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Khosravi Mashizi A, Sharafatmandrad M. Management of soil-related ecosystem services in semi-arid regions of Iran using key environmental drivers. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2025; 381:125181. [PMID: 40186976 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125181] [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: 09/27/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2025] [Accepted: 03/28/2025] [Indexed: 04/07/2025]
Abstract
Soil is the most important resource for meeting the needs of the world's population. Sustainability of soil-related ecosystem services (SRES) is the primary indicator for sustainable food security. Since there are complex relationships between services, it is essential to understand the environmental and management drivers for robustness of SRES. The importance of drivers varies in the interactions between services. Four SRES i.e. soil retention, climate regulation, water regulation, and soil formation have been quantified in the semi-arid ecosystems of Iran. The findings demonstrated that the potential of land covers to provide SRES varied (p < 0.05). SRES exhibited strong synergy relations (p < 0.01), except soil formation and water regulation, which displayed a weak positive correlation (R2 = 0.0342, p > 0.05). The Bayesian networks (BNs) is a perfect tool to identify the most important environmental and management drivers influencing SRES due to its ability to model complex systems and uncertainties. BNs showed that elevation as the most important drivers influenced 15 % of the production of SRES. For sustainable management of semiarid ecosystems, the primary drivers of the pairwise relationships of SRES were identified. The NPP threshold (1.2 t ha-1) was found to be essential for maintaining soil formation and climate regulation. Richness threshold (10-15 plant species) was crucial for maintaining soil retention and water regulation. Our finding indicated a theoretical support for biodiversity management and shrub conservation in respect to strong SRES relations. Therefore, enhancing the species richness especially species with higher NPP should be the primary goal of the environmental management to maximize SRES benefit in arid lands in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Khosravi Mashizi
- Department of Ecological Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Jiroft, 8th km of Jiroft-Bandar Abbas Road, P.O. Box: 7867161167, Jiroft, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Sharafatmandrad
- Department of Ecological Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Jiroft, 8th km of Jiroft-Bandar Abbas Road, P.O. Box: 7867161167, Jiroft, Iran
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Singh P, Sharma A, Gupta SK, Salgotra RK, Gupta V, Sharma M. Morphology and pomological characterization of bael [ Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa] genotypes for climate change mitigation under north-western Himalayas. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2025; 16:1496769. [PMID: 40177020 PMCID: PMC11962431 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1496769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2025] [Indexed: 04/05/2025]
Abstract
This study investigated the genetic diversity of 80 wild bael genotypes (Aegle marmelos) compared to commercial cultivars NB-5 and NB-9, focusing on 16 pomological traits. With the rising temperature impacting perennial fruit crop production and the urgent need for heat- and drought-resistant varieties, bael emerges as a viable option for rainfed areas due to its xerophytic characteristics and ability to withstand high temperatures. Among the collected, wild bael genotype germplasm, JMU-Bael (Sel-27) demonstrated superior traits, including maximum fruit length (12.05 cm), width (11.72 cm), weight (917.65 g), pulp weight (746.81 g), and pulp percentage (81.38%). Correlation matrices revealed significant associations among pomological traits, particularly positive correlations with fruit weight. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated substantial genetic diversity, with the first two components explaining 63.98% of the cumulative variation. Cluster analysis grouped genotypes into two main clusters, providing insights into their diversity and potential breeding applications. This comprehensive analysis offers valuable insights into the genetic variability and adaptability of bael genotypes under changing climatic conditions in the plains of north-western Himalayan regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabhdeep Singh
- Division of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture and Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu, India
| | - Akash Sharma
- Division of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture and Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu, India
| | - Sushil Kumar Gupta
- Division of Agroforestry, Faculty of Horticulture and Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu, India
| | - Romesh Kumar Salgotra
- Institute of Biotechnology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu, India
| | - Vishal Gupta
- Division of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu, India
| | - Manish Sharma
- Division of Statistics and Computer Sciences, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu, India
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Al-Huqail AA, Al-Harbi HF, Alowaifeer AM, El-Sheikh MA, Assaeed AM, Alsaleem TS, Kassem HS, Azab OM, Dar BA, Malik JA, Abd-ElGawad AM. Correlation between aboveground vegetation composition and soil seed bank of Raudhat desert habitat: a case study of Raudhat Alkhafs, Saudi Arabia. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2025; 25:136. [PMID: 39893391 PMCID: PMC11786372 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-025-06162-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2025] [Indexed: 02/04/2025]
Abstract
