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Siegel T, Magrach A, Laurance WF, Luther D. A global meta-analysis of the impacts of forest fragmentation on biotic mutualisms and antagonisms. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14206. [PMID: 37855172 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14206] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Forest fragmentation is a grave threat to biodiversity. Forests are becoming increasingly fragmented with more than 70% now < 1 km from forest edge. Although much is known about the effects of forest fragmentation on individual species, much less is understood about its effects on species interactions (i.e., mutualisms, antagonisms, etc.). In 2014, a previous meta-analysis assessed the impacts of forest fragmentation on different species interactions, across 82 studies. We pooled the previous data with data published in the last 10 years (combined total 104 studies and 168 effect sizes). We compared the new set of publications (22 studies and 32 effect sizes) with the old set to evaluate potential changes in species interactions over time given the global increase in fragmentation rates. Mutualisms were more negatively affected by forest fragmentation than antagonisms (p < 0.0001). Edge effects, fragment size, and degradation negatively affected mutualisms, but not antagonisms, a different finding from the original meta-analysis. Parasitic interactions increased as fragment size decreased (p < 0.0001)-an intriguing result at variance with earlier studies. New publications showed a more negative mean effect size of forest fragmentation on mutualisms than old publications. Although research is still limited for some interactions, we identified an important scientific trend: current research tends to focus on antagonisms. We concluded that forest fragmentation disrupts important species interactions and that this disruption has increased over time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - William F Laurance
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
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2
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Zhao Y, Mendenhall CD, Matthews TJ, Wang D, Li W, Liu X, Tang S, Han P, Wei G, Kang Y, Wu C, Wang R, Zeng D, Frishkoff LO, Si X. Land-use change interacts with island biogeography to alter bird community assembly. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232245. [PMID: 38471555 PMCID: PMC10932711 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities have reshaped biodiversity on islands worldwide. However, it remains unclear how island attributes and land-use change interactively shape multiple facets of island biodiversity through community assembly processes. To answer this, we conducted bird surveys in various land-use types (mainly forest and farmland) using transects on 34 oceanic land-bridge islands in the largest archipelago of China. We found that bird species richness increased with island area and decreased with isolation, regardless of the intensity of land-use change. However, forest-dominated habitats exhibited lower richness than farmland-dominated habitats. Island bird assemblages generally comprised species that share more similar traits or evolutionary histories (i.e. functional and/or phylogenetic clustering) than expected if assemblages were randomly assembled. Contrary to our expectations, we observed that bird assemblages in forest-dominated habitats were more clustered on large and close islands, whereas assemblages in farmland-dominated habitats were more clustered on small islands. These contrasting results indicate that land-use change interacts with island biogeography to alter the community assembly of birds on inhabited islands. Our findings emphasize the importance of incorporating human-modified habitats when examining the community assembly of island biota, and further suggest that agricultural landscapes on large islands may play essential roles in protecting countryside island biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhao Zhao
- Zhejiang Zhoushan Island Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Eco-Chongming, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Thomas J. Matthews
- GEES (School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences) and Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- CE3C – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group / CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute and Universidade dos Açores – Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, PT-9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Açores, Portugal
| | - Duorun Wang
- Zhejiang Zhoushan Island Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Eco-Chongming, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Wande Li
- Zhejiang Zhoushan Island Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Eco-Chongming, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangxu Liu
- Zhejiang Zhoushan Island Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Eco-Chongming, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Shupei Tang
- Zhejiang Zhoushan Island Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Eco-Chongming, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Han
- Zhejiang Zhoushan Island Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Eco-Chongming, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangpeng Wei
- Zhejiang Zhoushan Island Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Eco-Chongming, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Kang
- Zhejiang Zhoushan Island Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Eco-Chongming, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenxiao Wu
- Zhejiang Zhoushan Island Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Eco-Chongming, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Wang
- Zhejiang Zhoushan Island Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Eco-Chongming, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Zeng
- Zhejiang Zhoushan Island Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Eco-Chongming, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Luke O. Frishkoff
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Xingfeng Si
- Zhejiang Zhoushan Island Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Eco-Chongming, Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
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3
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Keller JK, Sullivan PJ. The importance of patch shape at threshold occupancy: functional patch size within total habitat amount. Oecologia 2023; 203:95-112. [PMID: 37817053 PMCID: PMC10615919 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05453-3] [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: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
The habitat amount hypothesis (HAH) stresses the importance of total patch amount over the size of individual patches in determining species richness within a local landscape. However, the absence of some species from patches too small to contain a territory would be inconsistent with the HAH. Using the association of territory size with body size and the circle as optimal territory shape, we tested several HAH predictions of threshold patch occupancy and richness of 19 guilds of primarily insectivorous breeding birds. We characterized 16 guild-associated patch types at high spatial resolution and assigned one type to each guild. We measured functional patch size as the largest circle that fit within each patch type occurring in a local landscape. Functional patch size was the sole or primary predictor in regression models of species richness for 15 of the 19 guilds. Total patch amount was the sole or primary variable in only 2 models. Quantifying patch size at high resolution also demonstrated that breeding birds should be absent from patches that are too small to contain a territory and larger species should occur only in larger patches. Functional patch size is a readily interpretable metric that helps explain the habitat basis for differences in species composition and richness between areas. It provides a tool to assess the combined effects of patch size, shape and perforation on threshold habitat availability, and with total patch amount can inform design and/or evaluation of conservation, restoration or enhancement options for focal taxa or biodiversity in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey K Keller
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
- Habitat by Design, 74 Stagecoach Road, Pipersville, PA, 18947, USA.
