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Arroyave FJ, Jenkins J, Shackelton S, Jackson B, Petersen AM. Research alignment in the U.S. national park system: Impact of transformative science policy on the supply and demand for scientific knowledge for protected area management. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 357:120699. [PMID: 38552516 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
The US National Park System encompasses diverse environmental and tourism management regimes, together governed by the 1916 Organic Act and its dual mandate of conservation and provision of public enjoyment. However, with the introduction of transformative science policy in the 2000's, the mission scope has since expanded to promote overarching science-based objectives. Yet despite this paradigm shift instituting "science for parks, parks for science", there is scant research exploring the impact of the National Park Science Policy on the provision of knowledge. We address this gap by developing a spatiotemporal framework for evaluating research alignment, here operationalized via quantifiable measures of supply and demand for scientific knowledge. Specifically, we apply a machine learning algorithm (Latent Dirichlet analysis) to a comprehensive park-specific text corpus (combining official needs statements -i.e. demand- and scientific research metadata -i.e. supply-) to define a joint topic space, which thereby facilitates quantifying the direction and degree of alignment at multiple levels. Results indicate an overall robust degree of research alignment, with misaligned topics tending to be over-researched (as opposed to over-demanded), which may be favorable to many parks, but is inefficient from the park system perspective. Results further indicate that the transformative science policy exacerbated the misalignment in mandated research domains. In light of these results, we argue for improved decision support mechanisms to achieve more timely alignment of research efforts towards distinctive park needs, thereby fostering convergent knowledge co-production and leveraging the full value of National Parks as living laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felber J Arroyave
- Department of Management of Complex Systems, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, CA, USA.
| | - Jeffrey Jenkins
- Department of Management of Complex Systems, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, CA, USA.
| | - Steve Shackelton
- National Parks Institute, Ernest and Julio Gallo Management Program, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, CA, USA.
| | - Breeanne Jackson
- Yosemite Field Station, Natural Reserve System, University of California, Wawona, CA, USA.
| | - Alexander M Petersen
- Department of Management of Complex Systems, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, CA, USA.
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2
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Rees MJ, Knott NA, Astles KL, Swadling DS, West GJ, Ferguson AM, Delamont J, Gibson PT, Neilson J, Birch GF, Glasby TM. Cumulative effects of multiple stressors impact an endangered seagrass population and fish communities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166706. [PMID: 37659560 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Coastal ecosystems are becoming increasingly threatened by human activities and there is growing appreciation that management must consider the impacts of multiple stressors. Cumulative effects assessments (CEAs) have become a popular tool for identifying the distribution and intensity of multiple human stressors in coastal ecosystems. Few studies, however, have demonstrated strong correlations between CEAs and change in ecosystem condition, questioning its management use. Here, we apply a CEA to the endangered seagrass Posidonia australis in Pittwater, NSW, Australia, using spatial data on known stressors to seagrass related to foreshore development, water quality, vessel traffic and fishing. We tested how well cumulative effects scores explained changes in P. australis extent measured between 2005 and 2019 using high-resolution aerial imagery. A negative correlation between P. australis and estimated cumulative effects scores was observed (R2 = 22 %), and we identified a threshold of cumulative effects above which losses of P. australis became more likely. Using baited remote underwater video, we surveyed fishes over P. australis and non-vegetated sediments to infer and quantify how impacts of cumulative effects to P. australis extent would flow on to fish assemblages. P. australis contained a distinct assemblage of fish, and on non-vegetated sediments the abundance of sparids, which are of importance to fisheries, increased with closer proximity to P. australis. Our results demonstrate the negative impact of multiple stressors on P. australis and the consequences for fish biodiversity and fisheries production across much of the estuary. Management actions aimed at reducing or limiting cumulative effects to low and moderate levels will help conserve P. australis and its associated fish biodiversity and productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Rees
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Marine Ecosystems, Fisheries Research, 4 Woollamia Road, Huskisson, NSW, 2540, Australia.
| | - Nathan A Knott
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Marine Ecosystems, Fisheries Research, 4 Woollamia Road, Huskisson, NSW, 2540, Australia
| | - Karen L Astles
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries Research, P.O. Box 5106, Wollongong 2520, Australia
| | - Daniel S Swadling
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Locked Bag 1, New South Wales, 2315 Nelson Bay, Australia
| | - Greg J West
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Locked Bag 1, New South Wales, 2315 Nelson Bay, Australia
| | - Adrian M Ferguson
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Marine Ecosystems, Fisheries Research, 4 Woollamia Road, Huskisson, NSW, 2540, Australia
| | - Jason Delamont
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Marine Ecosystems, Fisheries Research, 4 Woollamia Road, Huskisson, NSW, 2540, Australia
| | - Peter T Gibson
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Locked Bag 1, New South Wales, 2315 Nelson Bay, Australia
| | - Joseph Neilson
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Locked Bag 1, New South Wales, 2315 Nelson Bay, Australia
| | - Gavin F Birch
- Geocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Tim M Glasby
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Locked Bag 1, New South Wales, 2315 Nelson Bay, Australia
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3
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Rowland JA, Walsh JC, Beitzel M, Brawata R, Brown D, Chalmers L, Evans L, Eyles K, Gibbs R, Grover S, Grundy S, Harris RMB, Haywood S, Hilton M, Hope G, Keaney B, Keatley M, Keith DA, Lawrence R, Lutz ML, MacDonald T, MacPhee E, McLean N, Powell S, Robledo‐Ruiz DA, Sato CF, Schroder M, Silvester E, Tolsma A, Western AW, Whinam J, White M, Wild A, Williams RJ, Wright G, Young W, Moore JL. Setting research priorities for effective management of a threatened ecosystem: Australian alpine and subalpine peatland. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A. Rowland
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Jessica C. Walsh
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Matthew Beitzel
- Conservation Research, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate Canberra Australia
| | - Renee Brawata
- Conservation Research, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate Canberra Australia
| | - Daniel Brown
- Eastern Victoria Office Bright Victoria Australia
| | - Linden Chalmers
- Biodiversity Planning and Policy, ACT Government Dickson Australia
| | - Lisa Evans
- Conservation Research, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate Canberra Australia
| | - Kathryn Eyles
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, and the Environment Canberra Australia
| | - Rob Gibbs
- Australian Alps National Parks Co‐operative Management Program, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Parramatta New South Wales Australia
| | - Samantha Grover
- Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science RMIT University Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Shane Grundy
- International Mire Conservation Group (IMCG) Greifswald Germany
| | - Rebecca M. B. Harris
- School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Shayne Haywood
- West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Traralgon Victoria Australia
| | - Mairi Hilton
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Geoffrey Hope
- College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University Canberra Australia
| | - Ben Keaney
- College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University Canberra Australia
| | | | - David A. Keith
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
- NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Hurstville New South Wales Australia
| | - Ruth Lawrence
- Department of Geography The University of Melbourne Carlton Victoria Australia
| | - Maiko L. Lutz
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | | | - Elizabeth MacPhee
- Alpine Flora ‐ High Altitude Rehabilitation Consultant Tumut New South Wales Australia
| | - Nina McLean
- Conservation Research, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate Canberra Australia
| | - Susan Powell
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, and the Environment Canberra Australia
| | | | - Chloe F. Sato
- ACT Government Canberra Australia
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Burwood Victoria Australia
| | - Mel Schroder
- Southern Ranges Branch, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Jindabyne New South Wales Australia
| | - Ewen Silvester
- Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology (RCAAE), Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution (DEEE) La Trobe University Wodonga Australia
| | - Arn Tolsma
- Arthur Rylah Institute, Biodiversity Division, Environment and Climate Change, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Heidelberg Victoria Australia
| | - Andrew W. Western
- Department of Infrastructure Engineering The University of Melbourne Parkville Australia
| | - Jennie Whinam
- School of Geography, Planning & Spatial Sciences University of Tasmania Sandy Bay Tasmania Australia
| | - Matthew White
- Biodiversity Conservation Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Canberra Australia
| | - Anita Wild
- Wild Ecology Pty Ltd. Mount Nelson Tasmania Australia
| | - Richard J. Williams
- Charles Darwin University Faculty of Engineering Health Science and the Environment, Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Darwin Northwest Territories Australia
| | - Genevieve Wright
- NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Hurstville New South Wales Australia
| | - Wade Young
- Parks and Conservation Service, Environment and Planning Directorate Canberra Australia
| | - Joslin L. Moore
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
- Arthur Rylah Institute, Biodiversity Division, Environment and Climate Change, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Heidelberg Victoria Australia
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4
