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1.	Bommarco, Riccardo, et al. (author) Cereal aphid populations in non-crop habitats show strong density dependence 2007 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 44:5, s. 1013-1022 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract 1.Few studies have addressed how density-dependent and density-independent regulation of population growth and abundance varies among habitats for a species that requires multiple habitat types to complete its life cycle. Understanding such relationships, however, are of direct relevance to the control of crop pest insects that regularly move between crop and non-crop habitats.2.We used autoregressive models to analyse a series of seasonal catches of the cereal aphid Rhopalosiphum padi. The data were collected from regional suction traps and egg counts on the overwintering host, over a period of 14–31 years, at four locations in Sweden. R. padi is an obligate host-alternating species in Sweden and seasonal catches reflect habitat use in a year: the primary woody host in winter and spring, the cereal crops in summer, and the perennial grasslands in the autumn.3.Strong direct density dependence acting within the year was found, but the strength varied between seasons depending on habitat use by the aphids during the year. Only a weak indication or no indication at all of density dependence was found during the period of residency on the primary host in the winter and spring periods.4.Density dependence occurred when R. padi utilized summer cereals (42% of the variation was explained), and even stronger density dependence occurred in the perennial grasslands in the autumn (70% variation explained). Stochastic fluctuations in the winter and spring were balanced by a strong density dependence in the cereal and grassland habitats in the summer and autumn periods, which reduced variability in population fluctuations.5.Weather, measured as seasonal average temperature and accumulated precipitation, did not affect aphid abundance fluctuations much, explaining only 1–9% of the variability.6.Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that density-dependent regulation of R. padi occurs in late summer grasslands and early summer cereals. The mechanisms causing these patterns are not understood, making it difficult to provide specific pest management recommendations at this stage. The results do indicate, however, that pest management needs to involve a landscape-level approach, taking into account mechanistic information about the plant, herbivore and predator interactions in multiple habitats visited by the herbivorous pest.
2.	Dannewitz, Johan, et al. (author) Reproductive success of hatchery produced and wild born brown trout Salmo trutta in an experimental stream 2004 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 41:2, s. 355-364 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract 1.Although releases of hatchery-produced salmonids to support conspecific wildpopulations have increased dramatically during recent decades, little information isavailable about the performance in the wild of hatchery fish and their offspring.Important factors determining the success and genetic outcomes of supportive breedingprogrammes include (i) the relative reproductive success of released hatchery fish in thewild, and (ii) the extent to which the propagation affects the variance in reproductivesuccess in the population as a whole.2.We performed two field experiments on brown troutSalmo truttafrom the RiverDalälven in Sweden, where we examined reproductive success in an experimental stream.In experiment 1 we compared reproductive success between trout from a seventhgenerationhatchery stock of native origin and wild-born trout from the river. In experiment2, we compared reproductive success between seventh-generation hatchery troutand hatchery-reared trout derived from wild-born parents. Individual reproductivesuccess, based on the number of offspring assigned using microsatellite markers, wasassessed on three occasions after reproduction: immediately after hatching and after thefirst and second growth seasons.3.In experiment 1 there were no significant differences in reproductive success betweenseventh-generation hatchery trout and wild-born trout. In experiment 2, males from wildbornparents were more successful than males from the seventh-generation hatcherystock, but this difference was not observed among females.4.There was some evidence for a positive association between body size and reproductivesuccess among females but not males. For males, the number of mates was significantlyassociated with reproductive success, but this relationship was not evident among females.5.The variance in reproductive success was pronounced in both experiments, yieldingestimates of the ratio between the genetically effective size and the census size of ourexperimental populations ranging from 0·12 to 0·59.6.Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that the reproductive success in thewild of hatchery-produced and wild-born trout with a common genetic backgroundmay be rather similar. These findings, in combination with the pronounced variancein reproductive success observed among breeders, indicate that supportive breedingcan be managed to increase not only the census but also the genetically effective sizeof small, endangered salmonid populations. However, to minimize negative effects ofhatchery selection, it is important to give priority to the restoration of natural habitatsand thereby increase the reproductive output from individuals in the wild.
3.	Aguiar, Francisca C., et al. (author) The abundance and distribution of guilds of riparian woody plants change in response to land use and flow regulation 2018 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 55:5, s. 2227-2240 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract 1. Many riparian ecosystems in Mediterranean Europe are affected by land use and flow alteration by dams. We focused on understanding how these stressors and their components affect riparian forests in the region. We asked the following questions: (1) Are there well‐defined, responsive riparian guilds? (2) Do dam‐induced streamflows determine abundance and distribution of riparian guilds? (3) What are the main drivers governing composition and cover of riparian guilds in regulated rivers?2. We inventoried the cover of riparian woody species in free‐flowing rivers and downstream of dams. We performed a cluster analysis and ordination to derive riparian guilds, using abundance data from 66 riparian woody species and 26 functional plant traits. We used a reduced set of principal components for the environment, land use and hydrology, and general linear modelling to explore the effect of these factors (separately and combined) on riparian guilds.3. We found that: (1) four dominant guilds are responsive to disturbance in southwestern European streams, namely the obligate riparian, water‐stress tolerant, deciduous competitive and Mediterranean evergreen guilds; (2) a set of land use and hydrological variables differentially affect the diverse co‐occurring riparian guilds; (3) frequency and duration of high flow pulses and the low‐flow conditions were major drivers of change in landscapes dominated by intensive agriculture and forestry; (4) storage reservoirs reduced the cover of obligate riparian and Mediterranean evergreen guilds, and increased the abundance of water‐stress tolerant and deciduous competitive guilds, while run‐of‐river dams, having limited water storage, reduced both obligate and deciduous competitive guilds.4. Synthesis and applications. Future research in southwestern Europe should address the resilience of riparian guilds and the effects of interacting landscape factors and stressors on guild distribution. Streamflow regulations downstream of reservoirs should focus on specific flow components, namely the magnitude of flows, and frequency and duration of extreme flow events. For successful mitigation of the dam‐induced effects on riparian vegetation, river management plans must incorporate the environmental and land use site‐specific contexts.
4.	Aguilera, Guillermo, et al. (author) Crop diversity benefits carabid and pollinator communities in landscapes with semi‐natural habitats 2020 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. Journal article (peer-reviewed)
5.	Aguilera Nuñez, Guillermo, et al. (author) Organic fertilisation enhances generalist predators and suppresses aphid growth in the absence of specialist predators 2021 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 58, s. 1455-1465 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Biological control by natural enemies is a valuable ecosystem service. The predator community in a crop field is a combination of predators dwelling in the field and those moving into it from the surrounding landscape. The former is mainly affected by field management, the latter more by the composition of the surrounding landscape. Yet, separate and combined effects of local and landscape management on pest suppression have seldom been investigated.We set-up mesocosms within an existing long-term agricultural field experiment to investigate the effects of local management of organic manure or inorganic mineral fertilisation, and simulated the spillover from the surrounding landscape of different predator types: no predators, generalist predators (wolf spiders) and specialist predators (ladybirds). We examined whether aphid density was driven by top-down or bottom-up processes under different fertilisation treatments, and how the magnitude of pest suppression was affected by predator community composition.We found positive synergistic effects between manure fertilisation and predator spillover on the suppression of aphid growth. Top-down suppression of aphids was more effective under manure fertilisation and in presence of specialist predators (ladybirds). Bottom-up effects on the plant biomass growth dominated in inorganically fertilised plots.Organic and inorganic fertilisation gave the same yield, but through different mechanisms. The abundance of locally emerging predators in the manure treatment increased top-down pest suppression yielding plant biomass levels comparable with inorganically fertilised plants, being the latter driven by bottom-up effects.Synthesis and applications. Organic fertilisation enhanced local emergence of predators increasing top-down pest suppression. In contrast, local predator communities were unable to suppress aphid populations in inorganic and no fertilisation treatments. Here, predator inflow from outside the crop field was essential for lowering aphid population growth. Managing landscapes to promote mobile predators emerges as particularly important for crop fields without manure amendments. We advise the active promotion of both local predators in the crop field and mobile predators in the landscape to secure the conservation of biological insect pest suppression.
6.	Alignier, Audrey, et al. (author) Configurational crop heterogeneity increases within-field plant diversity 2020 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 57:4, s. 654-663 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Increasing landscape heterogeneity by restoring semi-natural elements to reverse farmland biodiversity declines is not always economically feasible or acceptable to farmers due to competition for land. We hypothesized that increasing the heterogeneity of the crop mosaic itself, hereafter referred to as crop heterogeneity, can have beneficial effects on within-field plant diversity. Using a unique multi-country dataset from a cross-continent collaborative project covering 1,451 agricultural fields within 432 landscapes in Europe and Canada, we assessed the relative effects of compositional and configurational crop heterogeneity on within-field plant diversity components. We also examined how these relationships were modulated by the position within the field. We found strong positive effects of configurational crop heterogeneity on within-field plant alpha and gamma diversity in field interiors. These effects were as high as the effect of semi-natural cover. In field borders, effects of crop heterogeneity were limited to alpha diversity. We suggest that a heterogeneous crop mosaic may overcome the high negative impact of management practices on plant diversity in field interiors, whereas in field borders, where plant diversity is already high, landscape effects are more limited. Synthesis and applications. Our study shows that increasing configurational crop heterogeneity is beneficial to within-field plant diversity. It opens up a new effective and complementary way to promote farmland biodiversity without taking land out of agricultural production. We therefore recommend adopting manipulation of crop heterogeneity as a specific, effective management option in future policy measures, perhaps adding to agri-environment schemes, to contribute to the conservation of farmland plant diversity.
