| 1. |
- Alatalo, J. M., et al.
(author)
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Bryophyte cover and richness decline after 18 years of experimental warming in alpine Sweden
- 2020
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In: Aob Plants. - Oxford : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2041-2851. ; 12:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Climate change is expected to affect alpine and Arctic tundra communities. Most previous long-term studies have focused on impacts on vascular plants, this study examined impacts of long-term warming on bryophyte communities. Experimental warming with open-top chambers (OTCs) was applied for 18 years to a mesic meadow and a dry heath alpine plant community. Species abundance was measured in 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2013. Species composition changed significantly from original communities in the heath, but remained similar in mesic meadow. Experimental warming increased beta diversity in the heath. Bryophyte cover and species richness both declined with long-term warming, while Simpson diversity showed no significant responses. Over the 18-year period, bryophyte cover in warmed plots decreased from 43 % to 11 % in heath and from 68 % to 35 % in meadow (75 % and 48 % decline, respectively, in original cover), while richness declined by 39 % and 26 %, respectively. Importantly, the decline in cover and richness first emerged after 7 years. Warming caused significant increase in litter in both plant communities. Deciduous shrub and litter cover had negative impact on bryophyte cover. We show that bryophyte species do not respond similarly to climate change. Total bryophyte cover declined in both heath and mesic meadow under experimental long-term warming (by 1.5-3 degrees C), driven by general declines in many species. Principal response curve, cover and richness results suggested that bryophytes in alpine heath are more susceptible to warming than in meadow, supporting the suggestion that bryophytes may be less resistant in drier environments than in wetter habitats. Species loss was slower than the decline in bryophyte abundance, and diversity remained similar in both communities. Increased deciduous shrub and litter cover led to decline in bryophyte cover. The non-linear response to warming over time underlines the importance of long-term experiments and monitoring.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Ulian, T., et al.
(author)
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Unlocking plant resources to support food security and promote sustainable agriculture
- 2020
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In: Plants People Planet. - : Wiley. - 2572-2611. ; 2:5, s. 421-445
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Societal Impact Statement Biodiversity is essential to food security and nutrition locally and globally. By reviewing the global state of edible plants and highlighting key neglected and underutilized species (NUS), we attempt to unlock plant food resources and explore the role of fungi, which along with the wealth of traditional knowledge about their uses and practices, could help support sustainable agriculture while ensuring better protection of the environment and the continued delivery of its ecosystem services. This work will inform a wide range of user communities, including scientists, conservation and development organizations, policymakers, and the public of the importance of biodiversity beyond mainstream crops. Summary As the world's population is increasing, humanity is facing both shortages (hunger) and excesses (obesity) of calorie and nutrient intakes. Biodiversity is fundamental to addressing this double challenge, which involves a far better understanding of the global state of food resources. Current estimates suggest that there are at least 7,039 edible plant species, in a broad taxonomic sense, which includes 7,014 vascular plants. This is in striking contrast to the small handful of food crops that provide the majority of humanity's calorie and nutrient intake. Most of these 7,039 edible species have additional uses, the most common being medicines (70%), materials (59%), and environmental uses (40%). Species of major food crops display centers of diversity, as previously proposed, while the rest of edible plants follow latitudinal distribution patterns similarly to the total plant diversity, with higher species richness at lower latitudes. The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List includes global conservation assessments for at least 30% of edible plants, with ca. 86% of them conserved ex situ. However, at least 11% of those species recorded are threatened. We highlight multipurpose NUS of plants from different regions of the world, which could be key for a more resilient, sustainable, biodiverse, and community participation-driven new "green revolution." Furthermore, we explore how fungi could diversify and increase the nutritional value of our diets. NUS, along with the wealth of traditional knowledge about their uses and practices, offer a largely untapped resource to support food security and sustainable agriculture. However, for these natural resources to be unlocked, enhanced collaboration among stakeholders is vital.
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| 4. |
- Lim, J. Y., et al.
