Pub Date : 2025-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03467
Danilo Russo , Fabiana Soprano , Luca Cistrone , Adi Einav , Jessica Schäckermann , Ioannis Ekklisiarchos , Carmi Korine
Bats are crucial in suppressing pest arthropods in agroecosystems, contributing vitally to sustainable agriculture. However, the importance of bats in agriculture in extreme environments, such as deserts, has received far less attention. Date palm plantations represent one of the few productive systems in hyper-arid regions. We studied habitat use in an organic date palm plantation in the Arava Valley (Southern Israel) employing acoustic surveys to assess bat activity and foraging behaviour. According to our predictions, bats preferentially foraged in the plantation’s most productive areas, with most of the 13 recorded species exhibiting significant activity in older, sheltered plots. Higher wind speeds correlated with decreased foraging across most species, but sheltered habitats often buffered this effect. While species richness remained stable across habitats, according to our prediction, activity levels varied according to habitat type and wind conditions. In general, bat activity increased in old productive plots in the plantation’s core section and decreased elsewhere in response to strong winds. These results highlight the importance of maintaining older productive areas within the interiors of date palm plantations to support bat populations and enhance their pest-suppressing roles. Management strategies should design wind-buffering plantations to protect critical bat foraging areas and provide water sources. As date palm plantations act as "oases" in unproductive landscapes, many bats likely travel significant distances to forage there. Protecting bat habitats on a large scale and prioritising multiscale conservation is crucial to preserving bats and their ecosystem services.
{"title":"Precision foraging: Bats in organic desert palm plantations hunt where it is most needed","authors":"Danilo Russo , Fabiana Soprano , Luca Cistrone , Adi Einav , Jessica Schäckermann , Ioannis Ekklisiarchos , Carmi Korine","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03467","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03467","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bats are crucial in suppressing pest arthropods in agroecosystems, contributing vitally to sustainable agriculture. However, the importance of bats in agriculture in extreme environments, such as deserts, has received far less attention. Date palm plantations represent one of the few productive systems in hyper-arid regions. We studied habitat use in an organic date palm plantation in the Arava Valley (Southern Israel) employing acoustic surveys to assess bat activity and foraging behaviour. According to our predictions, bats preferentially foraged in the plantation’s most productive areas, with most of the 13 recorded species exhibiting significant activity in older, sheltered plots. Higher wind speeds correlated with decreased foraging across most species, but sheltered habitats often buffered this effect. While species richness remained stable across habitats, according to our prediction, activity levels varied according to habitat type and wind conditions. In general, bat activity increased in old productive plots in the plantation’s core section and decreased elsewhere in response to strong winds. These results highlight the importance of maintaining older productive areas within the interiors of date palm plantations to support bat populations and enhance their pest-suppressing roles. Management strategies should design wind-buffering plantations to protect critical bat foraging areas and provide water sources. As date palm plantations act as \"oases\" in unproductive landscapes, many bats likely travel significant distances to forage there. Protecting bat habitats on a large scale and prioritising multiscale conservation is crucial to preserving bats and their ecosystem services.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03467"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147914","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 : 2025-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03465
Tao Wang , Yizhen Liu , Jun Ye , Sheng Xu , Qiying Cai , Yongxiu Li , Lan Wu , Chi Yao , Gang Ge
The extraction of ionic rare earth elements has resulted in significant land degradation, with low soil fertility posing a critical challenge to ecological restoration in these regions. Despite extensive efforts, the effectiveness of soil fertility restoration measures remains debated, and the success of these interventions is not yet fully established. This study employs a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of soil fertility restoration measures in ionic rare earth mines and to assess the influence of technical details on restoration outcomes. Although soil fertility has generally improved following restoration efforts, it remains at a relatively low level, with a potential risk of diminishing effectiveness over time. Single restoration measures exhibit substantial limitations, underscoring the necessity of an integrated restoration strategy in severely degraded ionic rare earth mines. Within this integrated restoration framework, factors such as the type and dosage of soil conditioners, microbial inoculation, and species selection and configuration play pivotal roles in determining restoration success. A phased species configuration strategy within this framework may yield more effective and sustainable restoration outcomes. Despite certain limitations, these findings offer valuable insights for optimizing soil fertility restoration practices in severely degraded ecosystems, advancing scientific understanding, and providing practical recommendations for enhancing the long-term sustainability of restoration efforts.
