Global Ecology and Conservation最新文献_第10页

Bat Cave Vulnerability Index 3.0 (BCVI-S): An integrative and scalable tool to prioritise bat caves for conservation

IF 3.5 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Global Ecology and Conservation

Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03396

Krizler C. Tanalgo , Alice Catherine Hughes

Assessing the state of aboveground ecosystems is often possible using remotely sensed data and subterranean systems are often left in the dark. Caves and subterranean habitats represent distinct ecosystems which harbour unique species but are sensitive to different pressures. Given the challenge of assessing many taxa, bats are ideal ecological indicators of caves and subterranean ecosystems, because they serve as keystone species that facilitate energy flow to other life forms inside caves. We calibrated the Bat Cave Vulnerability Index 3.0 (BCVI-S) and its indicators to optimise the scalability and applicability of the index in wider contexts by improving the calculations of Biotic Potential and the use of more standardised remotely sensed data to obtain Biotic Vulnerability based on landscape features. We demonstrated the application of the BCVI-S and the differences in cave priority levels in terms of Biotic Potential, Biotic Vulnerability, and overall priority level. The BCVI-S was more sensitive to the presence of rare and threatened species while balancing the priority level of caves with a hyperabundant population of common species. Simultaneously, the BCVI-S showed higher congruence with the commonly used biodiversity indices than the BCVI-L. More importantly, our calibrated BCVI-S allows users and assessors to easily integrate priorities at different spatiotemporal scales and consider other contexts of bat caves. The updated index is user-friendly and offers a comprehensive standard method for identifying key caves for conservation, which can be integrated into broader national objectives and strategies.

{"title":"Bat Cave Vulnerability Index 3.0 (BCVI-S): An integrative and scalable tool to prioritise bat caves for conservation","authors":"Krizler C. Tanalgo , Alice Catherine Hughes","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03396","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03396","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Assessing the state of aboveground ecosystems is often possible using remotely sensed data and subterranean systems are often left in the dark. Caves and subterranean habitats represent distinct ecosystems which harbour unique species but are sensitive to different pressures. Given the challenge of assessing many taxa, bats are ideal ecological indicators of caves and subterranean ecosystems, because they serve as keystone species that facilitate energy flow to other life forms inside caves. We calibrated the Bat Cave Vulnerability Index 3.0 (BCVI-S) and its indicators to optimise the scalability and applicability of the index in wider contexts by improving the calculations of Biotic Potential and the use of more standardised remotely sensed data to obtain Biotic Vulnerability based on landscape features. We demonstrated the application of the BCVI-S and the differences in cave priority levels in terms of Biotic Potential, Biotic Vulnerability, and overall priority level. The BCVI-S was more sensitive to the presence of rare and threatened species while balancing the priority level of caves with a hyperabundant population of common species. Simultaneously, the BCVI-S showed higher congruence with the commonly used biodiversity indices than the BCVI-L. More importantly, our calibrated BCVI-S allows users and assessors to easily integrate priorities at different spatiotemporal scales and consider other contexts of bat caves. The updated index is user-friendly and offers a comprehensive standard method for identifying key caves for conservation, which can be integrated into broader national objectives and strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03396"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149327","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}

引用次数: 0

Effects of uncut refuge management on grassland arthropods – A systematic review

IF 3.5 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Global Ecology and Conservation

Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03381

Kitti Révész , Róbert Gallé , Jean-Yves Humbert , Péter Batáry

European semi-natural grasslands are often managed by mowing. These habitats have species-rich fauna, but mowing threatens arthropods’ abundance and diversity. Leaving some part of the vegetation uncut can play a crucial role in their survival during and after mowing. The effectiveness of such uncut refuges for the conservation of arthropods has been studied, but the results are contradicting and partial. We conducted a systematic review of 22 articles encompassing 66 observations to synthesise existing knowledge. Overall, 69 % of abundance observation data and 64 % of species richness observation data showed positive responses to uncut refuges. In comparison, the remaining observations showed negative (25 % for abundance, 26 % for species richness) and neutral (6 % for abundance, 10 % for species richness) effects. We found several potential drivers behind these patterns, including refuge shape – most commonly strips or blocks – and refuge proportion, typically 10–25 % of the area. Results varied across study designs, which often involved sampling arthropods within and outside the refuges, before or after mowing, with or without independent control meadows. Additionally, research primarily focused on orthopterans with no negative responses to refuges, whereas other taxa received less attention. Although further research is needed on the assumed moderators (e.g. grassland habitat type, landscape structure) and understudied grassland taxa, based on the existing knowledge, we recommend leaving refuges where arthropod conservation is concerned.

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引用次数: 0

Community changes in a restored tussock sedge wetland over 15 years: Expansion and competition

IF 3.5 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Global Ecology and Conservation

Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03356

Xianglong Xing , Qing Qi , Shouzheng Tong , Yu An , Heshan Ni , Yuan Xin , Mingye Zhang , Dongjie Zhang , Walian Du

Vegetation restoration is one of the most effective means to reestablish wetlands. However, little is known about how plant communities expand and compete after wetland restoration because of the dearth of data from long-term monitoring. In this study, we monitored a restored Carex tussock wetland over a 15-year period, assessed the extent of Carex tussock expansion, analyzed the effects of interspecific competition and environmental factors on Carex tussock growth, and explored the driving mechanisms of the expansion of Carex tussock community. Our results demonstrate that the Carex tussock community continued its outward dispersal after restoration, with a total expansion area of 770 m². The ecological characteristics and species diversity in the restoration area were higher than those in the expansion area. Additionally, both the density and biodiversity of Carex tussock in the restoration area decreased with the age of the restoration. Experiments indicated that competition and water level significantly influenced the growth of Carex tussock and Carex exhibited weaker competitiveness in a mixed constructure model. The structural equation model revealed that topography was the primary driver of Carex tussock expansion. The priority effect of Carex dispersal mitigated the impact of competition on expansion. This study offers new insights for future wetland restoration practices, particularly concerning Carex tussock ecosystems.

{"title":"Community changes in a restored tussock sedge wetland over 15 years: Expansion and competition","authors":"Xianglong Xing , Qing Qi , Shouzheng Tong , Yu An , Heshan Ni , Yuan Xin , Mingye Zhang , Dongjie Zhang , Walian Du","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03356","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03356","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vegetation restoration is one of the most effective means to reestablish wetlands. However, little is known about how plant communities expand and compete after wetland restoration because of the dearth of data from long-term monitoring. In this study, we monitored a restored <em>Carex</em> tussock wetland over a 15-year period, assessed the extent of <em>Carex</em> tussock expansion, analyzed the effects of interspecific competition and environmental factors on <em>Carex</em> tussock growth, and explored the driving mechanisms of the expansion of <em>Carex</em> tussock community. Our results demonstrate that the <em>Carex</em> tussock community continued its outward dispersal after restoration, with a total expansion area of 770 m<sup>2</sup>. The ecological characteristics and species diversity in the restoration area were higher than those in the expansion area. Additionally, both the density and biodiversity of <em>Carex</em> tussock in the restoration area decreased with the age of the restoration. Experiments indicated that competition and water level significantly influenced the growth of <em>Carex</em> tussock and <em>Carex</em> exhibited weaker competitiveness in a mixed constructure model. The structural equation model revealed that topography was the primary driver of <em>Carex</em> tussock expansion. The priority effect of <em>Carex</em> dispersal mitigated the impact of competition on expansion. This study offers new insights for future wetland restoration practices, particularly concerning <em>Carex</em> tussock ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03356"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149278","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}

引用次数: 0

Annual change in the distribution and landscape health of mangrove ecosystems in China from 2016 to 2023 with Sentinel imagery

IF 3.5 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Global Ecology and Conservation

Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03355

Yuchao Sun , Mingzhen Ye , Bin Ai , Zhenlin Lai , Jun Zhao , Zhuokai Jian , Xinyan Qi

