| 1. |
- Abouhatab, Assem
(författare)
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Effect of forestland tenure security on rural household forest management and protection in southern China
- 2020
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Initiated in 2003, China's recent round of collective forest tenure reform (CFTR) aims to improve tenure security and motivate households to engage in forestry production. For the forested land allocated to households after the reforms, forest management and protection have become key in forestry production. However, few studies have analyzed the effect of different dimensions of forestland tenure security on rural household forest management and protection. Based on survey data from 766 households in southern China, the present study examines this effect using the Negative Binomial and Tobit models. The empirical results indicate that the actual tenure security derived from the possession of forestland certificates has insignificantly increased forest management frequency and management intensity. With regard to perceived tenure security, we found that if forestland is perceived to be adjusted in the future, this can have a significant positive impact on both management frequency and management intensity. In contrast, a perception that certificates may protect forestland rights would have insignificant effect on management frequency and management intensity of forestland. Specifically, for households with certificates for all forestland, perception about future adjustments on tenure security would positively affect management frequency and intensity. For households with certificates for part of forestland, the perception about certificates has a positive impact on management frequency. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 2. |
- Bai, Xiaohang, et al.
(författare)
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Precipitation drives the floristic composition and diversity of temperate grasslands in China
- 2021
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 32
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Effects of environmental factors on plant diversity in temperate grasslands are of interest since experiments have found plant diversity is related to ecosystem function. Although previous studies have focused on the effects of environmental factors on plant diversity, the dominant environmental factors driving diversity differences among plant community types in temperate grasslands at regional scale remains unclear. We established 38 sampling sites (45 m x 45 m) in the main distribution areas of temperate grasslands to analyze the responses of plant community along different environmental gradients and identifies the dominant environmental factors driving the floristic composition and diversity in Inner Mongolia, China. In addition, environmental variables (annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, altitude, disturbance intensity, soil pH, soil density, soil water content, soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen, soil total phosphorus, soil calcium carbonate), species diversity indices (richness, heterogeneity, evenness), functional diversity indices (abundance, evenness, divergence, dispersion) and plant biomass were analyzed. A total of 179 vascular plant species belonging to 43 families and 113 genera were recorded and classified into six plant community types (Stipa grandis community, Leymus chinensis community, Stipa capillata community, Artemisia frigida community, Cleistogenes squarrosa community, Artemisia halodendron community) based on Ward's agglomerative hierarchical clustering. According to canonical correspondence analysis and Monte Carlo permutation test, mean annual precipitation was the dominant environmental factor driving temperate grasslands, promoting species richness, heterogeneity, evenness, functional divergence and biomass. Soil organic carbon, water content and total nitrogen played positive effects on species diversity, meanwhile, mean annual temperature, altitude, grazing intensity and soil pH inhibited species diversity, functional abundance, dispersion and biomass. Furthermore, the presence of these plant communities dominated by Cleistogenes squarrosa and Artemisia halodendron indicate that grassland degradation is imminent or has already begun. In summary, our results provide evidence on the responses of composition, functional traits and biomass among different plant community types to environmental factors and demonstrate that precipitation is the dominant factors driving the floristic composition and diversity in temperate grasslands.
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| 3. |
- Blum, Kristin M., et al.
(författare)
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Persistence, mobility and bioavailability of emerging organic contaminants discharged from sewage treatment plants
- 2018
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 612, s. 1532-1542
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Little is known about the impact of emissions of micropollutants from small and large-scale sewage treatment plants (STPs) on drinking water source areas. We investigated a populated catchment that drains into Lake Malaren, which is the drinking water source for around 2 million people including the inhabitants of Stockholm, Sweden. To assess the persistence, mobility, bioavailability and bioaccumulation of 32 structurally diverse emerging organic contaminants, sediment, integrated passive and grab water samples were collected along the catchment of the River Fyris, Sweden. The samples were complemented with STP effluent and fish samples from one sampling event. Contaminants identified as persistent, mobile, and bioavailable were 4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-1,3,4,7-tetrahydrocyclopenta[g] isochromene (galaxolide), 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyn-4,7-diol, tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate. Galaxolide and 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyn-4,7-diol were additionally found to be bioaccumulative, whereas n-butylbenzenesulfonamide was found to be only persistent and mobile. The total median mass flux of the persistent and mobile target analytes from Lake Ekoln into the drinking water source area of Lake Malaren was estimated to be 27 kg per year. Additionally, 10 contaminants were tentatively identified by non-target screening using NIST library searches and manual review. Two of those were confirmed by reference standards and further two contaminants, propylene glycol and rose acetate, were discharged from STPs and travelled far from the source. Attenuation of mass fluxes was highest in the summer and autumn seasons, suggesting the importance of biological degradation and photodegradation for the persistence of the studied compounds.
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| 4. |
- Bueno, Francisco Garcia Bulle, et al.
(författare)
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Stingless bee floral visitation in the global tropics and subtropics
- 2023
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - 2351-9894. ; 43
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bees play a key role in maintaining healthy terrestrial ecosystems by pollinating plants. Stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) are a diverse clade of social bees (>500 species) with a pantropical distribution spanning South and Central America, Africa, India, Australia and Asia. They are garnering increasing attention as commercially-beneficial pollinators of some crops, yet their contribution to the pollination of native plants in the tropics and subtropics remains poorly understood. Here we conduct a global review of the plants visited by stingless bees. We compile a database of reported associations (flower visits) between stingless bees and plants, from studies that have made either direct observations of foraging bees or analysed the pollen stored in nests. Worldwide, we find stingless bees have been reported to visit the flowers of plants from at least 221 different families and 1476 genera, with frequently reported interactions for many of the tropic's most species-diverse plant families including Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Rubiaceae, Malvaceae, Lamiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Arecaceae, Poaceae, Apocynaceae and Melastomataceae. The list of commonly-visited plant families was similar for the stingless bee fauna of each of three major biogeographic regions (Neotropical, Afrotropical and Indo-Malayan-Australasian), though we detected differences in the proportional use of plant families by the stingless bees of the Indo-Malayan-Australasian and Neotropical regions, likely reflecting differences in the available flora of those regions. Stingless bees in all regions visit a range of exotic species in their preferred plant families (crops, ornamental plants and weeds), in addition to native plants. Although most reports of floral visitation on wild plants do not confirm effective pollen transfer, it is likely that stingless bees make at least some contribution to pollination for the majority of plants they visit. In all, our database supports the view that stingless bees play an important role in the ecosystems of the global tropics and subtropics as pollinators of an exceptionally large and diverse number of plants. This database also highlights important gaps in our knowledge of stingless bee resource use that may help focus future research efforts.
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| 5. |
- Chapron, Guillaume
(författare)
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Relative efforts of countries to conserve world's megafauna
- 2017
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 10, s. 243-252
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Surprisingly little attention has been paid to variation among countries in contributions to conservation. As a first step, we developed a Megafauna Conservation Index (MCI) that assesses the spatial, ecological and financial contributions of 152 nations towards conservation of the world's terrestrial megafauna. We chose megafauna because they are particularly valuable in economic, ecological and societal terms, and are challenging and expensive to conserve. We categorised these 152 countries as being above-or below-average performers based on whether their contribution to megafauna conservation was higher or lower than the global mean; 'major' performers or underperformers were those whose contribution exceeded 1 SD over or under the mean, respectively. Ninety percent of countries in North/Central America and 70% of countries in Africa were classified as major or above-average performers, while approximately one-quarter of countries in Asia (25%) and Europe (21%) were identified as major underperformers. We present our index to emphasise the need for measuring conservation performance, to help nations identify how best they could improve their efforts, and to present a starting point for the development of more robust and inclusive measures (noting how the IUCN Red List evolved over time). Our analysis points to three approaches that countries could adopt to improve their contribution to global megafauna conservation, depending on their circumstances: (1) upgrading or expanding their domestic protected area networks, with a particular emphasis on conserving large carnivore and herbivore habitat, (2) increase funding for conservation at home or abroad, or (3) 'rewilding' their landscapes. Once revised and perfected, we recommend publishing regular conservation rankings in the popular media to recognise major-performers, foster healthy pride and competition among nations, and identify ways for governments to improve their performance. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 6. |
- Cooke, Robert S., 1992, et al.
