Pub Date : 2024-06-28DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2024.1363423
He Zhang, Chonghan Yu, Zhenglong Jiang, Xuqian Zhao
BackgroundCalcareous nannofossils are minute microfossils widely present in marine strata. Their identification holds significant value in studies related to stratigraphic dating, paleo-environmental evolution, and paleoclimate reconstruction. However, the process of identifying these fossils is time consuming, and the discrepancies between the results obtained from different manual identification methods are substantial, hindering quantification efforts. Therefore, it is necessary to explore automated assisted identification of fossil species. This study mainly focused on 18 key fossil species from the Miocene era. Five convolutional neural network (CNN) models and 10 data augmentation techniques were compared. These models and techniques were employed to analyze and collectively train two- and three-dimensional fossil morphologies and structures obtained from three different fossils observed under single-polarized light microscopy, orthogonal polarized light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the model performance was evaluated based on the predictive outcomes on the test set, using metrics such as confusion matrix and top-k accuracy.ResultThe results indicate that, for the calcareous nannofossil images, the most effective data augmentation approach is a combination of four methods: random rotation, random mirroring, random brightness, and gamma correction. Among the CNN models, DenseNet121 exhibits the optimal performance, achieving an identification accuracy of 94.56%. Moreover, this model can distinguish other fossils beyond the 18 key fossil species and non-fossil debris. Based on the confusion matrix, the evaluation results reveal that the model has strong generalization capability and outputs highly credible identification results.ConclusionDrawing on the identification results from CNN, this study asserts a robust correlation among extinction photographs, planar images, and stereoscopic morphological images of fossil species. Collective training facilitates the joint extraction and analysis of fossil features under different imaging methods. CNN demonstrates many advantages in the identification of calcareous nannofossils, offering convenience to researchers in various fields, such as stratigraphy, paleo-ecology, paleoclimate, and paleo-environments of ancient oceans. It has great potential for advancing the development of marine surveys and stratigraphic recognition processes in the future.
{"title":"A new method for identifying key fossil species in the Miocene Calcareous Nannofossil Zone: insights from deep convolutional neural networks","authors":"He Zhang, Chonghan Yu, Zhenglong Jiang, Xuqian Zhao","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1363423","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1363423","url":null,"abstract":"BackgroundCalcareous nannofossils are minute microfossils widely present in marine strata. Their identification holds significant value in studies related to stratigraphic dating, paleo-environmental evolution, and paleoclimate reconstruction. However, the process of identifying these fossils is time consuming, and the discrepancies between the results obtained from different manual identification methods are substantial, hindering quantification efforts. Therefore, it is necessary to explore automated assisted identification of fossil species. This study mainly focused on 18 key fossil species from the Miocene era. Five convolutional neural network (CNN) models and 10 data augmentation techniques were compared. These models and techniques were employed to analyze and collectively train two- and three-dimensional fossil morphologies and structures obtained from three different fossils observed under single-polarized light microscopy, orthogonal polarized light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the model performance was evaluated based on the predictive outcomes on the test set, using metrics such as confusion matrix and top-k accuracy.ResultThe results indicate that, for the calcareous nannofossil images, the most effective data augmentation approach is a combination of four methods: random rotation, random mirroring, random brightness, and gamma correction. Among the CNN models, DenseNet121 exhibits the optimal performance, achieving an identification accuracy of 94.56%. Moreover, this model can distinguish other fossils beyond the 18 key fossil species and non-fossil debris. Based on the confusion matrix, the evaluation results reveal that the model has strong generalization capability and outputs highly credible identification results.ConclusionDrawing on the identification results from CNN, this study asserts a robust correlation among extinction photographs, planar images, and stereoscopic morphological images of fossil species. Collective training facilitates the joint extraction and analysis of fossil features under different imaging methods. CNN demonstrates many advantages in the identification of calcareous nannofossils, offering convenience to researchers in various fields, such as stratigraphy, paleo-ecology, paleoclimate, and paleo-environments of ancient oceans. It has great potential for advancing the development of marine surveys and stratigraphic recognition processes in the future.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141505856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-27DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2024.1411290
Xiaoyan Ren, Fengying Yan
