Pub Date : 2023-09-09DOI: 10.3390/ecologies4030041
Evangelia V. Avramidou, Evangelia Korakaki, Ermioni Malliarou, Alexandra D. Solomou, George Mantakas, George Karetsos
A first assessment of genetic diversity and expansion of the invasive species Amorpha fruticosa L. was estimated in the 91E0* (Annex I Dir. 92/43/EEC) priority habitat of Nestos. A. fruticosa is a perennial deciduous shrub belonging to the family Fabaceae and is native to the south-western part of North America, which recently was introduced to Europe as an ornamental plant. Its expansion through the cross-border river of Nestos has significant negative effects on the 91E0* habitat (a habitat with Alnus glutinosa, Populus alba, and Ulmus minor). Herein, we studied the genetic diversity with amplified fragment length polymorphisms fragments of eastern and western populations in order to see if there is one genetic pool for the species. Furthermore, we estimated the regeneration index (IR) in order to see the potential expansion of this invasive species. Results showed that eastern and western populations have almost equal heterozygosity (He) and with a slightly higher value for the western population, which was in agreement with the results of the IR. This is an innovative study that discusses the implications of A. fruticosa of 91E0* habitat in Nestos and proposes management measures to eliminate its expansion and improve the resilience of the habitat.
本文首次对入侵物种紫杉(Amorpha fruticosa L.)的遗传多样性和扩展进行了评估。果苔属豆科多年生落叶灌木，原产于北美西南部，近年来作为观赏植物引进欧洲。其通过Nestos跨界河流的扩张对91E0*栖息地(Alnus glutinosa, alus alba和Ulmus minor的栖息地)产生了显著的负面影响。本文利用扩增片段长度多态性片段对东西部居群的遗传多样性进行了研究，以确定东西部居群是否存在一个基因库。此外，我们估计了再生指数(IR)，以了解该入侵物种的扩张潜力。结果表明，东西部种群杂合度基本相等，西部种群杂合度略高，与IR结果一致。本研究是一项创新性的研究，探讨了Nestos地区91E0*生境中果沙的影响，并提出了消除其扩张和提高生境恢复力的管理措施。
{"title":"First Report and Genetic Analysis of the Invasive Species A. fruticosa L. in Greece: A Combined Genetic and Regeneration Study","authors":"Evangelia V. Avramidou, Evangelia Korakaki, Ermioni Malliarou, Alexandra D. Solomou, George Mantakas, George Karetsos","doi":"10.3390/ecologies4030041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies4030041","url":null,"abstract":"A first assessment of genetic diversity and expansion of the invasive species Amorpha fruticosa L. was estimated in the 91E0* (Annex I Dir. 92/43/EEC) priority habitat of Nestos. A. fruticosa is a perennial deciduous shrub belonging to the family Fabaceae and is native to the south-western part of North America, which recently was introduced to Europe as an ornamental plant. Its expansion through the cross-border river of Nestos has significant negative effects on the 91E0* habitat (a habitat with Alnus glutinosa, Populus alba, and Ulmus minor). Herein, we studied the genetic diversity with amplified fragment length polymorphisms fragments of eastern and western populations in order to see if there is one genetic pool for the species. Furthermore, we estimated the regeneration index (IR) in order to see the potential expansion of this invasive species. Results showed that eastern and western populations have almost equal heterozygosity (He) and with a slightly higher value for the western population, which was in agreement with the results of the IR. This is an innovative study that discusses the implications of A. fruticosa of 91E0* habitat in Nestos and proposes management measures to eliminate its expansion and improve the resilience of the habitat.","PeriodicalId":72866,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136192820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-08DOI: 10.3390/ecologies4030040
Kyriaki Bourma, E. Milios, K. Radoglou, K. Kitikidou
The purpose of this research is to develop a Graded Biodiversity Assessment (GBA) index to provide an estimation of the biodiversity in managed natural forests. In order to facilitate the present project, parameters are performed, confirmed, and annotated for their use as GBA components, notably the wood stock, age, canopy density, regeneration existence, and aspect of the forest under study. These five parameters are easily retrieved from the standard forest management plans. To assist the application of this forest-specific GBA index, data for each of the five index components is coded in three biodiversity levels as per the original description, with group cut-offs of 0, 0.5, and 1. We compute the Consistency Index to quantify the degree of reliability of our selection of GBA components ξ (Ksi) of the Best-Worst Method (BWM). With the proposed GBA index, foresters canhave a new tool at their disposal, which can be used to drive decision making and determineforest regions with low or high biodiversity value, with five parameters that are common in the standard forest management plans.