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Burtt JJ, Leblanc J, Randhawa K, Ivanova A, Rudd MA, Wilkins R, Azzam EI, Hecker M, Horemans N, Vandenhove H, Adam-Guillermin C, Armant O, Klokov D, Audouze K, Kaiser JC, Moertl S, Lumniczky K, Tanaka IB, Yamada Y, Hamada N, Al-Nabulsi I, Preston J, Bouffler S, Applegate K, Cool D, Beaton D, Tollefsen KE, Garnier-Laplace J, Laurier D, Chauhan V. Radiation Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) are on the Horizon: Advancing Radiation Protection through an International Horizon-Style Exercisewe. Int J Radiat Biol 2022; 98:1763-1776. [PMID: 36067511 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2121439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: The Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework, a systematic tool that can link available mechanistic data with phenotypic outcomes of relevance to regulatory decision-making, is being explored in areas related to radiation risk assessment. To examine the challenges including the use of AOPs to support the radiation protection community, an international horizon-style exercise (HSE) was initiated through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Nuclear Energy Agency High-Level Group on Low Dose Research Radiation/Chemical AOP Joint Topical Group (JTG). The objective of the HSE was to facilitate the collection of ideas from a range of experts, to short-list a set of priority research questions that could, if answered, improve the description of the radiation dose-response relationship for low dose/dose-rate exposures, as well as reduce uncertainties in estimating the risk of developing adverse health outcomes following such exposures.Materials and methods: The HSE was guided by an international steering committee (SC) of radiation risk experts. In the first phase, research questions were solicited on areas that can be supported by the AOP framework, or challenges on the use of AOPs in radiation risk assessment. In the second phase, questions received were refined and sorted by the SC using a best-worst scaling (BWS) method. During a virtual 3-day workshop, the list of questions was further narrowed. In the third phase, an international survey of the broader radiation protection community led to an orderly ranking of the top questions.Results: Of the 271 questions solicited, 254 were accepted and categorized into 9 themes. These were further refined to the top 25 prioritized questions. Among these, the higher ranked questions will be considered as 'important' to drive future initiatives in the low dose radiation protection community. These included questions on the ability of AOPs to delineate responses across different levels of biological organization, and how AOPs could be applied to address research questions on radiation quality, doses or dose-rates, exposure time patterns and deliveries, and uncertainties in low dose/dose-rate effects. A better understanding of these concepts is required to support the use of the AOP framework in radiation risk assessment.Conclusion: Through dissemination of these results and considerations on next steps, the JTG will address select priority questions to advance the development and use of AOPs in the radiation protection community. The major themes observed will be discussed in the context of their relevance to areas of research that support the system of radiation protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie J Burtt
- Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Julie Leblanc
- Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Kristi Randhawa
- Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Addie Ivanova
- Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Ruth Wilkins
- Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Edouard I Azzam
- Isotopes, Radiobiology and Environment Directorate, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada
| | - Markus Hecker
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Nele Horemans
- Biosphere Impact Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Hildegarde Vandenhove
- Environment, Health and Safety, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Christelle Adam-Guillermin
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Olivier Armant
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Dmitry Klokov
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karine Audouze
- Université Paris Cité, T3S, Inserm UMRS 1124, Paris, France
| | - Jan Christian Kaiser
- Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, Deutsches Forschungszentrum fur Gesundheit und Umwelt (GMBH) Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Simone Moertl
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Katalin Lumniczky
- National Public Health Centre, Unit of Radiation Medicine, Budapest, Albert Florian u. 2-6, 1097, Hungary
| | - Ignacia B Tanaka
- Department of Radiobiology, Institute for Environmental Sciences, 1-7, Ienomae, Obuchi, Rokkasho, Kamikita, Aomori, 039-3212, Japan
| | - Yutaka Yamada
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- Biology and Environmental Chemistry Division, Sustainable System Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Isaf Al-Nabulsi
- US Department of Energy, Office of Domestic and International Health Studies, Office of Health and Safety, Office of Environment, Health Safety and Security, Washington, DC. USA
| | - Julian Preston
- Office of Air and Radiation, Radiation Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Simon Bouffler
- UK Health Security Agency, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Kimberly Applegate
- University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Lexington, KY, USA (retired)
| | | | - Danielle Beaton
- Isotopes, Radiobiology and Environment Directorate, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada
| | - Knut Erik Tollefsen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, N-0579, Oslo, Norway.,Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), PO box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Jacqueline Garnier-Laplace
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.,On secondment from IRSN to the Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health's secretariat, France
| | - Dominique Laurier
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Vinita Chauhan
- Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
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5
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Liberati MR, May CA, Sowa SP, Kyriakakis SR, Pearsall DR, Doran PJ. Planning for people and nature: Comparing quality‐of‐life outcomes across environmental systems to inform conservation planning. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12782] [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] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Scott P. Sowa
- Michigan Chapter The Nature Conservancy Lansing Michigan USA
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6
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Khalaf DM, Cruzeiro C, Schröder P. Removal of tramadol from water using Typha angustifolia and Hordeum vulgare as biological models: Possible interaction with other pollutants in short-term uptake experiments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 809:151164. [PMID: 34695465 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Tramadol (TRD) is widely detected in aquatic ecosystems as a result of massive abuse and insufficient removal from wastewater facilities. As a result, TRD can contaminate groundwater sources and/or agricultural soils. While TRD toxicity has been reported from aquatic biota, data about TRD detection in plants are scarce. Moreover, information regarding plant capability for TRD removal is lacking. To understand the fate of this opioid, we have investigated the uptake, translocation and removal capacity of TRD by plants, addressing short-term and long-term uptake. The uptake rates of TRD, in excised barley and cattail roots, were 5.18 and 5.79 μg g-1 root fresh weight day-1, respectively. However, TRD uptake was strongly inhibited after co-exposing these roots either with the drug venlafaxine (similar molecular structure as TRD) or with quinidine (an inhibitor of cellular organic cation transporters). When barley seedlings were exposed to TRD in a hydroponic experiment a removal efficiency up to 90% (within 15 days) was obtained, with bioconcentration and translocation factors close to 9 and 1, respectively. The combination of results from both plants and the inhibition observed after treatment with quinidine revealed that organic cation transporters may be involved in the uptake of TRD by plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mamdouh Khalaf
- Research Unit Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, 71516 Assiut, Egypt
| | - Catarina Cruzeiro
- Research Unit Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Peter Schröder
- Research Unit Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
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7
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Hefty KL, Koprowski JL. Multiscale effects of habitat loss and degradation on occurrence and landscape connectivity of a threatened subspecies. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kira L. Hefty
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment University of Arizona Tucson Arizona USA
| | - John L. Koprowski
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA
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8
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Seymour CL, Gillson L, Child MF, Tolley KA, Curie JC, da Silva JM, Alexander GJ, Anderson P, Downs CT, Egoh BN, Ehlers Smith DA, Ehlers Smith YC, Esler KJ, O’Farrell PJ, Skowno AL, Suleman E, Veldtman R. Horizon scanning for South African biodiversity: A need for social engagement as well as science. AMBIO 2020; 49:1211-1221. [PMID: 31564051 PMCID: PMC7128016 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01252-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A horizon scan was conducted to identify emerging and intensifying issues for biodiversity conservation in South Africa over the next 5-10 years. South African biodiversity experts submitted 63 issues of which ten were identified as priorities using the Delphi method. These priority issues were then plotted along axes of social agreement and scientific certainty, to ascertain whether issues might be "simple" (amenable to solutions from science alone), "complicated" (socially agreed upon but technically complicated), "complex" (scientifically challenging and significant levels of social disagreement) or "chaotic" (high social disagreement and highly scientifically challenging). Only three of the issues were likely to be resolved by improved science alone, while the remainder require engagement with social, economic and political factors. Fortunately, none of the issues were considered chaotic. Nevertheless, strategic communication, education and engagement with the populace and policy makers were considered vital for addressing emerging issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen L. Seymour
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa
| | - Lindsey Gillson
- Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa
| | - Matthew F. Child
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20 Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028 South Africa
| | - Krystal A. Tolley
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- Department of Zoology, Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2000 South Africa
| | - Jock C. Curie
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth, 6031 South Africa
| | - Jessica M. da Silva
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag x1, Matieland, 7602 South Africa
| | - Graham J. Alexander
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2050 South Africa
| | - Pippin Anderson
- Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa
| | - Colleen T. Downs
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Benis N. Egoh
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - David A. Ehlers Smith
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Yvette C. Ehlers Smith
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Karen J. Esler
- Centre for Invasion Biology and Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag x1, Matieland, 7602 South Africa
| | - Patrick J. O’Farrell
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, PO Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599 South Africa
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa
| | - Andrew L. Skowno
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa
| | - Essa Suleman
- NextGen Health Cluster, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa
- National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa
| | - Ruan Veldtman
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735 South Africa
- Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag x1, Matieland, 7602 South Africa
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9
