1. |
- Hoffland, Ellis, et al.
(author)
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The role of fungi in weathering
- 2004
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and Environment. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 2:5, s. 258-264
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- No rock at the Earth’s surface escapes weathering. This process is the primary source of all the essential elements for organisms, except nitrogen and carbon. Since the onset of terrestrial life, weathering has been accelerated under the influence of biota. The study of biological weathering started at the end of the 19th century. Although the role of bacteria (Eubacteria, Archaea) has attracted a lot of interest, until recently the role of fungi has largely been neglected. More recently, however, fungal weathering has become an increasingly important focus of biogeochemical research.
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2. |
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3. |
- Alexander, Steven M., et al.
(author)
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Navigating governance networks for community-based conservation
- 2016
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 14:3, s. 155-164
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Governance networks can facilitate coordinated action and shared opportunities for learning among conservation scientists, policy makers, and communities. However, governance networks that link local, regional, and international actors just as often reflect social relationships and arrangements that can undermine conservation efforts, particularly those concerning community-level priorities. Here, we identify three waypoints or navigational guides to help researchers and practitioners explore these networks, and to inspire them to consider in a more systematic manner the social rules and relationships that influence conservation outcomes. These waypoints encourage those engaged in community-based conservation (CBC) to: (1) think about the networks in which they are embedded and the constellation of actors that influence conservation practice; (2) examine the values and interests of diverse actors in governance, and the implications of different perspectives for conservation; and (3) consider how the structure and dynamics of networks can reveal helpful insights for conservation efforts. The three waypoints we highlight synthesize an interdisciplinary literature on governance networks and provide key insights for conservation actors navigating the challenges of CBC at multiple scales and levels.
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4. |
- Angeler, David
(author)
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Barriers and bridges to the integration of social-ecological resilience and law
- 2015
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 13, s. 332-337
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is a fundamental difference between the ways in which ecologists and lawyers view uncertainty: in the study of ecology, uncertainty provides a catalyst for exploration, whereas uncertainty is antithetical to the rule of law. This issue is particularly troubling in environmental management, where the tensions between law and ecology become apparent. Rather than acknowledge uncertainties in management actions, legal frameworks often force a false sense of certainty in linking cause and effect. While adaptive management has been developed to deal with uncertainty, laws and legal wrangling can be obstacles to implementation. In this article, we recommend resilience-based governance "adaptive governance" as a means to begin bridging the gap between law and ecology.
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5. |
- Belote, R. T., et al.
(author)
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Mammal species composition reveals new insights into Earth's remaining wilderness
- 2020
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 18:7, s. 376-383
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Maps of the human footprint allow ecologists to identify the wildest lands on the planet, track their decline, and prioritize wildland conservation efforts. Other research efforts have mapped biological intactness and identified conservation priorities to protect biodiversity. However, little research has involved the use of historical references to evaluate intactness of species composition globally. We used a dataset estimating historical and current distributions of mammals to address whether the wildest places on Earth support the most intact mammal communities. Contrary to our expectations, we found that the global human footprint was not strongly correlated with mammal community intactness and uncovered surprising situations where both the human footprint and mammal species intactness were high, and other examples where both were low. Our results could be used to enhance maps and estimates of global wilderness areas by identifying wild and intact regions, while also prioritizing conservation of intact but human-modified landscapes. © The Ecological Society of America
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6. |
- Bennett, Elena M., et al.
(author)
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Bright spots : seeds of a good Anthropocene
- 2016
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 14:8, s. 441-448
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The scale, rate, and intensity of humans' environmental impact has engendered broad discussion about how to find plausible pathways of development that hold the most promise for fostering a better future in the Anthropocene. However, the dominance of dystopian visions of irreversible environmental degradation and societal collapse, along with overly optimistic utopias and business-as-usual scenarios that lack insight and innovation, frustrate progress. Here, we present a novel approach to thinking about the future that builds on experiences drawn from a diversity of practices, worldviews, values, and regions that could accelerate the adoption of pathways to transformative change (change that goes beyond incremental improvements). Using an analysis of 100 initiatives, or seeds of a good Anthropocene, we find that emphasizing hopeful elements of existing practice offers the opportunity to: (1) understand the values and features that constitute a good Anthropocene, (2) determine the processes that lead to the emergence and growth of initiatives that fundamentally change human-environmental relationships, and (3) generate creative, bottom-up scenarios that feature well-articulated pathways toward a more positive future.
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7. |
- Berg, Åke
(author)
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Conservation of birds in fragmented landscapes requires protected areas
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 20, s. 361-369
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- For successful conservation of biodiversity, it is vital to know whether protected areas in increasingly fragmented landscapes effectively safeguard species. However, how large habitat fragments must be, and what level of protection is required to sustain species, remains poorly known. We compiled a global dataset on almost 2000 bird species in 741 forest fragments varying in size and protection status, and show that protection is associated with higher bird occurrence, especially for threatened species. Protection becomes increasingly effective with increasing size of forest fragments. For forest fragments >50 ha our results show that strict protection (International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN] categories I-IV) is strongly associated with higher bird occurrence, whereas fragments had to be at least 175 ha for moderate protection (IUCN categories V and VI) to have a positive effect. This meta-analysis quantifies the importance of fragment size, protection status, and their interaction for the conservation of bird species communities, and stresses that protection should not be limited to large pristine areas.