Plant diversity in arid environments is very important for ecosystem function and services. Raudhat habitat is among the most important ecosystems in the arid regions which is characterized by its rich biodiversity and specific environmental conditions. The present study aims to characterize plant communities and soil seed banks of the Raudhat Alkhafs, northeast of Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Vegetation composition was analyzed during the winter-spring and summer-fall seasons. Soil samples were collected from each site for seed bank analysis through seedling emergence techniques and for chemical and physical analyses. Eighty-three plant species were recorded (50.6% perennial and 49.4% annual plants). Among 30 plant families, Asteraceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Boraginaceae, and Fabaceae were frequent (50.6%). Therophytes are distinguished as major (45.8%) because of their ability to tolerate arid environments, high reproduction rate, ecological flexibility, and genetic plasticity. Vegetation analysis showed three plant communities in the winter-spring season dominated by Plantago ciliata, Calotropis procera, and Heliotropium ramosissimum, while in the summer-fall season, Calotropis procera dominated one community, while two other plant communities were dominated by Heliotropium ramosissimum. During the winter-spring season, Heliotropium ramosissimum community revealed the highest species richness (Simpson index = 0.92) and evenness (Shannon-evenness = 0.83). These variations among the two seasons in the species composition can be ascribed to the climatic conditions. For plant communities identified during the winter-spring season, the soil analysis revealed significant variations in salinity, soil texture, water holding capacity, H2CO3, K, and Na contents. However, the communities identified in the summer-fall season showed significant variations in salinity, soil texture, and Cl, and Mg contents. Regarding the soil seed bank, 22 plant species were identified in the soil samples, mainly annuals. The density of the seed bank ranged from 156 to 1339 seeds/m2. Trigonella stellata Forssk. attained the highest number of seeds in the soil (1628 seeds/m2), followed by Plantago ciliata (1000 seeds/m2) and Poa annua (889 seeds/m2). About 45% of the plant species recorded in the present study were not identified in the soil seed bank earlier in Raudhat Alkhafs. The low correlation between the aboveground vegetation and the soil seed bank of the northern part of the studied region revealed the degradation of the habitat which could be due to overgrazing and anthropogenic activities. Based on the obtained results, the sites of AlKhafs-North need immediate restoration and rehabilitation to conserve this very important biodiversity site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma A Al-Huqail
- Chair of Climate Change, Environmental Development and Vegetation Cover, Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hanan F Al-Harbi
- Chair of Climate Change, Environmental Development and Vegetation Cover, Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Mohamed A El-Sheikh
- Chair of Climate Change, Environmental Development and Vegetation Cover, Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz M Assaeed
- Plant Production Department, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Turki S Alsaleem
- King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hazem S Kassem
- Chair of Climate Change, Environmental Development and Vegetation Cover, Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Omar M Azab
- Chair of Climate Change, Environmental Development and Vegetation Cover, Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Plant Production Department, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Basharat A Dar
- Chair of Climate Change, Environmental Development and Vegetation Cover, Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Plant Production Department, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jahangir A Malik
- Chair of Climate Change, Environmental Development and Vegetation Cover, Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Plant Production Department, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed M Abd-ElGawad
- Chair of Climate Change, Environmental Development and Vegetation Cover, Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
- Plant Production Department, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
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Cui Y, Cheng J, Wen Z, Feijó A, Xia L, Ge D, Artige E, Granjon L, Yang Q. Evolutionary factors and habitat filtering affect the pattern of Gerbillinae diversity. Curr Zool 2025; 71:65-78. [PMID: 39996252 PMCID: PMC11847019 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoae025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2025] Open
Abstract
How ecological and evolutionary factors affect small mammal diversity in arid regions remains largely unknown. Here, we combined the largest phylogeny and occurrence dataset of Gerbillinae desert rodents to explore the underlying factors shaping present-day distribution patterns. In particular, we analyzed the relative contributions of ecological and evolutionary factors on their species diversity using a variety of models. Additionally, we inferred the ancestral range and possible dispersal scenarios and estimated the diversification rate of Gerbillinae. We found that Gerbillinae likely originated in the Horn of Africa in the Middle Miocene and then dispersed and diversified across arid regions in northern and southern Africa and western and central Asia, forming their current distribution pattern. Multiple ecological and evolutionary factors jointly determine the spatial pattern of Gerbillinae diversity, but evolutionary factors (evolutionary time and speciation rate) and habitat filtering were the most important in explaining the spatial variation in species richness. Our study enhances the understanding of the diversity patterns of small mammals in arid regions and highlights the importance of including evolutionary factors when interpreting the mechanisms underlying large-scale species diversity patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqian Cui
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Yanqihu East Rd, Huairou District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jilong Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology,1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zhixin Wen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology,1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Anderson Feijó
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology,1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Dusable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
| | - Lin Xia
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology,1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Deyan Ge
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology,1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Emmanuelle Artige
- Institute of Research for Development, Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (CBGP, INRA/IRD/SUPAGRO/CIRAD), CS30016, 34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez Cedex, France
| | - Laurent Granjon
- Institute of Research for Development, Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (CBGP, INRA/IRD/SUPAGRO/CIRAD), CS30016, 34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez Cedex, France
| | - Qisen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology,1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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Starzak R, Cieplok A, Czerniawski R, Spyra A. The Role of Artificial Lakes Located in Forests in the Context of Small Retention, Biodiversity and Climatic Changes-Evidence From Southern Poland. Ecol Evol 2025; 15:e70775. [PMID: 39839335 PMCID: PMC11747350 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2024] [Revised: 11/07/2024] [Accepted: 12/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2025] Open
