npj biodiversity最新文献

The leaf economics spectrum (LES) has been proposed as a framework for understanding leaf resource-investment and plant growth strategies, but it is scarcely examined in mangrove communities. This study investigates LES patterns in mangrove communities to examine whether the trait coordination spectrum, if it exists, is associated with plant growth strategies. By conducting a comprehensive sampling across a wide range of mangrove species in China, we confirmed the presence of LES across mangrove species, and found that true mangroves generally exhibit a more conservative strategy characterized by higher leaf mass per area (LMA) and lower leaf nutrient concentrations compared to mangrove associates. We also observed considerable intraspecific variation in traits, particularly in LMA. In some cases, fast-growing species exhibited higher LMA and lower leaf nutrient concentrations than slow-growing species. Fast-growing species also showed higher leaf thickness than slow-growing species, but no difference in leaf density between them, suggesting that LMA composition is important in understanding trait coordination and its link with plant growth strategies in mangrove communities. Our findings highlight a complex link between trait coordination and plant growth strategies in mangrove species.

Antarctica, a seemingly barren and icy wilderness, is home to a diverse array of microbial life that plays a critical role in sustaining its ecosystems. These resilient microorganisms drive nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration, but their function in global processes remains unclear. This pristine environment faces mounting threats from human activities, climate change, and increasing tourism. Contaminants, non-native species, and microplastics are increasingly reaching even the most remote regions, disrupting delicate microbial communities existing for millions of years. Antarctic microorganisms are not only ecologically significant but also valuable for biotechnological advancements, making their conservation imperative. Climate change exacerbates these threats, altering microbial habitats and promoting shifts in community structure. Tourism growth, though beneficial for education and economic reasons, poses significant challenges through biological and chemical contamination. Despite efforts under the Antarctic Treaty System to protect the region, there is a critical need for enhanced measures specifically targeting microbial conservation. This article underscores the importance of conserving Antarctic microbial diversity. It highlights the intricate microbial ecosystems and the urgency of implementing strategies such as stringent biosecurity measures, sustainable tourism practices, and comprehensive monitoring programs. Additionally, fostering international collaboration and research initiatives is vital for understanding and designing strategies to mitigate the impacts of environmental changes on microbial life. By prioritizing microbial conservation in policy frameworks and strengthening global cooperation, we can safeguard these unique ecosystems and ensure their resilience for future generations.

Mountains, which constitute the majority of global biodiversity hotspots, are most vulnerable to ecosystem collapse due to various natural and anthropogenic stressors. Notably, over 90% of geopolitical conflicts have unfolded in the regions with global biodiversity hotspots. The Himalaya, Tibet and Hengduan (HTH) mountains are apt examples where climate change meets geopolitical conflict and militarization. Here, I advance a fresh proposal and hope that the neighbouring nations could bring to bear the neutrality of transboundary conservation areas, as part of their diplomatic tools, to broker a lasting peace. The proposal advocates establishing a Greater Himalayan Peace Reserve (GHPR) for posterity and regional ecological and economic security. The proposed reserve embraces the HTH mountains embodying some of the most biodiverse regions of the earth. These mountains also play a central role in controlling regional climate, water security and agricultural productivity of South and Southeast Asia. The GHPR is envisaged to be a potential regional platform for conservation diplomacy, and a model foundational framework for global sustainability and peace.

There are repeated calls for remote sensing observations to produce accessible data products that improve our understanding and conservation of biodiversity. The Biodiversity Survey of the Cape (BioSCape) addresses this need by integrating field, airborne, satellite, and modeling datasets to advance the limits of global remote sensing of biodiversity. Over six weeks, an international team of ~150 scientists collected data across terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems in South Africa. In situ biodiversity observations of plant and animal communities, estuaries, kelp, and plankton were made using traditional field methods as well as novel approaches like environmental DNA and acoustic surveys. Biodiversity observations were accompanied by an unprecedented combination of airborne imaging spectroscopy and lidar measurements acquired across 45,000 km². Here, we review how the approaches applied in BioSCape will help us measure and monitor biodiversity at scale and the role of remote sensing in accomplishing this.

Copepods, the most abundant individuals of the mesozooplankton, play a pivotal role in marine food webs and carbon cycling. However, few studies have focused on their diversity and the environmental factors influencing it. The objective of the present study is to model the alpha and beta diversity of copepods across the tropical and subtropical ecoregions of Atlantic Ocean using both taxonomic and functional approaches. The study used a dataset of 226 copepod species collected by stratified plankton hauls (0-800 m depth) across the tropical and equatorial Atlantic, from oligotrophic waters close to the Brazilian coast to more productive waters close to the Mauritanian Upwelling. To perform the functional analysis, six traits related to the behaviour, growth, and reproduction of copepods were selected. Several alpha diversities were estimated using taxonomic metrics (SR, Δ+, and Λ+) and functional metrics (FDis, FEve, FDiv, FOri, FSpe), and modelized with GAM model across spatial and environmental gradients, and day/night. The overall and two components of β-diversity (turnover and nestedness) were shared between depth and stations. The surface layers of stations from oligotrophic, equatorial, and Cape Verde ecoregions displayed higher values of taxonomic α-diversity. More unpredictable were the facets of functional α-diversity, although they showed a tendency to be positive with depth during the daytime. The GAM analysis revealed spatial gradients as the key factors modelling the taxonomic α-diversity, whereas depth was the most relevant for functional α-diversity. The turnover component drove taxonomic β-diversity in depth and station, whereas the nestedness component acquired relevance for the functional β-diversity. The taxonomic structure of the copepod community varied spatially across depths and ecoregions, but this was not linked to functional changes of the same magnitude.

This is a critical moment for land use policy globally, with many countries (e.g. the UK and the European Union) currently undertaking significant green reforms of their agricultural policies. Despite their importance for maintaining agricultural outputs and plant diversity, the effects of artificial soil enrichment on pollinators remain poorly understood. Our two-year study at the world's longest-running ecological experiment, Park Grass, Rothamsted, examines the relationship between soil fertilisation, grassland yield and biodiversity. Our data show a large and significant negative effect of the major plant nutrients (NPK) on the abundance, species richness and functional diversity of both pollinators and flowering plants. The results also indicate a large and significant trade-off between productivity and biodiversity. Our findings are a salutary reminder of the challenge in reconciling conflicting aims in farmland management and strongly suggest that financial incentives are necessary to offset yield reductions to improve biodiversity outcomes in agricultural grasslands.