| | - Patrick J Sullivan
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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4
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Moore JH, Gibson L, Amir Z, Chanthorn W, Ahmad AH, Jansen PA, Mendes CP, Onuma M, Peres CA, Luskin MS. The rise of hyperabundant native generalists threatens both humans and nature. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1829-1844. [PMID: 37311559 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In many disturbed terrestrial landscapes, a subset of native generalist vertebrates thrives. The population trends of these disturbance-tolerant species may be driven by multiple factors, including habitat preferences, foraging opportunities (including crop raiding or human refuse), lower mortality when their predators are persecuted (the 'human shield' effect) and reduced competition due to declines of disturbance-sensitive species. A pronounced elevation in the abundance of disturbance-tolerant wildlife can drive numerous cascading impacts on food webs, biodiversity, vegetation structure and people in coupled human-natural systems. There is also concern for increased risk of zoonotic disease transfer to humans and domestic animals from wildlife species with high pathogen loads as their abundance and proximity to humans increases. Here we use field data from 58 landscapes to document a supra-regional phenomenon of the hyperabundance and community dominance of Southeast Asian wild pigs and macaques. These two groups were chosen as prime candidates capable of reaching hyperabundance as they are edge adapted, with gregarious social structure, omnivorous diets, rapid reproduction and high tolerance to human proximity. Compared to intact interior forests, population densities in degraded forests were 148% and 87% higher for wild boar and macaques, respectively. In landscapes with >60% oil palm coverage, wild boar and pig-tailed macaque estimated abundances were 337% and 447% higher than landscapes with <1% oil palm coverage, respectively, suggesting marked demographic benefits accrued by crop raiding on calorie-rich food subsidies. There was extreme community dominance in forest landscapes with >20% oil palm cover where two pig and two macaque species accounted for >80% of independent camera trap detections, leaving <20% for the other 85 mammal species >1 kg considered. Establishing the population trends of pigs and macaques is imperative since they are linked to cascading impacts on the fauna and flora of local forest ecosystems, disease and human health, and economics (i.e., crop losses). The severity of potential negative cascading effects may motivate control efforts to achieve ecosystem integrity, human health and conservation objectives. Our review concludes that the rise of native generalists can be mediated by specific types of degradation, which influences the ecology and conservation of natural areas, creating both positive and detrimental impacts on intact ecosystems and human society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan H Moore
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd, Nanshan, Shenzhen, China
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Luke Gibson
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd, Nanshan, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zachary Amir
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Wirong Chanthorn
- Department of Environmental Technology and Management, Faculty of Environment, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan Road, Jatujak District, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Abdul Hamid Ahmad
- Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu, 88400, Malaysia
| | - Patrick A Jansen
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, Wageningen, 6708 PB, Netherlands
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Roosevelt Ave. Tupper Building - 401, Panama City, 0843-03092, Panama
| | - Calebe P Mendes
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Manabu Onuma
- National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onagava, Tsukuba-City, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Carlos A Peres
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
- Instituto Juruá, R. Ajuricaba, 359 - Aleixo, Manaus, 69083-020, Brazil
| | - Matthew Scott Luskin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
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5
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Ma J, Li J, Wu W, Liu J. Global forest fragmentation change from 2000 to 2020. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3752. [PMID: 37433782 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39221-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive quantification of global forest fragmentation is urgently required to guide forest protection, restoration and reforestation policies. Previous efforts focused on the static distribution patterns of forest remnants, potentially neglecting dynamic changes in forest landscapes. Here, we map global distribution of forest fragments and their temporal changes between 2000 and 2020. We find that forest landscapes in the tropics were relatively intact, yet these areas experienced the most severe fragmentation over the past two decades. In contrast, 75.1% of the world's forests experienced a decrease in fragmentation, and forest fragmentation in most fragmented temperate and subtropical regions, mainly in northern Eurasia and South China, declined between 2000 and 2020. We also identify eight modes of fragmentation that indicate different recovery or degradation states. Our findings underscore the need to curb deforestation and increase connectivity among forest fragments, especially in tropical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, Institute of Biodiversty Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, #2005 Songhu Road, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Jiawei Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, Institute of Biodiversty Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, #2005 Songhu Road, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Wanben Wu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, Institute of Biodiversty Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, #2005 Songhu Road, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Jiajia Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, Institute of Biodiversty Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, #2005 Songhu Road, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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6
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Pires MM, Benchimol M, Cruz LR, Peres CA. Terrestrial food web complexity in Amazonian forests decays with habitat loss. Curr Biol 2023; 33:389-396.e3. [PMID: 36580916 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.11.066] [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: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The conversion of natural ecosystems into human-modified landscapes (HMLs) is the main driver of biodiversity loss in terrestrial ecosystems.1,2,3 Even when species persist within habitat remnants, populations may become so small that ecological interactions are functionally lost, disrupting local interaction networks.4,5 To uncover the consequences of land use changes toward ecosystem functioning, we need to understand how changes in species richness and abundance in HMLs6,7,8 rearrange ecological networks. We used data from forest vertebrate surveys and combined modeling and network analysis to investigate how the structure of predator-prey networks was affected by habitat insularization induced by a hydroelectric reservoir in the Brazilian Amazonia.9 We found that network complexity, measured by interaction diversity, decayed non-linearly with decreasingly smaller forest area. Although on large forest islands (>100 ha) prey species were linked to 3-4 potential predators, they were linked to one or had no remaining predator on small islands. Using extinction simulations, we show that the variation in network structure cannot be explained by abundance-related extinction risk or prey availability. Our findings show that habitat loss may result in an abrupt disruption of terrestrial predator-prey networks, generating low-complexity ecosystems that may not retain functionality. Release from predation on some small islands may produce cascading effects over plants that accelerate forest degradation, whereas predator spillover on others may result in overexploited prey populations. Our analyses highlight that in addition to maintaining diversity, protecting large continuous forests is required for the persistence of interaction networks and related ecosystem functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias M Pires
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-862 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| | - Maíra Benchimol
- Applied Ecology & Conservation Lab, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, 45650-000 Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Livia R Cruz
- Programa de Pós Graduaçao em Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-862 Campinas, SP, Brazil; Conservation Innovation Lab, Biology and Society Graduation Program, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4601, USA
| | - Carlos A Peres
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR47TJ, UK; Instituto Juruá, Rua Ajuricaba 359, 69057-060 Manaus, Brazil.
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7
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Pires MM, Galetti M. Beyond the “empty forest”: The defaunation syndromes of Neotropical forests in the Anthropocene. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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8
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Deane DC. Species accumulation in small–large vs large–small order: more species but not all species? Oecologia 2022; 200:273-284. [PMID: 36115918 PMCID: PMC9547801 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05261-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Although groups of small habitat patches often support more species than large patches of equal total area, their biodiversity value remains controversial. An important line of evidence in this debate compares species accumulation curves, where patches are ordered from small–large and large–small (aka ‘SLOSS analysis’). However, this method counts species equally and is unable to distinguish patch size dependence in species’ occupancies. Moreover, because of the species–area relationship, richness differences typically only contribute to accumulation in small–large order, maximizing the probability of adding species in this direction. Using a null model to control for this, I tested 202 published datasets from archipelagos, habitat islands and fragments for patch size dependence in species accumulation and compared conclusions regarding relative species accumulation with SLOSS analysis. Relative to null model expectations, species accumulation was on average 2.7% higher in large–small than small–large order. The effect was strongest in archipelagos (5%), intermediate for fragments (1.5%) and smallest for habitat islands (1.1%). There was no difference in effect size among taxonomic groups, but each shared this same trend. Results suggest most meta-communities include species that either prefer, or depend upon, larger habitat patches. Relative to SLOSS analysis, null models found lower frequency of greater small-patch importance for species representation (e.g., for fragments: 69 vs 16% respectively) and increased frequency for large patches (fragments: 3 vs 25%). I suggest SLOSS analysis provides unreliable inference on species accumulation and the outcome largely depends on island species–area relationships, not the relative diversity value of small vs large patches.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Deane
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes, Department of Environment and Genetics, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia.
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada.
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9
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Stowe HE, Michaud JP, Kim TN. Resource amount and discontinuity influence flight and reproduction in
Hippodamia convergens
(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E. Stowe
- Department of Entomology Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas USA
| | - J. P. Michaud
- Department of Entomology Kansas State University, Agricultural Research Center—Hays Hays Kansas USA
| | - Tania N. Kim
- Department of Entomology Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas USA
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10
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Neto GDSF, Benchimol M, Carneiro FM, Baccaro FB. Island size predicts mammal diversity in insular environments, except for land‐bridge islands. Biotropica 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Maíra Benchimol
- Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada à Conservação Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz Ilhéus Brazil
| | - Fernanda Melo Carneiro
- Instituto Acadêmico de Ciências da Saúde e Biológicas Universidade Estadual de Goiás (UEG), Campus Metropolitano, Unidade Goiânia‐Laranjeiras Goiânia Goias Brazil
| | - Fabricio Beggiato Baccaro
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Federal do Amazonas Manaus Brazil
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Estimating the density of small mammals using the selfie trap is an effective camera trapping method. MAMMAL RES 2022; 67:467-482. [PMID: 35891629 PMCID: PMC9304545 DOI: 10.1007/s13364-022-00643-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Camera trapping to study wildlife allows for data collection, without the need to capture animals. Traditionally, camera traps have been used to target larger terrestrial mammal species, though recently novel methods and adjustments in procedures have meant camera traps can be used to study small mammals. The selfie trap (a camera trapping method) may present robust sampling and ecological study of small mammals. This study aimed to evaluate the selfie trap method in terms of its ability to detect species and estimate population density. To address this aim, standard small mammal live trapping was undertaken, immediately followed by camera trapping using the selfie trap. Both methods were set to target the arboreal sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) and semi-arboreal brown antechinus (Antechinus stuartii). The more ground-dwelling bush rat (Rattus fuscipes) was also live trapped and recorded on camera. Across four survey areas, the probability of detection for each of the three species was higher for selfie traps than for live trapping. Spatially explicit capture-recapture models showed that selfie traps were superior at estimating density for brown antechinus and sugar gliders, when compared to simulated live trapping data. Hit rates (number of videos per various time intervals) were correlated with abundance. When correlating various hit rate intervals with abundance, the use of 10-min hit rate was best for predicting sugar glider abundance (R2 = 0.94). The abundance of brown antechinus was estimated from selfie traps using a 24-h hit rate as a predictor (R2 = 0.85). For sugar gliders, the selfie trap can replace live trapping as individuals can be identified through their unique facial stripes and natural ear scars, and thus used in capture-recapture analysis. This method may be useful for monitoring the abundance of other small mammal species that can also be individually recognized from photographs.
