Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hugo Reis Medeiros, John E. Maunder, Sean Haughian, Karen A. Harper
Summary: This study investigated the effects of local vegetation structure and landscape composition on the occurrence of native and non-native slugs in forested wetlands in Nova Scotia, Canada. The results showed that non-native slugs were more dominant and were positively associated with wetland area and road density in the surrounding landscape. These findings are important for filling knowledge gaps and prioritizing actions to combat biological invasions.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Laureline Rossignaud, Mark O. Kimberley, Dave Kelly, Songlin Fei, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff
Summary: This study explores the applicability of the biotic resistance hypothesis in forest ecosystems and finds that native trees play a crucial role in preventing invasions by exotic species. Competitive interactions are primarily important at small scales, while habitat heterogeneity plays a predominant role at larger scales.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Jie Wang, Xiangming Xiao, Jeffrey Basara, Xiaocui Wu, Rajen Bajgain, Yuanwei Qin, Russell B. Doughty, Berrien Moore
Summary: The study analyzed the impact of woody plant encroachment (WPE) on land surface temperature, albedo, and evapotranspiration, finding that WPE leads to a decrease in daytime land surface temperature and albedo, while increasing nighttime land surface temperature and evapotranspiration.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Beata Fornal-Pieniak, Barbara Zarska, Marcin Ollik
Summary: The research aimed to recognize the edge effects of urban forest on vascular flora in undergrowth layers, comparing plant compositions in different urban forest ecotones. Results showed that protected forest in the city provides better shelter for native forest plants compared to urban forests without protection, where anthropogenic activities lead to inconsistent plant species growth. The findings highlight the importance of balancing nature and human impact for sustainable development in cities.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Nicola S. du Plessis, Alanna J. Rebelo, David M. Richardson, Karen J. Esler
Summary: Restoring riparian ecosystems in a human-dominated landscape requires a comprehensive approach considering historical data, remote sensing techniques, and stakeholder perceptions. Despite most human impact occurring before the 1950s, there have been significant increases in waterbodies, urban areas, alien weeds, and terrestrial alien trees. These changes are likely driven by land fragmentation, disturbance, and agricultural intensification.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jing Xiong, Xuexin Shao, Haijing Yuan, Enjun Liu, Ming Wu
Summary: This study examined the distribution and patterns of plant-soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry in different types of coastal wetlands. The results showed that land-use had a greater impact on plant nutrient content and ratios than on soil. Different wetland types and soil depths had varying effects on stoichiometry. These findings provide important insights for nutrient management and assessing the impact of land-use on coastal wetland ecosystems.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Elliott E. White, Emily A. Ury, Emily S. Bernhardt, Xi Yang
Summary: Coastal forested wetlands in North America have been diminishing in extent due to historic drainage and agricultural expansion. Satellite imagery analysis shows that between 1996 and 2016, there was a net loss of approximately 13,682 km² of forested coastal wetlands across the North America's Coastal Plain. Factors such as sea level rise, tropical storm landings, and watershed elevation explain most of the variation in coastal wetland deforestation extent.
Article
Environmental Studies
Hui Li, Kunqiu Chen, Lei Yan, Yulin Zhu, Liuwen Liao, Yangle Chen
Summary: Urbanization and land use transformation are typical characteristics of China in recent decades. Studying the effects of urban land use transitions on the economic spatial spillovers of central cities can help optimize cities' land space layout. The current urban land use transitions have positive but small effects on economic spatial spillovers, with urban land intensive use having the greatest impact.
Article
Forestry
Galen E. Burrell, Scott M. Bergeson
Summary: This study discovered a remnant colony of northern long-eared bats in a small forest fragment in the Midwest United States and investigated their roost selection. The bats were found to prefer roosts near flooded forests with standing dead trees, which likely provide warm microclimates for their survival and reproduction.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Talha Aksoy, Ahmet Dabanli, Mehmet Cetin, Muzeyyen Anil Senyel Kurkcuoglu, Adem Emre Cengiz, Saye Nihan Cabuk, Balca Agacsapan, Alper Cabuk
Summary: This study utilized UA data and CORINE data, as well as NDVI analysis, to examine land use and changes in Eskisehir, Turkey from 2012 to 2018. The results showed a 17.65% increase in artificial surfaces and an 18.32% increase in agricultural lands, natural lands, forests, and vegetation. Although there were differences between the analysis results based on CORINE data and UA data, the use of UA data in urban planning still had advantages. This study is important for monitoring urban changes and implementing European Council policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Zhouqiao Ren, Jianhua He, Qiaobing Yue
Summary: The study highlights the importance of considering temporal connectivity in assessing the impact of urban expansion on landscape connectivity. Overlooking temporal connectivity can lead to overestimation of the impact of urban expansion, with the degree of overestimation depending on the amount of net habitat loss. Additionally, the study suggests that landscape connectivity may have a delayed response to urban expansion.
Article
Plant Sciences
Lunlun Gao, Chunqiang Wei, Yifan He, Xuefei Tang, Wei Chen, Hao Xu, Yuqing Wu, Rutger A. Wilschut, Xinmin Lu
Summary: This study investigates the interactive effects of aboveground herbivores and soil biota on plant invasions through plant-soil feedbacks. The researchers found that increased herbivory did not affect the dominance of the invasive plant Alternanthera philoxeroides over native plants, but it did alter soil microbial communities and prolonged the negative plant-soil feedback, leading to decreased herbivore performance on the next-generation invasive plants.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea Montero, Joan Marull, Enric Tello, Claudio Cattaneo, Francesc Coll, Manel Pons, Juan Infante-Amate, Alexander Urrego-Mesa, Alfredo Fernandez-Landa, Manuel Vargas
Summary: The study reveals that deforestation has been reversed in Costa Rica, but the expansion of export monocultures and urban sprawl has fragmented and isolated tropical forests, leading to a decrease in ecological connectivity. Changes in land use have negatively impacted the distribution of plants and birds, and urban expansion has had a detrimental effect on coffee agroforestry.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Ian M. Simpson, Ryan J. Winston, R. Andrew Tirpak, Jay D. Dorsey, James H. Stagge, Jon M. Hathaway
Summary: The need for resilient stormwater infrastructure is crucial due to urbanization and climate change threats. Reliable methodologies are required to estimate rainfall-runoff responses for sewer pipe, flood control, and stormwater control measure design. In this study, 13 urban and two forested watersheds were monitored, and alternative predictive models were compared to traditional methods. The results suggest that no single model is optimal for all scenarios and multiple methodologies should be considered.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Peter Glasnovic, Sara Cernich, Jure Peros, Manja Tisler, Ziva Fiser, Bostjan Surina
Summary: Plant life history and functional characteristics are important factors in determining the invasive potential of plant species and guiding management approaches. A study on 24 alien plant taxa in a protected area found that taxa richness is influenced by the presence of built-up areas, residential areas, marshlands, and agricultural lands with semi-natural formations. The diversity of land-use within the grid cell is an important explanatory factor for the richness of different plant groups. The findings of similar studies can provide valuable insights for defining sustainable practices and conservation management in protected areas.