As a type of unique coastal wetland, mangroves are subjected to the compounded effects of human activities and climate change. Acquiring reliable and up-to-date information of mangroves is crucial to support their conservation and sustainable blue carbon development. The integration of remote sensing data and deep learning models enables precise identification of mangroves. This study evaluated the potential of various classical deep learning models for annual mangrove identification in China and analyzed their changes from 2016 to 2023, with a specific focus on the landscape health of mangrove ecosystems within 37 natural reserves and non-reserves. The research shows that compared to the combination model of PSPNet and DeepLabV3 with Resnet, the U-net+ResNet34 model gave the most optimal results in identifying mangroves. In addition, the F1-score of the model reached 0.843 when validated with the samples collected from the national mangrove dataset. Based on the mangrove distribution generated using this U–net+ResNet34, it is observed that the total mangrove area in China exhibited an upward trend during this period. Notably, the centroid of China’s mangroves shifted 26.23 km northeast from the western part of Guangdong. To evaluate the landscape health of mangrove reserves, various landscape pattern metrics were synthesized into the Landscape Health Composite Index through the application of the entropy weight method. Among the 37 natural reserves, 27 of them exhibited an upward trend in landscape health, with the most significant improvements observed in the Taishan Zhenhai Bay Mangrove Nature Reserve. This demonstrates that China has made considerable achievements in the mangrove conservation, encompassing both the quantity and quality of mangroves. However, future efforts should focus particularly on natural reserves where landscape health trends are declining, with an increase in human and material resources investment. This study may serve as a reference for efficiently assessing the health status of mangrove landscapes based on remote sensing data. It can enhance to understand the effectiveness of conservation efforts in mangrove reserves and further promote the scientific management of mangrove protected areas in China.

{"title":"Annual change in the distribution and landscape health of mangrove ecosystems in China from 2016 to 2023 with Sentinel imagery","authors":"Yuchao Sun , Mingzhen Ye , Bin Ai , Zhenlin Lai , Jun Zhao , Zhuokai Jian , Xinyan Qi","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03355","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03355","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a type of unique coastal wetland, mangroves are subjected to the compounded effects of human activities and climate change. Acquiring reliable and up-to-date information of mangroves is crucial to support their conservation and sustainable blue carbon development. The integration of remote sensing data and deep learning models enables precise identification of mangroves. This study evaluated the potential of various classical deep learning models for annual mangrove identification in China and analyzed their changes from 2016 to 2023, with a specific focus on the landscape health of mangrove ecosystems within 37 natural reserves and non-reserves. The research shows that compared to the combination model of PSPNet and DeepLabV3 with Resnet, the U-net+ResNet34 model gave the most optimal results in identifying mangroves. In addition, the F1-score of the model reached 0.843 when validated with the samples collected from the national mangrove dataset. Based on the mangrove distribution generated using this U–net+ResNet34, it is observed that the total mangrove area in China exhibited an upward trend during this period. Notably, the centroid of China’s mangroves shifted 26.23 km northeast from the western part of Guangdong. To evaluate the landscape health of mangrove reserves, various landscape pattern metrics were synthesized into the Landscape Health Composite Index through the application of the entropy weight method. Among the 37 natural reserves, 27 of them exhibited an upward trend in landscape health, with the most significant improvements observed in the Taishan Zhenhai Bay Mangrove Nature Reserve. This demonstrates that China has made considerable achievements in the mangrove conservation, encompassing both the quantity and quality of mangroves. However, future efforts should focus particularly on natural reserves where landscape health trends are declining, with an increase in human and material resources investment. This study may serve as a reference for efficiently assessing the health status of mangrove landscapes based on remote sensing data. It can enhance to understand the effectiveness of conservation efforts in mangrove reserves and further promote the scientific management of mangrove protected areas in China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03355"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149290","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}

引用次数: 0

Spatiotemporal dynamics of carbon sequestration capacity and its determinants in rubber plantation ecosystems of Hainan Island

IF 3.5 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Global Ecology and Conservation

Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03431

Yinghe An , Zhixiang Wu , Runqing Zhang , Xiang Zhang , Zhenghong Tan , Zhongyi Sun

Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) is a crucial indicator of the carbon sequestration capacity of terrestrial ecosystems. However, the mechanisms underlying the spatiotemporal variations in the carbon sequestration capacity of tropical artificial forest ecosystems remain unclear. In this study, we developed a data-driven semi-empirical model using machine learning to simulate NEP in rubber plantations, and extended its application to Hainan Island by leveraging remote sensing and reanalysis data. We analyzed the direct and indirect effects of climatic factors on the NEP using numerical simulations and a Structural Equation Model (SEM). Furthermore, we quantified the impact of rubber plantation area on NEP by calculating the contribution rate. The results reveal that the model accurately captures the trends and seasonality of Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) (R²=0.88, RMSE=1.19 g C m⁻² d ⁻¹) and Ecosystem Respiration (RECO) (R²=0.87, MSE=0.94 g C m⁻² d ⁻¹). Over the past 19 years, NEP shows a slight decreasing trend, with higher carbon sequestration during the rainy season than during the dry season. Rubber plantations in the central region primarily act as weak carbon sources, while those surrounding them predominantly function as carbon sinks (carbon sources/carbon sinks ≈ 6.74 %). Among the climatic factors, changes in water conditions exert a dominant influence on NEP variations (−66.03 %); however, different categories of water conditions (precipitation and relative humidity) have opposite effects (negative effects of precipitation and positive effects of atmospheric relative humidity). Additionally, the expansion of rubber plantation cover area contributed to 4.01 % of the changes in NEP. These findings provide a basis for managing and improving carbon sequestration in plantations.

{"title":"Spatiotemporal dynamics of carbon sequestration capacity and its determinants in rubber plantation ecosystems of Hainan Island","authors":"Yinghe An , Zhixiang Wu , Runqing Zhang , Xiang Zhang , Zhenghong Tan , Zhongyi Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03431","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03431","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) is a crucial indicator of the carbon sequestration capacity of terrestrial ecosystems. However, the mechanisms underlying the spatiotemporal variations in the carbon sequestration capacity of tropical artificial forest ecosystems remain unclear. In this study, we developed a data-driven semi-empirical model using machine learning to simulate NEP in rubber plantations, and extended its application to Hainan Island by leveraging remote sensing and reanalysis data. We analyzed the direct and indirect effects of climatic factors on the NEP using numerical simulations and a Structural Equation Model (SEM). Furthermore, we quantified the impact of rubber plantation area on NEP by calculating the contribution rate. The results reveal that the model accurately captures the trends and seasonality of Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) (R<sup>2</sup>=0.88, RMSE=1.19 g C m<sup>−2</sup> d <sup>−1</sup>) and Ecosystem Respiration (RECO) (R<sup>2</sup>=0.87, MSE=0.94 g C m<sup>−2</sup> d <sup>−1</sup>). Over the past 19 years, NEP shows a slight decreasing trend, with higher carbon sequestration during the rainy season than during the dry season. Rubber plantations in the central region primarily act as weak carbon sources, while those surrounding them predominantly function as carbon sinks (carbon sources/carbon sinks ≈ 6.74 %). Among the climatic factors, changes in water conditions exert a dominant influence on NEP variations (−66.03 %); however, different categories of water conditions (precipitation and relative humidity) have opposite effects (negative effects of precipitation and positive effects of atmospheric relative humidity). Additionally, the expansion of rubber plantation cover area contributed to 4.01 % of the changes in NEP. These findings provide a basis for managing and improving carbon sequestration in plantations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03431"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149731","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}

引用次数: 0

Predicting the current and future distributions of Australian Loranthaceae mistletoes

IF 3.5 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Global Ecology and Conservation

Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03371

Carol A. Wilson , Kenneth Trang

Mistletoes are branch parasites of trees and shrubs, occur world-wide, and are considered keystone species in many forest communities. They have complex interactions with seed dispersers, pollinators, and animals that use them for shelter, and contribute to community productivity and biotic diversity. Current understanding of mistletoe occurrence largely attributes host availability and preference to patterns of distribution. Using occurrence records, climate data, and climate modeling, we investigated current distributions and modeled contemporary and future distributions of Australian mistletoes in the Loranthaceae by haustorial type. Although Loranthaceae mistletoes are distributed throughout Australia, our results show distributional differences among haustorial types across biomes and identify their actual and predicted ecological niches based on temperature and precipitation. Epicortical roots, which are considered plesiomorphic in Australia, are mostly associated with mesic ancestral habitats while derived types are associated with drier habitats. Combining the results of all analyses we show that mistletoe distributional patterns, similar to distribution patterns in other angiosperms, are correlated with climate and are susceptible to climate change with expected loss of habitat, primarily in interior arid regions of Australia.

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引用次数: 0

Effects of farming specialisation on grassland birds in Mediterranean High Nature Value farmland

IF 3.5 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Global Ecology and Conservation

Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03418

Joana Santana , Pedro J. Leitão , Paulo Flores Ribeiro , Pedro Beja , Ângela Lomba , Rui Pedroso , Rui Morgado , Ricardo C. Martins , Inês Catry , Ana Teresa Marques , Luís Reino , Francisco Moreira

The benefits of low-intensity mixed livestock-crop farming systems for Mediterranean farmland biodiversity have been widely documented. However, little is known about the effects of farming specialisation, even though the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has promoted the replacement of mixed systems by specialised livestock and crop systems. We investigated how specialisation affects birds in open farmland of southern Portugal, by analysing spatial associations between farming systems, land uses, and birds’ species richness and occurrence. We found a dominant landscape gradient contrasting specialisation in either sheep or cattle. The sheep system was positively related to woodland/shrubland-related species, Galerida larks and Melanocorypha calandra, while the cattle system was negatively related to these species. The specialised crop system, when associated with olive groves (< 10 % of the area), was negatively related to fallow-related species, M. calandra and Calandrella brachydactyla and positively so to overall species richness and that of woodland/shrubland-related species. Land uses had strong effects on birds, regardless of the farming systems in which they were embedded. Fodders were positively related to woodland/shrubland- and cereal-related species, Emberiza calandra and Cisticola juncidis. Rainfed grain cereals were positively related to cereal-related species, C. juncidis and Coturnix coturnix. Pastures were positively related to fallows- and ploughed-related species, M. calandra, Tetrax tetrax, and Galerida larks. Results suggest that programs for grassland conservation should consider both farming systems and land uses. CAP should promote diversified farming systems with reduced livestock densities along with high-quality habitats for grassland birds like pastures, fallows, rainfed grain cereals and semi-natural features.

{"title":"Effects of farming specialisation on grassland birds in Mediterranean High Nature Value farmland","authors":"Joana Santana , Pedro J. Leitão , Paulo Flores Ribeiro , Pedro Beja , Ângela Lomba , Rui Pedroso , Rui Morgado , Ricardo C. Martins , Inês Catry , Ana Teresa Marques , Luís Reino , Francisco Moreira","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03418","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03418","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The benefits of low-intensity mixed livestock-crop farming systems for Mediterranean farmland biodiversity have been widely documented. However, little is known about the effects of farming specialisation, even though the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has promoted the replacement of mixed systems by specialised livestock and crop systems. We investigated how specialisation affects birds in open farmland of southern Portugal, by analysing spatial associations between farming systems, land uses, and birds’ species richness and occurrence. We found a dominant landscape gradient contrasting specialisation in either sheep or cattle. The sheep system was positively related to woodland/shrubland-related species, <em>Galerida</em> larks and <em>Melanocorypha calandra</em>, while the cattle system was negatively related to these species. The specialised crop system, when associated with olive groves (< 10 % of the area), was negatively related to fallow-related species, <em>M. calandra</em> and <em>Calandrella brachydactyla</em> and positively so to overall species richness and that of woodland/shrubland-related species. Land uses had strong effects on birds, regardless of the farming systems in which they were embedded. Fodders were positively related to woodland/shrubland- and cereal-related species, <em>Emberiza calandra</em> and <em>Cisticola juncidis</em>. Rainfed grain cereals were positively related to cereal-related species, <em>C. juncidis</em> and <em>Coturnix coturnix</em>. Pastures were positively related to fallows- and ploughed-related species, <em>M. calandra</em>, <em>Tetrax tetrax</em>, and <em>Galerida</em> larks. Results suggest that programs for grassland conservation should consider both farming systems and land uses. CAP should promote diversified farming systems with reduced livestock densities along with high-quality habitats for grassland birds like pastures, fallows, rainfed grain cereals and semi-natural features.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03418"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143150831","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}