(författare)
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Ecological distinctiveness of birds and mammals at the global scale
- 2020
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ecologically distinct species - species with distinct trait combinations - are not directly prioritized in current conservation frameworks. The consequence of this blind spot means species with the most distinct ecological strategies might be lost. Here, we quantify ecological distinctiveness, based on six traits, for 10,960 bird and 5,278 mammal species, summarizing species-level ecological irreplaceability. We find that threatened birds and mammals are, on average, more ecologically distinct. Specific examples of ecologically distinct and highly threatened species are Great Indian Bustard, Amsterdam Albatross, Asian Elephant and Sumatran Rhinoceros. These species have potentially irreplaceable ecological roles and their loss could undermine the integrity of ecological processes and functions. Yet, we also identify ecologically distinct widespread generalists, such as Lesser Black-backed Gull and Wild Boar. These generalist species have distinct ecological strategies that allow them to thrive across multiple environments. Thus, we suggest that high ecological distinctiveness is associated with either high extinction risk or successful hyper-generalism. We also find that ecologically distinct species are generally charismatic (using a previous measure of public perceptions of charisma). We thus highlight a conservation opportunity: capitalizing on public preferences for charismatic species could provide support for the conservation of the most ecologically distinct birds and mammals. Overall, our prioritization framework supports the conservation of species with irreplaceable ecological strategies, complementing existing frameworks that target extinction risk and evolutionary distinctiveness. © 2020 The Authors
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| 7. |
- Dahlberg, Anders
(författare)
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The influence of spatial scales on Red List composition: Forest species in Fennoscandia
- 2017
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 11, s. 247-297
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- National Red Lists are widely used prioritizing tools for nature conservation. However, status and trends of species vary with scale, and accounting for a larger spatial scale may provide complementary perspectives for nature conservation. We investigate effects of up-scaling and influence of wider-scale distribution patterns for composition of Red Lists. We collated nationally red-listed forest species in Norway, Sweden and Finland, and extracted "Candidates for a Fennoscandian Red List" (CFRL), defined as species red-listed where they appear in the region. For each country, we compared composition of organism groups and forest type associations of species that were national CFRL to the nationally red-listed species not CFRL. European distribution patterns were compared to investigate how broader-scale distribution is reflected in national Red Lists.Among the 4830 nationally red-listed forest species in Fennoscandia, 58% were CFRL. The fraction of species in the different forest type and species groups differed significantly between the two spatial scales for several groups, although the overall differences in composition were relatively small. Red-listed species had more confined distribution patterns, suggesting that many nationally red-listed species owe their status to being at the edge of their distribution range.An up-scaling had a large effect on which species designated to a Red List, but a relatively small impact on which organism groups or forest types that contained most red-listed species. A regional perspective generated by compilation of national Red Lists can give valuable complementary information on the status of species and effects of scale. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 8. |
- Dahlberg, Anders
(författare)
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The potential to use documentation in national Red Lists to characterize red-listed forest species in Fennoscandia and to guide conservation
- 2018
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Loss of biodiversity is a pressing global issue, hence it is vital to facilitate informed and effective conservation. As conservation mainly operates at the level of habitats, aiming for species of conservation interest, conservation and management require adequate ecological knowledge of prioritized species for the geographic and environmental setting considered.Our aim was to investigate if ecological documentation in national Red Lists could be combined and used to identify important forest habitats and ecological variables for red-listed forest species in Fennoscandia, and whether this knowledge could be arranged at different geographical scales and for various selections of species of conservation interest. We compiled the national Red Lists of Finland, Norway and Sweden and extracted ecological information for all red-listed forest species (n = 4830). We used a principal component analysis to investigate variation in distribution of species and their habitat associations and taxonomical groups, and to group species of similar associations. We further used the listed species in Sweden as an example, and compared the proportions of species associated to the ecological variables dead wood, living trees or merely the "forest floor and understory" a) at larger and smaller scale (Fennoscandia - county in Sweden), b) in regions with contrasting biomes (nemoral and boreal), and c) in two more limited selections of species of conservation interest; Fennoscandian and globally red-listed species also red-listed in Sweden.Ecological information could be extracted for 96% of the species, albeit with a low resolution; i.e. overall forest habitats, associated tree species, lifeforms and six other ecological variables selected based on their frequent appearance in the Red List documentation. Using this information, we identified five large-scale patterns for Fennoscandian red-listed species; the majority of red-listed species is associated with coniferous forest. The number of red-listed species associated with specific tree species was poorly correlated with the amount of each tree species in Fennoscandia. Dead wood was one of the most important habitat features in terms of number of associated red-listed species, and the proportion of species associated to dead wood was similar in coniferous, boreal and nemoral broad-leaved forests types.We demonstrate that ecological documentation in national Red Lists can be used to identify general ecological variables at varying geographical scales and for different selections of species, albeit not with sufficient resolution to provide detailed local conservation guidelines. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 9. |
- Eggers, Sönke, et al.
(författare)
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Early post-fire bird community in European boreal forest: Comparing salvage-logged with non-intervention areas
- 2019
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Salvage logging after disturbances in forests substantially modifies vegetation structure and dead wood availability, but empirical evidence on its impact on biodiversity, especially in European boreal forest, is sparse. In this study we investigated the short-term effect of post-fire salvage logging on species richness and abundance of birds in recently burned mixed coniferous forest. Using point counts we estimated local species composition at 49 salvaged sites and 55 non-intervention sites (burnt forest left for natural regeneration) that were not logged after a fire in south-central Sweden. Local species richness, abundance and Simpson's species diversity index were significantly higher at non-intervention sites compared to salvaged sites. Forest birds that rely on structurally complex forest stands, such as tits (Parus major, Lophophanes cristatus, Poecile montanus), robin (Erithacus rubecula), mistle trush (Turdus viscivorus) and tree-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus) were mainly associated with non-intervention sites, while species that are typically linked to farm- or shrublands, such as whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), white wagtail (Motacilla alba), red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio), and meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis) were more common at salvaged sites. These results are consistent with the idea that post-fire salvage logging has an immediate impact on the bird species composition and abundance in boreal forest. We conclude that although post-fire salvage logging may be beneficial for birds occurring in open landscapes, it has negative effects for forest bird species richness and abundance, at least over the short term. To protect typical forest communities with many forest specialists of high conservation concern, we recommend reducing the extent of post-disturbance salvaging in forests of high conservation value and updating the existing management policy to restore the amount of woody debris and facilitate long-term structural complexity and biodiversity in densely stocked conifer stands. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 10. |
- Florentine, Singarayer, et al.
(författare)
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Potential contributions of the soil seed bank and seed rain for accelerating the restoration of riparian catchments in Australia
- 2023
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : ELSEVIER. - 2351-9894. ; 47
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The quality and quantity of soil seed bank composition can play a key role in secondary succession restoration efforts such as those involved in this study, which concerned the restoration of damaged native sites in riparian environments in Victoria, Australia. The objective of this study of the restoration work was to determine the role played by naturally existing soil seed bank in the success of natural restoration in these restored and unmanaged riparian areas. In this regard, we sampled the soil seed bank, seed rain, seedlings in the field and vegetation cover from three sub catchments defined by restoration attempts which had been conducted (i) < 3 years, (ii) 4-8 years, and (iii) > 9 years previous to sampling. In addition, (iv) in order to provide comparative data, adjacent sites (iv) chosen for future restoration and (v) with remnant vegetation, were also sampled. From samples, a total of 8858 seedlings were recorded from the seed bank and the vegetation survey showed 170 species, with exotic species being more numerous than native. The seed rain (a total of 1422 seeds) was dominated by exotic species at all sites. When comparing the vegetation distribution and the seed rain composition, it was clear that whilst the seed bank was more promising as a comparative recruitment source of native species, there were still too many sites dominated by exotic species to rely on this as a long-term restoration strategy. However, this study indicated that there were significant variations in restoration potential among the sites, suggesting that some careful prior site selection for investment of restoration efforts is an important issue. As a consequence, we have recommended that a detailed understanding of the soil seed bank and seed rain species composition prior to the restoration is essential, since a positive seed bank composition with a significant relative density of native species seeds, will provide an indication of native species resilience and their potential for recovery. We therefore believe that the findings of this study will provide valuable information to natural resource management agencies regarding the strategy for prioritisation of restoration sites, which will be more beneficial than randomly selecting sites for habitat restoration. In addition, with successful sector restoration, it is expected that the increasing usefulness of the seed bank will allow further restoration of adjacent areas with time.
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| 11. |
- Goded, Sandra, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of eucalyptus plantations on avian and herb species richness and composition in North-West Spain
- 2019
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Ingår i: Global Ecology & Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 19:e00690
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Eucalyptus plantations have been established in many areas of the world due to their fast growth and profitability. In NW Spain, Eucalyptus plantations now cover a larger area than native forests. Although Eucalyptus plantations have been shown to affect biodiversity, relatively few studies have compared their effect on multiple taxonomic groups and different aspects of biodiversity. We compared herb and bird species richness and bird abundance between 14 paired patches of native deciduous forest and Eucalyptus plantations in a heterogeneous agro-forest region of NW Spain. We also investigated whether Eucalyptus plantations contribute to shifts in community composition by analysing species nestedness and turnover. We found that species richness of both herbs and birds was consistently lower in Eucalyptus plantations compared to native forests. Furthermore, the abundances of bird species characteristic of agricultural, forest, scrubland and other habitats, were all much lower in Eucalyptus plantations than in native forests. Herb and bird communities were also significantly dissimilar between the two habitats, but as a result of different ecological processes. Species turnover explained variation between habitats in herb composition, such that species present in native forests were typical for both farmland and forest habitats, whereas those present in Eucalyptus plantations were typical for scrub and farmland habitats. In contrast, bird assemblages showed a significant nested subset pattern, with fewer species in Eucalyptus plantations compared to native forests. In total, the relative abundance of cavity-nesting forest birds was at least 64% higher in native forests. Our results show that Eucalyptus plantations cannot replace native forests as they harbour different herb species and only a subset of the bird species found in native forests. Considering the current rate of increase of Eucalyptus plantations and the fragmentation of native forests in NW Spain, a lack of conservation of native forests could result in future loss of biodiversity in general and forest specialist species in particular.
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| 12. |
- Guedes, Benard, et al.