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Dey CJ, Rego AI, Midwood JD, Koops MA. A review and meta-analysis of collaborative research prioritization studies in ecology, biodiversity conservation and environmental science. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20200012. [PMID: 32183628 PMCID: PMC7126043 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Collaborative research prioritization (CRP) studies have become increasingly popular during the last decade. By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, and using a democratic process to create a list of research priorities, these methods purport to identify research topics that will better meet the needs of science users. Here, we review 41 CRP studies in the fields of ecology, biodiversity conservation and environmental science that collectively identify 2031 research priorities. We demonstrate that climate change, ecosystem services and protected areas are common terms found in the research priorities of many CRP studies, and that identified research priorities have become less unique over time. In addition, we show that there is a considerable variation in the size and composition of the groups involved in CRP studies, and that at least one aspect of the identified research priorities (lexical diversity) is related to the size of the CRP group. Although some CRP studies have been highly cited, the evidence that CRP studies have directly motivated research is weak, perhaps because most CRP studies have not directly involved organizations that fund science. We suggest that the most important impact of CRP studies may lie in their ability to connect individuals across sectors and help to build diverse communities of practice around important issues at the science-policy interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody J. Dey
- Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario, CanadaL7S 1A1
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10
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Moreira F, Allsopp N, Esler KJ, Wardell‐Johnson G, Ancillotto L, Arianoutsou M, Clary J, Brotons L, Clavero M, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Fagoaga R, Fiedler P, Filipe AF, Frankenberg E, Holmgren M, Marquet PA, Martinez‐Harms MJ, Martinoli A, Miller BP, Olsvig‐Whittaker L, Pliscoff P, Rundel P, Russo D, Slingsby JA, Thompson J, Wardell‐Johnson A, Beja P. Priority questions for biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean biome: Heterogeneous perspectives across continents and stakeholders. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Moreira
- CIBIO/InBIOUniversity of Porto Vairão Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO, Institute of AgronomyUniversity of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
- Society for Conservation BiologyEurope Section Washington DC
| | - Nicky Allsopp
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Fynbos Node Claremont South Africa
| | - Karen J. Esler
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, and Centre for Invasion BiologyStellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Grant Wardell‐Johnson
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin University Perth Western Australia Australia
| | - Leonardo Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di AgrariaUniversità degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Portici Italy
| | - Margarita Arianoutsou
- Department of Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of BiologyNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens Greece
| | - Jeffrey Clary
- Natural Reserve SystemUniversity of California Davis California
| | - Lluis Brotons
- InForest Jru (CTFC‐CREAF) Solsona Spain
- CREAF Cerdanyola del Vallés Spain
- CSIC Cerdanyola del Vallés Spain
| | | | | | - Raquel Fagoaga
- Resource Ecology GroupWageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Peggy Fiedler
- Natural Reserve SystemUniversity of California Office of the President Oakland California
| | - Ana F. Filipe
- CIBIO/InBIOUniversity of Porto Vairão Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO, Institute of AgronomyUniversity of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
| | - Eliezer Frankenberg
- National Natural History CollectionsThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel
| | - Milena Holmgren
- Resource Ecology GroupWageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Pablo A. Marquet
- Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias BiológicasPontificia Universidade Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB)Laboratorio Internacional en cambio Global (LINCGlobal) Santiago Chile
- Centro de Cambio Global UCPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
| | - Maria J. Martinez‐Harms
- Center for Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES)Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Santiago Chile
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Unità di Analisi e Gestione delle Risorse Ambientali, Guido Tosi Research Group, Dipartimento di Scienze Teoriche e ApplicateUniversita' degli Studi dell'Insubria Varese Italy
| | - Ben P. Miller
- Kings Park ScienceDepartment of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Perth Western Australia Australia
| | - Linda Olsvig‐Whittaker
- German Protestant Institute of Archaeology in the Holy LandResearch Unit of the German Archaeological Institute, Auguste Victoria Compound Jerusalem Israel
| | - Patricio Pliscoff
- Centro de Cambio Global UCPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Departamento de EcologíaInstituto de Geografía Santiago Chile
| | - Phil Rundel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California (UCLA) Los Angeles California
| | - Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di AgrariaUniversità degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Portici Italy
| | - Jasper A. Slingsby
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Fynbos Node Claremont South Africa
- Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Cape Town Rondebosch South Africa
| | | | | | - Pedro Beja
- CIBIO/InBIOUniversity of Porto Vairão Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO, Institute of AgronomyUniversity of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
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Sobratee N, Slotow R. A Critical Review of Lion Research in South Africa: The Impact of Researcher Perspective, Research Mode, and Power Structures on Outcome Bias and Implementation Gaps. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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12
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Bartz R, Kowarik I. Assessing the environmental impacts of invasive alien plants: a review of assessment approaches. NEOBIOTA 2019. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.43.30122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Assessing the impacts of alien plant species is a major task in invasion science and vitally important for supporting invasion-related policies. Since 1993, a range of assessment approaches have been developed to support decisions on the introduction or management of alien species. Here we review the extent to which assessments (27 approaches) appraised the following: (i) different types of environmental impacts, (ii) context dependence of environmental impacts, (iii) prospects for successful management, and (iv) transparency of assessment methods and criteria, underlying values and terminology. While nearly all approaches covered environmental effects, changes in genetic diversity and the incorporation of relevant impact parameters were less likely to be included. Many approaches considered context dependence by incorporating information about the actual or potential range of alien species. However, only a few went further and identified which resources of conservation concern might be affected by specific alien plant species. Only some approaches acknowledged underlying values by distinguishing negative from positive impacts or by considering the conservation value of affected resources. Several approaches directly addressed the feasibility of management, whereas relevant factors such as availability of suitable management methods were rarely considered. Finally, underlying values were rarely disclosed, and definitions of value-laden or controversial terms were often lacking. We conclude that despite important progress in assessing the manifold facets of invasion impacts, opportunities remain for further developing impact assessment approaches. These changes can improve assessment results and their acceptance in invasion-related environmental policies.
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Hodgson EE, Halpern BS. Investigating cumulative effects across ecological scales. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2019; 33:22-32. [PMID: 29722069 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Species, habitats, and ecosystems are increasingly exposed to multiple anthropogenic stressors, fueling a rapidly expanding research program to understand the cumulative impacts of these environmental modifications. Since the 1970s, a growing set of methods has been developed through two parallel, sometimes connected, streams of research within the applied and academic realms to assess cumulative effects. Past reviews of cumulative effects assessment (CEA) methods focused on approaches used by practitioners. Academic research has developed several distinct and novel approaches to conducting CEA. Understanding the suite of methods that exist will help practitioners and academics better address various ecological foci (physiological responses, population impacts, ecosystem impacts) and ecological complexities (synergistic effects, impacts across space and time). We reviewed 6 categories of methods (experimental, meta-analysis, single-species modeling, mapping, qualitative modeling, and multispecies modeling) and examined the ability of those methods to address different levels of complexity. We focused on research gaps and emerging priorities. We found that no single method assessed impacts across the 4 ecological foci and 6 ecological complexities considered. We propose that methods can be used in combination to improve understanding such that multimodel inference can provide a suite of comparable outputs, mapping methods can help prioritize localized models or experimental gaps, and future experiments can be paired from the outset with models they will inform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma E Hodgson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Way, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, WA 98195, U.S.A
| | - Benjamin S Halpern
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, 735 State Street #300, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, U.S.A
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, U.S.A
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL57PY, U.K
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14
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Hajiahmadi D, Amanollahi J. Fuzzy risk assessment modelling of wild animal life in Bijar protected area. Ecol Modell 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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15
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Van den Brink PJ, Boxall AB, Maltby L, Brooks BW, Rudd MA, Backhaus T, Spurgeon D, Verougstraete V, Ajao C, Ankley GT, Apitz SE, Arnold K, Brodin T, Cañedo-Argüelles M, Chapman J, Corrales J, Coutellec MA, Fernandes TF, Fick J, Ford AT, Papiol GG, Groh KJ, Hutchinson TH, Kruger H, Kukkonen JV, Loutseti S, Marshall S, Muir D, Ortiz-Santaliestra ME, Paul KB, Rico A, Rodea-Palomares I, Römbke J, Rydberg T, Segner H, Smit M, van Gestel CA, Vighi M, Werner I, Zimmer EI, van Wensem J. Toward sustainable environmental quality: Priority research questions for Europe. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2018; 37:2281-2295. [PMID: 30027629 PMCID: PMC6214210 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals have been established to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals will require a healthy and productive environment. An understanding of the impacts of chemicals which can negatively impact environmental health is therefore essential to the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, current research on and regulation of chemicals in the environment tend to take a simplistic view and do not account for the complexity of the real world, which inhibits the way we manage chemicals. There is therefore an urgent need for a step change in the way we study and communicate the impacts and control of chemicals in the natural environment. To do this requires the major research questions to be identified so that resources are focused on questions that really matter. We present the findings of a horizon-scanning exercise to identify research priorities of the European environmental science community around chemicals in the environment. Using the key questions approach, we identified 22 questions of priority. These questions covered overarching questions about which chemicals we should be most concerned about and where, impacts of global megatrends, protection goals, and sustainability of chemicals; the development and parameterization of assessment and management frameworks; and mechanisms to maximize the impact of the research. The research questions identified provide a first-step in the path forward for the research, regulatory, and business communities to better assess and manage chemicals in the natural environment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2281-2295. © 2018 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J. Van den Brink
