Article
Ecology
Grace K. Charles, Corinna Riginos, Kari E. Veblen, Duncan M. Kimuyu, Truman P. Young
Summary: Both termites and large mammalian herbivores are savanna ecosystem engineers that have significant impacts on ecosystem structure and function. While termite mound abundance is positively associated with the presence of cattle, it is not significantly affected by the presence of wild mesoherbivores or megaherbivores. The abundance of termite mounds is intimately tied to herbivore-driven resource availability, with herbaceous productivity and tree density being positive predictors of termite mound abundance.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Marcela de Castro Nunes Santos Terra, Jamir Afonso do Prado-Junior, Cleber Rodrigo de Souza, Luiz Otavio Rodrigues Pinto, Eduarda Martiniano de Oliveira Silveira, Natielle Gomes Cordeiro, Taina Mamede Cirne-Silva, Vanessa Alves Mantovani, Jose Roberto Soares Scolforo, Jose Marcio de Mello
Summary: The study examined the dominance of tree species in relation to abundance, biomass, and productivity in neotropical savannas of Central and Southeastern Brazil. It found that functional dominance (biomass and productivity) was slightly stronger than abundance dominance, with a few species concentrating most of the biomass and productivity. The traits that enable species to thrive in savanna conditions also lead to dominance in biomass and productivity.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Seth Phillips, Rudolf H. Scheffrahn, Alex Piel, Fiona Stewart, Anthony Agbor, Gregory Brazzola, Alexander Tickle, Volker Sommer, Paula Dieguez, Erin G. Wessling, Mimi Arandjelovic, Hjalmar Kuhl, Christophe Boesch, Vicky M. Oelze
Summary: Stable isotope analysis is used to study the consumption of C-4 plant feeding termites by chimpanzees, but the diverse and cryptic nature of termites makes it difficult to assess their role as a C-4 resource. Carbon isotope values of Macrotermes termites were found to be similar to C-3 plants, with only a small proportion of their diet comprised of C-4 plants in chimpanzee habitats, indicating that they do not significantly impact consumer isotope signatures.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lucia Dhiantika Witasari, Khairunnasa Wizdjanul Wahyu, Bonifasia Junita Anugrahani, Dina Clarissa Kurniawan, Aris Haryanto, Dodi Nandika, Lina Karlinasari, Arinana Arinana, Irmanida Batubara, Djoko Santoso, Yanti Rachmayanti, Dikhi Firmansyah, I. Ketut Sudiana, Decsa Medika Hertanto
Summary: Incorporating fungus comb extracts, especially ethyl acetate, into food packaging materials can prevent microbial contamination and exhibit antibacterial and antifungal activities. The ethyl acetate extract showed the strongest inhibitory effects and contained guaiacol and syringol as antimicrobial components.
Article
Forestry
Peter F. Scogings
Summary: Accurate maps of global forest area are crucial for monitoring deforestation and carbon accounting. However, there are two contrasting views on global forest cover, with one approach exaggerating forest cover and misclassifying open biomes, leading to inflated estimates of forest loss and carbon stocks. An alternative approach, which incorporates ecological, physiological, and evolutionary information, can improve the accuracy of global forest cover mapping.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Dodi Nandika, Lina Karlinasari, Arinana Arinana, Irmanida Batubara, Putri Sari Sitanggang, Djoko Santoso, Lucia Dhiantika Witasari, Yanti Rachmayanti, Dikhi Firmansyah, I. Ketut Sudiana, Desca Medika Hertanto
Summary: Research on the chemical composition of the fungus comb from subterranean termite Macrotermes gilvus mounds revealed a rich profile of compounds, with the EtOAc extract showing strong antifungal activity against wood-staining fungi.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Benjamin Wildermuth, Jens Oldeland, Carsten Arning, Felicitas Gunter, Ben Strohbach, Norbert Juergens
Summary: Termite mounds contribute to ecosystem heterogeneity through self-organised spatial regularity. This study analyzed the spatial patterns and dynamics of Macrotermes michaelseni mounds in Namibian thornbush savanna. The results show that intraspecific competition between large colonies is the decisive factor for the regular spatial patterns of termite colonies.