Abstract
Drought has an effect on hydrologic conditions and water quality under climate change. Small water retention in forests is one of the priority investment programs implemented in recent years, supported by the European Union. This study aimed to assess the ecological conditions of forest lakes using macrophytes and benthos organisms diversity as an ecological indicator of ecosystem conditions under climatic changes. The study was carried out in forest artificial lakes serving as surface water retention in the context of biodiversity in climatic changes and its role in the retention of water. Despite systematic maintenance activities, a long period of lake existence significantly determines the natural biological processes occurring in lakes and riparian habitats. The analysis showed low values of salinity indicators and the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus. The pH ranged from 6.2 to 7.6; showing slightly acidic conditions or within the limits of neutral. The model of plant associations showed the occurrence of 24 species of plants within nine plant assemblages in the Phragmitetea and Potametea classes of associations (Biocenotic index 1.007-1.692). Despite human activities, lake condition, as assessed by the ESMI index or the biocenotic diversity indices, is good (0.416-0.648). Climate change, expressed by an increase in the frequency of dry years, creates a situation of changes in filling lakes with water, which, taking into account their small depth, results in dynamically changing conditions for the development of phytolittoral. Along with the phytolittoral changes, benthos communities change, their density and the number of taxa also fluctuate. It should be assumed that with ongoing climate change, these phenomena will probably intensify, which will lead to changes in entire ecosystems at plant and animal levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Starzak
- Department of Ecological Engineering and Forest HydrologyUniversity of Agriculture in KrakowKrakówPoland
| | - Anna Cieplok
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural SciencesUniversity of SilesiaKatowicePoland
| | - Robert Czerniawski
- Department of Hydrobiology, Institute of BiologyUniversity of SzczecinSzczecinPoland
| | - Aneta Spyra
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural SciencesUniversity of SilesiaKatowicePoland
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Tegtmeier R, Švara A, Gritsenko D, Khan A. Malus sieversii: a historical, genetic, and conservational perspective of the primary progenitor species of domesticated apples. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2025; 12:uhae244. [PMID: 39802738 PMCID: PMC11718403 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2025]
Abstract
Apples are one of the most valued tree fruit crops around the world. Currently, a few highly popular and economically successful apple cultivars dominate the commercial production and serve as main genetic contributors to the development of new apple cultivars. This limited level of genetic diversity grown as a clonally propagated monoculture renders the apple industry vulnerable to the wide range of weather events, pests, and pathogens. Wild apple species are an excellent source of beneficial alleles for the wide range of biotic and abiotic stressors challenging apple production. However, the biological barriers of breeding with small-fruited wild apples greatly limit their use. Using a closely related wild species of apple such as Malus sieversii can improve the efficiency of breeding efforts and broaden the base of available genetics. M. sieversii is the main progenitor of the domesticated apple, native to Central Asia. The similarity of fruit morphology to domesticated apples and resistances to abiotic and biotic stresses makes it appealing for apple breeding programs. However, this important species is under threat of extinction in its native range. Preserving the wild apple forests in Central Asia is vital for ensuring the sustainable protection of this important genetic resource. The insufficient awareness about the complete range of challenges and opportunities associated with M. sieversii hinders the maximization of its potential benefits. This review aims to provide comprehensive information on the cultural and historical context of M. sieversii, current genetic knowledge for breeding, and the conservation challenges of wild apple forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Tegtmeier
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USA
| | - Anže Švara
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USA
| | - Dilyara Gritsenko
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Awais Khan
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USA
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Lewin A, Murali G, Rachmilevitch S, Roll U. Global evaluation of current and future threats to drylands and their vertebrate biodiversity. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:1448-1458. [PMID: 38965413 PMCID: PMC11310083 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02450-4] [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: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Drylands are often overlooked in broad conservation frameworks and development priorities and face increasing threats from human activities. Here we evaluated the formal degree of protection of global drylands, their land vertebrate biodiversity and current threats, and projected human-induced land-use changes to drylands under different future climate change and socioeconomic scenarios. Overall, drylands have lower protected-area coverage (12%) compared to non-drylands (21%). Consequently, most dryland vertebrates including many endemic and narrow-ranging species are inadequately protected (0-2% range coverage). Dryland vertebrates are threatened by varied anthropogenic factors-including agricultural and infrastructure development (that is, artificial structures, surfaces, roads and industrial sites). Alarmingly, by 2100 drylands are projected to experience some degree of land conversion in 95-100% of their current natural habitat due to urban, agricultural and alternative energy expansion. This loss of undisturbed dryland regions is expected across different socioeconomic pathways, even under optimistic scenarios characterized by progressive climate policies and moderate socioeconomic trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Lewin
- Jacob Blaustein Center for Scientific Cooperation, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel.
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, The Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel.