{"title":"Development of a Graded Biodiversity Assessment (GBA) Index for the Assessment of the Biodiversity of Managed Natural Forests","authors":"Kyriaki Bourma, E. Milios, K. Radoglou, K. Kitikidou","doi":"10.3390/ecologies4030040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies4030040","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this research is to develop a Graded Biodiversity Assessment (GBA) index to provide an estimation of the biodiversity in managed natural forests. In order to facilitate the present project, parameters are performed, confirmed, and annotated for their use as GBA components, notably the wood stock, age, canopy density, regeneration existence, and aspect of the forest under study. These five parameters are easily retrieved from the standard forest management plans. To assist the application of this forest-specific GBA index, data for each of the five index components is coded in three biodiversity levels as per the original description, with group cut-offs of 0, 0.5, and 1. We compute the Consistency Index to quantify the degree of reliability of our selection of GBA components ξ (Ksi) of the Best-Worst Method (BWM). With the proposed GBA index, foresters canhave a new tool at their disposal, which can be used to drive decision making and determineforest regions with low or high biodiversity value, with five parameters that are common in the standard forest management plans.","PeriodicalId":72866,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47521437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-04DOI: 10.3390/ecologies4030039
Vikentia Fragkiadaki, E. Lazaridi, M. Suso, Antonios Tsagkarakis, F. J. Ortiz-Sánchez, P. Bebeli
Plant–pollinator interactions research can assist in the development of more ecologically friendly crop breeding methods, leading to enhanced global food security. In the present study, we have aimed to assess fifteen floral traits as insect attractancies of six bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.) landraces, a neglected crop. Four traits related to seed yield were also measured. Abundance and foraging behavior of potential insect pollinators on bitter vetch flowers were recorded, and their species were identified. Differences among landraces regarding floral and yield traits were statistically significant in most cases. A total number of four insect species were recorded as positively visiting flowers and constituting potential pollinators of bitter vetch. At a landrace level, there was a positive correlation between potential insect pollinators’ foraging activity and the number of open flowers, especially for the landrace ERV65-Kastania, Korinthia (p ≤ 0.01). Floral tube length, as well as standard petal length, was also positively correlated with potential insect pollinator species abundance and their visitation frequency. A positive correlation was also recorded between seed yield-related traits, which varied among landraces, and potential insect pollinators’ foraging activity. The results showed that bitter vetch flowers can attract and receive positive visits from insects, despite their mainly self-pollination reproductive system. Bitter vetch flower traits, such as the number of open flowers, floral tube length, and standard petal length, could, therefore, be useful as breeding tools, aiming to develop varieties with insect pollinator-friendly traits that could lead to enhanced seed yield production and help to conserve wild insect species biodiversity in the context of sustainable agriculture.
