Pub Date : 2025-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03441
Max R. Larreur , Clayton K. Nielsen , Damon B. Lesmeister , Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau
Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) populations have apparently declined across the Midwestern United States which may be reflected in their distributional patterns and occupancy. To assess the severity of gray fox population declines and potential changing space use patterns, we used two temporally independent datasets collected using camera traps at the same sites during 2008–2010 and 2022–2023 within a 16,058-km2 area of southern Illinois, USA. We then developed three predictive occupancy models that allowed comparison of gray fox spatial patterns and occupancy estimates over time. We assessed pairwise model predictive occupancy estimates using relative rank correlation and density plot overlap. Naïve occupancy (i.e., ndetected/nsurveyed) of gray fox declined from 0.20 to 0.06 between our two time periods. Predicted occupancy ranged from 0.01–0.47 to 0.11–0.43 between past and future spatial models, respectively, indicating stable gray fox occupancy and space use patterns. The contemporary model had predicted occupancy ranging from 0.02 to 0.10, a 4-fold decline in occupancy estimates across 99 % of our study extent. Most habitat features had different directional effects on gray fox occupancy between our two temporal periods, illustrating the complexity of gray fox habitat preferences and a shift in their ecology. Our study highlights the need for increased conservation and management of gray fox populations as their populations have indicated evident declines across the Midwest.
{"title":"The precipitous decline of a gray fox population","authors":"Max R. Larreur , Clayton K. Nielsen , Damon B. Lesmeister , Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gray fox (<em>Urocyon cinereoargenteus</em>) populations have apparently declined across the Midwestern United States which may be reflected in their distributional patterns and occupancy. To assess the severity of gray fox population declines and potential changing space use patterns, we used two temporally independent datasets collected using camera traps at the same sites during 2008–2010 and 2022–2023 within a 16,058-km<sup>2</sup> area of southern Illinois, USA. We then developed three predictive occupancy models that allowed comparison of gray fox spatial patterns and occupancy estimates over time. We assessed pairwise model predictive occupancy estimates using relative rank correlation and density plot overlap. Naïve occupancy (i.e., n<sub>detected</sub>/n<sub>surveyed</sub>) of gray fox declined from 0.20 to 0.06 between our two time periods. Predicted occupancy ranged from 0.01–0.47 to 0.11–0.43 between past and future spatial models, respectively, indicating stable gray fox occupancy and space use patterns. The contemporary model had predicted occupancy ranging from 0.02 to 0.10, a 4-fold decline in occupancy estimates across 99 % of our study extent. Most habitat features had different directional effects on gray fox occupancy between our two temporal periods, illustrating the complexity of gray fox habitat preferences and a shift in their ecology. Our study highlights the need for increased conservation and management of gray fox populations as their populations have indicated evident declines across the Midwest.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03441"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anthropogenic land alterations result in extensive habitat and biodiversity losses. In the Negev desert of Israel, habitat loss and environmental disturbances have driven the population of MacQueen's Bustard, AKA Asian Houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii), one of Israel's flagship species, to the verge of extinction. Although this remnant population is considered sedentary, observations suggest that a large part of the population performs short-distance migration between the breeding and post-breeding grounds in the northwestern Negev using short flights and on-foot movements. We utilized GPS data from nineteen males equipped with GSM-GPS devices and Maximum Entropy species distribution models to characterize, for the first time, the 1) male home ranges during the courtship period and 2) critical corridors utilized when performing short flights and on-foot movements between the breeding and post-breeding grounds in the northwestern Negev. The most influential predictors of male courtship areas were elevation, January precipitation, and soil type, displaying the range of environmental conditions best suitable for establishing a male courtship home range along the steep climate and topographic gradients characterizing the Negev desert of Israel. Zooming into the northwestern Negev, where most of the population occurs, showed that the most influential predictor variable was soil type. A compositional analysis indicated two groups of courting males in the northwestern Negev and a third group in the Negev Highlands. The first group, comprising ten males occupying a land unit dominated by loess-derived soils, significantly preferred loessial serozem soils. The second group, including six males occupying a land unit dominated by sand-derived soils, significantly preferred sand dunes and sandy regosols. The third group, comprising three Negev Highlands males, showed a preference for regosol-reg and desert alluvium soils. The home range sizes of courting males were positively correlated with their body masses. The total distance each of the migrating males covered while wandering until arriving at the post-breeding ground was, on average, 171.39 km, and it comprised primarily on-foot movements (68 %) rather than short flights (32 %). Areas of relatively uniform elevation and gentle/simple topography characterized the on-foot movement corridors utilized during the short-distance migration between the breeding and post-breeding grounds in the northwestern Negev, possibly reflecting a preference for vast, unobstructed areas that enhance the field of vision while on the ground. A common finding across both activity seasons was a distinct avoidance of agricultural lands and favoring open natural habitats. Some courtship sites and on-foot movement corridors are primarily found outside nature reserves. Therefore, we call for protecting these critical areas and preventing their destruction.