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8. |
- Bommarco, Riccardo, et al.
(author)
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Rights-of-way: a potential conservation resource
- 2018
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 16, s. 149-158
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rights-of-way (ROW) that enable the transport of humans, goods, and energy (eg roads and road verges, railways and embankments, and power lines and the corridors they occupy) cover vast areas and can resemble a species-rich natural habitat. We examine the value of ROW for biodiversity conservation. Similar to grasslands or heathlands, the green spaces associated with ROW often harbor high numbers of species, including rare plants and animals. There is, however, a risk that ROW can act as ecological traps, by attracting organisms that fail to survive and/or reproduce within ROW green spaces. To date, a focus on documenting species occurrence has left major gaps in our understanding of how life in a ROW influences the survival and reproduction of populations, their biotic interactions, and movements within a broader landscape. Estimating these parameters allows for management to better recognize the potential conservation value of these landscape elements.
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9. |
- Caplat, Paul, et al.
(author)
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Looking beyond the mountain: dispersal barriers in a changing world
- 2016
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 14:5, s. 262-269
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dispersal barriers have demographic, evolutionary, and ecosystem-wide consequences. With ongoing changes in the environment, some dispersal barriers will likely disappear while new ones will appear, and it is crucial to understand these dynamics to forecast species' distributions and adaptive potential. Here we review recent literature on the ecological and evolutionary aspects of dispersal to highlight key dynamics of dispersal barriers in the face of global change. After defining dispersal barriers, we explain that a better understanding of their dynamics requires identifying the barrier types that are most susceptible to change and predicting species' responses. This knowledge is a prerequisite for designing management strategies to increase or reduce connectivity, and maintain adaptive potential. Our intent is to motivate researchers to explicitly consider dispersal barriers in order to better forecast the dynamics of species and ecosystems subject to global change.
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10. |
- Eriksson, Hampus, et al.
(author)
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Contagious exploitation of marine resources
- 2015
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 13:8, s. 435-440
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Global seafood sourcing networks are expanding to meet demand. To describe contemporary fishery expansion patterns, we analyzed the worldwide exploitation of sea cucumber (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) traded via Hong Kong for consumers in China. In just 15 years (1996-2011), the sea cucumber sourcing network expanded from 35 to 83 countries; sea cucumber fisheries serving the Chinese market now operate within countries cumulatively spanning over 90% of the world's tropical coastlines. The emergence of such fisheries in nations where they were previously absent could not be explained either by their national governance capacity or by their distance from Hong Kong. Surging imports from these new fisheries have compensated for declines in long-standing fisheries elsewhere. The case of commercial sea cucumber trade for the Chinese market exemplifies a new global extraction phenomenon that we call contagious resource exploitation - a fast-moving system resembling a disease epidemic, where long-distance transport expedites large-scale expansion followed by diffusive local spread into neighboring areas. Multi-level and multi-scale decision making is urgently needed to control and mitigate the effects of contagious exploitation.
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11. |
- Fa, John E., et al.
(author)
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Importance of Indigenous Peoples' lands for the conservation of Intact Forest Landscapes
- 2020
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 18:3, s. 135-140
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs) are critical strongholds for the environmental services that they provide, not least for their role in climate protection. On the basis of information about the distributions of IFLs and Indigenous Peoples' lands, we examined the importance of these areas for conserving the world's remaining intact forests. We determined that at least 36% of IFLs are within Indigenous Peoples' lands, making these areas crucial to the mitigation action needed to avoid catastrophic climate change. We also provide evidence that IFL loss rates have been considerably lower on Indigenous Peoples' lands than on other lands, although these forests are still vulnerable to clearing and other threats. World governments must recognize Indigenous Peoples' rights, including land tenure rights, to ensure that Indigenous Peoples play active roles in decision-making processes that affect IFLs on their lands. Such recognition is critical given the urgent need to reduce deforestation rates in the face of escalating climate change and global biodiversity loss.
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12. |
- Fischer, Anke
(author)
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The role of species charisma in biological invasions
- 2020
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 18, s. 345-352
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Commonly used in the literature to refer to the "attractiveness", "appeal", or "beauty" of a species, charisma can be defined as a set of characteristics - and the perception thereof - that affect people's attitudes and behaviors toward a species. It is a highly relevant concept for invasion science, with implications across all stages of the invasion process. However, the concept of invasive alien species (IAS) charisma has not yet been systematically investigated. We discuss this concept in detail, provide a set of recommendations for further research, and highlight management implications. We review how charisma affects the processes associated with biological invasions andIASmanagement, including species introductions and spread, media portrayals, public perceptions of species management, research attention, and active public involvement in research and management. Explicit consideration ofIAScharisma is critical for understanding the factors that shape people's attitudes toward particular species, planning management measures and strategies, and implementing a combination of education programs, awareness raising, and public involvement campaigns.