7.	Alimpić, Filip, et al. (author) The status and role of genetic diversity of trees for the conservation and management of riparian ecosystems : A European experts' perspective 2022 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 59:10, s. 2476-2485 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Riparian vegetation supports high biodiversity providing many services and is, therefore, an important landscape element. Riparian ecosystems are subject to numerous pressures leading to population decline and genetic erosion of riparian plants. This may have cascading effects at various ecosystem levels, including decreasing ecosystem services, so identifying the current status of genetic diversity of riparian tree species is vital to improve the effectiveness of restoration efforts.We aimed to elicit expert views on the status and importance of genetic diversity of tree species, and conservation needs across European riparian ecosystems. Sharing of such information among researchers, managers and policymakers has the potential to enhance ecological restoration and management of riparian ecosystems.We identified experts in riparian genetic resources conservation and management across Europe. These included stakeholders with different perspectives, ranging from researchers to practitioners. We designed a set of questionnaires where our identified experts were asked to answer questions related to the status and conservation of genetic diversity of riparian tree species in their respective countries. Specifically, we asked about societal awareness, legislative tools, good practices and conservation or restoration projects accounting for intraspecific genetic diversity and differentiation of tree species in riparian ecosystems. Questionnaire responses were analysed and discussed in light of the scientific literature to define needs and priorities related to the management and conservation of genetic diversity of riparian tree species.The experts recognized that a combination of in situ and ex situ measures and/or integrative conservation of riparian ecosystems is the most appropriate option for conserving the genetic diversity of riparian tree species. Simultaneous application of conservation measures at the level of priority species, identified by experts, and protection of riparian areas are required.Synthesis and applications. This study revealed the importance of recognizing the ecological processes that shape the genetic diversity of riparian tree species in hydrographic networks (dendritic spatial configuration, specific patterns of gene flow among riparian populations, fragmentation of river by dams) but also the need to overcome socio-economic barriers, such as lack of policy priority, deficiency in funding and weak legislation framework.
8.	Allen, Craig R., et al. (author) Quantifying spatial resilience 2016 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 53:3, s. 625-635 Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract 1. Anthropogenic stressors affect the ecosystems upon which humanity relies. In some cases when resilience is exceeded, relatively small linear changes in stressors can cause relatively abrupt and nonlinear changes in ecosystems. 2. Ecological regime shifts occur when resilience is exceeded and ecosystems enter a new local equilibrium that differs in its structure and function from the previous state. Ecological resilience, the amount of disturbance that a system can withstand before it shifts into an alternative stability domain, is an important framework for understanding and managing ecological systems subject to collapse and reorganization. 3. Recently, interest in the influence of spatial characteristics of landscapes on resilience has increased. Understanding how spatial structure and variation in relevant variables in landscapes affects resilience to disturbance will assist with resilience quantification, and with local and regional management. 4. Synthesis and applications. We review the history and current status of spatial resilience in the research literature, expand upon existing literature to develop a more operational definition of spatial resilience, introduce additional elements of a spatial analytical approach to understanding resilience, present a framework for resilience operationalization and provide an overview of critical knowledge and technology gaps that should be addressed for the advancement of spatial resilience theory and its applications to management and conservation.
9.	Amsten, Karin, et al. (author) Pyric herbivory in a temperate European wood-pasture system 2024 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 61, s. 1081-1094 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract The term pyric herbivory was first introduced in 2009, describing how fire shapes herbivory as burned areas attract herbivores and, simultaneously, herbivory shapes fuel load and fire behaviour. Pyric herbivory results in a mosaic of patches with varying levels of herbivory and grazing intensity fire intensity and frequency. The importance of pyric herbivory for ecosystem heterogeneity and biodiversity has been described for North American, Australian and African systems, but the concept remains largely untested in a European context. We introduced fire and herbivory in a full-factorial experiment in a temperate European wood-pasture system to test whether pyric herbivory operates in ways comparable to grassy systems elsewhere in the world. Using camera traps, we observed the behaviour of cattle in burned subplots (49 m2) compared with unburned subplots. We measured grass height and the proportion of the subplot that burned as variables affecting cattle preference and to assess how grazing affects fire behaviour. We also examined the effect on plant species and life-form composition after six seasons of treatment. Cattle spent more time grazing in burned than in unburned subplots in the most productive paddock, where a larger proportion of the subplot burned. The proportion of a subplot that burned was positively related to pre-fire grass height. Moreover, both grass height and the proportion of subplot burned declined in the burned subplots during the 6-year study period and fire and cattle grazing altered the relative cover of graminoids and shrubs (Rubus spp.), with more graminoids in grazed and/or burned subplots and more shrubs in ungrazed subplots at the end of the study. Synthesis and applications. In our temperate European wood pasture, fire and (cattle) grazing interacted in ways comparable to pyric herbivory in grassy ecosystems elsewhere in the world, especially in the most productive paddock. Fire attracted grazing, with cattle grazing longer on subplots that burned more fully. Grazing also affected fire, where over the course of our experiment cattle grazing reduced grass height and the proportion of a subplot that burned. We suggest that pyric herbivory is an interesting management method to further explore in the European context to address the loss of biodiversity in open ecosystems, particularly in more productive sites.In our temperate European wood pasture, fire and (cattle) grazing interacted in ways comparable to pyric herbivory in grassy ecosystems elsewhere in the world, especially in the most productive paddock. Fire attracted grazing, with cattle grazing longer on subplots that burned more fully. Grazing also affected fire, where over the course of our experiment cattle grazing reduced grass height and the proportion of a subplot that burned. We suggest that pyric herbivory is an interesting management method to further explore in the European context to address the loss of biodiversity in open ecosystems, particularly in more productive sites.image
10.	Anderbrant, O., et al. (author) Ecology of the Dutch elm disease vectors Scolytus laevis and S. scolytus ( Coleoptera : Scolytidae) in southern Sweden. 1987 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : JSTOR. - 0021-8901. ; 24:2, s. 539-550 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Two rings of pheromone-baited sticky traps surrounded the elm wood at 20-300m and 1-2km outside the forest edge. Most Scolytus were caught at sites in the inner ring near the forest; <1% of the total were caught in the outer ring. Emergence from logs and trap catches showed a first peak in July. Flight activity was recorded from the end of May to September for both species. A 2nd peak of activity was evident in August in 2 of 3yr for S. scolytus.-from Authors
11.	Andren, Henrik (author) Quantifying the checks and balances of collaborative governance systems for adaptive carnivore management 2022 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 59, s. 1038-1049 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Recovering or threatened carnivore populations are often harvested to minimise their impact on human activities, such as livestock farming or game hunting. Increasingly, harvest quota decisions involve a set of scientific, administrative and political institutions operating at national and sub-national levels whose interactions and collective decision-making aim to increase the legitimacy of management and ensure population targets are met. In practice, however, assessments of how quota decisions change between these different actors and what consequences these changes have on population trends are rare. We combine a state-space population modelling approach with an analysis of quota decisions taken at both regional and national levels between 2007 and 2018 to build a set of decision-making models that together predict annual harvest quota values for Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Norway. We reveal a tendency for administrative decision-makers to compensate for consistent quota increases by political actors, particularly when the lynx population size estimate is above the regional target. Using population forecasts based on the ensemble of decision-making models, we show that such buffering of political biases ensures lynx population size remains close to regional and national targets in the long term. Our results go beyond the usual qualitative assessment of collaborative governance systems for carnivore management, revealing a system of checks and balances that, in the case of lynx in Norway, ensures both multi-stakeholder participation and sustainable harvest quotas. Nevertheless, we highlight important inter-regional differences in decision-making and population forecasts, the socio-ecological drivers of which need to be better understood to prevent future population declines. Synthesis and applications. Our work analyses the sequence of decisions leading to yearly quotas for lynx harvest in Norway, highlighting the collaborative and structural processes that together shape harvest sustainability. In doing so, we provide a predictive framework to evaluate participatory decision-making processes in wildlife management, paving the way for scientists and decision-makers to collaborate more widely in identifying where decision biases might lie and how institutional arrangements can be optimised to minimise them. We emphasise, however, that this is only possible if wildlife management decisions are documented and transparent.
12.	Angeler, David, et al. (author) Biological responses to liming in boreal lakes: an assessment using plankton, macroinvertebrate and fish communities 2010 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 47, s. 478-486 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract P>1. Biological responses to liming of acidified surface waters are equivocal and limit the overall assessment of food web responses. In this study, we analysed community structure in limed, acidified and circumneutral lakes, based on the analyses of phytoplankton, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates (littoral, sublittoral, profundal) and fish between 2000 and 2004. We also studied associations between functional feeding groups in food webs.2. Most univariate metrics of structure and function revealed similar community attributes among lake types, suggesting that community responses to natural recovery from acidification and liming management converge with those observed in circumneutral lakes. These trends were less clear in the multivariate analyses which showed significant community differences among lake types. For phytoplankton, these patterns were partly mediated by the invasive raphidophycean flagellate Gonyostomum semen.3. The associations between functional feeding groups indicated less connectivity and food web complexity in limed lakes relative to the other lake types. We speculate that repeated lime applications comprise frequent pulse disturbances which offset the establishment of stable trophic relationships in the food webs of limed lakes.4. Synthesis and applications. The limited structural and functional food web similarity among lake types supports the argument that liming constitutes an ecosystem-level disturbance. Managers should be aware of the ecosystem impacts of altered disturbance regimes when designing their management schemes because this can influence the success of restoration programmes. Furthermore, the lack of recovery, mediated in part by species invasions, suggests that impacts derived from global change are likely to lead to novel environmental situations. This calls for adaptive management strategies where managers are challenged to tackle multiple forms of anthropogenic stress simultaneously.
13.	Angeler, David, et al. (author) FORUM: Effective management of ecological resilience – are we there yet? 2015 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 52, s. 1311-1315 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Ecological resilience is developing into a credible paradigm for policy development and environmental management for preserving natural capital in a rapidly changing world. However, resilience emerges from complex interactions, limiting the translation of theory into practice. Main limitations include the following: (i) difficulty in quantification and detection of changes in ecological resilience, (ii) a lack of empirical evidence to support preventative orproactive management and (iii) difficulties in managing processes operating across socio-ecological systems that vary in space and time. We highlight recent research with the potential to address these limitations including new and/or improved indicators of resilience and tools to assess scale as a driver of resilience.Synthesis and applications. Effective resilience-based management must be adaptive in nature. To support this, we propose an operational model using resilience-based iterative management actions operating across scales.Effective resilience-based management must be adaptive in nature. To support this, we propose an operational model using resilience-based iterative management actions operating across scales.
