Article
Environmental Sciences
Mathew M. Biddle, Cindy M. Palinkas, Lawrence P. Sanford
Summary: Submersed aquatic vegetation plays a crucial role in sediment transport dynamics from the Susquehanna River to the Chesapeake Bay, with its effects varying under different flow conditions. The presence of vegetation can both facilitate sediment accumulation under high flows and enhance resuspension during wind-driven events. However, in significant discharge events, riverine dynamics dominate the system, with vegetation channeling the flow and enhancing net deposition.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Iacopo Vona, Cindy M. Palinkas, William Nardin
Summary: The living shoreline technique integrates natural habitat features into shoreline stabilization efforts, but its impact on adjacent benthic communities remains unclear. Research shows that in the presence of submersed aquatic vegetation, sediment deposition rates are higher, contributing to the stability of bottom sediments.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kathryn J. Sheffield, Daniel Clements, Darryl J. Clune, Angela Constantine, Tony M. Dugdale
Summary: This study used aerial photography and remote sensing data to detect the distribution of alligator weed and demonstrated the potential of remote sensing data in supporting existing ground surveys and monitoring programs. Trained algorithms and image data were used to generate a weighted alligator weed likelihood data layer, which was evaluated by assessing patch detection rates.
Article
Forestry
Hannah M. Fertel, Brandon M. Collins, Jamie M. Lydersen, Scott L. Stephens
Summary: This study investigated vegetation changes in the North Bay area of California using historical and contemporary aerial imagery. The study found a large increase in forest area and the conversion of shrub and woodland into dense forest. The findings are important for understanding ecosystem changes and their impact on wildfire behavior in non-conifer ecosystems.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Casandra Brasoveanu, Alin Mihu-Pintilie, Radu-Alexandru Brunchi
Summary: This study applies airborne laser scanning and aerial photography techniques to measure and characterize the geomorphological features of ashmound structures in Late Bronze Age archaeological sites. The results show that these ashmounds have diverse shapes and minimal micro-relief variation, and various morphometric parameters can be used to identify and assess the surface geomorphology and erosion conditions, aiding in the better understanding and study of archaeological sites in the region.
Article
Information Science & Library Science
Nathan B. Piekielek, Grace Brittany Waltemate, Karen Schuckman
Summary: Archival aerial photographs are valuable resources in map and geography libraries due to their unique spatial information, but they are often underutilized. To make them more accessible, efficient workflows have been developed to convert them into digital spatial data. Three software were tested in this study and all performed well in georeferencing, orthorectifying, and mosaicking digitized archival photographs. The resulting spatial resolution and positional accuracy were comparable to contemporary aerial photography datasets, and the software was found to be accessible to non-trained photogrammetrists with proper care and training. This suggests that collection managers can now consider large-scale conversion projects for archival aerial photographs.
JOURNAL OF MAP & GEOGRAPHY LIBRARIES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Petr Karasek, Igor Pelisek, Michal Pochop
Summary: Since the 19th century, the Czech Republic's irrigation industry has undergone significant technological development and expansion. However, political changes and neglect led to the deterioration of irrigation systems and buildings. Recently, there has been a renewed focus on irrigation due to climate change and the increasing threat of drought. A database of irrigation systems is currently being compiled, and historic structures are being documented using unmanned aerial vehicles.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Information Science & Library Science
Bruce Godfrey
Summary: Academic libraries have been managing print-based and digitized aerial photography collections, but face challenges in managing born-digital georeferenced imagery. This article describes one library's approach to managing a collection of digital georeferenced aerial imagery over the past two decades, providing valuable information for other libraries.
JOURNAL OF MAP & GEOGRAPHY LIBRARIES
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yasmina Shah Esmaeili, Guilherme N. Corte, Helio H. Checon, Carla G. Bilatto, Jonathan S. Lefcheck, Antonia Cecilia Zacagnini Amaral, Alexander Turra
Summary: The study in Southeast Brazil found that the biodiversity of fish assemblages in sandy beach surf zones is influenced by both natural environmental variation and human activities, impacting species with specific functional traits differently. These drivers should be considered simultaneously when designating protected areas in order to preserve a diversity of organisms and functional traits vital to productive beach ecosystems.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Kyle J. Haynes, Andrew M. Liebhold, Jonathan S. Lefcheck, Randall S. Morin, Guiming Wang
Summary: Climate indirectly affects outbreaks of forest insects through its effects on tree species composition, with temperature having a stronger impact than precipitation on the spatial extent of outbreaks. The density of non-host trees can reduce defoliation.