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12
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Lynch T, Green M, Wong L, Bessell T, Cooper A, Valentine J, Barrett N, Ross D, McEnnulty F, Foster S. Assessment of conservations actions for the critically endangered spotted handfish (Brachionichthyidae), following curation of data collected by multiple investigators into a long-term time-series. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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13
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Invasive rat drives complete collapse of native small mammal communities in insular forest fragments. Curr Biol 2022; 32:2997-3004.e2. [PMID: 35709755 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.05.053] [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] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
As tropical forests are becoming increasingly fragmented, understanding the magnitude and time frame of biodiversity declines is vital for 21st century sustainability goals. Over three decades, we monitored post-isolation changes in small mammal species richness and abundance within a forest landscape fragmented by the construction of a dam in Thailand.1,2 We observed the near-complete collapse of species richness within 33 years, with no evidence of a recolonization effect across repeatedly sampled islands. Our results further revealed a decline in species richness as island size decreased and isolation time increased, accelerated by the increasing dominance of the ubiquitous Malayan field rat, Rattus tiomanicus. This species was already hyper-abundant on smaller islands in the initial surveys (1992-1994, 66% of individuals) but became monodominant on all islands, regardless of island size, by the most recent survey (2020, 97%). Our results suggest that insular forest fragments are highly susceptible to rapid species loss, particularly due to the competitive nature of Rattus accelerating the rate at which extinction debts are paid. To mitigate these impacts, reducing the extent of habitat degradation, as triggered by fragmentation and exacerbated by isolation time, can help to sustain native biodiversity while averting Rattus hyper-abundance.
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14
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Methodology of Wildlife Underpasses Attractiveness Assessment. EKOLÓGIA (BRATISLAVA) 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/eko-2022-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The permeability of line barriers in the landscape is often a prerequisite for the survival of the wide spectrum of native species. The aim of this study is to create a methodology for assessing the attractiveness of wildlife underpasses used by animals during migrations, translocations or as a habitat. Understanding the relationship between the parameters of underpasses in the broader landscape-ecological context and their attractiveness for animals is a key aspect in spatial planning and the construction of new linear transport structures, which will significantly help mitigate the barrier effect and isolation of animal populations. The attractiveness assessment is based on the evaluation of the underpass individual parameters and its surroundings through the 8 sub-indexes (openness, substrate, anthropogenic, vegetation, landscape structure elements, ecological networks, potential and real migration/habitat).
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15
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Habitat preferences, estimated abundance and behavior of tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax sp.) in fragmented montane forests of Taita Hills, Kenya. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6331. [PMID: 35428748 PMCID: PMC9012809 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10235-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied a previously almost unknown nocturnal mammal, an apparently undescribed species of tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax sp.) in the moist montane forests of Taita Hills, Kenya. We used thermal imaging to locate tree hyraxes, observe their behavior, and to identify woody plants most frequently visited by the selective browsers. We also documented acoustic behavior in forest fragments of different sizes. Data on calling type and frequency were analyzed together with lidar data to estimate population densities and to identify forest stand characteristics associated with large populations. Viable populations were found only in the largest forest fragments (> 90 ha), where tree hyraxes preferred most pristine forest stands with high, multilayered canopies. The estimated population sizes in smaller forest fragments were very limited, and hyraxes were heard to call only during late night and early morning hours, presumably in order to avoid detection. While we frequently recorded tree hyrax songs in the largest forest fragments, we almost never heard songs in the small ones. All remaining subpopulations of the Taita tree hyrax are under threat of human disturbance and further habitat deterioration. Conservation efforts should include protection of all remaining habitat patches, but also reforestation of former habitat is urgently needed.
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Wang Y, Qin P, Önal H. An optimisation approach for designing wildlife corridors with ecological and spatial considerations. Methods Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yicheng Wang
- College of Resources and Environment Qingdao Agricultural University Qingdao China
| | - Peng Qin
- College of Resources and Environment Qingdao Agricultural University Qingdao China
| | - Hayri Önal
- Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics University of Illinois Champaign Illinois USA
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17
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Almeida-Gomes M, Gotelli NJ, Rocha CFD, Vieira MV, Prevedello JA. Random placement models explain species richness and dissimilarity of frog assemblages within Atlantic Forest fragments. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:618-629. [PMID: 35007336 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13660] [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] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the effects of random versus niche-based processes on biodiversity patterns is a central theme in ecology, and an important tool for predicting effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on biodiversity. We investigated the predictive power of random processes to explain species richness and species dissimilarity of amphibian assemblages in a fragmented tropical landscape of the Atlantic Forest of South America. We analyzed a large database of amphibian abundance and occupancy, sampled in 21 forest fragments ranging in size from 1.9 to 619 ha. We compared observed species richness and species dissimilarity with the outcomes of two null (random placement) models: 1- the traditional Coleman's area-based model and 2- an abundance-based model (based on the number of individuals observed in each fragment). We applied these models for all species combined, and separately for forest-dependent and habitat-generalist species. The abundance-based model fitted the observed species richness data better than the area-based model for all species, forest-dependent species, and generalist species. The area-based and the abundance-based models were also able to significantly explain species dissimilarity for all species and for generalists, but not for forest dependent species. The traditional area-based model assigned too many individuals to large fragments, thus failing to accurately explain species richness within patches across the landscape. Although niche-based processes may be important to structuring the regional pool of species in fragmented landscapes, our results suggest that part of the variation in species richness and species dissimilarity can be successfully explained by random placement models, especially for generalist species. Evaluating which factors cause variation in the number of individuals among patches should be a focus in future studies aiming to understand biodiversity patterns in fragmented landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Almeida-Gomes
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcus Vinícius Vieira
- Laboratório de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Impacts of hydropower on the habitat of jaguars and tigers. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1358. [PMID: 34887507 PMCID: PMC8660786 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02878-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid expansion of hydropower across tropical landscapes has caused extensive habitat loss and degradation, triggering biodiversity loss. Despite known risks to freshwater biodiversity, the flooding of terrestrial habitats caused by dam construction, and associated impacts on terrestrial biota, have been rarely considered. To help fill this knowledge gap, we quantified the habitat loss following inundation of hydropower reservoirs across the range of two iconic species, jaguars and tigers. To do so, we compiled existing and planned dams intersecting the distribution of these apex predators. We found 164 dams intersecting the jaguar range, in total flooding 25,397 km2. For tigers, we identified 421 dams, amounting to 13,750 km2. As hydropower infrastructure is projected to expand in the decades ahead, these values are expected to increase greatly, particularly within the distribution of jaguars where the number of dams will nearly quadruple (429 planned dams). Despite the relatively few dams (41) planned across the range of tigers, most will intersect priority conservation areas for this species. We recommend a more cautious pursuit of hydropower in topographically flat regions, to avoid extensive habitat flooding which has occurred in the Neotropics, and avoiding dam construction in priority conservation landscapes for tigers. Palmeirim and Gibson quantify the global habitat loss of jaguars and tigers due to existing and planned hydropower dams and relate these to published estimates of species densities from nearby regions. This analysis shows how dam construction intersects priority conservation areas for these apex predators.