(författare)
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Allometric models for managing lowland miombo woodlands of the Beira corridor in Mozambique
- 2018
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Appropriate allometric models are urgently needed to assess the status and changes in biomass and carbon of the trees in miombo woodlands occupying large geographical areas in Mozambique. This study developed two new and interchangeable allometric models for estimating total above-ground biomass (AGB) of lowland miombo woodlands in the Beira corridor, central Mozambique, based on stem diameter at breast height (DBH) and stump diameter (SDI). The Beira corridor study area covers approximately 29,000 km(2), of which about three-quarters is lowland miombo woodland. The SDI-based model is proposed principally for estimating total AGB (stem, branches, foliage) of harvested trees/shrubs when diameter cannot be measured at breast height, and thus to reconstruct the former biomass in forests subjected to logging, or clear-cutting for agriculture. The DBH-based model and SDI-based model were fitted using data on a destructive sample of 155 trees, which were representative of tree sizes (diameter and height) and tree species in the Beira corridor area. The following allometric models were developed: DBH-based model [tDW (kg tree(-1)) = 0.1754 * (DBH) (2.3238)], with prediction performance, i.e. adjusted R-squared 98-99%; and SDI-based model [tDW (kg tree(-1)) = 0.08495 * (SDI) (2.3987)], with prediction performance 86-96%. Carbon comprises 50% of biomass. Both the DBH- and SDI-based models can be used for estimating total AGB of lowland miombo woodlands with a high degree of reliability, based on field inventory within the Beira corridor region. Evaluation of the mathematical and statistical credibility of these models, which was carried out on the construction dataset (verification procedure) and independent dataset (validation procedure), gave satisfactory results. Moreover, when applied on our data, these models were more appropriate for the Beira corridor than allometric models found in the literature. However, application of both models should be restricted to the lowland miombo type in the Beira corridor, not mountain miombo. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 13. |
- Guedes, Benard, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of 34-year-old Pinus taeda and Eucalyptus grandis plantations on soil carbon and nutrient status in former miombo forest soils
- 2016
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 8, s. 190–202-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is a strong need in Mozambique to counteract decades of deforestation and forest degradation by planting new forests. Plantations of Pinus/Eucalyptus species and maintenance of mature miombo forests are activities supported by the REDD+ mechanism (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) in climate negotiations. This study examined the effects of first-rotation Pinus taeda L. (Loblolly pine) and Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden plantations (ca. 34 years old) on soil carbon status compared with adjacent dry miombo forest. At three study sites located in the Western Highlands of Manica Province, Mozambique, study plots with Pinus taeda, Eucalyptus grandis and mixed-deciduous miombo species were delineated. The selection criteria were (i) forest stand of first-rotation plantation of Pinus/Eucalyptus, located adjacent to miombo forest, (ii) plantations established on soils similar to miombo forest soils, and (iii) former land use similar to that at current miombo sites. Stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N) and extractable phosphorus (P) were quantified. Soil pH (H2O), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation (BS) were measured in soil extracted with ammonium acetate. Plantations of P. taeda and E. grandis increased total SOC stocks (0-50 cm) and N stocks in the top 10 cm. Assuming steady state in the miombo stands, the estimated net stock change in soil carbon was 1.41 Mg ha-1 yr-1 in P. taeda and 1.53 Mg ha-1 yr-1 in E. grandis stands. Estimated N accumulation rate was 32 kg ha-1 yr-1 in P. taeda and E. grandis stands. Pinus taeda had no significant effect on extractable P, soil pH and BS, but had significantly higher CEC compared with miombo forest soil. Eucalyptus grandis decreased P stocks, but increased soil pH and BS. Overall, P. taeda and E. grandis plantation had a large impact on SOC in dry miombo forest and also affected soil acidity and soil nutrient status, except for total soil N stocks. These effects of tree plantation on soil reflected differences in management practices between miombo forest and plantations, with the latter being subjected to better protection against fires and illegal cutting.
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| 14. |
- Guedes, Benard, et al.
(författare)
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Net primary production in plantations of Pinus taeda and Eucalyptus cloeziana compared with a mountain miombo woodland in Mozambique
- 2018
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Planting monocultures of fast-growing non-native (exotic) species is one way to slow or reverse deforestation and forest degradation in tropical zones. This study compared the effects on total net primary production (NPP) of first-rotation monoculture (34-year-old) plantations of Pinus taeda and Eucalyptus cloeziana and adjacent mountain miombo woodland in Mozambique. Total NPP was defined as the sum of annual carbon (C) sequestration in total aboveground tree biomass, belowground coarse root biomass, fine roots (<= 2 mm) and fine litterfall.Field measurements were conducted over one year in three 30m x 30m permanent sampling plots for each forest type and involved monitoring litterfall and fine root production using in-growth cores and stem diameter growth. Carbon increment in aboveground tree biomass and belowground coarse root biomass was determined using allometric equations, for P. taeda, E. cloeziana, and root-to-shoot ratio, for miombo woodland.Major findings were that total NPP in P. taeda (14.1 Mg C ha(-1) yr(-1)) and E. cloeziana (19.7 Mg C ha(-1) yr(-1)) stands was significantly higher than in miombo woodland stands (5.9 Mg C ha(-1) yr(-1)). These differences were largely attributable to lower basal area and presumably lower leaf biomass in miombo stands. There were several indications that the miombo stands studied had been degraded by selective cutting and other forms of use of forest resources. The difference in total NPP was also reflected in differences in patterns of C sequestration. Carbon in litterfall was the largest component of total NPP in miombo stands (41%), whereas C increment in aboveground tree biomass was the largest component of total NPP in plantation stands (44% in P. taeda and 51% in E. cloeziana).If the aim of forest management is to increase NPP and C sequestration in biomass of degraded miombo stands, our results indicate that replacement with plantations of P. taeda or E. cloeziana can be a useful management option, provided that the plantations are protected from anthropogenic disturbances, particularly fire. However, this aim needs to be balanced against other environmental aims and the socio-economic needs of local communities, since miombo woodland provides a wide range of unique economic, social and ecological benefits. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 15. |
- Hajiesmaeili, Mahboobeh, et al.
(författare)
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Sustaining high-value salmonid populations in regulated rivers : Insights from individual-based modelling of brown trout and Atlantic salmon
- 2024
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier. - 2351-9894. ; 51
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To combat climate change, societal pressure to develop fossil-free hydroelectricity is growing. There is a great need, however, for environmental assessment tools that can predict the effects of streamflow regulation on biodiversity in hydropower-regulated rivers. Ecological modelling lets practitioners: 1) set broad bounds on population-level responses of key species and 2) identify knowledge gaps and prioritize research needs. Individual-based models (IBMs) are powerful tools for assessing relative benefits of alternative management actions, and therefore help to develop more sustainable hydropower solutions. We applied the inSALMO 7.3-SD IBM for populations of brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Atlantic salmon (S. salar) in the lower Gullspång River, Sweden. We simulated the effects of various minimum hydropeaking flow releases (from 9 to 21 m3/s) on outmigration production. We found that the number of age-1 outmigrants of both species decreased with increasing minimum flow release of the hydropeaking scenarios. The number of age-2 trout outmigrants did not change considerably with increasing the minimum release, but decreased sharply at the highest flow. The most age-2 salmon outmigrants were produced by flow scenarios with minimum releases of 15 and 18 m3/s. The model predicts, therefore, varying species- and life stage-specific effects of flow regulation. Moreover, increased flow caused juveniles to stay in the river longer and outmigrate at larger size, which exposes them to simulated predation longer but could increase post-outmigration survival. By providing insights into mechanisms driving population dynamics, IBMs can help promote the sustainability of high-conservation-value fish species.
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| 16. |
- Heim, Wieland, et al.
(författare)
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Using geolocator tracking data and ringing archives to validate citizen-science based seasonal predictions of bird distribution in a data-poor region
- 2020
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Unstructured citizen-science data are increasingly used for analysing the abundance and distribution of species. Here we test the usefulness of such data to predict the seasonal distribution of migratory songbirds, and to analyse patterns of migratory connectivity. We used bird occurrence data from eBird, one of the largest global citizen science databases, to predict the year-round distribution of eight songbird taxa (Agropsar philippensis, Calliope calliope, Cecropis daurica, Emberiza aureola, Hirundo rustica, Locustella certhiola, Oriolus chinensis, Saxicola torquatus stejnegeri) that migrate through East Asia, a region especially poor in data but globally important for the conservation of migratory land birds. Maximum entropy models were built to predict spring stopover, autumn stopover and wintering areas. Ring recovery and geolocator tracking data were then used to evaluate, how well the predicted occurrence at a given period of the annual cycle matched sites where the species were known to be present from ringing and tracking data. Predicted winter ranges were generally smaller than those on published extent-of-occurrence maps (the hitherto only available source of distribution information). There was little overlap in stopover regions. The overlap between areas predicted as suitable from the eBird data and areas that had records from geolocator tracking was high in winter, and lower for spring and autumn migration. Less than 50% of the ringing recoveries came from locations within the seasonal predicted areas, with the highest overlap in autumn. The seasonal range size of a species affected the matching of tracking/ringing data with the predictions. Strong migratory connectivity was evident in Siberian Rubythroats and Barn Swallows. We identified two migration corridors, one over the eastern mainland of China, and one along a chain of islands in the Pacific. We show that the combination of disparate data sources has great potential to gain a better understanding of the non-breeding distribution and migratory connectivity of Eastern Palearctic songbirds. Citizen-science observation data are useful even in remote areas to predict the seasonal distribution of migratory species, especially in periods when birds are sedentary and when supplemented with tracking data.
