Article
Ecology
Anja Schmidt, Jes Hines, Manfred Tuerke, Francois Buscot, Martin Schaedler, Alexandra Weigelt, Alban Gebler, Stefan Klotz, Tao Liu, Sascha Reth, Stefan Trogisch, Jacques Roy, Christian Wirth, Nico Eisenhauer
Summary: Ecological communities around the world are facing multiple global environmental change drivers, and understanding their responses requires holistic and integrative experimental approaches. Mesocosm experiments play a critical role in studying complex communities and processes, filling gaps in research when combined with ecological theory, microcosm experiments, field studies, and macroecological observations. The iDiv Ecotron, a novel terrestrial mesocosm facility, allows for the manipulation of complex communities and abiotic factors while measuring multiple ecosystem functions, providing opportunities for collaboration among researchers with diverse expertise and broadening the scope of ecological experiments.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Changyi Lu, D. Johan Kotze, Heikki M. Setala
Summary: The study found that plant functional type influences soil nitrogen dynamics in urban greenspace soils, potentially due to its effect on earthworm biomass. Evergreen trees have the highest ability to promote nitrogen accumulation and reduce nitrous oxide emissions in urban parks. Additionally, the age of the park affects nitrogen accumulation under trees and lawns, highlighting the role of vegetation in influencing soil nitrogen dynamics in urban greenspaces.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Davide Agnetta, Fabio Badalamenti, Francesco Colloca, Gianpiero Cossarini, Fabio Fiorentino, Germana Garofalo, Bernardo Patti, Carlo Pipitone, Tommaso Russo, Cosimo Solidoro, Simone Libralato
Summary: This study develops a calibrated dynamic model to evaluate the effects of mixed fisheries and climate change on the Sicily Channel food web. The results show that reducing bottom trawling effort has positive impacts on the biomass of many functional groups, but negative impacts on trawler's catches and economic incomes. However, in the long term, the biomass of commercial species recovers, making exploitation of marine resources more sustainable.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elvire Bestion, Bart Haegeman, Soraya Alvarez Codesal, Alexandre Garreau, Michele Huet, Samuel Barton, Jose M. Montoya
Summary: This research reveals that temperature fluctuations alter the importance of biodiversity for ecosystem functioning, with wider fluctuations exacerbating the negative impact of species loss on ecosystem functioning. Species-rich communities are able to maintain ecosystem functioning under climate change, while species-poor communities typically cannot.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jakob Runge
Summary: Detecting and quantifying causal relations in ecosystem functioning is challenging and involves reasoning about underlying assumptions. A global study on grasslands highlights the importance of considering confounding, nonlinearity, and determinism in modern causal inference approaches in ecology.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Dan Wu, Chi Xu, Shaopeng Wang, Lai Zhang, Susanne Kortsch
Summary: The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functions has been widely studied, but the variation in ecosystem functions across systems with similar species diversity has been rarely addressed. In this study, a food web model and empirical data were used to examine the relationships between species richness and variation in ecosystem functions. The results suggest that the variation in ecosystem functions is influenced by trophic interactions and the diversity of basal species, which has implications for biodiversity loss and ecosystem predictability.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alejandro Berlinches de Gea, Yann Hautier, Stefan Geisen
Summary: Biodiversity, both aboveground and belowground, is negatively affected by global changes such as drought or warming. This article highlights the need to understand the relationship between soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning under the influence of interactive global change drivers. The results from scarce studies studying interactive effects range from antagonistic to additive to synergistic, indicating the importance of quantitatively accounting for the impacts of interactive global change drivers on soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relationships.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Ross Crates, David M. Watson, Gregory F. Albery, Timothee Bonnet, Liam Murphy, Laura Rayner, Dejan Stojanovic, Chris Timewell, Beau Meney, Mick Roderick, Dean Ingwersen, Robert Heinsohn
Summary: Mistletoes, as hemiparasitic plants, play a crucial role in moderating drought impacts on community structure. Their survival depends on host vascular flows and they are susceptible to mortality during drought. A study conducted in southeastern Australia found that mistletoe abundance is influenced by tree species composition, land use, and the presence of mistletoe birds. Mistletoe mortality is associated with high temperatures, low rainfall, and the interaction between temperature and rainfall. Interestingly, mistletoes can moderate drought impacts on woodland birds, particularly during the peak drought breeding seasons.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
H. J. White, P. Caplat, M. C. Emmerson, J. M. Yearsley
Summary: Future climate change will have substantial effects on the stability of agricultural production, emphasizing the need to incorporate stability-based constructs and regional variation into future agricultural policies.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Irfan Afzal, Muhammad Zia Ul Haq, Shahbaz Ahmed, Abdelaziz Hirich, Didier Bazile
Summary: Quinoa is a highly nutritious and stress-tolerant crop that can ensure food security under changing climate conditions. However, its cultivation faces various constraints, such as weed infestation, photoperiod sensitivity, and heat stress. Scientists are using breeding programs to promote quinoa adaptation and to raise awareness about its nutritional profile and potential for revenue generation.