Sustainable spatial planning increasingly emphasizes the protection and restoration provided by nature to human welfare, yet scientifically assessing and managing the societal utilization status of natural ecological assets (EAs) remains a challenge. This study introduces a novel classification of EAs based on the degree of dependency of human societies, and establishes an assessment framework for the spatial utilization status of EAs, incorporating indicators related to “pattern-quality-supply-demand-risk”. These indicators are integrated into the construction of ecological security patterns to optimize the management of EAs. Validated in Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, China, key findings include: (1) In 2020, the EAs of Changxing provided a value of CNY 77.936 billion, with livable climate assets dominating and carbon assets least prevalent. (2) Urban development has led to EA loss, with the most significant losses in high-supply areas and the highest loss risks in areas with scarce EAs, yet maintaining an overall balance of supply and demand. (3) In 2020, the total area of EA sources in Changxing was 487.34 km², accounting for 34% of the total land area, with 42.34% classified as high-security zones and 11.21% as high-alert zones. This study proposes an approach to ecological spatial optimization management that integrates the spatial utilization status of EAs, providing planners with practical tools and illustrative cases for seamlessly incorporating localized ecological elements into spatial planning. Our research applies to regions facing challenges related to EA loss and striving for sustainable development, offering strategies for ecological restoration, compensation, and optimization management.
{"title":"Integrating the social utilization status of ecological assets for spatial optimization management: a comprehensive framework","authors":"Xiaoyan Ren, Fengying Yan","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1411290","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1411290","url":null,"abstract":"Sustainable spatial planning increasingly emphasizes the protection and restoration provided by nature to human welfare, yet scientifically assessing and managing the societal utilization status of natural ecological assets (EAs) remains a challenge. This study introduces a novel classification of EAs based on the degree of dependency of human societies, and establishes an assessment framework for the spatial utilization status of EAs, incorporating indicators related to “pattern-quality-supply-demand-risk”. These indicators are integrated into the construction of ecological security patterns to optimize the management of EAs. Validated in Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, China, key findings include: (1) In 2020, the EAs of Changxing provided a value of CNY 77.936 billion, with livable climate assets dominating and carbon assets least prevalent. (2) Urban development has led to EA loss, with the most significant losses in high-supply areas and the highest loss risks in areas with scarce EAs, yet maintaining an overall balance of supply and demand. (3) In 2020, the total area of EA sources in Changxing was 487.34 km², accounting for 34% of the total land area, with 42.34% classified as high-security zones and 11.21% as high-alert zones. This study proposes an approach to ecological spatial optimization management that integrates the spatial utilization status of EAs, providing planners with practical tools and illustrative cases for seamlessly incorporating localized ecological elements into spatial planning. Our research applies to regions facing challenges related to EA loss and striving for sustainable development, offering strategies for ecological restoration, compensation, and optimization management.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141505815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-27DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2024.1289139
Pavel Kotyza, Inna Cabelkova, Bartłomiej Pierański, Karel Malec, Barbara Borusiak, Luboš Smutka, Sandor Nagy, Aleksandra Gawel, David Bernardo López Lluch, Krisztián Kis, József Gál, Jana Gálová, Anna Mravcová, Blaženka Knezevic, Martin Hlaváček
Pro-environmental intentions encourage individuals to make conscious decisions that help protect the environment, reduce waste, conserve resources, and preserve natural habitats. This study aims to assess the predictive power of environmental concern, perceived behavioral control and social norms in determining the pro-environmental intentions in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework. Methodologically we rely on Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), applied to the survey study among 2,702 university students majoring in economics, finance, management, or marketing from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Spain. The results show that the model explained 51% of the total variance of pro-environmental intentions, with the predictive power of environmental concern and perceived behavioral control at 42% and 45%, respectively, and social norms at only 6% (out of total 51% of explanatory power). The implications of our results suggest a major focus on increasing environmental concern and perceived behavioral control in behavioral interventions to support pro-environmental behavior. The effectiveness of social pressure produced by injunctive social norms proved limited. The cross-country differences were not statistically significant. More research must be done to study the relative effect of injunctive and descriptive social norms on pro-environmental behavior.