{"title":"Characterization of male courtship home ranges and short-distance migration corridor in a remnant MacQueen's Bustard population","authors":"Ophir Gidron , Eyal Shochat , Elon Gur , Ofer Ovadia","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03449","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03449","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anthropogenic land alterations result in extensive habitat and biodiversity losses. In the Negev desert of Israel, habitat loss and environmental disturbances have driven the population of MacQueen's Bustard, AKA Asian Houbara (<em>Chlamydotis macqueenii)</em>, one of Israel's flagship species, to the verge of extinction. Although this remnant population is considered sedentary, observations suggest that a large part of the population performs short-distance migration between the breeding and post-breeding grounds in the northwestern Negev using short flights and on-foot movements. We utilized GPS data from nineteen males equipped with GSM-GPS devices and Maximum Entropy species distribution models to characterize, for the first time<em>,</em> the 1) male home ranges during the courtship period and 2) critical corridors utilized when performing short flights and on-foot movements between the breeding and post-breeding grounds in the northwestern Negev. The most influential predictors of male courtship areas were elevation, January precipitation, and soil type, displaying the range of environmental conditions best suitable for establishing a male courtship home range along the steep climate and topographic gradients characterizing the Negev desert of Israel. Zooming into the northwestern Negev, where most of the population occurs, showed that the most influential predictor variable was soil type. A compositional analysis indicated two groups of courting males in the northwestern Negev and a third group in the Negev Highlands. The first group, comprising ten males occupying a land unit dominated by loess-derived soils, significantly preferred loessial serozem soils. The second group, including six males occupying a land unit dominated by sand-derived soils, significantly preferred sand dunes and sandy regosols. The third group, comprising three Negev Highlands males, showed a preference for regosol-reg and desert alluvium soils. The home range sizes of courting males were positively correlated with their body masses. The total distance each of the migrating males covered while wandering until arriving at the post-breeding ground was, on average, 171.39 km, and it comprised primarily on-foot movements (68 %) rather than short flights (32 %). Areas of relatively uniform elevation and gentle/simple topography characterized the on-foot movement corridors utilized during the short-distance migration between the breeding and post-breeding grounds in the northwestern Negev, possibly reflecting a preference for vast, unobstructed areas that enhance the field of vision while on the ground. A common finding across both activity seasons was a distinct avoidance of agricultural lands and favoring open natural habitats. Some courtship sites and on-foot movement corridors are primarily found outside nature reserves. Therefore, we call for protecting these critical areas and preventing their destruction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03449"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03457
Reny Puspasari , Rita Rachmawati , Budi Nugraha , Hawis Madduppa , Lalu M. Iqbal Sani , Widodo Setiyo Pranowo , Aslan , Ngurah Nyoman Wiadnyana , Zulhamsyah Imran
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a management option for promoting fish stock recovery and supplying recruits. In Indonesia, the significant decline of groupers due to fishing pressure shows the importance of coral reef ecosystems, which is a criterion for determining MPAs. Therefore, this study aimed to project the potential dispersal of groupers larvae from MPAs to nearby areas using a larval dispersal model. This study also investigated the supply of the protected reef inside MPAs to surrounding waters using DNA microsatellite loci. The two species of groupers used in the analysis were Epinephelus areolatus (Forsskål, 1775) and Cephalopholis argus (Schneider, 1801). The hydrodynamic model simulation was used to develop ocean currents driven for the larval dispersal model. Fishermen were interviewed to obtain information on grouper's habitat areas and characteristics to support modeling input data. Four microsatellite primers were selected for DNA amplification. The result of larval dispersal projections showed that larvae are distributed to the areas outside MPAs. This result suggests that MPAs could supply recruits to the surrounding waters. However, there was a low probability of genetic admixture of E. areolatus and C. argus populations between inside and outside MPAs.