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Wang L, Yang B, Bai Y, Lu X, Corlett RT, Tan Y, Chen X, Zhu J, Liu Y, Quan R. Conservation planning on China's borders with Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:1797-1808. [PMID: 33749881 PMCID: PMC9290145 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Transboundary conservation is playing an increasingly important role in maintaining ecosystem integrity and halting biodiversity loss caused by anthropogenic activities. However, lack of information on species distributions in transboundary regions and understanding of the threats in these areas impairs conservation. We developed a spatial conservation plan for the transboundary areas between Yunnan province, southwestern China, and neighboring Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. To identify priority areas for conservation and restoration, we determined species distribution patterns and recent land-use changes and examined the spatiotemporal dynamics of the connected natural forest, which supports most species. We assessed connectivity with equivalent connected area (ECA), which is the amount of reachable habitat for a species. An ECA incorporates the presence of habitat in a patch and the amount of habitat in other patches within dispersal distance. We analyzed 197,845 locality records from specimen collections and monographs for 21,004 plant and vertebrate species. The region of Yunnan immediately adjacent to the international borders had the highest species richness, with 61% of recorded species and 56% of threatened vertebrates, which suggests high conservation value. Satellite imagery showed the area of natural forest in the border zone declined by 5.2% (13,255 km2 ) from 1995 to 2018 and monoculture plantations increased 92.4%, shrubland 10.1%, and other cropland 6.2%. The resulting decline in connected natural forest reduced the amount of habitat, especially for forest specialists with limited dispersal abilities. The most severe decline in connectivity was along the Sino-Vietnamese border. Many priority areas straddle international boundaries, indicating demand and potential for establishing transboundary protected areas. Our results illustrate the importance of bi- and multilateral cooperation to protect biodiversity in this region and provide guidance for future conservation planning and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wang
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of SciencesMengla666303China
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesYezin Nay Pyi Taw05282Myanmar
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical GardensChinese Academy of SciencesMengla666303China
| | - Bin Yang
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of SciencesMengla666303China
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesYezin Nay Pyi Taw05282Myanmar
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical GardensChinese Academy of SciencesMengla666303China
| | - Yang Bai
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of SciencesMengla666303China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical GardensChinese Academy of SciencesMengla666303China
| | - Xiaoqiang Lu
- Key Laboratory on Biosafety of Environmental Protection, Nanjing Institute of Environmental SciencesMinistry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of ChinaNanjing210042China
| | - Richard T. Corlett
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of SciencesMengla666303China
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical GardensChinese Academy of SciencesMengla666303China
| | - Yunhong Tan
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of SciencesMengla666303China
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesYezin Nay Pyi Taw05282Myanmar
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical GardensChinese Academy of SciencesMengla666303China
| | - Xiao‐Yong Chen
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesYezin Nay Pyi Taw05282Myanmar
- Kunming Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingYunnan650223China
| | - Jianguo Zhu
- Kunming Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingYunnan650223China
| | - Yan Liu
- Key Laboratory on Biosafety of Environmental Protection, Nanjing Institute of Environmental SciencesMinistry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of ChinaNanjing210042China
| | - Rui‐Chang Quan
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of SciencesMengla666303China
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesYezin Nay Pyi Taw05282Myanmar
- Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical GardensChinese Academy of SciencesMengla666303China
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Effect of vertebrate exclusion on leaf litter decomposition in the coastal Atlantic forest of southeast Brazil. Trop Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42965-021-00189-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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21
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Li J, Dirzo R, Wang Y, Zeng D, Liu J, Ren P, Zhong L, Ding P. Rapid morphological change in a small mammal species after habitat fragmentation over the past half‐century. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection College of Life Sciences Zhejiang University Hangzhou China
| | - Rodolfo Dirzo
- Department of Biology and Woods Institute for the Environment Stanford University Stanford California USA
| | - Yanping Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology College of Life Sciences Nanjing Normal University Nanjing China
| | - Di Zeng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection College of Life Sciences Zhejiang University Hangzhou China
| | - Juan Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection College of Life Sciences Zhejiang University Hangzhou China
| | - Peng Ren
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection College of Life Sciences Zhejiang University Hangzhou China
| | - Lei Zhong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection College of Life Sciences Zhejiang University Hangzhou China
| | - Ping Ding
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection College of Life Sciences Zhejiang University Hangzhou China
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22
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Kundu S, Pal S, Talukdar S, Mandal I. Impact of wetland fragmentation due to damming on the linkages between water richness and ecosystem services. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:50266-50285. [PMID: 33959838 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14123-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Evaluation of the importance of ecosystem services (ES) of various wetlands is well reported with global and regional level research, but the degree to which spatial-temporal variations in water richness (availability of water) have had an effect on ES has not yet been examined. The present work is intended to investigate the influence of wetland fragmentation due to damming on wetland water richness and the impact of changes in water richness on the ecosystem service value (ESV) of the wetland-dominated rivers of the lower Punarbhaba Basin, India, and Bangladesh, as the case. Water richness models of pre- and post-dam periods have been constructed based on four hydro-ecological parameters (hydro-period, depth of water, consistency of water appearance, and wetland size) following the semi-quantitative analytic hierarchy process (AHP). ESV of different wetland types, with and without considering water richness effect, has been computed. The result indicates that the overall wetland area decreased from 73,563 to 52,123 km2 during the post-dam period. Approximately 53.8% of the high water-rich region is decreased. Total wetland ESV has been lowered by 63.4% from 1989 to 2019, with an average reduction rate of 2%. This is mainly due to the squeezing of the wetland area during the post-dam period. If the impact of water richness on ESV is considered, the scenario is found to be very distinct. Total ESV of various ESV areas amounted to $33 million during the pre-dam period and is reduced to $19.71 million during the post-dam period. If compared to the total ESV of the wetland without considering the effect of water richness, the calculated ESV gap was $105 million in pre-dam and $38 million in post-dam period indicating a widening of the gap. Maintaining the ES of wetland hydrological management, specifically the flow maintenance of river and riparian wetlands, is essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali Kundu
- Department of Geography, University of Gour Banga, Malda, India
| | - Swades Pal
- Department of Geography, University of Gour Banga, Malda, India.
| | - Swapan Talukdar
- Department of Geography, University of Gour Banga, Malda, India
| | - Indrajit Mandal
- Department of Geography, University of Gour Banga, Malda, India
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24
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Fiedler PMA, De Lapparent A, Razafitsalama J, Sanamo J, Steffens KJE, Ganzhorn JU. Secondary seed removal in a degraded forest habitat in Madagascar. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16823. [PMID: 34413376 PMCID: PMC8377146 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96306-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Forest restoration is a prime goal within the 2021-2030 UN "Decade of Ecosystem Resoration". As part of these activities, natural regeneration has to be promoted for biological as well as for economic reasons. For this, the processes of seed dispersal, seed predation and germination have to be understood in the original as well as in degraded vegetation formations. We used seed removal experiments to assess post-dispersal processes that influence recruitment along a gradient of forest degradation in Madagascar analyzing seeds of three animal dispersed tree species. The percentage of seeds consumed or dispersed, declined from forest (28.6%) to degraded forest (17.2%) to savanna (10.8%). Only three out of 1080 seeds were cached and remained intact during the 14-day experiment. All three seeds were cached in the forest habitat and none in the degraded forest and savanna. The low percentage of seeds removed may be due to the lack of endemic rodents caching seeds, as only introduced rats were recorded in the area. The species-poor fauna of potential secondary seed dispersers of the region and especially in the degraded areas might represent an obstacle for diverse regeneration in degraded regions of Madagascar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula M A Fiedler
- Institute of Zoology, Animal Ecology and Conservation, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alice De Lapparent
- Département de Biologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 75005, Paris, France.,Département de Biologie, M2 Agroécologie, Connaissances, Territoires et Sociétés (ACTES), Université de Paris-Saclay, Paris, France
| | | | - Justin Sanamo
- Département Sciences de la Nature et de l'Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antsiranana, 201, Antsiranana, Madagascar
| | - Kim J E Steffens
- Institute of Zoology, Animal Ecology and Conservation, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jörg U Ganzhorn
- Institute of Zoology, Animal Ecology and Conservation, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany.