{"title":"The predictive power of environmental concern, perceived behavioral control and social norms in shaping pro-environmental intentions: a multicountry study","authors":"Pavel Kotyza, Inna Cabelkova, Bartłomiej Pierański, Karel Malec, Barbara Borusiak, Luboš Smutka, Sandor Nagy, Aleksandra Gawel, David Bernardo López Lluch, Krisztián Kis, József Gál, Jana Gálová, Anna Mravcová, Blaženka Knezevic, Martin Hlaváček","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1289139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1289139","url":null,"abstract":"Pro-environmental intentions encourage individuals to make conscious decisions that help protect the environment, reduce waste, conserve resources, and preserve natural habitats. This study aims to assess the predictive power of environmental concern, perceived behavioral control and social norms in determining the pro-environmental intentions in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework. Methodologically we rely on Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), applied to the survey study among 2,702 university students majoring in economics, finance, management, or marketing from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Spain. The results show that the model explained 51% of the total variance of pro-environmental intentions, with the predictive power of environmental concern and perceived behavioral control at 42% and 45%, respectively, and social norms at only 6% (out of total 51% of explanatory power). The implications of our results suggest a major focus on increasing environmental concern and perceived behavioral control in behavioral interventions to support pro-environmental behavior. The effectiveness of social pressure produced by injunctive social norms proved limited. The cross-country differences were not statistically significant. More research must be done to study the relative effect of injunctive and descriptive social norms on pro-environmental behavior.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141532547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-26DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2024.1377214
Clinton W. Epps, P. Brandon Holton, Ryan J. Monello, Rachel S. Crowhurst, Sarah M. Gaulke, William M. Janousek, Tyler G. Creech, Tabitha A. Graves
IntroductionTerrestrial species in riverine ecosystems face unique constraints leading to diverging patterns of population structure, connectivity, and disease dynamics. Desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) in Grand Canyon National Park, a large native population in the southwestern USA, offer a unique opportunity to evaluate population patterns and processes in a remote riverine system with ongoing anthropogenic impacts. We integrated non-invasive, invasive, and citizen-science methods to address questions on abundance, distribution, disease status, genetic structure, and habitat fragmentation.MethodsWe compiled bighorn sightings collected during river trips by park staff, commercial guides, and private citizens from 2000–2018 and captured bighorn in 2010–2016 to deploy GPS collars and test for disease. From 2011–2015, we non-invasively collected fecal samples and genotyped them at 9–16 microsatellite loci for individual identification and genetic structure. We used assignment tests to evaluate genetic structure and identify subpopulations, then estimated gene flow and recent migration to evaluate fragmentation. We used spatial capture-recapture to estimate annual population size, distribution, and trends after accounting for spatial variation in detection with a resource selection function model.Results and discussionFrom 2010–2018, 3,176 sightings of bighorn were reported, with sightings of 56–145 bighorn annually on formal surveys. From 2012–2016, bighorn exhibiting signs of respiratory disease were observed along the river throughout the park. Of 25 captured individuals, 56% were infected by Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, a key respiratory pathogen, and 81% were recently exposed. Pellet sampling for population estimation from 2011–2015 yielded 1,250 genotypes and 453 individuals. We detected 6 genetic clusters that exhibited mild to moderate genetic structure (FST 0.022–0.126). The river, distance, and likely topography restricted recent gene flow, but we detected cross-river movements in one section via genetic recaptures, no subpopulation appeared completely isolated, and genetic diversity was among the highest reported. Recolonization of one large stretch of currently empty habitat appears limited by the constrained topology of this system. Annual population estimates ranged 536–552 (95% CrI range 451–647), lamb:ewe ratios varied, and no significant population decline was detected. We provide a multi-method sampling framework useful for sampling other wildlife in remote riverine systems.