Article
Biology
Colleen L. Seymour, Judith Korb, Grant S. Joseph, Richard Hassall, Bernard W. T. Coetzee
Summary: This study investigates the correlation between the distributions of six African Macrotermes species and climate variables. Three of the species are predicted to experience declines in suitable climate, while range increases are expected to be small for two species and significantly increase for one species. Mismatches in vegetation requirements and habitat transformation may hinder range expansion, impacting ecosystem patterns and processes.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Priscila Tunes, Maria Gabriela Gutierrez Camargo, Elza Guimaraes
Summary: The study found that only about 30% of Neotropical savanna plant species have floral UV features, which are associated with phylogeny, pollinators, floral resources, and attraction units, but not with non-UV colour patterns. UV-patternless flowers can be associated with most pollination systems, while UV-patterned flowers are mainly associated with bee-pollination.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zulkifli Nursyamin, Muhammad Syafiq Yahya, Sharifah Nur Atikah, Kamil Azmi Tohiran, Ahmad R. Norhisham, Nurul Wahida Othman, Alex M. Lechner, Badrul Azhar
Summary: Oil palm certification schemes like RSPO fail to consider the full range of biodiversity indicators, including common farmland birds found in plantations. This study identifies potential indicator bird species for assessing the environmental sustainability of oil palm cultivation, regardless of farming systems or practices. The study developed candidate lists of indicator bird species for four sub-regions in Southeast Asia based on previous studies and validated them through surveys in Peninsular Malaysia. Results showed that oil palm agro-ecosystems predominantly supported common farmland birds and rarely had conservation priority species. These bird species provide ecosystem services and are sensitive to habitat disturbances, making them suitable indicators for oil palm certification criteria.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Samuel W. Flake, Eliane A. Honda, Natashi A. L. Pilon, William A. Hoffmann, Giselda Durigan
Summary: The encroachment of forests into savannas is a common phenomenon, with the rate depending on factors such as soil conditions, species composition, and changes in stand structure. Savanna specialist trees are being replaced by generalist species, causing faster rates of stand development. Generalists are able to persist in forests and have faster growth rates, enabling them to outcompete and suppress savanna specialists.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Piet Monegi, Ntuthuko Raphael Mkhize, Julius Tlou Tjelele, David Ward, Zivanai Tsvuura
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different tree removal treatments and herbicide application on the resprouting ability and vigour of 12 woody plant species. The results showed that woody plants are more likely to resprout and survive as juveniles than as adults, and only a few species were affected by the herbicide. This information is important for land users in southern African savannas.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Andraz Carni, Spela Conc, Mateja Breg Valjavec
Summary: This study aims to divide karstic sinkholes into sections with high conservation value for cool-adapted species using indicator species. The depth of the sinkhole is found to be the most important factor influencing plant community composition.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Akib Hasan, Miguel Montoro Girona, Louis Imbeau, Jennifer Lento, Anouschka R. Hof, Guillaume Grosbois
Summary: Eskers are complex geological formations that provide crucial resources and their ecological knowledge is essential for their sustainable management and conservation. This study used a food web approach to identify the environmental variables, biological diversity, and indicator species associated with esker lakes. The results showed that esker lakes differ from clay lakes in terms of physicochemical properties and biotic communities, and they provide preferential habitats for certain species.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Alex Roebuck, Lara Hurley, Duncan Slater
Summary: The level of tree species diversity in urban tree populations has significant implications for urban forest resilience and ecosystem functioning. This study analyzed the species composition, diversity, and vulnerability of public trees in the London borough of Westminster. The results showed that tree species diversity varied across land use types and higher diversity was associated with reduced vulnerability.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Henry A. Bartelet, Michele L. Barnes, Graeme S. Cumming
Summary: Coral reefs are heavily impacted by climate-induced disturbances, and the loss of coral reefs has a significant effect on people who rely on the ecosystem services they provide. However, the impacts of coral loss and the ability of individuals and businesses to adapt to it are not well understood, especially in the private sector. To address this gap, a survey was conducted among Australian reef tourism operators to understand their responses to severe bleaching and cyclone impacts. The results highlight the importance of response diversity, spatial heterogeneity, and learning for social-ecological resilience.
