Article
Forestry
Patricia Adame, Iciar Alberdi, Isabel Canellas, Laura Hernandez, Ana Aguirre, Antonio Ruano, Daniel Moreno-Fernandez, Ana Isabel Gonzalez, Maria Belen Torres, Fernando Montes
Summary: Plantations of Eucalyptus species in Spain have been affected by defoliation caused by the invasive eucalypt weevil. This study used spatio-temporal Universal Kriging to examine the dynamics of defoliation damage and identify factors associated with pest presence and spread. Results show an increase in defoliation damage caused by G. platensis from 2005 to 2010, followed by a decrease until 2020. The Atlantic region is more affected by the pest, and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and monospecific stands are positively associated with its incidence.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fabrina Bolzan Martins, Rafael Bitencourt Benassi, Roger Rodrigues Torres, Francisco Agustinho de Brito Neto
Summary: This study analyzed the impact of global warming on water availability in South America, finding that most regions will face water deficits, particularly impacting Eucalyptus plantations. Only a few regions in South America will not suffer from water shortages and will have less impact on Eucalyptus plantations. Urgent and effective adaptation measures are needed for the forestry industry.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
Jose Miguel Reichert, Jose Carlos de Deus Junior, Norton Borges Junior, Rosane Barbosa Lopes Cavalcante
Summary: Hydrologic data collected since 2011 in three small experimental catchments in the Pampa biome of subtropical Brazil are being used to study water balance and sediment production under distinct land uses. This research aims to improve forest management practices and ensure compliance with State legislation, focusing on the controversial introduction of fast-growing forest species in the Southern Grasslands.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Arthur Prudencio de Araujo Pereira, Ademir Sergio Ferreira Araujo, Maiele Cintra Santana, Antonio Yan Viana Lima, Victor Lucas Vieira Prudencio de Araujo, Jay Prakash Verma, Elke Jurandy Bran Nogueira Cardoso
Summary: Soil enzymes play a crucial role in nutrient cycling in forest systems, and their stoichiometry can indicate nutrient limitations in the soil. This study aimed to assess the activity of enzymes in pure and mixed eucalypt plantations and determine the impact of introducing N-2-fixing trees on enzymatic stoichiometry. The results showed that N-acquiring enzymes were more active in pure eucalypt systems, while P-acquiring enzymes were favored in mixed plantations with acacia. This suggests that enzymes activity is limited by nutrient contents in pure eucalypt systems, while mixed plantations invest in P-acquiring enzymes to enhance biological N-2 fixation.
Article
Forestry
Alberto Caldeira, Alex Vladimir Krushe, Louis Mareschal, Paulo da Silva, Yann Nouvellon, Otavio Campoe, Jose Luiz Stape, Alexandra Montebelo, Greta Formaglio, Guerric le Maire, Joannes Guillemot, Jacques Ranger, Jean-Paul Laclau
Summary: The sustainable management of highly productive eucalypt plantations requires the use of fertilizers to balance nutrient exports. Our study aimed to assess the impact of management practices in these plantations on nutrient losses through deep leaching. We found that while concentrations of certain ions increased significantly after clear-cutting and fertilizer application, leaching fluxes remained relatively low throughout the rotation.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Calvin Ritter, David I. King, Stephen DeStefano, Daniel Clark
Summary: Establishment of non-native monoculture plantations is a common method to supplement native timber stocks, but it is believed to provide inferior habitat for native biodiversity. However, our study in Massachusetts showed that mature Norway spruce plantations have similar species richness as native forest habitats and support the abundance of several native conifer-dependent bird species. This suggests that small-scale plantations can coexist without negative impacts on native biodiversity.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Joao Faria, Juan S. Sanchez-Oliver, Pedro Beja, Francisco Moreira, Ines Catry, Sasha Vasconcelos, Silvia Pina, John T. Rotenberry, Luis Reino, Joana Santana
Summary: Afforestation with different tree species has distinct impacts on predation risk of grassland birds in Mediterranean farmland. The findings suggest that slow-growing agro-forest plantations with oak and pine should be favored to mitigate negative effects on breeding grassland birds in adjacent open habitats.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Tao Wang, Lingbo Dong, Zhaogang Liu
Summary: This study conducted a multi-year field study to investigate the restoration of native tree species in plantations and different types of open land in Chinese temperate forests. The results showed that the basal area of large trees was the most important factor for native tree species restoration in plantations. The importance and relevance of abiotic and biotic factors varied in different restoration periods.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Mario Vega, Peter Harrison, Matthew Hamilton, Rob Musk, Paul Adams, Brad Potts
Summary: The study found that wood density and modulus of elasticity of Eucalyptus nitens plantations increased with age, while microfibril angle decreased with age; wood density and MOE decreased with elevation, while microfibril angle increased. The variation in wood properties was mainly associated with precipitation.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Yajun Cheng, Apeng Du, Zhichao Wang, Wankuan Zhu, Shiqi Ren, Yuxing Xu, Shifu Ren
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different management strategies on soil characteristics, microbial biomass, carbon, nitrogen- and phosphorus-acquiring enzyme activities, and microbial resource requirements in degraded Eucalyptus plantations. The findings revealed that the introduction of Manglietia glauca improved soil fertility conditions and alleviated soil phosphorus limitations for soil microorganisms.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Matheus Severo de Souza Kulmann, Humberto de Jesus Eufrade-Junior, Grasiele Dick, Mauro Valdir Schumacher, Gileno Brito de Azevedo, Glauce Tais de Oliveira Sousa Azevedo, Saulo Philipe Sebastiao Guerra
Summary: The study evaluated the impact of different above and belowground biomass harvest scenarios on the nutritional sustainability of Eucalyptus clone plantations. The results showed that belowground biomass had the highest production and nutrient concentration, while stemwood and belowground biomass harvest scenarios had the lowest nutrient export values.