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Lawton JA, Holland GJ, Bennett AF. What determines the distribution of a threatened species, the brush‐tailed phascogale
Phascogale tapoatafa
(Marsupialia: Dasyuridae), in a highly modified region? AUSTRAL ECOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A. Lawton
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution La Trobe University Melbourne Victoria 3086Australia
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes La Trobe University Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Greg J. Holland
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution La Trobe University Melbourne Victoria 3086Australia
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes La Trobe University Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy Narrabri New South Wales Australia
| | - Andrew F. Bennett
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution La Trobe University Melbourne Victoria 3086Australia
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes La Trobe University Melbourne Victoria Australia
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26
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Climate change and plant biodiversity in Himalaya, India. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL SCIENCE ACADEMY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s43538-021-00034-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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27
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Ervis MD, Eric-Moise BF, Aaron MM, Jules AP, Fernand-Nestor TF. Diversity pattern of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in a modified tropical environment in the western region of Cameroon. AFRICAN ZOOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.1932588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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28
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Matthews TJ. On The Biogeography of Habitat Islands: The Importance of Matrix Effects, Noncore Species, and Source-Sink Dynamics. THE QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1086/714482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Hu G, Wilson M, Zhou BB, Shang C, Yu M, Wu J. Spatiotemporal patterns and ecological consequences of a fragmented landscape created by damming. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11416. [PMID: 34055485 PMCID: PMC8142928 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Damming disrupts rivers and destroys neighboring terrestrial ecosystems through inundation, resulting in profound and long-lasting impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem processes far beyond the river system itself. Archipelagos formed by damming are often considered ideal systems for studying habitat fragmentation. Methods Here we quantified the island attributes and landscape dynamics of the Thousand Island Lake (TIL) in China, which is one of the several long-term biodiversity/fragmentation research sites around the world. We also synthesized the major findings of relevant studies conducted in the region to further ecological understanding of damming and landscape fragmentation. Results Our results show that the vegetations on islands and the neighboring mainland were both recovering between 1985 and 2005 due to reforestation and natural succession, but the regeneration was partly interrupted after 2005 because of increasing human influences. While major changes in landscape composition occurred primarily in the lakefront areas and near-lakeshore islands, landscape patterns became structurally more complex and fragmented on both islands and mainland. About 80 studies from the TIL region show that the genetic, taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity on these islands were mainly influenced by island area at the patch scale, but fragmentation per se also affected species composition and related ecological processes at patch and landscape scales. In general, islands had lower species diversity but a steeper species-area relationship than the surrounding mainland. Fragmentation and edge effects substantially hindered ecological succession towards more densely vegetated forests on the islands. Environmental heterogeneity and filtering had a major impact on island biotic communities. We hypothesize that there are multiple mechanisms operating at different spatial scales that link landscape fragmentation and ecological dynamics in the TIL region, which beg for future studies. By focusing on an extensive spatiotemporal analysis of the island-mainland system and a synthesis of existing studies in the region, this study provides an important foundation and several promising directions for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang Hu
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Maxwell Wilson
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States
| | - Bing-Bing Zhou
- School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States
| | - Chenwei Shang
- School of Natural Resources, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.,Center for Human-Environment System Sustainability (CHESS), Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingjian Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianguo Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States.,School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States
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Factors influencing seed predation in rainforest tree communities of subtropical Australia: Fragmentation, seed size and shifts in vertebrate assemblages. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2020.103674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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31
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Spalding C, Hull PM. Towards quantifying the mass extinction debt of the Anthropocene. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202332. [PMID: 33906410 PMCID: PMC8080006 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To make sense of our present biodiversity crises, the modern rate of species extinctions is commonly compared to a benchmark, or 'background,' rate derived from the fossil record. These estimates are critical for bounding the scale of modern diversity loss, but are yet to fully account for the fundamental structure of extinction rates through time. Namely, a substantial fraction of extinctions within the fossil record occurs within relatively short-lived extinction pulses, and not during intervals characterized by background rates of extinction. Accordingly, it is more appropriate to compare the modern event to these pulses than to the long-term average rate. Unfortunately, neither the duration of extinction pulses in the geological record nor the ultimate magnitude of the extinction pulse today is resolved, making assessments of their relative sizes difficult. In addition, the common metric used to compare current and past extinction rates does not correct for large differences in observation duration. Here, we propose a new predictive metric that may be used to ascertain the ultimate extent of the ongoing extinction threat, building on the observation that extinction magnitude in the marine fossil record is correlated to the magnitude of sedimentary turnover. Thus, we propose that the ultimate number of species destined for extinction today can be predicted by way of a quantitative appraisal of humanity's modification of ecosystems as recorded in sediments-that is, by comparing our future rock record with that of the past. The ubiquity of habitat disruption worldwide suggests that a profound mass extinction debt exists today, but one that might yet be averted by preserving and restoring ecosystems and their geological traces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Spalding
- Department of Astronomy, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Pincelli M. Hull
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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Ribeiro SE, de Almeida-Rocha JM, Weber MM, Kajin M, Lorini ML, Cerqueira R. Do anthropogenic matrix and life-history traits structure small mammal populations? A meta-analytical approach. CONSERV GENET 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-021-01352-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Spatial Analysis of the Drivers, Characteristics, and Effects of Forest Fragmentation. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13063246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Building on the existing literature, this study examines whether specific drivers of forest fragmentation cause particular fragmentation characteristics, and how these characteristics can be linked to their effects on forest-dwelling species. This research uses Landsat remote imaging to examine the changing patterns of forests. It focuses on areas which have undergone a high level of a specific fragmentation driver, in particular either agricultural expansion or commodity-driven deforestation. Seven municipalities in the states of Rondônia and Mato Grosso in Brazil are selected as case study areas, as these states experienced a high level of commodity-driven deforestation and agricultural expansion respectively. Land cover maps of each municipality are created using the Geographical Information System software ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension. The resulting categorical maps are input into Fragstats fragmentation software to calculate quantifiable fragmentation metrics for each municipality. To determine the effects that these characteristics are likely to cause, this study uses a literature review to determine how species traits affect their responses to forest fragmentation. Results indicate that, in areas that underwent agricultural expansion, the remaining forest patches became more complex in shape with longer edges and lost a large amount of core area. This negatively affects species which are either highly dispersive or specialist to core forest habitat. In areas that underwent commodity-driven deforestation, it was more likely that forest patches would become less aggregated and create disjunct core areas. This negatively affects smaller, sedentary animals which do not naturally travel long distances. This study is significant in that it links individual fragmentation drivers to their landscape characteristics, and in turn uses these to predict effects on species with particular traits. This information will prove useful for forest managers, particularly in the case study municipalities examined in this study, in deciding which species require further protection measures. The methodology could be applied to other drivers of forest fragmentation such as forest fires.