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| 17. |
- Hof, Anouschka
(författare)
-
Forage quality in grazing lawns and tall grasslands in the subtropical region of Nepal and implications for wild herbivores
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 30
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Subtropical grasslands interspersed in forests often present mosaics of tall grasslands and grazing lawns with a high variation in structure, biomass and nutrient concentration. However, the impact of such variation on forage quality is still poorly known. We quantified physical and chemical properties of grasses of grazing lawns and tall grasslands, interspersed in the forested region of Bardia National Park, Nepal during the hot-dry season. This area falls within Cwaclimate (Ko center dot ppen-Geigen climate classification). We found that grasses in grazing lawns had an average bulk density of -5400 g.m-3 whereas tall grasslands had an average bulk density of -1000 g.m-3 only. Forage in grazing lawns was comprised of a higher percentage of green leaf (up to 60%) compared to tall grassland (up to 40%). Phosphorus levels in green leaves were below maintenance requirements of wild herbivores (especially for grazers and mixed feeders) on both grazing lawns and tall grasslands. However, average crude protein levels in green leaves from both the grazing lawns and tall grasslands could meet the herbivores maintenance requirement (-7%). Only green leaves on grazing lawns had crude protein levels sufficient enough (9.7%) to meet the requirements of herbivores for maintenance and gestation, though not for lactation. We conclude that, during the hot-dry season, grazing lawns provide forage with a higher quantity and quality than tall grasslands. Consequently, grazing lawns can make a significant contribution to the maintenance or even growth of the grassland dependent wild ungulate population, such as chital (Axis axis), a primary prey species of the endangered tiger (Panthera tigris) in Bardia National Park. The insight of this study will provide a basis for restoring grazing lawns for quality forage, and aid in the conservation and management of wild grazers and mixed feeders.
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| 18. |
- Holmes, Sheila, et al.
(författare)
-
Declining recruitment and mass of Swedish moose calves linked to hot, dry springs and snowy winters
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 27
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As global temperatures continue to rise, increases in the frequency and intensity of climatic extremes will likely outpace average temperature increases, and may have outsized impacts on biological populations. Moose (Alces alces) are adapted to cold weather and populations are declining at the southern edge of the species' range. Moose therefore make a suitable case study to examine the relationship between population performance and both climatic averages and the frequency of rare, intense climatic events. More than twenty years of slaughter weights and moose observations collected by hunting teams across all of Sweden show that early calf recruitment has declined throughout Sweden and calf mass has also declined, particularly in central and southern Sweden. Spring weather affected mean calf mass, which declined with higher average temperatures, more frequent very hot days (days in the 95th percentile for maximum temperature) and less precipitation during this season, though in the case of hot days only when high temperatures coincided with low rainfall. This supports previous observations of moose sensitivity to both direct heat stress and the negative impacts of hot, dry spring weather on forage quality. Recruitment was similarly impacted, and the interaction between the previous year's temperature and precipitation supports a lagged effect of weather on recruitment, via female condition. Finally, cold winter temperatures and deeper snow were associated with reduced calf mass during the following autumn, while deeper snow was additionally linked to fewer calves per female. Our results suggest that similar patterns may exist for averages and the frequency of extreme values, but it is important to examine both in order to improve biological relevance. The significant and ongoing declines in calf mass in southern populations and calf recruitment throughout Sweden should serve as an early warning that Eurasian moose may suffer from climate change in similar ways to North American moose. We discuss conservation management strategies, both in terms of harvest as well as landscape management, that may help mitigate the observed patterns. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 19. |
- Jaunky, Vishal Chandr, et al.
(författare)
-
Willingness to pay for the conservation of the Mauritian flying fox
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier. - 2351-9894. ; 26
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The threatened Mauritian Flying Fox (Pteropus niger) has been facing repeated mass-culling since 2015 due to the perceived damage to commercial fruits. The significant reduction in numbers from that period had led to its International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Status being up-listed to endangered status. The purpose of the study is to employ a contingency valuation method (CVM) to determine the factors influencing the decision to contribute and how much to contribute for conserving the Mauritian Flying Fox by the Mauritian public in the midst of the human-wildlife conflict (HWC). A household drop-off survey with a sample size of 525 observations was employed. Favourable environmental attitudes, higher perceived ability to contribute (PAC), better knowledge about bats, higher aesthetic value of bats and lower negativistic attitudes towards bats were found to increase the probability of contributing to the conservation of the species. Conditional on these results, individuals with higher knowledge about bats and perceived ability to contribute were found willing to pay more for conserving the species. The findings help us to draw attention on the perspective of supporting a preservation fund for the Mauritian Flying Fox.
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| 20. |
- Johansson, Örjan, et al.
(författare)
-
The importance of genetic tools when studying the distribution of rare and elusive species illustrated by the Kam dwarf hamster
- 2017
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 12, s. 166-169
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Detailed information on the distribution and abundance of animals is often difficult to establish for rare and elusive species. Here we report on genetic analyses confirming the presence of the Kam dwarf hamster 500 km north of its known distribution in China where it was earlier thought to be endemic. Our finding was made during a study on disease ecology in southern Mongolia and illustrates the benefit of genetic approaches when studying rare and elusive species or species that are either difficult to identify or do not elicit public or scientific attention. We suggest that larger ranges than currently known may be a common pattern for a number of rare and elusive species because of ineffective survey methods and lack of sampling effort. (c) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 21. |
- Kumsa, Lemessa, et al.
(författare)
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Patch area and current coffee management determine woody plant diversity in patches of semi-forest coffee embedded in an agricultural matrix
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 8, s. 230-240
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Effective conservation of biodiversity in patches of (semi-) natural vegetation is dependent on an understanding of the influence of management as well as spatial and temporal factors. In southwestern Ethiopia coffee generally grown under a rather dense layer of indigenous trees (so called semi-forest coffee - SFC) often in patches embedded in an open agricultural landscape. The aim of the study was to disentangle what governs the variation in species richness of woody species among such patches. We collected data on species and possible explanatory factors in 40 x 40 m plots centered in 40 SFC patches, measured the patch area for 1987 and 2013, and the amount of surrounding SFC-area for each patch. We recorded the number of coffee stems and the level of disturbance caused by slashing of the understory vegetation. Species richness of large coffee shade trees (>20 cm in diameter) was higher in larger patches with even slightly better fit of the statistical models when the historical area was taken into account. However, most species of large trees also occurred as seedlings showing that there is still a potential to conserve these species in the patches. Coffee management negatively affected the richness and density of woody species, especially in the intermediate size class (1.6-20 cm diameter). Disturbances accompanying coffee management such as slashing of the ground vegetation also negatively affected tree seedling density as well as species richness. There was no effect of connectivity on species richness. Based on the combination of these results we conclude that small patches of semi-forest coffee had fewer species of large trees, not because of a lack of tree seedlings, but probably because of differentiated local extinctions, perhaps during the time when the species were intermediate sized. To maintain the species richness of large trees in semi-forest coffee patches, the sites need to be actively managed.
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| 22. |
- Larm, Malin, et al.
(författare)
-
Temporal activity shift in arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) in response to human disturbance
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 27
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The rapidly growing interest for nature-based recreational activities threaten biodiversity values and increases the disturbance caused to wildlife. Several studies have demonstrated spatial and temporal activity shifts of animals in response to human disturbance. However, most studies investigate effects on how animals use an area of high tourism disturbance, such as a tourist resort or hiking trail, and not the effects of human disturbance at a key site for the animal, such as a denning or breeding site. In this study, we use photos from remote camera monitoring of arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) dens with the aim to investigate the effects of various levels of tourism disturbance on the diurnal activity pattern and vigilance of breeding adult arctic foxes at the den site. We find a temporal shift towards a higher daytime activity at the den in response to high intensity tourism (71 +/- 3.9% in disturbed areas compared with 53 +/- 6.2% in undisturbed areas), which stands in contrast to an increased nocturnality seen in studies of many other species, including another study of arctic foxes. We suggest that the difference could be explained by the higher cost of avoiding a key site for the animal, as in this study, compared with avoiding a more general human disturbance in an area within the distribution range of the animal, as in most other studies. Increased time spent avoiding the perceived threat of humans could compromise other important activities and have potential negative effects on e.g. hunting or provisioning for the juveniles. Human disturbance focused at a key site, such as a denning or breeding site, can thereby be expected to have larger consequences than what is observed in most studies of disturbance effects on wildlife. Based on observations of both tourists and arctic foxes during close encounters in an area of high intensity tourism, we also find that they both respond behaviorally to each other. The potential for positive or negative feedback mechanisms in such relationships between tourists and wildlife highlights the importance of considering both sides of the complex interaction to find a balance between preserving biodiversity and ensuring continued possibilities for recreation.