{"title":"The Relation between Flower Traits of Bitter Vetch Landraces and Potential Insect Pollinators’ Visitation","authors":"Vikentia Fragkiadaki, E. Lazaridi, M. Suso, Antonios Tsagkarakis, F. J. Ortiz-Sánchez, P. Bebeli","doi":"10.3390/ecologies4030039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies4030039","url":null,"abstract":"Plant–pollinator interactions research can assist in the development of more ecologically friendly crop breeding methods, leading to enhanced global food security. In the present study, we have aimed to assess fifteen floral traits as insect attractancies of six bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.) landraces, a neglected crop. Four traits related to seed yield were also measured. Abundance and foraging behavior of potential insect pollinators on bitter vetch flowers were recorded, and their species were identified. Differences among landraces regarding floral and yield traits were statistically significant in most cases. A total number of four insect species were recorded as positively visiting flowers and constituting potential pollinators of bitter vetch. At a landrace level, there was a positive correlation between potential insect pollinators’ foraging activity and the number of open flowers, especially for the landrace ERV65-Kastania, Korinthia (p ≤ 0.01). Floral tube length, as well as standard petal length, was also positively correlated with potential insect pollinator species abundance and their visitation frequency. A positive correlation was also recorded between seed yield-related traits, which varied among landraces, and potential insect pollinators’ foraging activity. The results showed that bitter vetch flowers can attract and receive positive visits from insects, despite their mainly self-pollination reproductive system. Bitter vetch flower traits, such as the number of open flowers, floral tube length, and standard petal length, could, therefore, be useful as breeding tools, aiming to develop varieties with insect pollinator-friendly traits that could lead to enhanced seed yield production and help to conserve wild insect species biodiversity in the context of sustainable agriculture.","PeriodicalId":72866,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47996918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-03DOI: 10.3390/ecologies4030038
Ram Chander Sihag
Several insect species visit the flowers of a plant to obtain floral rewards in the form of pollen and/or nectar. In return, we would anticipate that those visitors would contribute to the reproductive success of the plant. Do these visitors contribute equally towards the reproductive success of the plant? This issue has been the interest of many pollination ecologists. To find a solution to this problem, I investigated the pollination ecology of rocket (Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav. ssp. sativa (Mill.) Thell), an important leafy vegetable used as salad. I captured the flower visitors with a hand net from the experimental field and had these identified. I also recorded the number of loose pollen grains carried on the body of the visitors of different species and deposited on the stigmas. Effects of single and multiple visits of visitors on the seed set of rocket flowers were also determined. Abundances and foraging rates of the flower visitors of this species were recorded and their values were used to calculate their respective contributions towards the reproductive success of this species. Five species of Hymenoptera, three of Diptera, one of Lepidoptera, and one of Coleoptera visited the flowers of the rocket. Apis florea was the most abundant among the flower visitors, followed by the dipterous flies, Apis mellifera, Apis dorsata, Andrena savignyi, and Andrena leaena in descending order. The number of loose pollen grains carried and deposited, foraging behaviors, foraging rates, and abundances did not provide conclusive measures to differentiate the contributions of different flower visitors towards the reproductive success of the rocket. However, the data recorded on abundances, foraging behaviors, and foraging rates together could do so. Accordingly, Andrena savignyi was the most efficient pollinator of rocket, followed by Andrena leaena, Apis dorsata, Apis mellifera, and Apis florea; dipterous flies were the least efficient pollinators of this plant species. In rocket, 28.84% of pollination was brought by Andrena savignyi, 24.69% by Andrena leaena, 20.34% by Apis dorsata, 18.37% by Apis mellifera, and 7.7% by Apis florea; dipterous flies caused only 0.06% pollination. Butterflies were very rare and Coccinella sp. was not a pollinator of this plant. Therefore, not all the pollinators of rocket contributed equally towards its reproductive success (seed production). Bees brought about 99.94% of total pollination and melittophily distinctly predominated over other pollination modes. However, among the bees, native bees together are the major pollinators in the flowers of rockets and accomplished more than 81.5% pollination. Therefore, the conservation of native bees is most important for the pollination of crops such as rockets.