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13. |
- Fischer, Joern, et al.
(author)
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A plea for multifunctional landscapes
- 2017
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 15:2, s. 59-59
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)
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14. |
- Garmestani, A., et al.
(author)
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Panarchy : opportunities and challenges for ecosystem management
- 2020
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 18:10, s. 576-583
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Addressing unexpected events and uncertainty represents one of the grand challenges of the Anthropocene, yet ecosystem management is constrained by existing policy and laws that were not formulated to deal with today's accelerating rates of environmental change. In many cases, managing for simple regulatory standards has resulted in adverse outcomes, necessitating innovative approaches for dealing with complex social–ecological problems. We highlight a project in the US Great Plains where panarchy – a conceptual framework that emerged from resilience – was implemented at project onset to address the continued inability to halt large‐scale transition from grass‐to‐tree dominance in central North America. We review how panarchy was applied, the initial outcomes and evidence for policy reform, and the opportunities and challenges for which it could serve as a useful model to contrast with traditional ecosystem management approaches.
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15. |
- Grabowski, Zbigniew J., et al.
(author)
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What is green infrastructure? A study of definitions in US city planning
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 20:3, s. 152-160
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In response to interdependent challenges, city planners are increasingly adopting “green infrastructure” (GI). Reviewing 122 plans from 20 US cities, we identify what types of city plans address and define GI, including the concepts associated with GI, as well as the types, functions, and benefits of GI. The most common plans that feature GI, some of which focus exclusively on GI, comply with US Clean Water Act regulations for stormwater and sewer systems. Municipalities also address GI through diverse planning processes, including the creation of comprehensive citywide plans. Many of these plans (~40%) do not explicitly define GI. When they do, stormwater concepts predominate, followed by landscape concepts, along with an emergent emphasis on integrating GI with other built infrastructure systems. Large differences in GI types, functions, and benefits across concepts, plan types, and cities indicate a need for synthesis of GI definitions. To facilitate this synthesis, we provide a database of GI definitions from plans used in our analysis. We conclude with a broad synthetic definition of GI to provide clarity and stimulate discussion in rapidly evolving planning, policy, and research arenas.
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16. |
- Graham, Nicholas A. J., et al.
(author)
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Managing resilience to reverse phase shifts in coral reefs
- 2013
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 11:10, s. 541-548
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Both coral-dominated and degraded reef ecosystems can be resistant to change. Typically, research and management have focused on maintaining coral dominance and avoiding phase shifts to other species compositions, rather than on weakening the resilience of already degraded reefs to re-establish coral dominance. Reversing degraded coral-reef states will involve reducing local chronic drivers like fishing pressure and poor water quality. Reversals will also require management of key ecological processes - such as those performed by different functional groups of marine herbivores - that both weaken the resilience of the degraded state and strengthen the coral-dominated state. If detrimental human impacts are reduced and key ecological processes are enhanced, pulse disturbances, such as extreme weather events, and ecological variability may provide opportunities for a return to a coral-dominated state. Critically, achieving these outcomes will necessitate a diverse range of integrated approaches to alter human interactions with reef ecosystems.
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17. |
- Gustafsson, Lena, et al.
(author)
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Salvage logging effects on regulating ecosystem services and fuel loads
- 2020
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 18, s. 391-400
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Salvage logging, or logging after natural disturbances such as wildfires, insect outbreaks, and windstorms, is carried out to recover some of a forest's natural and/or economic capital. However, trade-offs between management objectives and a lack of consensus on the ecological consequences of salvage logging impair science-based decision making on the management of forests after natural disturbances. We conducted a global meta-analysis of the impacts of salvage logging on regulating ecosystem services and on fuel loads, as a frequent post-disturbance objective is preventing subsequent wildfires that could be fueled by the accumulation of dead trunks and branches. Salvage logging affected ecosystem services in a moderately negative way, regardless of disturbance type and severity, time elapsed since salvage logging, intensity of salvage logging, and the group of regulating ecosystem services being considered. However, prolonging the time between natural disturbance and salvage logging mitigated negative effects on regulating ecosystem services. Salvage logging had no overall effect on surface fuels; rather, different fuel types responded differently depending on the time elapsed since salvage logging. Delaying salvage logging by similar to 2-4 years may reduce negative ecological impacts without affecting surface fuel loads.
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18. |
- Gärdenfors, Ulf
(author)
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The SAFE index is not safe!
- 2011
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 9, s. 485-486
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Other publication (peer-reviewed)
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19. |
- Harding, Karin C., 1968, et al.