引用次数: 0

Spatial behavior of mesocarnivores living in seasonal ecosystems: A case study in arid landscapes in northern-central Chile

IF 3.5 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Global Ecology and Conservation

Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03400

Darío Moreira-Arce , Pablo M. Vergara , Alex Oporto , Alberto J. Alaniz , Claudia Hidalgo-Corrotea , Alfredo H. Zúñiga , Alejo Gutiérrez , Sebastián Moreno , Daniela Araya , Simone Ciuti

Understanding the habitat selection and movement patterns of carnivores in arid landscapes requires an assessment of the spatiotemporal patterns of ephemeral resource-rich and climatically suitable sites. One example is the South American grey fox (Lycalopex griseus), a mesocarnivore that inhabits north-central Chile, an arid region under increasing human presence and where coastal fog is an important but variable source of moisture. Here, we hypothesized that space use decisions of foxes are influenced by spatiotemporal variation in plant productivity, human settlements, and microclimate conditions. Home ranges and Resource Selection Functions were fitted to the GPS data of seven foxes tracked year-round and related to ecological landscape and site-level attributes derived from remote sensing. Home ranges increased with incident radiation, elevation, topographic diversity, normalized difference water index (ndwi), and distance to roads, but decreased with proximity to the coastline. Foxes avoided using sites distant from the coast, located at the highest altitudes, and with higher surface temperatures, while being more likely to move to sites with high ndwi. Our results show that South American grey foxes living in arid landscapes adjust their home ranges, and habitat use decisions within home ranges, to topography but also to environmental conditions that vary intra annually. Extreme microclimate conditions can directly shape the habitat use patterns but also indirectly through seasonally modifying plant productivity, while terrain morphology (topography and elevation) acts as a regulator of extreme climate. We also noted that road network influences the behavioral response of foxes and its expansion is expected to exert pressure on the conservation of fox populations.

{"title":"Spatial behavior of mesocarnivores living in seasonal ecosystems: A case study in arid landscapes in northern-central Chile","authors":"Darío Moreira-Arce , Pablo M. Vergara , Alex Oporto , Alberto J. Alaniz , Claudia Hidalgo-Corrotea , Alfredo H. Zúñiga , Alejo Gutiérrez , Sebastián Moreno , Daniela Araya , Simone Ciuti","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the habitat selection and movement patterns of carnivores in arid landscapes requires an assessment of the spatiotemporal patterns of ephemeral resource-rich and climatically suitable sites. One example is the South American grey fox (<em>Lycalopex griseus</em>), a mesocarnivore that inhabits north-central Chile, an arid region under increasing human presence and where coastal fog is an important but variable source of moisture. Here, we hypothesized that space use decisions of foxes are influenced by spatiotemporal variation in plant productivity, human settlements, and microclimate conditions. Home ranges and Resource Selection Functions were fitted to the GPS data of seven foxes tracked year-round and related to ecological landscape and site-level attributes derived from remote sensing. Home ranges increased with incident radiation, elevation, topographic diversity, normalized difference water index (ndwi), and distance to roads, but decreased with proximity to the coastline. Foxes avoided using sites distant from the coast, located at the highest altitudes, and with higher surface temperatures, while being more likely to move to sites with high ndwi. Our results show that South American grey foxes living in arid landscapes adjust their home ranges, and habitat use decisions within home ranges, to topography but also to environmental conditions that vary intra annually. Extreme microclimate conditions can directly shape the habitat use patterns but also indirectly through seasonally modifying plant productivity, while terrain morphology (topography and elevation) acts as a regulator of extreme climate. We also noted that road network influences the behavioral response of foxes and its expansion is expected to exert pressure on the conservation of fox populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03400"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149724","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}