{"title":"Pollination Ecology of Rocket (Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav. ssp. sativa (Mill.) Thell) in the Semi-Arid Environments of Northwest India: Native Bees Are the Major Pollinators","authors":"Ram Chander Sihag","doi":"10.3390/ecologies4030038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies4030038","url":null,"abstract":"Several insect species visit the flowers of a plant to obtain floral rewards in the form of pollen and/or nectar. In return, we would anticipate that those visitors would contribute to the reproductive success of the plant. Do these visitors contribute equally towards the reproductive success of the plant? This issue has been the interest of many pollination ecologists. To find a solution to this problem, I investigated the pollination ecology of rocket (Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav. ssp. sativa (Mill.) Thell), an important leafy vegetable used as salad. I captured the flower visitors with a hand net from the experimental field and had these identified. I also recorded the number of loose pollen grains carried on the body of the visitors of different species and deposited on the stigmas. Effects of single and multiple visits of visitors on the seed set of rocket flowers were also determined. Abundances and foraging rates of the flower visitors of this species were recorded and their values were used to calculate their respective contributions towards the reproductive success of this species. Five species of Hymenoptera, three of Diptera, one of Lepidoptera, and one of Coleoptera visited the flowers of the rocket. Apis florea was the most abundant among the flower visitors, followed by the dipterous flies, Apis mellifera, Apis dorsata, Andrena savignyi, and Andrena leaena in descending order. The number of loose pollen grains carried and deposited, foraging behaviors, foraging rates, and abundances did not provide conclusive measures to differentiate the contributions of different flower visitors towards the reproductive success of the rocket. However, the data recorded on abundances, foraging behaviors, and foraging rates together could do so. Accordingly, Andrena savignyi was the most efficient pollinator of rocket, followed by Andrena leaena, Apis dorsata, Apis mellifera, and Apis florea; dipterous flies were the least efficient pollinators of this plant species. In rocket, 28.84% of pollination was brought by Andrena savignyi, 24.69% by Andrena leaena, 20.34% by Apis dorsata, 18.37% by Apis mellifera, and 7.7% by Apis florea; dipterous flies caused only 0.06% pollination. Butterflies were very rare and Coccinella sp. was not a pollinator of this plant. Therefore, not all the pollinators of rocket contributed equally towards its reproductive success (seed production). Bees brought about 99.94% of total pollination and melittophily distinctly predominated over other pollination modes. However, among the bees, native bees together are the major pollinators in the flowers of rockets and accomplished more than 81.5% pollination. Therefore, the conservation of native bees is most important for the pollination of crops such as rockets.","PeriodicalId":72866,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48831205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-01DOI: 10.3390/ecologies4030037
S. Poindexter, Vincent Nijman, Muhammed Ali Imron, K. Nekaris
An animal’s ability to navigate its home range in search of essential resources is a key aspect of its ecology. To reach these resources, animals employ varying navigational processes depending on their exocentric or egocentric view of their environment. The goal of this study was to determine if the Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus), a nocturnal arboreal primate found in southeast Asia, uses some form of cognitive map and spatial memory while navigating their environment. Using behavioural and GPS data of six males and seven females collected at the Little Fireface Project field station based in West Java, Indonesia, we measured their frequency of revisiting important feeding trees, route overlap, and points where individuals significantly changed directions. We found that all individuals predominantly used four tree species while feeding and foraging. The lorises also displayed a high level of route overlap, leading us to conclude that they likely utilize a route-based cognitive map where certain landmarks are integral to their nightly movement. Few studies have specifically focused on strepsirrhine spatial cognition in the wild; here, we show the navigational mechanism used by the Javan slow loris to reach distant/out-of-sight resources. The evident reliance on spatial cognition in a strepsirrhine species suggest that it could be an important selective pressure for primates at the earliest stages of primate cognitive evolution. In addition to the importance of spatial memory in theoretical discourse, understanding slow loris movement has practical applications to conservation, particularly regarding the numerous translocations undertaken by individuals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. We discuss the importance of considering soft release training and monitoring in such releases.
