Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yonglin Mu, Xiaowen Li, Yun Guo, Chen Liang, Junhong Bai, Simon Linke, Baoshan Cui
Summary: Freshwater wetlands play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services globally, yet conservation planning for these areas in China still faces gaps and challenges. By introducing the CGCFE scheme, a systematic conservation planning framework was applied to prioritize conservation efforts and address unintentional gaps, aiming to enhance freshwater conservation efficacy for major river basins in China.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dan Xie, Hong Du, Wei-Hua Xu, Jin-Hua Ran, Xiao-Quan Wang
Summary: This study investigated the impact of climate change on the distribution of threatened conifers endemic to China using species distribution modeling. The results showed that climate variables played a major role in the distribution of threatened conifers, which were mainly distributed in mountainous areas. The predicted future climate change indicated a shrinkage and northward movement of the richness hotspots.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Juan Antonio Calleja, Gemma Domenech, Llorenc Saez, Francisco Lara, Ricardo Garilleti, Belen Albertos
Summary: This study analyzed mosses in Spain and found differences in reproductive traits and habitat preferences between threatened and non-threatened species. Threatened mosses were more likely to exhibit lack of reproduction, asexual reproduction, monoicy, and preference for acidic and humid substrates.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
M. Fernandez-Martinez, J. Barquin, N. Bonada, M. Cantonati, C. Churro, J. Corbera, C. Delgado, M. Dulsat-Masvidal, G. Garcia, O. Margalef, R. Pascual, J. Penuelas, C. Preece, F. Sabater, H. Seiler, J. M. Zamora-Marin, E. Romero
Summary: This paper provides a synthesis of the main characteristics and functioning of Mediterranean spring ecosystems and highlights the main threats these ecosystems face, such as changes in climate patterns and increasing human pressures.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kyle J. Brumm, R. Daniel Hanks, Robert F. Baldwin, Brandon K. Peoples
Summary: This study evaluated the relationships among taxonomic richness, functional diversity, functional redundancy, and biotic integrity for freshwater fish and benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Congaree Biosphere Region. It found that patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity among organism groups were complementary, with implications for surrogate performance. The study also suggested that within-taxa variation among measures of taxonomic and functional diversity may be more important to consider than the taxonomic representation of multiple organism groups.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kyle J. Brumm, R. Daniel Hanks, Robert F. Baldwin, Brandon K. Peoples
Summary: Researchers have developed and evaluated a scale-linked framework for prioritizing spatial units for conservation. The results show that scale-linked approaches can decrease costs and planning units, while better reflecting biotic metrics.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ping He, Jiaying Li, Yunfeng Li, Ning Xu, Yu Gao, Longfei Guo, Tongtong Huo, Cheng Peng, Fanyun Meng
Summary: This study proposed a new method for planning the best species conservation habitat through fitting errors caused by a single model. The results indicated that human activities were the most important environmental parameter affecting the distribution of the three Ephedra species, and the combination of MaxEnt and Marxan models helped identify priority conservation areas. Protection of wild Ephedra and scaling up artificial planting should be prioritized based on the comprehensive analysis.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dominic Muenzel, Kay Critchell, Courtney Cox, Stuart J. Campbell, Raymond Jakub, Iliana Chollett, Nils Krueck, Daniel Holstein, Eric A. Treml, Maria Beger
Summary: This study compared two methods for incorporating larval dispersal connectivity into spatial planning of marine reserve networks and found that different methods are suitable for different contexts. The spatial dependency method is more appropriate when dispersal is limited, habitats are highly degraded, or the target amount of habitat protected is low. On the other hand, protecting individual sites with high connectivity scores is a better strategy when subpopulations are well connected and more habitat is protected. Spatial dependency methods generally produce more spatially clustered solutions with more benefits inside reserves compared to site-based methods.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Camilla Langkilde-Lauesen, Niels Strange, Kerrie A. Wilson
Summary: This study applied MARXAN to identify cost-efficient areas for biodiversity protection in Thy National Park, Denmark. The results suggest that heterogeneous targets may be more effective in achieving conservation goals and efficient management.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Monica D. Parisi, Patrick R. Huber, Steven E. Greco
Summary: Habitat connectivity is crucial for designing reserve networks to conserve species at risk. However, acquiring land to achieve connectivity for multiple species can be challenging due to limited data and complex models. In this study, four land acquisition strategies were compared in terms of their efficiency in meeting conservation targets, structural connectivity, and connectivity for focal species. The combination of 'Priority 1' and 'Corridor' parcels was found to be the most efficient solution.