| | - Gopal Murali
- Jacob Blaustein Center for Scientific Cooperation, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, The Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Shimon Rachmilevitch
- French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Uri Roll
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, The Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
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Blais BR, Shaw CJ, Brocka CW, Johnson SL, Lauger KK. Anthropogenic, environmental and temporal associations with vertebrate road mortality in a wildland-urban interface of a biodiverse desert ecoregion. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:240439. [PMID: 39086836 PMCID: PMC11288681 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240439] [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: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Road mortality adversely affects wildlife populations. As urbanization and infrastructure densities expand, transportation and wildlife management aim to mitigate wildlife-vehicle conflicts while conserving biodiversity. Roadways in aridland ecosystems can invariably and adversely impact wildlife differently from temperate and other biomes, yet these rapidly urbanizing regions are understudied as are urban-rural gradients. We conducted road-cruise surveys (n = 204; 2018-2023) to assess anthropogenic, environmental, and temporal factors associated with vertebrate roadkill across the wildland-urban interface of Arizona's biodiverse Sonoran Desert ecoregion-already subjected to increased human development and climate change. Of n = 2019 vertebrates observed, 28.5% were roadkill. Increasing urbanization levels were associated with reduced vertebrate abundance on roads and increased road-killed endothermic vertebrates. Traffic volume was strongly associated with reduced vertebrate abundance and increased roadkill; additive effects on roadkill began at approximately 20 vehicles. Daily low temperature and/or relative humidity were also associated with roadkill across vertebrate groups. We provide empirical evidence to understand wildlife-roadkill associations across expanding wildland-urban interfaces to inform effective roadkill mitigation and wildlife conservation management strategies in biodiverse aridland regions. We recommend that managers mitigate or avoid development in rural areas that possess high biodiversity, valuable waterways or migration corridors, and populations of vulnerable species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian R. Blais
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Southwest Zoologists’ League, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Corey J. Shaw
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Colin W. Brocka
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Samantha L. Johnson
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Imanbayeva A, Duisenova N, Orazov A, Sagyndykova M, Belozerov I, Tuyakova A. Study of the Floristic, Morphological, and Genetic (atpF-atpH, Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS), matK, psbK-psbI, rbcL, and trnH-psbA) Differences in Crataegus ambigua Populations in Mangistau (Kazakhstan). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1591. [PMID: 38931023 PMCID: PMC11207986 DOI: 10.3390/plants13121591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
This article studies the morphological parameters of vegetative and generative organs of different age groups of Crataegus ambigua from four populations in Western Karatau (Mangistau region, Kazakhstan). In this study, we examined four populations: Sultan Epe, Karakozaiym, Emdikorgan, and Samal, all located in various gorges of Western Karatau. Several phylogenetic inference methods were applied, using six genetic markers to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships between these populations: atpF-atpH, internal transcribed spacer (ITS), matK, psbK-psbI, rbcL, and trnH-psbA. We also used a statistical analysis of plants' vegetative and generative organs for three age groups (virgin, young, and adult generative). According to the age structure, Samal has a high concentration of young generative plants (42.3%) and adult generative plants (30.9%). Morphological analysis showed the significance of the parameters of the generative organs and separated the Samal population into a separate group according to the primary principal component analysis (PCoA) coordinates. The results of the floristic analysis showed that the Samal populations have a high concentration of species diversity. Comparative dendrograms using UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) showed that information gleaned from genetic markers and the psbK-psbI region can be used to determine the difference between the fourth Samal population and the other three.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aidyn Orazov
- Laboratory of Natural Flora and Dendrology, Mangyshlak Experimental Botanical Garden, Aktau 130000, Kazakhstan; (A.I.); (N.D.); (M.S.); (I.B.); (A.T.)
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Zhang Y, Liu J, Zhang K, Wang A, Sailikebieke D, Zhang Z, Ao T, Yan L, Zhang D, Li K, Huang H. Biological response to Przewalski's horse reintroduction in native desert grasslands: a case study on the spatial analysis of ticks. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:61. [PMID: 38734637 PMCID: PMC11088120 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02252-z] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reintroduction represents an effective strategy for the conservation of endangered wildlife, yet it might inadvertently impact the native ecosystems. This investigation assesses the impact of reintroducing endangered Przewalski's horses into the desert grassland ecosystem of the Kalamaili Nature Reserve (KNR), particularly its effect on the spatial distribution of ticks. In a 25 km2 core area of Przewalski's horse distribution, we set up 441 tick sampling sites across diverse habitats, including water sources, donkey trails, and grasslands, recording horse feces and characteristics to analyze the occurrence rate of ticks. Additionally, we gathered the data of 669 fresh feces of horses. To evaluate the spatial dynamics between these feces and ticks, we used methods such as Fixed Kernel Estimation (FKE), Moran's I spatial autocorrelation index, and Generalized Linear Models (GLM). RESULTS The dominant species of ticks collected in the core area were adult Hyalomma asiaticum (91.36%). Their occurrence rate was higher near donkey trails (65.99%) and water sources (55.81%), particularly in areas with the fresh feces of Przewalski's horses. The ticks' three risk areas, as defined by FKE, showed significant overlap and positive correlation with the distribution of Przewalski's horses, with respective overlap rates being 90.25% in high risk, 33.79% in medium risk, and 23.09% in low risk areas. Moran's I analysis revealed a clustering trend of the fresh feces of Przewalski's horses in these areas. The GLM confirmed a positive correlation between the distribution of H. asiaticum and the presence of horse fresh feces, alongside a negative correlation with the proximity to water sources and donkey trails. CONCLUSIONS This study reveals the strong spatial correlation between Przewalski's horses and H. asiaticum in desert grasslands, underlining the need to consider interspecific interactions in wildlife reintroductions. The findings are crucial for shaping effective strategies of wildlife conservation and maintaining ecological balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiawei Liu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Xining, China
| | - Anqi Wang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Duishan Sailikebieke
- Xinjiang Fuyun County Kizillike Township Agricultural Development Center, Altay, China
| | - Zexin Zhang
- Tongliao Forestry Pest Control Station, Tongliao, China
| | - Tegen Ao
- Tongliao Control and Quarantine Station of Forest Pest, Tongliao, China
| | - Liping Yan
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Li
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
| | - Heqing Huang
- Chongqing Academy of Environmental Science, Chongqing, China.