{"title":"Integrated strategies enhance soil fertility restoration effectiveness in ion-adsorption rare earth mining areas: A meta-analysis","authors":"Tao Wang , Yizhen Liu , Jun Ye , Sheng Xu , Qiying Cai , Yongxiu Li , Lan Wu , Chi Yao , Gang Ge","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03465","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03465","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The extraction of ionic rare earth elements has resulted in significant land degradation, with low soil fertility posing a critical challenge to ecological restoration in these regions. Despite extensive efforts, the effectiveness of soil fertility restoration measures remains debated, and the success of these interventions is not yet fully established. This study employs a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of soil fertility restoration measures in ionic rare earth mines and to assess the influence of technical details on restoration outcomes. Although soil fertility has generally improved following restoration efforts, it remains at a relatively low level, with a potential risk of diminishing effectiveness over time. Single restoration measures exhibit substantial limitations, underscoring the necessity of an integrated restoration strategy in severely degraded ionic rare earth mines. Within this integrated restoration framework, factors such as the type and dosage of soil conditioners, microbial inoculation, and species selection and configuration play pivotal roles in determining restoration success. A phased species configuration strategy within this framework may yield more effective and sustainable restoration outcomes. Despite certain limitations, these findings offer valuable insights for optimizing soil fertility restoration practices in severely degraded ecosystems, advancing scientific understanding, and providing practical recommendations for enhancing the long-term sustainability of restoration efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03465"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147554","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 : 2025-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03463
Dede Aulia Rahman , Haryanto R. Putro , Tubagus Ahmad Mufawwaz , Dones Rinaldi , Yun Yudiarti , Eka Dana Prabowo , Harnios Arief , Jamartin Sihite , Fadillah Rachmah Nur Priantara
Accurate population estimates are crucial for conservation, but surveying arboreal species can be costly and challenging. Unoccupied aerial vehicles (a.k.a drones) equipped with thermal infrared (TIR) and visible spectrum (RGB) cameras are increasingly used to survey rare primates, though their accuracy still requires ground-truthing. This pilot study evaluates the effectiveness of drones with TIR and RGB sensors to detect and count Tapanuli orangutans in South Tapanuli, Sumatra, in an unprotected area classified as an “Area for Other Use”. 37 drone flights, including seven grid and 30 manual flights, were conducted between June 18 and July 1, 2023. Tapanuli orangutans displayed body temperatures of approximately 26°C on the TIR sensor and were prominent in the infrared imagery during the evening and morning when the forest canopy was cooler (between 10 and 16 °C), but became more challenging to distinguish by mid-morning when sunlight elevated the vegetation cover's temperature to over 30°C. Our study demonstrates that a drone with a TIR camera can accurately detect and count Tapanuli orangutans and other canopy animals in multiple land uses. There was strong agreement between ground and drone counts for Tapanuli orangutans (6 vs 5 individuals), indicating no significant difference between these survey methods. Furthermore, the TIR drone footage allowed for the detection of additional individuals, owing to its broader coverage compared to ground surveys. Our comparative analyses illustrate how various drone methods can effectively detect Tapanuli orangutans and other canopy animals, with the potential to support fine-scale population abundance and habitat mapping through spatially explicit detections.