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Wageningen Environmental Research (Alterra), P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Alistair B.A. Boxall
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5NG, UK
- Corresponding author:
| | - Lorraine Maltby
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Bryan W. Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | | | - Thomas Backhaus
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22 B, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - David Spurgeon
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Building, Benson Lane, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8BB, UK
| | | | - Charmaine Ajao
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Annankatu 18, 00120 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gerald T. Ankley
- US Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
| | - Sabine E. Apitz
- SEA Environmental Decisions, Ltd., 1 South Cottages, The Ford; Little Hadham, Hertfordshire SG11 2AT, UK
| | - Kathryn Arnold
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- Freshwater Ecology and Management (FEM) Research Group, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Institut de Recerca de l’Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Aquatic Ecology Group, BETA Tecnio Centre, University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jennifer Chapman
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5NG, UK
| | - Jone Corrales
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | | | - Teresa F. Fernandes
- Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
| | - Jerker Fick
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Alex T. Ford
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Portsmouth, England, PO4 9LY, UK
| | - Gemma Giménez Papiol
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Chemical Engineering Department, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Ksenia J. Groh
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
| | - Thomas H. Hutchinson
- School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
| | - Hank Kruger
- Wildlife International Ltd., Easton, Maryland, USA
| | - Jussi V.K. Kukkonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Stefania Loutseti
- DuPont De Nemours, Agriculture & Nutrition Crop Protection, Hellas S.A. Halandri Ydras 2& Kifisias Avenue 280r. 15232 Athens, Greece
| | - Stuart Marshall
- Unilever, Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, MK441LQ, UK. (Retired)
| | - Derek Muir
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Water Science Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1 Canada
| | - Manuel E. Ortiz-Santaliestra
- Spanish Institute of Game and Wildlife Resources (IREC) CSIC-UCLM-JCCM. Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Kai B. Paul
- Blue Frog Scientific Limited, Quantum House, 91 George St., EH2 3ES, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Andreu Rico
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ismael Rodea-Palomares
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Jörg Römbke
- ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH, Böttgerstrasse 2-14, D-65439 Flörsheim, Germany
| | - Tomas Rydberg
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, PO Box 5302, 40014 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Helmut Segner
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mathijs Smit
- Shell Global Solutions, Carel van Bylandtlaan 30, 2596 HR The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis A.M. van Gestel
- Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marco Vighi
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inge Werner
- Swiss Centre for Applied Ecotoxicology, Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | | | - Joke van Wensem
- Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, P.O. Box 20901, 2500 EX The Hague, The Netherlands
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Rudd MA, Moore AFP, Rochberg D, Bianchi-Fossati L, Brown MA, D'Onofrio D, Furman CA, Garcia J, Jordan B, Kline J, Risse LM, Yager PL, Abbinett J, Alber M, Bell JE, Bhedwar C, Cobb KM, Cohen J, Cox M, Dormer M, Dunkley N, Farley H, Gambill J, Goldstein M, Harris G, Hopkinson M, James JA, Kidd S, Knox P, Liu Y, Matisoff DC, Meyer MD, Mitchem JD, Moore K, Ono AJ, Philipsborn J, Sendall KM, Shafiei F, Shepherd M, Teebken J, Worley AN. Climate research priorities for policy-makers, practitioners, and scientists in Georgia, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 62:190-209. [PMID: 29796704 PMCID: PMC6060861 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-018-1051-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Climate change has far-reaching effects on human and ecological systems, requiring collaboration across sectors and disciplines to determine effective responses. To inform regional responses to climate change, decision-makers need credible and relevant information representing a wide swath of knowledge and perspectives. The southeastern U. S. State of Georgia is a valuable focal area for study because it contains multiple ecological zones that vary greatly in land use and economic activities, and it is vulnerable to diverse climate change impacts. We identified 40 important research questions that, if answered, could lay the groundwork for effective, science-based climate action in Georgia. Top research priorities were identified through a broad solicitation of candidate research questions (180 were received). A group of experts across sectors and disciplines gathered for a workshop to categorize, prioritize, and filter the candidate questions, identify missing topics, and rewrite questions. Participants then collectively chose the 40 most important questions. This cross-sectoral effort ensured the inclusion of a diversity of topics and questions (e.g., coastal hazards, agricultural production, ecosystem functioning, urban infrastructure, and human health) likely to be important to Georgia policy-makers, practitioners, and scientists. Several cross-cutting themes emerged, including the need for long-term data collection and consideration of at-risk Georgia citizens and communities. Workshop participants defined effective responses as those that take economic cost, environmental impacts, and social justice into consideration. Our research highlights the importance of collaborators across disciplines and sectors, and discussing challenges and opportunities that will require transdisciplinary solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray A Rudd
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Althea F P Moore
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Daniel Rochberg
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | | | - Marilyn A Brown
- School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Athens, GA, USA
| | - David D'Onofrio
- Atlanta Regional Commission, 229 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Carrie A Furman
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Jairo Garcia
- City of Atlanta Office of Resilience, 55 Trinity Av. SW, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Ben Jordan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Jennifer Kline
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division, Brunswick, GA, USA
| | - L Mark Risse
- University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Patricia L Yager
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Jessica Abbinett
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Merryl Alber
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Jesse E Bell
- North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies, North Carolina State University, Asheville, NC, 28801, USA
| | - Cyrus Bhedwar
- Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kim M Cobb
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Dr., Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Juliet Cohen
- Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Atlanta, GA, 30306, USA
| | - Matt Cox
- The Greenlink Group, 695 Pylant St NE, Atlanta, GA, 30306, USA
| | - Myriam Dormer
- The Nature Conservancy in Georgia, 100 Peachtree St. NW, Suite 2250, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303, USA
| | - Nyasha Dunkley
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division, 4244 International Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30354, USA
| | - Heather Farley
- The College of Coastal Georgia, School of Business and Public Management, One College Drive, Brunswick, GA, 31520, USA
| | - Jill Gambill
- University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Mindy Goldstein
- Emory University School of Law, 1301 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Garry Harris
- Center for Sustainable Communities, 100 Flatshoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA, 30316, USA
| | - Melissa Hopkinson
- Institute for Environmental & Spatial Analysis, University of North Georgia, Oakwood, GA, 30566, USA
| | | | - Susan Kidd
- Center for Sustainability, Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA, 30030, USA
| | - Pam Knox
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Daniel C Matisoff
- School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Michael D Meyer
- WSP USA Inc., 845 Spring Street, Unit 204, Atlanta, GA, 30308, USA
| | - Jamie D Mitchem
- Institute for Environmental & Spatial Analysis, University of North Georgia, Oakwood, GA, 30566, USA
| | - Katherine Moore
- Sustainable Growth Program, Georgia Conservancy 230 Peachtree Street Suite 1250, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Aspen J Ono
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | | | - Kerrie M Sendall
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA
| | - Fatemeh Shafiei
- Spelman College Department of Political Science, 350 Spelman Lane SW, Atlanta, GA, 30314, USA
| | | | - Julia Teebken
- Department of Political and Social Sciences, Graduate School of East Asian Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Vulnerability and Human Condition Initiative, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Ashby N Worley
- The Nature Conservancy in Georgia, 100 Peachtree St. NW, Suite 2250, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303, USA
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A study of bio-hybrid silsesquioxane/yeast: Biosorption and neuronal toxicity of lead. J Biotechnol 2017; 264:43-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2017.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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18
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19
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Comparison of Four Nitrate Removal Kinetic Models in Two Distinct Wetland Restoration Mesocosm Systems. WATER 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/w9070517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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20