(author)
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Population Wide Decline in Somatic Growth in Harbor Seals—Early Signs of Density Dependence
- 2018
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309 .- 2296-701X. ; 6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The harbor seal populations of Danish and Swedish waters have had turbulent population dynamics during the last century. They were severely depleted by hunting in the beginning of the twentieth century, followed by rapid recovery due to protective measures. They were victims to two mass mortalities caused by Phocine Distemper Virus (PDV) epidemics. Long term monitoring and intensive sampling during the last decades now allow analysis of population level phenomena in response to shifting population size. We compare somatic growth curves from several seal populations including 2,041 specimens with known age, length and population size at birth. Asymptotic body lengths of female harbor seals were 148 cm in all four regions in 1988, when seal abundances had been kept low by hunting for decades. Males were 158 cm, being 10 cm longer. However, in 2002 the asymptotic lengths of seals differed among regions. While seals in the Kattegat showed similar asymptotic lengths as in 1988, seals in the Skagerrak were significantly shorter, where both male and female asymptotic lengths declined by 7 cm. We estimate the area of available feeding grounds in the two sea regions and find the density of seals per square kilometer feeding ground to be three times greater in the Skagerrak compared to the Kattegat. Thus, the shorter body length of seals in the Skagerrak can be an early signal of density dependence. Hampered body growth is known to trigger a suite of changes in life history traits, including delayed age at sexual maturity, higher juvenile mortality and lowered fecundity. These mechanisms all point at a possible “smooth route toward carrying capacity” with gradually reduced population growth rate as the main response to high population density. Recent aerial surveys confirm declining rates of population increase in the Skagerrak.
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20. |
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21. |
- Howarth, Robert, et al.
(author)
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Coupled biogeochemical cycles: eutrophication and hypoxia in temperate estuaries and coastal marine ecosystems
- 2011
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9309 .- 1540-9295. ; 9:1, s. 18-26
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nutrient fluxes to coastal areas have risen in recent decades, leading to widespread hypoxia and other ecological damage, particularly from nitrogen (N). Several factors make N more limiting in estuaries and coastal waters than in lakes: desorption (release) of phosphorus (P) bound to clay as salinity increases, lack of planktonic N fixation in most coastal ecosystems, and flux of relatively P-rich, N-poor waters from coastal oceans into estuaries. During eutrophication, biogeochemical feedbacks further increase the supply of N and P, but decrease availability of silica - conditions that can favor the formation and persistence of harmful algal blooms. Given sufficient N inputs, estuaries and coastal marine ecosystems can be driven to P limitation. This switch contributes to greater far-field N pollution; that is, the N moves further and contributes to eutrophication at greater distances. The physical oceanography (extent of stratification, residence time, and so forth) of coastal systems determines their sensitivity to hypoxia, and recent changes in physics have made some ecosystems more sensitive to hypoxia. Coastal hypoxia contributes to ocean acidification, which harms calcifying organisms such as mollusks and some crustaceans.
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22. |
- Jørgensen, Dolly
(author)
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Rigs-to-reefs is more than rigs and reefs
- 2012
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - Washington, DC : Ecological Society of America. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 10:4, s. 178-179
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)
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23. |
- Keck, Francois
(author)
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Freshwater biomonitoring in the Information Age
- 2017
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 15, s. 266-274
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Freshwaters worldwide face serious threats, making their protection increasingly important. Freshwater monitoring has historically produced valuable data and continues to develop. Rapid improvements to biomolecular techniques are revolutionizing the way scientists describe biological communities and are bringing about major changes in biomonitoring. Combined with high-throughput sequencing, DNA metabarcoding is fast and cost-effective, generating massive amounts of data. In a world with numerous ecological threats, "big data" constitute a tremendous opportunity to improve the efficiency of biological monitoring. These fundamental changes in biomonitoring will require freshwater ecologists and environmental managers to reconsider how they handle large amounts of data.
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24. |
- Klatt, Christian
(author)
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The unseen world: environmental microbial sequencing and identification methods for ecologists
- 2014
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 12, s. 224-231
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Microorganisms inhabit almost every environment, comprise the majority of diversity on Earth, are important in biogeochemical cycling, and may be vital to ecosystem responses to large-scale climatic change. In recent years, ecologists have begun to use rapidly advancing molecular techniques to address questions about microbial diversity, biogeography, and responses to environmental change. Studies of microbes in the environment generally focus on three broad objectives: determining which organisms are present, what their functional capabilities are, and which are active at any given time. However, comprehending the range of methodologies currently in use can be daunting. To provide an overview of environmental microbial sequence data collection and analysis approaches, we include case studies of microbiomes ranging from the human mouth to geothermal springs. We also suggest contexts in which each technique can be applied and highlight insights that result from their use.
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25. |
- Lehmann, Philipp, et al.
(author)
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Complex responses of global insect pests to climate warming
- 2020
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 18:3, s. 141-150
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Although it is well known that insects are sensitive to temperature, how they will be affected by ongoing global warming remains uncertain because these responses are multifaceted and ecologically complex. We reviewed the effects of climate warming on 31 globally important phytophagous (plant-eating) insect pests to determine whether general trends in their responses to warming were detectable. We included four response categories (range expansion, life history, population dynamics, and trophic interactions) in this assessment. For the majority of these species, we identified at least one response to warming that affects the severity of the threat they pose as pests. Among these insect species, 41% showed responses expected to lead to increased pest damage, whereas only 4% exhibited responses consistent with reduced effects; notably, most of these species (55%) demonstrated mixed responses. This means that the severity of a given insect pest may both increase and decrease with ongoing climate warming. Overall, our analysis indicated that anticipating the effects of climate warming on phytophagous insect pests is far from straightforward. Rather, efforts to mitigate the undesirable effects of warming on insect pests must include a better understanding of how individual species will respond, and the complex ecological mechanisms underlying their responses.
