Article
Plant Sciences
Victor Martin-Velez, Casper H. A. van Leeuwen, Marta I. Sanchez, Francisco Hortas, Judy Shamoun-Baranes, Chris B. Thaxter, Luc Lens, Cornelis J. Camphuysen, Andy J. Green
Summary: Non-frugivorous waterbirds play a crucial role in dispersing weed plants over long distances, exchanging species between human-dominated and natural areas. The study demonstrates that about 92% of weed seeds are dispersed within the birds' activity area, while the remaining 8% reach other habitats, with 42% reaching moist environments suitable for weed establishment. This research emphasizes the significance of non-frugivorous birds in long-distance plant dispersal, an often overlooked mechanism in weed plant expansion studies.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Olivier Gilg, Rob S. A. van Bemmelen, Hansoo Lee, Jin-Young Park, Hwa-Jung Kim, Dong-Won Kim, Won Y. Lee, Kristaps Sokolovskis, Diana V. Solovyeva
Summary: Large gulls, including the little-studied Siberian migrant Vega gull, show consistent migratory patterns and behavior, with preference for coastal routes and long-distance flights between breeding and wintering grounds. Spring migration is faster and more synchronized than autumn migration, with higher flight altitudes and more day and twilight flights. Individuals exhibit strong site fidelity to their breeding and wintering sites, but show higher between-individual variation in autumn. Timing of spring migration is likely influenced by snowmelt, while the duration of migration windows could be related to flyway habitats. Ongoing environmental changes may impact migration timing and duration.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas A. Langer, Kyle D. Zimmer, Brian R. Herwig, William O. Hobbs, James B. Cotner
Summary: Biogeochemistry patterns in shallow lakes are influenced by both in-lake factors and watershed-level factors. The relative importance of these factors is not well understood. A study in Minnesota, USA demonstrated that lake size had the strongest influence on fish δC-13 ratios, while all agriculture in watersheds influenced fish δN-15 ratios. Water column TN and TP concentrations were influenced by the in-lake factor of ecosystem state, with lower concentrations in the clear state. Land use did not have a significant effect on TN or TP concentrations, likely due to the masking effect of ecosystem state.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jian Zhou, Peter R. Leavitt, Yibo Zhang, Boqiang Qin
Summary: The depth of lakes reflects their susceptibility to human disturbance, with shallow lakes being more prone to anthropogenic eutrophication. Deep lakes, on the other hand, are less affected by human activities.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ryuichiro Shinohara, Shin-Ichiro S. Matsuzaki, Mirai Watanabe, Megumi Nakagawa, Hajime Yoshida, Ayato Kohzu
Summary: We examined the factors of warm air temperatures, high solar radiation, and weak wind speeds in causing hypoxia in a shallow lake during a heat wave. By simulating dissolved oxygen concentrations in the lake's bottom water, we compared the concentrations in 2022 with the average concentrations of the past 30 years. Our findings showed that wind speeds had the greatest impact on hypoxia occurrence. Insufficient convection led to hypoxia when wind speeds were low, but there was no hypoxia when the wind speed matched the 30-year average. However, if solar radiation and air temperatures matched their respective 30-year averages, hypoxia did not occur even with low wind speeds. Therefore, we concluded that the combination of weak winds and either high solar radiation or air temperatures induced hypoxia during the 2022 heat wave.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Boqiang Qin, Yunlin Zhang, Guangwei Zhu, Guang Gao
Summary: Large and shallow freshwater lakes in the middle and lower Yangtze River (MLYR), China, are highly susceptible to eutrophication and cyanobacteria blooms due to extensive sediment-waterr interface and internal loading from sediment. The studies on these lakes have emphasized the importance of addressing in-lake physical and biogeochemical processes to control eutrophication.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jacqueline Santos Silva-Cavalcanti, Jayne Crisleny Pereira Silva, Flavio Montenegro de Andrade, Andrea Monteiro Santana Silva Brito, Monica Ferreira da Costa
