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Bernard-Verdier M, Seitz B, Buchholz S, Kowarik I, Lasunción Mejía S, Jeschke JM. Grassland allergenicity increases with urbanisation and plant invasions. Ambio 2022; 51:2261-2277. [PMID: 35594005 PMCID: PMC9481851 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01741-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Pollen allergies have been on the rise in cities, where anthropogenic disturbances, warmer climate and introduced species are shaping novel urban ecosystems. Yet, the allergenic potential of these urban ecosystems, in particular spontaneous vegetation outside parks and gardens, remains poorly known. We quantified the allergenic properties of 56 dry grasslands along a double gradient of urbanisation and plant invasion in Berlin (Germany). 30% of grassland species were classified as allergenic, most of them being natives. Urbanisation was associated with an increase in abundance and diversity of pollen allergens, mainly driven by an increase in allergenic non-native plants. While not inherently more allergenic than native plants, the pool of non-natives contributed a larger biochemical diversity of allergens and flowered later than natives, creating a broader potential spectrum of allergy. Managing novel risks to urban public health will involve not only targeted action on allergenic non-natives, but also policies at the habitat scale favouring plant community assembly of a diverse, low-allergenicity vegetation. Similar approaches could be easily replicated in other cities to provide a broad quantification and mapping of urban allergy risks and drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maud Bernard-Verdier
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Birgit Seitz
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstraße 12, 12165 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sascha Buchholz
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstraße 12, 12165 Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Heisenbergstraße 2, 48149 Munster, Germany
| | - Ingo Kowarik
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstraße 12, 12165 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sara Lasunción Mejía
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jonathan M. Jeschke
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587, Berlin, Germany
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Jimenez YG, Aráoz E, Fernandez RD, Nanni S, Ovejero R, Paolini L, Grau HR. Counterurbanization: A neglected pathway of forest transition. Ambio 2022; 51:823-835. [PMID: 34677811 PMCID: PMC8532091 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01632-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Human settlement into rural areas (counterurbanization) is generating new patterns of reforestation, with distinctive features compared to the previously considered pathways of forest transition through "economic development" and "forest scarcity". Here, we discuss the specific features of this neglected pathway of forest recovery and describe the process with the support of study cases around the world. This pathway includes specific motivations (e.g., natural amenities, outdoor recreation), particular socio-economic processes, conflicts between newcomers and locals, and specific ecological outcomes (e.g., a larger proportion of non-native species in the new forests). Although this pathway locally affects small areas, as a widespread and expanding process around the world, counterurbanization could have a growing global effect, with the potential to modify biodiversity, ecosystem services, and cultural values. These novel characteristics should be further explored to better understand the patterns and processes of forest transitions in a context of a globally connected world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohana G. Jimenez
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
| | - Ezequiel Aráoz
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), 4000 San Miguel, Tucumán Argentina
| | - Romina D. Fernandez
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
| | - Sofia Nanni
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
| | - Ramiro Ovejero
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
| | - Leonardo Paolini
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
- School of Environment, The University of Auckland, Science Centre 302 - Bldg 302, 23 Symonds St, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - H. Ricardo Grau
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), 4000 San Miguel, Tucumán Argentina
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Abstract
Backcasting involves the design of a desirable future that is not simply predicted with forecasts being, instead, proactively aimed at with effective action. So far, all initiatives towards sustainability failed, probably due to lack of investments in the acquisition of knowledge on the structure and the function of natural systems (i.e. biodiversity and ecosystem functioning), and to the reliance on models and estimates based on incomplete data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinando Boero
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy; CNR-IAS, Genoa, Italy.