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26. |
- Lehner, Bernhard, et al.
(author)
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High-resolution mapping of the world’sreservoirs and dams for sustainableriver-flow management
- 2011
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - Washington : Ecological Society of America. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 9:9, s. 494-502
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Despite the recognized importance of reservoirs and dams, global datasets describing their characteristics and geographical distribution are largely incomplete. To enable advanced assessments of the role and effects of dams within the global river network and to support strategies for mitigating ecohydrological and socioeconomic costs, we introduce here the spatially explicit and hydrologically linked Global Reservoir and Dam database (GRanD). As of early 2011, GRanD contains information regarding 6862 dams and their associated reservoirs, with a total storage capacity of 6197 km3. On the basis of these records, we estimate that about 16.7 million reservoirs larger than 0.01 ha – with a combined storage capacity of approximately 8070 km3 – may exist worldwide, increasing Earth's terrestrial surface water area by more than 305 000 km2. We find that 575 900 river kilometers, or 7.6% of the world's rivers with average flows above 1 cubic meter per second (m3 s−1), are affected by a cumulative upstream reservoir capacity that exceeds 2% of their annual flow; the impact is highest for large rivers with average flows above 1000 m3 s−1, of which 46.7% are affected. Finally, a sensitivity analysis suggests that smaller reservoirs have substantial impacts on the spatial extent of flow alterations despite their minor role in total reservoir capacity.Read More: http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1890/100125
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27. |
- Liss, Kate N., et al.
(author)
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Variability in ecosystem service measurement : a pollination service case study
- 2013
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 11:8, s. 414-422
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Research quantifying ecosystem services (ES) - collectively, the benefits that society obtains from ecosystems -is rapidly increasing. Despite the seemingly straightforward definition, a wide variety of methods are used to measure ES. This methodological variability has largely been ignored, and standard protocols to select measures that capture ES provision have yet to be established. Furthermore, most published papers do not include explicit definitions of individual ES. We surveyed the literature on pollination ES to assess the range of measurement approaches, focusing on three essential steps: (1) definition of the ES, (2) identification of components contributing to ES delivery, and (3) selection of metrics to represent these components. We found considerable variation in how pollination as an ES - a relatively well-defined service - is measured. We discuss potential causes of this variability and provide suggestions to address this issue. Consistency in ES measurement, or a clear explanation of selected definitions and metrics, is critical to facilitate comparisons among studies and inform ecosystem management.
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28. |
- Locke, Dexter H., et al.
(author)
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Urban areas do provide ecosystem services
- 2018
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 16:4, s. 203-205
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)
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29. |
- Lundin, Ola, et al.
(author)
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Integrated pest and pollinator management - expanding the concept
- 2021
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 19, s. 283-291
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The objective of integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM) is to co-manage for pest control and pollination goals. Departing from the well-established concept of integrated pest management, we include pollinator management in a hierarchical decision support system of management actions. We depict this support system as an IPPM pyramid. Priority is given to proactive measures at the base of the pyramid, which are undertaken through landscape and crop field management of mobile organisms, primarily arthropods. Farther up the pyramid, practices in the form of reactive use of biotic and abiotic inputs should align with basal actions. The goal of IPPM is to minimize trade-offs, and to maximize co-benefits and synergies between pest and pollinator management. We contend that IPPM has the potential to contribute to sustainable pest control and crop pollination, as well as provide broader environmental benefits.
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30. |
- Mcleod, Elizabeth, et al.
(author)
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A blueprint for blue carbon : toward an improved understanding of the role of vegetated coastal habitats in sequestering CO(2)
- 2011
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 9:10, s. 552-560
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent research has highlighted the valuable role that coastal and marine ecosystems play in sequestering carbon dioxide (CO(2)). The carbon (C) sequestered in vegetated coastal ecosystems, specifically mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and salt marshes, has been termed blue carbon. Although their global area is one to two orders of magnitude smaller than that of terrestrial forests, the contribution of vegetated coastal habitats per unit area to long-term C sequestration is much greater, in part because of their efficiency in trapping suspended matter and associated organic C during tidal inundation. Despite the value of mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and salt marshes in sequestering C, and the other goods and services they provide, these systems are being lost at critical rates and action is urgently needed to prevent further degradation and loss. Recognition of the C sequestration value of vegetated coastal ecosystems provides a strong argument for their protection and restoration; however, it is necessary to improve scientific understanding of the underlying mechanisms that control C sequestration in these ecosystems. Here, we identify key areas of uncertainty and specific actions needed to address them.
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31. |
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32. |
- Norström, Albert V., et al.