Summary: This study assessed microplastic pollution in tropical shallow lakes and found different types and colors of microplastics in lake sediments. The results showed that environmental factors influenced the concentration of microplastics, but there was only a small difference between different regions. The study also suggested that pollution from sanitation, sewage effluents, and solid waste may be the main factors contributing to microplastic contamination.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meredith A. Holgerson, David C. Richardson, Joseph Roith, Lauren E. Bortolotti, Kerri Finlay, Daniel J. Hornbach, Kshitij Gurung, Andrew Ness, Mikkel R. Andersen, Sheel Bansal, Jacques C. Finlay, Jacob A. Cianci-Gaskill, Shannon Hahn, Benjamin D. Janke, Cory McDonald, Jorrit P. Mesman, Rebecca L. North, Cassandra O. Roberts, Jon N. Sweetman, Jackie R. Webb
Summary: The study reveals that the mixing regimes of shallow waterbodies are highly sensitive to small differences in size and depth. Shallow lakes tend to mix more frequently, while shallow ponds mix less often. Precipitation events weaken stratification and can cause short-term mixing.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Liam P. Langley, Stuart Bearhop, Niall H. K. Burton, Alex N. Banks, Tim Frayling, Chris B. Thaxter, Gary D. Clewley, Emily Scragg, Stephen C. Votier
Summary: Despite the negative impact of urbanization on biodiversity, urban areas provide unique opportunities for certain species. This study compares the movement behavior and habitat selection of Lesser Black-backed Gulls breeding in an urban colony and a coastal colony in north-west England. The results show that urban breeders prefer to forage in urban areas, while coastal breeders primarily forage in coastal habitats and avoid urban areas. Additionally, individual variations in habitat use were observed, which may have implications for management strategies. These findings highlight the link between nesting and foraging ecology and demonstrate that changes in food availability will affect gulls in coastal and urban areas differently.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dianneke van Wijk, Manqi Chang, Annette B. G. Janssen, Sven Teurlincx, Wolf M. Mooij
Summary: Worldwide, water quality managers aim for a state of clear, macrophyte-dominated shallow lakes rather than turbid, phytoplankton-dominated ones. However, the concept of critical turbidity has been neglected in contemporary water quality models. In this study, an innovative graphical and mathematical model called GPLake-M was developed, combining the theories of critical turbidity and resource competition mechanisms. The results provide insights into the regime shifts in shallow lakes and can serve as a starting point for further research and model development.
Article
Ecology
Alice Nadia Ardichvili, Nicolas Loeuille, Vasilis Dakos
Summary: Ecosystems under stress can exhibit abrupt and irreversible responses through tipping points. This study examines the possibility of bistability emerging through evolution by natural selection along resource gradients, using shallow lakes as an example. The model suggests that competitive asymmetries along opposing resource gradients may allow bistability to emerge, but under restrictive conditions, indicating the potential role of eco-evolutionary dynamics in alternative stable states.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Maria Laura Sanchez, Irina Izaguirre, Horacio Zagarese, Maria Romina Schiaffino, Manuel Castro Berman, Leonardo Lagomarsino, G. Chaparro, Sofia Balina, Maria Solange Vera, Kendra Spence Cheruvelil
Summary: While agricultural intensification is associated with lake eutrophication, the role of macrophytes and the effects of agriculture on shallow lakes in the global south remain less understood. A study on the Pampean region of Argentina found that submerged macrophytes, total nitrogen, and nearby agriculture were the main drivers of phytoplankton biomass in the shallow lakes. The conservation of submerged macrophytes and control of agriculture in riparian areas can help stabilize the shallow lakes and maintain a clear regime even in eutrophic conditions.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Junfeng Xiong, Kun Xue, Jing Li, Minqi Hu, Jiaxin Li, Xiaoyang Wang, Chen Lin, Ronghua Ma, Lei Chen
Summary: Analyzing the vertical distribution of nutrient salts in lakes and estimating the total mass of lake nutrients is important for the management and regulation of lake nutrient status. This study proposes algorithms for estimating the total masses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) per unit water column in shallow eutrophic lakes. Using Lake Taihu as an example, the study obtained the total masses of nutrients in the lake and discussed the performance of the algorithms. The results showed that the vertical distribution of nutrients in Lake Taihu followed a quadratic pattern, and the algorithms based on surface water quality indicators had good accuracy.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Dieison A. Moi, Gustavo Q. Romero, Pablo A. P. Antiqueira, Roger P. Mormul, Franco Teixeira de Mello, Claudia C. Bonecker
