Article
Environmental Sciences
Celina Balderas Guzman, Kevin J. Buffington, Karen M. Thorne, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Michelle A. Hummel, Mark T. Stacey
Summary: With sea level rise threatening coastal development, decision-makers are acting by modifying shorelines. Coastal marshes, which are ecologically sensitive to tidal range, may be influenced by changes in tidal range. This study highlights the tradeoffs to consider when planning for sea level rise, based on modeling results.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jaap H. Nienhuis, Roderik S. W. van de Wal
Summary: Research indicates that river deltas are facing significant land loss due to climate-change driven sea-level rise, with future projections showing a gloomy outlook.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
J. A. Moon, S. E. Lehnen, K. L. Metzger, M. A. Squires, M. G. Brasher, B. C. Wilson, W. C. Conway, D. A. Haukos, B. E. Davis, F. C. Rohwer, E. M. Wehland, B. M. Ballard
Summary: Coastal wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico are vital ecosystems that have been declining in size and quality since the 1930s. Research on mottled ducks predicts negative impacts on their habitat from future sea-level rise and human development, with the highest habitat loss rate expected in the Chenier Plain of Louisiana, USA. Identifying vulnerable areas and targeting conservation efforts could help ensure the future persistence of mottled ducks in the landscape.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Marco Antonio Rego, Glaucia Del-Rio, Robb T. Brumfield
Summary: The maps of Amazonian bird subspecies distributions provide a valuable tool for studying subspecies-level biodiversity and conducting research on bird biogeography, ecology, evolution, and conservation in the most biologically diverse region in the world.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthew L. Gimmel, M. Andrew Johnston, Michael S. Caterino
Summary: This study provides the first enumeration of the beetle fauna of the California Channel Islands in over 120 years. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of digitized specimen records, the authors report 825 unique species from 514 genera and 71 families, comprising the largest list of species published to date for any taxonomic group of animals on the Channel Islands. Despite this, the checklist is considered preliminary and evidence suggests that there are still hundreds of beetle species yet to be recorded from the islands.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Magnus Hieronymus, Ola Kalen
Summary: The current coastal spatial planning in Sweden fails to consider the uncertainties and time dependence of sea level rise, resulting in inaccurate flood risk assessments. The study finds that extreme events dominate flood risk for shorter planning periods, while the risk of high sea level rise becomes more important for longer planning periods.
Article
Ecology
Alexander H. Murray, A. Justin Nowakowski, Luke O. Frishkoff
Summary: The study investigates how species traits respond to habitat conversion, finding that arboreal species with high vertical niche positions are more sensitive when forests are converted to simple agriculture, while terrestrial species are more sensitive when habitats are converted to complex agriculture. Climate variables can alter how species' traits determine abundance patterns.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luisa M. Sarmento-Soares, Ronaldo F. Martins-Pinheiro, Maria Dolores Casagranda
Summary: The paper studied the biodiversity of the Rio Doce freshwater system in Brazil before the environmental damage caused by the bursting of the Fundao tailing dam in 2015. It identified several areas of endemism and highlighted information gaps in fish sampling. The findings can contribute to understanding the impact on fish biodiversity and guide restoration efforts.
ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS
(2022)
Review
Biology
Thomas J. Matthews
Summary: This article reviews the progress of habitat island biogeography research and future research directions, emphasizing the integration of matrix properties and biological patterns, as well as the importance of studying the potential prevalence of mass effects and source-sink dynamics in habitat island systems.
QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
R. S. W. van de Wal, R. J. Nicholls, D. Behar, K. McInnes, D. Stammer, J. A. Lowe, J. A. Church, R. DeConto, X. Fettweis, H. Goelzer, M. Haasnoot, I. D. Haigh, J. Hinkel, B. P. Horton, T. S. James, A. Jenkins, G. LeCozannet, A. Levermann, W. H. Lipscomb, B. Marzeion, F. Pattyn, A. J. Payne, W. T. Pfeffer, S. F. Price, H. Seroussi, S. Sun, W. Veatch, K. White
Summary: Sea level rise is a long-lasting consequence of climate change, and despite uncertainties, climate model-based projections are used to support decision-making. A community effort has been made to quantify high-end global sea level rise, providing additional information on potential future scenarios. The timing of ice shelf collapse in Antarctica is emphasized as a critical factor for sea level rise.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pati Vitt, Amanda Taylor, Demetra Rakosy, Holger Kreft, Abby Meyer, Patrick Weigelt, Tiffany M. Knight
Summary: This study presents a framework for the conservation of orchids based on their phylogenetic and taxonomic distinctiveness and rarity. The Neotropics are identified as hotspots for orchid richness, New Guinea as a hotspot for evolutionary distinctiveness, and several islands as repositories of rare and distinct orchid species. The study also highlights the urgent need for conservation actions for 278 orchid species, most of which are currently lacking conservation assessments and protection in ex-situ collections.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Aaron Bagnell, Tim DeVries
Summary: Global sea level rise is primarily caused by heating of the ocean and the input of freshwater from melting ice. This study shows that trends in sea level rise can also be accurately tracked by observing changes in ocean salinity. The results highlight the importance of measuring ocean salinity for monitoring global sea level changes.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Ivar Kapsi, Tarmo Kall, Aive Liibusk
Summary: This article provides an overview of relative and absolute sea level rise in the Baltic Sea using various studies and models. It shows that the relative sea level rise in the Baltic Sea between 1995-2019 was between -5 to 4.5 mm/yr, with the southern area being more affected. The research also predicts a maximum relative sea level rise of 0.3 to 0.7 m in the Baltic Sea by 2100. In Estonia, the coastal area experienced a relative sea level rise of -1.1 to 3.1 mm/yr, with the west and southwest areas being most threatened.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Jing Duan, Yuanlong Li, Fan Wang, Aixue Hu, Weiqing Han, Lei Zhang, Pengfei Lin, Nan Rosenbloom, Gerald A. Meehl
Summary: The sea level rise in the subtropical oceans between 35 degrees and 20 degrees S in the Southern Hemisphere is faster than the global average, mainly due to the persistent upward trend of the southern annular mode. Climate models have failed to reproduce this feature accurately, highlighting the need to reduce model biases for reliable regional sea level projections.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gael Durand, Michiel R. van den Broeke, Goneri Le Cozannet, Tamsin L. Edwards, Paul R. Holland, Nicolas C. Jourdain, Ben Marzeion, Ruth Mottram, Robert J. Nicholls, Frank Pattyn, Frank Paul, Aimee B. A. Slangen, Ricarda Winkelmann, Clara Burgard, Caroline J. van Calcar, Jean-Baptiste Barre, Amelie Bataille, Anne Chapuis
Summary: Coastal areas are highly sensitive to sea-level change and play a crucial role in socio-economic activities. The future magnitude and rate of sea-level change are of great importance for coastal risk aversion and adaptation measures. Addressing this issue requires a transdisciplinary scientific community and close collaboration with local stakeholders.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
James C. Lendemer, Frank Bungartz, Caleb Morse, Erin A. Manzitto-Tripp
Summary: A study confirms that Sarcogyne similis, widely distributed in eastern Canada and the United States, produces psoromic acid. It is also confirmed that S. reebiae is likely synonymous with S. similis. The type specimen of Sarcogyne similis f. convexa contains psoromic acid, while S. californica may belong to a different taxon. The distribution of S. dakotensis, which produces norstictic acid, is almost allopatric to that of S. similis.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Erin A. Manzitto-Tripp, James C. Lendemer, Christy M. McCain
Summary: This study examines the drivers of species rarity in North American lichens. The results show that most lichens are rare and their distribution is influenced by geographical regions, mode of reproduction, substrate type, and other factors. The uneven representation of lichens across trait categories is also highlighted.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Elisabeth B. Ward, Marlyse C. Duguid, Sara E. Kuebbing, James C. Lendemer, Mark A. Bradford
Summary: Ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) shrubs commonly found in forest understories can have significant effects on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. ErM fungi and plants have unique traits that can contribute to organic matter accumulation and nutrient limitation. Further study of ErM effects is important for understanding the interaction of different mycorrhizal types in changing environmental conditions.