(author)
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Guiding coral reef futures in the Anthropocene
- 2016
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 14:9, s. 490-498
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Anthropogenic changes to the Earth now rival those caused by the forces of nature and have shepherded us into a new planetary epoch - the Anthropocene. Such changes include profound and often unexpected alterations to coral reef ecosystems and the services they provide to human societies. Ensuring that reefs and their services endure during the Anthropocene will require that key drivers of coral reef change fishing, water quality, and anthropogenic climate change - stay within acceptable levels or safe operating spaces. The capacity to remain within these safe boundaries hinges on understanding the local, but also the increasingly global and cross-scale, socioeconomic causes of these human drivers of change. Consequently, local and regional management efforts that are successful in the short term may ultimately fail if current decision making and institution-building around coral reef systems remains fragmented, poorly coordinated, and unable to keep pace with the escalating speed of social, technological, and ecological change.
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33. |
- Palmer, Margaret A, et al.
(author)
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Climate change and the world's river basins : anticipating management options
- 2008
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 6:2, s. 81-89
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Major rivers worldwide have experienced dramatic changes in flow, reducing their natural ability to adjust to and absorb disturbances. Given expected changes in global climate and water needs, this may create serious problems, including loss of native biodiversity and risks to ecosystems and humans from increased flooding or water shortages. Here, we project river discharge under different climate and water withdrawal scenarios and combine this with data on the impact of dams on large river basins to create global maps illustrating potential changes in discharge and water stress for dam-impacted and free-flowing basins. The projections indicate that every populated basin in the world will experience changes in river discharge and many will experience water stress. The magnitude of these impacts is used to identify basins likely and almost certain to require proactive or reactive management intervention. Our analysis indicates that the area in need of management action to mitigate the impacts of climate change is much greater for basins impacted by dams than for basins with free-flowing rivers. Nearly one billion people live in areas likely to require action and approximately 365 million people live in basins almost certain to require action. Proactive management efforts will minimize risks to ecosystems and people and may be less costly than reactive efforts taken only once problems have arisen.
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34. |
- Perrings, Charles, et al.
(author)
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Ecosystem services, targets, and indicators for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
- 2011
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 9:9, s. 512-520
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- After the collective failure to achieve the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD's) 2010 target to substantially reduce biodiversity losses, the CBD adopted a plan composed of five strategic goals and 20 “SMART” (Specific, Measurable, Ambitious, Realistic, and Time-bound) targets, to be achieved by 2020. Here, an interdisciplinary group of scientists from DIVERSITAS – an international program that focuses on biodiversity science – evaluates these targets and considers the implications of an ecosystem-services-based approach for their implementation. We describe the functional differences between the targets corresponding to distinct strategic goals and identify the interdependency between targets. We then discuss the implications for supporting research and target indicators, and make several specific suggestions for target implementation.
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35. |
- Queiroz, Cibele, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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Farmland abandonment : Threat or opportunity for biodiversity conservation? A global review
- 2014
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 12:5, s. 288-296
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Farmland abandonment is changing rural landscapes worldwide, but its impacts on biodiversity are still being debated in the scientific literature. While some researchers see it as a threat to biodiversity, others view it as an opportunity for habitat regeneration. We reviewed 276 published studies describing various effects of farmland abandonment on biodiversity and found that a study's geographic region, selected metrics, assessed taxa, and conservation focus significantly affected how those impacts were reported. Countries in Eurasia and the New World reported mainly negative and positive effects of farmland abandonment on biodiversity, respectively. Notably, contrasting impacts were recorded in different agricultural regions of the world that were otherwise similar in land-use and biodiversity characteristics. We showed that the conservation focus (pre- or post-abandonment) in different regions is an important factor influencing how scientists address the abandonment issue, and this may affect how land-use policies are defined in agricultural landscapes.
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36. |
- Requier, Fabrice, et al.
(author)
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Citizen science in developing countries : how to improve volunteer participation
- 2020
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Citizen science is a powerful tool for connecting members of the public with research and for obtaining large amounts of data. However, it is far less commonly implemented in developing countries than in developed countries. We conducted a large-scale citizen-science program monitoring honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony losses in Argentina to examine how a national consortium composed of local coordinators and two different recruitment strategies influenced volunteer participation. These strategies consisted of online questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with beekeepers to record bee health issues. We found that use of both recruitment strategies was necessary because they reached different volunteer profiles and different locations, and therefore influenced the survey's results. Furthermore, public participation increased when the number of local coordinators was higher, regardless of recruitment strategy. These findings could also apply to other developing countries, where lack of internet access for some potential volunteers, logistical constraints such as long distances, and poor infrastructure hamper implementing large-scale citizen-science programs.
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37. |
- Reyers, Belinda, et al.
(author)
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Getting the measure of ecosystem services : a social-ecological approach
- 2013
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 11:5, s. 268-273
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Despite growing interest and investment in ecosystem services across global science and policy arenas, it remains unclear how ecosystem services - and particularly changes in those services - should be measured. The social and ecological factors, and their interactions, that create and alter ecosystem services are inherently complex. Measuring and managing ecosystem services requires a sophisticated systems-based approach that accounts for how these services are generated by interconnected social-ecological systems (SES), how different services interact with each other, and how changes in the total bundle of services influence human well-being (HWB). Furthermore, there is a need to understand how changes in HWB feedback and affect the generation of ecosystem services. Here, we outline an SES-based approach for measuring ecosystem services and explore its value for setting policy targets, developing indicators, and establishing monitoring and assessment programs.