Article
Environmental Studies
Vaishali Vasudeva, Sujata Upgupta, Ajay Singh, Nazrukh Sherwani, Supratim Dutta, Rajasekar Rajaraman, Sankarshan Chaudhuri, Satyam Verma, Jeyaraj Antony Johnson, Ramesh Krishnamurthy
Summary: This study aims to identify important sites for connected tiger habitat and biodiversity potential in the Greater Panna Landscape in central India and set conservation targets at the landscape level. The use of earth observation data and the Marxan algorithm provided insights into the proportion of landscape area that needs to be conserved and specific locations of conservation priority.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Thomas Fartmann, Marco Drung, Max Freienstein
Summary: The study found that the composition of carabid beetle assemblages varied across different successional stages of rejuvenation and restoration in Montane heathlands. The richness of carabid beetle species decreased as the succession progressed, while moisture and shading indicator values increased. Indicator species were most abundant in the early and restored stages.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mengyi Huang, Hongguang Liu, Yan Tong, Shuqiang Li, Zhonge Hou
Summary: This study in Xinjiang, China, used genetic analysis and species distribution models to understand the distribution patterns of freshwater amphipods and predict the impact of climate change on endemic species. The results showed high freshwater amphipod diversity in Xinjiang, with environmental factors responsible for niche differentiation among endemic species. Future climate change is expected to significantly affect the geographic distributions of endemic amphipods, highlighting the importance of prioritizing conservation efforts in areas with concentrated phylogenetic endemism.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
Micheli Duarte de Paula Costa, Rafael A. Magris, Jose Henrique Muelbert, Joao Paes Vieira, Jorge Pablo Castello, Margareth S. Copertino, Hugh P. Possingham
Summary: Fish conservation in estuaries is complex due to diverse social values, multiple ecological processes and ontogenetic shift. This study developed a prioritisation approach to create conservation zones in an estuarine system, integrating pelagic and benthic habitats for different life history stages. The results showed that spatial priorities for conservation zones were robust and an integrated plan required less area than a traditional plan.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elizabeth C. Braun de Torrez, Catherine F. Frock, Wesley W. Boone, Adia R. Sovie, Robert A. McCleery
Summary: Climate change will have a global impact on natural areas in the future, particularly vulnerable regions which require continued research and conservation efforts. Sea-level rise poses a significant threat to ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of studying and protecting these imperiled areas.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lea T. Mamo, Augustine G. Porter, Alejandro Tagliafico, Melinda A. Coleman, Stephen D. A. Smith, Will F. Figueira, Brendan P. Kelaher
Summary: Upgrading of coastal protective infrastructure can significantly impact benthic marine communities, indicating the need for more sustainable alternatives such as decommissioning structures and retreat from flood-prone areas. Where upgrades are urgent, eco-engineering techniques can help mitigate impacts to habitats and associated taxa.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Cristian J. Monaco, Ivan Nagelkerken, David J. Booth, Will F. Figueira, Bronwyn M. Gillanders, David S. Schoeman, Corey J. A. Bradshaw
Summary: This study used population-abundance time series at the leading edge of an expanding species' range to evaluate the contribution of density feedback and stochastic environmental drivers to the population growth rates of different life stages of a tropical damselfish. The results indicated that density feedback negatively affected the growth of tropical settlers and juveniles, and including stochastic effects doubled the deviance explained by the models, confirming the importance of temperature in the dynamics of range-shifting species responding to climate change.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Cristian J. Monaco, David J. Booth, Will F. Figueira, Bronwyn M. Gillanders, David S. Schoeman, Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Ivan Nagelkerken
Summary: The study found that tropical species richness has increased in temperate ecosystems in recent years, with the richness of tropical vagrant species related to sea-surface temperatures experienced by both local vagrants and their source populations. Additionally, there was a signal from the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, with species turnover and richness peaking during the strong La Nina event in 2010-2011.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Claire E. Rowe, Will F. Figueira, Brendan P. Kelaher, Anna Giles, Lea T. Mamo, Shane T. Ahyong, Stephen J. Keable
Summary: This study evaluated the feasibility of using drones to survey an invasive species, Cassiopea, in a coastal lake on the east coast of Australia. The results showed that the density of Cassiopea measured by drones was not significantly different from that measured by boat-based methods. However, abundance estimates derived from transect densities were found to be over-inflated when compared to drone-based counts of the entire site.