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| 23. |
- Low, Matthew
(författare)
-
Factors influencing the presence of the endangered Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus in Rukum, Nepal
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 20
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) play an important ecological role in central Asia, but conservation planning is hindered because basic information about their habitat requirements is lacking. We used 66 observations of roosting vultures to identify factors related to their presence, and MaxEnt model to predict areas of suitable roosting sites in the mid-hills of Nepal (similar to 20% of the district appeared suitable based on roosting observations). Vultures preferred riverbanks and areas near human settlements and pathways, probably because of access to animal carcasses. This relationship to local people and livestock should be considered when producing conservation plans for this species. (c) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
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| 24. |
- Low, Matthew
(författare)
-
Potential impact of trophy hunting on vigilance and flight behaviour in Blue Sheep (Bharal: Pseudois nayaur)
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 40
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Conservation management is often integrated into a broader tourism context, and under some conditions allows wildlife trophy hunting to support its goals. In such cases it is generally acknowledged that the direct impact of hunting requires careful monitoring and regulation with respect to the size and dynamics of hunted populations. However, hunting may also affect the behaviour of local wildlife, including their reaction to the approach of humans. Thus, hunting may have broader consequences on tourism and conservation management if animals respond by changing their behaviour in a way that makes them more difficult to monitor or for tourists to observe. We examined the potential impact of trophy hunting on vigilance and flight behaviour of Blue Sheep (Bharal: Pseudois nayaur) in Nepal, by comparing their behavioural responses in conservation areas with contrasting management approaches: the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (DHR) where male Blue Sheep have been trophy hunted since the 1980 s, and the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) where hunting is forbidden. Blue Sheep in the DHR had higher levels of vigilance than sheep in the ACA (10 % versus 8 % of their time respectively). Sheep in the DHR were also much more difficult to approach on foot, with Blue Sheep groups in the DHR having an average flight initiation distance of 96 +/- 7 m versus 39 +/- 3 m for the ACA, and subsequently moving much greater distances when disturbed (flight movement distance in the DHR versus ACA: 79 +/- 3 m versus 26 +/- 2 m respectively). These results suggest that hunting impacts on tourism and conservation may extend well beyond the population dynamic consequences of trophy animal removal. These behavioural effects suggest additional consideration is required when balancing wildlife hunting and observation tourism activities in the same area. It would also be valuable to assess the impacts of hunting-induced behaviour changes on the effectiveness of wildlife monitoring in such areas.
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| 25. |
- Mikusinski, Grzegorz
(författare)
-
Bird guilds show different responses to tree retention levels: a meta-analysis
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 18
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Since the introduction of retention forestry in the 1990s, its practice has spread in the boreal and temperate regions. Its benefits for biodiversity are well recognised, and usually presented in the form of aggregated results for each taxonomic group. However, ameliorating effects of increased levels of retention on species with different ecological requirements is still not well studied. With this meta-analysis, we aim at disentangling the response of different bird guilds, considering the level of retention applied, as well as other confounding factors, such as the forest type or harvested area. We used a systematic review protocol and collected 30 studies which compared the response of birds to a gradient of retention levels against unharvested forests and/or clearcuts. Firstly, we compared the overall response of the full bird assemblage to retention, and found no differences in abundance and species richness between retention and unharvested forest, except for the abundance of some forest specialist species. Secondly, assessing the responses of various guilds showed that each bird guild can be affected very differently, according to their life history, biome, forest type and, most importantly, retention intensity. Results allow us to infer minimum retention levels needed to preserve each bird guild, admitting that other factors can play an important role in shaping the bird assemblage, often in interaction with retention. For example, canopy and cavity nesters showed a more positive response to lower levels of retention in mixed or broadleaved forests than in conifer forests. Our results indicate that minimum retention levels ranging between 40 and 60% of original habitat are needed, in order to maintain the same bird assemblage as in the autochthonous unharvested forest, with particular regard to the forest specialists. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 26. |
- Mikusinski, Grzegorz
(författare)
-
Specialist carabids in mixed montane forests are positively associated with biodiversity-oriented forestry and abundance of roe deer
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - 2351-9894. ; 50
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ongoing transition within forest management towards more biodiversity-oriented practices, such as close-to-nature forestry and retention forestry, may benefit forest fauna such as forestspecialized ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). However, it remains unclear how forest carabids are jointly affected by these practices in Central European montane forests, which host particularly sensitive, range-restricted carabid species, and where biodiversity-oriented forestry is widely applied. Moreover, roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), the most common large herbivore in these forests, is intensively managed to reduce browsing pressure, but it is yet unknown how this may affect carabids, alongside the effect of silviculture. On 66 1-ha plots in the Black Forest region of Germany, we sampled carabids with pitfall traps, measured roe deer abundances using camera trapping, and measured several structural variables directly related to close-to-nature and retention practices, as well as variables describing microclimate and landscape-level forest cover. We found that the carabid assemblage was dominated by forest specialists, with little influence from fragmentation of the surrounding forest. Higher broadleaf share (and canopy cover for montane specialists) was correlated with higher carabid activity-density. Increasing stand maturity (and lying deadwood volume for montane specialists), was correlated with higher species richness. Plots with higher roe deer abundances showed higher carabid richness and activity-density. Assemblage composition changed along the altitudinal gradient, and both richness and activity-density increased with elevation. Thus, carabid communities, including montane specialists and several species of conservation interest, stand to benefit from close-tonature and retention practices, if applied throughout the altitude range of montane forests. Forest carabids may additionally profit from maintaining higher roe deer abundances, but further research is needed to understand this causal link, as well as to weigh the costs and benefits of deer culling for forest biodiversity.
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| 27. |
- Milberg, Per, et al.
(författare)
-
Maintaining an open landscape: Comparison of management methods for semi-natural grasslands: A Swedish multi-site study
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : ELSEVIER. - 2351-9894. ; 48
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Traditional management of semi-natural grasslands by grazing or annual mowing is not always feasible and the current study set out to evaluate alternative management methods. At eleven locations in southern Sweden, block experiments were conducted evaluating seven treatments in 5 m*20 m plots: grazing, annual mowing, annual spring burning, mowing every third year, mechanical removal of woody plants, herbicide control of woody plants, and untreated control. After approximately 13 years, trends for woody plants and species richness, and the occurrence of management-dependent plant species, low-grown species, and pollinator-attracting plant species were analysed. Overall, the annual mowing and grazing treatments resulted in fewer woody plants, the highest species richness, and more management-dependent, low-grown, and pollinator-attracting species. The untreated control plots showed the opposite effect, whereas less intense management (annual burning, mowing every third year, and mechanical and chemical treatments of woody plants) showed mixed and often intermediate effects. Compared to grazing and mowing, less intense management methods do not constitute long-term management alter-natives to preserve typical features of species-rich grasslands. However, they may be short-term alternatives at sites where the recruitment of woody species is absent or rare. However, to prevent the encroachment of woody species, less intensive management might be a better long-term alternative at more productive sites with slow or inhibited woody species recruitment.
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| 28. |
- Mmbaga, Naza E., et al.
(författare)
-
Cropping patterns along an altitudinal gradient and their implications to wildlife conservation in Rombo, Tanzania
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 28
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ecosystem and livelihood sustainability of small-scale farmers in Eastern Africa are often challenged by climate change and unsustainable land use practices. Little is known on the small-scale temporal processes of cropping systems in relation to long-term climatic conditions. To understand the climatic influence on the cropping patterns, and its implications to wildlife/elephant conservation, our study used a combination of time-series datasets on crop and climate as well as geo-spatial layers spanning more than three decades. To validate the information analyzed from secondary data, we carried out participatory observation and interviews, whereby about 5% of village households were selected along an altitudinal gradient of Rombo area, Tanzania. We generated land use change maps using Geographical Information System (ArcGIS 10.4) and used Spearman's correlation analysis to assess the influence of rainfall, temperature, and crop yield on the observed longitudinal changes in the crop types and other land use patterns both within and across altitudinal gradients. We found that perennial crops like coffee and banana concentrated in upper agro-ecological zones, with a clear division line above 1230 masl while seasonal crops like maize and beans were mostly cultivated in lowlands (below 1230 masl). The results further showed that coffee yields significantly declined with higher average annual minimum temperatures over the last 16 years. Within the same time period, there was a disproportionate shift from coffee to seasonal crop cultivation such as maize and beans. Elephant numbers declined by about 38%, while human settlement area increased by 28% over the last 30 years. We conclude that changes in land use and shifts in climate and cropping patterns have important implications for elephant conservation and sustainability of the ecosystem in Rombo area, Tanzania.
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| 29. |
- Mohammed, Elmugheira M., et al.
(författare)
-
Illegal harvesting threatens fruit production and seedling recruitment of Balanites aegyptiaca in Dinder Biosphere Reserve, Sudan
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 29
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Illegal harvesting negatively affects the forest tree populations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, but little is known how fruit production and seedling recruitment are impacted. We assessed recruitment parameters of Balanites aegyptiaca trees in the Dinder Biosphere Reserve (DBR) across 100 sample plots of 25 m x 40 m in both human-impacted (disturbed) and undisturbed sites. We found that the average number of fruiting branches of B. aegyptiaca in the undisturbed sites were three times as high as those in the disturbed sites (F1,98 = 139, P < 0.001). Further, fruiting branches were positively correlated with crown width (R2 = 0.71, beta = 7.1, P = 0.01) across both sites. The height and crown width of B. aegyptiaca in the undisturbed sites were double that of the disturbed sites (F1,196 = 80, P < 0.001; F1,196 = 94.8, P < 0.001). Saplings and seedlings at the undisturbed sites were three times and twice that of the disturbed sites, respectively (F1,196 = 94.5, P < 0.001; F1,196 = 100.8, P < 0.001), with a positive correlation to the average number of fruiting branches (R2 = 0.74, beta = 0.45, P < 0.001). The soil nitrogen and phosphorus contents beneath trees in the undisturbed sites were almost double that of those in the disturbed sites (F1, 196 = 68.1, P < 0.001; F1, 196 = 97.9, P < 0.001) while sodium and electrical conductivity were by about 50% lower (F1, 196 = 535.8, P < 0.001; F1, 196 = 16.1, P < 0.001). We conclude that illegal harvesting in DBR severely reduced tree structure and recruitment parameters of B. aegyptiaca, which might also have impacted soil fertility. We urge for intensive monitoring and awarenessraising programs to conserve this vulnerable tree species.
