Article
Forestry
Amanda R. Williams, Lance T. Vermeire, Richard C. Waterman, Clayton B. Marlow
Summary: There is still considerable uncertainty surrounding post-fire grazing management. This study found that ponderosa pine woodlands are resilient to moderate grazing and timing of defoliation in the first growing season after fire, with limited differences between grazed and nongrazed sites in terms of herbaceous productivity and species composition in 2019.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Raja Imran Hussain, Daniela Ablinger, Walter Starz, Juergen Kurt Friedel, Thomas Frank
Summary: Land abandonment has a significant impact on true bugs and syrphids, with extensive grasslands having higher abundance compared to abandoned grasslands. However, species richness does not differ among the studied grassland regimes. Abandoned grasslands have a high number of unique species, and their true bug assemblages differ significantly from those in intensive and extensive grasslands. Extensive grasslands can increase the abundance of true bugs and syrphids, while undisturbed abandoned grasslands support the survival of more unique species. A mosaic landscape of abandoned and extensively managed grassland is ideal for alpine biodiversity conservation.
Article
Ecology
Julia B. B. Leone, Nora P. P. Pennarola, Jennifer L. L. Larson, Karen Oberhauser, Diane L. L. Larson
Summary: Butterflies and bees play important roles in grassland biodiversity, and their conservation and management are essential. This study explores the impacts of fire and grazing management on butterfly and bee communities in tallgrass prairies, highlighting the challenges of designing management plans for different pollinators. The findings emphasize the importance of considering a mosaic of management practices across the prairie landscape.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nicholas A. Barber, Nikki Sauer, Jochen Krauss, Fabian A. Boetzl
Summary: Semi-natural grasslands are important habitats for threatened species, but they require management to maintain their characteristics. Mowing, commonly used as a substitute for grazing, can reduce the richness and proportions of endangered species in carabid beetle assemblages. Grazing intensity has little effect on carabid assemblages, and the benefits of grazing for threatened species are most apparent in small sites where habitat area is limited.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Giacomo Ortis, Luca Mazzon, Giacomo Cavaletto, Federico Marangoni, Lorenzo Marini
Summary: The effects of land use on orthopterans are mainly reflected in species richness and abundance, with abandoned grasslands having the highest richness and vineyards the lowest. Increasing forest cover can increase Ensifera species richness. Olive groves may be more suitable than vineyards for the conservation of habitats for both Ensifera and Caelifera.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Qing Qu, Lei Deng, Zhouping Shangguan, Jian Sun, Jinsheng He, Kaibo Wang, Zhengchao Zhou, Jiwei Li, Josep Penuelas
Summary: Grazing exclusion is a widely implemented strategy for restoring degraded grassland ecosystems and increasing carbon stocks. This study analyzed data from 199 experiments to understand the temporal responses and factors influencing plant and soil carbon stocks following grazing exclusion in different grassland ecosystems. The results showed that plant biomass carbon stocks and soil organic carbon stocks decreased exponentially or rationally with years since enclosure. Grazing exclusion had positive effects on aboveground biomass carbon, but the effects on belowground biomass and soil carbon were influenced by climate, initial carbon levels, and grazing exclusion duration. The response of carbon stocks to grazing exclusion stabilized after approximately 40 years, with soil carbon sequestration showing a lagged pattern compared to plant biomass carbon. The study highlighted the effectiveness of grazing exclusion in regions with low carbon content and non-water limited conditions. However, it might not be an effective measure to increase soil organic carbon stocks in water-limited areas like desert grasslands.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yan Wu, Yuanbao Du, Xuan Liu, Xinrong Wan, Baofa Yin, Yanbin Hao, Yanfen Wang
Summary: Livestock overgrazing and climate change are the main causes of grassland degeneration and biodiversity decline, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. A meta-analysis of 91 field studies in 26 countries was conducted to analyze the effects of grazing intensity, grazing history, grazing animal type, productivity, and climate on grassland biodiversity. The results showed that the effects of these factors varied across different components of the biome and measurements of diversity, indicating the complex nature of the relationship between livestock grazing and grassland biodiversity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Yuanjun Zhu, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Dan Shan, Xiaohui Yang, David J. Eldridge
Summary: The study indicates that different land use practices such as grazing, mowing, and combined grazing with mowing have varying effects on biodiversity and functions in Eurasian steppe grasslands. Mowing is considered a better long-term management method, while combined land use practices may decouple the positive associations between plant richness and functions.