{"title":"Developing a new method using thermal drones for population surveys of the world's rarest great ape species, Pongo tapanuliensis","authors":"Dede Aulia Rahman , Haryanto R. Putro , Tubagus Ahmad Mufawwaz , Dones Rinaldi , Yun Yudiarti , Eka Dana Prabowo , Harnios Arief , Jamartin Sihite , Fadillah Rachmah Nur Priantara","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03463","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03463","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate population estimates are crucial for conservation, but surveying arboreal species can be costly and challenging. Unoccupied aerial vehicles (a.k.a drones) equipped with thermal infrared (TIR) and visible spectrum (RGB) cameras are increasingly used to survey rare primates, though their accuracy still requires ground-truthing. This pilot study evaluates the effectiveness of drones with TIR and RGB sensors to detect and count Tapanuli orangutans in South Tapanuli, Sumatra, in an unprotected area classified as an “Area for Other Use”. 37 drone flights, including seven grid and 30 manual flights, were conducted between June 18 and July 1, 2023. Tapanuli orangutans displayed body temperatures of approximately 26°C on the TIR sensor and were prominent in the infrared imagery during the evening and morning when the forest canopy was cooler (between 10 and 16 °C), but became more challenging to distinguish by mid-morning when sunlight elevated the vegetation cover's temperature to over 30°C. Our study demonstrates that a drone with a TIR camera can accurately detect and count Tapanuli orangutans and other canopy animals in multiple land uses. There was strong agreement between ground and drone counts for Tapanuli orangutans (6 vs 5 individuals), indicating no significant difference between these survey methods. Furthermore, the TIR drone footage allowed for the detection of additional individuals, owing to its broader coverage compared to ground surveys. Our comparative analyses illustrate how various drone methods can effectively detect Tapanuli orangutans and other canopy animals, with the potential to support fine-scale population abundance and habitat mapping through spatially explicit detections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03463"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147912","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 : 2025-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03459
Zhishu Wang , Jianyu Xiao , Fusong Han , Shaolin Huang , Chengqun Yu
A rapid increase in nitrogen deposition has caused many hazards to the Tibetan Plateau over the past few decades. However, as one of the important limiting factors in alpine ecosystems, nitrogen fertilizers are often used to restore the severely degraded grassland. But, little is known about the response of soil microbes to nitrogen addition in the western Tibetan, which will limit our understanding and comprehensive assessment of global alpine grassland ecosystems. This study conducted an experiment with five levels of nitrogen addition (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 g N m⁻² y⁻¹) in an alpine steppe (AS) and an alpine desert steppe (ADS) at the source of Brahmaputra. In this study, plant and soil data were analyzed from August 2023, it showed that nitrogen sensitivity of soil microbes and their response to nitrogen addition vary with the nitrogen addition rate, grassland type, microbial kingdom, and the dimension used. Nitrogen sensitivity of soil bacterial community in the AS was higher than that in the ADS at 10 g N m⁻² y⁻¹ nitrogen addition rate, while the result was reversed at 20–40 g N m⁻² y⁻¹ ; the fungal community was more sensitive than bacterial community in the ADS at 5 g N m⁻² y⁻¹ nitrogen addition rate, while the result was reversed 20–40 g N m⁻² y⁻¹ ; the nitrogen sensitivity of the bacterial community's β-diversity in AS varied across species, functional, and phylogenetic dimensions. The main environment factors affecting nitrogen sensitivity were different in the AS and the ADS. This study explored the effects of nitrogen addition on soil bacterial and fungal communities in two types of grasslands in the western Tibetan, providing important foundations for further understanding of microbial ecology in alpine ecosystems, as well as valuable insights for managing nitrogen deposition in alpine ecosystems.
{"title":"Nitrogen sensitivity of soil microorganism community in alpine desert steppe is not always higher than that in alpine steppe","authors":"Zhishu Wang , Jianyu Xiao , Fusong Han , Shaolin Huang , Chengqun Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03459","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03459","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A rapid increase in nitrogen deposition has caused many hazards to the Tibetan Plateau over the past few decades. However, as one of the important limiting factors in alpine ecosystems, nitrogen fertilizers are often used to restore the severely degraded grassland. But, little is known about the response of soil microbes to nitrogen addition in the western Tibetan, which will limit our understanding and comprehensive assessment of global alpine grassland ecosystems. This study conducted an experiment with five levels of nitrogen addition (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 g N m⁻² y⁻¹) in an alpine steppe (AS) and an alpine desert steppe (ADS) at the source of Brahmaputra. In this study, plant and soil data were analyzed from August 2023, it showed that nitrogen sensitivity of soil microbes and their response to nitrogen addition vary with the nitrogen addition rate, grassland type, microbial kingdom, and the dimension used. Nitrogen sensitivity of soil bacterial community in the AS was higher than that in the ADS at 10 g N m⁻² y⁻¹ nitrogen addition rate, while the result was reversed at 20–40 g N m⁻² y⁻¹ ; the fungal community was more