14.	Angeler, David, et al. (author) Management applications of discontinuity theory 2016 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 53:3, s. 688-698 Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract 1. Human impacts on the environment are multifaceted and can occur across distinct spatiotemporal scales. Ecological responses to environmental change are therefore difficult to predict, and entail large degrees of uncertainty. Such uncertainty requires robust tools for management to sustain ecosystem goods and services and maintain resilient ecosystems. 2. We propose an approach based on discontinuity theory that accounts for patterns and processes at distinct spatial and temporal scales, an inherent property of ecological systems. Discontinuity theory has not been applied in natural resource management and could therefore improve ecosystem management because it explicitly accounts for ecological complexity. 3. Synthesis and applications. We highlight the application of discontinuity approaches for meeting management goals. Specifically, discontinuity approaches have significant potential to measure and thus understand the resilience of ecosystems, to objectively identify critical scales of space and time in ecological systems at which human impact might be most severe, to provide warning indicators of regime change, to help predict and understand biological invasions and extinctions and to focus monitoring efforts. Discontinuity theory can complement current approaches, providing a broader paradigm for ecological management and conservation.
15.	Angeler, David, et al. (author) Measuring the relative resilience of subarctic lakes to global change: redundancies of functions within and across temporal scales 2013 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 50, s. 572–584- Journal article (peer-reviewed)
16.	Angeler, David (author) Quantifying resilience 2016 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 53, s. 617-624 Other publication (peer-reviewed)
17.	Angerbjörn, Anders, et al. (author) Carnivore conservation in practice : replicatedmanagement actions on a large spatial scale 2013 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 50:1, s. 59-67 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract More than a quarter of the world’s carnivores are threatened, often due to multiple andcomplex causes. Considerable research efforts are devoted to resolving the mechanisms behindthese threats in order to provide a basis for relevant conservation actions. However, evenwhen the underlying mechanisms are known, specific actions aimed at direct support for carnivoresare difficult to implement and evaluate at efficient spatial and temporal scales.2. We report on a 30-year inventory of the critically endangered Fennoscandian arctic foxVulpes lagopus L., including yearly surveys of 600 fox dens covering 21 000 km2. These surveysshowed that the population was close to extinction in 2000, with 40–60 adult animalsleft. However, the population subsequently showed a fourfold increase in size.3. During this time period, conservation actions through supplementary feeding and predatorremoval were implemented in several regions across Scandinavia, encompassing 79% of thearea. To evaluate these actions, we examined the effect of supplemental winter feeding andred fox control applied at different intensities in 10 regions. A path analysis indicated that47% of the explained variation in population productivity could be attributed to lemmingabundance, whereas winter feeding had a 29% effect and red fox control a 20% effect.4. This confirms that arctic foxes are highly dependent on lemming population fluctuationsbut also shows that red foxes severely impact the viability of arctic foxes. This study also highlightsthe importance of implementing conservation actions on extensive spatial and temporalscales, with geographically dispersed actions to scientifically evaluate the effects. We note thatpopulation recovery was only seen in regions with a high intensity of management actions.5. Synthesis and applications. The present study demonstrates that carnivore populationdeclines may be reversed through extensive actions that target specific threats. Fennoscandianarctic fox is still endangered, due to low population connectivity and expected climate impactson the distribution and dynamics of lemmings and red foxes. Climate warming is expected tocontribute to both more irregular lemming dynamics and red fox appearance in tundra areas;however, the effects of climate change can be mitigated through intensive managementactions such as supplemental feeding and red fox control.
18.	Antonsen, H, et al. (author) Relative importance of burning, mowing and species translocation in the restoration of a former boreal hayfield: responses of plant diversity and the microbial community 2005 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2664 .- 0021-8901. ; 42:2, s. 337-347 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract 1. The extensive loss of species-rich grasslands in Europe as a result of agricultural intensification has triggered a desire to recreate more diverse and natural grassland systems in set-aside fields. Appropriate management and species introductions are necessary to overcome residual soil fertility, lack of suitable plant propagules and dominance of undesirable invasive species. 2. A field experiment was performed in a boreal former hayfield to test the effect of turf inoculation, mowing (twice annually) and spring burning. We surveyed changes in plant diversity, composition and productivity over a 3-year period. Signature fatty acids and soil respiration measurements were employed to survey changes in the soil community. 3. Few changes in the vegetation and soil communities could be related to inoculation of turf monoliths. Most of the measured variables in mown plots differed from the set-aside (control) plots, while burned plots displayed mainly similar responses. Mowing increased plant species richness and diversity, mainly by enhancing the number and frequency of forb species. Small-statured forb species were promoted by mowing, whereas tall leafy grasses declined. Effects of mowing on soil communities comprised an increased soil respiration and stimulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. 4. Synthesis and applications. The results demonstrate the importance of reducing sward height in order to promote plant species coexistence in former boreal hayfields. In such systems, eliminating accumulated litter by spring burning has little influence on species composition when the sward is allowed to grow tall. Mowing is therefore the most efficient way of enhancing biodiversity. The results also show that mowing-mediated changes in above-ground plant communities may stimulate below-ground symbiotic micro-organisms, potentially resulting in a positive feedback on ecosystem development.
19.	Auffret, Alistair G., et al. (author) Past and present management influences the seed bank and seed rain in a rural landscape mosaic 2011 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 48:5, s. 1278-1285 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract 1. Seed bank and seed rain represent dispersal in time and space. They can be important sources of diversity in the rural landscape, where fragmented habitats are linked by their histories. 2. Seed bank, seed rain and above-ground vegetation were sampled in four habitat types (abandoned semi-natural grassland (ABA), grazed former arable field (FAF), mid-field islet (MFI) and grazed semi-natural grassland (SNG)) in a rural landscape in southern Sweden, to examine whether community patterns can be distinguished at large spatial scales and whether seed bank and seed rain are best explained by current, past or intended future vegetation communities. 3. We counted 54 357 seedlings of 188 species from 1190 seed bank and 797 seed rain samples. Seed bank, seed rain and above-ground vegetation communities differed according to habitat. Several species characteristic of managed grassland vegetation were present in the seed bank, seed rain and vegetation of the other habitats. 4. The seed banks of SNGs and the seed rain of the FAFs were generally better predicted by the surrounding above-ground vegetation than were the other habitat types. The seed rain of the grazed communities was most similar to the vegetation in the FAFs, while the seed banks of the abandoned grasslands most resembled the vegetation in SNGs. 5. Gap availability and seed input could be limiting the colonisation of target species in FAFs, while remnant populations in the seed bank and the presence of grassland specialists in the above-ground vegetation indicate that abandoned grasslands and mid-field islets could be valuable sources of future diversity in the landscape after restoration. 6. Synthesis and applications. SNG communities are able to form seed banks which survive land-use change, but their seed rain does not reflect their above-ground communities. It is important that grassland plants set seed. By connecting existing grasslands with restoration targets, increased disturbance in the target habitats would allow for colonisation via the seed bank or seed rain, while decreased grazing intensity would benefit seed production in the source grasslands. Otherwise, landscape-wide propagule availability might increase with a more varied timing and intensity of management.
20.	Avril, Alexis, et al. (author) Capturing individual-level parameters of influenza A virus dynamics in wild ducks using multistate models 2016 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 53:4, s. 1289-1297 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Disease prevalence in wildlife is governed by epidemiological parameters (infection and recovery rates) and response to infection, both of which vary within and among individual hosts. Studies quantifying these individual-scale parameters and documenting their source of variation in wild hosts are fundamental for predicting disease dynamics. Such studies do not exist for the influenza A virus (IAV), despite its strong impact on the global economy and public health. Using capture-recaptures of 3500 individual mallards Anas platyrhynchos during seven migration seasons at a stopover site in southern Sweden, we provide the first empirical description of the individual-based mechanisms of IAV dynamics in a wild reservoir host. For most years, prevalence and risk of IAV infection peaked at a single time during the autumn migration season, but the timing, shape and intensity of the infection curve showed strong annual heterogeneity. In contrast, the seasonal pattern of recovery rate only varied in intensity across years. Adults and juveniles displayed similar seasonal patterns of infection and recovery each year. However, compared to adults, juveniles experienced twice the risk of becoming infected, whereas recovery rates were similar across age categories. Finally, we did not find evidence that infection influenced the timing of emigration.Synthesis and applications. Our study provides robust empirical estimates of epidemiological parameters for predicting influenza A virus (IAV) dynamics. However, the strong annual variation in infection curves makes forecasting difficult. Prevalence data can provide reliable surveillance indicators as long as they catch the variation in infection risk. However, individual-based monitoring of infection is required to verify this assumption in areas where surveillance occurs. In this context, monitoring of captive sentinel birds kept in close contact with wild birds is useful. The fact that infection does not impact the timing of migration underpins the potential for mallards to spread viruses rapidly over large geographical scales. Hence, we strongly encourage IAV surveillance with a multistate capture-recapture approach along the entire migratory flyway of mallards.
21.	Axelsson, Petter, et al. (author) Leaf litter from insect-resistant transgenic trees causes changes in aquatic insect community composition 2011 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - Malden : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 48:6, s. 1472-1479 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract 1. Recent research has addressed how transgenic residues fromarable crops may influence adjacent waterways, aquatic consumers and important ecosystem processes such as litter breakdown rates. With future applications of transgenic plants in forestry, such concerns may apply to forest stream ecosystems. Before any large-scale release of genetically modified (GM) trees, it is therefore imperative to evaluate the effects of genetic modifications in trees on such ecosystems. 2. We conducted decomposition experiments under natural stream conditions using leaf litter from greenhouse grown GM trees (Populus tremula x Populus tremuloides) that express Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins (cry3Aa; targeting coleopteran leaf-feeding beetles) to examine the hypothesis that GM trees would affect litter decomposition rates and/or the aquatic arthropod community that colonizes and feeds on leaf litter in streams. 3. We show that two independent transformations of isogenic Populus trees to express Bt toxins caused similar changes to the composition of aquatic insects colonizing the leaf litter, ultimately manifested in a 25% and 33% increases in average insect abundance. 4. Measurements of 24 phenolic compounds as well as nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) in the litter did not significantly differ among modified and wild-type trees and were thus not sufficient to explain these differences in the insect assemblage. 5. Decomposition rates were comparable among litter treatments suggesting that the normal suite of leaf traits influencing decomposition was similar among litter treatments and that the shredding functions of the community were maintained despite the changes in insect community composition. 6. Synthesis and applications. We report that leaf litter from GM trees affected the composition of aquatic insect communities that colonized litter under natural stream conditions. This suggests that forest management using GM trees may affect adjacent waterways in unanticipated ways, which should be considered in future commercial applications of GM trees. We also argue that studies at different scales (e.g. species, communities and ecosystems) will be needed for a full understanding of the environmental effects of Bt plants.