Article
Ecology
Weiwei Shen, Ting Zhou, Hong Chang, Xiao Qiu, Yahong Liu, Hailian Sun, Xiu Zhai, Hongbo Yang, Guihuan Liu, Wu Yang
Summary: This study uses China's Grassland Ecological Compensation Policy as an example to analyze the effects of payment levels and other factors on herders' willingness to participate in the policy. The findings suggest a reasonable grassland payment standard and can inform the development of effective PES programs for grassland conservation in China and beyond.
ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Chengyang Zhou, Shining Zuo, Xiaonan Wang, Yixin Ji, Qiezhuo Lamao, Li Liu, Ding Huang
Summary: This study investigated the effects of nitrogen deposition, sheep grazing, and mowing on soil, vegetation, and soil microorganisms in grassland. Nitrogen deposition increased soil inorganic nitrogen, organic matter, and microbial activity. Grazing sheep and mowing had opposing effects on the grass community. Nitrogen deposition increased the proportion of Leymus chinensis and decreased community diversity. Nitrogen deposition enhanced the contribution of soil to the vegetation community and reduced the influence of microorganisms. Additionally, nitrogen deposition interacted significantly with grazing and mowing in terms of soil inorganic nitrogen, organic matter, microbial respiration, microbial mass carbon, and vegetation diversity.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
William Drose, Luciana R. Podgaiski, Martin M. Gossner, Sebastian T. Meyer, Julia-Maria Hermann, Jan Leidinger, Christiane Koch, Johannes Kollmann, Wolfgang W. Weisser, Milton de S. Mendonca Jr, Gerhard E. Overbeck
Summary: Understanding the impact of historical land uses and current management practices on biodiversity, particularly on ant communities in subtropical grasslands, is crucial. Secondary grasslands showed lower ant species diversity and distinct community composition compared to permanent grasslands, with the latter showing differences in composition based on management intensity. Passive recovery of grasslands may not fully restore ant communities, while traditional management practices enhance ant diversity.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Johannes L. M. Steidle, Thomas Kimmich, Michael Csader, Oliver Betz
Summary: Mowing grassland has a detrimental effect on insect populations, but this can be mitigated by using an "arthropod-friendly" mowing technique.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Johanna E. Reinhard, Katja Geissler, Niels Blaum
Summary: This study compares the impacts of holistic management and wildlife grazing on species diversity in Namibian rangeland. The results show that holistic management has a positive impact on species richness and composition. While it contributes to biodiversity conservation, it cannot replace grazing by native wildlife.
JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lawrence D. Igl, Deborah A. Buhl, Max Post van der Burg, Douglas H. Johnson
Summary: Recent declines in grassland bird populations in North America are attributed to habitat loss and fragmentation caused by agricultural practices. The expiration of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts could further impact these bird populations negatively. A study comparing idled CRP grasslands to fields with expired CRP contracts found that most bird species had higher abundance in idled CRP grasslands. The post-CRP land use, such as grazing or hayland, also influenced bird abundances, with lower abundance in grazed grasslands and haylands compared to idled CRP, but higher abundance than cropland. The responses of grassland specialists varied depending on post-CRP land use. These results have implications for wildlife managers and support the idea of maintaining a mosaic of undisturbed CRP grasslands and post-CRP grasslands with varied land uses to benefit different bird species.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Cinja Schwarz, Thomas Fartmann
Summary: Traditional summer grazing in common pastures has a positive effect on grasshopper density, particularly for threatened species. It results in open and heterogeneous swards, which provide favorable conditions for high grasshopper densities.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Axel Hochkirch, Michael J. Samways, Justin Gerlach, Monika Bohm, Paul Williams, Pedro Cardoso, Neil Cumberlidge, P. J. Stephenson, Mary B. Seddon, Viola Clausnitzer, Paulo A. Borges, Gregory M. Mueller, Paul Pearce-Kelly, Domitilla C. Raimondo, Anja Danielczak, Klaas-Douwe B. Dijkstra
Summary: Information and capacity are lacking for hyperdiverse groups like invertebrates, plants, and fungi, particularly in regions with high species richness or endemism. Post-2020 conservation policies and biodiversity strategies need to adapt to address these information shortfalls. Collaborative efforts among scientists, policy makers, and conservation practitioners are essential to implement strategies aimed at closing existing data gaps and improving the conservation status of biodiversity.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
David A. Wiedenfeld, Allison C. Alberts, Ariadne Angulo, Elizabeth L. Bennett, Onnie Byers, Topiltzin Contreras-MacBeath, Glaucia Drummond, Gustavo A. B. da Fonseca, Claude Gascon, Ian Harrison, Nicolas Heard, Axel Hochkirch, William Konstant, Penny F. Langhammer, Olivier Langrand, Frederic Launay, Daniel J. Lebbin, Susan Lieberman, Barney Long, Zhi Lu, Michael Maunder, Russell A. Mittermeier, Sanjay Molur, Razan Khalifa al Mubarak, Michael J. Parr, Jonah Ratsimbazafy, Anders G. J. Rhodin, Anthony B. Rylands, Jim Sanderson, Wes Sechrest, Pritpal Soorae, Jatna Supriatna, Amy Upgren, Jean-Christophe Vie, Li Zhang
Summary: The assumption that not all species can be conserved due to limited resources is challenged, with the argument that resources are not as limited as often assumed and there is no evidence that there are species that cannot be conserved. While resources for conserving threatened species are currently insufficient, the vast economic resources of the world could be utilized to allocate more towards species conservation.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
H. Resit Akcakaya, Axel Hochkirch, Jason T. Bried, Roy H. A. van Grunsven, John P. Simaika, Geert De Knijf, Sergio Henriques
Summary: Researchers argue that standardized methods for calculating population reductions should be consistently applied to assess extinction risk faced by invertebrate species, rather than relying on alternative approaches involving expert opinion. Consistent application of these methods allows for robust and objective assessments of extinction risk.
JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION
(2021)
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Axel Hochkirch, Dhaneesh Bhaskar
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Lara-Sophie Dey, Axel Hochkirch, Abdelhamid Moussi, Marianna V. P. Simoes, Martin Husemann
Summary: In this study, an evolutionary taxonomic approach was used to differentiate the species of the genus Thalpomena and reconstruct their biogeographic history. Phylogenetic analysis revealed four distinct lineages within the genus, which were defined by their distribution and hind wing banding patterns. These lineages were geographically separated and could be distinguished based on genetic, morphometric, and ecological modeling data. Ancestral area reconstruction indicated that the species originated in the southern regions of the Atlas Mountains, and molecular clock analysis supported the glacial refugia theory.
SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Eva Katharina Engelhardt, Matthias F. Biber, Matthias Dolek, Thomas Fartmann, Axel Hochkirch, Jan Leidinger, Franz Loeffler, Stefan Pinkert, Dominik Poniatowski, Johannes Voith, Michael Winterholler, Dirk Zeuss, Diana E. Bowler, Christian Hof
Summary: Recent climate and land-use changes are impacting biodiversity, causing population declines, range shifts, and changes in community composition. This study compares the occupancy changes in butterflies, grasshoppers, and dragonflies driven by climate and land-use over a 40-year period in Bavaria, Germany. The study finds that temperature preference and habitat specificity are significant drivers of species trends, with cold-adapted species and habitat specialists declining, and warm-adapted species and generalists increasing.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Zoology
Lara-sophie Dey, Axel Hochkirch, Abdelhamid Moussi, Matthias Seidel, Martin Husemann
Summary: In this study, taxonomic changes are proposed for the genus Thalpomena based on morphological, genetic, ecological, and morphometric data. Several junior synonyms are proposed and one species is transferred to the genus Vosseleriana.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Antonio O. Soares, Danny Haelewaters, Olga M. C. C. Ameixa, Isabel Borges, Peter M. J. Brown, Pedro Cardoso, Michiel D. de Groot, Edward W. Evans, Audrey A. Grez, Axel Hochkirch, Milada Holecova, Alois Honek, Jan Kulfan, Ana Lillebo, Zdenka Martinkova, J. P. Michaud, Oldrich Nedved, Omkar, Helen E. Roy, Swati Saxena, Apoorva Shandilya, Arnaud Sentis, Jiri Skuhrovec, Sandra Viglasova, Peter Zach, Tania Zaviezo, John E. Losey
Summary: Ladybird populations are compromised by anthropogenic threats, and there is a lack of knowledge on the conservation status and factors driving their population dynamics. Short-term actions such as citizen science programs and education are suggested for conservation and recovery, while long-term actions involve the development of a global monitoring program to fill data gaps.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sophie Ogan, Christian Paulus, Christoph Froehlich, Carsten Renker, Claude Kolwelter, Marc Schendzielorz, Anja Danielczak, Katrin Muller, Hannah Eulering, Axel Hochkirch
Summary: This study aimed to identify changes in Orthoptera assemblages and the underlying drivers, highlighting the importance of land-use and climate change. The results showed that traditional land-use practices, protected areas, and reduction of nitrogen input are crucial for preserving Orthoptera. Furthermore, the study revealed that climate change is driving both range expansion and retraction of species, emphasizing the necessity of insect monitoring.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Filipe Chichorro, Fernando Urbano, Dinarte Teixeira, Henry Vare, Tiago Pinto, Neil Brummitt, Xiaolan He, Axel Hochkirch, Jaakko Hyvonen, Lauri Kaila, Aino Juslen, Pedro Cardoso
Summary: Species differ in their biological susceptibility to extinction, and the set of traits determining susceptibility also varies across taxa. In this study, the generality of trait-based prediction of extinction risk was analyzed across terrestrial vertebrates, invertebrates and plants at a global scale. The results showed that high habitat specificity, slow life-history traits, and poor dispersal ability are common predictors of extinction risk. However, the universality of these predictors needs further support with additional data.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Slobodan Ivkovic, Dragan Chobanov, Laslo Horvat, Ionut Stefan Iorgu, Axel Hochkirch
