighboring countries in the world. In this study, a human activity intensity index (HAI) was proposed based on land cover, population density, and satellite-based nighttime light for a long-term macroscopic study. The HAI was calculated at 1 km resolution within the 50 km buffer zone of China’s land boundary on each side in 1992, 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. Results show that human activity is low in about 90% of the study area. Overall, the HAI on the Chinese side is higher than that on the neighboring side, and the intensity of land use on the Chinese side has increased significantly from 1992 to 2020. Among China’s neighbors, India has the highest HAI with the fastest growth. With the changes in the HAI between China and its neighboring countries, four regional evolution patterns are found in the study area: Sino-Russian HAI decline; Sino-Kazakhstan HAI unilateral growth; Indian HAI continuous growth; China and Indochina HAI synchronized growth. Hotspot analysis reveals three spatial evolution patterns, which are unilateral expansion, bilateral expansion, and cross-border fusion. Both the “border effect” and “agglomeration effect” exist in border areas. The HAI changes in border areas not only impact the eco-environment but also affect geopolitics and geoeconomics. The HAI can be used as an instrument for decision-making and cooperation between China and neighboring countries in such areas as ecological protection, border security, and border trade.
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46
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Effectiveness of the Qilian Mountain Nature Reserve of China in Reducing Human Impacts. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11071071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The management effectiveness of protected areas plays a key role in biodiversity and ecosystem services conservation. We evaluated the effectiveness of Qilian Mountain Nature Reserve (QMNR) in reducing human footprint (HF). Four dominant human activity factors, including population density, land use, road distribution, and night light, were incorporated for HF mapping. Comparisons of the HF value between inside and outside QMNR and its four functional zones were conducted. The results show that both the HF inside and outside of QMNR were increasing, but the difference between them was increasing, indicating partial management effectiveness. The north part of the central reserve has a good effect in reducing human impacts, while the effectiveness was poor at both ends of the reserve. The HF value of the most strictly managed core and buffer zones increased by 10.50 and 6.68%, respectively, for 2010–2020. The QMNR was effective in controlling population density and land use, but ineffective in reducing road construction, mining, and construction of hydropower facilities.
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Hanson JO, Vincent J, Schuster R, Fahrig L, Brennan A, Martin AE, Hughes JS, Pither R, Bennett JR. A comparison of approaches for including connectivity in systematic conservation planning. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey O. Hanson
- Department of Biology, 1125 Colonel By Drive Carleton University K1S 5B6 Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Jaimie Vincent
- Department of Biology, 1125 Colonel By Drive Carleton University K1S 5B6 Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Richard Schuster
- Department of Biology, 1125 Colonel By Drive Carleton University K1S 5B6 Ottawa ON Canada
- Nature Conservancy of Canada, 245 Eglinton Ave East, Suite 410 M4P 3J1 Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Lenore Fahrig
- Department of Biology, 1125 Colonel By Drive Carleton University K1S 5B6 Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Angela Brennan
- Interdisciplinary Biodiversity Solutions Program University of British Columbia Vancouver Canada
- Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability University of British Columbia Vancouver Canada
| | - Amanda E. Martin
- Department of Biology, 1125 Colonel By Drive Carleton University K1S 5B6 Ottawa ON Canada
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, K1S 5B6 Ottawa ON
| | - Josie S. Hughes
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, K1S 5B6 Ottawa ON
| | - Richard Pither
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, K1S 5B6 Ottawa ON
| | - Joseph R. Bennett
- Department of Biology, 1125 Colonel By Drive Carleton University K1S 5B6 Ottawa ON Canada
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Han H, Swaisgood RR, Qiu L, Chen Y, Zhang Z. Down‐listing pandas and upgrading conservation: China setting an example to preserve wildlife worldwide. Anim Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12803] [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)
- H. Han
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education) China West Normal University Nanchong China
- Liziping Giant Panda's Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province Chengdu China
| | - R. R. Swaisgood
- Institute for Conservation Research San Diego Zoo Global Escondido Escondido CA USA
| | - L. Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education) China West Normal University Nanchong China
- Liziping Giant Panda's Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province Chengdu China
| | - Y. Chen
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education) China West Normal University Nanchong China
- Liziping Giant Panda's Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province Chengdu China
| | - Z. Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education) China West Normal University Nanchong China
- Liziping Giant Panda's Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province Chengdu China
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Species richness response to human pressure hides important assemblage transformations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2107361119. [PMID: 35500119 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107361119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
SignificanceHuman activities are causing biodiversity loss, but there is still strong debate on their effect on species richness. Here, I propose a unification of five trajectories of species richness response to increasing human pressure under the "replace then remove framework." It consists in a first phase of assemblage transformation (with the replacement of "loser" by "winner" species), often followed by a second phase of steep decline in species richness (with the decline of many winner species) when human pressure exceeds a certain threshold. The empirical results presented in this study provide an outstanding illustration of assemblage transformations that may cause biotic homogenization, demonstrating how habitat specialist, endemic, sensitive, and threatened species are replaced by others with increasing human pressure.
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Mu H, Li X, Wen Y, Huang J, Du P, Su W, Miao S, Geng M. A global record of annual terrestrial Human Footprint dataset from 2000 to 2018. Sci Data 2022; 9:176. [PMID: 35440581 PMCID: PMC9018937 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01284-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Human Footprint, the pressure imposed on the eco-environment by changing ecological processes and natural landscapes, is raising worldwide concerns on biodiversity and ecological conservation. Due to the lack of spatiotemporally consistent datasets of Human Footprint over a long temporal span, many relevant studies on this topic have been limited. Here, we mapped the annual dynamics of the global Human Footprint from 2000 to 2018 using eight variables that reflect different aspects of human pressures. The accuracy assessment revealed a good agreement between our mapped results and the previously developed datasets in different years. We found more than two million km2 of wilderness (i.e., regions with Human Footprint values below one) were lost over the past two decades. The biome dominated by mangroves experienced the most significant loss (i.e., above 5%) of wilderness, likely attributed to intensified human activities in coastal areas. The derived annual and spatiotemporally consistent global Human Footprint can be a fundamental dataset for many relevant studies about human activities and natural resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haowei Mu
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xuecao Li
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China.
- Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing for Agri-Hazards, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Yanan Wen
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jianxi Huang
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing for Agri-Hazards, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Peijun Du
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 221100, China
| | - Wei Su
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing for Agri-Hazards, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Shuangxi Miao
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing for Agri-Hazards, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Mengqing Geng
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
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