Bibliography
Plant Sciences
James C. Lendemer
Article
Mycology
Susan Egbert, Jordan R. Hoffman, R. Troy McMullin, James C. Lendemer, John L. Sorensen
Summary: Lichenized fungi are known for producing a variety of secondary metabolites, with usnic acid being the most well-studied. This study identified functional gene clusters responsible for usnic acid production in Cladonia rangiferina, a species previously thought to lack this ability. However, other species, such as C. stygia and C. oricola, truly lacked the gene clusters and could not produce usnic acid. These findings highlight the importance of using sensitive LC-MS methods for comprehensive characterization of lichen secondary metabolite profiles.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gregory M. Mueller, Kelmer Martins Cunha, Tom W. May, Jessica L. Allen, James R. S. Westrip, Catia Canteiro, Diogo Henrique Costa-Rezende, Elisandro Ricardo Drechsler-Santos, Aida M. Vasco-Palacios, Antony Martyn Ainsworth, Genivaldo Alves-Silva, Frank Bungartz, Amanda Chandler, Susana C. Goncalves, Irmgard Krisai-Greilhuber, Reda Irsenaite, John Bjarne Jordal, Thiago Kosmann, James Lendemer, Richard Troy McMullin, Armin Mesic, Viviana Motato-Vasquez, Yoshihito Ohmura, Rikke Reese Naesborg, Claudia FerMi, Irja Saar, Diego Simijaca, Rebecca Yahr, Anders Dahlberg
Summary: Fungal species are also vulnerable to the threats faced by animals and plants, and recent efforts have led to an increase in the number of published fungal assessments. The 597 assessed fungal species in the 2022-1 IUCN Red List update provide the first global review of the extinction risk and threats faced by fungi. Nearly 50% of the assessed species are threatened, with habitat loss/degradation, climate change, invasive species, and pollution identified as the primary threats.
Bibliography
Plant Sciences
James C. Lendemer
Article
Mycology
Jordan R. Hoffman, Kenneth G. Karol, Yoshihito Ohmura, Cloe S. Pogoda, Kyle G. Keepers, Robert T. McMullin, James C. Lendemer
Summary: This study investigates the mitochondrial genome diversity and variation in lichen obligate symbioses, specifically focusing on the Cladonia genus. The results show that mitochondrial genome size and structure differ among species, suggesting a correlation with reproductive morphology and evolutionary history.
Bibliography
Plant Sciences
James C. Lendemer
Article
Plant Sciences
James C. Lendemer, Jason P. Hollinger
Summary: Schadonia saulskellyana is a newly discovered species in the southern Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States. It is primarily found on conifer bark and is especially abundant in the endangered high-elevation spruce-fir forests of the region.
Bibliography
Plant Sciences
James C. Lendemer
Article
Ecology
Natalia M. Koch, James C. Lendemer, Erin A. Manzitto-Tripp, Christy McCain, Daniel E. Stanton
Summary: Carbon-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) are widespread in photosynthetic organisms and are associated with significant shifts in vascular plants. However, little is known about the impact of CCMs on the distribution of other terrestrial photosynthetic organisms. This study examines the importance of CCMs in lichen communities and demonstrates that CCM status is a key functional trait that affects lichen ecology and distribution. The responses of lichens with CCMs to temperature and precipitation differ from those without CCMs, contrary to our understanding of lichen physiology.
Article
Plant Sciences
Olivia A. Asher, John Howieson, James C. Lendemer
Summary: Platismatia lichens are common and widespread, but there have been limited molecular phylogenetic studies on them. This study presents an expanded phylogeny of Platismatia based on newly generated ITS sequences. The results confirm the distinction between P. wheeleri and the widespread P. glauca. The study also suggests that Platismatia could be a useful model for future research on reproductive mode, biogeography, and speciation in lichens.
Article
Plant Sciences
Tomas Curtis, Dennis P. Waters, James C. Lendemer
Summary: This article reports on the newly discovered species Bilimbia fuscoviridis in North America. It is widespread in the temperate eastern United States and adjacent Canada, frequently found on shaded calcareous and siliceous rocks near waterways. Despite its inconspicuous appearance and absence of diagnostic secondary metabolites, the species is likely common but often overlooked.
JOURNAL OF THE TORREY BOTANICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
James C. Lendemer
Summary: Herpothallon rubrogranulosum is a unique lichen species with limited distribution but local abundance. Previously confused with H. rubroechinatum, the two species differ markedly in the size of their pseudoisidia.
JOURNAL OF THE TORREY BOTANICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