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11
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Tariq A, Graciano C, Sardans J, Zeng F, Hughes AC, Ahmed Z, Ullah A, Ali S, Gao Y, Peñuelas J. Plant root mechanisms and their effects on carbon and nutrient accumulation in desert ecosystems under changes in land use and climate. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:916-934. [PMID: 38482544 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Deserts represent key carbon reservoirs, yet as these systems are threatened this has implications for biodiversity and climate change. This review focuses on how these changes affect desert ecosystems, particularly plant root systems and their impact on carbon and mineral nutrient stocks. Desert plants have diverse root architectures shaped by water acquisition strategies, affecting plant biomass and overall carbon and nutrient stocks. Climate change can disrupt desert plant communities, with droughts impacting both shallow and deep-rooted plants as groundwater levels fluctuate. Vegetation management practices, like grazing, significantly influence plant communities, soil composition, root microorganisms, biomass, and nutrient stocks. Shallow-rooted plants are particularly susceptible to climate change and human interference. To safeguard desert ecosystems, understanding root architecture and deep soil layers is crucial. Implementing strategic management practices such as reducing grazing pressure, maintaining moderate harvesting levels, and adopting moderate fertilization can help preserve plant-soil systems. Employing socio-ecological approaches for community restoration enhances carbon and nutrient retention, limits desert expansion, and reduces CO2 emissions. This review underscores the importance of investigating belowground plant processes and their role in shaping desert landscapes, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of desert ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akash Tariq
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Corina Graciano
- Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jordi Sardans
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Fanjiang Zeng
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Alice C Hughes
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 852, China
| | - Zeeshan Ahmed
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Abd Ullah
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Sikandar Ali
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yanju Gao
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Catalonia, Spain
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12
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Tariq A, Ullah A, Graciano C, Zeng F, Gao Y, Sardans J, Hughes AC, Zhang Z, Peñuelas J. Combining different species in restoration is not always the right decision: Monocultures can provide higher ecological functions than intercropping in a desert ecosystem. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 357:120807. [PMID: 38569266 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Vegetation restoration in deserts is challenging due to these ecosystems' inherent fragility and harsh environmental conditions. One approach for active restoration involves planting native species, which can accelerate the recovery of ecosystem functions. To ensure the effectiveness of this process, carefully selecting species for planting is crucial. Generally, it is expected that a more diverse mix of species in the plantation will lead to the recovery of a greater number of ecosystem functions, especially when the selected species have complementary niche traits that facilitate maximum cooperation and minimize competition among them. In this study, we evaluated the planting of two native species from the hyper-desert of Taklamakan, China, which exhibit marked morpho-physiological differences: a phreatophytic legume (Alhagi sparsifolia) and a halophytic non-legume (Karelinia caspia). These species were grown in both monoculture and intercrop communities. Monoculture of the legume resulted in the highest biomass accumulation. Intercropping improved several ecosystem functions in the 50 cm-upper soil, particularly those related to phosphorus (P), carbon (C), and sulfur (S) concentrations, as well as soil enzyme activities. However, it also increased soil sodium (Na+) concentration and pH. Halophyte monocultures enhanced ecological functions associated with nitrogen concentrations in the upper soil and with P, S, C, and cation concentrations (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+), along with enzyme activities in the deep soil. It also maximized Na+ accumulation in plant biomass. In summary, we recommend legume monoculture when the primary goal is to optimize biomass accumulation. Conversely, halophyte monoculture is advisable when the objective is to extract sodium from the soil or enhance ecosystem functions in the deep soil. Intercropping the two species is recommended to maximize the ecosystem functions of the upper soil, provided there is no salinization risk. When planning restoration efforts in desert regions, it is essential to understand the impact of each species on ecosystem function and how complementary species behave when intercropped. However, these interactions are likely species- and system-specific, highlighting the need for more work to optimize solutions for different arid ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akash Tariq
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CREAF, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Abd Ullah
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Corina Graciano
- Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fanjiang Zeng
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Yanju Gao
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jordi Sardans
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CREAF, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Alice C Hughes
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 852, China
| | - Zhihao Zhang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CREAF, Cerdanyola Del Vallès, 08193, Catalonia, Spain
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Tariq A, Sardans J, Zeng F, Graciano C, Hughes AC, Farré-Armengol G, Peñuelas J. Impact of aridity rise and arid lands expansion on carbon-storing capacity, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem services. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17292. [PMID: 38634556 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17292] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Drylands, comprising semi-arid, arid, and hyperarid regions, cover approximately 41% of the Earth's land surface and have expanded considerably in recent decades. Even under more optimistic scenarios, such as limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C by 2100, semi-arid lands may increase by up to 38%. This study provides an overview of the state-of-the-art regarding changing aridity in arid regions, with a specific focus on its effects on the accumulation and availability of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in plant-soil systems. Additionally, we summarized the impacts of rising aridity on biodiversity, service provisioning, and feedback effects on climate change across scales. The expansion of arid ecosystems is linked to a decline in C and nutrient stocks, plant community biomass and diversity, thereby diminishing the capacity for recovery and maintaining adequate water-use efficiency by plants and microbes. Prolonged drought led to a -3.3% reduction in soil organic carbon (SOC) content (based on 148 drought-manipulation studies), a -8.7% decrease in plant litter input, a -13.0% decline in absolute litter decomposition, and a -5.7% decrease in litter decomposition rate. Moreover, a substantial positive feedback loop with global warming exists, primarily due to increased albedo. The loss of critical ecosystem services, including food production capacity and water resources, poses a severe challenge to the inhabitants of these regions. Increased aridity reduces SOC, nutrient, and water content. Aridity expansion and intensification exacerbate socio-economic disparities between economically rich and least developed countries, with significant opportunities for improvement through substantial investments in infrastructure and technology. By 2100, half the world's landmass may become dryland, characterized by severe conditions marked by limited C, N, and P resources, water scarcity, and substantial loss of native species biodiversity. These conditions pose formidable challenges for maintaining essential services, impacting human well-being and raising complex global and regional socio-political challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akash Tariq
