Article
Forestry
Leonardo Ancillotto, Rosario Rummo, Giulia Agostinetto, Nicola Tommasi, Antonio P. Garonna, Flavia de Benedetta, Umberto Bernardo, Andrea Galimberti, Danilo Russo
Summary: Forest ecosystems play a crucial role in conserving global biodiversity and human wellbeing. However, the increasing impact of environmental changes such as climate change, biological invasions, and forest pests poses a significant threat to forests. This study found that forest bats, specifically Barbastella barbastellus and Plecotus auritus, can act as important suppressors of agroforestry pest insects. Preserving animal diversity in forests is essential not only for the health of these ecosystems but also for the surrounding habitats, including farmland.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Grzegorz Apoznanski, Tomasz S. Kokurewicz, Stefan Petterson, Sonia Sanchez-Navarro, Monika Gorska, Jens Rydell
Summary: Extensive areas of old forests have declined in temperate regions of Europe mainly due to extensive forestry. This study investigated the selection of summer roosts by the western barbastelle in a commercially used landscape in southern Sweden, revealing that in areas deprived of large trees and old forests, the barbastelle shows flexibility in roost selection.
ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kofi Amponsah-Mensah, Andrew A. Cunningham, James L. N. Wood, Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu
Summary: This study examines the roosting behavior and roost site selection of the Gambian epauletted fruit bat in a modified forest-savannah transition ecological zone in Ghana. The results show that male bats are more likely to switch roosts and travel larger distances between roosts compared to females. Roost trees in modified landscapes tend to be bigger, taller, closer to buildings, and in more open and less mature plots. Lactating bats select roost trees that contain a greater number of bats, suggesting a strategy for predator avoidance or social cooperation benefits.
Article
Forestry
Roberta Souza de Moura, Jorge Ari Noriega, Ricardo Augusto Serpa Cerboncini, Fernando Zagury Vaz-de-Mello, Louri Klemann Junior
Summary: Selective logging in the central Brazilian Amazon Forest was found to have no irreversible impact on dung beetle diversity. Time after logging and seasonality significantly affected species richness and assemblage structure of dung beetles.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yolanda F. Wiersma, R. Troy McMullin
Summary: Calicioids are a group of fungi that are similar in appearance and have been used as indicators of old-growth forests. Factors such as tree age, continuity, scale, and ecological and structural variability may affect the presence of calicioids. In this study, the number of calicioid species was recorded in 51 stands in Canada's boreal forest, and it was found that species diversity was influenced by stand age and condition. Calicioid density showed a positive correlation with lichen biomass and richness, indicating that calicioid diversity can serve as an indicator of habitat condition or conservation value in the boreal forest.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lukasz Kolendo, Marcin Kozniewski, Marek Ksepko, Szymon Chmur, Bozydar Neroj
Summary: This paper discusses the importance of accurate and extensive datasets for the practical implementation of precision forestry, as well as the necessity of proper data processing and algorithm optimization. Through empirical verification and parameter optimization, it demonstrates the crucial importance of the quality of empirical data for accurately evaluating algorithm accuracy.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
George N. Zaimes, Valasia Iakovoglou
Summary: This study examines the assessment tools and results of riparian areas in Greece, finding that vegetation is more important than stream flow, visual protocols and GIS are effective for preliminary assessments, and bioindicators are more cost-effective for monitoring.
Article
Forestry
Andreea Petronela Spinu, Thomas Asbeck, Juergen Bauhus
Summary: Retention of habitat trees is a common practice in biodiversity conservation in temperate forests of Europe. This study found that dead trees provide more and varied tree-related microhabitats compared to living trees. The combination of living and dead trees enhances the diversity of stand-level tree-related microhabitats.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
P. Meyer, A. P. Spinu, A. Molder, J. Bauhus
Summary: The high tree mortality during the dry and hot years of 2018-2019 in Europe has raised concerns about the future of European beech forests under climate change. This study compared the mortality rates of managed and unmanaged stands of beech trees in Hessen, Germany. The results showed that various factors, including initial stand density, tree removals, climate water balance, and competitive status of trees, influenced mortality rates.
Article
Plant Sciences
C. Y. Jim, Hao Zhang, Ling Chui Hui, John Parker
Summary: Public perceptions of urban forests have been extensively studied, while the views of professional practitioners have been overlooked. Evaluating the opinions of 79 tree officers in London revealed their strong agreement with the benefits of urban trees and green spaces, but more divergent views on costs.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yagya P. Adhikari, Samuel Hoffmann, Ripu M. Kunwar, Maria Bobrowski, Anke Jentsch, Carl Beierkuhnlein
Summary: Epiphytes are a diverse form of plant life, with the highest species richness in the tropics and subtropics. This study in subtropical forests of Nepal focused on the vertical distribution of vascular epiphytes on two dominant host trees, finding that the diversity of epiphytes was higher on Schima wallichii trees compared to Quercus lanata trees, particularly in community managed forests. Conservation of old growth host trees through community approaches is crucial for preserving epiphyte diversity in the Nepal Himalaya.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Umberto Di Salvatore, Maurizio Marchi, Paolo Cantiani
Summary: The study developed two equations to predict single-tree crown volumes for Pinus nigra plantations, based on an analysis of a database with 3578 trees. The fitted models were statistically significant, explaining 57.6% for crown radius at crown base and 87.1% for crown length. The power function model for calculating single-tree crown volumes showed varying levels of absolute errors for different parts of the crown.