22.	Baeten, Lander, et al. (author) Identifying the tree species compositions that maximize ecosystem functioning in European forests 2019 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 56:3, s. 733-744 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract 1. Forest ecosystem functioning generally benefits from higher tree species richness, but variation within richness levels is typically large. This is mostly due to the contrasting performances of communities with different compositions. Evidence-based understanding of composition effects on forest productivity, as well as on multiple other functions will enable forest managers to focus on the selection of species that maximize functioning, rather than on diversity per se.2. We used a dataset of 30 ecosystem functions measured in stands with different species richness and composition in six European forest types. First, we quantified whether the compositions that maximize annual above-ground wood production (productivity) generally also fulfil the multiple other ecosystem functions (multifunctionality). Then, we quantified the species identity effects and strength of interspecific interactions to identify the "best" and "worst" species composition for multifunctionality. Finally, we evaluated the real-world frequency of occurrence of best and worst mixtures, using harmonized data from multiple national forest inventories.3. The most productive tree species combinations also tended to express relatively high multifunctionality, although we found a relatively wide range of compositions with high- or low-average multifunctionality for the same level of productivity. Monocultures were distributed among the highest as well as the lowest performing compositions. The variation in functioning between compositions was generally driven by differences in the performance of the component species and, to a lesser extent, by particular interspecific interactions. Finally, we found that the most frequent species compositions in inventory data were monospecific stands and that the most common compositions showed below-average multifunctionality and productivity.4. Synthesis and applications. Species identity and composition effects are essential to the development of high-performing production systems, for instance in forestry and agriculture. They therefore deserve great attention in the analysis and design of functional biodiversity studies if the aim is to inform ecosystem management. A management focus on tree productivity does not necessarily trade-off against other ecosystem functions; high productivity and multifunctionality can be combined with an informed selection of tree species and species combinations.
23.	Bargues Tobella, Aida, et al. (author) Explore before you restore: Incorporating complex systems thinking in ecosystem restoration 2024 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 61, s. 922-939 Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract The global movement for ecosystem restoration has gained momentum in response to the Bonn Challenge (2010) and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (UNDER, 2021–2030). While several science-based guidelines exist to aid in achieving successful restoration outcomes, significant variation remains in the outcomes of restoration projects. Some of this disparity can be attributed to unexpected responses of ecosystem components to planned interventions.Given the complex nature of ecosystems, we propose that concepts from Complex Systems Science (CSS) that are linked to non-linearity, such as regime shifts, ecological resilience and ecological feedbacks, should be employed to help explain this variation in restoration outcomes from an ecological perspective.Our framework, Explore Before You Restore, illustrates how these concepts impact restoration outcomes by influencing degradation and recovery trajectories. Additionally, we propose incorporating CSS concepts into the typical restoration project cycle through a CSS assessment phase and suggest that the need for such assessment is explicitly included in the guidelines to improve restoration outcomes.To facilitate this inclusion and make it workable by practitioners, we describe indicators and methods available for restoration teams to answer key questions that should make up such CSS assessment. In doing so, we identify key outstanding science and policy tasks that are needed to further operationalize CSS assessment in restoration.Synthesis and applications. By illustrating how key Complex Systems Science (CSS) concepts linked to non-linear threshold behaviour can impact restoration outcomes through influencing recovery trajectories, our framework Explore Before You Restore demonstrates the need to incorporate Complex Systems thinking in ecosystem restoration. We argue that inclusion of CSS assessment into restoration project cycles, and more broadly, into international restoration guidelines, may significantly improve restoration outcomes.
24.	Bargues Tobella, Aida (author) Towards effectively restoring agricultural landscapes in East African drylands: Linking plant functional traits with soil hydrology 2023 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 60, s. 91-100 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Land degradation is a major threat to food security in Sub Saharan Africa. Low infiltration rates in degraded soils increase the risk of surface runoff and decrease soil and groundwater recharge, resulting in further loss of soil fertility, water scarcity and crop failure. Increasing woody vegetation typically enhances soil infiltrability but little is known about how species may have differential effects on the soil hydrological properties. The aim of this study is to understand how woody vegetation and its functional properties affect soil fertility and infiltrability. We measured field-saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (K-fs) and soil organic carbon (SOC) in 38 plots across agricultural landscapes in Muminji, Kenya. Woody vegetation and land use inventories took place and species functional traits were measured on the 63 most abundant species. We systematically tested the effects of vegetation quantity (aboveground woody biomass and vegetation cover) and quality (functional properties and diversity) on soil health (K-fs as a proxy for soil infiltrability and SOC for soil fertility). We found that both vegetation quantity and quality affected soil health. Aboveground woody biomass increased the K-fs and we found a nearly significant positive effect of vegetation cover on SOC. Woody plants with a low leaf thickness positively affected K-fs and a nearly significant negative effect of wood moisture content on SOC was found. Synthesis and applications. This study demonstrates that the systematic assessment of vegetation can lead to evidence-based recommendations to guide land restoration. We found that avoiding bare soil and promoting woody plants, while favouring species with thin leaves and avoiding species with a very low wood density and water storage strategy, is beneficial for soil health across agricultural landscapes in East African drylands.
25.	Bejarano, Maria Dolores, et al. (author) Riparian plant guilds become simpler and most likely fewer following flow regulation 2018 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 55:1, s. 365-376 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract 1. River regulation affects riparian systems world-wide and conservation and restoration efforts are essential to retain biodiversity, and the functioning and services of riverine ecosystems. Effects of regulation on plant species richness have been widely addressed, but the filtering effect of regulation on guilds has received less attention.2. We used a functional trait approach to identify adaptive plant strategies through regulation-tolerant traits and predict shifts of riparian vegetation communities in response to regulation. We analysed variation in functional diversity across gradients of hydrological alteration in northern Sweden in relation to modified timing and infrequent major floods, along with frequent short-term inundation.3. Functional richness was similar in all study sites, but species richness declined with increasing intensity of regulation, and the species lost were largely functionally redundant (i.e. co-existing species that have similar contribution to an ecosystem function). Guilds of species intolerant to waterlogging were particularly unsuccessful in most regulated sites as they were affected by hydropower dams which replace major fluvial disturbances with frequent short inundation events. We predict that this guild will disappear, with likely consequences for the entire riverine ecosystem.4. Synthesis and applications. We conclude that functional traits tolerant to waterlogging or submergence and lack of major fluvial disturbances were key to understanding our results. We suggest that the functional trait approach can be integrated with knowledge of other ecosystem components to provide an understanding of ecosystem function that can be used to guide fluvial ecosystem management.
26.	Bergström, Ulf, et al. (author) Evaluating eutrophication management scenarios in the Baltic Sea using species distribution modelling 2013 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2664 .- 0021-8901. ; 50:3, s. 680-690 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Eutrophication is severely affecting species distributions and ecosystem functioning in coastal areas. Targets for eutrophication reduction have been set in the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) using Secchi depth, a measure of water transparency, as the main status indicator. Despite the high economic costs involved, the potential effects of this political decision on key species and habitats have not been assessed. In a case study including species central to coastal ecosystem functioning, we modelled the effects of changing Secchi depth on the distribution of bladderwrack Fucus vesiculosus and eelgrass Zostera marina vegetation as well as recruitment areas of the main predatory fish species, perch Perca fluviatilis and pikeperch Sander lucioperca. Specifically, we explored the effects of changing Secchi depth on species distributions under a set of scenarios based on the BSAP, using three fundamentally different modelling techniques: maximum entropy, generalized additive and random forest modelling. Improved Secchi depth (reduced eutrophication) was predicted to cause a substantial increase in the distribution of bladderwrack, while the distribution of eelgrass remained largely unaffected. For the fish, a large increase in perch recruitment areas was predicted and a concurrent decrease in recruitment areas of pikeperch. These changes are likely to have effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. The three modelling methods exposed differences in the quantitative predictions for species with a weaker coupling to Secchi depth. Qualitatively, however, the results were consistent for all species. Synthesis and applications. We show how ecological effects of environmental policies can be evaluated in an explicit spatial context using species distribution modelling. The model-specific responses to changes in eutrophication status emphasize the importance of using ensemble modelling for exploring how species distributions may respond to alternative management regimes. A pronounced difference in response between species suggests that eutrophication mitigation will have consequences for ecosystem functioning, and thus ecosystem goods and services, by inducing changes in the simple food webs of the Baltic Sea. These model predictions form a basis for spatially explicit cost-benefit estimates under different scenarios, providing valuable information for both decision-makers and the wider society.
27.	Björklund, Niklas (author) Climate change and range expansion of an aggressive bark beetle: evidence of higher beetle reproduction in naive host tree populations 2010 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 47, s. 1036-1043 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract 5. Synthesis and applications. The current study demonstrates that the mountain pine beetle has higher reproductive success in areas where its host trees have not experienced frequent beetle epidemics, which includes much of the current outbreak area in north central British Columbia. This increased productivity of mountain pine beetle is likely to have been a key reason for the rapid population buildup that resulted in unprecedented host tree mortality over huge areas in western Canada. The outbreak thus provides an example of how climate change-driven range expansion of native forest insects can have potentially disastrous consequences. Since an increased reproductive success is likely to accelerate the progression of outbreaks, it is particularly critical to manage forests for the maintenance of a mosaic of species and age classes at the landscape level in areas where host tree populations are naive to eruptive herbivores.
28.	Bosem Baillod, Aliette, et al. (author) Landscape-scale interactions of spatial and temporal cropland heterogeneity drive biological control of cereal aphids 2017 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901. ; 54:6, s. 1804-1813 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Agricultural landscapes are characterised by dynamic crop mosaics changing in composition and configuration over space and time. Although semi-natural habitat has been often shown to contribute to pest biological control, the effects of increasing landscape heterogeneity with cropland have been disregarded. Here, we examine how cereal aphids, their enemies and biological control are affected by the composition and configuration of the crop mosaic and its inter-annual change due to crop rotation. We studied the abundance of cereal aphids, natural enemies and aphid parasitism over 2 years on 51 winter wheat fields. Arthropods were monitored at three distances (0, 10, 30 m) from field borders. Fields were embedded in landscapes of 1-km diameter selected along orthogonal gradients of compositional crop heterogeneity (crop diversity), configurational heterogeneity (field border and grassy field boundary length) and inter-annual change in cover of aphid host habitats (cereal, maize and grassland). We aimed to disentangle spatial and temporal heterogeneity effects through these independent landscape gradients. Aphid densities were lower in landscapes with smaller field size (more field borders) coupled with high amounts of grassy field boundaries. Aphid densities decreased also in landscapes with higher crop diversity when the cover of aphid host habitat had decreased from the year before. Aphid natural enemy densities decreased with smaller field size and high amounts of grassy field boundaries. Aphid parasitism decreased with the inter-annual expansion in aphid host habitat, but only in landscapes with small field sizes. Synthesis and applications. Our study shows for the first time that cereal aphid numbers can be reduced by optimising the composition, configuration and temporal heterogeneity of the crop mosaic. We highlight the value of maintaining small field sizes in agricultural landscapes and high densities of grassy boundaries for reducing aphid abundance. Landscape-wide crop diversification can reduce aphid densities as well.