sensitive than bacterial community in the ADS at 5 g N m⁻² y⁻¹ nitrogen addition rate, while the result was reversed 20–40 g N m⁻² y⁻¹ ; the nitrogen sensitivity of the bacterial community's β-diversity in AS varied across species, functional, and phylogenetic dimensions. The main environment factors affecting nitrogen sensitivity were different in the AS and the ADS. This study explored the effects of nitrogen addition on soil bacterial and fungal communities in two types of grasslands in the western Tibetan, providing important foundations for further understanding of microbial ecology in alpine ecosystems, as well as valuable insights for managing nitrogen deposition in alpine ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03459"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143549320","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 : 2025-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03458
Ruifeng Ma , Shujuan Ma , Yujia Zhang , Lei Hu , Keyi Tang , Hongyi Liu , Ke He , Yudong Li , Suolangduoerji , Ying Zhu
To elucidate how hosts adapt to changing environments with the assistance of symbiotic microorganisms, we must first understand host–microbe interactions. However, the covariation patterns of gut microbiota and hosts under complex natural conditions are poorly understood. To address this gap in our knowledge, we used metabarcoding of plant RbcL and animal COI regions, along with bacterial 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic analyses. This enabled the analysis of the interactions between the gut microbiota of the black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis), a large migratory bird, and its plant and animal diets to be analyzed. The impact of these interactions on the adaptive strategies of the black-necked crane during different periods in the Zoige wetland, China, was also assessed. We found that the black-necked crane harbored more gut bacterial communities and more diverse plant-derived foods during the post-breeding period than during the pre-breeding period. The gut microbiota and diet covaried throughout the breeding season and exhibited seasonal patterns. Araneae and Cyperaceae were correlated with pre-breeding bacterial profile, whereas Acrididae and Elaeagnaceae were associated with post-breeding bacterial abundance. Sample microbiota distance (between-sample diversity) increased with increasing animal and plant diet distance, and this relationship was enhanced between the plant diet and gut microbiome, with a greater value observed during the pre-breeding period than during the post-breeding period. According to Simpson's indexes, the gut microbiota was also positively associated with the plant-based diet across the seasons. The plant diet–microbe co-occurrence network was more complex than the animal diet–microbe network. The gut microbiota functional profile revealed that several amino acids, folate, lipids, and metabolic pathways were more abundant during the pre-breeding period, which enriched the nutrient resources of the black-necked crane prior to breeding. In contrast, carbohydrate metabolism was more abundant during the post-breeding period, which helped the black-necked crane to accumulate energy for its upcoming migration. These results suggest flexible host-microbiome-host relationships in two seasons and that host physiological needs interact with foraging strategies to shape the microbiome, ultimately resulting in host adaptations to seasonal shifts. These results provide insights into the role of the gut microbiota in host adaptations to seasonal changes under natural conditions.
{"title":"Flexible host–microbe interaction aid adaptation of black-necked crane to seasonal shifts","authors":"Ruifeng Ma , Shujuan Ma , Yujia Zhang , Lei Hu , Keyi Tang , Hongyi Liu , Ke He , Yudong Li , Suolangduoerji , Ying Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03458","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03458","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To elucidate how hosts adapt to changing environments with the assistance of symbiotic microorganisms, we must first understand host–microbe interactions. However, the covariation patterns of gut microbiota and hosts under complex natural conditions are poorly understood. To address this gap in our knowledge, we used metabarcoding of plant RbcL and animal COI regions, along with bacterial 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic analyses. This enabled the analysis of the interactions between the gut microbiota of the black-necked crane (<em>Grus nigricollis</em>), a large migratory bird, and its plant and animal diets to be analyzed. The impact of these interactions on the adaptive strategies of the black-necked crane during different periods in the Zoige wetland, China, was also assessed. We found that the black-necked crane harbored more gut bacterial communities and more diverse plant-derived foods during the post-breeding period than during the pre-breeding period. The gut microbiota and diet covaried throughout the breeding season and exhibited seasonal patterns. Araneae and Cyperaceae were correlated with pre-breeding bacterial profile, whereas Acrididae and Elaeagnaceae were associated with post-breeding bacterial abundance. Sample microbiota distance (between-sample diversity) increased with increasing animal and plant diet distance, and this relationship was enhanced between the plant diet and gut microbiome, with a greater value observed during the pre-breeding period than during the post-breeding period. According to Simpson's indexes, the gut microbiota was also positively associated with the plant-based diet across the seasons. The plant diet–microbe co-occurrence network was more complex than the animal diet–microbe network. The gut microbiota functional profile revealed that several amino acids, folate, lipids, and metabolic pathways were more abundant during the pre-breeding period, which enriched the nutrient resources of the black-necked crane prior to breeding. In contrast, carbohydrate metabolism was more abundant during the post-breeding period, which helped the black-necked crane to accumulate energy for its upcoming migration. These results suggest flexible host-microbiome-host relationships in two seasons and that host physiological needs interact with foraging strategies to shape the microbiome, ultimately resulting in host adaptations to seasonal shifts. These results provide insights into the role of the gut microbiota in host adaptations to seasonal changes under natural conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03458"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147348","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 : 2025-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03451