Article
Biology
Simon J. Brandl, Jonathan S. Lefcheck, Amanda E. Bates, Douglas B. Rasher, Tommy Norin
Summary: All animals compete for energy, and the use of metabolic traits can provide a better understanding of species coexistence and the functioning of animal communities, improving our ability to predict their responses to environmental change.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robert J. Orth, William C. Dennison, David J. Wilcox, Richard A. Batiuk, J. Brooke Landry, Cassie Gurbisz, Jennifer Keisman, Michael Hannam, Jonathan S. Lefcheck, Rebecca R. Murphy, Kenneth A. Moore, Christopher J. Patrick, Jeremy M. Testa, Donald E. Weller, Melissa F. Merritt, Paige Hobaugh
Summary: Synthesizing large and complex data sets to inform resource managers for effective environmental stewardship is a universal challenge. A two-year synthesis effort was conducted in Chesapeake Bay, a well-studied estuary in North America, which involved scientists and resource managers at multiple governance levels. The results were widely communicated to scientists, resource managers, and the public through various channels.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Daniel L. Weller, Tanzy M. T. Love, Donald E. Weller, Claire M. Murphy, Brian G. Rahm, Martin Wiedmann
Summary: Currently, on-farm food safety decisions are often made without considering conservation, which can have negative impacts on agroecosystems. Balancing conservation and food safety goals is challenging due to the close connection between farms and their surrounding environments. This study shows that noncrop vegetation (NCV) removal, often done to minimize wildlife interference, does not necessarily contribute to better food safety outcomes, and higher NCV is associated with improved water quality.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Nicole Basenback, Jeremy M. Testa, Chunqi Shen
Summary: This study used a coupled hydrologic-biogeochemical model to investigate the impacts of nutrient loading and climate change on seasonal cycles of hypoxia and related biogeochemical processes in Chesapeake Bay. The results showed that earlier nutrient load timing can reduce hypoxic volume, while an increase in water temperature can cause an increase in spring/early summer hypoxia but a decrease in late summer/fall hypoxia. Overall, warming effects on hypoxia are more significant than nutrient timing effects.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jack C. Olson, Jonathan S. Lefcheck, Michael R. Goodison, Anna Lienesch, Matthew B. Ogburn
Summary: Structured coastal habitats play an essential role in providing foraging opportunities and refuge for fish species. This study used imaging sonar to examine fish habitat use and size distribution in various structured habitats across four study locations. The findings suggest that larger fish are associated with specific structured habitats, and the importance of structured habitat in governing fish abundance varies with latitude. This study also highlights the potential of imaging sonar as a tool for studying fish communities at different scales.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hannah K. Morrissette, Stacy K. Baez, Lisa Beers, Nadia Bood, Ninon D. Martinez, Kevin Novelo, Gilbert Andrews, Luis Balan, C. Scott Beers, Sumeet A. Betancourt, Reynel Blanco, Eeryn Bowden, Virginia Burns-Perez, Mercedes Carcamo, Luis Chevez, Stephen Crooks, Ilka C. Feller, Galento Galvez, Kent Garbutt, Ronny Gongora, Edalmi Grijalva, Jonathan Lefcheck, Alwyn Mahung, Colin Mattis, Tre McKoy, Daniel McLaughlin, Johan Meza, Edwardo Pott, Genevieve Ramirez, Vivian Ramnarace, Anthony Rash, Samir Rosado, Honorio Samos, Leomir Santoya, Wilson Sosa, Gabriela Ugarte, Jose Viamil, Arlene Young, Jayron Young, Steven W. J. Canty
Summary: Mangrove ecosystems are vital for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. This study provides the first national comprehensive mangrove carbon stock estimate for Belize, which can inform the country's efforts in carbon emissions reduction and mangrove protection.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Martino E. Malerba, Micheli Duarte de Paula Costa, Daniel A. Friess, Lukas Schuster, Mary A. Young, David Lagomasino, Oscar Serrano, Sharyn M. Hickey, Paul H. York, Michael Rasheed, Jonathan S. Lefcheck, Ben Radford, Trisha B. Atwood, Daniel Ierodiaconou, Peter Macreadie
Summary: Blue carbon ecosystems (BCE), such as mangrove forests, tidal marshes, and seagrass meadows, are threatened and their contribution to mitigating climate change is at risk. Remote sensing provides a promising and cost-effective method for accounting BCE at large scales. This review provides guidelines for using remote sensing technologies to develop cost-effective carbon inventories for BCE and supports the UNFCCC in incorporating blue carbon into climate change policies.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Krista K. Bartz, Michael P. Hannam, Tammy L. Wilson, Ryan F. Lepak, Jacob M. Ogorek, Daniel B. Young, Collin A. Eagles -Smith, David P. Krabbenhoft
Summary: Mercury is a harmful pollutant in its organic form that poses risks to fish, wildlife, and humans. This study assessed mercury concentrations in lake trout collected from 14 lakes in southwest Alaska and identified factors associated with the variation in fish mercury concentrations. The results showed that mercury concentrations in water were consistently low, while mercury concentrations in lake trout varied greatly and were influenced by fish age and body condition.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Donald E. E. Weller, Matthew E. E. Baker, Ryan S. S. King
Summary: The study developed a distance-weighted regression method to explain how the effects of land use on aquatic systems attenuate with the arrangement of source areas within catchments. They derived a framework to resolve issues with weighting and quantified the spatial distribution of land areas. The methods enable more comprehensive analyses of the effects of spatial arrangement on scientific investigations and applications.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chunqi Shen, Jeremy M. Testa, Ming Li, Baoshan Chen, Wei-Jun Cai
Summary: Air-water CO2 fluxes in estuarine environments show high interannual variability, influenced by hydrological changes and estuarine carbonate chemistry. A coupled physical-biogeochemical model was used to simulate CO2 fluxes in the mainstem Chesapeake Bay, revealing significant effects of riverine nutrient and organic matter inputs on flux variations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xincheng Li, Hanchen Wang, Douglas J. McCauley, Andrew H. Altieri, Brian R. Silliman, Jonathan S. Lefcheck, Jihua Wu, Bo Li, Qiang He
Summary: In order to achieve sustainable development goals, many countries are increasing their efforts in protecting critical coastal ecosystems. However, large animals are often neglected in conservation plans for coastal ecosystems in different geographical contexts. A study conducted in China reveals a rich diversity of large animals in various types of coastal ecosystems, including mammals, birds, reptiles, cephalopods, and fish. Unfortunately, a significant number of these species are globally threatened and have not been assessed for extinction risk in China. Moreover, most of the important habitats for these megafauna are not protected, highlighting the need for further conservation efforts.