(author)
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Frugivore-fruit size relationships between palms and mammals reveal past and future defaunation impacts
- 2020
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 11:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mammalian frugivores are critical seed dispersers, but many are under threat of extinction. Futhermore, the impact of past and future defaunation on plant assemblages has yet to be quantified at the global scale. Here, we integrate palm and mammalian frugivore trait and occurrence data and reveal a global positive relationship between fruit size and frugivore body size. Global variation in fruit size is better explained by present-day frugivore assemblages than by Late Pleistocene assemblages, suggesting ecological and evolutionary reorganization after end-Pleistocene extinctions, except in the Neotropics, where some large-fruited palm species may have outlived their main seed dispersers by thousands of years. Our simulations of frugivore extinction over the next 100 years suggest that the impact of defaunation will be highest in the Old World tropics, and an up to 4% assemblage-level decrease in fruit size would be required to maintain the global body size-fruit size relationship. Overall, our results suggest that while some palm species may be able to keep pace with future defaunation through evolutionary changes in fruit size, large-fruited species may be especially vulnerable to continued defaunation.
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| 5. |
- Staude, I. R., et al.
(author)
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Replacements of small- by large-ranged species scale up to diversity loss in Europe's temperate forest biome
- 2020
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In: Nature Ecology & Evolution. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2397-334X. ; 4, s. 802-808
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The loss of biodiversity at the global scale has been difficult to reconcile with observations of no net loss at local scales. Vegetation surveys across European temperate forests show that this may be explained by the replacement of small-ranged species with large-ranged ones, driven by nitrogen deposition. Biodiversity time series reveal global losses and accelerated redistributions of species, but no net loss in local species richness. To better understand how these patterns are linked, we quantify how individual species trajectories scale up to diversity changes using data from 68 vegetation resurvey studies of seminatural forests in Europe. Herb-layer species with small geographic ranges are being replaced by more widely distributed species, and our results suggest that this is due less to species abundances than to species nitrogen niches. Nitrogen deposition accelerates the extinctions of small-ranged, nitrogen-efficient plants and colonization by broadly distributed, nitrogen-demanding plants (including non-natives). Despite no net change in species richness at the spatial scale of a study site, the losses of small-ranged species reduce biome-scale (gamma) diversity. These results provide one mechanism to explain the directional replacement of small-ranged species within sites and thus explain patterns of biodiversity change across spatial scales.
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| 6. |
- Lughadha, E. N., et al.
(author)
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Extinction risk and threats to plants and fungi
- 2020
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In: Plants People Planet. - : Wiley. - 2572-2611. ; 2:5, s. 389-408
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Societal Impact Statement There is increasing awareness that plants and fungi, as natural solutions, can play an important role in tackling ongoing global environmental challenges. We illustrate how understanding current and projected threats to plants and fungi is necessary to manage and mitigate risks, while building awareness of gaps and bias in current assessment coverage is essential to adequately prioritize conservation efforts. We highlight the state of the art in conservation science and point to current methods of assessment and future studies needed to mitigate species extinction. SummaryPlant and fungal biodiversity underpin life on earth and merit careful stewardship in an increasingly uncertain environment. However, gaps and biases in documented extinction risks to plant and fungal species impede effective management. Formal extinction risk assessments help avoid extinctions, through engagement, financial, or legal mechanisms, but most plant and fungal species lack assessments. Available global assessments cover c. 30% of plant species (ThreatSearch). Red List coverage overrepresents woody perennials and useful plants, but underrepresents single-country endemics. Fungal assessments overrepresent well-known species and are too few to infer global status or trends. Proportions of assessed vascular plant species considered threatened vary between global assessment datasets: 37% (ThreatSearch), and 44% (International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species). Our predictions, correcting for several quantifiable biases, suggest that 39% of all vascular plant species are threatened with extinction. However, other biases remain unquantified, and may affect our estimate. Preliminary trend data show plants moving toward extinction. Quantitative estimates based on plant extinction risk assessments may understate likely biodiversity loss: they do not fully capture the impacts of climate change, slow-acting threats, or clustering of extinction risk, which could amplify loss of evolutionary potential. The importance of extinction risk estimation to support existing and emerging conservation initiatives is likely to grow as threats to biodiversity intensify. This necessitates urgent and strategic expansion of efforts toward comprehensive and ongoing assessment of plant and fungal extinction risk.
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| 7. |
- Grace, O. M., et al.