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LaLone CA, Ankley GT, Belanger SE, Embry MR, Hodges G, Knapen D, Munn S, Perkins EJ, Rudd MA, Villeneuve DL, Whelann M, Willett C, Zhang X, Markus H. Advancing the adverse outcome pathway framework-An international horizon scanning approach. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2017; 36:1411-1421. [PMID: 28543973 PMCID: PMC6156781 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Our ability to conduct whole-organism toxicity tests to understand chemical safety has been outpaced by the synthesis of new chemicals for a wide variety of commercial applications. As a result, scientists and risk assessors are turning to mechanistically based studies to increase efficiencies in chemical risk assessment and making greater use of in vitro and in silico methods to evaluate potential environmental and human health hazards. In this context, the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework has gained traction in regulatory science because it offers an efficient and effective means for capturing available knowledge describing the linkage between mechanistic data and the apical toxicity end points required for regulatory assessments. A number of international activities have focused on AOP development and various applications to regulatory decision-making. These initiatives have prompted dialogue between research scientists and regulatory communities to consider how best to use the AOP framework. Although expert-facilitated discussions and AOP development have been critical in moving the science of AOPs forward, it was recognized that a survey of the broader scientific and regulatory communities would aid in identifying current limitations while guiding future initiatives for the AOP framework. To that end, a global horizon scanning exercise was conducted to solicit questions concerning the challenges or limitations that must be addressed to realize the full potential of the AOP framework in research and regulatory decision-making. The questions received fell into several broad topical areas: AOP networks, quantitative AOPs, collaboration on and communication of AOP knowledge, AOP discovery and development, chemical and cross-species extrapolation, exposure/toxicokinetics considerations, and AOP applications. Expert ranking was then used to prioritize questions for each category, where 4 broad themes emerged that could help inform and guide future AOP research and regulatory initiatives. In addition, frequently asked questions were identified and addressed by experts in the field. Answers to frequently asked questions will aid in addressing common misperceptions and will allow for clarification of AOP topics. The need for this type of clarification was highlighted with surprising frequency by our question submitters, indicating that improvements are needed in communicating the AOP framework among the scientific and regulatory communities. Overall, horizon scanning engaged the global scientific community to help identify key questions surrounding the AOP framework and guide the direction of future initiatives. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1411-1421. © 2017 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A. LaLone
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
- Corresponding Authors: ,
| | - Gerald T. Ankley
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Scott E. Belanger
- Environmental Safety and Sustainability, Global Product Stewardship, Mason Business Center, The Procter and Gamble Company, Mason, Ohio 45040, USA
| | - Michelle R. Embry
- ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005, USA
| | - Geoff Hodges
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Dries Knapen
- ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005, USA
| | - Sharon Munn
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy
| | - Edward J. Perkins
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy
| | - Murray A. Rudd
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory College, E538 Math and Science Building, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Daniel L. Villeneuve
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Maurice Whelann
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy
| | - Catherine Willett
- The Humane Society of the United States, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hecker Markus
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5B3
- Corresponding Authors: ,
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Mason JG, Rudd MA, Crowder LB. Ocean Research Priorities: Similarities and Differences among Scientists, Policymakers, and Fishermen in the United States. Bioscience 2017; 67:418-428. [PMID: 28533565 PMCID: PMC5421313 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biw172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding and solving complex ocean conservation problems requires cooperation not just among scientific disciplines but also across sectors. A recently published survey that probed research priorities of marine scientists, when provided to ocean stakeholders, revealed some agreement on priorities but also illuminated key differences. Ocean acidification, cumulative impacts, bycatch effects, and restoration effectiveness were in the top 10 priorities for scientists and stakeholder groups. Significant priority differences were that scientists favored research questions about ocean acidification and marine protected areas; policymakers prioritized questions about habitat restoration, bycatch, and precaution; and fisheries sector resource users called for the inclusion of local ecological knowledge in policymaking. These results quantitatively demonstrate how different stakeholder groups approach ocean issues and highlight the need to incorporate other types of knowledge in the codesign of solutions-oriented research, which may facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia G Mason
- Julia G. Mason is a PhD candidate and Larry B. Crowder is a professor at Stanford University Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, California. Mason studies the interacting effects of climate and management on fisheries resilience. Crowder, also the science director at the Center for Ocean Solutions, in Monterey, California, works with interdisciplinary approaches to marine conservation. Murray A. Rudd is an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia. His research focuses on conservation social science and the environmental science-policy interface. The authors declare no conflict of interest
| | - Murray A Rudd
- Julia G. Mason is a PhD candidate and Larry B. Crowder is a professor at Stanford University Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, California. Mason studies the interacting effects of climate and management on fisheries resilience. Crowder, also the science director at the Center for Ocean Solutions, in Monterey, California, works with interdisciplinary approaches to marine conservation. Murray A. Rudd is an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia. His research focuses on conservation social science and the environmental science-policy interface. The authors declare no conflict of interest
| | - Larry B Crowder
- Julia G. Mason is a PhD candidate and Larry B. Crowder is a professor at Stanford University Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, California. Mason studies the interacting effects of climate and management on fisheries resilience. Crowder, also the science director at the Center for Ocean Solutions, in Monterey, California, works with interdisciplinary approaches to marine conservation. Murray A. Rudd is an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia. His research focuses on conservation social science and the environmental science-policy interface. The authors declare no conflict of interest
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Lagesson A, Fahlman J, Brodin T, Fick J, Jonsson M, Byström P, Klaminder J. Bioaccumulation of five pharmaceuticals at multiple trophic levels in an aquatic food web - Insights from a field experiment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 568:208-215. [PMID: 27295593 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Revised: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/29/2016] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals derived from manufacturing and human consumption contaminate surface waters worldwide. To what extent such pharmaceutical contamination accumulates and disperses over time in different compartments of aquatic food webs is not well known. In this study we assess to what extent five pharmaceuticals (diphenhydramine, oxazepam, trimethoprim, diclofenac, and hydroxyzine) are taken up by fish (European perch) and four aquatic invertebrate taxa (damselfly larvae, mayfly larvae, waterlouse, and ramshorn snail), by tracing their bioconcentrations over several months in a semi-natural large-scale (pond) system. The results suggest both significant differences among drugs in their capacity to bioaccumulate and differences among species in uptake. While no support for in situ uptake of diclofenac and trimethoprim was found, oxazepam, diphenhydramine, and hydroxyzine were detected in all analyzed species. Here, the highest bioaccumulation factor (tissue:water ratio) was found for hydroxyzine. In the food web, the highest concentrations were found in the benthic species ramshorn snail and waterlouse, indicating that bottom-living organism at lower trophic positions are the prime receivers of the pharmaceuticals. In general, concentrations in the biota decreased over time in response to decreasing water concentrations. However, two interesting exceptions to this trend were noted. First, mayfly larvae (primarily grazers) showed peak concentrations (a fourfold increase) of oxazepam, diphenhydramine, and hydroxyzine about 30days after initial addition of pharmaceuticals. Second, perch (top-predator) showed an increase in concentrations of oxazepam throughout the study period. Our results show that drugs can remain bioavailable for aquatic organism for long time periods (weeks to months) and even re-enter the food web at a later time. As such, for an understanding of accumulation and dispersion of pharmaceuticals in aquatic food webs, detailed ecological knowledge is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lagesson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
| | - J Fahlman
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
| | - T Brodin
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
| | - J Fick
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
| | - M Jonsson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
| | - P Byström
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
| | - J Klaminder
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
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Leblond M, St-Laurent MH, Côté SD. Caribou, water, and ice - fine-scale movements of a migratory arctic ungulate in the context of climate change. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2016; 4:14. [PMID: 27099756 PMCID: PMC4837602 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-016-0079-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Freshwater lakes and rivers of the Northern Hemisphere have been freezing increasingly later and thawing increasingly earlier during the last century. With reduced temporal periods during which ice conditions are favourable for locomotion, freshwater bodies could become impediments to the inter-patch movements, dispersion, or migration of terrestrial animals that use ice-covered lakes and rivers to move across their range. Studying the fine-scale responses of individuals to broad-scale changes in ice availability and phenology would help to understand how animals react to ongoing climate change, and contribute to the conservation and management of endangered species living in northern environments. Between 2007 and 2014, we equipped 96 migratory caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou from the Rivière-aux-Feuilles herd in northern Québec (Canada) with GPS telemetry collars and studied their space use. We measured contemporary (digital MODIS maps updated every 8 days, 2000-2014) and historical (annual observations, 1947-1985) variations in freshwater-ice availability and evaluated the concurrent responses of caribou to these changes. RESULTS Ice had a positive influence on caribou movement rates and directionality, and caribou selected ice and avoided water when moving across or in the vicinity of large water bodies. When ice was unavailable, caribou rarely swam across (6 % of crossings) and frequently circumvented water bodies for several km. Although ice phenology did not change significantly during our study, climate projections indicated that ice availability could decrease considerably before the end of the century, generating a ~28 % increase in distance travelled by caribou during the early spring and fall migrations. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that ice availability influenced the movements of a migratory arctic ungulate. Warmer air temperatures in the Arctic will undoubtedly modify the phenology of ice forming on freshwater lakes and rivers. If migratory caribou are unable to adjust the timing of their migrations, they could be forced to circumvent unfrozen water bodies more frequently and over broader areas, which may increase the distance, time, and energy they use to reach wintering areas. The long-term conservation of wide-ranging species will ultimately depend on our ability to identify the fine-scale behavioural reactions of individuals to broad-scale changes in climate and land use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Leblond