Gwydion Scherer , Brigitte Streanga , Thomas Fartmann
Ecosystem engineers like wild boar (Sus scrofa) can reset successional processes in grasslands, creating open swards rich in bare ground and exhibiting a warm microclimate. However, studies on the effects of soil disturbance by wild boar (Sus scrofa) on butterfly species in calcareous grasslands are missing. Here, we analysed the effects of wild boar rooting in abandoned calcareous grasslands of the Hainich National Park, Germany, on two rare butterflies: marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) and Nickerl’s fritillary (Melitaea aurelia). We sampled different environmental parameters as well as butterfly frequency and abundance in wild boar rootings and undisturbed calcareous grassland vegetation. Our study demonstrated that wild boar play a vital role as soil disturbing ecosystem engineers for the persistence of the butterfly species. They created early seral stages rich in bare ground, hence a warm microclimate, and host plants. The two fritillary species used almost exclusively (E. aurinia) or even solely (M. aurelia) rooting patches for reproduction. Overall, occurrence and abundance of the butterfly species were best explained by a (i) high host plant abundance/biomass and (ii) warm microclimate. Based on our study, high densities of wild boar and additionally wild herbivorous ungulates, which slow down the expansion of woody plants by browsing, should generally be promoted in the calcareous grasslands of the national park. However, overall, they cannot halt shrub encroachment and thus the continuous loss of calcareous grasslands. Accordingly, we recommend active grassland management, e.g. exhaustive shrub removal followed by large-scale grazing by cattle and horses with low stocking rates.
{"title":"Rare butterfly species vitally depend on soil disturbance by an ecosystem engineer in abandoned calcareous grasslands","authors":"Gwydion Scherer , Brigitte Streanga , Thomas Fartmann","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03451","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03451","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ecosystem engineers like wild boar (<em>Sus scrofa</em>) can reset successional processes in grasslands, creating open swards rich in bare ground and exhibiting a warm microclimate. However, studies on the effects of soil disturbance by wild boar (<em>Sus scrofa</em>) on butterfly species in calcareous grasslands are missing. Here, we analysed the effects of wild boar rooting in abandoned calcareous grasslands of the Hainich National Park, Germany, on two rare butterflies: marsh fritillary (<em>Euphydryas aurinia</em>) and Nickerl’s fritillary (<em>Melitaea aurelia</em>). We sampled different environmental parameters as well as butterfly frequency and abundance in wild boar rootings and undisturbed calcareous grassland vegetation. Our study demonstrated that wild boar play a vital role as soil disturbing ecosystem engineers for the persistence of the butterfly species. They created early seral stages rich in bare ground, hence a warm microclimate, and host plants. The two fritillary species used almost exclusively (<em>E. aurinia</em>) or even solely (<em>M. aurelia</em>) rooting patches for reproduction. Overall, occurrence and abundance of the butterfly species were best explained by a (i) high host plant abundance/biomass and (ii) warm microclimate. Based on our study, high densities of wild boar and additionally wild herbivorous ungulates, which slow down the expansion of woody plants by browsing, should generally be promoted in the calcareous grasslands of the national park. However, overall, they cannot halt shrub encroachment and thus the continuous loss of calcareous grasslands. Accordingly, we recommend active grassland management, e.g. exhaustive shrub removal followed by large-scale grazing by cattle and horses with low stocking rates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03451"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147726","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 : 2025-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03453
Feihong Yu , Jiancheng Zhai , Zhiqiang Huang , Jimei Chen , Fuqiang Han , Liaobo Wang