29.	Breed, Martin F., 1981-, et al. (author) Clarifying climate change adaptation responses for scattered trees in modified landscapes 2011 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 48:3, s. 637-641 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract 1. Many studies have investigated adaptation to climate change. However, the term ‘adaptation’ has been used ambiguously and sometimes included parts of both classic evolutionary processes and conservation planning measures (i.e. human-mediated adaptation).2. To reduce ambiguity, we define three classes of evolutionary processes involved in adaptation – migrational, novel-variant and plasticity. Migrational adaptation describes the process of redistribution of standing genetic variation among populations. Novel-variant adaptation describes the increase in frequency of beneficial, new genetic variants. Plasticity adaptation refers to adaptive plastic responses of organisms to environmental stressors. Quite separately, human-mediated adaptation aims to maintain these evolutionary processes.3. Whilst the role of scattered trees in migrational adaptation of fauna may have been neglected in the past, their capacity to assist migrational adaptation of trees has been previously documented. However, their role in novel-variant and plasticity adaptation is generally unrecognised, and warrants further attention.4. Synthesis and applications. By defining different aspects of adaptation carefully, we show that scattered trees should not be cleared since they may facilitate gene flow across fragmented landscapes. However, they should be avoided as dominant seed sources since their stock may be of poor quality.
30.	Brunet, Jörg, et al. (author) Immigration credit of temperate forest herbs in fragmented landscapes—Implications for restoration of habitat connectivity 2021 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 58:10, s. 2195-2206 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract In many agricultural landscapes, it is important to restore networks of forests to provide habitat and stepping stones for forest specialist taxa. More knowledge is, however, needed on how to facilitate the immigration of such taxa in restored forest patches. Here, we present the first chronosequence study to quantify the dynamics of immigration credits of forest specialist plants in post-arable forest patches.We studied the distribution of herbaceous forest specialist plant species in 54 post-arable broadleaved forest patches along gradients of age (20–140 years since forest establishment), distance from ancient forest (0–2,600 m) and patch area (0.5–9.6 ha). With linear mixed models, we estimated the effects of these factors on species richness, patch means of four dispersal-related plant traits and with generalized linear models on the occurrence of 20 individual species.Post-arable forest patch age and spatial isolation from ancient forest, but not patch size, were important predictors for species richness of forest specialists, suggesting that also small patches are valuable for habitat connectivity. Compared to species richness in ancient forest stands, the immigration credit was reduced by more than 90% after 80 years in post-arable forest patches contiguous to ancient forest compared to 40% after 80 years and 60% after 140 years in isolated patches (at least 100 m to next forest). Tall-growing species with adaptations to long-distance dispersal were faster colonizers, whereas species with heavy diaspores and clonal growth were slower to colonize.Synthesis and applications. We show that post-arable oak plantations have a high potential for restoration of forest herb vegetation. Dispersal-related plant traits play a key role in explaining interspecific differences among forest specialists. To facilitate forest herb immigration across all functional groups in agricultural landscapes, we suggest to create clusters of relatively small new forest patches nearby older forest with source populations.
31.	Bruno, Daniel, et al. (author) Impacts of environmental filters on functional redundancy in riparian vegetation 2016 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 53:3, s. 846-855 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract 1. Understanding and predicting ecosystem responses to multiple environmental pressures is a long-standing interest in ecology and environmental management. However, few studies have examined how the functional features of freshwater biological communities vary along multiple gradients of environmental stress. Furthermore, modelling these functional features for a whole river network constitutes a strong potential basis to improve ecosystem management. 2. We explored how functional redundancy of biological communities (FR, a functional feature related to the stability, resistance and resilience of ecosystems) responds to single and multiple environmental filters. We compared these responses with those of functional richness, evenness and divergence. We used riparian vegetation of a Mediterranean basin, and three of the main environmental filters affecting freshwater communities in such regions, that is drought, flow regulation and agricultural intensity, thus considering the potential effect of natural environmental variability. We also assessed the predictability of FR and estimated it for the entire river network. 3. We found that all functional measures decreased with increasing environmental filter intensity. However, FR was more sensitive to single and multiple environmental filters compared to other functional measures. The best-fitting model explained 59% of the FR variability and included agriculture, drought and flow regulation and the pairwise interactions of agriculture with drought and flow regulation. The parameters of the FR models differed from null model expectations reflecting a non-random decline along stress gradients. 4. Synthesis and applications. We found non-random detrimental effects along environmental filters' gradients for riparian functional redundancy (the most sensitive functional index), meaning that increased stress could jeopardize stability, resistance and resilience of these systems. In general, agriculture caused the greatest impact on functional redundancy and functional diversity measures, being the most important stressor for riparian functionality in the study area. Temporary streams flowing through an agricultural, regulated basin had reduced values of functional redundancy, whereas the free-flowing medium-sized, perennial water courses flowing through unaltered sub-basins displayed higher values of functional redundancy and potentially greater stability against human impacts. All these findings along with the predicted basin-wide variation of functional redundancy can assist environmental managers in improving monitoring and ecosystem management.
32.	Burdon, Francis, et al. (author) Riparian reforestation on the landscape scale: Navigating trade-offs among agricultural production, ecosystem functioning and biodiversity 2022 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 59, s. 1456-1471 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Stream-riparian networks are subject to multiple human pressures that threaten key functions of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, drive habitat and diversity losses, affect riparian connectivity and cause stakeholder conflicts. Designing riparian landscapes in a way that they can simultaneously meet multiple competing demands requires a clear understanding of existing trade-offs, and a landscape-scale perspective on the planning of reforestation measures. This study applied a landscape optimization algorithm for allocating riparian forest management measures in the intensively used agricultural catchment of the Zwalm River (Belgium). We optimized forest allocation to improve stream ecological quality (EPT index), functional diversity (diatoms) and riparian carbon processing (cotton-strip assay), while minimizing losses in agricultural production potential. Regression models were developed to predict the target indicators for 489 segments of the Zwalm riparian corridor, using spatial variables on three different scales. For each riparian segment, we developed spatially explicit management measures, representing different intensities of riparian reforestation. The allocation and combination of these measures in the riparian corridor were optimized to identify (a) trade-offs among the target indicators, (b) priority regions for reforestation actions and (c) the required reforestation intensity. The results showed that all target indicators were affected by the area share of riparian forests and its landscape-scale configuration. Reforestation of the Zwalm riparian corridor could significantly improve indicators for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (e.g. up to +96% for EPT index), but would lead to a strong trade-off with agricultural production. By optimizing the placement of management measures, we showed how these trade-offs could be best balanced. The headwater regions of the Zwalm were identified as priority regions for reforestation actions. Facilitating connectivity among and further expansion of existing forest patches in the Zwalm headwaters showed to improve ecosystems with minimized trade-offs. Synthesis and applications. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the potential of landscape optimization algorithms to support the management and design of multifunctional stream-riparian networks. We identified riparian reforestation solutions that minimized trade-offs between specific natural values and societal needs. Our spatially explicit approach allows for an integration into spatial planning and can inform policy design and implementation.
33.	Bötzl, Fabian (author) The effects of crop type, landscape composition and agroecological practices on biodiversity and ecosystem services in tropical smallholder farms 2023 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 60, s. 859-874 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract In the tropics, smallholder farming characterizes some of the world's most biodiverse landscapes. Agroecology as a pathway to sustainable agriculture has been proposed and implemented in sub-Saharan Africa, but the effects of agricultural practices in smallholder agriculture on biodiversity and ecosystem services are understudied. Similarly, the contribution of different landscape elements, such as shrubland or grassland cover, on biodiversity and ecosystem services to fields remains unknown.We selected 24 villages situated in landscapes with varying shrubland and grassland cover in Malawi. In each village, we assessed biodiversity of eight taxa and ecosystem services in relation to crop type, shrubland and grassland cover and the number of agroecological pest and soil management practices on smallholder's fields of different crop types (bean monoculture, maize-bean intercrop and maize monoculture).Increasing shrubland cover altered carabid and soil bacteria communities. Carabid abundance increased in maize but decreased in intercrop and bean fields with increasing shrubland cover. Carabid abundance and richness and wasp abundance increased with soil management practices. Carabid, spider and parasitoid abundances were higher in bean monocultures, but this was modulated by surrounding shrubland cover. Natural enemy abundances in beans were especially high in landscapes with little shrubland, possibly leading to lower bean damage in monocultures compared to intercropped fields, whereas maize monocultures had higher damage. In maize, grassland cover and pest management practices were positively related to damage. Carabid abundance was higher fields with high bean damage, and increased carabid richness in fields with high maize damage. Parasitoid abundance was negatively associated with bean damage.Synthesis and application. Our results suggest that maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services on smallholder farms is not achievable with a 'one size fits all' approach but should instead be adapted to the landscape context and the priorities of smallholders. Shrubland is important to maintain carabid and soil bacterial diversity, but legume cultivation beneficial to natural enemies could complement pest management in landscapes with a low shrubland cover. An increased number of agroecological soil management practices can lead to improved pest control while the effectiveness of agroecological pest management practices needs to be re-evaluated.