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The Effects of Landscape Change on Plant Diversity and Structure in the Bale Mountains National Park, Southeastern Ethiopia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1155/2021/6628282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Bale Mountains National Park is one of the protected areas in Ethiopia that holds the largest area of Afroalpine habitat in Africa and the second largest stand of moist tropical forest. Nevertheless, human settlements, overgrazing, and recurrent fire are the main problems in the park. This study aimed to determine the effects of human-induced landscape change in floristic composition and structure in the park. The vegetation data were collected systematically from 96 sample plots laid along 24 line transects in the edge and interior habitats of the six land cover types. Vegetation composition and landscape structural analysis were made using R software version 3.5.2 and FRAGSTATS version 4.2.1, respectively. Patch number was strong and positively affected species richness (r = −0.90,
), diversity (r = −0.96,
), and basal area (r = −0.96,
), whereas mean patch size was strong and negatively influenced species richness (r = 0.95,
), diversity (r = 0.87,
), and basal area (r = 0.82,
). The overall species richness, Shannon diversity index, and Margalef index were significantly higher in the edge habitat; however, the mean basal area of woody species was significantly higher in the interior habitat at
. This study uncovered that the park is floristically rich and diverse, and it provides a variety of ecological and economic benefits to the surrounding community and to the nation at large. However, these benefits are gradually declining due to the high level of anthropogenic activities in the park. Thus, integrated environmental management strategy that blends with sustainable use of natural resources should be implemented to minimize the threats.
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Namkhan M, Gale GA, Savini T, Tantipisanuh N. Loss and vulnerability of lowland forests in mainland Southeast Asia. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:206-215. [PMID: 32410311 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite containing extraordinary levels of biodiversity, lowland (<200 m asl) tropical forests are extremely threatened globally. Southeast Asia is an area of high species richness and endemicity under considerable anthropogenic threat with, unfortunately, scant focus on its lowland forests. We estimated extent of lowland forest loss from 1998 to 2018, including inside protected areas and determined the vulnerability of this remaining forest. Maximum likelihood classification techniques were used to classify Landsat images to estimate lowland forest cover in 1998 and 2018. We used Bayesian belief networks with 20 variables to evaluate vulnerability of the forest that remained in 2018. Analyses were conducted at two spatial scales: landscape patch (analogous to ecoregion) and country level. Over 20 years, >120,000 km2 of forest (50% of forest present in 1998) was lost. Of the 14 lowland forest patches, 6 lost >50% of their area. At the country scale, Cambodia had the greatest deforestation (>47,500 km2 ). In 2018, 18% of the lowlands were forested, and 20% of these forests had some formal protection. Approximately 50% of the lowland forest inside protected areas (c. 11,000 km2 ) was also lost during the study period. Most lowland forest remaining is highly vulnerable; eight landscape patches had >50% categorized as such. Our results add to a growing body of evidence that the presence of protected areas alone will not prevent further deforestation. We suggest that more collaborative conservation strategies with local communities that accommodate conservation concessions specifically for lowland forests are urgently needed to prevent further destruction of these valuable habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maliwan Namkhan
- Conservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand
| | - George A Gale
- Conservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand
| | - Tommaso Savini
- Conservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand
| | - Naruemon Tantipisanuh
- Conservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand
- Conservation Ecology Program, Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand
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36
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Northrup JM, Anderson CR, Gerber BD, Wittemyer G. Behavioral and Demographic Responses of Mule Deer to Energy Development on Winter Range. WILDLIFE MONOGRAPHS 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wmon.1060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M. Northrup
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Colorado State University 1474 Campus Delivery Fort Collins CO 80523 USA
- ; and Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry 2140 East Bank Drive Peterborough ON K9L 1Z8 Canada
| | - Charles R. Anderson
- Mammals Research Section Colorado Parks and Wildlife 317 W Prospect Road Fort Collins CO 80526 USA
| | - Brian D. Gerber
- Department of Natural Resources Science University of Rhode Island 1 Greenhouse Road Kingston RI 02881‐2018 USA
| | - George Wittemyer
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Colorado State University 1474 Campus Delivery Fort Collins CO 80523 USA
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37
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Ballarini Y, Chaves FG, Vecchi MB, Alves MAS. High Rates of Predation of the Nests of Two Endemic Antbirds of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest by Invasive Marmosets (Callithrix spp.). ANN ZOOL FENN 2021. [DOI: 10.5735/086.058.0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yara Ballarini
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Department of Ecology, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, CEP 20550-013, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Flávia G. Chaves
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Department of Ecology, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, CEP 20550-013, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maurício B. Vecchi
- Department of Ecology, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, CEP 20550-013, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Alice S. Alves
- Department of Ecology, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, CEP 20550-013, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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38
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Bourdouxhe A, Duflot R, Radoux J, Dufrêne M. Comparison of methods to model species habitat networks for decision-making in nature conservation: The case of the wildcat in southern Belgium. J Nat Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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39
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Di Carvalho JA, Wickham SA. Does spatiotemporal nutrient variation allow more species to coexist? Oecologia 2020; 194:695-707. [PMID: 33099656 PMCID: PMC7683490 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04768-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Temporal heterogeneity in nutrient availability is known to increase phytoplankton diversity by allowing more species to coexist under different resource niches. Spatial heterogeneity has also been positively correlated with species diversity. Here we investigated how temporal and spatial differences in nutrient addition together impact biodiversity in metacommunities varying in the degree of connectivity among the patches. We used a microcosm experimental design to test two spatiotemporal ways of supplying nutrients: synchronously (nutrients were added regionally-to all four patches at the same time) and asynchronously (nutrients were added locally-to a different patch each time), combined with two different degrees of connectivity among the patches (low or high connectivity). We used three species of algae and one species of cyanobacteria as the primary producers; and five ciliate and two rotifer species as the grazers. We expected higher diversity in metacommunities receiving an asynchronous nutrient supply, assuming stronger development of heterogeneous patches with this condition rather than with synchronous nutrient supply. This result was expected, however, to be dependent on the degree of connectivity among patches. We found significant effects of nutrient addition in both groups of organisms. Phytoplankton diversity increased until the fourth week (transiently) and zooplankton richness was persistently higher under asynchronous nutrient addition. Our results were consistent with our hypothesis that asynchronicity in nutrient supply would create a more favorable condition for species to co-occur. However, this effect was, in part, transient and was not influenced by the degree of connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josie Antonucci Di Carvalho
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Stephen A Wickham
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
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40
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Mysłajek RW, Olkowska E, Wronka-Tomulewicz M, Nowak S. Mammal use of wildlife crossing structures along a new motorway in an area recently recolonized by wolves. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-020-01412-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AbstractWildlife crossing structures (WCSs) enhance connectivity between habitats of wild animals fragmented by fenced motorways, but factors affecting their use by targeted species remain understudied, particularly in areas recently recolonized by large carnivores. We investigated the use of WCS—6 overpasses (width 30-45m), 5 large underpasses (width 33–114 m) and 4 small underpasses (width 15–19 m)—located along the A4 motorway in the Lower Silesian Forest (western Poland), a large forest tract recently recolonised by wolves (Canis lupus). Identifying and counting tracks of mammals left on sand-beds as well as individuals recorded by camera traps were used to determine species diversity, number and activity patterns of mammals on WCS, and to reveal seasonal and temporal changes of WCS use over 3 years of study (2010–2013). WCSs were mostly used by wild species (51.5%), followed by humans (34.8%), livestock and pets (13.7%). Among wild species, ungulates were the most common (77.4% of crossings), while lagomorphs and carnivores were recorded less often (15% and 7.6% of crossings, respectively). The number of species and crossings of wild mammals, especially wild ungulates and wolves, was substantially higher on overpasses (mean effective number of species (Hill numbers): 0D = 7.8, 1D = 4.1 and 2D = 3.3) than on underpasses (0D = 6.3, 1D = 2.9 and 2D = 2.3) and was not affected by distance between WCS and human settlements or WCS width. There was a higher diversity of wild species and more crossings under large extended bridges than on smaller underpasses. The number of species and number of crossings of wild mammals, domestic animals and people increased from 2010 to 2013. There was a significant difference in activity patterns, with almost all wild species being nocturnal, in contrast to people and dogs. There was no relationship between crossing time and rates of wild carnivores and potential prey. We conclude that overpasses, even with steep entrance slopes (25–26.5%) or integrated with moderately used gravel roads, maintain movement of wild terrestrial mammals much better than underpasses, and the presence of wolves does not hamper the movement of other wild species. As there are significant temporal changes in use of WCS by mammals, we recommend monitoring WCS in all seasons for at least 3 years as a minimum standard for the post-investment assessment of WCS utilization by animals.