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Gastauer M, Souza Filho PWM, Ramos SJ, Caldeira CF, Silva JR, Siqueira JO, Furtini Neto AE. Mine land rehabilitation in Brazil: Goals and techniques in the context of legal requirements. Ambio 2019; 48:74-88. [PMID: 29644620 PMCID: PMC6297110 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-018-1053-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Environmental legislation in many countries demands the rehabilitation of degraded areas to minimize environmental impacts. Brazilian laws require the restitution of self-sustaining ecosystems to historical conditions but ignore the emergence of novel ecosystems due to large-scale changes, such as species invasions, extinctions, and land-use or climate changes, although these novel ecosystems might fulfill ecosystem services in similar ways as historic ecosystems. Thorough discussions of rehabilitation goals, target ecosystems, applied methods, and approaches to achieving mine land rehabilitation, as well as dialogues about the advantages and risks of chemical inputs or non-native, non-invasive species that include all political, economic, social, and academic stakeholders are necessary to achieve biological feasibility, sociocultural acceptance, economic viability, and institutional tractability during environmental rehabilitation. Scientific knowledge of natural and rehabilitating ecosystems is indispensable for advancing these discussions and achieving more sustainable mining. Both mining companies and public institutions are responsible for obtaining this knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Gastauer
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Nazaré, Belém, CEP 66055-090 Brazil
| | - Pedro Walfir Martins Souza Filho
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Nazaré, Belém, CEP 66055-090 Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Geosciences Institute, Av. Augusto Correa 1, Belém, CEP 66075-110 Brazil
| | - Silvio Junio Ramos
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Nazaré, Belém, CEP 66055-090 Brazil
| | - Cecílio Frois Caldeira
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Nazaré, Belém, CEP 66055-090 Brazil
| | - Joyce Reis Silva
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Nazaré, Belém, CEP 66055-090 Brazil
| | - José Oswaldo Siqueira
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Nazaré, Belém, CEP 66055-090 Brazil
| | - Antonio Eduardo Furtini Neto
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Nazaré, Belém, CEP 66055-090 Brazil
- Present Address: Agro Up Consultoria Agropecuária Ltda, R Lazaro Azevedo Melo, 457, Anisio Alves De Abreu, Lavras, MG CEP 37200-000 Brazil
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Clement S, Standish RJ. Novel ecosystems: Governance and conservation in the age of the Anthropocene. J Environ Manage 2018; 208:36-45. [PMID: 29247883 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Meeting conservation objectives in an era of global environmental change has precipitated debate about where and how to intervene. Ecological and social values of novel ecosystems are particularly contested. Governance has a role to play, but this role is underexplored. Here, we critically review the novel ecosystems literature to identify challenges that fall within the realm of governance. Using a conceptual framework for analysing adaptive governance, we consider how governance could help address five challenges. Specifically, we argue that reforming governance can support the re-framing of policy objectives for ecosystems where transformation is likely, and in doing so, it could highlight the tensions between the emergence of novel ecosystems on the one hand and cultural expectations about how ecosystems should look on the other. We discuss the influence of power, authority and administrative competence on conservation efforts in times of environmental change. We consider how buffering can address translational mismatch between conventional conservation policy and modern ecological reality. This review provides insights into how governance reform could enable more adaptive responses to transformative changes, such as novel ecosystems, while remaining committed to achieving conservation outcomes. Indeed, at their best, adaptive responses would encompass the reality of ecological transformation while being sympathetic to concerns about undesirable outcomes. Connections between researchers in the fields of governance, ecology and conservation could help to achieve these twin aims. We provide examples of governance and policy-making techniques that can support context-specific governance reform that supports more effective conservation in the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Clement
- Department of Geography and Planning, School of Environmental Sciences, Roxby Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZQ, United Kingdom.