(author)
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Plant Power: Opportunities and challenges for meeting sustainable energy needs from the plant and fungal kingdoms
- 2020
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In: Plants People Planet. - : Wiley. - 2572-2611. ; 2:5, s. 446-462
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Societal Impact Statement Bioenergy is a major component of the global transition to renewable energy technologies. The plant and fungal kingdoms offer great potential but remain mostly untapped. Their increased use could contribute to the renewable energy transition and addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all." Current research focuses on species cultivated at scale in temperate regions, overlooking the wealth of potential new sources of small-scale energy where they are most urgently needed. A shift towards diversified, accessible bioenergy technologies will help to mitigate and adapt to the threats of climate change, decrease energy poverty, improve human health by reducing indoor pollution, increase energy resilience of communities, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. SummaryBioenergy derived from plants and fungi is a major component of the global transition to renewable energy technologies. There is rich untapped diversity in the plant and fungal kingdoms that offers potential to contribute to the shift away from fossil fuels and to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all." Energy poverty-the lack of access to modern energy services-is most acute in the Global South where biodiversity is greatest and least investigated. Our systematic review of the literature over the last 5 years (2015-2020) indicates that research efforts have targeted a very small number of plant species cultivated at scale, mostly in temperate regions. The wealth of potential new sources of bioenergy in biodiverse regions, where the implementation of SDG7 is most urgently needed, has been largely overlooked. We recommend next steps for bioenergy stakeholders-research, industry, and government-to seize opportunities for innovation to alleviate energy poverty while protecting biodiversity. Small-scale energy production using native plant species in bioenergy landscapes overcomes many pitfalls associated with bioenergy crop monocultures, such as biodiversity loss and conflict with food production. Targeted trait-based screening of plant species and biological screening of fungi are required to characterize the potential of this resource. The benefits of diversified, accessible bioenergy go beyond the immediate urgency of energy poverty as more diverse agricultural landscapes are more resilient, store more carbon, and could also reduce the drivers of the climate and environmental emergencies.
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| 8. |
- Paton, A., et al.
(author)
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Plant and fungal collections: Current status, future perspectives
- 2020
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In: Plants People Planet. - : Wiley. - 2572-2611. ; 2:5, s. 499-514
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Societal Impact Statement Plant and fungal specimens provide the auditable evidence that a particular organism occurred at a particular place, and at a particular point in time, verifying past occurrence and distribution. They also document the aspects of human exploration and culture. Collectively specimens form a global asset with significant potential for new uses to help address societal and environmental challenges. Collections also serve as a platform to engage and educate a broad range of stakeholders from the academic to the public, strengthening engagement and understanding of plant and fungal diversity-the basis of life on Earth. SummaryWe provide a global review of the current state of plant and fungal collections including herbaria and fungaria, botanic gardens, fungal culture collections, and biobanks. The review focuses on the numbers of collections, major taxonomic group and species level coverage, geographical representation and the extent to which the data from collections are digitally accessible. We identify the major gaps in these collections and in digital data. We also consider what collection types need to be further developed to support research, such as environmental DNA and cryopreservation of desiccation-sensitive seeds. Around 31% of vascular plant species are represented in botanic gardens, and 17% of known fungal species are held in culture collections, both these living collections showing a bias toward northern temperate taxa. Only 21% of preserved collections are available via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) with Asia, central and north Africa and Amazonia being relatively under-represented. Supporting long-term collection facilities in biodiverse areas should be considered by governmental and international aid agencies, in addition to short-term project funding. Institutions should consider how best to speed up digitization of collections and to disseminate all data via aggregators such as GBIF, which will greatly facilitate use, research, and community curation to improve quality. There needs to be greater alignment between biodiversity informatics initiatives and standards to allow more comprehensive analysis of collections data and to facilitate linkage of extended information, facilitating broader use. Much can be achieved with greater coordination through existing initiatives and strengthening relationships with users.
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| 9. |
- Pearce, T. R., et al.