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| 30. |
- Mpondo, Faith T., et al.
(författare)
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Insect visitation and pollination networks across traditional rangeland management categories in a Northern Tanzanian rangeland
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - 2351-9894. ; 46
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The structure of pollination networks is critical to ecosystem stability and functioning. We investigated pollinator-plant interactions to understand the foraging preference and develop pollination networks in a semi-arid rangeland of different grazing management categories in Tanzania. Along three line transects, each measuring 100 m, in each of the four grazing management categories (private and communal enclosures, wet and dry season grazing areas), we laid out three quadrats measuring 5 m x 5 m (25 m2,) located 30 m apart. We recorded insects visiting flowering plants for two consecutive days in each quadrat every week at each site from April to May, in 2019 and 2020. Aspilia mossambicensis received the most significant proportion of insect visitors (28%), followed by Justicia debile (21%). The mean protein concentration in sampled pollen varied significantly between plant species (& chi;2 = 25.9, P = 0.001), with Solanum incanum containing the highest concentration (299.3 & PLUSMN; 0.68) g/100 g. We did not notice any correlation between honey bee visitation and protein concentration in pollen (r = -0.471, P = 0.239) nor with fatty acids concentration (r = 0.253, P = 0.546). When comparing pollinator-plant network properties including connectance, nestedness, robustness, number of links, modularity, network diversity and linkage density across rangeland management, we found that the private enclosure contained significantly larger networks than the communal enclosure, the dry and the wet season grazing sites. We conclude that particularly private enclosures are vital to promote pollination networks in our studied rangeland system as they include important pollinator forage plants.
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| 31. |
- Mseddi, K., et al.
(författare)
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Phytodiversity distribution in relation to altitudinal gradient in Salma Mountains – Saudi Arabia
- 2021
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier. - 2351-9894. ; 27
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study was conducted to assess the phytodiversity distribution in relation to altitudinal gradient in Salma Mountains, a naturally protected habitat in Ha'il region in the north of Saudi Arabia. Seventeen (17) sampling sites covering three altitudinal zones (i.e. valley, foot and top mountain) were randomly selected within the study area. Within each site and altitudinal zone, the floristic composition and the potential plant species of economic values were assessed and evaluated. A total number of 163 plant species belong to 101 genera and 41 families were identified in this study. Their economic values were also classified into forage (32%), edible (8.7%), medicinal (21.3%), ornamental (30.7%), weeds (18%) and rare species (14%). In addition, results obtained from different altitudinal zones of Salma Mountains, showed that 24 species were spread in the adjacent valley to the mountains, where 32 species spreading at the foot of the mountains and 40 found occupying the top of the mountains. The rest of species have been found to occupy larger geographical distribution in all altitudinal parts. Across the altitudinal gradients, species richness has been found to be consistent with a monotonically increasing pattern with a high richness at high altitudes. The current study suggests that such naturally protected ecosystem can provide a refuge for native plant species and serve as seed bank for a future restoration program in Ha'il region and other similar habitats in Saudi Arabia.
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| 32. |
- Mtwana Nordlund, Lina, 1979-
(författare)
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Teaching ecology at university—Inspiration for change
- 2016
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 7, s. 174-182
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- How do you, as a university lecturer, change from teacher-centered teaching to a more student-centered, active teaching? This paper aims to inspire you to make a change, big or small, to increase your students’ engagement and learning, by presenting suggestions on what you can do. The ideas and suggestions synthesized here are based on several different teaching philosophies and methods, which are well tested and shown to be effective in the right setting. The selection of suggestions is believed to be specifically suitable for ecology.The paper includes suggestions on how to plan a course or a lecture by setting a good learning environment. Both pre-lecture activities and during lecture activities are included, with a focus on activities to engage students and encourage increased discussion and reflections, as well as what to think about when choosing learning activities and how and why it is important to teach students to think and act like professionals in ecology. While changing teaching methods takes investment of time, time that is limited for many researchers, even small changes in your teaching can make big differences in learning, and the investment will hopefully pay back by making teaching more fun and rewarding. The suggestions presented are understandable without being be conversant in the ‘education literature’, but will provide you with a vocabulary of teaching activities that will be useful if you are inspired to find more information and learn more about teaching.
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| 33. |
- Nord, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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The effectiveness of area protection to capture coastal bird richness and occurrence in the Swedish archipelago
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Protected areas are a key component in biodiversity conservation strategies, but evaluations of how effective they are in capturing species diversity is lacking for many ecosystems. We compared different protection types (animal sanctuaries, nature reserves and unprotected areas) using data on species richness and occurrence of coastal breeding bird species in a large archipelago in the Baltic Sea. Data were from extensive inventories based on a grid with 1 x 1 km resolution covering 4646 km(2) on the East coast of Sweden. We focused on specialist species breeding exclusively in coastal habitats since these species are of specific conservation concern, but considered generalists, which also breeds in inland wetlands, as well. Animal sanctuaries had significantly higher species richness of specialist species than unprotected areas and nature reserves. Nature reserves had even lower richness of specialist species than unprotected areas. Further, a rarity-weighted diversity index showed that animal sanctuaries were better in capturing hotspots of bird diversity compared to nature reserves and unprotected areas. Hotspots, both protected and unprotected, were scattered throughout the entire archipelago. The rarity-weighted richness is therefore useful to identify gaps in the protected area network. Overall, we conclude that the establishment of animal sanctuaries has been a successful conservation measure for protecting specialist species in several aspects. Ongoing human exploitation of the Baltic archipelagos prompt further consideration of protecting still unprotected but species rich shorelines for the benefit of many coastal breeding birds.
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| 34. |
- Olsson, Bengt, et al.
(författare)
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Plantations of Pinus and Eucalyptus replacing degraded mountain miombo woodlands in Mozambique significantly increase carbon sequestration
- 2018
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Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 14
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Total ecosystem carbon (C) stocks in tree biomass (aboveground and belowground), litter layer and soil (0-50 cm depth) were quantified in mountain miombo woodland and in 34-year-old first-rotation plantations of Pinus taeda and Eucalyptus grandis. The study was performed at three sites (Penhalonga, Rotanda and Inhamacari) in the western highlands of Manica province in Mozambique, bordering Zimbabwe. One 30 m x 30 m sampling plot was established for each forest type per site. Pre-tested allometric equations were used to determine total C stocks within aboveground tree biomass of each forest type and data from the literature on the relationship between aboveground and belowground biomass were used to estimate C stocks in belowground woody biomass (i.e. coarse roots). Measured soil and litter layer C data were taken from a previous study. Carbon stocks in mountain miombo woodland were used as a baseline to estimate C sequestration at the ecosystem scale, i.e. net ecosystem production (NEP) in the plantations, considering 34 years as stand age of the planted forests.Total ecosystem C stocks in miombo woodlands (similar to 116 Mg ha(-1)) were significantly lower than in stands of P. taeda (363 Mg ha(-1)) and E. grandis (similar to 407 Mg ha(-1)). Carbon sequestration rate at ecosystem scale (NEP) was 7.24 Mg ha(-1) yr(-1) in P. taeda stands and 8.54 Mg ha(-1) yr(-1) in E. grandis stands. NEP was dominated by the increment in biomass (similar to 80%). This was also reflected in higher ratio between biomass C and soil organic C stocks in the plantations compared with miombo forest. The plantation species showed similar performance with respect to total C stocks and NEP. It was concluded that plantations of P. taeda or E. grandis have significant potential to increase C stocks and C sequestration rate in both soil and tree biomass on replacing degraded mountain miombo woodlands in the western highlands of Manica province. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 35. |
- Olsson, Bengt, et al.
(författare)
-
Predicted long-term effects of decomposition of leaf litter from Pinus taeda, Eucalyptus cloeziana and deciduous miombo trees on soil carbon stocks
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 17
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Decomposition rate of leaf litter in native miombo and in Pinus taeda and Eucalyptus cloeziana plantations was measured in the Inhamacari forest research area, Manica province, Mozambique. The Q-model and a simple first-order exponential decomposition model (K-model) were used to predict long-term accumulation of carbon (C) in the litter layer and in soil 34 years after plantation establishment and at steady-state. Measured litterfall from the study plots was used to estimate litter inputs for prediction of C stocks. The results were compared with measured C stocks when stand age in the first-rotation plantation stands was approx. 34 years.At the end of the one-year decomposition study, about half or less of the initial litter mass remained. Leaf litter of the miombo species Brachystegia spiciformis decomposed faster than leaf litter of non-native Eucalyptus cloeziana and Pinus taeda, and a representative mixture of leaf litters of dominating miombo trees decomposed faster than P. taeda, but not E. cloeziana.Measurements indicated higher soil temperatures, and thus higher microbial growth rate, in miombo than in plantation stands. Estimates of initial leaf litter quality indicated higher decomposability of mixed litter substrates of miombo stands than P. taeda needles.Assuming current measured litterfall, the accumulated C stocks predicted by the Q-model were higher than measured C stocks in the litter layer. A major cause of the discrepancy between predicted and measured C stocks in the litter layer of miombo stands was probably frequent ground fires and probably also the influence of termites and other modes of transport into the soil profile.Previously measured increase in C stocks in the soil (0-50 cm) and the litter layer of first-rotation stands of P. taeda and E. cloeziana plantations were much larger than the Q-model predicted soil C stocks at steady-state, indicating that this increase cannot be explained by leaf litter input only. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 36. |
- Orlikowska, Ewa, et al.