Article
Microbiology
Daniel J. Wieczynski, Kristin M. Yoshimura, Elizabeth R. Denison, Stefan Geisen, Jennifer M. DeBruyn, A. Jonathan Shaw, David J. Weston, Dale A. Pelletier, Steven W. Wilhelm, Jean P. Gibert
Summary: We provide a roadmap for understanding the impact of viral infections within microbial food webs on ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling in the context of global warming. Microorganisms play a crucial role in carbon and nutrient cycles and act as a link between ecosystems and climate. However, viral infections within complex microbial food webs pose a significant challenge in predicting and understanding ecosystem responses to warming. We highlight the need for further research on virus-microbe-temperature interactions and their effects on ecosystem functioning in the face of climate change.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
D. Knorr, M. A. Augustin
Summary: This review highlights the transitions needed from linear food chains to closed loop systems and wider food webs for more sustainable food systems, emphasizing the importance of considering the complexities in food value chains. To ensure the long-term sustainability of the planet, globally accepted definitions and indicators for sustainability need to be developed, and a systems-based approach is required for developing sustainable food systems.
TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chuanjin Fan, Donghui Zhu, Tongtong Zhang, Ruijia Wu
Summary: As species extinction and biodiversity decline, the identification of keystone species becomes crucial. Traditional approaches neglect the equally important indirect effects. Here, we propose an optimized disintegration strategy using tabu search to identify keystone species. Topological simulations and comparisons with traditional methods confirm the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in optimizing food web disintegration and identifying species that cause the most destruction.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chloe Duffaut, Pierre-Antoine Versini, Nathalie Frascaria-Lacoste
Summary: The urban ecosystem faces numerous challenges, but nature-based solutions (NBS) could offer a good way to address these issues. However, NBS may be threatened by urban disturbances, which can have consequences on their characteristics and services. To avoid this, NBS should be eco-designed and take into account the changing climate and anthropogenic factors.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Joshua J. Puhlick, Ivan J. Fernandez, Jay W. Wason
Summary: The presence of European earthworms in Northern Maine forests could disrupt ecosystem dynamics by altering soil properties and reducing carbon stocks. Areas with earthworms had significantly lower soil carbon stocks, and management actions should be taken to prevent the introduction of earthworms into unaffected areas.
Article
Ecology
Martijn L. Vandegehuchte, Zachary A. Sylvain, Lara G. Reichmann, Cecilia Milano De Tomasel, Uffe N. Nielsen, Diana H. Wall, Osvaldo E. Sala
Article
Soil Science
M. Francesca Cotrufo, Jennifer Soong, Martijn L. Vandegehuchte, Trung Nguyen, Karolien Denef, E. Ashley Shaw, Zachary A. Sylvain, Cecilia Milano de Tomasel, Uffe N. Nielsen, Diana H. Wall
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2014)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zachary A. Sylvain, Diana H. Wall, Karie L. Cherwin, Debra P. C. Peters, Lara G. Reichmann, Osvaldo E. Sala
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2014)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pablo Garcia-Palacios, Martijn L. Vandegehuchte, E. Ashley Shaw, Marie Dam, Keith H. Post, Kelly S. Ramirez, Zachary A. Sylvain, Cecilia Milano de Tomasel, Diana H. Wall
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2015)
Article
Ecology
Zachary A. Sylvain, Christopher M. Buddle
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Erin K. Espeland, Zachary A. Sylvain
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2019)
Article
Entomology
Zachary A. Sylvain, Erin K. Espeland, Tatyana A. Rand, Natalie M. West, David H. Branson
ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zachary A. Sylvain, David H. Branson, Tatyana A. Rand, Natalie M. West, Erin K. Espeland
Article
Forestry
Zachary A. Sylvain, Alex Mosseler
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2017)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michel Saint-Germain, Christopher M. Buddle, Maxim Larrivee, Alida Mercado, Tania Motchula, Elisabeth Reichert, Tara E. Sackett, Zachary Sylvain, Annie Webb
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2007)