Summary: The study found that multitrophic richness had a stronger positive effect on multifunctionality than richness of single trophic groups. Removal of each single trophic group decreased the effect of multitrophic richness on multifunctionality. Larger predatory vertebrates and primary producers had stronger positive effects on multifunctionality, while the richness of basal trophic groups indirectly contributed to increasing multifunctionality through fueling large-sized predators.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jorge Vizuete, David Hernandez-Moreno, Ana Lopez-Beceiro, Luis Eusebio Fidalgo, Francisco Soler, Marcos Perez-Lopez, Maria Prado Miguez-Santiyan
Summary: This study measured the concentrations of mercury, cadmium, lead, selenium, and arsenic in the liver, kidney, and feathers of seagulls in northwest Spain. Different factors such as age, sex, and geographical location were considered to influence metal bioaccumulation. The study found that the seagulls were useful indicators of heavy metal contamination and environmental health.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Victor Martin-Velez, Marta I. Sanchez, Adam Lovas-Kiss, Francisco Hortas, Andy J. Green
Summary: Waterbirds play an important role in the dispersal of aquatic invertebrates between different habitats. This study focused on the dispersal of invertebrates by lesser black-backed gulls wintering in Andalusia, Spain. The researchers found a diverse range of invertebrates in the gull's excreta, with ricefields having the highest abundance. The study also recorded the first instance of snail dispersal in waterbird pellets. This research highlights the significance of waterbirds in promoting species dispersal and ecosystem functioning.
Article
Ecology
Maria J. Navarro-Ramos, Andy J. Green, Adam Lovas-Kiss, Jacinto Roman, Kane Brides, Casper H. A. van Leeuwen
Summary: The study focuses on the potential of predatory waterbirds, particularly grey herons, to disperse plant seeds and aquatic invertebrates within and among aquatic ecosystems in north-western Europe. Results show that herons play a crucial role in the secondary dispersal of a wide variety of plant species and invertebrates, thereby facilitating connectivity between freshwater and terrestrial habitats.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrew G. Briscoe, Sarah Nichols, Hanna Hartikainen, Hazel Knipe, Rachel Foster, Andy J. Green, Beth Okamura, David Bass
Summary: Examination of bird faecal material has revealed the distribution patterns of a wide range of organisms, with particular focus on plant seeds and freshwater organisms. High-throughput sequencing methods now offer detailed insights into faecal contents, aiding in the understanding of parasite and pathogen transport. The study highlights the significant levels of bird-mediated dispersal of parasites and hidden biodiversity revealed through novel sequencing techniques.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Bia A. Almeida, Balazs A. Lukacs, Adam Lovas-Kiss, Chevonne Reynolds, Andy J. Green
Summary: Endozoochory by waterfowl is important for a broad range of angiosperms, most of which lack a fleshy fruit. This dispersal function contributes to the formation and maintenance of plant communities and may allow range shifts for plant species under global change. However, our current understanding of what seed or plant traits are important for this dispersal mechanism, and how they relate to variation in waterbird traits, is extremely limited.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gema L. Batanero, Andy J. Green, Juan A. Amat, Marion Vittecoq, Curtis A. Suttle, Isabel Reche
Summary: Coastal wetlands are valuable aquatic ecosystems with high productivity that provide important services, but are at risk of salinization due to predicted rise of sea level and freshwater extractions. Salinization may shift microbial activity from heterotrophic bacterial-dominated processes towards archaeal-dominated processes, influenced by factors like nitrogen concentration, salinity, and virus abundance. More research is needed to accurately predict future scenarios in coastal wetlands.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marco Milardi, Andy J. Green, Marco Mancini, Paolo Trotti, Mikko Kiljunen, Jyrki Torniainen, Giuseppe Castaldelli
Summary: This study investigated the predation impacts of wels catfish on birds and the population trends of waterbirds. The results showed that wels catfish preyed on birds and had an impact on the reproductive success of waterbirds in the protected area. However, the magnitude of the impact varied in different years.