{"title":"Population and spatial dynamics of desert bighorn sheep in Grand Canyon during an outbreak of respiratory pneumonia","authors":"Clinton W. Epps, P. Brandon Holton, Ryan J. Monello, Rachel S. Crowhurst, Sarah M. Gaulke, William M. Janousek, Tyler G. Creech, Tabitha A. Graves","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1377214","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1377214","url":null,"abstract":"IntroductionTerrestrial species in riverine ecosystems face unique constraints leading to diverging patterns of population structure, connectivity, and disease dynamics. Desert bighorn sheep (<jats:italic>Ovis canadensis nelsoni</jats:italic>) in Grand Canyon National Park, a large native population in the southwestern USA, offer a unique opportunity to evaluate population patterns and processes in a remote riverine system with ongoing anthropogenic impacts. We integrated non-invasive, invasive, and citizen-science methods to address questions on abundance, distribution, disease status, genetic structure, and habitat fragmentation.MethodsWe compiled bighorn sightings collected during river trips by park staff, commercial guides, and private citizens from 2000–2018 and captured bighorn in 2010–2016 to deploy GPS collars and test for disease. From 2011–2015, we non-invasively collected fecal samples and genotyped them at 9–16 microsatellite loci for individual identification and genetic structure. We used assignment tests to evaluate genetic structure and identify subpopulations, then estimated gene flow and recent migration to evaluate fragmentation. We used spatial capture-recapture to estimate annual population size, distribution, and trends after accounting for spatial variation in detection with a resource selection function model.Results and discussionFrom 2010–2018, 3,176 sightings of bighorn were reported, with sightings of 56–145 bighorn annually on formal surveys. From 2012–2016, bighorn exhibiting signs of respiratory disease were observed along the river throughout the park. Of 25 captured individuals, 56% were infected by <jats:italic>Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae</jats:italic>, a key respiratory pathogen, and 81% were recently exposed. Pellet sampling for population estimation from 2011–2015 yielded 1,250 genotypes and 453 individuals. We detected 6 genetic clusters that exhibited mild to moderate genetic structure (<jats:italic>F</jats:italic><jats:sub>ST</jats:sub> 0.022–0.126). The river, distance, and likely topography restricted recent gene flow, but we detected cross-river movements in one section via genetic recaptures, no subpopulation appeared completely isolated, and genetic diversity was among the highest reported. Recolonization of one large stretch of currently empty habitat appears limited by the constrained topology of this system. Annual population estimates ranged 536–552 (95% CrI range 451–647), lamb:ewe ratios varied, and no significant population decline was detected. We provide a multi-method sampling framework useful for sampling other wildlife in remote riverine systems.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141505826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-25DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2024.1392652
Philippe M. Cadieux, Pierre Drapeau, Alexandre Fouillet, Réjean Deschênes
IntroductionIn eastern Canada, the boreal forest is associated with an important latitudinal shift in forest composition and structure, which occurs in the transition between the mixed southern boreal forest and the coniferous northern boreal forest. Along this transition, upland mixedwood stands with large deciduous trees (important for cavity-dependent vertebrate species) are gradually replaced by forests with smaller conifer trees, primarily black spruce (Picea mariana). Concomitantly, the availability of lowland forests flooded by the American beaver (Castor canadensis), which can provide adequate conditions for tree-cavity users, is also decreasing.MethodsWe hypothesized that this latitudinal gradient would bring important changes in the functional diversity and network structure of vertebrate cavity-using communities. Along this latitudinal gradient we used a nest web approach to analyze the structure and robustness of networks of cavity users in upland forests and in lowland forests flooded by beavers.ResultsDespite their low availability in the northern forest region, we found that mixedwood stands persisted throughout the boreal forest in being the main drivers of nest webs network structure of upland forests whereas old black spruce stands contribution was low. In lowland forests, beaver ponds harbored nest webs with a rich and complex structure in both forest regions. Species removal simulations revealed that across our latitudinal gradient upland and lowland forest nest webs responded differently. In upland forests, the removal of trembling aspen and the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) caused the highest proportions of secondary extinctions, showing low robustness of nest webs given that these two species were highly connected to the other species. Contrastingly, nest webs in beaver ponds were more robust mainly because excavator species used a higher diversity of tree species despite the removal of the Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) which induced numerous secondary extinctions. The Pileated Woodpecker remained the pivotal species across the two forest regions in upland forests whereas the Northern Flicker became the main large cavity provider in beaver ponds across the latitudinal gradient.DiscussionWe discuss how mixedwood forests and beaver ponds, which are key habitat types for the cavity-using vertebrate community across our latitudinal gradient, should be maintained and protected in landscapes under industrial timber harvesting.