{"title":"Potential relation of groupers populations between protected reef areas and nearby coastal waters using larval dispersal model and genetic method","authors":"Reny Puspasari , Rita Rachmawati , Budi Nugraha , Hawis Madduppa , Lalu M. Iqbal Sani , Widodo Setiyo Pranowo , Aslan , Ngurah Nyoman Wiadnyana , Zulhamsyah Imran","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03457","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03457","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a management option for promoting fish stock recovery and supplying recruits. In Indonesia, the significant decline of groupers due to fishing pressure shows the importance of coral reef ecosystems, which is a criterion for determining MPAs. Therefore, this study aimed to project the potential dispersal of groupers larvae from MPAs to nearby areas using a larval dispersal model. This study also investigated the supply of the protected reef inside MPAs to surrounding waters using DNA microsatellite loci. The two species of groupers used in the analysis were <em>Epinephelus areolatus</em> (Forsskål, 1775) and <em>Cephalopholis argus</em> (Schneider, 1801). The hydrodynamic model simulation was used to develop ocean currents driven for the larval dispersal model. Fishermen were interviewed to obtain information on grouper's habitat areas and characteristics to support modeling input data. Four microsatellite primers were selected for DNA amplification. The result of larval dispersal projections showed that larvae are distributed to the areas outside MPAs. This result suggests that MPAs could supply recruits to the surrounding waters. However, there was a low probability of genetic admixture of <em>E. areolatus</em> and <em>C. argus</em> populations between inside and outside MPAs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03457"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03456
Yiyang Zhao , Li Liu , Yong Ding , Lizhu Guo , Jing Guo
The influence of grazing on the limiting of soil microbial metabolism is crucial for optimizing grazing management aimed at enhancing the soil's capacity for carbon sequestration in grasslands. Previous studies have investigated the impact of different levels of grazing intensity on the metabolic behavior and carbon utilization efficiency of soil microorganisms. This research aimed to evaluate the microbial biomass levels, physicochemical properties, and the functions of four specific extracellular enzymes associated with the uptake of C, N, and P in a sample plot that exemplifies a typical steppe ecosystem. The study intends to elucidate the dynamics of soil enzyme stoichiometry while identifying the constraints on carbon use efficiency and microbial metabolism in relation to different grazing intensities. The results reveal that in conditions of light grazing, microbial metabolic processes are co-limited by C and P, whereas in ungrazed plots and those subjected to different grazing treatments, limitations are primarily due to C and N. Key determinants of microbial carbon limitation include nutrient availability and the ratio of microbial biomass, while limitations pertaining to N, and P are primarily influenced by microbial biomass levels and their respective ratios. Notably, microbial carbon use efficiency peaked under light grazing conditions. Therefore, sustained light grazing can modify the limitations affecting soil microbial metabolism and enhance microbial carbon use efficiency. This study's outcomes offer a theoretical foundation for developing sustainable grazing management strategies that can improve soil quality and augment the carbon sequestration potential of grasslands.