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Forest Cover Change and the Effectiveness of Protected Areas in the Himalaya since 1998. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12156123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Himalaya, a global biodiversity hotspot, has undergone considerable forest cover fluctuation in recent decades, and numerous protected areas (PAs) have been established to prohibit forest degradation there. However, the spatiotemporal characteristics of this forest cover change across the whole region are still unknown, as are the effectiveness of its PAs. Therefore, here, we first mapped the forest cover of Himalaya in 1998, 2008, and 2018 with high accuracy (>90%) using a random forest (RF) algorithm based on Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was applied with eight control variables to balance the heterogeneity of land characteristics inside and outside PAs. The effectiveness of PAs in Himalaya was quantified based on matched samples. The results showed that the forest cover in Himalaya increased by 4983.65 km2 from 1998 to 2008, but decreased by 4732.71 km2 from 2008 to 2018. Further analysis revealed that deforestation and reforestation mainly occurred at the edge of forest tracts, with over 55% of forest fluctuation occurring below a 2000 m elevation. Forest cover changes in PAs of Himalaya were analyzed; these results indicated that about 56% of PAs had a decreasing trend from 1998 to 2018, including the Torsa (Ia PA), an area representative of the most natural conditions, which is strictly protected. Even so, as a whole, PAs in Himalaya played a positive role in halting deforestation.
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42
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Ecosystem decay exacerbates biodiversity loss with habitat loss. Nature 2020; 584:238-243. [DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2531-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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43
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Mapping Natural Forest Remnants with Multi-Source and Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Data for More Informed Management of Global Biodiversity Hotspots. REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12091429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Global terrestrial biodiversity hotspots (GBH) represent areas featuring exceptional concentrations of endemism and habitat loss in the world. Unfortunately, geospatial data of natural habitats of the GBHs are often outdated, imprecise, and coarse, and need updating for improved management and protection actions. Recent developments in satellite image availability, combined with enhanced machine learning algorithms and computing capacity, enable cost-efficient updating of geospatial information of these already severely fragmented habitats. This study aimed to develop a more accurate method for mapping closed canopy evergreen natural forest (CCEF) of the Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) ecoregion in Tanzania and Kenya, and to update the knowledge on its spatial extent, level of fragmentation, and conservation status. We tested 1023 model possibilities stemming from a combination of Sentinel-1 (S1) and Sentinel-2 (S2) satellite imagery, spatial texture of S1 and S2, seasonality derived from Landsat-8 time series, and topographic information, using random forest modelling approach. We compared the best CCEF model with existing spatial forest products from the EAM through independent accuracy assessment. Finally, the CCEF model was used to estimate the fragmentation and conservation coverage of the EAM. The CCEF model has moderate accuracy measured in True Skill Statistic (0.57), and it clearly outperforms other similar products from the region. Based on this model, there are about 296,000 ha of Eastern Arc Forests (EAF) left. Furthermore, acknowledging small forest fragments (1–10 ha) implies that the EAFs are more fragmented than previously considered. Currently, the official protection of EAFs is disproportionally targeting well-studied mountain blocks, while less known areas and small fragments are underrepresented in the protected area network. Thus, the generated CCEF model should be used to design updates and more informed and detailed conservation allocation plans to balance this situation. The results highlight that spatial texture of S2, seasonality, and topography are the most important variables describing the EAFs, while spatial texture of S1 increases the model performance slightly. All in all, our work demonstrates that recent developments in Earth observation allows significant enhancements in mapping, which should be utilized in areas with outstanding biodiversity values for better forest and conservation planning.
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44
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Wang R, Zhang X, Shi YS, Li YY, Wu J, He F, Chen XY. Habitat fragmentation changes top-down and bottom-up controls of food webs. Ecology 2020; 101:e03062. [PMID: 32239497 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Top-down and bottom-up controls regulate the structure and stability of ecosystems, but their relative roles in terrestrial systems have been debated. Here we studied a hydro-inundated land-bridge system in subtropical China and tested the relative importance of these two controls in determining the rodent-mediated regeneration of a locally dominant tree species. Our results showed that both controls operated in terrestrial habitats and that their relative importance switched as habitat size changed. Habitat loss initially removed predators of rodents that released rodent populations and triggered massive seed predation (top-down control), leading to reduced seedling establishment. A further reduction in habitat size led to decrease in rodent population that was supposed to increase seedling survival of the tree species, but the decline in habitat size deteriorated the abiotic environments (bottom-up control) that severely prevented seedling recruitment. As the ongoing global land use change is creating increasing number of small-sized forest fragments, our findings provide novel insights into the restoration of seriously fragmented forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Wang
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yi-Su Shi
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Li
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jianguo Wu
- School of Life Sciences & Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287-4501, USA
| | - Fangliang He
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.,Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H1, Canada
| | - Xiao-Yong Chen
- Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China
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45
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Hendershot JN, Smith JR, Anderson CB, Letten AD, Frishkoff LO, Zook JR, Fukami T, Daily GC. Intensive farming drives long-term shifts in avian community composition. Nature 2020; 579:393-396. [PMID: 32188954 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2090-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural practices constitute both the greatest cause of biodiversity loss and the greatest opportunity for conservation1,2, given the shrinking scope of protected areas in many regions. Recent studies have documented the high levels of biodiversity-across many taxa and biomes-that agricultural landscapes can support over the short term1,3,4. However, little is known about the long-term effects of alternative agricultural practices on ecological communities4,5 Here we document changes in bird communities in intensive-agriculture, diversified-agriculture and natural-forest habitats in 4 regions of Costa Rica over a period of 18 years. Long-term directional shifts in bird communities were evident in intensive- and diversified-agricultural habitats, but were strongest in intensive-agricultural habitats, where the number of endemic and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List species fell over time. All major guilds, including those involved in pest control, pollination and seed dispersal, were affected. Bird communities in intensive-agricultural habitats proved more susceptible to changes in climate, with hotter and drier periods associated with greater changes in community composition in these settings. These findings demonstrate that diversified agriculture can help to alleviate the long-term loss of biodiversity outside natural protected areas1.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Nicholas Hendershot
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Jeffrey R Smith
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Christopher B Anderson
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Andrew D Letten
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,The University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Luke O Frishkoff
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Jim R Zook
- Unión de Ornitólogos de Costa Rica, Naranjo de Alajuela, Alajuela, Costa Rica
| | - Tadashi Fukami
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Gretchen C Daily
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,The Natural Capital Project, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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46
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Chen Y, Huang Y, Niklaus PA, Castro-Izaguirre N, Clark AT, Bruelheide H, Ma K, Schmid B. Directed species loss reduces community productivity in a subtropical forest biodiversity experiment. Nat Ecol Evol 2020; 4:550-559. [PMID: 32123320 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-1127-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Unprecedented species loss in diverse forests indicates the urgent need to test its consequences for ecosystem functioning. However, experimental evaluation based on realistic extinction scenarios is lacking. Using species interaction networks we introduce an approach to separate effects of node loss (reduced species number) from effects of link loss or compensation (reduced or increased interspecific interactions) on ecosystem functioning along directed extinction scenarios. By simulating random and non-random extinction scenarios in an experimental subtropical Chinese forest, we find that species loss is detrimental for stand volume in all scenarios, and that these effects strengthen with age. However, the magnitude of these effects depends on the type of attribute on which the directed species loss is based, with preferential loss of evolutionarily distinct species and those from small families having stronger effects than those that are regionally rare or have high specific leaf area. These impacts were due to both node loss and link loss or compensation. At high species richness (reductions from 16 to 8 species), strong stand-volume reduction only occurred in directed but not random extinction. Our results imply that directed species loss can severely hamper productivity in already diverse young forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Chen