{"title":"Frontiers | Persistence, changes and robustness of nest webs along a latitudinal gradient in the Canadian boreal forest","authors":"Philippe M. Cadieux, Pierre Drapeau, Alexandre Fouillet, Réjean Deschênes","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1392652","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1392652","url":null,"abstract":"IntroductionIn eastern Canada, the boreal forest is associated with an important latitudinal shift in forest composition and structure, which occurs in the transition between the mixed southern boreal forest and the coniferous northern boreal forest. Along this transition, upland mixedwood stands with large deciduous trees (important for cavity-dependent vertebrate species) are gradually replaced by forests with smaller conifer trees, primarily black spruce (Picea mariana). Concomitantly, the availability of lowland forests flooded by the American beaver (Castor canadensis), which can provide adequate conditions for tree-cavity users, is also decreasing.MethodsWe hypothesized that this latitudinal gradient would bring important changes in the functional diversity and network structure of vertebrate cavity-using communities. Along this latitudinal gradient we used a nest web approach to analyze the structure and robustness of networks of cavity users in upland forests and in lowland forests flooded by beavers.ResultsDespite their low availability in the northern forest region, we found that mixedwood stands persisted throughout the boreal forest in being the main drivers of nest webs network structure of upland forests whereas old black spruce stands contribution was low. In lowland forests, beaver ponds harbored nest webs with a rich and complex structure in both forest regions. Species removal simulations revealed that across our latitudinal gradient upland and lowland forest nest webs responded differently. In upland forests, the removal of trembling aspen and the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) caused the highest proportions of secondary extinctions, showing low robustness of nest webs given that these two species were highly connected to the other species. Contrastingly, nest webs in beaver ponds were more robust mainly because excavator species used a higher diversity of tree species despite the removal of the Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) which induced numerous secondary extinctions. The Pileated Woodpecker remained the pivotal species across the two forest regions in upland forests whereas the Northern Flicker became the main large cavity provider in beaver ponds across the latitudinal gradient.DiscussionWe discuss how mixedwood forests and beaver ponds, which are key habitat types for the cavity-using vertebrate community across our latitudinal gradient, should be maintained and protected in landscapes under industrial timber harvesting.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141720217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-24DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2024.1241028
George R. Pess, Mike Mchenry, Keith Denton, Joseph H. Anderson, Martin Liermann, Roger Peters, John Mcmillan, Sam Brenkman, Todd R. Bennett, Jeffrey J. Duda, Karrie Hanson
Large dam removal is being used to restore river systems, but questions remain regarding their outcomes. We examine how the removal of two large dams in the Elwha River, coupled with hatchery production and fishing closures, affected population attributes of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss). Initial responses by returning adult Chinook salmon and steelhead was an increase in the number and spatial extent of natural and hatchery origin fish. Although few naturally produced juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead outmigrants were observed prior to and during dam removal, abundances increased three years after adult fish passage was restored, suggesting that impacts due to downstream sedimentation after dam removal were reduced. The Chinook salmon population demographics remain dominated by hatchery production, while increases in winter steelhead abundance included both hatchery and natural-origin spawners. The spatial expansion of winter steelhead upstream of former dam sites was predominantly by natural-origin spawners. We also observed a natural “reawakening” of summer steelhead that were in part derived from an up-river resident population that returned to the Upper Elwha. Our results showed that a combination of habitat, hatchery, and harvest actions can result in positive responses for salmonid populations.