34.	Bötzl, Fabian, et al. (author) Undersowing oats with clovers supports pollinators and suppresses arable weeds without reducing yields 2023 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 60, s. 614-623 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Sustainable food production requires agriculture to conserve biodiversity and facilitate ecosystem services to maintain productivity levels while reducing inputs detrimental to ecosystem functioning. Increasing within-field vegetation diversity by legume intercropping seems promising to facilitate cropping system multi-functionality. Effects of intercropping with legumes on biodiversity-mediated ecosystem services such as pollination or natural pest control are, however, not sufficiently understood. Using 26 observation plots in a paired field design, we studied the effects of undersowing oats with a mixture of three annual clovers across different aspects of cropping system multi-functionality. We investigated 16 below- and above-ground ecosystem service indicators related to soil mineral nitrogen, arable weed control, pollination, disease and pest pressures, natural pest control and crop yield. We found lower arable weed cover, higher flower cover and pollinator densities as well as decreased root-feeding nematode densities in intercropped observation plots compared with the non-intercropped controls. However, intercropping decreased spider activity densities and oat yield nitrogen content. Root diseases, pest damages, natural pest control and crop yield were not affected by intercropping. The biomass of undersown clovers was positively related with the differences in flower cover and pollinator densities, and negatively related with the differences in arable weed cover between the intercropped and the control treatment. Synthesis and applications: We demonstrate that undersowing annual clovers suppresses arable weeds and simultaneously support pollinators without reducing crop yields or taking land out of arable production. Undersown plant mixtures should, however, be tailored to support a wider spectrum of pollinators and benefit natural pest control to support a higher level of overall cropping system multi-functionality.
35.	Carlson, Peter, et al. (author) Responses of macroinvertebrate communities to small dam removals: Implications for bioassessment and restoration 2018 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 55, s. 1896-1907 Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract 1. Small dam removals are increasing on a global scale; yet, general predictions of organism response to dam removal are constrained by heterogeneity of study designs, implementation strategies, geographies, and characteristics of dams and their removals.2. Macroinvertebrate data extracted from 29 studies including 34 small dam removals over a broad geographical range were re-analysed utilizing dam removal effect sizes (a quantified change from before to after removal). Effect sizes of 10 metrics of community structure were calculated to investigate the spatiotemporal extent of small dam removal effects and if responses differ with characteristics of the dam and environmental settings.3. We found that dam removal had initial negative effects on total macroinvertebrate density and Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) density, both downstream and upstream; however, recovery to pre-removal values was reached and exceeded after c. 15-20 months. Mean annual discharge, land use in the catchment and distance from the dam affected the magnitude and direction of responses of four community metrics: total density, EPT density, % EPT density and family biotic index.4. Synthesis and applications. Our study provides evidence that macroinvertebrate community recovery from dam removal is mediated by catchment characteristics and system size, which may correlate with sediment flushing efficiency. Negative impacts were observed in smaller systems or those with a high percentage of undisturbed catchment areas, conditions that may benefit from sediment management prior to dam removal. Significant responses in reaches upstream of the impoundment clearly indicate that caution be applied to interpretations of - response in sampling designs that utilize upstream sites for reference condition.
36.	Carneiro, Ana P. B., et al. (author) A framework for mapping the distribution of seabirds by integrating tracking, demography and phenology 2020 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 57:3, s. 514-525 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract The identification of geographic areas where the densities of animals are highest across their annual cycles is a crucial step in conservation planning. In marine environments, however, it can be particularly difficult to map the distribution of species, and the methods used are usually biased towards adults, neglecting the distribution of other life-history stages even though they can represent a substantial proportion of the total population. Here we develop a methodological framework for estimating population-level density distributions of seabirds, integrating tracking data across the main life-history stages (adult breeders and non-breeders, juveniles and immatures). We incorporate demographic information (adult and juvenile/immature survival, breeding frequency and success, age at first breeding) and phenological data (average timing of breeding and migration) to weight distribution maps according to the proportion of the population represented by each life-history stage. We demonstrate the utility of this framework by applying it to 22 species of albatrosses and petrels that are of conservation concern due to interactions with fisheries. Because juveniles, immatures and non-breeding adults account for 47%-81% of all individuals of the populations analysed, ignoring the distributions of birds in these stages leads to biased estimates of overlap with threats, and may misdirect management and conservation efforts. Population-level distribution maps using only adult distributions underestimated exposure to longline fishing effort by 18%-42%, compared with overlap scores based on data from all life-history stages. Synthesis and applications. Our framework synthesizes and improves on previous approaches to estimate seabird densities at sea, is applicable for data-poor situations, and provides a standard and repeatable method that can be easily updated as new tracking and demographic data become available. We provide scripts in the R language and a Shiny app to facilitate future applications of our approach. We recommend that where sufficient tracking data are available, this framework be used to assess overlap of seabirds with at-sea threats such as overharvesting, fisheries bycatch, shipping, offshore industry and pollutants. Based on such an analysis, conservation interventions could be directed towards areas where they have the greatest impact on populations.
37.	Carrié, Romain, et al. (author) Sensitivity to agricultural inputs and dispersal limitation determine the response of arable plants to time since transition to organic farming In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - 0021-8901. Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Transitioning to low-input agricultural systems such as organic farming has been acknowledged as a way to mitigate negative effects of agriculture on biodiversity. However, the speed, magnitude and context dependence of biodiversity recovery after converting to organic farming remain uncertain. In this study, we explored the response of plant communities to time since transition to organic farming in a variety of production contexts. Using a spatially replicated space-for-time substitution design, we surveyed plant communities in small-grain cereal and ley fields in conventional and organic farms, distributed along independent gradients of time since transition to organic farming and proportion of seminatural grasslands in the landscapes. We selected a set of response traits to explore the mechanism of potential time lag in that response to conversion. These traits were selected to characterize the sensitivity of plant species to agricultural inputs and their ability to respond swiftly to environmental changes. We found an increase in plant species richness and evenness in cereal fields with increasing time since transition to organic farming, and a similar but less pronounced pattern in leys. After 30 years of continuous organic farming, organic cereal fields harboured more than twice the number of plant species than newly converted fields. Importantly, we found that the dependence on insect pollination, sensitivity to herbicides and dispersal capacity of plants modulated the effects of time since transition on plant communities in cereal fields. This suggests that both management and biotic interactions shape plant community structure in response to organic practices over time. Policy implications. Our study highlights that benefits of organic farming for plant diversity are likely to take decades to become substantial after conversion. We found this slow recovery of plant communities to be driven by both the gradual improvement of habitat quality after conversion and species' dispersal limitation. Assessments of biodiversity benefits of organic farming should therefore consider this time delay to avoid underestimating its environmental performance. Farmers should also be supported during this ecological transitional phase during which yield-enhancing ecosystem services reliant on plant diversity might build up.
38.	Certain, Grégoire (author) Spatio-temporal modelling of auk abundance after the Erika oil spill and implications for conservation 2016 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 53, s. 1862-1870 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Species distribution models are widely used in applied ecology and conservation. While accounting for spatial dependences is now the rule, temporal dependences have rarely been dealt with explicitly. In this study, we analyse wintering auk distribution in the Bay of Biscay and English Channel and estimate changes in abundance within and between years while accounting for space-time dependencies. We then propose a retrospective estimate of the impact of the Erika oil spill that occurred in December 1999. Two series of extensive aerial surveys, repeated at intervals of 1-2 months, were carried out at a 10-year interval off the French Atlantic coast (2001-2002 and 2011-2012). Spatially and temporally explicit Bayesian models were fitted to these data to provide spatio-temporal predictions of auk abundance. These were then used to compare abundances within the area affected by the Erika oil spill two and twelve years after the catastrophe. The results showed that 155 million auks wintered in the study area in 2011-2012. The main wintering area was the English Channel (more than one million auks) but the Bay of Biscay also became an important area in the middle of winter (470000 auks) owing to a strong southward shift in auk distribution. Two years after the catastrophe (2001-2002), the area affected by the Erika oil spill hosted a small proportion of auks of the Bay of Biscay - about 80000 individuals. This number increased by more than three times 10 years later and reached 270000 individuals, whereas no significant change was detected elsewhere. We suggest that it could result from a recovery after the extra-mortality induced by the Erika oil spill.Policy implications. This study identified major auk wintering areas, with abundances much higher than previously realized. Oil spills have occurred regularly in these areas, with major delayed impacts on auk breeding populations. The worst case scenario would be if a major oil spill occurred in the English Channel in February, when abundance reaches one million auks. Although such a disaster has not so far occurred, stricter policies on the transport of hydrocarbons should be implemented to prevent such a possibility.This study identified major auk wintering areas, with abundances much higher than previously realized. Oil spills have occurred regularly in these areas, with major delayed impacts on auk breeding populations. The worst case scenario would be if a major oil spill occurred in the English Channel in February, when abundance reaches one million auks. Although such a disaster has not so far occurred, stricter policies on the transport of hydrocarbons should be implemented to prevent such a possibility.
39.	Cole, Lorna J., et al. (author) A critical analysis of the potential for EU Common Agricultural Policy measures to support wild pollinators on farmland 2020 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 57:4, s. 681-694 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Agricultural intensification and associated loss of high-quality habitats are key drivers of insect pollinator declines. With the aim of decreasing the environmental impact of agriculture, the 2014 EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) defined a set of habitat and landscape features (Ecological Focus Areas: EFAs) farmers could select from as a requirement to receive basic farm payments. To inform the post-2020 CAP, we performed a European-scale evaluation to determine how different EFA options vary in their potential to support insect pollinators under standard and pollinator-friendly management, as well as the extent of farmer uptake. A structured Delphi elicitation process engaged 22 experts from 18 European countries to evaluate EFAs options. By considering life cycle requirements of key pollinating taxa (i.e. bumble bees, solitary bees and hoverflies), each option was evaluated for its potential to provide forage, bee nesting sites and hoverfly larval resources. EFA options varied substantially in the resources they were perceived to provide and their effectiveness varied geographically and temporally. For example, field margins provide relatively good forage throughout the season in Southern and Eastern Europe but lacked early-season forage in Northern and Western Europe. Under standard management, no single EFA option achieved high scores across resource categories and a scarcity of late season forage was perceived. Experts identified substantial opportunities to improve habitat quality by adopting pollinator-friendly management. Improving management alone was, however, unlikely to ensure that all pollinator resource requirements were met. Our analyses suggest that a combination of poor management, differences in the inherent pollinator habitat quality and uptake bias towards catch crops and nitrogen-fixing crops severely limit the potential of EFAs to support pollinators in European agricultural landscapes. Policy Implications. To conserve pollinators and help protect pollination services, our expert elicitation highlights the need to create a variety of interconnected, well-managed habitats that complement each other in the resources they offer. To achieve this the Common Agricultural Policy post-2020 should take a holistic view to implementation that integrates the different delivery vehicles aimed at protecting biodiversity (e.g. enhanced conditionality, eco-schemes and agri-environment and climate measures). To improve habitat quality we recommend an effective monitoring framework with target-orientated indicators and to facilitate the spatial targeting of options collaboration between land managers should be incentivised.