{"title":"Goal-Directed Travel in the Nocturnal Javan Slow Loris (Nycticebus javanicus)","authors":"S. Poindexter, Vincent Nijman, Muhammed Ali Imron, K. Nekaris","doi":"10.3390/ecologies4030037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies4030037","url":null,"abstract":"An animal’s ability to navigate its home range in search of essential resources is a key aspect of its ecology. To reach these resources, animals employ varying navigational processes depending on their exocentric or egocentric view of their environment. The goal of this study was to determine if the Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus), a nocturnal arboreal primate found in southeast Asia, uses some form of cognitive map and spatial memory while navigating their environment. Using behavioural and GPS data of six males and seven females collected at the Little Fireface Project field station based in West Java, Indonesia, we measured their frequency of revisiting important feeding trees, route overlap, and points where individuals significantly changed directions. We found that all individuals predominantly used four tree species while feeding and foraging. The lorises also displayed a high level of route overlap, leading us to conclude that they likely utilize a route-based cognitive map where certain landmarks are integral to their nightly movement. Few studies have specifically focused on strepsirrhine spatial cognition in the wild; here, we show the navigational mechanism used by the Javan slow loris to reach distant/out-of-sight resources. The evident reliance on spatial cognition in a strepsirrhine species suggest that it could be an important selective pressure for primates at the earliest stages of primate cognitive evolution. In addition to the importance of spatial memory in theoretical discourse, understanding slow loris movement has practical applications to conservation, particularly regarding the numerous translocations undertaken by individuals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. We discuss the importance of considering soft release training and monitoring in such releases.","PeriodicalId":72866,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41960371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-16DOI: 10.3390/ecologies4030036
José Telo da Gama
Soils are crucial life supporters and nutrient providers, their functionality impacted by their nutritional balance, pH, and organic matter content. These substrates help regulate water, support diverse organisms, and play a critical role in carbon sequestration, especially in the context of climate change. However, soils are under threat from anthropogenic and climatic pressures, warranting active resource management strategies. The European Union (EU) has acknowledged soil sustainability’s importance, encouraging eco-friendly agricultural practices and enhanced soil carbon storage. However, the criticality of soils is often overlooked when establishing global sustainable development goals. Counteracting soil degradation is key in battling desertification and influenced by factors like unsustainable agriculture, deforestation, and poor irrigation. Innovative solutions like circular economy approaches and sustainable biomass utilization are necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also, improving dietary habits and reducing food waste can help mitigate the environmental impact of food consumption, with a shift towards plant-based proteins being more sustainable. Addressing these challenges will contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future.
{"title":"The Role of Soils in Sustainability, Climate Change, and Ecosystem Services: Challenges and Opportunities","authors":"José Telo da Gama","doi":"10.3390/ecologies4030036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies4030036","url":null,"abstract":"Soils are crucial life supporters and nutrient providers, their functionality impacted by their nutritional balance, pH, and organic matter content. These substrates help regulate water, support diverse organisms, and play a critical role in carbon sequestration, especially in the context of climate change. However, soils are under threat from anthropogenic and climatic pressures, warranting active resource management strategies. The European Union (EU) has acknowledged soil sustainability’s importance, encouraging eco-friendly agricultural practices and enhanced soil carbon storage. However, the criticality of soils is often overlooked when establishing global sustainable development goals. Counteracting soil degradation is key in battling desertification and influenced by factors like unsustainable agriculture, deforestation, and poor irrigation. Innovative solutions like circular economy approaches and sustainable biomass utilization are necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also, improving dietary habits and reducing food waste can help mitigate the environmental impact of food consumption, with a shift towards plant-based proteins being more sustainable. Addressing these challenges will contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future.","PeriodicalId":72866,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47732541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-08DOI: 10.3390/ecologies4030035
Abravi Essenam Kissi, G. Villamor, Georges Abbevi Abbey
The ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) strategy is considered an effective approach to address the impact of climate change while ensuring the continued provision of ecosystem services on which farming depends. However, understanding the EbA’s effectiveness for smallholder farmers in the Savannah region remains limited. The focus of this study is to explore the EbA practices that have been implemented by farming communities in the Savannah region of Togo. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these practices and the perceived co-benefits reported by 425 smallholder farmers who participated in the survey. Our findings show that five practices, namely agroforestry, crop rotation, grass hedge/stone bunds, in-field water drainage channel, and intercropping, were practiced mainly by smallholder farmers and perceived as effective in reducing their vulnerability to climate risks. In addition, the benefits observed were linked to all five EbA practices. As a result, we can determine the suitable combination of EbA practices that fulfil the requirements of smallholder farmers, including co-benefits such as food security, adaptation advantages, and ecosystem service provisions. Such findings provide insights for developing integrated agriculture and climate change policies suitable for weather-induced disaster-prone areas such as the Savannah region.