{"title":"Frontiers | Initial responses of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to removal of two dams on the Elwha River, Washington State, U.S.A","authors":"George R. Pess, Mike Mchenry, Keith Denton, Joseph H. Anderson, Martin Liermann, Roger Peters, John Mcmillan, Sam Brenkman, Todd R. Bennett, Jeffrey J. Duda, Karrie Hanson","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1241028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1241028","url":null,"abstract":"Large dam removal is being used to restore river systems, but questions remain regarding their outcomes. We examine how the removal of two large dams in the Elwha River, coupled with hatchery production and fishing closures, affected population attributes of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss). Initial responses by returning adult Chinook salmon and steelhead was an increase in the number and spatial extent of natural and hatchery origin fish. Although few naturally produced juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead outmigrants were observed prior to and during dam removal, abundances increased three years after adult fish passage was restored, suggesting that impacts due to downstream sedimentation after dam removal were reduced. The Chinook salmon population demographics remain dominated by hatchery production, while increases in winter steelhead abundance included both hatchery and natural-origin spawners. The spatial expansion of winter steelhead upstream of former dam sites was predominantly by natural-origin spawners. We also observed a natural “reawakening” of summer steelhead that were in part derived from an up-river resident population that returned to the Upper Elwha. Our results showed that a combination of habitat, hatchery, and harvest actions can result in positive responses for salmonid populations.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141720218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-24DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2024.1383362
Ben J. O. Robinson, Kevin A. Hughes, David Seaton, Simon A. Morley
Shallow water Antarctic marine macroepifaunal assemblages live in one of the most naturally disturbed marine environments due to the impact of icebergs scouring the seafloor. They are, however, amongst the least anthropogenically impacted assemblages and are afforded protection under the Antarctic Treaty system. When the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station wharf needed extending to accommodate the newly constructed UK polar research vessel, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, a Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) was conducted to assess the impact. The macroepifaunal likely to be impacted by the construction was surveyed through ROV videos of five transects, centered on the middle of the construction zone, from 10–100 m deep. A pre-construction survey was completed in March 2017, as part of the CEE impact assessment, and a post-build survey in 2022 (delayed from 2021, and reduced in scope, due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Sedimentation rates were also measured before and during construction and were high during the second summer when the wharf pilings were being back filled with crushed rock. The measured differences between pre- and post-construction assemblages were minor and were not reflected in the overall number of taxa (operational taxonomic units – OTU), or diversity, but there were subtle shifts in species composition. The largest differences in the macroepifauna were a reduction in the number of the common urchin, Sterechinus neumayeri, and seastar, Odontaster validus, and were within expected variability. The small changes detected in the macroepifauna indicate it was minimally impacted and/or recovered in the subsequent two years, therefore during wharf construction the accompanying mitigation measures were robust.
{"title":"Measuring the impact of wharf construction on the Antarctic benthos","authors":"Ben J. O. Robinson, Kevin A. Hughes, David Seaton, Simon A. Morley","doi":"10.3389/fevo.2024.1383362","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1383362","url":null,"abstract":"Shallow water Antarctic marine macroepifaunal assemblages live in one of the most naturally disturbed marine environments due to the impact of icebergs scouring the seafloor. They are, however, amongst the least anthropogenically impacted assemblages and are afforded protection under the Antarctic Treaty system. When the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station wharf needed extending to accommodate the newly constructed UK polar research vessel, the RRS <jats:italic>Sir David Attenborough</jats:italic>, a Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) was conducted to assess the impact. The macroepifaunal likely to be impacted by the construction was surveyed through ROV videos of five transects, centered on the middle of the construction zone, from 10–100 m deep. A pre-construction survey was completed in March 2017, as part of the CEE impact assessment, and a post-build survey in 2022 (delayed from 2021, and reduced in scope, due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Sedimentation rates were also measured before and during construction and were high during the second summer when the wharf pilings were being back filled with crushed rock. The measured differences between pre- and post-construction assemblages were minor and were not reflected in the overall number of taxa (operational taxonomic units – OTU), or diversity, but there were subtle shifts in species composition. The largest differences in the macroepifauna were a reduction in the number of the common urchin, <jats:italic>Sterechinus neumayeri</jats:italic>, and seastar, <jats:italic>Odontaster validus</jats:italic>, and were within expected variability. The small changes detected in the macroepifauna indicate it was minimally impacted and/or recovered in the subsequent two years, therefore during wharf construction the accompanying mitigation measures were robust.","PeriodicalId":12367,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141505816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-21DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2024.1417619
Şerban Procheş
Nature observations are at the core of both nature-based tourism and citizen science. The movement limitations associated with the Covid-19 pandemic have created a window during which tourism nose-dived, but online citizen science platforms flourished primarily through the posting of ‘backyard’ observations. Beyond citizen science, a return to nature during this period appears to have been important in supporting mental health, especially in city dwellers, and this has resulted in a renewed interest in studying nature appreciation. Here I attempt to bring together these different facets of nature watching research, defined by divergent philosophical underpinning and following different methodologies. I use the findings of tourism and citizen science studies to summarize observer motivations, and place these in a nature appreciation framework. I argue that this framework can be used towards maintaining a balance between diverse goals: reducing observer biases in citizen science, enhancing observer experience in nature-based tourism, and maximizing the therapeutic effects of being exposed to nature.