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, CSIC, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jordi Sardans
- Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, CSIC, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Fanjiang Zeng
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Corina Graciano
- Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alice C Hughes
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gerard Farré-Armengol
- Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, CSIC, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-UAB, CSIC, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain
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14
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Ding C, Newbold T, Ameca EI. Assessing the global vulnerability of dryland birds to heatwaves. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17136. [PMID: 38273501 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17136] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
As global average surface temperature increases, extreme climatic events such as heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, which can drive biodiversity responses such as rapid population declines and/or shifts in species distributions and even local extirpations. However, the impacts of extreme climatic events are largely ignored in conservation plans. Birds are known to be susceptible to heatwaves, especially in dryland ecosystems. Understanding which birds are most vulnerable to heatwaves, and where these birds occur, can offer a scientific basis for adaptive management and conservation. We assessed the relative vulnerability of 1196 dryland bird species to heatwaves using a trait-based approach. Among them, 888 bird species are estimated to be vulnerable to heatwaves (170 highly vulnerable, eight extremely vulnerable), of which ~91% are currently considered non-threatened by the IUCN, which suggests that many species will likely become newly threatened with intensifying climate change. We identified the top three hotspot areas of heatwave-vulnerable species in Australia (208 species), Southern Africa (125 species) and Eastern Africa (99 species). Populations of vulnerable species recorded in the Living Planet Database were found to be declining significantly faster than those of non-vulnerable species (p = .048) after heatwaves occurred. In contrast, no significant difference in population trends between vulnerable and non-vulnerable species was detected when no heatwave occurred (p = .34). This suggests that our vulnerability framework correctly identified vulnerable species and that heatwaves are already impacting the population trends of these species. Our findings will help prioritize heatwave-vulnerable birds in dryland ecosystems in risk mitigation and adaptation management as the frequency of heatwaves accelerates in the coming decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchen Ding
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tim Newbold
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Eric I Ameca
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Climate Change Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland
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15
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Nedopil C, Yue M, Hughes AC. Are debt-for-nature swaps scalable: Which nature, how much debt, and who pays? AMBIO 2024; 53:63-78. [PMID: 37658986 PMCID: PMC10692041 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01914-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
With the ongoing sovereign debt and biodiversity crises in many emerging economies, applications of debt-for-nature swaps as a dual solution for sovereign debt and nature conservation have been re-emerging. We analyze how debt-for-nature swaps (DNS) can be scaled to protect biodiversity priority areas and reduce debt burden. We build a dataset for biodiversity conservation and debt restructuring in 67 countries at risk of sovereign debt distress and show that they hold over 22% of global biodiversity priority areas, 82.96% of which are unprotected. Furthermore, we show that for 35 of the 67 countries, using conservative cost estimates, 100% of unprotected biodiversity priority areas could be protected for a fraction of debt; for the remaining countries, applying DNS would allow the protection of 11-13% of currently unprotected biodiversity priority areas. By applying interdisciplinary research combining fundamental biodiversity and economic data and methods merging, the research contributes methodologically and practically to the understanding of debt-for-nature swaps for emerging economies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Nedopil
- Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengdi Yue
- Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Alice C Hughes
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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Tao Y, Zhou XB, Yin BF, Dimeyeva L, Zhang J, Zang YX, Zhang YM. Combining Multiple Plant Attributes to Reveal Differences in Community Structure in Two Distant Deserts in Central Asia. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3286. [PMID: 37765450 PMCID: PMC10537988 DOI: 10.3390/plants12183286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
International interest is growing in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in drylands. Desert ecosystems across arid Central Asia are severely affected by global change. Understanding the changes in a plant community is an essential prerequisite to revealing the community assembly mechanism, vegetation conservation, and management. The knowledge of large-scale spatial variation in plant community structure in different Central Asian deserts is still limited. In this study, we selected the Taukum (TD, Kazakhstan) and the Gurbantunggut (GD, China) deserts as the research area, with similar latitudes despite being nearly 1000 km apart. Thirteen and 15 sampling plots were set up and thoroughly investigated. The differences in community structure depending on multiple plant attributes (individual level: plant height, canopy diameter, and plant volume, and community level: plant density, total cover, and total volume) were systematically studied. TD had a better overall environmental status than GD. A total of 113 species were found, with 68 and 74 in TD and GD, respectively. The number of species and plant attributes was unequally distributed across different families and functional groups between deserts. The values of several plant attributes, such as ephemerals, annuals, dicotyledons, and shrubs with assimilative branches in GD, were significantly lower than those in TD. The Motyka indices of six plant attributes (26.18-38.61%) were higher between the two deserts than the species similarity index (20.4%), indicating a more robust convergence for plant functional attributes. The community structures in the two deserts represented by different plant attribute matrices demonstrated irregular differentiation patterns in ordination diagrams. The most variance in community structure was attributed to soil and climatic factors, while geographic factors had the smallest proportion. Consequently, the community structures of the two distant deserts were both different and similar to an extent. This resulted from the long-term impacts of heterogeneous environments within the same region. Our knowledge is further deepened by understanding the variation in community structure in different deserts on a large spatial scale. This therefore provides valuable insights into conserving regional biodiversity in Central Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Security and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; (Y.T.); (X.-B.Z.); (B.-F.Y.); (J.Z.); (Y.-X.Z.)