Poyang Lake is one of the most typical seasonal inflow-outflow lakes in China. The cyclical rhythm of water level changes determines the dynamic variations in the wetland landscape pattern of Poyang Lake, directly impacting the habitat and survival of wintering migratory birds, particularly wading birds, which are most sensitive to these changes. This study employs an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithm to interpret wetland landscapes using the Gao-Fen Satellite Images across 14 different water levels. Methods such as Pearson correlation and linear fitting are used to analyze the effects of water level changes on the habitat of wintering wading birds, aiming to explore scientifically based optimum water level. The ultimate goal is to provide a scientific basis for determining the optimum water level regulation scheme for the proposed Poyang Lake Hydraulic Project. The results indicate that the area and shape of Poyang Lake's wetlands are highly plastic, with landscape heterogeneity decreasing and homogeneity increasing as water levels rise. The habitat area for wintering wading birds shows an inverted "V" shape variation with rising water levels, reaching a maximum of 1796.02 km² at a water level of 9.86 m, which accounts for about 48.40 % of the study area. The water level changes in Poyang Lake significantly impact the landscape pattern of the wading bird habitats (p < 0.01). When 6.83 ≤WL→WLx m, wading bird habitats become increasingly fragmented, with habitat patch type diversity, evenness, and connectivity gradually improving. When WLx→WL≤ 15.46 m, the degree of fragmentation moderates, but the diversity, evenness, and connectivity of habitat patches gradually decrease. At water levels between 8.15 and 13.56 m, the habitat structure for wintering wading birds is complex, with high diversity, large habitat area, and good landscape connectivity, providing favorable food acquisition resources and adequate space for wintering wading birds. Based on the need for wintering waterbird conservation, the proposed optimal optimum water level regulation threshold for the Poyang Lake Hydraulic Project is suggested to be between 8.15 and 13.56 m.
{"title":"The impact of Poyang Lake water level changes on the landscape pattern of wintering wading bird habitats","authors":"Feihong Yu , Jiancheng Zhai , Zhiqiang Huang , Jimei Chen , Fuqiang Han , Liaobo Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03453","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03453","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Poyang Lake is one of the most typical seasonal inflow-outflow lakes in China. The cyclical rhythm of water level changes determines the dynamic variations in the wetland landscape pattern of Poyang Lake, directly impacting the habitat and survival of wintering migratory birds, particularly wading birds, which are most sensitive to these changes. This study employs an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithm to interpret wetland landscapes using the Gao-Fen Satellite Images across 14 different water levels. Methods such as Pearson correlation and linear fitting are used to analyze the effects of water level changes on the habitat of wintering wading birds, aiming to explore scientifically based optimum water level. The ultimate goal is to provide a scientific basis for determining the optimum water level regulation scheme for the proposed Poyang Lake Hydraulic Project. The results indicate that the area and shape of Poyang Lake's wetlands are highly plastic, with landscape heterogeneity decreasing and homogeneity increasing as water levels rise. The habitat area for wintering wading birds shows an inverted \"V\" shape variation with rising water levels, reaching a maximum of 1796.02 km² at a water level of 9.86 m, which accounts for about 48.40 % of the study area. The water level changes in Poyang Lake significantly impact the landscape pattern of the wading bird habitats (<em>p</em> < 0.01). When 6.83 ≤WL→WL<em>x</em> m, wading bird habitats become increasingly fragmented, with habitat patch type diversity, evenness, and connectivity gradually improving. When WL<em>x</em>→WL≤ 15.46 m, the degree of fragmentation moderates, but the diversity, evenness, and connectivity of habitat patches gradually decrease. At water levels between 8.15 and 13.56 m, the habitat structure for wintering wading birds is complex, with high diversity, large habitat area, and good landscape connectivity, providing favorable food acquisition resources and adequate space for wintering wading birds. Based on the need for wintering waterbird conservation, the proposed optimal optimum water level regulation threshold for the Poyang Lake Hydraulic Project is suggested to be between 8.15 and 13.56 m.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03453"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147350","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 : 2025-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03446
Cornelia Röß , Anton Vorauer , Andreas Zahn , Korbinian P. Freier , Wolfgang Moche , Karl Moder , Georg Leitinger , Birgit C. Schlick-Steiner , Florian M. Steiner
Once widespread in Europe, the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) suffered massive population declines in the second half of the 20th century and became extinct in some countries. For future conservation programs, it is important to understand the major causes of extinction. Here, we compared extinct and extant populations in Bavaria (Germany) and Tyrol (Austria) concerning the availability of roof trusses as roosts, as well as concerning heavy metals found in feces (lead, Pb; cadmium, Cd), persistent organic pollutants in the air of the roosts (lindane, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and pentachloroanisole), landscape parameters (broadleaf forest, cropland, urbanisation), and light-pollution proxies (minimum and maximum radiance). We did not detect any recolonisation in extinct populations. One third of the buildings concerned are currently inaccessible for R. hipposideros because of closed entrances. Most roosts contained residues of lindane and pentachloroanisole, some of DDT. Pb and Cd concentrations were significantly higher for extinct than for extant colonies; these contaminations may at least partly explain the lack of recolonisation for the two thirds of buildings with open entrances. None of the parameters analyzed correlated significantly with the size of extant colonies. For further insight in the conservation biology of the lesser horseshoe bat in the Greater Alpine Space, assessment of transitional and hibernation roosts, linear habitat elements around roosts, and food availability in the face of insect decline will be necessary.