- />Caribou Ungava, Département de biologie, and Center for Northern Studies, Université Laval, 1045 avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
- />Caribou Ungava, Département de biologie, chimie et géographie, Center for Northern Studies, and Center for Forest Research, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 300 allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, QC G5L 3A1 Canada
| | - Steeve D. Côté
- />Caribou Ungava, Département de biologie, and Center for Northern Studies, Université Laval, 1045 avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6 Canada
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Kark S, Sutherland WJ, Shanas U, Klass K, Achisar H, Dayan T, Gavrieli Y, Justo-Hanani R, Mandelik Y, Orion N, Pargament D, Portman M, Reisman-Berman O, Safriel UN, Schaffer G, Steiner N, Tauber I, Levin N. Priority Questions and Horizon Scanning for Conservation: A Comparative Study. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0145978. [PMID: 26815653 PMCID: PMC4729468 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Several projects aimed at identifying priority issues for conservation with high relevance to policy have recently been completed in several countries. Two major types of projects have been undertaken, aimed at identifying (i) policy-relevant questions most imperative to conservation and (ii) horizon scanning topics, defined as emerging issues that are expected to have substantial implications for biodiversity conservation and policy in the future. Here, we provide the first overview of the outcomes of biodiversity and conservation-oriented projects recently completed around the world using this framework. We also include the results of the first questions and horizon scanning project completed for a Mediterranean country. Overall, the outcomes of the different projects undertaken (at the global scale, in the UK, US, Canada, Switzerland and in Israel) were strongly correlated in terms of the proportion of questions and/or horizon scanning topics selected when comparing different topic areas. However, some major differences were found across regions. There was large variation among regions in the percentage of proactive (i.e. action and response oriented) versus descriptive (non-response oriented) priority questions and in the emphasis given to socio-political issues. Substantial differences were also found when comparing outcomes of priority questions versus horizon scanning projects undertaken for the same region. For example, issues related to climate change, human demography and marine ecosystems received higher priority as horizon scanning topics, while ecosystem services were more emphasized as current priority questions. We suggest that future initiatives aimed at identifying priority conservation questions and horizon scanning topics should allow simultaneous identification of both current and future priority issues, as presented here for the first time. We propose that further emphasis on social-political issues should be explicitly integrated into future related projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salit Kark
- The Biodiversity Research Group, The School of Biological Sciences, ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
- The Biodiversity Research Group, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
- * E-mail:
| | - William J. Sutherland
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - Uri Shanas
- Dept. of Biology and Environment, University of Haifa-Oranim, Tivon, 36006, Israel
| | - Keren Klass
- The Biodiversity Research Group, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
- HaMa’arag – The Israel National Program for Ecosystem Assessment, Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Albert Einstein Square, Jerusalem, 91040, Israel
| | - Hila Achisar
- The Biodiversity Research Group, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Tamar Dayan
- Dept. of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Yael Gavrieli
- Nature Campus, Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Ronit Justo-Hanani
- Dept. of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Yael Mandelik
- Dept. of Entomology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 012, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Nir Orion
- Earth and Environmental Sciences group, Dept. of Science Teaching, The Weizmann Institute of Science, P.O. Box 26, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - David Pargament
- Yarqon River Authority, PO Box 6297, Tel Aviv, 61067, Israel
| | - Michelle Portman
- Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Orna Reisman-Berman
- French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Sede Boqer, 84990, Israel
| | - Uriel N. Safriel
- Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Gad Schaffer
- Dept. of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt Scopus, Jerusalem, 91905, Israel
| | - Noa Steiner
- Open Landscapes and Biodiversity Division, The Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Israel Tauber
- Forest Management, Monitoring and GIS, KKL – Land Development Authority – Forest Department, The Jewish National Fund, Eshtaol, Israel
| | - Noam Levin
- Dept. of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt Scopus, Jerusalem, 91905, Israel
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Mihók B, Kovács E, Balázs B, Pataki G, Ambrus A, Bartha D, Czirák Z, Csányi S, Csépányi P, Csőszi M, Dudás G, Egri C, Erős T, Gőri S, Halmos G, Kopek A, Margóczi K, Miklay G, Milon L, Podmaniczky L, Sárvári J, Schmidt A, Sipos K, Siposs V, Standovár T, Szigetvári C, Szemethy L, Tóth B, Tóth L, Tóth P, Török K, Török P, Vadász C, Varga I, Sutherland WJ, Báldi A. Bridging the research-practice gap: Conservation research priorities in a Central and Eastern European country. J Nat Conserv 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2015.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Landscapes for Energy and Wildlife: Conservation Prioritization for Golden Eagles across Large Spatial Scales. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134781. [PMID: 26262876 PMCID: PMC4532434 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Proactive conservation planning for species requires the identification of important spatial attributes across ecologically relevant scales in a model-based framework. However, it is often difficult to develop predictive models, as the explanatory data required for model development across regional management scales is rarely available. Golden eagles are a large-ranging predator of conservation concern in the United States that may be negatively affected by wind energy development. Thus, identifying landscapes least likely to pose conflict between eagles and wind development via shared space prior to development will be critical for conserving populations in the face of imposing development. We used publically available data on golden eagle nests to generate predictive models of golden eagle nesting sites in Wyoming, USA, using a suite of environmental and anthropogenic variables. By overlaying predictive models of golden eagle nesting habitat with wind energy resource maps, we highlight areas of potential conflict among eagle nesting habitat and wind development. However, our results suggest that wind potential and the relative probability of golden eagle nesting are not necessarily spatially correlated. Indeed, the majority of our sample frame includes areas with disparate predictions between suitable nesting habitat and potential for developing wind energy resources. Map predictions cannot replace on-the-ground monitoring for potential risk of wind turbines on wildlife populations, though they provide industry and managers a useful framework to first assess potential development.
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Chapman J, Algera D, Dick M, Hawkins E, Lawrence M, Lennox R, Rous A, Souliere C, Stemberger H, Struthers D, Vu M, Ward T, Zolderdo A, Cooke S. Being relevant: Practical guidance for early career researchers interested in solving conservation problems. Glob Ecol Conserv 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2015.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Rose RA, Byler D, Eastman JR, Fleishman E, Geller G, Goetz S, Guild L, Hamilton H, Hansen M, Headley R, Hewson J, Horning N, Kaplin BA, Laporte N, Leidner A, Leimgruber P, Morisette J, Musinsky J, Pintea L, Prados A, Radeloff VC, Rowen M, Saatchi S, Schill S, Tabor K, Turner W, Vodacek A, Vogelmann J, Wegmann M, Wilkie D, Wilson C. Ten ways remote sensing can contribute to conservation. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2015; 29:350-359. [PMID: 25319024 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2014] [Revised: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In an effort to increase conservation effectiveness through the use of Earth observation technologies, a group of remote sensing scientists affiliated with government and academic institutions and conservation organizations identified 10 questions in conservation for which the potential to be answered would be greatly increased by use of remotely sensed data and analyses of those data. Our goals were to increase conservation practitioners' use of remote sensing to support their work, increase collaboration between the conservation science and remote sensing communities, identify and develop new and innovative uses of remote sensing for advancing conservation science, provide guidance to space agencies on how future satellite missions can support conservation science, and generate support from the public and private sector in the use of remote sensing data to address the 10 conservation questions. We identified a broad initial list of questions on the basis of an email chain-referral survey. We then used a workshop-based iterative and collaborative approach to whittle the list down to these final questions (which represent 10 major themes in conservation): How can global Earth observation data be used to model species distributions and abundances? How can remote sensing improve the understanding of animal movements? How can remotely sensed ecosystem variables be used to understand, monitor, and predict ecosystem response and resilience to multiple stressors? How can remote sensing be used to monitor the effects of climate on ecosystems? How can near real-time ecosystem monitoring catalyze threat reduction, governance and regulation compliance, and resource management decisions? How can remote sensing inform configuration of protected area networks at spatial extents relevant to populations of target species and ecosystem services? How can remote sensing-derived products be used to value and monitor changes in ecosystem services? How can remote sensing be used to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of conservation efforts? How does the expansion and intensification of agriculture and aquaculture alter ecosystems and the services they provide? How can remote sensing be used to determine the degree to which ecosystems are being disturbed or degraded and the effects of these changes on species and ecosystem functions?
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Rose
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Conservation Support, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY, 10460, U.S.A..