引用次数: 0

Towards climate-resilient conservation: Integrating genetics and environmental factors in determining adaptive units of a xeric shrub

IF 3.5 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Global Ecology and Conservation

Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03417

Yong-Zhi Yang , Pei-Wei Sun , Chong-Yi Ke , Min-Xin Luo , Jui-Tse Chang , Chien-Ti Chao , Run-Hong Gao , Pei-Chun Liao

Determining management units (MUs) for conservation typically focuses on target organisms' demography dependencies, often neglecting adaptive diversity and evolutionary processes. This study examines the genetic variation of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus, a xeric shrub from eastern Central Asia, to identify genetic traits linked to climate adaptation and delineate seed and breeding zones based on environmental factors. We analyzed RAD-seq data from 217 samples across 19 populations, integrating ecological niche modeling (ENM) and GradientForest (GF) to pinpoint adaptive genetic variations. ENM identified the central-east and west-north regions as optimal habitats, while GF analysis revealed seed and breeding zones based on 1637 climate-adaptive SNPs, indicating significant genetic differentiation linked to temperature and precipitation. Population structure analysis revealed both congruences and discrepancies between genetic and climatic clustering, particularly in peripheral regions, suggesting that adaptive genes may not follow isolation-by-distance rules like neutral genes. Genomic turnover analysis showed significant allelic changes along climatic gradients, highlighting local adaptation to temperature fluctuations. Peripheral populations exhibited higher genetic loads of loss-of-function alleles, indicating rapid adaptation. The study emphasizes the necessity of incorporating adaptive diversity in conservation strategies and recommends establishing MUs that align with adaptive genotypes and climatic conditions. Integrating genomic insights into breeding programs can further enhance the resilience and sustainable management of this vulnerable species.

{"title":"Towards climate-resilient conservation: Integrating genetics and environmental factors in determining adaptive units of a xeric shrub","authors":"Yong-Zhi Yang , Pei-Wei Sun , Chong-Yi Ke , Min-Xin Luo , Jui-Tse Chang , Chien-Ti Chao , Run-Hong Gao , Pei-Chun Liao","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03417","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03417","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Determining management units (MUs) for conservation typically focuses on target organisms' demography dependencies, often neglecting adaptive diversity and evolutionary processes. This study examines the genetic variation of <em>Ammopiptanthus mongolicus</em>, a xeric shrub from eastern Central Asia, to identify genetic traits linked to climate adaptation and delineate seed and breeding zones based on environmental factors. We analyzed RAD-seq data from 217 samples across 19 populations, integrating ecological niche modeling (ENM) and GradientForest (GF) to pinpoint adaptive genetic variations. ENM identified the central-east and west-north regions as optimal habitats, while GF analysis revealed seed and breeding zones based on 1637 climate-adaptive SNPs, indicating significant genetic differentiation linked to temperature and precipitation. Population structure analysis revealed both congruences and discrepancies between genetic and climatic clustering, particularly in peripheral regions, suggesting that adaptive genes may not follow isolation-by-distance rules like neutral genes. Genomic turnover analysis showed significant allelic changes along climatic gradients, highlighting local adaptation to temperature fluctuations. Peripheral populations exhibited higher genetic loads of loss-of-function alleles, indicating rapid adaptation. The study emphasizes the necessity of incorporating adaptive diversity in conservation strategies and recommends establishing MUs that align with adaptive genotypes and climatic conditions. Integrating genomic insights into breeding programs can further enhance the resilience and sustainable management of this vulnerable species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03417"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149727","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}

引用次数: 0

Impact of land use types on soil microbial community structure and functional structure in Baihualing Village, China

IF 3.5 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Global Ecology and Conservation

Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03379

Ruilong Huang , Wei Li , Shouming Qiu , Yuanli Long , Zhuanfei Zeng , Juan Tang , Qiuhan Huang

Soil microorganisms play important ecological roles, and land-use practices have profoundly altered their composition, diversity and functions. However, most existing research has been conducted in areas with high levels of anthropogenic impacts. Microorganisms in these areas have adapted to long-term anthropogenic perturbations, leading to an underrepresentation of such impacts on microbial community structure and functions. Consequently, the true extent of these perturbations is often underestimated. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze the effects of land use practices on soil microbial communities in areas with low anthropogenic impacts. The Gaoligong Mountains, a boundary mountain range between China and Myanmar, are rich in biodiversity and have experienced low levels of anthropogenic disturbances. The present study focuses on the biodiversity-rich Gaoligong Mountains, aiming to explore how different land-use types affect the structure, diversity and function of soil microbial communities, and to identify the key soil environmental factors that drive these changes. Soil samples were collected from scrubland (SL), bird puddles (BP), coffee land (CL), orange land (OL), maize land (ML) and forestland (FL). High throughput sequencing was then used to determine the composition and diversity of soil microbial communities. The results revealed that bacterial diversity was significantly higher in scrubland (SL), bird puddles (BP), and forestland (FL) compared to the three agricultural lands, with bird puddles (BP) also exhibiting the highest fungal diversity. A further analysis showed that nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃^--N) was a key factor affecting microbial communities. C-cycle and N-cycle related functional groups are the dominant functional groups of the soil bacterial community, both of which are most abundant in scrubland (SL). The relative abundance of soil saprotrophic fungi was significantly higher in the three agricultural land use types compared to scrubland (SL). In conclusion, this study provides clear evidence of the impact of land uses on the elusive soil organisms in the Gaoligong Mountains, which are frequently overlooked yet increasingly threatened by anthropogenic disturbances.

{"title":"Impact of land use types on soil microbial community structure and functional structure in Baihualing Village, China","authors":"Ruilong Huang , Wei Li , Shouming Qiu , Yuanli Long , Zhuanfei Zeng , Juan Tang , Qiuhan Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03379","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03379","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil microorganisms play important ecological roles, and land-use practices have profoundly altered their composition, diversity and functions. However, most existing research has been conducted in areas with high levels of anthropogenic impacts. Microorganisms in these areas have adapted to long-term anthropogenic perturbations, leading to an underrepresentation of such impacts on microbial community structure and functions. Consequently, the true extent of these perturbations is often underestimated. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze the effects of land use practices on soil microbial communities in areas with low anthropogenic impacts. The Gaoligong Mountains, a boundary mountain range between China and Myanmar, are rich in biodiversity and have experienced low levels of anthropogenic disturbances. The present study focuses on the biodiversity-rich Gaoligong Mountains, aiming to explore how different land-use types affect the structure, diversity and function of soil microbial communities, and to identify the key soil environmental factors that drive these changes. Soil samples were collected from scrubland (SL), bird puddles (BP), coffee land (CL), orange land (OL), maize land (ML) and forestland (FL). High throughput sequencing was then used to determine the composition and diversity of soil microbial communities. The results revealed that bacterial diversity was significantly higher in scrubland (SL), bird puddles (BP), and forestland (FL) compared to the three agricultural lands, with bird puddles (BP) also exhibiting the highest fungal diversity. A further analysis showed that nitrate-nitrogen (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>-N) was a key factor affecting microbial communities. C-cycle and N-cycle related functional groups are the dominant functional groups of the soil bacterial community, both of which are most abundant in scrubland (SL). The relative abundance of soil saprotrophic fungi was significantly higher in the three agricultural land use types compared to scrubland (SL). In conclusion, this study provides clear evidence of the impact of land uses on the elusive soil organisms in the Gaoligong Mountains, which are frequently overlooked yet increasingly threatened by anthropogenic disturbances.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"57 ","pages":"Article e03379"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143150101","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}

引用次数: 0