{"title":"Clarification of local causes for lesser horseshoe bat extinction in the Bavarian-Tyrolean Alpine region","authors":"Cornelia Röß , Anton Vorauer , Andreas Zahn , Korbinian P. Freier , Wolfgang Moche , Karl Moder , Georg Leitinger , Birgit C. Schlick-Steiner , Florian M. Steiner","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03446","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03446","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Once widespread in Europe, the lesser horseshoe bat (<em>Rhinolophus hipposideros</em>) suffered massive population declines in the second half of the 20th century and became extinct in some countries. For future conservation programs, it is important to understand the major causes of extinction. Here, we compared extinct and extant populations in Bavaria (Germany) and Tyrol (Austria) concerning the availability of roof trusses as roosts, as well as concerning heavy metals found in feces (lead, Pb; cadmium, Cd), persistent organic pollutants in the air of the roosts (lindane, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and pentachloroanisole), landscape parameters (broadleaf forest, cropland, urbanisation), and light-pollution proxies (minimum and maximum radiance). We did not detect any recolonisation in extinct populations. One third of the buildings concerned are currently inaccessible for <em>R. hipposideros</em> because of closed entrances. Most roosts contained residues of lindane and pentachloroanisole, some of DDT. Pb and Cd concentrations were significantly higher for extinct than for extant colonies; these contaminations may at least partly explain the lack of recolonisation for the two thirds of buildings with open entrances. None of the parameters analyzed correlated significantly with the size of extant colonies. For further insight in the conservation biology of the lesser horseshoe bat in the Greater Alpine Space, assessment of transitional and hibernation roosts, linear habitat elements around roosts, and food availability in the face of insect decline will be necessary.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03446"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147359","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 : 2025-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03448
Yuke Zhang , Qianhui Zeng , Samuel T. Turvey , Liyuan Zhao , Liming Yong , Xixia Lu , Xianyan Wang
Estuaries are critical habitats for many marine species, but are also experiencing rapid human-induced environmental change, posing great challenges for conservation. However, lack of assessment of specific habitat changes caused by anthropogenic disturbance limits effective conservation management for marine species in estuarine habitats. Here, using the Chinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis) in Xiamen Bay as a case study, we used species distribution models to simulate Chinese white dolphin habitats during the late 1990s, early 2010s, late 2010s and early 2020 s, using historical occurrences and environmental variables interpreted from Landsat images. Over this time period, the Chinese white dolphin population experienced substantial habitat fragmentation and niche shifting. Driven by anthropogenic disturbance, the Chinese white dolphin population moved away from river mouths during 1994–2019, resulting a temporary increase in 50 % kernel density estimation (KDE) and habitat in early 2010s, followed by a decrease in the late 2010s. However, the population’s hypervolume decreased gradually to 32.1 % in early 2010s and 7.7 % in the late 2010s, reflecting loss of estuarine resources of the Chinese white dolphins. By early 2020 s, the 50 % KDE and habitat further decreased while the hypervolume increased to 58.2 %, probably due to availability of new estuarine habitats when the population colonized the northeast and southwest of this area. In conclusion, Xiamen Bay has gradually transformed from a refuge into an ecological trap for the Chinese white dolphin. In order to reverse this negative population trend, protected areas should be adjusted to include habitats in the Jiulong River Estuary, Weitou Bay, and the waters between them. Immediate interventions should be conducted to reduce anthropogenic disturbance and improve habitat quality. Ecosystem-based management and long-term monitoring are strongly recommended to avoid potential extinction of many other estuarine species caused by coastal urbanization.