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Renata Ferrari, Javier X. Leon, Andrew J. Davies, John H. R. Burns, Stuart A. Sandin, Will F. Figueira, Manuel Gonzalez-Rivero
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Erica Spain, Geoffroy Lamarche, Vanessa Lucieer, Sally J. Watson, Yoann Ladroit, Erin Heffron, Arne Pallentin, Joanne M. Whittaker
Summary: Understanding fluid expulsion is essential for estimating gas exchange volumes, locating ecosystems, and geohazard modeling. This study investigates the links between water-column acoustic flares, seafloor backscatter, and bathymetric metrics to develop predictive models of active fluid expulsion. The results show that active fluid expulsion is not typically associated with hardgrounds, but with unconsolidated sediment cover around them.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Rick C. Leong, Ana B. Bugnot, Ezequiel M. Marzinelli, Will F. Figueira, Katherine R. Erickson, Alistair G. B. Poore, Paul E. Gribben
Summary: Population characteristics of foundation species, such as density and body sizes, are crucial for the persistence and functioning of ecosystems. This study investigated the drivers of population characteristics of Sydney rock oysters at multiple spatial scales in New South Wales, Australia. The results showed that the densities and body sizes of the oysters were related to spatial attributes at various scales, but the relationships varied among estuaries. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating site-specific spatial attributes in the design of restored oyster reefs to maximize ecosystem functions.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Ana B. Bugnot, Katherine A. Dafforn, Ross A. Coleman, Megan Ramsdale, Jayden T. Gibbeson, Katherine Erickson, Ana Vila-Concejo, William F. Figueira, Paul E. Gribben
Summary: Habitat interactions, particularly in aquatic ecosystems, are important for regulating biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Oyster reefs, a highly degraded habitat, have unknown effects on sediment infaunal communities. This study found that sediments close to oyster reefs had more labile organic matter, positively impacting taxonomic biodiversity. Functional biodiversity, however, varied between estuaries, suggesting the importance of estuarine environmental conditions. Incorporating seascape interactions into restoration initiatives can inform the recovery of biodiversity and functions beyond the target habitat.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Raul A. Gonzalez-Pech, David J. Hughes, Paige Strudwick, Brett M. Lewis, David J. Booth, Will F. Figueira, Brigitte Sommer, David J. Suggett, Jennifer Matthews
Summary: High-latitude reefs may serve as potential refuges for tropical coral species under climate change. The expansion of a branching subtropical coral near Sydney, Australia could provide shelter for other tropical coral taxa in warming seas.
Article
Ecology
Christopher Pine, Katherine Erickson, Paul E. Gribben, Will F. Figueira
Article
Ecology
Claire E. Rowe, Stephen J. Keable, Shane T. Ahyong, Will F. Figueira
Summary: This study investigates the influence of temperature on winter die-offs of upside-down jellyfish in temperate environments, and finds that elevated temperatures can have positive effects on their performance, increasing the likelihood of their survival.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katherine R. Erickson, Ana B. Bugnot, Will F. Figueira
Summary: Researchers used video techniques to assess fish assemblages in subtidal and intertidal habitats, but faced issues with time-consuming data processing and processing bottlenecks. This study identified the optimal subsampling method using RUV footage and bootstrapping techniques, providing valuable methodology recommendations for assessing fish assemblages in shallow intertidal habitats.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marcelo Reis, Will F. Figueira
Summary: Fishery impacts affect both target species and bycatch species. However, the prioritization of conservation and research in fisheries is often influenced by economic value, leading to lower emphasis on retained bycatch species such as sharks and rays. Traditional stock assessments are challenging due to the lack of data, funding, and study conditions, especially for Chondrichthyan catch. This study introduces a new technique based on spatial interactions and fishing activity to assess the vulnerability of bycatch Chondrichthyan species.
Article
Biology
Liam Lachs, Adriana Humanes, Daniel R. Pygas, John C. Bythell, Peter J. Mumby, Renata Ferrari, Will F. Figueira, Elizabeth Beauchamp, Holly K. East, Alasdair J. Edwards, Yimnang Golbuu, Helios M. Martinez, Brigitte Sommer, Eveline van der Steeg, James R. Guest
Summary: As marine species adapt to climate change, their heat tolerance will be under strong selection, but trade-offs between heat tolerance and other traits may compromise adaptation. The study focused on reef-building corals and found no trade-offs between heat tolerance and fecundity or growth. Surprisingly, faster-growing corals tended to bleach and die at higher levels of heat stress. Overall, this suggests that some high-performing corals excel across multiple traits and trade-offs may not be major barriers to adaptation or evolution interventions.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Kate Seinor, Steven W. Purcell, Hamish Malcolm, Stephen D. A. Smith, Kirsten Benkendorff
Summary: This study investigated the reproductive cycle of the Australian turbinid, Turbo militaris, and found that it has an extended pattern of reproduction that is closely related to environmental conditions. The findings of this study are important for the development of fisheries management measures.
FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY
(2024)