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38. |
- Roberge, Jean-Michel
(author)
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Conservation culturomics
- 2016
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 14, s. 269-275
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Culturomics is an emerging field of study that seeks to understand human culture through the quantitative analysis of changes in word frequencies in large bodies of digital texts. Culturomics research can help practitioners in nature conservation respond to cultural trends, building and reinvigorating its societal relevance. We identify five areas where culturomics can be used to advance the practice and science of conservation: (1) recognizing conservation-oriented constituencies and demonstrating public interest in nature, (2) identifying conservation emblems, (3) providing new metrics and tools for near-real-time environmental monitoring and to support conservation decision making, (4) assessing the cultural impact of conservation interventions, and (5) framing conservation issues and promoting public understanding. More generally, culturomics opens up an exciting new area of research, equipping conservationists with novel tools to explore and shape human interactions with the natural world.
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39. |
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40. |
- Robinson, W. Douglas, et al.
(author)
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Integrating concepts and technologies to advance the study of bird migration
- 2010
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9309 .- 1540-9295. ; 8:7, s. 354-361
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent technological innovation has opened new avenues in migration research - for instance, by allowing individual migratory animals to be followed over great distances and long periods of time, as well as by recording physiological information. Here, we focus on how technology - specifically applied to bird migration - has advanced our knowledge of migratory connectivity, and the behavior, demography, ecology, and physiology of migrants. Anticipating the invention of new and smaller tracking devices, in addition to the ways that technologies may be combined to measure and record the behavior of migratory animals, we also summarize major conceptual questions that can only be addressed once innovative, cutting-edge instrumentation becomes available.
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41. |
- Roura-Pascual, Nuria, et al.
(author)
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A scenario-guided strategy for the future management of biological invasions
- 2024
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309.
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Future dynamics of biological invasions are highly uncertain because they depend on multiple social-ecological drivers. We used a scenario-based approach to explore potential management options for invasive species in Europe. During two workshops involving a multidisciplinary team of experts, we developed a management strategy arranged into 19 goals relating to policy, research, public awareness, and biosecurity. We conceived solutions for achieving these goals under different plausible future scenarios, and identified four interrelated recommendations around which any long-term strategy for managing invasive species can be structured: (1) a European biosecurity regime, (2) a dedicated communication strategy, (3) data standardization and management tools, and (4) a monitoring and assessment system. Finally, we assessed the feasibility of the management strategy and found substantial differences among scenarios. Collectively, our results indicate that it is time for a new strategy for managing biological invasions in Europe, one that is based on a more integrative approach across socioeconomic sectors and countries.
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42. |
- Saha, M., et al.
(author)
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Using chemical language to shape future marine health
- 2019
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 17:9, s. 530-537
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- "Infochemicals" (information-conveying chemicals) dominate much of the underwater communication in biological systems. They influence the movement and behavior of organisms, the ecological interactions between and across populations, and the trophic structure of marine food webs. However, relative to their terrestrial equivalents, the wider ecological and economic importance of marine infochemicals remains understudied and a concerted, cross-disciplinary effort is needed to reveal the full potential of marine chemical ecology. We highlight current challenges with specific examples and suggest how research on the chemical ecology of marine organisms could provide opportunities for implementing new management solutions for future "blue growth" (the sustainable use of ocean resources) and maintaining healthy marine ecosystems.
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43. |
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44. |
- Sorice, Michael G., et al.
(author)
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Relationship with the land as a foundation for ecosystem stewardship
- 2023
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - 1540-9295 .- 1540-9309. ; 21:6, s. 282-288
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We examined the hypothesis that adapting to ecosystem change on working landscapes can be enhanced by supporting the place-based stewardship values of landowners. On the basis of responses to a survey of more than 500 landowners across a landscape dominated by working lands, we clustered landowners into five groups based on their sense of place meanings. Relationships with the land are differentiated by the degree to which an owner's land makes positive contributions to well-being and the degree to which the land supports livelihoods. Positive contributions to well-being are related to stronger stewardship-oriented management styles, yet a combination of well-being and livelihood dependence is most closely related to increased sensitivity to ecosystem transformation. In a social-ecological system dominated by private lands, understanding an individual's relationship with the land is central to understanding adaptive capacity and for identifying policy options to successfully respond to ecological transformation.
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45. |
- Struyf, Eric, et al.
(author)
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Silica: an essential nutrient in wetland biogeochemistry
- 2009
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9309 .- 1540-9295. ; 7:2, s. 88-94
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent research has emphasized the importance of terrestrial ecosystems in the global biogeochemical cycle of silica (Si). The production, retention, and dissolution of amorphous silica of biological origin in soils and vegetation effectively control terrestrial Si fluxes. However, surprisingly little is known about the role of wetlands in these processes. Wetlands are known hotspots for both nitrogen and phosphorus cycling, and there have been countless studies and numerous reviews on these nutrients worldwide. By bringing together previously scattered results, we show that wetland ecosystems may be as important for Si transport and processing as they are for other important biogeochemical cycles. Yet, the range of studied systems is small and incomplete. This constitutes a serious gap in our understanding of both coastal eutrophication and climate change, issues that are strongly linked to Si biogeochemistry. Ecosystem scientists and wetland biogeochemists around the world need to begin addressing these issues.