| | - Rachel J Standish
- Environmental and Conservation Sciences, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
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Prospere K, McLaren KP, Wilson B. Characterizing the Status (Disturbed, Hybrid or Novel) of Swamp Forest Fragments in a Caribbean Ramsar Wetland: The Impact of Anthropogenic Degradation and Invasive Plant Species. Environ Manage 2016; 58:655-681. [PMID: 27364995 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-016-0733-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The last remaining Amazonian-type swamp forest fragments in Black River Lower Morass, Jamaica, have been subjected to a myriad of anthropogenic disturbances, compounded by the establishment and spread of several invasive plant species. We established 44 permanent sample plots (covering 3.92 ha) across 10 of these swamp forest fragments and sampled all non-woody plants and all trees ≥2 cm DBH found in the plots. These data were used to (1) identify thresholds of hybridity and novelty, (2) derive several diversity and structural descriptors used to characterize the swamp forest fragments and (3) identify possible indicators of anthropogenic degradation. These were incorporated into a framework and used to determine the status of the swamp forest fragments so that appropriate management and conservation measures can be implemented. We recorded 43 woody plant species (9 endemic, 28 native and 4 non-native) and 21 non-tree species. The composition and structure of all the patches differed significantly due to the impact of the herbaceous invasive plant Alpinia allughas, the presence and diversity of other non-native plants, and differing intensities of anthropogenic disturbance (e.g., burning, cutting and harvesting of non-timber forest products). We ranked forest patches along a continuum representing deviations from a historical proxy (least disturbed) swamp forest to those with dramatically altered structural and floristic attributes (=novel swamp forests). Only one fragment overrun with A. allughas was classified as novel. If effective conservation and management does not come to the BRLM, the remaining swamp forest fragments appear doomed to further degradation and will soon disappear altogether.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt Prospere
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica
| | - Kurt P McLaren
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
| | - Byron Wilson
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica
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Bento R, Hoey AS, Bauman AG, Feary DA, Burt JA. The implications of recurrent disturbances within the world's hottest coral reef. Mar Pollut Bull 2016; 105:466-472. [PMID: 26478453 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Revised: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Determining how coral ecosystems are structured within extreme environments may provide insights into how coral reefs are impacted by future climate change. Benthic community structure was examined within the Persian Gulf, and adjacent Musandam and northern Oman regions across a 3-year period (2008-2011) in which all regions were exposed to major disturbances. Although there was evidence of temporal switching in coral composition within regions, communities predominantly reflected local environmental conditions and the disturbance history of each region. Gulf reefs showed little change in coral composition, being dominated by stress-tolerant Faviidae and Poritidae across the 3 years. In comparison, Musandam and Oman coral communities were comprised of stress-sensitive Acroporidae and Pocilloporidae; Oman communities showed substantial declines in such taxa and increased cover of stress-tolerant communities. Our results suggest that coral communities may persist within an increasingly disturbed future environment, albeit in a much more structurally simple configuration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Bento
- ICBAS, Porto University, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira no. 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Emirates Diving Association, PO Box 33220 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville Q4811, Australia.
| | - Andrew G Bauman
- Experimental Marine Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biological Science, National University of Singapore, 117543 Singapore
| | - David A Feary
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - John A Burt
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Raymond CM, Lechner AM, Lockwood M, Carter O, Harris RMB, Gilfedder L. Private land manager capacity to conserve threatened communities under climate change. J Environ Manage 2015; 159:235-244. [PMID: 26067646 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.04.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Revised: 04/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Major global changes in vegetation community distributions and ecosystem processes are expected as a result of climate change. In agricultural regions with a predominance of private land, biodiversity outcomes will depend on the adaptive capacity of individual land managers, as well as their willingness to engage with conservation programs and actions. Understanding adaptive capacity of landholders is critical for assessing future prospects for biodiversity conservation in privately owned agricultural landscapes globally, given projected climate change. This paper is the first to develop and apply a set of statistical methods (correlation and bionomial regression analyses) for combining social data on land manager adaptive capacity and factors associated with conservation program participation with biophysical data describing the current and projected-future distribution of climate suitable for vegetation communities. We apply these methods to the Tasmanian Midlands region of Tasmania, Australia and discuss the implications of the modelled results on conservation program strategy design in other contexts. We find that the integrated results can be used by environmental management organisations to design community engagement programs, and to tailor their messages to land managers with different capacity types and information behaviours. We encourage environmental agencies to target high capacity land managers by diffusing climate change and grassland management information through well respected conservation NGOs and farm system groups, and engage low capacity land managers via formalized mentoring programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Raymond
- Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, Frederiksberg, Denmark; Enviroconnect, PO Box 190, Stirling, South Australia 5152, Australia.
| | - A M Lechner
- Centre for Environment, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 141, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute, Sir James Foots Building (47A), Staff House Road, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - M Lockwood
- Geography and Spatial Sciences, School of Land and Food, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 78, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - O Carter
- Natural and Cultural Heritage Division, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, PO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - R M B Harris
- Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC), University of Tasmania, Private Bag 80, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - L Gilfedder
- Natural and Cultural Heritage Division, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, PO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
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