{"title":"The pattern of soil microbe metabolic limitation and carbon use efficiency was altered by light grazing in typical steppe","authors":"Yiyang Zhao , Li Liu , Yong Ding , Lizhu Guo , Jing Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03456","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03456","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The influence of grazing on the limiting of soil microbial metabolism is crucial for optimizing grazing management aimed at enhancing the soil's capacity for carbon sequestration in grasslands. Previous studies have investigated the impact of different levels of grazing intensity on the metabolic behavior and carbon utilization efficiency of soil microorganisms. This research aimed to evaluate the microbial biomass levels, physicochemical properties, and the functions of four specific extracellular enzymes associated with the uptake of C, N, and P in a sample plot that exemplifies a typical steppe ecosystem. The study intends to elucidate the dynamics of soil enzyme stoichiometry while identifying the constraints on carbon use efficiency and microbial metabolism in relation to different grazing intensities. The results reveal that in conditions of light grazing, microbial metabolic processes are co-limited by C and P, whereas in ungrazed plots and those subjected to different grazing treatments, limitations are primarily due to C and N. Key determinants of microbial carbon limitation include nutrient availability and the ratio of microbial biomass, while limitations pertaining to N, and P are primarily influenced by microbial biomass levels and their respective ratios. Notably, microbial carbon use efficiency peaked under light grazing conditions. Therefore, sustained light grazing can modify the limitations affecting soil microbial metabolism and enhance microbial carbon use efficiency. This study's outcomes offer a theoretical foundation for developing sustainable grazing management strategies that can improve soil quality and augment the carbon sequestration potential of grasslands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03456"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03450
Xinxin Li , Donglei Mao , Jie Xue , Shunke Wang , Jingjing Chang , Xin Liu
The ecosystem services value (ESV) is essential for preventing environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. The expansion of artificial oases has led to a decrease in ESV in the desert-oasis ecotone of arid regions. The southern Tarim Basin represents a typical arid "mountain-oasis-desert system." This study employs the CA-Markov model, the ESV evaluation model, and the geographical detector model to simulate future scenarios and assess the attribution of Land-Use and Land-Cover Change (LUCC) and the loss of ESV in the desert-oasis ecotone of the southern Tarim Basin, China, from 2000 to 2030. From 2000–2020, the area of artificial oases expanded by 44.1 %, resulting in a loss of 5.653 billion yuan in ESV within the desert-oasis ecotone. This highlights the threat to the stability of the oasis ecosystem caused by the expansion of artificial oases in the region. In the three scenario simulations for 2030, the ecological protection scenario predicts the smallest expansion of artificial oasis area (1.27 %) compared to 2020. Additionally, it has the lowest loss of ESV in the desert-oasis ecotone (860 million yuan). This suggests that future implementation of ecological protection policies could effectively safeguard the ESV in the desert-oasis ecotone. DEM, GDP and NDVI are the main factors influencing ESV loss in the desert-oasis ecotone. The ESV assessment framework and future scenario simulation results presented in this study can offer scientific evidence for policymakers, aiding in the formulation and implementation of more effective ecological protection policies. This approach is also beneficial for ecological conservation and restoration in the context of accelerated urbanization.
{"title":"Integrative assessment and management implications on loss of ecosystem services value of desert-oasis ecotone due to artificial oasis expansion","authors":"Xinxin Li , Donglei Mao , Jie Xue , Shunke Wang , Jingjing Chang , Xin Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03450","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03450","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ecosystem services value (ESV) is essential for preventing environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. The expansion of artificial oases has led to a decrease in ESV in the desert-oasis ecotone of arid regions. The southern Tarim Basin represents a typical arid \"mountain-oasis-desert system.\" This study employs the CA-Markov model, the ESV evaluation model, and the geographical detector model to simulate future scenarios and assess the attribution of Land-Use and Land-Cover Change (LUCC) and the loss of ESV in the desert-oasis ecotone of the southern Tarim Basin, China, from 2000 to 2030. From 2000–2020, the area of artificial oases expanded by 44.1 %, resulting in a loss of 5.653 billion yuan in ESV within the desert-oasis ecotone. This highlights the threat to the stability of the oasis ecosystem caused by the expansion of artificial oases in the region. In the three scenario simulations for 2030, the ecological protection scenario predicts the smallest expansion of artificial oasis area (1.27 %) compared to 2020. Additionally, it has the lowest loss of ESV in the desert-oasis ecotone (860 million yuan). This suggests that future implementation of ecological protection policies could effectively safeguard the ESV in the desert-oasis ecotone. DEM, GDP and NDVI are the main factors influencing ESV loss in the desert-oasis ecotone. The ESV assessment framework and future scenario simulation results presented in this study can offer scientific evidence for policymakers, aiding in the formulation and implementation of more effective ecological protection policies. This approach is also beneficial for ecological conservation and restoration in the context of accelerated urbanization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03450"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03455