{"title":"Rapid habitat fragmentation and niche shifting of an estuarine dolphin driven by coastal urbanization","authors":"Yuke Zhang , Qianhui Zeng , Samuel T. Turvey , Liyuan Zhao , Liming Yong , Xixia Lu , Xianyan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03448","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03448","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Estuaries are critical habitats for many marine species, but are also experiencing rapid human-induced environmental change, posing great challenges for conservation. However, lack of assessment of specific habitat changes caused by anthropogenic disturbance limits effective conservation management for marine species in estuarine habitats. Here, using the Chinese white dolphin (<em>Sousa chinensis</em>) in Xiamen Bay as a case study, we used species distribution models to simulate Chinese white dolphin habitats during the late 1990s, early 2010s, late 2010s and early 2020 s, using historical occurrences and environmental variables interpreted from Landsat images. Over this time period, the Chinese white dolphin population experienced substantial habitat fragmentation and niche shifting. Driven by anthropogenic disturbance, the Chinese white dolphin population moved away from river mouths during 1994–2019, resulting a temporary increase in 50 % kernel density estimation (KDE) and habitat in early 2010s, followed by a decrease in the late 2010s. However, the population’s hypervolume decreased gradually to 32.1 % in early 2010s and 7.7 % in the late 2010s, reflecting loss of estuarine resources of the Chinese white dolphins. By early 2020 s, the 50 % KDE and habitat further decreased while the hypervolume increased to 58.2 %, probably due to availability of new estuarine habitats when the population colonized the northeast and southwest of this area. In conclusion, Xiamen Bay has gradually transformed from a refuge into an ecological trap for the Chinese white dolphin. In order to reverse this negative population trend, protected areas should be adjusted to include habitats in the Jiulong River Estuary, Weitou Bay, and the waters between them. Immediate interventions should be conducted to reduce anthropogenic disturbance and improve habitat quality. Ecosystem-based management and long-term monitoring are strongly recommended to avoid potential extinction of many other estuarine species caused by coastal urbanization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03448"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147297","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}
The development of transportation infrastructure disrupts wildlife movement, leading to habitat fragmentation and roadkill. While the establishment of wildlife corridors is a global strategy to mitigate these impacts, research on the intersections between wildlife corridors and transportation networks in China, along with the verification of corridor sites, is limited. This study focuses on the Three-River-Source (TRS) region and Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii), and proposes a wildlife corridor selection method consisting of the following four steps: evaluating habitat suitability, identifying wildlife corridors, determining conflict sites, and conducting on-site verification. By evaluating the habitat suitability of the Tibetan antelope and identifying wildlife corridors using circuit theory and the minimum cumulative resistance model, road-corridor intersection areas and conflict sites are identified. Based on the findings, 14 corridor sites for Tibetan antelope are recommended, and the feasibility of Corridor 6 is successfully verified. The proposed method offers a valuable reference for selecting wildlife corridor sites in similar regions.
{"title":"A wildlife corridor site selection method based on the habitat suitability assessment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau","authors":"Yangang Yang, Yun Wang, Shuangcheng Tao, Yaping Kong, Jiding Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03452","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03452","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of transportation infrastructure disrupts wildlife movement, leading to habitat fragmentation and roadkill. While the establishment of wildlife corridors is a global strategy to mitigate these impacts, research on the intersections between wildlife corridors and transportation networks in China, along with the verification of corridor sites, is limited. This study focuses on the Three-River-Source (TRS) region and Tibetan antelope (<em>Pantholops hodgsonii</em>), and proposes a wildlife corridor selection method consisting of the following four steps: evaluating habitat suitability, identifying wildlife corridors, determining conflict sites, and conducting on-site verification. By evaluating the habitat suitability of the Tibetan antelope and identifying wildlife corridors using circuit theory and the minimum cumulative resistance model, road-corridor intersection areas and conflict sites are identified. Based on the findings, 14 corridor sites for Tibetan antelope are recommended, and the feasibility of Corridor 6 is successfully verified. The proposed method offers a valuable reference for selecting wildlife corridor sites in similar regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03452"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147347","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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