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Key Laboratory of the Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems (Ministry of Education), College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,School of Life Sciences/State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Huang
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pascal A Niklaus
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Nadia Castro-Izaguirre
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Adam Thomas Clark
- Department of Physiological Diversity, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Keping Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- Department of Geography, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. .,Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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Eppley TM, Santini L, Tinsman JC, Donati G. Do functional traits offset the effects of fragmentation? The case of large-bodied diurnal lemur species. Am J Primatol 2020; 82:e23104. [PMID: 32011761 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Primates worldwide are faced with increasing threats making them more vulnerable to extinction. Anthropogenic disturbances, such as habitat degradation and fragmentation, are among the main concerns, and in Madagascar, these issues have become widespread. As this situation continues to worsen, we sought to understand how fragmentation affects primate distribution throughout the island. Further, because species may exhibit different sensitivity to fragmentation, we also aimed to estimate the role of functional traits in mitigating their response. We collated data from 32 large-bodied lemur species ranges, consisting of species from the families Lemuridae (five genera) and Indriidae (two genera). We fitted Generalized Linear Models to determine the role of habitat fragmentation characteristics, for example, forest cover, patch size, edge density, and landscape configuration, as well as the protected area (PA) network, on the species relative probability of presence. We then assessed how the influence of functional traits (dietary guild, home range size) mitigate the response of species to these habitat metrics. Habitat area had a strong positive effect for many species, and there were significantly negative effects of fragmentation on the distribution of many lemur species. In addition, there was a positive influence of PAs on many lemur species' distribution. Functional trait classifications showed that lemurs of all dietary guilds are negatively affected by fragmentation; however, folivore-frugivores show greater flexibility/variability in terms of habitat area and landscape complexity compared to nearly exclusive folivores and frugivores. Furthermore, species of all home range sizes showed a negative response to fragmentation, while habitat area had an increasingly positive effect as home range increased in size. Overall, the general trends for the majority of lemur species are dire and point to the need for immediate actions on a multitude of fronts, most importantly landscape-level reforestation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M Eppley
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, California.,Department of Anthropology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Luca Santini
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council, Montelibretti, Italy.,Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jen C Tinsman
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Giuseppe Donati
- Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Guo F, Bonebrake TC, Gibson L. Land-Use Change Alters Host and Vector Communities and May Elevate Disease Risk. ECOHEALTH 2019; 16:647-658. [PMID: 29691680 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-018-1336-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Revised: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Land-use change has transformed most of the planet. Concurrently, recent outbreaks of various emerging infectious diseases have raised great attention to the health consequences of anthropogenic environmental degradation. Here, we assessed the global impacts of habitat conversion and other land-use changes on community structures of infectious disease hosts and vectors, using a meta-analysis of 37 studies. From 331 pairwise comparisons of disease hosts/vectors in pristine (undisturbed) and disturbed areas, we found a decrease in species diversity but an increase in body size associated with land-use changes, potentially suggesting higher risk of infectious disease transmission in disturbed habitats. Neither host nor vector abundance, however, changed significantly following disturbance. When grouped by subcategories like disturbance type, taxonomic group, pathogen type and region, changes in host/vector community composition varied considerably. Fragmentation and agriculture in particular benefit host and vector communities and therefore might elevate disease risk. Our results indicate that while habitat disturbance could alter disease host/vector communities in ways that exacerbate pathogen prevalence, the relationship is highly context-dependent and influenced by multiple factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengyi Guo
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Luke Gibson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
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49
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Rojas-Hucks S, Gutleb AC, González CM, Contal S, Mehennaoui K, Jacobs A, Witters HE, Pulgar J. Xenopus laevis as a Bioindicator of Endocrine Disruptors in the Region of Central Chile. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 77:390-408. [PMID: 31422435 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-019-00661-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
One of the direct causes of biodiversity loss is environmental pollution resulting from the use of chemicals. Different kinds of chemicals, such as persistent organic pollutants and some heavy metals, can be endocrine disruptors, which act at low doses over a long period of time and have a negative effect on the reproductive and thyroid system in vertebrates worldwide. Research on the effects of endocrine disruptors and the use of bioindicators in neotropical ecosystems where pressure on biodiversity is high is scarce. In Chile, although endocrine disruptors have been detected at different concentrations in the environments of some ecosystems, few studies have been performed on their biological effects in the field. In this work, Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog), an introduced species, is used as a bioindicator for the presence of endocrine disruptors in aquatic systems with different degrees of contamination in a Mediterranean zone in central Chile. For the first time for Chile, alterations are described that can be linked to exposure to endocrine disruptors, such as vitellogenin induction, decreased testosterone in male frogs, and histological changes in gonads. Dioxin-like and oestrogenic activity was detected in sediments at locations where it seem to be related to alterations found in the frogs. In addition, an analysis of land use/cover use revealed that urban soil was the best model to explain the variations in frog health indicators. This study points to the usefulness of an invasive species as a bioindicator for the presence of endocrine-disruptive chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Rojas-Hucks
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, República 440, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Arno C Gutleb
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Carlos M González
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, República 440, Santiago, Chile
| | - Servane Contal
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Kahina Mehennaoui
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - An Jacobs
- Department Environmental Health and Risk, Team Applied Bio and Molecular Sciences (ABS), Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Hilda E Witters
- Department Environmental Health and Risk, Team Applied Bio and Molecular Sciences (ABS), Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - José Pulgar
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, República 440, Santiago, Chile
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Diffendorfer JE, Dorning MA, Keen JR, Kramer LA, Taylor RV. Geographic context affects the landscape change and fragmentation caused by wind energy facilities. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7129. [PMID: 31341727 PMCID: PMC6640624 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Wind energy generation affects landscapes as new roads, pads, and transmission lines are constructed. Limiting the landscape change from these facilities likely minimizes impacts to biodiversity and sensitive wildlife species. We examined the effects of wind energy facilities’ geographic context on changes in landscape patterns using three metrics: portion of undeveloped land, core area index, and connectance index. We digitized 39 wind facilities and the surrounding land cover and measured landscape pattern before and after facility construction using the amount, core area, and connectivity of undeveloped land within one km around newly constructed turbines and roads. New facilities decreased the amount of undeveloped land by 1.8% while changes in metrics of landscape pattern ranged from 50 to 140%. Statistical models indicated pre-construction development was a key factor explaining the impact of new wind facilities on landscape metrics, with pre-construction road networks, turbine spacing, and topography having smaller influences. As the proportion of developed land around facilities increased, a higher proportion of the facility utilized pre-construction developed land and a lower density of new roads were built, resulting in smaller impacts to undeveloped landscapes. Building of new road networks was also a predictor of landscape fragmentation. Utilizing existing development and carefully placing turbines may provide opportunities to minimize the impacts of new wind energy facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay E Diffendorfer
- Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, United States Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO, United States of America
| | - Monica A Dorning
- Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, United States Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO, United States of America
| | - Jolene R Keen
- Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, United States Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO, United States of America.,American Association of Geographers, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Louisa A Kramer
- Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, United States Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO, United States of America
| | - Robert V Taylor
- Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, United States Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO, United States of America
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