BIOMASS & BIOENERGY
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Nino Tavares Amazonas, David I. Forrester, Carina Camargo Silva, Danilo Roberti Alves de Almeida, Rafael Silva Oliveira, Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues, Pedro H. S. Brancalion
Summary: Mixed plantations composed of Eucalyptus intercropped with a high diversity of native tree species are a promising option for combining biodiversity recovery with wood production during forest landscape restoration. Research in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil showed that well-managed mixed plantations can effectively utilize light and nutrients, providing a viable silvicultural solution for offsetting the costs of forest landscape restoration in the tropics.
Article
Plant Sciences
Joannes Guillemot, Veronica Asensio, Bruno Bordron, Yann Nouvellon, Guerric le Maire, Jean-Pierre Bouillet, Jean-Christophe Domec, Juan Sinforiano Delgado Rojas, Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior, Patricia Battie-Laclau, Ivan Cornut, Amandine Germon, Jose Leonardo De Moraes Goncalves, Agnes Robin, Jean-Paul Laclau
Summary: The application of potassium fertilization in tropical plantations can increase tree growth, but it may also reduce the hydraulic compensation to growth, potentially increasing the risk of drought-induced dieback under climate change.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Don A. White, Shiqi Ren, Daniel S. Mendham, Francisco Balocchi-Contreras, Richard P. Silberstein, Dean Meason, Andres Iroume, Pablo Ramirez de Arellano
Summary: The impact of Eucalyptus plantations on water balance is believed to be more severe compared to commercial alternatives like Pinus species. However, only a few studies have directly compared the effects of Eucalyptus species and commercial alternatives on water balance. This paper presents a meta-analysis of published data and finds that, for a given climate wetness index, Eucalyptus and Pinus have similar annual water use. This study also highlights the correlation between soil depth and residuals for Eucalyptus, suggesting that the model overestimates or underestimates vegetation evaporation efficiency based on soil depth.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Forestry
Freddy Jontara Hutapea, Christopher J. Weston, Daniel Mendham, Liubov Volkova
Summary: This paper reviews the current knowledge of Eucalyptus pellita plantations and identifies management practices for optimizing productivity and maintaining sustainability. The productivity of E. pellita plantations ranges from 9.4 to 34.9 m3/ha/year, with higher rainfall regions being more productive. Site-specific management practices and genetic improvement are important for optimizing E. pellita growth. There are research gaps in understanding residue management, intercropping, coppices, and water use of E. pellita.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biology
Martin A. Knight, Michael R. Hutchings, Piran C. L. White, Ross S. Davidson, Glenn Marion
Summary: Trade can contribute to the spread of disease, but our novel mechanistic models show that farms can adapt and minimize disruptions in trade. However, these adaptations hinder the effectiveness of disease control measures.
JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Laura J. Harrison, Katie A. Pearson, Christopher J. Wheatley, Jane K. Hill, Lorraine Maltby, Claudia Rivetti, Lucy Speirs, Piran C. L. White
Summary: This study reviewed the published literature to identify potential functional indicators of down-the-drain chemical stress and improve the ecological relevance of ecological risk assessment (ERA). The researchers found variations in the use of the term ecosystem function and emphasized the importance of distinguishing measures of processes from measures of the capacity for processes. They suggested that including indicators directly connected to processes can enhance the detection of impacts on ecosystem functioning. Leaf litter breakdown, oxygen production, carbon dioxide consumption, and biomass production were identified as potential functional indicators. However, further study is needed to fully implement and interpret these measures within an ERA and regulatory context.
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pedro Horta, Helena Raposeira, Adrian Banos, Carlos Ibanez, Orly Razgour, Hugo Rebelo, Javier Juste
Summary: The study investigated the impact of introgressive hybridization on the morphology of cryptic Iberian Eptesicus bats coexisting in sympatry. It found that introgressive hybridization may contribute to species adaptation to ecological space and affect morphological traits under selection.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Joana Cruz, Guangquan Li, Maria Jose Aragon, Peter A. Coventry, Rowena Jacobs, Stephanie L. Prady, Piran C. L. White
Summary: This study evaluates the association between the availability and proximity of green and blue space and the prevalence of serious mental illnesses in adult population in England. The results suggest that higher levels of air pollution, deprivation, and a higher proportion of ethnic minorities are associated with a higher prevalence of these mental illnesses.