Haonian Li , Zhongju Meng , Xiaomen Ren , Yanlong Han
Algal biological soil crusts (ABSCs) as ecological engineers inhabiting the soil-atmosphere boundary in dryland. Bacteria living at this boundary drive the diversity of ecosystem functions and services. However, it is still unknown whether differences in vegetation communities drive differences in soil bacterial communities, soil physicochemical properties, and enzyme activities in ABSCs and subsoils. Soil samples were collected from sites with and without algal crusts in the vicinity of shrub canopies within two representative plant communities (i.e., Salix psammophila and Hedysarum scoparium), in the Hobq Desert, as well as from mobile sandy lands. We collected soil from the 0–2 cm (including the crust layer), 2–5 cm, and 5–10 cm soil layers, and measured and analyzed the soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activity and soil bacterial community characteristics. Our results showed that there were significant differences in soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and bacterial community diversity in the 0–2 cm soil layer among ABSCs plots with different plant communities. Compared with mobile sandy land, the ABSCs in different vegetation communities significantly increased soil nutrient levels, enzyme activities, and diversity of soil bacterial communities. It is noteworthy that ABSCs exerted a beneficial influence on the soil quality of the 0–2 cm layer, yet simultaneously reduced the relative abundance and diversity index of the soil bacterial community, in comparison to plots devoid of ABSCs within the same plant community. In addition, the ABSCs differed in the network topological characteristics of soil bacterial communities in different plant communities. Specifically, the ABSCs positively promote relationships between soil bacterial genera yet reduce the complexity of bacterial communities. Among them, the ABSCs in the community of H. scoparium are not conducive to forming bacterial network modularity (Modularity= 0.336 < 0.4). Our results highlight that the ABSCs in different plant communities have an impact on the variation in soil bacterial community structure factors. These insights are pivotal for understanding the impacts of plant community-driven ABSCs on soil bacterial communities, particularly in the context of global climate change and persistent drought conditions.
{"title":"Variations in the physicochemical properties of soil, enzyme activities, and the characteristics of bacterial communities within algal biocrusts and subsoils across different plant communities","authors":"Haonian Li , Zhongju Meng , Xiaomen Ren , Yanlong Han","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03455","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03455","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Algal biological soil crusts (ABSCs) as ecological engineers inhabiting the soil-atmosphere boundary in dryland. Bacteria living at this boundary drive the diversity of ecosystem functions and services. However, it is still unknown whether differences in vegetation communities drive differences in soil bacterial communities, soil physicochemical properties, and enzyme activities in ABSCs and subsoils. Soil samples were collected from sites with and without algal crusts in the vicinity of shrub canopies within two representative plant communities (i.e., <em>Salix psammophila</em> and <em>Hedysarum scoparium</em>), in the Hobq Desert, as well as from mobile sandy lands. We collected soil from the 0–2 cm (including the crust layer), 2–5 cm, and 5–10 cm soil layers, and measured and analyzed the soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activity and soil bacterial community characteristics. Our results showed that there were significant differences in soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and bacterial community diversity in the 0–2 cm soil layer among ABSCs plots with different plant communities. Compared with mobile sandy land, the ABSCs in different vegetation communities significantly increased soil nutrient levels, enzyme activities, and diversity of soil bacterial communities. It is noteworthy that ABSCs exerted a beneficial influence on the soil quality of the 0–2 cm layer, yet simultaneously reduced the relative abundance and diversity index of the soil bacterial community, in comparison to plots devoid of ABSCs within the same plant community. In addition, the ABSCs differed in the network topological characteristics of soil bacterial communities in different plant communities. Specifically, the ABSCs positively promote relationships between soil bacterial genera yet reduce the complexity of bacterial communities. Among them, the ABSCs in the community of <em>H. scoparium</em> are not conducive to forming bacterial network modularity (Modularity= 0.336 < 0.4). Our results highlight that the ABSCs in different plant communities have an impact on the variation in soil bacterial community structure factors. These insights are pivotal for understanding the impacts of plant community-driven ABSCs on soil bacterial communities, particularly in the context of global climate change and persistent drought conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03455"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143278799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03454
Ming Chen , Chuan Tang , Yu Yang , Jiang Xiong