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Pub Date : 2024-06-21DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2024.1409743
Sofia Casasa
Phenotypic plasticity is a fundamental property of developing organisms and is thought to play an important role in diversification. Plastic responses themselves are remarkably diverse and respond to a wide range of environmental factors. Here I focus on plasticity in response to variation in nutrition in insects since 1) nutrition is a widespread factor that impacts most organisms, and 2) insects are important models to study phenotypic plasticity. First, I provide a brief overview of our current mechanistic understanding of the regulation of nutritionally cued plasticity in insects, in both traditional as well as emerging model systems. Then, I explore evolutionary mechanisms enabling the diversification of regulation across taxa, emphasizing the role of gene duplication and gene regulatory network co-option. Furthermore, I examine nutrition-responsive phenotypes as suites of multiple traits that develop in a coordinated manner. I argue that understanding how these traits are integrated at the molecular level can shed light on the evolution of complex phenotypes. Finally, I discuss potential challenges and opportunities to further our understanding of nutrition-responsive plasticity, its regulation, and its evolution.
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Pub Date : 2024-06-17DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2024.1381539
Artai A. Santos, Stephen McLoughlin, Marco A. Rubalcaba-Knoth, Ana L. Hernández-Damian, Uxue Villanueva-Amadoz, Sergio R. Cevallos-Ferriz
Plants and insects are two of the more diverse and abundant organisms in terrestrial ecosystems. The fossil record of plant-insect interactions offers crucial insights into the coevolutionary dynamics between these groups, shedding light on the intricate relationships that have shaped terrestrial ecosystems. The study of fossil interactions is especially relevant in mid-Cretaceous ecosystems, a time of dramatic changes in the composition of floras and, consequently, in plant-insect relationships. Here, we describe the first suite of plant-insect interactions from the mid-Cretaceous of Mexico. We studied 554 plant fossils from the El Chango Lagerstätte (Cintalapa Formation, Chiapas, Mexico), including vegetative (leaves) and reproductive structures (fruits and seeds). The flora was dominated by gymnosperms (89.3%) followed by angiosperms (10.7%); other groups, such as pteridophytes and bryophytes, were absent. In total, 5.4% of the plant specimens hosted some damage. Angiosperms (all broad-leafed forms), despite being much less common than gymnosperms, expressed more evidence of damage by herbivores (35.6% of specimens damaged). In contrast, the narrow-leafed gymnosperms, the dominant group in the flora, hosted a much lower proportion of herbivory damage (1.8% of specimens damaged). The diversity of damage types (DTs) was relatively low: 14 DTs were identified, corresponding to seven FFGs, including margin feeding, hole feeding, surface feeding, piercing and sucking, oviposition, galling, and mining. Comparison with the other mid-Cretaceous plant-insect assemblages reveals a similar richness of DTs for angiosperms but a lower richness and diversity of DTs on gymnosperms from El Chango. These results indicate preferential herbivory on angiosperms (rather than on the available gymnosperms in the assemblage) by terrestrial arthropods during a period of major changes in the structure of terrestrial ecosystems. However, it is challenging to resolve whether this apparent preference is because insects particularly targeted angiosperms or if the herbivores simply targeted broad leaves in general, since most of the available gymnosperms from El Chango are scale-leafed forms.
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