Article
Ornithology
Samuel Langlois Lopez, Gary D. Clewley, Daniel T. Johnston, Francis Daunt, Jared M. Wilson, Nina J. O'Hanlon, Elizabeth Masden
Summary: Animal-borne bio-logging devices are commonly used on seabirds to study their behavior and physiology, as well as their interactions with the marine environment. Assessing the negative impacts of such devices on the individuals carrying them is crucial for improving data quality and animal welfare. In this study, we examined the effects of thoracic-harness attachments on the breeding performance and return rates of Great Black-backed Gulls. The results showed that the tagged individuals had lower egg hatching numbers and success rates compared to control groups, and the harness attachment potentially caused the death of one individual. Caution is advised when using harness-mounted devices on Great Black-backed Gulls.
Article
Ecology
Adam Lovas-Kiss, Victor Martin-Velez, Kane Brides, David M. Wilkinson, Larry R. Griffin, Andy J. Green
Summary: In this study, the potential of Pink-footed geese for long-distance dispersal (LDD) of flowering plants through gut passage of seeds (endozoochory) was investigated. It was found that these geese are LDD vectors for plants and can transport seeds over long distances, including across the ocean. This finding has important implications for understanding how plants can disperse and adapt to global change.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Juan Garcia-de-Lomas, Marc Ventura, Carlos M. Garcia, Jenny Caner, Francisco A. Jimenez-Cantizano, Miguel Alonso, Francisco Hortas
Summary: This article reports the first record of Linderiella jebalae on the Iberian Peninsula, possibly dispersed across the Strait of Gibraltar. The species was found in two temporary ponds in Cadiz, southern Spain, 102 km away from its original location in the Moroccan Atlas Mountain range. Genetic analysis suggests recent dispersal from Morocco to Spain, potentially facilitated by bird migrations. This finding increases the diversity of anostraceans in the Iberian Peninsula to 16 species.
Article
Ecology
Cosme Lopez-Calderon, Victor Martin-Velez, Julio Blas, Ursula Hofle, Marta I. Sanchez, Andrea Flack, Wolfgang Fiedler, Martin Wikelski, Andy J. Green
Summary: This study analyzed GPS data of white storks breeding in Germany and wintering from Spain to Morocco to reveal their role in habitat connectivity. The study found that landfills were the most connected habitat for white storks. Additionally, other important interconnected habitats included rice fields, salines, and marshes.
Article
Plant Sciences
Juan Manuel Peralta-Sanchez, Alban Ansotegui, Francisco Hortas, Stella Redon, Victor Martin-Velez, Andy J. Green, Maria J. Navarro-Ramos, Adam Lovas-Kiss, Marta I. Sanchez
Summary: Recent field data suggests that migratory gulls can disperse dry fruited rice field weeds through their digestive system, providing a long-distance dispersal mechanism. In a feeding experiment, seeds of five common rice field weeds were fed to captive lesser black-backed gulls and their seed survival and germination were analyzed. The results showed high seed survival after gut passage, with varying effects on germination depending on the weed species and seed size. The study highlights the importance of non-classical endozoochory for effective weed management.