The accurate detection and assessment of changes in the quality of the ecological environment is crucial under seismic disturbances for regional ecological environment recovery and protection. To ensure ecological safety and reduce the geo-ecological risks in the Wenchuan earthquake-affected areas, assessing the quality of the ecological environment and its underlying influencing factors is an important initiative. First, we developed the multi-temporal remote sensing ecological quality (RSEI) dataset spanning from 2007 to 2023 in the Wenchuan earthquake-affected area. Subsequently, we quantitatively assessed the spatio-temporal evolution of the ecosystem quality based on eight RSEI maps. Meanwhile, we examined the control of elevation, slope, aspect, and gully density on the spatiotemporal variation in RSEI. Finally, we explored the interactions between ecological quality and surface mass movement. We found that the average RSEI decreased from 0.80 before the earthquake to 0.47 after the earthquake, and increased to 0.66 after the 15-year recovery period, which indicates a gradual increase in the general ecological quality from 2008 to 2023. In 2023, 36.2 % of the area will still be below the good level of RSEI. Areas with higher elevations, steeper slopes, SE orientation or higher gully densities have lower ecological resilience. We also found that the susceptibility to surface mass movements such as debris flows and landslides was higher in catchments with poorer ecological quality. Generally, the RSEI oscillatory increasing trend was observed after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. If RSEI follows the fitted trend, ecological quality will recover to pre-earthquake levels in 2035. Our study will contribute important information and decision-making references for policymakers to carry out more targeted environmental protection, ecological recovery, and sustainable development efforts.
{"title":"Quantifying spatio-temporal changes in the ecological environment quality and their implications for surface mass movement after a high-magnitude earthquake","authors":"Ming Chen , Chuan Tang , Yu Yang , Jiang Xiong","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03454","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03454","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The accurate detection and assessment of changes in the quality of the ecological environment is crucial under seismic disturbances for regional ecological environment recovery and protection. To ensure ecological safety and reduce the geo-ecological risks in the Wenchuan earthquake-affected areas, assessing the quality of the ecological environment and its underlying influencing factors is an important initiative. First, we developed the multi-temporal remote sensing ecological quality (RSEI) dataset spanning from 2007 to 2023 in the Wenchuan earthquake-affected area. Subsequently, we quantitatively assessed the spatio-temporal evolution of the ecosystem quality based on eight RSEI maps. Meanwhile, we examined the control of elevation, slope, aspect, and gully density on the spatiotemporal variation in RSEI. Finally, we explored the interactions between ecological quality and surface mass movement. We found that the average RSEI decreased from 0.80 before the earthquake to 0.47 after the earthquake, and increased to 0.66 after the 15-year recovery period, which indicates a gradual increase in the general ecological quality from 2008 to 2023. In 2023, 36.2 % of the area will still be below the good level of RSEI. Areas with higher elevations, steeper slopes, SE orientation or higher gully densities have lower ecological resilience. We also found that the susceptibility to surface mass movements such as debris flows and landslides was higher in catchments with poorer ecological quality. Generally, the RSEI oscillatory increasing trend was observed after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. If RSEI follows the fitted trend, ecological quality will recover to pre-earthquake levels in 2035. Our study will contribute important information and decision-making references for policymakers to carry out more targeted environmental protection, ecological recovery, and sustainable development efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03454"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03447
Jonas Brüggeshemke , Ole Henning , Thomas Fartmann
Heathland ecosystems have experienced severe declines. Today, the remaining heathlands suffer from succession and airborne nitrogen deposition. To counteract the negative effects of both, various management measures such as choppering, grazing, mowing or sod-cutting have been implemented. However, thus far, these measures only partially halted the loss of biodiversity. We compared environmental conditions and territory densities of characteristic heathland breeding bird species on 91 randomly selected plots in two large heathlands that vary in their long-term land use history: a military training area shaped by fire and a nature reserve where grazing dominates. Our study revealed strong differences in environmental conditions and territory densities. In the military training area, very open habitats accounted for more than two thirds per plot. By contrast, in the nature reserve, semi-open habitats had a share of more than one half per plot. Mean territory densities of open heathland species were 1.6 times higher in the training area compared to the nature reserve. By contrast, territory densities of semi-open heathland species did not differ. Overall, fire was assumed as the key driver of territory densities in characteristic heathland breeding birds. In comparison to traditionally managed heathlands, fire management of heathlands favoured breeding birds in two ways: First, through preserving the nutrient balance, which very likely had positive effects on insect food supply and may also on the formation of eggshells. Second, by creating early successional stages rich in bare ground that allow an easy access to invertebrate food resources. Based on our study, heathland management should aim at rejuvenating heathlands and creating early successional stages regularly without causing nutrient imbalances in the long run. Consequently, we recommend an extension of the area and frequency of prescribed burning in a mosaic-like manner in heathlands, especially outside military training areas.