| | - Xiao-Bing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Security and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; (Y.T.); (X.-B.Z.); (B.-F.Y.); (J.Z.); (Y.-X.Z.)
| | - Ben-Feng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Security and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; (Y.T.); (X.-B.Z.); (B.-F.Y.); (J.Z.); (Y.-X.Z.)
| | - Liliya Dimeyeva
- Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan;
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Security and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; (Y.T.); (X.-B.Z.); (B.-F.Y.); (J.Z.); (Y.-X.Z.)
| | - Yong-Xin Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Security and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; (Y.T.); (X.-B.Z.); (B.-F.Y.); (J.Z.); (Y.-X.Z.)
| | - Yuan-Ming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Security and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; (Y.T.); (X.-B.Z.); (B.-F.Y.); (J.Z.); (Y.-X.Z.)
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17
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Rainho A, Ferreira DF, Makori B, Bartonjo M, Repas-Gonçalves M, Kirakou S, Maghuwa F, Webala PW, Tomé R. Guild Vertical Stratification and Drivers of Bat Foraging in a Semi-Arid Tropical Region, Kenya. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1116. [PMID: 37627000 PMCID: PMC10452385 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Africa faces significant challenges in reconciling economic and social development while preserving its natural resources. Little is known about the diverse bat community on the continent, particularly in drier ecosystems. A better understanding of the bat community will help improve and inform the management of these ecosystems. Our study aimed to provide detailed information on the main drivers of bat richness and activity at three different heights above the ground in a semi-arid region of Kenya. We assessed how bat activity varied with space and height using acoustic sampling and complementary methods. We sampled 48 sites at ground level and two sites on meteorological masts at 20 m and 35 m above the ground. We recorded more than 20 bat species, including one species of concern for conservation. Our models showed that the use of space varies with bat guild, creating trade-offs in the variables that affect their activity. Low-flying bat species are mostly associated with habitat variables, whereas high-flying species are more dependent on weather conditions. Our study highlights the richness of bat assemblages in semi-arid environments and emphasizes the need for management measures to protect bat diversity in the face of habitat degradation caused by climate change, land management, and development projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rainho
- cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Diogo F. Ferreira
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, University of Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Beryl Makori
- The Pangolin Project, P.O. Box 15156, Langata 00509, Kenya
| | - Michael Bartonjo
- Mammalogy Section, National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | | | - Stanley Kirakou
- Environment and Sustainable Development Department, Kenya Electricity Generating Company, P.O. Box 47936, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Florah Maghuwa
- Environment and Sustainable Development Department, Kenya Electricity Generating Company, P.O. Box 47936, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Paul W. Webala
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Maasai Mara University, P.O. Box 861, Narok 20500, Kenya
| | - Ricardo Tomé
- The Biodiversity Consultancy, 3E King’s Parade, Cambridge CB2 1SJ, UK
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Rais M, Nawaz MA, Gray RJ, Qadir W, Ali SM, Saeed M, Akram A, Ahmed W, Sajjad A, Leston L. Niche suitability and spatial distribution patterns of anurans in a unique Ecoregion mosaic of Northern Pakistan. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285867. [PMID: 37319174 PMCID: PMC10270595 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285867] [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: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The lack of information regarding biodiversity status hampers designing and implementing conservation strategies and achieving future targets. Northern Pakistan consists of a unique ecoregion mosaic which supports a myriad of environmental niches for anuran diversity in comparison to the deserts and xeric shrublands throughout the rest of the country. In order to study the niche suitability, species overlap and distribution patterns in Pakistan, we collected observational data for nine anuran species across several distinct ecoregions by surveying 87 randomly selected locations from 2016 to 2018 in Rawalpindi District and Islamabad Capital Territory. Our model showed that the precipitation of the warmest and coldest quarter, distance to rivers and vegetation were the greatest drivers of anuran distribution, expectedly indicating that the presence of humid forests and proximity to waterways greatly influences the habitable range of anurans in Pakistan. Sympatric overlap between species occurred at significantly higher density in tropical and subtropical coniferous forests than in other ecoregion types. We found species such as Minervarya spp., Hoplobatrachus tigerinus and Euphlyctis spp. preferred the lowlands in proximal, central and southern parts of the study area proximal to urban settlements, with little vegetation and higher average temperatures. Duttaphrynus bengalensis and D. stomaticus had scattered distributions throughout the study area with no clear preference for elevation. Sphaerotheca pashchima was patchily distributed in the midwestern extent of the study area as well as the foothills to the north. Microhyla nilphamariensis was widely distributed throughout the study area with a preference for both lowlands and montane terrain. Endemic frogs (Nanorana vicina and Allopaa hazarensis) were observed only in locations with higher elevations, higher density of streams and lower average temperatures as compared to the other seven species sampled. It is recommended to provide legal protection to amphibians of Pakistan, especially endemic species, through revision in the existing wildlife laws. We suggest studying the effectiveness of existing amphibian tunnels and corridors or designing new ones tailored to the needs of our species to prevent their local extinction due to ongoing or proposed urban development which might affect their dispersal and colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Rais
- Department of Zoology, Herpetology Lab, Wildlife and Fisheries, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ali Nawaz
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Environmental Science Program, College of Arts and Sciences, Doha, Qatar
| | - Russell J. Gray
- Science Advisor, Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, Ninh Bình, Vietnam
| | - Waqas Qadir
- Assistant Education Officer, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Syeda Maria Ali
- Department of Environmental Sciences, International Islamic University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Saeed