Article
Ecology
Grant S. S. Joseph, Colleen L. L. Seymour
Summary: Seventy-five percent of Madagascar is adapted to human-lit fire and lacks trees, consisting mainly of C-4 grasslands. However, the faunal elements referenced by Bond et al. (2022) are predominantly habitat generalists, not grassland specialists. African and Malagasy hippos occupy significantly different feeding niches, and while non-arboreal mammals in Madagascar remained forest-adapted, their African counterparts radiated into open habitats.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biodiversity Conservation
Chris Sandbrook, Martin Fisher, Graeme S. S. Cumming, Karl L. L. Evans, Jenny Anne Glikman, Brendan J. J. Godley, Frith Jarrad, Nicholas Polunin, Carolina Murcia, Angel Perez-Ruzafa, Judit K. K. Szabo
Article
Political Science
Tiffany H. Morrison, Orjan Bodin, Graeme S. Cumming, Mark Lubell, Ralf Seppelt, Tim Seppelt, Christopher M. Weible
Summary: The success or failure of a polycentric system depends on complex political and social processes, such as coordination between actors and venues to solve specialized policy problems. However, there is currently no accepted method to isolate distinct coordination processes or understand how their variance affects polycentric governance performance. Researchers in Australia have developed and tested a building-blocks approach using different patterns or motifs to measure and compare coordination over time on the Great Barrier Reef. Their approach confirms that polycentric governance involves interdependent venues and actors that evolve over time, but mobilizing venues to improve issue specialization and actor participation can also fragment the overall capacity of polycentric governance to resolve conflicts and adapt to new problems. This building-blocks approach enhances understanding and practice of polycentric governance by enabling a more precise diagnosis of internal dynamics in complex environmental governance systems.
POLICY STUDIES JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Reinette (Oonsie) Biggs, Belinda Reyers, Ryan Blanchard, Hayley Clements, Jessica Cockburn, Graeme S. Cumming, Georgina Cundill, Alta de Vos, Luthando Dziba, Karen J. Esler, Christo Fabricius, Maike Hamann, Rebecka Henriksson, Karen Kotschy, Regina Lindborg, Linda Luvuno, Vanessa Masterson, Jeanne L. Nel, Patrick O'Farrell, Carolyn G. Palmer, Laura Pereira, Sharon Pollard, Rika Preiser, Dirk J. Roux, Robert J. Scholes, Odirilwe Selomane, Charlie Shackleton, Sheona Shackleton, Nadia Sitas, Jasper A. Slingsby, Marja Spierenburg, Maria Tengo
Summary: Sustainability-focused research networks and communities of practice are vital for capacity building and knowledge exchange in support of a more sustainable and equitable future. This paper reflects on the experiences of the Southern African Program on Ecosystem Change and Society (SAPECS) in building a community of practice on social-ecological systems research, with the aim of providing insights for the development of similar networks worldwide, particularly in the Global South.
ECOSYSTEMS AND PEOPLE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Graeme S. Cumming, David R. Bellwood
Summary: Connectivity is crucial for the biodiversity and functioning of marine ecosystems, including coral reefs. However, the understanding of the importance of connectivity and the corresponding management responses in marine systems is limited. This study used long-term fish monitoring data and geographic data to investigate the influences of local and regional factors on fish communities. The results show that both local and regional factors significantly contribute to the composition of fish communities, and management measures can also have an impact.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Liaam Davids, James S. Pryke, Colleen L. Seymour
Summary: Dryland ecosystems are characterized by patchiness in vegetation, and the Succulent Karoo in South Africa is known for its distinct vegetation patches called heuweltjies. These mounds contribute significantly to landscape heterogeneity, but their role in maintaining arthropod diversity has been under-studied.