{"title":"Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Practices of Smallholder Farmers in the Oti Basin, Togo: Probing Their Effectiveness and Co-Benefits","authors":"Abravi Essenam Kissi, G. Villamor, Georges Abbevi Abbey","doi":"10.3390/ecologies4030035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies4030035","url":null,"abstract":"The ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) strategy is considered an effective approach to address the impact of climate change while ensuring the continued provision of ecosystem services on which farming depends. However, understanding the EbA’s effectiveness for smallholder farmers in the Savannah region remains limited. The focus of this study is to explore the EbA practices that have been implemented by farming communities in the Savannah region of Togo. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these practices and the perceived co-benefits reported by 425 smallholder farmers who participated in the survey. Our findings show that five practices, namely agroforestry, crop rotation, grass hedge/stone bunds, in-field water drainage channel, and intercropping, were practiced mainly by smallholder farmers and perceived as effective in reducing their vulnerability to climate risks. In addition, the benefits observed were linked to all five EbA practices. As a result, we can determine the suitable combination of EbA practices that fulfil the requirements of smallholder farmers, including co-benefits such as food security, adaptation advantages, and ecosystem service provisions. Such findings provide insights for developing integrated agriculture and climate change policies suitable for weather-induced disaster-prone areas such as the Savannah region.","PeriodicalId":72866,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46589092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-08DOI: 10.3390/ecologies4030034
S. Paramithiotis, M. Dimopoulou
The preservation of microbial diversity is an issue not properly addressed, considering their role in shaping Earth into a habitable planet and their contribution to human well-being. The disturbance of their natural habitats triggers responses, which are reflected in the modification of microecosystem composition and metabolic activities. This is also the case with food-related microecosystems; changes in the growing environment, recorded as agricultural practices and manufacturing or storage conditions, result in similar alterations in the residing microcommunity. In fact, the principle aim of food microbiology is to favor the growth of health-promoting microorganisms and restrict the development of the ones that may negatively affect the quality of food or even cause infection or intoxication. Therefore, the current perspective is one-sided, disregarding issues of general interest, such as the preservation of actual biodiversity. The aim of the present article is to present the current food microbiology perspective, which is based on the different roles of food-related microbiota and highlight the need to move from an anthropocentric to a microbe-centric perception.
{"title":"Preserving Microbial Biodiversity: The Case of Food-Associated Microorganisms","authors":"S. Paramithiotis, M. Dimopoulou","doi":"10.3390/ecologies4030034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies4030034","url":null,"abstract":"The preservation of microbial diversity is an issue not properly addressed, considering their role in shaping Earth into a habitable planet and their contribution to human well-being. The disturbance of their natural habitats triggers responses, which are reflected in the modification of microecosystem composition and metabolic activities. This is also the case with food-related microecosystems; changes in the growing environment, recorded as agricultural practices and manufacturing or storage conditions, result in similar alterations in the residing microcommunity. In fact, the principle aim of food microbiology is to favor the growth of health-promoting microorganisms and restrict the development of the ones that may negatively affect the quality of food or even cause infection or intoxication. Therefore, the current perspective is one-sided, disregarding issues of general interest, such as the preservation of actual biodiversity. The aim of the present article is to present the current food microbiology perspective, which is based on the different roles of food-related microbiota and highlight the need to move from an anthropocentric to a microbe-centric perception.","PeriodicalId":72866,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46828859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-05DOI: 10.3390/ecologies4030033
S. Chhin, G. Dahle
Diplodia pinea is a fungal pathogen that causes Diplodia shoot blight in pines and is widely spread in red pine (Pinus resinosa) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) forests in Michigan. The objective of this study was to examine whether infection with D. pinea compromises wood quality in pine stands. Acoustic data was collected using an acoustic tomographer from the stem region at breast height (1.3 m) of red pine and jack pine trees across two categories of forest health condition (control vs. Diplodia-affected), in two latitudinal regions (Lower Peninsula vs. Upper Peninsula), and two levels of initial stand density (low vs. high). The acoustic data was used to infer the wood quality (i.e., density) in these two tree species since material of higher density generally has higher sound velocity rates. Red pine had significantly higher wood quality (i.e., higher sound velocities) in the Upper Peninsula region compared to the Lower Peninsula region. Within each latitudinal region, red pine sound velocities did not show significant differences between forest health condition or initial stand density levels. Jack pine showed no significant differences in sound velocities across the treatment categories. The results indicate that latitudinal region appears to have more impact on red pine wood quality than the influence of forest health condition (presence of Diplodia shoot blight) or initial stand density. All analyzed factors (latitudinal region, forest health condition, and stand density) did not have a significant impact on the wood quality of jack pine.