(författare)
-
Hit or miss? : Evaluating the effectiveness of Natura 2000 for conservation of forest bird habitat in Sweden
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : ELSEVIER. - 2351-9894. ; 22
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Biodiversity conservation often requires a landscape perspective. When establishing the Natura 2000 (N2k) network, the effectiveness of the sites and the influence of the surrounding landscapes for species of interest was often disregarded. We analyzed the effectiveness of N2k sites in Sweden for three forest bird species of conservation interest in the European boreal landscapes: lesser spotted woodpecker (LSW), Siberian jay (SJ) and hazel grouse (HG). Our objectives were to: 1) quantify effective suitable habitat area in N2k sites with and without consideration of the adjoining landscapes; 2) examine effective habitat area within N2k sites along the north-south vegetation gradient 3) analyze functionality of N2k sites and assess how forests outside the sites affect habitat suitability inside N2k. GISbased habitat suitability index models were applied to calculate the amount of effective habitat within and outside N2k sites. N2k sites contributed with 10% (HG), 13% (SJ) and 51% (LSW) suitable habitat identified in Sweden. Functionality of forest environments as habitat was higher inside N2k sites for LSW within all vegetation zones, and for SJ in the Alpine and Middle Boreal zones; for HG habitat outside the sites was more functional in all zones accept Alpine and Middle Boreal. The majority of N2k sites were of quite small size (<500 ha) and the size influenced their functionality for LSW and HG, with larger N2k sites being more functional. For SJ, however, average functionality of N2k sites was not influenced by their size. The largest average habitat increase linked to considering the contribution of areas outside N2k sites for their functionality as habitat was for the N2k sites of smaller size (1-500 ha). Therefore, the presence and quality of forests outside of N2k sites are of a greater importance for smaller sites, and as such these should be carefully managed. To improve conservation efficiency of the N2k sites in Sweden, we call for incorporating them into the development and implementation of the regional Green Infrastructure plans. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 37. |
- Rogers, Paul C., et al.
(författare)
-
A global view of aspen : conservation science for widespread keystone systems
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier. - 2351-9894. ; 21
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Across the northern hemisphere, six species of aspen (Populus spp.) play a disproportionately important role in promoting biodiversity, sequestering carbon, limiting forest disturbances, and providing other ecosystem services. These species are illustrative of efforts to move beyond single-species conservation because they facilitate hundreds of plants and animals worldwide. This review is intended to place aspen in a global conservation context by focusing on the many scientific advances taking place in such biologically diverse systems. In this manner, aspen may serve as a model for other widespread keystone systems where science-based practice may have world implications for biodiversity conservation. In many regions, aspen can maintain canopy dominance for decades to centuries as the sole major broadleaf trees in forested landscapes otherwise dominated by conifers. Aspen ecosystems are valued for many reasons, but here we highlight their potential as key contributors to regional and global biodiversity. We present global trends in research priorities, strengths, and weaknesses based on, 1) a qualitative survey, 2) a systematic literature analysis, and 3) regional syntheses of leading research topics. These regional syntheses explore important aspen uses, threats, and research priorities with the ultimate intent of research sharing focused on sound conservation practice. In all regions, we found that aspen enhance biodiversity, facilitate rapid (re)colonization in natural and damaged settings (e.g., abandoned mines), and provide adaptability in changing environments. Common threats to aspen ecosystems in many, but not all, regions include effects of herbivory, land clearing, logging practices favoring conifer species, and projected climate warming. We also highlight regional research gaps that emerged from the three survey approaches above. We believe multi-scale research is needed that examines disturbance processes in the context of dynamic climates where ecological, physiological, and genetic variability will ultimately determine widespread aspen sustainability. Based on this global review of aspen research, we argue for the advancement of the "mega-conservation" strategy, centered on the idea of sustaining a set of common keystone communities (aspen) that support wide arrays of obligate species. This approach contrasts with conventional preservation which focuses limited resources on individual species residing in narrow niches.
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| 38. |
- Sand, Håkan, et al.
(författare)
-
The return of large carnivores: Using hunter observation data to understand the role of predators on ungulate populations
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 27
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Large carnivores play a key ecological role in nature, yet quantifying the effects of predation at large spatiotemporal scales remains challenging. Wolves and brown bears have recovered in Sweden, where they share the same staple prey, moose. This ecosystem is representative of the Eurasian boreal realm, and makes an interesting case study for exploring the use of hunter-collected observation data to understand the ecological effects of large carnivore recovery in human-dominated ecosystems. We used over 50 million hours of moose observation data collected by "citizen scientists" (i.e., moose hunters) between 2000 and 2017 to evaluate the role of recovering bear and wolf populations on an important ungulate vital rate, calf/cow ratio (the number of observed calves per female in fall). Calf/cow ratios were negatively correlated with both wolf and bear densities, suggesting that summer calf survival decreased via predation. Calf/cow ratios decreased by 7% and 17% in the northern and southern areas where bears and wolves were allopatric, respectively. Where wolves and bears were sympatric, the effect of predator densities was additive; calf/cow ratios decreased by 18%. However, both calf/cow ratios and moose densities declined over the last similar to 20 years across Sweden, including areas where wolves and bears were absent. While recolonizing large carnivores affected ungulate vital rates in Sweden's human-dominated landscape, they were likely not the primary driver of long-term moose population trends. Our results reinforce that citizen-collected data are a useful wildlife monitoring tool that help understand ecological processes, including the effects of recovering carnivores on prey populations. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 39. |
- Sanderson Bellamy, Angelina, et al.
(författare)
-
What is in a label? Rainforest-Alliance certified banana production versus non-certified conventional banana production
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 7, s. 39-48
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Export banana production in Latin America is pesticide intensive, receiving much negative publicity regarding human health problems and environmental degradation. The Rainforest Alliance (RA) certification scheme was established to certify farms that met a number of social, occupation health and environmental standards set by RA and their certifying body, the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN). This study was one of the first, independent studies of the environmental impact of some of the principles set by RA and SAN. The study focuses on insect and bird diversity as an indicator of ecosystem health. Five RA certified farms, six non-RA certified farms, and five organic certified farms were sampled. The data was analyzed with RDA multivariate analyses and Monte Carlo permutation tests. The results showed that RA certified farms had less insect diversity compared to non-RA certified farms and that both farm types had less insect diversity than organic farms. There was little difference between RA and non-RA certified farms with regards bird community composition. Thus, organic farming conserves biodiversity, while alternative environmental labels (e.g. a Rainforest alliance seal) may not have any visible positive effect on in-farm biodiversity. This study points to the need for improvements in SAN certification standards to achieve improved environmental conditions.
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| 40. |
- Stoen, Ole-Gunnar, et al.
(författare)
-
Brown bear predation on semi-domesticated reindeer and depredation compensations
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 37
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The recovery and conservation of large carnivores can negatively impact the economy of traditional pastoralist societies, including indigenous reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) herding communities. Quantifying the magnitude of predation on livestock is critical to evaluating governmental carnivore compensation schemes. We collaborated with two Sami herding communities in northern Sweden (2010-2012) to examine brown bear (Ursus arctos) predation patterns on semi-domesticated reindeer and quantify the economic impact of bear predation. Predation patterns were estimated by following 21 GPS proximity-collared bears and similar to 2500 transmitter-collared female reindeer during calving season. We calculated economic impact by multiplying the monetary value of reindeer by the expected number lost to bears. On average, bears killed 10.2 [8.6, 11.5] calves per bear, accounting for 39-62% of all calf mortality, while few adult reindeer were killed. Bear kill rates increased with time spent in the calving area, and varied widely by individual and reproductive status, e.g., females with cubs-of-the-year did not kill calves. Kill intervals increased over the parturition season, and were larger for sub-adults than adults. The mean reindeer calf predation rate was 16-27%, which resulted in an annual loss between similar to(sic)50,000 and similar to(sic)62,000 per herding group. Current compensation schemes for herding communities in Sweden are calculated as a fixed rate based on herding community land-area. The herding groups in our study were reimbursed for similar to 2% of realized monetary loss. Compensation schemes based on herding community area, rather than realized predation patterns, may be less effective at mitigating the economic impact of living with large carnivores.