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Graeme S. Cumming, Maja Adamska, Michele L. Barnes, Jon Barnett, David R. Bellwood, Joshua E. Cinner, Philippa J. Cohen, Jennifer M. Donelson, Katharina Fabricius, R. Quentin Grafton, Alana Grech, Georgina G. Gurney, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Andrew S. Hoey, Mia O. Hoogenboom, Jacqueline Lau, Catherine E. Lovelock, Ryan Lowe, David J. Miller, Tiffany H. Morrison, Peter J. Mumby, Martin Nakata, John M. Pandolfi, Garry D. Peterson, Morgan S. Pratchett, Timothy Ravasi, Cynthia Riginos, Jodie L. Rummer, Britta Schaffelke, Thomas Wernberg, Shaun K. Wilson
Summary: SDG 14 aims to secure marine sustainability by 2030, and understanding the changing seascape, global actions, and the collaboration between science and society are vital for achieving this goal in the Asia-Pacific region. Through a horizon scan, researchers identified nine emerging research priorities that can contribute to marine sustainability, including understanding seascape evolution, drivers of change, and the costs and benefits to people. Researchers can contribute by developing interdisciplinary understandings, emphasizing equity and justice, and improving knowledge of cross-scale processes.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Kim C. Zoeller, Graeme S. Cumming
Summary: The global decline of ecological systems highlights the potential of ecosystem functions in conservation discourse. Understanding the relationship between ecological and cultural functions can provide insight into the correlation between cultural services and ecological functions. In South Africa, there is a clear correlation between avian cultural and ecological functional groups, indicating the strong correlation between cultural functions and ecologically relevant traits.
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Robert E. E. Simmons, Colleen L. L. Seymour, Sharon T. T. George, Koebraa Peters, Frances Morling, M. Justin O'Riain
Summary: This study investigated the use of open spaces around homes by domestic cats in Africa. It found that cats have larger ranges and may hunt in protected areas, especially in summer. The researchers suggest implementing cat-free buffers of approximately 600 meters around conservation areas to reduce the impact on native fauna.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Henry A. Bartelet, Michele L. Barnes, Lalu A. A. Bakti, Graeme S. Cumming
Summary: The concept of adaptive capacity is increasingly being applied to understand and predict people's ability to adapt to climate change impacts. However, the reliability of adaptive capacity as a predictor of adaptation remains unclear, with insufficient and conflicting evidence. A study of reef tourism companies in the Asia-Pacific region found that a comprehensive measurement of adaptive capacity may not reliably predict potential adaptation to climate change, as the severity of impacts on individual operators was the major determinant of adaptive action.
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alan T. K. Lee, Eric Herrmann, Ernst F. Retief, Ester van der Westhuizen-Coetzer, Colleen L. Seymour
Summary: The impact of fire on bird communities is not well understood. This study assesses the effects of a wildfire on bird species richness and density in an arid South African savanna. The results show that bird densities were about 50% higher in unburnt areas compared to burnt areas, driven mostly by granivores. The findings suggest that fires can significantly affect bird communities in arid savannas, and these differences need to be considered in management strategies.
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Colleen L. Seymour, Judith Korb, Grant S. Joseph, Richard Hassall, Bernard W. T. Coetzee
Summary: This study investigates the correlation between the distributions of six African Macrotermes species and climate variables. Three of the species are predicted to experience declines in suitable climate, while range increases are expected to be small for two species and significantly increase for one species. Mismatches in vegetation requirements and habitat transformation may hinder range expansion, impacting ecosystem patterns and processes.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biodiversity Conservation
Graeme S. Cumming, Zoe G. Davies, Joern Fischer, Reem Hajjar
Summary: This editorial examines the history of the conservation movement and acknowledges the ongoing influence of colonialism. It promotes a more inclusive and respectful approach to conservation that embraces traditional ecological knowledge and diverse conservation approaches. The article also emphasizes the need for theoretical advancements to guide conservation practices and bridge different areas of expertise to understand the interactions between society and nature.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Grant S. Joseph, Andrinajoro R. Rakotoarivelo, Colleen L. Seymour
Summary: The frequent human-lit fires in the grasslands of Madagascar's Central Highlands negatively impact food security and biodiversity. Adjusting burning practices and improving education can mitigate this threat and prevent future humanitarian crises.
PLANTS PEOPLE PLANET
(2023)