(author)
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International collaboration between collections-based institutes for halting biodiversity loss and unlocking the useful properties of plants and fungi
- 2020
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In: Plants People Planet. - : Wiley. - 2572-2611. ; 2:5, s. 515-534
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Societal Impact Statement The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 calls for "strong global partnerships and cooperation" to support the other SDGs. The collections-based science community offers many examples of conservation of plant and fungal biodiversity, sharing, repatriation and aggregation of data, access to new technologies, supply of plant and fungal material, strengthening capacity of practitioners, and benefit sharing with the providers of biodiversity and genetic resources. Collaboration framed by workable multilateral treaties will increase our understanding of plant and fungal diversity, help halt biodiversity loss, and accelerate our sustainable use of plants and fungi and the exploration of their useful traits. SummaryCollections-based institutes are at the forefront of generating knowledge and understanding of plant and fungal biodiversity. Through the analysis of occurrence data, the use of modern technologies to better understand the evolutionary relationships between species and documentation of their useful properties, the work of collections-based institutes provides good models for conservation; addressing species loss and improving sustainable use of plants and fungi. Nevertheless, the pressure on the planet's plant and fungal diversity is relentless. We argue that a massive increase in the accessibility of preserved and living collections of plants and fungi is required. An increased scale of responsible exploration to both conserve and unlock the useful properties of plants and fungi is needed to deliver solutions to the many global challenges facing humanity and the planet. This article explores the role of collaborations between collections-based institutes and their partners in preventing biodiversity loss and delivering sustainable development. Drawing on examples from herbaria, agricultural and wild species genebanks, mycological collections, an international NGO, and the botanic garden community, we demonstrate how collaboration improves efficiency and impact. Collaborations can be peer to peer, institutional, governmental, national, or international, they may involve work with local communities and are frequently a combination of these. We suggest the five key benefits to collaboration and show that with trust, understanding, and mutual respect, powerful and sustainable partnerships develop. Such trust and respect are hard won, but once established, sustain a high level of commitment, enable development of shared long-term visions of success, and attract diverse funding streams.
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| 10. |
- Hailu, Beyene Zewdie, 1983-
(author)
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Fungal disease dynamics, genetic variation and biodiversity-yield relationships : — a study along a gradient of coffee management in southwestern Ethiopia
- 2020
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Intensification of agricultural systems is a major threat to the associated biodiversity and could also affect the dynamics of pests and pathogens. One such system that is currently under an intensification trajectory is the production of Arabica coffee. In this thesis, I studied the relationships between fungal diseases and their natural enemies, the genetic variation in coffee, coffee yield and associated biodiversity along a coffee management gradient in southwestern Ethiopia.The specific goals of this thesis were to investigate variation in fungal diseases on coffee and their natural enemies along a gradient of management (I, II), how genetic variation in coffee among sites relate to variation in incidence of the fungal diseases (III), and to investigate the trade-offs in biodiversity-yield relationships along the gradient of coffee management (IV). To answer these questions, I selected 60 sites along a gradient of management that ranged from coffee naturally growing in only little disturbed forests to intensively managed plantations. I used both observational studies and molecular approaches.In paper I, I examined if the severity of the four major fungal diseases on coffee varied along the gradient and assessed the main drivers of variation in disease severity. I found that two of the fungal diseases were more severe in the intensively managed coffee sites, while the other two were more severe in the less intensively managed sites. Altitude was the main driver for the diseases, but related in a different way to the different diseases. In paper II, I examined the temporal dynamics in coffee leaf rust-hyperparasite interaction, the biocontrol potential of the hyperparasite and environmental drivers for the two species for three consecutive years during the dry and wet seasons. I found that the rust was more common during the dry season and in managed sites while the hyperparasite was common during the wet season and in sites that were less managed. My results also revealed that higher hyperparasite incidence during the wet season resulted in a lower growth rate of the rust during the subsequent dry season. In paper III, I investigated if genetic composition and diversity of coffee sites relate to the incidence of the fungal diseases assessed. I found that genetic composition of the coffee stands was linked to the incidence of the four fungal diseases, but genetic diversity among the coffee sites did not relate to the incidence of the diseases. In paper IV, I examined biodiversity-yield trade-offs and shape of the relationships between biodiversity and yield along the gradient of management. I found a steep, concave shape initial decline in biodiversity values as coffee yield increased to a certain level, after which a further increase in yield did not have much effect on biodiversity values.In conclusion, I found different drivers for the different diseases and for the parasite-hyperparasite interaction. It is difficult to achieve a single management approach that can suit the different pathogen species investigated. High genetic diversity among coffee sites did not reduce disease pressure. While the more complex, less managed sites provide high biodiversity values, and could potentially serve as habitats for natural pest control and in situ conservation for coffee genetic diversity, the yield gap compared to more intensively managed sites was very high. To optimize coffee management and conservation of biodiversity in these landscapes, there is a need to develop strategies whereby the smallholder farmers who depend on coffee and the forest as the main source of livelihood can benefit through for example coffee certification schemes that can pay premium prices for biodiversity-friendly coffee management.
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