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46. |
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47. |
- Beery, Thomas H, et al.
(author)
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Editorial: Nature's Contributions to People: On the Relation Between Valuations and Actions
- 2021
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-701X .- 1540-9309. ; 9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In line with other bodies and a manifold of researchers addressing contemporary environmental challenges, the Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, published by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES),concludes that a fundamental reorganization across technological, economic, and social factors, including values, is needed to achieve goals for conserving and sustainably using nature (IPBES,2019). This reorganization implies transformative changes, for example, in the production and consumption of energy, food, and fiber.While scientists and decision-makers increasingly acknowledge the need for transformative change, we lack specific definitions of the details of transformative change and agreement on how such change is ensured. However, by clarifying and assessing the multiple values of nature and its benefits, we understand what is at stake, for whom, and the tools for making priorities (Díaz et al., 2018, 2019). Valuation is, though, a means to an end. Likewise, increased awareness of the values of biodiversity is also a means to an end. The links between valuation, increasing awareness, and concrete actions, among policymakers and other decision-makers, including individuals, are crucial for transformative changes to start and proceed.These considerations reverse the established approach in economic valuation, according to which one uses observations about actual actions to infer the values the actor holds (“revealed preferences”). In line with this economic paradigm, the currently observed societal actions and resulting biodiversity change reveals a lack of societal valuation of nature’s contributions to people.If we would “transform our world,” as the UN’s Agenda 2030 demands, and with it the way societies act toward nature, this would reveal a new social valuation of nature’s contributions to people.Either way, there is a close relationship between actions and valuations.The articles in this Research Topic present insights from various perspectives and theoretical and methodological approaches on the connections between valuations of nature’s contributions to people, including ecosystem services, awareness, and concrete actions. The articles concern perceptions and actions among individuals and groups of people and aspects related to governance ranging from local to global scales, based on cases from various parts of the world.
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48. |
- Biggs, Reinette, et al.
(author)
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Preparing for the future : teaching scenario planning at the graduate level
- 2010
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295. ; 8:5, s. 267-273
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Are environmental science students developing the mindsets and obtaining the tools needed to help address the considerable challenges posed by the 21st century? Today's major environmental issues are characterized by high-stakes decisions and high levels of uncertainty. Although traditional scientific approaches are valuable, contemporary environmental issues also require new tools and new ways of thinking. We provide an example of how such new, or “post-normal”, approaches have been taught at the graduate level, through practical application of scenario planning. Surveyed students reported that they found the scenario planning course highly stimulating, thought-provoking, and inspiring. Key learning points included recognizing the need for multiple points of view when considering complex environmental issues, and better appreciating the pervasiveness of uncertainty. Collaborating with non-academic stakeholders was also particularly helpful. Most students left the course feeling more positive about the potential contribution they can make in addressing the environmental challenges that society faces. Read More: http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1890/080075
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49. |
- Fowler, A. M., et al.
(author)
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Environmental benefits of leaving offshore infrastructure in the ocean
- 2018
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295. ; 16:10, s. 571-578
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The removal of thousands of structures associated with oil and gas development from the world's oceans is well underway, yet the environmental impacts of this decommissioning practice remain unknown. Similar impacts will be associated with the eventual removal of offshore wind turbines. We conducted a global survey of environmental experts to guide best decommissioning practices in the North Sea, a region with a substantial removal burden. In contrast to current regulations, 94.7% of experts (36 out of 38) agreed that a more flexible case-by-case approach to decommissioning could benefit the North Sea environment. Partial removal options were considered to deliver better environmental outcomes than complete removal for platforms, but both approaches were equally supported for wind turbines. Key considerations identified for decommissioning were biodiversity enhancement, provision of reef habitat, and protection from bottom trawling, all of which are negatively affected by complete removal. We provide recommendations to guide the revision of offshore decommissioning policy, including a temporary suspension of obligatory removal.
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50. |
- Galaz, Victor, et al.
(author)
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Can web crawlers revolutionize ecological monitoring?
- 2010
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In: Frontiers in ecology and the environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295. ; 8:2, s. 99-104
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Despite recent advances, ecosystem service monitoring is limited by insufficient data, the complexity of social–ecological systems, and poor integration of information that tracks changes in ecosystems and economic activities. However, new information and communication technologies are revolutionizing the generation of, and access to, such data. Can researchers who are interested in ecological monitoring tap into these increased flows of information by “mining” the internet to detect “early-warning” signs that may signal abrupt ecological changes? Here, we explore the possibility of using web crawlers and internet-based information to complement conventional ecological monitoring, with a special emphasis on the prospects for avoiding “late warnings”, that is, when ecosystems have already shifted to less desirable states. Using examples from coral reef ecosystems, we explore the untapped potential, as well as the limitations, of relying on web-based information to monitor ecosystem services and forewarn us of negative ecological shifts.
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