40.	Creel, Scott (author) Changes in African large carnivore diets over the past half-century reveal the loss of large prey 2018 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 55, s. 2908-2916 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract 1. Globally, large carnivores are declining due to direct persecution, habitat loss, and prey depletion. The effects of prey depletion could be amplified by changes in the composition of the herbivore (prey) community that provoke changes in carnivore diets, but this possibility has received little attention.2. We tested for changes over the past half-century in prey selection by the large carnivore guild in Zambia's Kafue National Park (KNP).3. Across 52 predator-prey dyads, 71% of the observed changes showed that large prey have become less important and small prey have become more important. Consequently, dietary niche breadth has decreased for KNP carnivores and niche overlap has increased.4. We tested whether changes in the importance of prey species are related to their current abundance and uniformly found that prey that have increased in importance are now relatively common, while those that have decreased in importance are now relatively rare. We identify four potential effects of these changes for conservation (through intraguild competition, group size, the energetics of hunting, and vulnerability to snaring) that warrant investigation.5. Synthesis and applications. Patterns of prey selection by the large carnivores in Kafue National Park (KNP) have changed appreciably over the past half-century. Decreased predation on large prey, which are now relatively rare, has caused niche compression and increased overlap in carnivore diets. Predation by all KNP large carnivores now concentrates on four small prey species that remain relatively abundant (impala, puku, lechwe, and warthog). Methods to detect such changes in interactions between species are well-established, but are rarely applied to large carnivore-ungulate systems. To guide conservation of ecosystem function, monitoring programmes should consider whether prey depletion alters the patterns of predation or competition within the predator guild because these interactions strongly affect the distribution and abundance of both predators and prey. If the patterns seen in KNP are general, then where carnivores are limited by prey depletion, conservation efforts will be most effective if they focus on mitigating the loss of large prey. In KNP, targeted efforts to protect prey larger than 200 kg, particularly buffalo, should be a priority.
41.	Cromsigt, Joris (author) Hunting for fear: innovating management of human-wildlife conflicts 2013 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 50, s. 544-549 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract There is a growing theoretical basis for the role of predation risk as a driver of trophic interactions, conceptualized as the ecology of fear'. However, current ungulate management ignores the role of nonlethal risk effects of predation. We introduce the concept of hunting for fear' as an extension of the more classical hunting to kill' that is typically used in large herbivore management. Hunting for fear aims to induce a behavioural response in ungulates, for example, as a way of diverting them from areas where their impact is undesired. Synthesis and applications. Hunting for fear asks for novel, potentially controversial, ways of hunting to induce strong enough risk effects, including more hunting on foot and with dogs, extended hunting seasons (ideally year-round) and increased hunting of calves. Hunting for fear may offer novel opportunities to help manage the growing humanwildlife conflicts that we experience globally.
42.	Dahlin, Iris, et al. (author) Aphid performance and population development on their host plants is affected by weed–crop interactions 2013 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 50, s. 1281-1288 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Some farming practices, like organic farming, lead to greater numbers of weed plants incrop fields. These fields may give us some insights into any benefits that may be gained frombiodiversity (e.g. improved pest control services) and allow us to understand the mechanismsbehind crop–weed interactions.2. The influence of two common weeds, lamb’s-quarters Chenopodium album and charlockSinapis arvensis, on performance of the bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi in springsownbarley Hordeum vulgare is evaluated in three field experiments. Observations in fieldexperiments indicated that the presence of S. arvensis reduced aphid population developmentin the barley crop significantly, but this effect was not observed in barley grown withC. album.3. Observed effects in the field were further studied in laboratory experiments with regard toaphid growth and reproductive performance. Above- and below-ground interactions ofS. arvensis and C. album with barley were tested using twin-exposure cages. Aphid performancewas negatively affected when barley plants had root contact with S. arvensis. Theresults of these laboratory experiments showed a difference in mode of action of the twoweeds.4. Synthesis and applications. The results support the potential of associated resistance, mediatedby neighbouring plants, in minimizing herbivore damage of focal plants and highlightedthe mechanism by which herbivores might be affected. Since chemical exchange between plantneighbours can potentially occur in any plant community, increased understanding could bevaluable for existing and new agroecosystems, invasion biology and sustainable crop production.To get a balance between herbicide and insecticide control, agricultural production systemsneed to focus on the thresholds of weed and insect tolerance, taking the associatedresistance of biodiversity (here weeds) into account. Agricultural biodiversity may providemany long-term benefits over monoculture, from reducing pesticide pollution to preventinginsecticide resistance. Our study is an important step forward in general understanding of theeffects of vegetational diversity on herbivore population dynamics.
43.	Dániel-Ferreira, Juliana, et al. (author) Communities in infrastructure habitats are species rich but only partly support species associated with semi-natural grasslands 2023 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 60, s. 837-848 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Biodiversity linked to traditionally managed semi-natural grasslands is declining, despite conservation efforts. At the same time, the area of novel grassland habitats along linear infrastructure, such as road verges and power line corridors, is increasing and in some regions surpass the area of semi-natural grasslands. An open question is to what extent these novel grasslands can complement or even replace traditionally managed grasslands as habitat for grassland species.We compared the alpha (species richness) and beta (abundance-based dissimilarities) diversity of plants, bumblebees and butterflies among semi-natural pastures, verges of small and big roads, power line corridors and uncultivated field borders nested within 32 landscapes (2 x 2 km squares). Landscapes had either high or low road density and were with or without power line corridors. Across landscapes there was also a gradient in the area of semi-natural pastures.Alpha diversity of all three species groups was as high in power line corridors and verges of small roads as in semi-natural pastures, regardless of landscape composition. Although all habitat types shared a large proportion of species, community composition differed among habitats for all three species groups. The beta diversity of plants and butterflies was driven primarily by the replacement of species (turnover), while the beta diversity of bumblebees was driven by a rarer occurrence of certain species in road verges (nestedness). This means that linear infrastructure habitats cannot fully replace the role of semi-natural grasslands for plant and pollinator diversity.The area of road verges, power line corridors and semi-natural pastures in the landscape influenced community composition of plants and butterflies, but not the similarity in community composition among habitats within landscapes.Policy implications. Although novel grasslands along linear infrastructures have high numbers of grassland species, they only support a part of the biodiversity found in traditionally managed semi-natural grasslands. Therefore, protecting and restoring semi-natural grasslands should continue to be a priority for the conservation of grassland biodiversity. However, especially in landscapes where the area of semi-natural grasslands is low, road verges and power line corridors can be important habitats for a number of grassland plants and insects and should be managed to promote biodiversity.
44.	Dannewitz, Johan, et al. (author) Effects of sea-ranching and family background on fitness traits in brown trout Salmo trutta reared under near-natural conditions 2003 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - 0021-8901. ; 40, s. 241-250 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
45.	Daouti, Eirini Lamprini (author) Direct and indirect effects of landscape and field management intensity on carabids through trophic resources and weeds 2022 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 59, s. 176-187 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Carabids are important biological control agents of weeds and other pests in agricultural fields. The carabid community is built upon direct and indirect ecological effects of landscape complexity, field management intensity and biotic components that in interaction make any prediction of community size and composition challenging. We analyse a large-scale sample of 60 European cereal fields using structural equation modelling to quantify the direct effects of field management intensity and the surrounding landscape, and their indirect effect via biotic components, on carabid diversity. Our results highlight that direct and indirect effects of increasing landscape complexity, mediated by trophic resources, mainly affect carabids positively. Field management intensity only ever affects carabids through indirect effects that are generally negative, by suppressing standing weeds and weed seeds. Indirect effects on granivore carabid species depended on weed seed availability, whereas omnivores depended on the availability of both weed seeds and animal prey. Synthesis and applications. A consideration of both the direct and indirect effects of landscape and field management is necessary for predicting carabid communities. These indirect effects, mediated via trophic resources, supports the diversity and abundance of carabid communities and their provision of ecosystem services. Our results show that promoting crop diversity and connectivity to semi-natural habitats will directly enhance carabid communities in farmland by manipulating their migration from source habitats and indirectly by promoting the presence and diversity of their trophic resources. A reduction in field management intensity will preserve local standing weeds and weed seeds, and indirectly support carabid communities. These local and landscape modifications could contribute to improve the natural regulation of pests and weeds by carabids.
46.	Daouti, Eirini Lamprini, et al. (author) Seed predation is key to preventing population growth of the weed Alopecurus myosuroides 2022 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 59, s. 471-482 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Seed predation can reduce the abundance and spread of unwanted vegetation in agricultural and other semi-natural ecosystems. However, knowledge of how variations in seed predation rates affect plant species population dynamics is needed for decision making and knowledge-based ecosystem management. We developed a stage-classified stochastic matrix population model for Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. (blackgrass), an annual plant species thriving as a weed in temperate agroecosystems of Western and Northern Europe. The model was parameterised using empirical demographic data from long-term experiments in Swedish winter wheat fields, including information on post-dispersal seed losses by vertebrate and invertebrate seed predators. For agroecosystems with highly effective weed control measures (e.g. chemical and mechanical weed control), model simulations showed that seed losses via seed predation need to reach at least 78% at peak seed shedding to suppress population growth of A. myosuroides. The field experiment showed that vertebrates were most important for seed predation in July, at peak seed shedding. In August, after crop harvest, invertebrates were responsible for almost all seed predation. The model indicated that weed seed predation was much more important for weed regulation when it occurred before crop harvest in July. Vertebrates most strongly reduced population growth of A. myosuroides, although both vertebrates and invertebrates were needed to prevent it entirely. Synthesis and applications. We showed that weed seed predation by vertebrate and invertebrate seed predators is key for reducing the population growth of winter annual weeds like A. myosuroides in intensively managed agroecosystems. Therefore, protection of weed seed predators is essential for making management of unwanted vegetation less dependent on chemical and mechanical measures.