- Research & Planning Wildlife, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), Ministry of Climate Change, Islamabad, Islamabad
| | - Ayesha Akram
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Waseem Ahmed
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Anum Sajjad
- Occupational Health Safety and Environment, North West General Hospital and Research Centre, Hayatabad, Peshawar
| | - Lionel Leston
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Muñoz-Carvajal E, Araya-Angel JP, Garrido-Sáez N, González M, Stoll A. Challenges for Plant Growth Promoting Microorganism Transfer from Science to Industry: A Case Study from Chile. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11041061. [PMID: 37110484 PMCID: PMC10140820 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11041061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on the plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPM) is increasing strongly due to the biotechnological potential for the agricultural, forestry, and food industry. The benefits of using PGPM in crop production are well proven; however, their incorporation in agricultural management is still limited. Therefore, we wanted to explore the gaps and challenges for the transfer of biotechnological innovations based on PGPM to the agricultural sector. Our systematic review of the state of the art of PGPM research and knowledge transfer takes Chile as an example. Several transfer limiting aspects are identified and discussed. Our two main conclusions are: neither academia nor industry can meet unfounded expectations during technology transfer, but mutually clarifying their needs, capabilities, and limitations is the starting point for successful collaborations; the generation of a collaborative innovation environment, where academia as well as public and private stakeholders (including the local community) take part, is crucial to enhance the acceptance and integration of PGPM on the way to sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Muñoz-Carvajal
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Aplicada, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas, La Serena 1720256, Chile
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena 1720256, Chile
| | - Juan Pablo Araya-Angel
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Aplicada, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas, La Serena 1720256, Chile
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena 1720256, Chile
| | - Nicolás Garrido-Sáez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Aplicada, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas, La Serena 1720256, Chile
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena 1720256, Chile
| | - Máximo González
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Aplicada, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas, La Serena 1720256, Chile
- Instituto de Investigación Multidisciplinario en Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena 1720256, Chile
| | - Alexandra Stoll
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Aplicada, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas, La Serena 1720256, Chile
- Instituto de Investigación Multidisciplinario en Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena 1720256, Chile
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Haq SM, Waheed M, Ahmad R, Bussmann RW, Arshad F, Khan AM, Casini R, Alataway A, Dewidar AZ, Elansary HO. Climate Change and Human Activities, the Significant Dynamic Drivers of Himalayan Goral Distribution ( Naemorhedus goral). BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040610. [PMID: 37106810 PMCID: PMC10135808 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
The distribution of large ungulates is more often negatively impacted by the changing climate, especially global warming and species with limited distributional zones. While developing conservation action plans for the threatened species such as the Himalayan goral (Naemorhedus goral Hardwicke 1825; a mountain goat that mostly inhabits rocky cliffs), it is imperative to comprehend how future distributions might vary based on predicted climate change. In this work, MaxEnt modeling was employed to assess the habitat suitability of the target species under varying climate scenarios. Such studies have provided highly useful information but to date no such research work has been conducted that considers this endemic animal species of the Himalayas. A total of 81 species presence points, 19 bioclimatic and 3 topographic variables were employed in the species distribution modeling (SDM), and MaxEnt calibration and optimization were performed to select the best candidate model. For predicted climate scenarios, the future data is drawn from SSPs 245 and SSPs 585 of the 2050s and 2070s. Out of total 20 variables, annual precipitation, elevation, precipitation of driest month, slope aspect, minimum temperature of coldest month, slope, precipitation of warmest quarter, and temperature annual range (in order) were detected as the most influential drivers. A high accuracy value (AUC-ROC > 0.9) was observed for all the predicted scenarios. The habitat suitability of the targeted species might expand (about 3.7 to 13%) under all the future climate change scenarios. The same is evident according to local residents as species which are locally considered extinct in most of the area, might be shifting northwards along the elevation gradient away from human settlements. This study recommends additional research is conducted to prevent potential population collapses, and to identify other possible causes of local extinction events. Our findings will aid in formulating conservation plans for the Himalayan goral in a changing climate and serve as a basis for future monitoring of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiekh Marifatul Haq
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Muhammad Waheed
- Department of Botany, University of Okara, Okara 56300, Pakistan
| | - Riyaz Ahmad
- National Center for Wildlife, Riyadh 11575, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rainer W Bussmann
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia
- Department of Botany, Institute of Life Sciences, State Museum of Natural History, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Fahim Arshad
- Department of Botany, University of Okara, Okara 56300, Pakistan
| | - Arshad Mahmood Khan
- Department of Botany, Government Hashmat Ali Islamia Associate College Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
- Department of Botany, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
| | - Ryan Casini
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - Abed Alataway
- Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water Chair, Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Z Dewidar
- Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water Chair, Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Agricultural Engineering, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hosam O Elansary
- Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water Chair, Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Plant Production Department, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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