{"title":"Territory densities of heathland breeding birds are enhanced by fire on military training areas","authors":"Jonas Brüggeshemke , Ole Henning , Thomas Fartmann","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03447","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03447","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heathland ecosystems have experienced severe declines. Today, the remaining heathlands suffer from succession and airborne nitrogen deposition. To counteract the negative effects of both, various management measures such as choppering, grazing, mowing or sod-cutting have been implemented. However, thus far, these measures only partially halted the loss of biodiversity. We compared environmental conditions and territory densities of characteristic heathland breeding bird species on 91 randomly selected plots in two large heathlands that vary in their long-term land use history: a military training area shaped by fire and a nature reserve where grazing dominates. Our study revealed strong differences in environmental conditions and territory densities. In the military training area, very open habitats accounted for more than two thirds per plot. By contrast, in the nature reserve, semi-open habitats had a share of more than one half per plot. Mean territory densities of open heathland species were 1.6 times higher in the training area compared to the nature reserve. By contrast, territory densities of semi-open heathland species did not differ. Overall, fire was assumed as the key driver of territory densities in characteristic heathland breeding birds. In comparison to traditionally managed heathlands, fire management of heathlands favoured breeding birds in two ways: First, through preserving the nutrient balance, which very likely had positive effects on insect food supply and may also on the formation of eggshells. Second, by creating early successional stages rich in bare ground that allow an easy access to invertebrate food resources. Based on our study, heathland management should aim at rejuvenating heathlands and creating early successional stages regularly without causing nutrient imbalances in the long run. Consequently, we recommend an extension of the area and frequency of prescribed burning in a mosaic-like manner in heathlands, especially outside military training areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03447"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143148299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03422
Karma Choki , Egil Dröge , Claudio Sillero-Zubiri , David W. Macdonald , Ugyen Penjor
Understanding how sympatric small felids respond to their environmental surroundings in a human matrix landscape is important to determine their habitat use, distribution and conservation. However, structured survey design and large sample size studies are often rare for cryptic small-and medium-sized felids hindering their reliable and meaningful inferences for conservation management. We employed a multi-species occupancy model on a large-scale camera trap dataset to investigate the effects of environmental and anthropogenic variables on the occupancy, as well as the mechanisms facilitating sympatry among three small felids in Bhutan: the threatened Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii), marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata), and the least concern leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). Through their co-occurrence patterns at local and landscape scales, we could identify their potential interactions and the factors influencing them. We found that one species pair (marbled cat: leopard cat) had low co-occurrence at higher elevations. The interactions among the other felid pairs (Asiatic golden cat: marbled cat and Asiatic golden cat: leopard cat) were not directly mediated by human disturbances and were constant across the elevational gradient. We identified important predictors of marginal occupancy for two species: forest cover, river density, and slope for the marbled cat; and housing density, forest cover, and slope for the leopard cat. However, none of the predictor variables significantly influenced Asiatic golden cat occupancy. Our findings suggest that environmental factors, like forest cover and slope, may influence individual felid occupancy and consequently shape their interactions. We recommend that small felid conservation in heterogeneous landscapes need to consider the impacts of human land use; limit forest conversion and protect rugged habitats. Through this study, we provide new insights into small felid sympatry in montane landscapes, expanding our understanding of their complex coexistence patterns.