47.	del Río, Miren, et al. (author) Emerging stability of forest productivity by mixing two species buffers temperature destabilizing effect 2022 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 59:11, s. 2730-2741 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract The increasing disturbances in monocultures around the world are testimony to their instability under global change. Many studies have claimed that temporal stability of productivity increases with species richness, although the ecological fundamentals have mainly been investigated through diversity experiments. To adequately manage forest ecosystems, it is necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of the effect of mixing species on the temporal stability of productivity and the way in which it is influenced by climate conditions across large geographical areas. Here, we used a unique dataset of 261 stands combining pure and two-species mixtures of four relevant tree species over a wide range of climate conditions in Europe to examine the effect of species mixing on the level and temporal stability of productivity. Structural equation modelling was employed to further explore the direct and indirect influence of climate, overyielding, species asynchrony and additive effect (i.e. temporal stability expected from the species growth in monospecific stands) on temporal stability in mixed forests. We showed that by adding only one tree species to monocultures, the level (overyielding: +6%) and stability (temporal stability: +12%) of stand growth increased significantly. We identified the key effect of temperature on destabilizing stand growth, which may be mitigated by mixing species. We further confirmed asynchrony as the main driver of temporal stability in mixed stands, through both the additive effect and species interactions, which modify between-species asynchrony in mixtures in comparison to monocultures. Synthesis and applications. This study highlights the emergent properties associated with mixing two species, which result in resource efficient and temporally stable production systems. We reveal the negative impact of mean temperature on temporal stability of forest productivity and how the stabilizing effect of mixing two species can counterbalance this impact. The overyielding and temporal stability of growth addressed in this paper are essential for ecosystem services closely linked with the level and rhythm of forest growth. Our results underline that mixing two species can be a realistic and effective nature-based climate solution, which could contribute towards meeting EU climate target policies.
48.	Diehl, Eva, et al. (author) Effects of predator specialization, host plant and climate on biological control of aphids by natural enemies: a meta-analysis 2013 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2664 .- 0021-8901. ; 50:1, s. 262-270 Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract Aphids are among the most severe invertebrate pests of crops and cause high economic losses. The control of aphids by natural enemies is an essential ecosystem service with high relevance to management strategies applied in agricultural plant production and horticulture. However, the current knowledge on the effectiveness of specialist and generalist predators in aphid control with respect to host plants and climatic conditions has not yet been summarized in a meta-analytical approach. We collected 60 studies providing 168 independent cases of predator exclusion experiments to analyse how predator and host plant group and climatic conditions affect aphid control by natural enemies. Effects of natural enemies on aphid populations were strongest in assemblages that included specialist predators, either alone or with generalist predators. Generalists alone also reduced aphid numbers significantly, but not to the same extent as specialists. Effects of natural enemies were weaker on aphid populations feeding on legumes compared with aphids on grasses or herbs. The percentage reduction of aphids feeding on grasses, herbs or legumes was higher in treatments with assemblages or specialists alone compared with generalists with the largest difference on grasses. According to all field studies from the temperate zone, effects of natural enemies on aphid populations were strongest in areas with high precipitation seasonality. A relationship between predator effects and temperature seasonality was only found for the USA. Synthesis and applications. Specialist predators alone or assemblages of specialists and generalists had the strongest effect on aphid populations, especially when either feeding on grasses and herbs or when exposed to extreme weather events. The control of aphids by natural enemies is most promising in grass and herb crops, whereas it is less suited for controlling aphids in legume crops. Facing climate change, the effect of extreme weather events on aphid control by natural enemies will have further implications for developing management strategies for aphid control in the future.
49.	Ecke, Frauke (author) Contrasting the roles of section length and instream habitat enhancement for river restoration success: a field study of 20 European restoration projects 2015 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 52, s. 1518-1527 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract Restoration of river hydromorphology often has limited detected effects on river biota. One frequently discussed reason is that the restored river length is insufficient to allow populations to develop and give the room for geomorphological processes to occur. We investigated ten pairs of restored river sections of which one was a large project involving a long, intensively restored river section and one represented a smaller restoration effort. The restoration effect was quantified by comparing each restored river section to an upstream non-restored section. We sampled the following response variables: habitat composition in the river and its floodplain, three aquatic organism groups (aquatic macrophytes, benthic invertebrates and fish), two floodplain-inhabiting organism groups (floodplain vegetation, ground beetles), as well as food web composition and land-water interactions reflected by stable isotopes. For each response variable, we compared the difference in dissimilarity of the restored and nearby non-restored section between the larger and the smaller restoration projects. In a second step, we regrouped the pairs and compared restored sections with large changes in substrate composition to those with small changes. When comparing all restored to all non-restored sections, ground beetles were most strongly responding to restoration, followed by fish, floodplain vegetation, benthic invertebrates and aquatic macrophytes. Aquatic habitats and stable isotope signatures responded less strongly. When grouping the restored sections by project size, there was no difference in the response to restoration between the projects targeting long and short river sections with regard to any of the measured response variables except nitrogen isotopic composition. In contrast, when grouping the restored sections by substrate composition, the responses of fish, benthic invertebrates, aquatic macrophytes, floodplain vegetation and nitrogen isotopic composition were greater in sections with larger changes in substrate composition as compared to those with smaller changes.Synthesis and applications. The effects of hydromorphological restoration measures on aquatic and floodplain biota strongly depend on the creation of habitat for aquatic organisms, which were limited or not present prior to restoration. These positive effects on habitats are not necessarily related to the restored river length. Therefore, we recommend a focus on habitat enhancement in river restoration projects.The effects of hydromorphological restoration measures on aquatic and floodplain biota strongly depend on the creation of habitat for aquatic organisms, which were limited or not present prior to restoration. These positive effects on habitats are not necessarily related to the restored river length. Therefore, we recommend a focus on habitat enhancement in river restoration projects.
50.	Ecke, Frauke, et al. (author) Population dynamics of small mammals in relation to forest age and structural habitat factors in northern Sweden 2002 In: Journal of Applied Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8901 .- 1365-2664. ; 39:5, s. 781-792 Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract In northern Scandinavia there are indications of a long-term decline in the abundance of the three dominant vole species, Clethrionomys glareolus, Clethrionomys rufocanus and Microtus agrestis, since the 1970s. One explanation proposes that intensified clear-cutting has created even-aged and homogeneous forest stands with poor overall conditions for survival and reproduction of the voles. 2. We investigated the relationship between forest age and structural habitat factors and its implications for the species richness and abundance of small mammals. In particular, we assessed the population dynamics of C. glareolus, a forest-dwelling species with rather general habitat requirements. 3. Extensive snap-trapping of small mammals was conducted during 1998-2000 on 24 study sites in boreal forests in northern Sweden. Trapping was carried out along transects running from immature forests of six age classes (0-50 years) into adjacent reference sites (> 100 years). At each trapping station we recorded 14 habitat variables that were reduced to three principal components (PCs). The PCs were related to late successional traits, such as forest age and cover of tree layers (PC1), cover of tall vegetation in the field layer (PC2) and structural heterogeneity in the forest floor (PC3). 4. The species richness of small mammals, as well as the total abundance of C. glareolus, was positively influenced by tall vegetation (PC2) and structural heterogeneity (PC3) but not by late successional traits (PC1). The youngest forests had higher scores for both PC2 and PC3 compared with older forests. 5. The youngest forests also had the highest species richness and total abundance of C. glareolus. This was associated with a generally higher rate of change in numbers of C. glareolus during summer in the youngest forests compared with adjacent reference sites. In contrast, survival during winter was lower in the youngest forests. We found this result to be consistent with a source-sink scenario where young individuals, primarily born in old forest stands in early summer, migrate into younger forests to breed, but where the probabilities for winter survival are poor. 6. Our study demonstrates that both the species richness of small mammals and the population dynamics of C. glareolus are influenced to a great extent by structural habitat factors that are altered by common forest management practices in northern Sweden. In order to conserve species richness of small mammals and to minimize population fluctuations of C. glareolus in northern Scandinavia, we outline forest management practices that will provide heterogeneous environments, such as leaving logging residues on site after forest harvesting.

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Type of publication: journal article (206); research review (16); other publication (1)

Type of content: peer-reviewed (221); other academic/artistic (2)

Author/Editor: Rundlöf, Maj (11); Pärt, Tomas (10); Bommarco, Riccardo (9); Öckinger, Erik (8); Nilsson, Christer (7); Clough, Yann (6); show more...; Angeler, David (6); Hylander, Kristoffer (5); Smith, Henrik G. (5); Gustafsson, Lena (5); Cousins, Sara A. O. (4); Verheyen, Kris (4); Bergström, Ulf (4); Carrié, Romain (3); Brunet, Jörg (3); Olsson, Jens (3); Birkhofer, Klaus (3); Riggi, Laura (3); Bengtsson, Jan (3); Ranius, Thomas (3); Berg, Åke (3); Östman, Örjan (3); Tack, Ayco J. M. (2); Ekroos, Johan (2); Ruete, Alejandro (2); Roslin, Tomas (2); De Frenne, Pieter (2); Diekmann, Martin (2); Stenlid, Jan (2); Auffret, Alistair G. (2); Bejarano, Maria Dolo ... (2); Merritt, David M. (2); Miller, Kirsten (2); Tamburini, Giovanni (2); Rusch, Adrien (2); Aguilera Nuñez, Guil ... (2); Hiron, Matthew (2); Lundin, Ola (2); Jansson, Roland, 196 ... (2); Hambäck, Peter A. (2); Edsman, Lennart (2); Sundblad, Göran (2); Prentice, Honor C (2); Josefsson, Jonas (2); Lindström, Åke (2); Svensson, Sören (2); Goedkoop, Willem (2); Dannewitz, Johan (2); Klatt, Björn (2); Andersson, Georg (2); show less...

University: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (127); Lund University (47); Stockholm University (26); Umeå University (17); Uppsala University (14); Linnaeus University (5); show more...; Mid Sweden University (4); Karlstad University (4); University of Gothenburg (3); Halmstad University (3); Linköping University (2); Luleå University of Technology (1); Örebro University (1); Södertörn University (1); University of Skövde (1); Chalmers University of Technology (1); Swedish Museum of Natural History (1); IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute (1); show less...

Language: English (222); Undefined language (1)

Research subject (UKÄ/SCB): Natural sciences (200); Agricultural Sciences (65); Medical and Health Sciences (1); Social Sciences (1)

Year

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