Summary: Our study on Isophya modestior reveals significant differentiation in the male calling song between two distinct groups distributed in the Balkan Peninsula and the Pannonian Basin. Further analyses also suggest differences within the second group, specifically between specimens from the Pannonian Basin and the Dinaric area.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Slobodan Ivkovic, Lara-Sophie Dey, Filippo Maria Buzzetti, Gellert Puskas, Elzbieta Warchalowska-Sliwa, Laslo Horvat, Dragan Chobanov, Axel Hochkirch
Summary: Isophya modestior is a species distributed in central and south-eastern Europe, and previous studies showed that it can be divided into two main groups based on its song and morphology. Phylogenetic and karyological analyses revealed the existence of two major clades within I. modestior with distinct differences in their karyotypes. Further cytogenetic studies are needed, especially from Fruska Gora Mt., to gain a more comprehensive understanding of chromosome evolution in this group of Isophya species.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Jeffrey A. Harvey, Kevin Tougeron, Rieta Gols, Robin Heinen, Mariana Abarca, Paul K. Abram, Yves Basset, Matty Berg, Carol Boggs, Jacques Brodeur, Pedro Cardoso, Jetske G. de Boer, Geert R. De Snoo, Charl Deacon, Jane E. Dell, Nicolas Desneux, Michael E. Dillon, Grant A. Duffy, Lee A. Dyer, Jacintha Ellers, Anahi Espindola, James Fordyce, Matthew L. Forister, Caroline Fukushima, Matthew J. G. Gage, Carlos Garcia-Robledo, Claire Gely, Mauro Gobbi, Caspar Hallmann, Thierry Hance, John Harte, Axel Hochkirch, Christian Hof, Ary A. Hoffmann, Joel G. Kingsolver, Greg P. A. Lamarre, William F. Laurance, Blas Lavandero, Simon R. Leather, Philipp Lehmann, Cecile Le Lann, Margarita M. Lopez-Uribe, Chun-Sen Ma, Gang Ma, Joffrey Moiroux, Lucie Monticelli, Chris Nice, Paul J. Ode, Sylvain Pincebourde, William J. Ripple, Melissah Rowe, Michael J. Samways, Arnaud Sentis, Alisha A. Shah, Nigel Stork, John S. Terblanche, Madhav P. Thakur, Matthew B. Thomas, Jason M. Tylianakis, Joan Van Baaren, Martijn Van de Pol, Wim H. Van der Putten, Hans Van Dyck, Wilco C. E. P. Verberk, David L. Wagner, Wolfgang W. Weisser, William C. Wetzel, H. Arthur Woods, Kris A. G. Wyckhuys, Steven L. Chown
Summary: Climate warming is a serious anthropogenic stress on the environment, exacerbating the harmful effects of other threats and potentially threatening species preservation and ecosystem services provided by biodiversity. Insects, as central components of many ecosystems, are highly affected by climate change, with effects on physiology, behavior, distribution, and interactions, as well as extreme events.
ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Howon Rhee, Katharina Hauth, Kira Greis, Ortwin Elle, Thomas Dellinger, Arthur Miller, Axel Hochkirch
Summary: Wildfires caused by climate change have negative effects on endemic insect species in Macaronesia, but one of the species has the ability to recolonize burnt areas. Reducing wildfire frequency and size, as well as restoring native vegetation, are crucial for the conservation of these two species.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Henrik Krehenwinkel, Sven Weber, Rieke Broekmann, Anja Melcher, Julian Hans, Ruediger Wolf, Axel Hochkirch, Susan Rachel Kennedy, Jan Koschorreck, Sven Kuenzel, Christoph Mueller, Rebecca Retzlaff, Diana Teubner, Sonja Schanzer, Roland Klein, Martin Paulus, Thomas Udelhoven, Michael Veith
Summary: A major limitation of current reports on insect declines is the lack of standardized, long-term, and taxonomically broad time series. This study demonstrates the utility of environmental DNA from archived leaf material to analyze temporal changes in plant-associated arthropod communities. The results suggest that insect decline may be driven by beta-diversity decay across space and time, resulting in gradual community turnover and biotic homogenization.