Review
Biology
Francesca Festa, Leonardo Ancillotto, Luca Santini, Michela Pacifici, Ricardo Rocha, Nia Toshkova, Francisco Amorim, Ana Benitez-Lopez, Adi Domer, Daniela Hamidovic, Stephanie Kramer-Schadt, Fiona Mathews, Viktoriia Radchuk, Hugo Rebelo, Ireneusz Ruczynski, Estelle Solem, Asaf Tsoar, Danilo Russo, Orly Razgour
Summary: Understanding how species respond to climate change is crucial, and bats are particularly sensitive to climate change due to their biology. However, research on bat responses to climate change is geographically biased and lacking in empirical studies. Range shifts and changes in species diversity are the most commonly reported responses, but the outcomes vary among different bat families. More empirical studies and standardized study designs are needed to have a comprehensive understanding of bat responses to climate change.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Mahima Hemnani, David Rodrigues, Nuno Santos, Sergio Santos-Silva, Maria Ester Figueiredo, Pedro Henriques, Joana Ferreira-e-Silva, Hugo Rebelo, Patricia Poeta, Gertrude Thompson, Joao R. Mesquita
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the diversity of coronaviruses in migratory ducks from Portugal. By collecting duck stool samples, 23 gamma coronaviruses and 1 delta coronavirus were identified. The research suggests that migratory birds can disperse pathogenic microorganisms through migration.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Diogo F. Ferreira, Crinan Jarrett, Alain Christel Wandji, Patrick Jules Atagana, Hugo Rebelo, Bea Maas, Luke L. Powell
Summary: Central/West Africa is biodiverse, produces most of the world's chocolate, and suffers significant losses from cacao pests and diseases. This study highlights the role of flying vertebrates in suppressing pests in cacao plantations and shows that their effectiveness depends on shade tree management.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(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
Environmental Sciences
Denis Medinas, Vera Ribeiro, Soraia Barbosa, Francesco Valerio, Joao Tiago Marques, Hugo Rebelo, Joana Pauperio, Sara Santos, Antonio Mira
Summary: The landscape has significant effects on the gene flow and relatedness structure of the endangered lesser horseshoe bat. There is evidence of sex-biased dispersal, with less relatedness among females in roosts located near roads. High tree density and continuity of forest patches promote relatedness among individuals.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(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
Biodiversity Conservation
Christopher J. Wheatley, Colin M. Beale, Piran C. L. White, Adrian Villasenor, Adriana Sanchez, Charles A. Cunningham, Jane K. Hill
Summary: Tropical montane ecosystems are highly vulnerable to global climate change, but species-level conservation vulnerability assessments often neglect climate threats. This study examines the need to revise current assessments to account for climate change threats to bird species in the Colombian paramo.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Diogo F. Ferreira, Alexandra Darling, Crinan Jarrett, Patrick Jules Atagana, Phallin Romeal Sandjo, Hermann Taedoumg, Andreanna J. Welch, Hugo Rebelo, Luke L. Powell
Summary: This study investigated the impact of cocoa farm management on bat diversity metrics in African cocoa farms. The results showed that shade tree cover and height were the main drivers associated with an increase in bat diversity. Fruit-eating and nectar-feeding bats were positively associated with planted shade trees, while richness varied with the size of shade trees. The findings suggest that policymakers should promote cocoa management systems that include forest and planted shade trees to support a rich community of bats and maintain ecosystem services.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Diana E. Bowler, Charles A. Cunningham, Colin M. Beale, Lisa Emberson, Jane K. Hill, Merryn Hunt, Lindsay Maskell, Charlotte L. Outhwaite, Piran C. L. White, Michael J. O. Pocock
Summary: Woodland cover in Britain has increased and is expected to continue increasing through creation schemes. However, the impact on species, especially invertebrates, has not been thoroughly assessed.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Mahima Hemnani, Priscilla Gomes da Silva, Gertrude Thompson, Patricia Poeta, Hugo Rebelo, Joao R. Mesquita
Summary: This study investigated the presence of coronaviruses in four species of cave-dwelling bats in Portugal. The results showed that coronaviruses were more easily detected in fecal samples compared to anal and buccal swab samples. No coronaviruses were detected in the air samples. This study highlights the importance of continuous surveillance for novel coronaviruses in bat populations globally.
Article
Ecology
Helena Raposeira, Pedro Horta, Ruben Heleno, Hugo Rebelo
Summary: Understanding the temporal and spatial dynamics of biological communities in response to environmental drivers is crucial for predicting the impact of environmental change on biodiversity. In this study, we examined bat diversity across an altitudinal gradient and identified the main environmental factors shaping bat communities. By assessing species' vulnerability to foreseeable environmental changes, we found that altitude, forest cover, and shrub cover were the key drivers influencing bat communities year-round. Interestingly, the vulnerability of bats did not always align with their conservation status, highlighting the importance of considering ecological plasticity in conservation strategies.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