ANNALS OF FOREST SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marieke Scheel, Mats Lindeskog, Benjamin Smith, Susanne Suvanto, Thomas A. M. Pugh
Summary: This study explores the factors driving changes in tree mortality rates in Central Europe, including climate drivers, management, and age structure. The findings suggest that forest productivity and management play a significant role in impacting regional-scale patterns of tree mortality. The study also emphasizes the challenge of comparing tree mortality trends from different observation types.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Christine C. Fortuin, Cristian R. Montes, James T. Vogt, Kamal J. K. Gandhi
Summary: Catastrophic wind disturbances have significant impacts on the economic and ecological values of working forests worldwide. This study aimed to predict stand damage caused by a catastrophic hurricane event by examining prior management activities, stand characteristics, and soil and terrain attributes.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mengdan Jing, Liangjun Zhu, Shuguang Liu, Yang Cao, Yu Zhu, Wende Yan
Summary: This study examined the growth patterns and species-specific responses of four main tree species in subtropical China to recent warming and drought using dendrochronological method. Results showed that long-term drought caused by global warming and reduced precipitation led to growth decline in three tree species, but not in one tree species. Tree growth was positively correlated with precipitation and relative humidity, while negatively correlated with vapor pressure deficit.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Megan L. Power, Nicole M. Foley, Gareth Jones, Emma C. Teeling
Summary: Bats, constituting over 20% of all living mammals, exhibit extraordinary adaptations and unique immune systems that enable them to tolerate viral infections. They also show extreme longevity and diversity in physiological and ecological aspects. Studies suggest that telomere maintenance may underpin bats' extended healthspan, highlighting the need for further functional research.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gareth Jones
Summary: Simultaneous GPS tracking of mother bats and their young has shown that mothers "park" their infants in trees close to their colony. As the pups become more independent, they return to the trees by themselves, indicating that mothers assist their offspring in learning how to navigate.
Article
Forestry
Leonardo Ancillotto, Rosario Rummo, Giulia Agostinetto, Nicola Tommasi, Antonio P. Garonna, Flavia de Benedetta, Umberto Bernardo, Andrea Galimberti, Danilo Russo
Summary: Forest ecosystems play a crucial role in conserving global biodiversity and human wellbeing. However, the increasing impact of environmental changes such as climate change, biological invasions, and forest pests poses a significant threat to forests. This study found that forest bats, specifically Barbastella barbastellus and Plecotus auritus, can act as important suppressors of agroforestry pest insects. Preserving animal diversity in forests is essential not only for the health of these ecosystems but also for the surrounding habitats, including farmland.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Raphael D. Reinegger, Ryszard Z. Oleksy, Eva Gazagne, Gareth Jones
Summary: This study investigated how the foraging strategies of long-tailed macaques affected the seed dispersal effectiveness of native and invasive plants in Mauritius' native remnant forests. The results showed that the macaques preferred to consume invasive fruits when they were more available. As fruit availability decreased, the macaques expanded their diet to include scarce unripe native and invasive fruits, and also consumed orchard crops for energy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Leonardo Ancillotto, Chiara Scaramella, Fabio Dartora, Antonello Migliozzi, Danilo Russo
Summary: Organic farming and habitat structure have significant impacts on bat activity and species richness in the Mediterranean region. Organic farming is beneficial for promoting bat activity in agricultural areas, and linear landscape elements have a positive influence on bat activity. Appropriate management of landscape structure at larger scales is necessary to increase bat species richness.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Maurizio Fraissinet, Leonardo Ancillotto, Antonello Migliozzi, Silvia Capasso, Luciano Bosso, Dan E. Chamberlain, Danilo Russo
Summary: This study utilized longitudinal bird monitoring data to analyze the occurrence trends of urban birds in Naples. The species richness of breeding birds remained stable over time, but there were changes in the composition of bird species associated with different types of land cover.
Article
Ecology
Roksana Wilson, Christopher E. C. Cooper, Rochelle J. J. Meah, Andrew Wakefield, Nicholas W. W. Roberts, Gareth Jones
Summary: Insect attraction to artificial light can increase disease transmission. Previous research has identified certain wavelength bands that are unattractive to biting flies. However, narrow-band lights are not suitable for home use due to poor color rendering. This study found that a white light created by combining specific narrow-band LEDs was less attractive to mosquitoes, suggesting it could be a safer and cheaper alternative in endemic areas.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Leonardo Ancillotto, Angelica Falanga, Giulia Agostinetto, Nicola Tommasi, Flavia de Benedetta, Umberto Bernardo, Andrea Galimberti, Paola Conti, Danilo Russo
Summary: Individual and prey traits play a significant role in shaping the dietary habits of the Savi's pipistrelle in agricultural ecosystems across the Mediterranean region. DNA metabarcoding identified 173 distinct prey taxa in bats sampled in Southern Italy, with agricultural pests dominating the diet. The study highlights the importance of understanding the functional relationships between individual bats and their prey for ecosystem services and the surveillance of relevant arthropod species.
ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biology
Carme Tuneu-Corral, Xavier Puig-Montserrat, Daniel Riba-Bertolin, Danilo Russo, Hugo Rebelo, Mar Cabeza, Adria Lopez-Baucells
Summary: Bats play a significant role in pest control in agriculture, providing important ecosystem services. Conservation measures such as increasing habitat diversity, providing additional roosts, implementing protective laws, and reducing pesticide use can enhance the efficiency of pest predation by bats.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jack A. Greenhalgh, Martin J. Genner, Gareth Jones
Summary: This study investigated the daily acoustic variation in insect-dominated temperate pond soundscapes by collecting 840 hr of underwater sound recordings from five ponds in the southwest of the U.K. The study found that acoustic activity typically peaked between 02:00 and 04:00 and around solar noon. Acoustic Entropy was the best indicator for detecting overall daily acoustic variation in the study ponds. A minimum of 24 hr of underwater sound recordings is required to adequately capture soundscape variation.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeremy S. P. Froidevaux, Nia Toshkova, Luc Barbaro, Ana Benitez-Lopez, Christian Kerbiriou, Isabelle Le Viol, Michela Pacifici, Luca Santini, Clare Stawski, Danilo Russo, Jasja Dekker, Antton Alberdi, Francisco Amorim, Leonardo Ancillotto, Kevin Barre, Yves Bas, Lisette Cantu-Salazar, Dina K. N. Dechmann, Tiphaine Devaux, Katrine Eldegard, Sasan Fereidouni, Joanna Furmankiewicz, Daniela Hamidovic, Davina L. Hill, Carlos Ibanez, Jean-Francois Julien, Javier Juste, Peter Kanuch, Carmi Korine, Alexis Laforge, Gaelle Legras, Camille Leroux, Grzegorz Lesinski, Lea Mariton, Julie Marmet, Vanessa A. Mata, Clare M. Mifsud, Victoria Nistreanu, Roberto Novella-Fernandez, Hugo Rebelo, Niamh Roche, Charlotte Roemer, Ireneusz Ruczynski, Rune Soras, Marcel Uhrin, Adriana Vella, Christian C. Voigt, Orly Razgour
Summary: Knowledge of species' functional traits is crucial for understanding biodiversity patterns, predicting global environmental changes, and assessing conservation measures. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive data on the functional traits and ecological attributes of European bat species.
Article
Microbiology
Hiba Dakroub, Giovanni Sgroi, Nicola D'Alessio, Danilo Russo, Francesco Serra, Vincenzo Veneziano, Simona Rea, Alessia Pucciarelli, Maria Gabriella Lucibelli, Esterina De Carlo, Giovanna Fusco, Maria Grazia Amoroso
Summary: Systematic wildlife surveillance is crucial in preventing zoonotic infections that endanger human health and biodiversity. Our study found a high circulation of Toxoplasma gondii in wild mammals in the Campania region of southern Italy, highlighting the critical role of anthropized areas in the transmission of this parasite.
Article
Biology
Valeria B. Salinas-Ramos, Alessandra Tomassini, Fabiana Ferrari, Rita Boga, Danilo Russo
Summary: Every summer in Italy and other temperate regions, bats fall from their shelters due to heatwaves caused by climate change, leading to their admission to wildlife rehabilitation centres. A study using 5842 records from Italian rehabilitation centres over a 20-year period found that the number of admitted bats strongly increased during summer weeks with temperatures above 30 degrees C. This heat stress on bats might have negative effects on bat populations in cities, where they provide important ecosystem services by consuming harmful insects. The study calls for large-scale monitoring and conservation efforts for urban bat populations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Davide Sogliani, Emiliano Mori, Sandro Lovari, Lorenzo Lazzeri, Alice Longoni, Karol Tabarelli De Fatis, Patrizia Sabatini, Matteo Riccardo Di Nicola, Danilo Russo
Summary: Domestic dogs can have various impacts on wildlife, including predation, competition, harassment, and hybridization. This study combines citizen science data and information from scientists to investigate the potential impact of free-ranging dogs on wildlife in Italy. The results show that dogs have attacked and killed a wide range of species, with mammals and birds being the most affected. The diet analysis reveals that dogs primarily consume mammals, but also consume pet food and remains of domestic sheep. Raising awareness and controlling dog behavior are crucial for mitigating the impact of domestic dogs on wildlife.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Sergio Teixeira, Sonia Smeraldo, Danilo Russo
Summary: This study reveals significant genetic and ecological differentiation among the Madeira pipistrelle (Pipistrellus maderensis) populations inhabiting the Macaronesia archipelagos of Madeira, Azores, and Canary Islands. These findings lay the foundation for future investigations integrating ecological, morphological, genetic, and behavioral characteristics and ensuring the long-term preservation of these bat populations and their ecological roles.