{"title":"Using Acoustic Tomography to Infer Stem Wood Quality of Pine Forests Affected by a Fungal Pathogen in Different Latitudinal Regions and Plantation Densities","authors":"S. Chhin, G. Dahle","doi":"10.3390/ecologies4030033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies4030033","url":null,"abstract":"Diplodia pinea is a fungal pathogen that causes Diplodia shoot blight in pines and is widely spread in red pine (Pinus resinosa) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) forests in Michigan. The objective of this study was to examine whether infection with D. pinea compromises wood quality in pine stands. Acoustic data was collected using an acoustic tomographer from the stem region at breast height (1.3 m) of red pine and jack pine trees across two categories of forest health condition (control vs. Diplodia-affected), in two latitudinal regions (Lower Peninsula vs. Upper Peninsula), and two levels of initial stand density (low vs. high). The acoustic data was used to infer the wood quality (i.e., density) in these two tree species since material of higher density generally has higher sound velocity rates. Red pine had significantly higher wood quality (i.e., higher sound velocities) in the Upper Peninsula region compared to the Lower Peninsula region. Within each latitudinal region, red pine sound velocities did not show significant differences between forest health condition or initial stand density levels. Jack pine showed no significant differences in sound velocities across the treatment categories. The results indicate that latitudinal region appears to have more impact on red pine wood quality than the influence of forest health condition (presence of Diplodia shoot blight) or initial stand density. All analyzed factors (latitudinal region, forest health condition, and stand density) did not have a significant impact on the wood quality of jack pine.","PeriodicalId":72866,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44095575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-07-20DOI: 10.3390/ecologies4030032
D. Escoriza, Santiago Poch, D. Boix
Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot, containing a large proportion of endemic species. To make conservation efforts more effective, it is necessary to understand the spatial distribution of this huge biodiversity. In this study, the patterns of morphological variation and diversity in the adult anurans of Madagascar were evaluated and compared across different climatic regions. These patterns were investigated for 370 species (2360 specimens), and the variation in 13 morphological traits obtained from taxonomic databases was assessed. The results revealed differences in body size distribution across climatic regions and that the most morphologically distinctive species occur in humid regions. The analysis also showed that anuran assemblages tend to be more species-rich, more morphologically diverse, and more morphologically clustered in tropical rainforests. These patterns are attributable to regional variations in the amount and seasonality of precipitation. An understanding of the complex patterns of spatial diversity could be useful for regional prioritization in the conservation of Madagascan anurans.
{"title":"Spatial Patterns in the Morphological Diversity of Madagascan Frogs","authors":"D. Escoriza, Santiago Poch, D. Boix","doi":"10.3390/ecologies4030032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies4030032","url":null,"abstract":"Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot, containing a large proportion of endemic species. To make conservation efforts more effective, it is necessary to understand the spatial distribution of this huge biodiversity. In this study, the patterns of morphological variation and diversity in the adult anurans of Madagascar were evaluated and compared across different climatic regions. These patterns were investigated for 370 species (2360 specimens), and the variation in 13 morphological traits obtained from taxonomic databases was assessed. The results revealed differences in body size distribution across climatic regions and that the most morphologically distinctive species occur in humid regions. The analysis also showed that anuran assemblages tend to be more species-rich, more morphologically diverse, and more morphologically clustered in tropical rainforests. These patterns are attributable to regional variations in the amount and seasonality of precipitation. An understanding of the complex patterns of spatial diversity could be useful for regional prioritization in the conservation of Madagascan anurans.","PeriodicalId":72866,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41926571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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