{"title":"Anthropogenic and environmental correlates of spatial patterns of co-occurrence of small felids in a montane landscape","authors":"Karma Choki , Egil Dröge , Claudio Sillero-Zubiri , David W. Macdonald , Ugyen Penjor","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03422","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03422","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding how sympatric small felids respond to their environmental surroundings in a human matrix landscape is important to determine their habitat use, distribution and conservation. However, structured survey design and large sample size studies are often rare for cryptic small-and medium-sized felids hindering their reliable and meaningful inferences for conservation management. We employed a multi-species occupancy model on a large-scale camera trap dataset to investigate the effects of environmental and anthropogenic variables on the occupancy, as well as the mechanisms facilitating sympatry among three small felids in Bhutan: the threatened Asiatic golden cat (<em>Catopuma temminckii</em>), marbled cat (<em>Pardofelis marmorata</em>), and the least concern leopard cat (<em>Prionailurus bengalensis</em>). Through their co-occurrence patterns at local and landscape scales, we could identify their potential interactions and the factors influencing them. We found that one species pair (marbled cat: leopard cat) had low co-occurrence at higher elevations. The interactions among the other felid pairs (Asiatic golden cat: marbled cat and Asiatic golden cat: leopard cat) were not directly mediated by human disturbances and were constant across the elevational gradient. We identified important predictors of marginal occupancy for two species: forest cover, river density, and slope for the marbled cat; and housing density, forest cover, and slope for the leopard cat. However, none of the predictor variables significantly influenced Asiatic golden cat occupancy. Our findings suggest that environmental factors, like forest cover and slope, may influence individual felid occupancy and consequently shape their interactions. We recommend that small felid conservation in heterogeneous landscapes need to consider the impacts of human land use; limit forest conversion and protect rugged habitats. Through this study, we provide new insights into small felid sympatry in montane landscapes, expanding our understanding of their complex coexistence patterns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03422"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143148129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-18DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03445
André L.M. Botelho , Rosana Gentile , Cibele R. Bonvicino , Charle F. Crisóstomo , Marcos Silveira , Paulo S. D’Andrea
Environmental factors can alter the relative importance of deterministic and stochastic processes as determinants of community structures. Understanding community-level landscape patterns subject to shifts in land use is essential for developing effective conservation measures. The present study investigated the environmental factors, such as fragment and matrix characteristics, that influence the taxonomic and functional diversity (alpha and beta) of small nonvolant mammals in 10 forest fragments in southwestern Amazonia. Specimens were captured using a combination of pitfalls and cage traps, set on the ground and in the understorey. In total, 285 specimens, representing 22 species were captured. Richness was positively influenced by fragment size, whereas species diversity (Hill’s q=1) was positively influenced by bamboo cover. Functional diversity was related to matrix quality, although the null model was also selected. The functional species composition was primarily related to fragment size, matrix quality, and degree of fragmentation of the matrix. Both taxonomic and functional beta diversity were significantly correlated with fragment size and matrix quality. The alpha and beta diversity patterns recorded here reinforce the importance of deterministic processes, particularly fragment size and matrix quality, as drivers of the structure of communities of small mammals in fragmented landscapes.
{"title":"Environmental determinants of the taxonomic and functional alpha and beta diversity of small mammals in forest fragments in southwestern Amazonia, Brazil","authors":"André L.M. Botelho , Rosana Gentile , Cibele R. Bonvicino , Charle F. Crisóstomo , Marcos Silveira , Paulo S. D’Andrea","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03445","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03445","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental factors can alter the relative importance of deterministic and stochastic processes as determinants of community structures. Understanding community-level landscape patterns subject to shifts in land use is essential for developing effective conservation measures. The present study investigated the environmental factors, such as fragment and matrix characteristics, that influence the taxonomic and functional diversity (alpha and beta) of small nonvolant mammals in 10 forest fragments in southwestern Amazonia. Specimens were captured using a combination of pitfalls and cage traps, set on the ground and in the understorey. In total, 285 specimens, representing 22 species were captured. Richness was positively influenced by fragment size, whereas species diversity (Hill’s q=1) was positively influenced by bamboo cover. Functional diversity was related to matrix quality, although the null model was also selected. The functional species composition was primarily related to fragment size, matrix quality, and degree of fragmentation of the matrix. Both taxonomic and functional beta diversity were significantly correlated with fragment size and matrix quality. The alpha and beta diversity patterns recorded here reinforce the importance of deterministic processes, particularly fragment size and matrix quality, as drivers of the structure of communities of small mammals in fragmented landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03445"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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