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Parsons ECM, Baulch S, Bechshoft T, Bellazzi G, Bouchet P, Cosentino AM, Godard-Codding CAJ, Gulland F, Hoffmann-Kuhnt M, Hoyt E, Livermore S, MacLeod CD, Matrai E, Munger L, Ochiai M, Peyman A, Recalde-Salas A, Regnery R, Rojas-Bracho L, Salgado-Kent CP, Slooten E, Wang JY, Wilson SC, Wright AJ, Young S, Zwamborn E, Sutherland WJ. Key research questions of global importance for cetacean conservation. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2015. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Martinuzzi S, Withey JC, Pidgeon AM, Plantinga AJ, McKerrow AJ, Williams SG, Helmers DP, Radeloff VC. Future land-use scenarios and the loss of wildlife habitats in the southeastern United States. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2015; 25:160-171. [PMID: 26255365 DOI: 10.1890/13-2078.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Land-use change is a major cause of wildlife habitat loss. Understanding how changes in land-use policies and economic factors can impact future trends in land use and wildlife habitat loss is therefore critical for conservation efforts. Our goal here was to evaluate the consequences of future land-use changes under different conservation policies and crop market conditions on habitat loss for wildlife species in the southeastern United States. We predicted the rates of habitat loss for 336 terrestrial vertebrate species by 2051. We focused on habitat loss due to the expansion of urban, crop, and pasture. Future land-use changes following business-as-usual conditions resulted in relatively low rates of wildlife habitat loss across the entire Southeast, but some ecoregions and species groups experienced much higher habitat loss than others. Increased crop commodity prices exacerbated wildlife habitat loss in most ecoregions, while the implementation of conservation policies (reduced urban sprawl, and payments for land conservation) reduced the projected habitat loss in some regions, to a certain degree. Overall, urban and crop expansion were the main drivers of habitat loss. Reptiles and wildlife species associated with open vegetation (grasslands, open woodlands) were the species groups most vulnerable to future land-use change. Effective conservation of wildlife habitat in the Southeast should give special consideration to future land-use changes, regional variations, and the forces that could shape land-use decisions.
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Gregr EJ, Chan KM. Leaps of Faith: How Implicit Assumptions Compromise the Utility of Ecosystem Models for Decision-making. Bioscience 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biu185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Lawton RN, Rudd MA. A narrative policy approach to environmental conservation. AMBIO 2014; 43:849-57. [PMID: 24627158 PMCID: PMC4190146 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-014-0497-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Revised: 02/19/2014] [Accepted: 02/21/2014] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Due to the urgency and seriousness of the loss of biological diversity, scientists from across a range of disciplines are urged to increase the salience and use of their research by policy-makers. Increased policy nuance is needed to address the science-policy gap and overcome divergent views of separate research and policy worlds, a view still relatively common among conservation scientists. Research impact considerations should recognize that policy uptake is dependent on contextual variables operating in the policy sphere. We provide a novel adaptation of existing policy approaches to evidence impact that accounts for non-evidentiary "societal" influences on decision-making. We highlight recent analytical tools from political science that account for the use of evidence by policy-makers. Using the United Kingdom's recent embrace of the ecosystem approach to environmental management, we advocate analyzing evidence research impact through a narrative lens that accounts for the credibility, legitimacy, and relevance of science for policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricky N. Lawton
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD UK
| | - Murray A. Rudd
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD UK
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Fischman RL, Meretsky VJ, Babko A, Kennedy M, Liu L, Robinson M, Wambugu S. Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change: Lessons from the US National Wildlife Refuge System. Bioscience 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biu160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Rudd MA, Ankley GT, Boxall ABA, Brooks BW. International scientists' priorities for research on pharmaceutical and personal care products in the environment. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2014; 10:576-87. [PMID: 24954797 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are widely discharged into the environment via diverse pathways. The effects of PPCPs in the environment have potentially important human and ecosystem health implications, so credible, salient, and legitimate scientific evidence is needed to inform regulatory and policy responses that address potential risks. A recent "big questions" exercise with participants largely from North America identified 22 important research questions around the risks of PPCP in the environment that would help address the most pressing knowledge gaps over the next decade. To expand that analysis, we developed a survey that was completed by 535 environmental scientists from 57 countries, of whom 49% identified environmental or analytical chemistry as their primary disciplinary background. They ranked the 22 original research questions and submitted 171 additional candidate research questions they felt were also of high priority. Of the original questions, the 3 perceived to be of highest importance related to: 1) the effects of long-term exposure to low concentrations of PPCP mixtures on nontarget organisms, 2) effluent treatment methods that can reduce the effects of PPCPs in the environment while not increasing the toxicity of whole effluents, and 3) the assessment of the environmental risks of metabolites and environmental transformation products of PPCPs. A question regarding the role of cultural perspectives in PPCP risk assessment was ranked as the lowest priority. There were significant differences in research orientation between scientists who completed English and Chinese language versions of the survey. We found that the Chinese respondents were strongly orientated to issues of managing risk profiles, effluent treatment, residue bioavailability, and regional assessment. Among English language respondents, further differences in research orientation were associated with respondents' level of consistency when ranking the survey's 15 comparisons. There was increasing emphasis on the role of various other stressors relative to PPCPs and on risk prioritization as internal decision making consistency increased. Respondents' consistency in their ranking choices was significantly and positively correlated with SETAC membership, authors' number of publications, and longer survey completion times. Our research highlighted international scientists' research priorities and should help inform decisions about the type of hazard and risk-based research needed to best inform decisions regarding PPCPs in the environment. Disciplinary training of a scientist or engineer appears to strongly influence preferences for research priorities to understand PPCPs in the environment. Selection of participants and the depth and breadth of research prioritization efforts thus have potential effects on the outcomes of research prioritization exercises. Further elucidation of how patterns of research priority vary between academic and government scientists and between scientists and other government and stakeholders would be useful in the future and provide information that helps focus scientific effort on socially relevant challenges relating to PPCPs in the environment. It also suggests the potential for future collaborative research between industry, government, and academia on environmental contaminants beyond PPCPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray A Rudd
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, United Kingdom
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Tewksbury J, Wagner G. The role of civil society in recalibrating conservation science incentives. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2014; 28:1437-9. [PMID: 24665984 PMCID: PMC4232885 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 01/12/2014] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Tewksbury
- WWF International, Luc Hoffmann Institute, Avenue du Mont-Blanc 27, Gland 1196, Switzerland.
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Recent mountain pine beetle outbreaks, wildfire severity, and postfire tree regeneration in the US Northern Rockies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:15120-5. [PMID: 25267633 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1411346111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Widespread tree mortality caused by outbreaks of native bark beetles (Circulionidae: Scolytinae) in recent decades has raised concern among scientists and forest managers about whether beetle outbreaks fuel more ecologically severe forest fires and impair postfire resilience. To investigate this question, we collected extensive field data following multiple fires that burned subalpine forests in 2011 throughout the Northern Rocky Mountains across a spectrum of prefire beetle outbreak severity, primarily from mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae). We found that recent (2001-2010) beetle outbreak severity was unrelated to most field measures of subsequent fire severity, which was instead driven primarily by extreme burning conditions (weather) and topography. In the red stage (0-2 y following beetle outbreak), fire severity was largely unaffected by prefire outbreak severity with few effects detected only under extreme burning conditions. In the gray stage (3-10 y following beetle outbreak), fire severity was largely unaffected by prefire outbreak severity under moderate conditions, but several measures related to surface fire severity increased with outbreak severity under extreme conditions. Initial postfire tree regeneration of the primary beetle host tree [lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia)] was not directly affected by prefire outbreak severity but was instead driven by the presence of a canopy seedbank and by fire severity. Recent beetle outbreaks in subalpine forests affected few measures of wildfire severity and did not hinder the ability of lodgepole pine forests to regenerate after fire, suggesting that resilience in subalpine forests is not necessarily impaired by recent mountain pine beetle outbreaks.