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| 41. |
- Svengren, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
-
Relatedness and genetic variation in wild and captive populations of Mountain Bongo in Kenya obtained from genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 11, s. 196-206
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To assess the relatedness and amount of genetic variation of wild and captive Mountain Bongo Tragelaphus eurycerus ssp. isaaci, both non-invasive and invasive samples were efficiently analyzed using SNP's. Mountain Bongo is estimated to remain in Kenyan forest with less than 96 individuals, possibly as low as 73 individuals, split in five subpopulations whereof four populations are isolated from each other. The genetic diversity of wild animals was studied using fecal samples, and using tissue samples from the 62 animals presently held captive at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. In strategic conservation of the wild Mountain Bongo, the captive animals constitute a potential genetic input to wild populations. Our study shows there is still genetic variation in the wild population and that the subpopulations are to some extent genetically differentiated. This leads to an overall effective population size of around 14 in the wild population, which is good relative to the small population, but dangerously small for long-term, or even short-term, survival. Most individuals in the wild population were unrelated, while in the captive population most individuals were related at the level of half-sibs. The captive population still host genetic variation and is differentiated slightly to the wild population. Careful restocking from the captive populations could be an effective means to enhance the genetic variation in the wild, but most importantly make the dwindling population less vulnerable to stochastic events.
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| 42. |
- Tallian, Aimee, et al.
(författare)
-
Wild versus domestic prey: Variation in the kill-site behavior of two large felids
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - 2351-9894. ; 47
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Livestock depredation is an important source of conflict for many terrestrial large carnivore species. Understanding the foraging behavior of large carnivores on domestic prey is therefore important for both mitigating conflict and conserving threatened carnivore populations. Handling time is an important, albeit often overlooked, component of predatory behavior, as it directly influences access to food biomass, which can affect predator foraging efficiency and subsequent kill rates. We used long-term data on snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in Mongolia (Asia) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Norway (Europe) to examine how large carnivore foraging patterns varied between domestic and wild prey, and how the different landscape characteristics affected those patterns. Our results suggest handling time was generally shorter for domestic compared to wild prey. For snow leopards, rugged terrain was linked to increased handling time for larger prey. For lynx, handling time increased with terrain ruggedness for domestic, but not wild, prey, and was greater in closed compared to open habitats. There were also other differences in snow leopard and lynx foraging behavior, e.g., snow leopards also stayed longer at, and remained closer to, their kill sites than lynx. Shorter handling time suggests that felids may have utilized domestic prey less effectively than wild prey, i.e., they spent less time consuming their prey. This could a) result in an energetic or fitness cost related to decreased felid foraging efficiency caused by the risk of anthropogenic disturbance, or b) exacerbate conflict if reduced handling time associated with easy prey results in increased livestock depredation.
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| 43. |
- Trigal, Cristina, et al.
(författare)
-
Multiple factors and thresholds explaining fish species distributions in lowland streams
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 4, s. 589-601
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Appropriate restoration and conservation measures require a good understanding of the factors limiting the distribution of species, the presence of steep changes in the distribution along environmental gradients and the effect of environmental interactions on species distribution. We used 12 environmental variables describing connectivity, hydrology, climate and stream morphology, to model the distributions of 17 fish species from 2005 Swedish stream sites that were sampled between 2000 and 2011. Modeling was performed using boosted regression trees and random forest, two machine learning techniques to assess the relationship between species distributions and their environment. Temperature, width and connectivity (minimum distance to lake or the sea and water discharge), were the most important variables explaining changes in species distribution at large spatial scales. Response curves of fitted occurrence probabilities along predictors often showed abrupt changes, however, clear threshold effects were difficult to detect. Our results show also differences across species and even in the outcomes of the two algorithms, implying that a simultaneous assessment of multiple species may provide a better signal of ecosystem change than the use of surrogate species.
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| 44. |
- Vasemägi, Anti
(författare)
-
Genetic and morphological evidence of a single species of bronze featherback (Notopterus notopterus) in Sundaland
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - 2351-9894. ; 49
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The bronze featherback (Notopterus notopterus) is an iconic species of freshwater fish commonly found in South -East Asia and of great commercial and patrimonial importance. At present, the genus Notopterus comprises of two distinct species, Notopterus notopterus (Pallas, 1769) and Notopterus synurus (Bloch & Schneider 1801). On the Indonesian archipelago, genetic diversity and morphology of the bronze featherback were investigated for conservation purposes. The use of DNA -based species delimitation methods, applied to 165 Cytochrome oxidase I sequences of Notopteridae (121 belonging to N. notopterus), evidence a concordance between species and Molecular Operational Taxonomic Unit (MOTU) and the two species of Notopterus are recognized. In N. notopterus, 9 haplotypes are detected among the 121 sequences analyzed, and three are restricted to Sundaland. These three haplotypes had distinct geographic distribution with a haplotype observed in Java, Sumatra and Borneo, another haplotype restricted to South Sumatra and a third haplotype only found in Northern Sumatra. The analyze of 21 morphometric and 9 meristic variables revealed two groups within N. notopterus, which were only supported by subtle differences in measurements with overlapping distributions between groups. The present study supports the validity of Notopterus notopterus in Sundaland and the remarkable genetic continuity among populations across its range distribution.
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| 45. |
- Vesterinen, Eero
(författare)
-
Environmental features around roost sites drive species-specific roost preferences for boreal bats
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - 2351-9894. ; 46
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bats and their reproductive roost sites are strictly protected by legislation in Europe. Although knowledge on foraging habitats of boreal bats has increased vastly over the last decades, little is known on how habitat surrounding the roosts influences the selection of roost sites. We combined citizen science and molecular methods to determine the most critical environmental features within different radiuses around roost sites of bats inhabiting human settlements at the north-ernmost edge of their distribution range in Finland. We compared six different land-use types around the roost sites to randomly selected points for each species to determine at which radiuses around the roost are land-use types most critical. We found that for the northern bat (Eptesicus nilssonii), built environment, open areas, and water within the 200 m radius were the most important in roost site selection. The Brandt's myotis (Myotis brandtii) favored roost sites in landscape not affected by human disturbance within 5 km radius. Based on our results, the surrounding habitat around a roost plays a vital role for bat species, and it should be protected along with the roost and considered in land-use planning. Furthermore, species-specific variation in roost site selection should be considered in conservation planning.
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| 46. |
- Westin, Anna, et al.
(författare)
-
Traditional semi-natural grassland management with heterogeneous mowing times enhances flower resources for pollinators in agricultural landscapes
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 18
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- For a diverse pollinator fauna it is important that pollen and nectar are available over the entire summer at spatially relevant scales. Semi-natural hay meadows are among the most important sources of flower resources for pollinators, but the resources are strongly affected by the timing of mowing. Management recommendations for hay meadows often prescribe late mowing on order to allow undisturbed flowering during most of the summer. Traditional practices, however, often include also earlier mowing. We investigate the link between the temporal variation of flower resources and traditional mowing practices of semi-natural hay meadows in a low-intensity agricultural landscape in Romania. In early August, we botanically surveyed meadows that were cut early, intermediately, or late in the season. We recorded all herb species, their phenological stage, and the number of reproductive units of each species. Data were analysed using DCA, LM and GLM. Plant species richness and composition are not affected by the time of mowing, but different sets of species flower in semi-natural grasslands with different mowing regimes. In August the proportion of species flowering and flower density are highest in the early-mown meadows due to re-flowering after mowing. Analyses of phenological stages indicate that late-mown meadows are the main pollen and nectar sources in July, whereas meadows mown early are the main resource from August to the end of the season. The results demonstrate that for pollinator conservation, heterogeneous mowing times within a landscape need to be encouraged when possible, and that strict focus on late mowing may lead to shortage of flower resources late in the summer. Studies of low-intensity agriculture has a great potential for learning about management methods that can be used in other parts of the world where traditional practices have been lost. Such studies can thereby contribute with important knowledge to manage global pollinator loss. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 47. |
- Zin, Ewa
(författare)
-
Are natural disturbances represented in strictly protected areas in Germany?
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Global Ecology and Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 2351-9894. ; 26
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Natural disturbances are largely suppressed in Central European landscapes due to economic and human safety concerns. European goals to increase the extent of secondary wilderness areas have the potential to support the restoration of threatened habitats associated with natural disturbances. Germany is among the Central European countries with the most advanced wilderness goals. This study aimed to investigate whether habitat types shaped by natural disturbances are mostly red-listed as threatened and require special consideration within systematic conservation planning (SCP). First, we reviewed literature and the German Red List of Threatened Habitat Types to identify the conservation status of habitat types associated with three natural abiotic disturbance types in Germany: floods, forest fires and landslides. Second, we mapped the potential area coverage of these disturbance types and identified gaps in the current network of strictly protected areas (PA) to inform SCP. Fifty-two per cent of the habitat types associated with the three disturbance types floods, forest fires and landslides were listed as & ldquo;critically endangered & rdquo; (n = 1) or & ldquo;endangered to critically endangered & rdquo; (n = 9). The potential area for river dynamics accounted for 4.3% of German terrestrial territory, areas potentially subject to forest fires accounted for 0.9% and areas with a very high susceptibility to landslides for 1.1%. Areas potentially subject to forest fires (0.15% strict PA coverage) and river dynamics (0.81%) were underrepresented in German National Parks and the core zones of Biosphere Reserve, whereas strict PA coverage of areas with a very high susceptibility to landslides was higher (6.8%). European and German wilderness goals can support the restoration of threatened habitat types associated with natural disturbances if spatial information on those areas is integrated into SCP concepts. Yet, sophisticated management regimes will be required to resolve conflicts between wilderness areas subject to natural disturbances and the surrounding cultural landscape and infrastructure.(c) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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