Article
Ecology
Haruko Ando, Victor Martin-Velez, Giacomo Tavecchia, Anna Traveset, Iciar Jimenez-Martin, Jose Manuel Igual, Alejandro Martinez-Abrain, Sandra Hervias-Parejo
Summary: The study analyzed the role of gulls in seed dispersal, finding that gulls contribute to long-distance dispersal of olive seeds to different islands. Domestic olives were dispersed over longer distances with specific directions, facilitating colonization and expansion of the variant. Gulls are important vectors for long-distance dispersal of large fleshy fruits in island ecosystems lacking specialist large frugivores.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
N. J. O'Hanlon, D. T. Johnston, A. S. C. P. Cook, R. A. Robinson, E. M. Humphreys
Summary: This article discusses the pressures faced by species in marine environments and the challenges in seabird conservation. Using the Black-legged Kittiwake as a case study, it highlights knowledge gaps in population studies and the impact of key stressors. A strategic approach is proposed to identify and prioritize data collection and research efforts in species and regions with limited data.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Pal Toth, Andy J. Green, David M. Wilkinson, Kane Brides, Adam Lovas-Kiss
Summary: Ducks and geese serve as dispersal vectors for plants, with mallards dispersing more plant species compared to geese. Plant communities and traits dispersed also differ between urban and natural habitats.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yongcui Lan, Jinliang Wang, Qianwei Liu, Fang Liu, Lanfang Liu, Jie Li, Mengjia Luo
Summary: This study focuses on the five major plateau lake basins in central Yunnan, China, and constructs an ecological security pattern using the source-resistance surface-corridor-pinch point framework. The study simulates land use/cover change in the region and identifies early warning regions where future urban expansion poses a threat to current ecological source areas and corridors.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pingping Huang, Feng Zhao, Bailing Zhou, Kuidong Xu
Summary: This study investigates the distribution of benthic microeukaryotes in the China Seas and finds that they can stride over the ecological barrier of 32 degrees N. The study also highlights the significant influence of depth, temperature, and latitude on communities in the China Seas.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Federico Morelli, Yanina Benedetti, Jesse Stanford, Leszek Jerzak, Piotr Tryjanowski, Paolo Perna, Riccardo Santolini
Summary: Species distribution models (SDMs) are numerical tools used for predicting species' spatial distribution. This study found that ecological characteristics, such as habitat specialization, play a role in improving the accuracy of SDMs.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiaoxuan Wu, Hang Liu, Wei Liu
Summary: Global climate change, urbanization, and economic development have increased the need for sustainable human development, urban ecological governance, and low-carbon energy transformation. This study analyzes the green ecological transition in Chengdu based on panel data from 2010 to 2020, exploring its spatiotemporal evolution and key factors. The results show an overall upward trend in Chengdu's green ecological development and positive spatial autocorrelation in certain districts.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Castaldi Simona, Formicola Nicola, Mastrocicco Micol, Morales Rodriguez Carmen, Morelli Raffaella, Prodorutti Daniele, Vannini Andrea, Zanzotti Roberto
Summary: Sustainable agricultural practices are increasingly important for global and national environmental policies and economy. This study compared the sustainability of grape production under integrated and organic management using multiple indicators. The results showed that organic management was more beneficial for most environmental aspects of the agroecosystem compared to integrated management, without affecting grape yield.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gaia Vaglio Laurin, Alexander Cotrina-Sanchez, Luca Belelli-Marchesini, Enrico Tomelleri, Giovanna Battipaglia, Claudia Cocozza, Francesco Niccoli, Jerzy Piotr Kabala, Damiano Gianelle, Loris Vescovo, Luca Da Ros, Riccardo Valentini
Summary: Phenology monitoring is important for understanding forest functioning and climate impacts. This research compares the phenological behavior of European beech forests using Tree-Talker (TT+) and Sentinel 2 satellite data. The study finds differences in the information derived by the two sensor types, particularly in terms of season length, phenology changepoints, and leaf period variability. TT+ with its higher temporal resolution demonstrates precision in capturing the phenological changepoints, especially when satellite image availability is limited.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Huanhuan Pan, Ziqiang Du, Zhitao Wu, Hong Zhang, Keming Ma
Summary: The land use and cover changes resulting from coal mining activities and ecological restoration have had a significant impact on ecosystem services in mining areas. This study investigates the relationship between ecosystem services and land use intensity in coal mining areas, emphasizing the importance of understanding this interdependence for balanced human-land system development. The research examines the evolving relationship across different reclamation stages in Shanxi, China, using a coupling coordination degree model. The findings suggest the need for timely and judicious reclamation of coalfields, considering the land's bearing capacity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jingjuan He, Yijun Shi, Lihua Xu, Zhangwei Lu, Mao Feng
Summary: This study examines the spatial interplay between changes in the blue-green spatial distribution and modifications in land surface temperature grades in Shanghai. The findings reveal that the transformation of the blue-green spatial pattern differs between different sectors of the city, and the impact on the thermal environment varies spatially.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yi Xu, Di Zhang, Junqiang Lin, Qidong Peng, Xiaohui Lei, Tiantian Jin, Jia Wang, Ruifang Yuan
Summary: This study analyzed the response relationship between phytoplankton growth and water environmental parameters in the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China using long-term monitoring data and machine learning models. The results revealed the differences between monitoring sites and identified the key parameters that affect phytoplankton growth.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