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Peters DPC, Havstad KM, Cushing J, Tweedie C, Fuentes O, Villanueva-Rosales N. Harnessing the power of big data: infusing the scientific method with machine learning to transform ecology. Ecosphere 2014. [DOI: 10.1890/es13-00359.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Rudd MA, Fleishman E. Policymakers’ and Scientists’ Ranks of Research Priorities for Resource-Management Policy. Bioscience 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bit035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Trama B, Fernandes JDS, Labuto G, Oliveira JCFD, Viana-Niero C, Pascon RC, Vallim MA. The Evaluation of Bioremediation Potential of a Yeast Collection Isolated from Composting. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.4236/aim.2014.412088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Gregr EJ, Baumgartner MF, Laidre KL, Palacios DM. Marine mammal habitat models come of age: the emergence of ecological and management relevance. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2013. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Taylor RL, Tack JD, Naugle DE, Mills LS. Combined effects of energy development and disease on greater sage-grouse. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71256. [PMID: 23940732 PMCID: PMC3734021 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Species of conservation concern are increasingly threatened by multiple, anthropogenic stressors which are outside their evolutionary experience. Greater sage-grouse are highly susceptible to the impacts of two such stressors: oil and gas (energy) development and West Nile virus (WNv). However, the combined effects of these stressors and their potential interactions have not been quantified. We used lek (breeding ground) counts across a landscape encompassing extensive local and regional variation in the intensity of energy development to quantify the effects of energy development on lek counts, in years with widespread WNv outbreaks and in years without widespread outbreaks. We then predicted the effects of well density and WNv outbreak years on sage-grouse in northeast Wyoming. Absent an outbreak year, drilling an undeveloped landscape to a high permitting level (3.1 wells/km2) resulted in a 61% reduction in the total number of males counted in northeast Wyoming (total count). This was similar in magnitude to the 55% total count reduction that resulted from an outbreak year alone. However, energy-associated reductions in the total count resulted from a decrease in the mean count at active leks, whereas outbreak-associated reductions resulted from a near doubling of the lek inactivity rate (proportion of leks with a last count = 0). Lek inactivity quadrupled when 3.1 wells/km2 was combined with an outbreak year, compared to no energy development and no outbreak. Conservation measures should maintain sagebrush landscapes large and intact enough so that leks are not chronically reduced in size due to energy development, and therefore vulnerable to becoming inactive due to additional stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Taylor
- Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America.
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Almeida RM, Pinto VG, Castro MM, Divino AC, Alves ACA, Vasconcelos D, Magalhães Silva MR, Mamede N, Lima RNS, Mello RM, Siviero TS, Martins T, Campos V, Conde BE, Brito PS, Favoreto FC, Vidal LO, Roland F. Addressing key ecological questions to support policy-making in Brazil. BRAZ J BIOL 2013; 73:455-6. [PMID: 23917580 DOI: 10.1590/s1519-69842013000200033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2012] [Accepted: 12/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- R M Almeida
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora – UFJF, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, Campus Universitário, CEP 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
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Budy P, Thiede GP, Lobón-Cerviá J, Fernandez GG, McHugh P, McIntosh A, Vøllestad LA, Becares E, Jellyman P. Limitation and facilitation of one of the world's most invasive fish: an intercontinental comparison. Ecology 2013; 94:356-67. [PMID: 23691655 DOI: 10.1890/12-0628.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Purposeful species introductions offer opportunities to inform our understanding of both invasion success and conservation hurdles. We evaluated factors determining the energetic limitations of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in both their native and introduced ranges. Our focus was on brown trout because they are nearly globally distributed, considered one of the world's worst invaders, yet imperiled in much of their native habitat. We synthesized and compared data describing temperature regime, diet, growth, and maximum body size across multiple spatial and temporal scales, from country (both exotic and native habitats) and major geographic area (MGA) to rivers and years within MGA. Using these data as inputs, we next used bioenergetic efficiency (BioEff), a relative scalar representing a realized percentage of maximum possible consumption (0-100%) as our primary response variable and a multi-scale, nested, mixed statistical model (GLIMMIX) to evaluate variation among and within spatial scales and as a function of density and elevation. MGA and year (the residual) explained the greatest proportion of variance in BioEff. Temperature varied widely among MGA and was a strong driver of variation in BioEff. We observed surprisingly little variation in the diet of brown trout, except the overwhelming influence of the switch to piscivory observed only in exotic MGA. We observed only a weak signal of density-dependent effects on BioEff; however, BioEff remained < 50% at densities > 2.5 fish/m2. The trajectory of BioEff across the life span of the fish elucidated the substantial variation in performance among MGAs; the maximum body size attained by brown trout was consistently below 400 mm in native habitat but reached approximately 600 mm outside their native range, where brown trout grew rapidly, feeding in part on naive prey fishes. The integrative, physiological approach, in combination with the intercontinental and comparative nature of our study, allowed us to overcome challenges associated with context-dependent variation in determining invasion success. Overall our results indicate "growth plasticity across the life span" was important for facilitating invasion, and should be added to lists of factors characterizing successful invaders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phaedra Budy
- U.S. Geological Survey, Utah Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-5210, USA.
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Martinuzzi S, Radeloff VC, Higgins JV, Helmers DP, Plantinga AJ, Lewis DJ. Key areas for conserving United States' biodiversity likely threatened by future land use change. Ecosphere 2013. [DOI: 10.1890/es12-00376.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Brooks BW, Ankley GT, Boxall ABA, Rudd MA. Toward sustainable environmental quality: a call to prioritize global research needs. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2013; 9:179-180. [PMID: 23529803 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
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Cooke SJ, Sack L, Franklin CE, Farrell AP, Beardall J, Wikelski M, Chown SL. What is conservation physiology? Perspectives on an increasingly integrated and essential science(†). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 1:cot001. [PMID: 27293585 PMCID: PMC4732437 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cot001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 238] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Globally, ecosystems and their constituent flora and fauna face the localized and broad-scale influence of human activities. Conservation practitioners and environmental managers struggle to identify and mitigate threats, reverse species declines, restore degraded ecosystems, and manage natural resources sustainably. Scientific research and evidence are increasingly regarded as the foundation for new regulations, conservation actions, and management interventions. Conservation biologists and managers have traditionally focused on the characteristics (e.g. abundance, structure, trends) of populations, species, communities, and ecosystems, and simple indicators of the responses to environmental perturbations and other human activities. However, an understanding of the specific mechanisms underlying conservation problems is becoming increasingly important for decision-making, in part because physiological tools and knowledge are especially useful for developing cause-and-effect relationships, and for identifying the optimal range of habitats and stressor thresholds for different organisms. When physiological knowledge is incorporated into ecological models, it can improve predictions of organism responses to environmental change and provide tools to support management decisions. Without such knowledge, we may be left with simple associations. 'Conservation physiology' has been defined previously with a focus on vertebrates, but here we redefine the concept universally, for application to the diversity of taxa from microbes to plants, to animals, and to natural resources. We also consider 'physiology' in the broadest possible terms; i.e. how an organism functions, and any associated mechanisms, from development to bioenergetics, to environmental interactions, through to fitness. Moreover, we consider conservation physiology to include a wide range of applications beyond assisting imperiled populations, and include, for example, the eradication of invasive species, refinement of resource management strategies to minimize impacts, and evaluation of restoration plans. This concept of conservation physiology emphasizes the basis, importance, and ecological relevance of physiological diversity at a variety of scales. Real advances in conservation and resource management require integration and inter-disciplinarity. Conservation physiology and its suite of tools and concepts is a key part of the evidence base needed to address pressing environmental challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J. Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Lawren Sack
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of California Los Angeles, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Craig E. Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Anthony P. Farrell
- Department of Zoology and Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - John Beardall
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Max Plank Institute of Ornithology, D-78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Steven L. Chown
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
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Current and future land use around a nationwide protected area network. PLoS One 2013; 8:e55737. [PMID: 23383275 PMCID: PMC3561326 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2012] [Accepted: 01/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Land-use change around protected areas can reduce their effective size and limit their ability to conserve biodiversity because land-use change alters ecological processes and the ability of organisms to move freely among protected areas. The goal of our analysis was to inform conservation planning efforts for a nationwide network of protected lands by predicting future land use change. We evaluated the relative effect of three economic policy scenarios on land use surrounding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wildlife Refuges. We predicted changes for three land-use classes (forest/range, crop/pasture, and urban) by 2051. Our results showed an increase in forest/range lands (by 1.9% to 4.7% depending on the scenario), a decrease in crop/pasture between 15.2% and 23.1%, and a substantial increase in urban land use between 28.5% and 57.0%. The magnitude of land-use change differed strongly among different USFWS administrative regions, with the most change in the Upper Midwestern US (approximately 30%), and the Southeastern and Northeastern US (25%), and the rest of the U.S. between 15 and 20%. Among our scenarios, changes in land use were similar, with the exception of our “restricted-urban-growth” scenario, which resulted in noticeably different rates of change. This demonstrates that it will likely be difficult to influence land-use change patterns with national policies and that understanding regional land-use dynamics is critical for effective management and planning of protected lands throughout the U.S.
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Mulder C, Ahrestani FS, Bahn M, Bohan DA, Bonkowski M, Griffiths BS, Guicharnaud RA, Kattge J, Krogh PH, Lavorel S, Lewis OT, Mancinelli G, Naeem S, Peñuelas J, Poorter H, Reich PB, Rossi L, Rusch GM, Sardans J, Wright IJ. Connecting the Green and Brown Worlds. ADV ECOL RES 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-420002-9.00002-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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