Review
Plant Sciences
Flurin Babst, Andrew D. Friend, Maria Karamihalaki, Jingshu Wei, Georg von Arx, Dario Papale, Richard L. Peters
Summary: There is a growing call for 'tree-centered' vegetation models to refine predictions of forest carbon cycling, but insufficient empirical data support for this development has been found in a global survey at flux-tower sites. A new generation of studies is urged to pair long-term ecosystem monitoring with manipulative experiments on mature trees across large environmental gradients, with the goal of building cross-scale data archives of carbon uptake and allocation. Global coordination and realistic priorities for data collection are emphasized as key factors to achieving and maintaining adequate empirical support for tree-centered vegetation modeling.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Austin Roy, Laura Gough, Natalie T. Boelman, Rebecca J. Rowe, Kevin L. Griffin, Jennie R. McLaren
Summary: Understanding the impact of small mammal structures on Arctic ecosystems is crucial for predicting global carbon and nutrient cycling. This study found that small mammal structures, such as hay piles, runways, and latrines, can increase soil nitrogen availability and influence various soil nutrient pools and enzyme activities. However, the effects vary across different regions in the Arctic tundra. Additionally, changes in the abundance and cover of these structures during different phases of small mammal population cycles may have long-lasting effects on ecosystem processes.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Electrochemistry
Francesc Valls Mascaro, Ian T. T. McCrum, Marc T. M. Koper, Marcel J. J. Rost
Summary: Platinum serves as a model catalyst in fuel cells due to its high activity, but its applicability is limited by degradation under operating conditions. Studying the oxidation and reduction of electrodes provides insights into the surface roughening and nucleation and growth of platinum nano-islands.
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
Lian Sun, Fernando Jaramillo, Yanpeng Cai, Yang Zhou, Shiyuan Shi, Yesi Zhao, Weichen Wang, Yujun Yi, Wei Yang, Zhifeng Yang, Qian Tan, Bjoern Gunnarson
Summary: Artificial impounded reservoirs in dry regions can influence local climate, altering precipitation patterns and temperature. A study on the impact of the Ertan Reservoir impoundment in China in 1998 showed enhanced tree growth near the reservoir due to favorable regional climate conditions and the reservoir's effect. Monitoring of climatic variables near reservoirs is necessary for better understanding of environmental changes.
ADVANCES IN WATER RESOURCES
(2021)
Article
Horticulture
Zhiwu Yang, Yaxin Xu, Panhui Song, Xinyu Li, Jiayun Zhou, Lijin Lin, Hui Xia, Dong Liang, Xian Luo, Huifen Zhang, Qunxian Deng, Yongqing Wang
Summary: This study investigates the effects of GABA on nutrient absorption in loquat seedlings, finding that an optimal concentration of exogenous GABA can promote growth and nutrient uptake.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manoel Lucas Machado Xavier, Johannes Gerson Janzen, Heidi Nepf
Summary: This study investigates the interactions within floating treatment island (FTI) systems using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. The findings demonstrate that FTIs significantly influence flow patterns and mass removal, with the positioning and configuration of FTIs playing a crucial role.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Zijie Wang, Hanwen Deng, Fangdong Li, Yanlin Sun, Soonkwan Hong
Summary: Grazing exclusion is an effective grassland restoration strategy, as it optimizes the soil bacterial structure and increases soil bacterial diversity. This study found that grazing exclusion significantly increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria involved in nutrient cycling, while decreasing the abundance of pathogenic bacteria. Grazing exclusion also positively correlated with vegetation biomass and diversity, as well as soil nutrient content.
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Kevin R. Soland, Lucy P. Kerhoulas, Nicholas J. Kerhoulas, J. R. Teraoka
Summary: This study investigated the short- and long-term responses of redwood physiology, growth, and forest biodiversity to restoration thinning treatments in second-growth redwood forests. The results showed that thinning treatments did not significantly impact tree water potential, increased tree stomatal conductance in the short-term, improved tree growth in the long-term, increased understory plant diversity, and had no effect on bird or mammal diversity. These findings demonstrate the potential of thinning treatments to accelerate the development of old-growth characteristics in redwood forests, providing important information for land managers and future assessments of restoration efforts.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Sofia Corticeiro, Paula Maia, Catarina Goncalves, Jan Jacob Keizer, Carlos Valente
Summary: Weed control is critical for the growth of Eucalyptus globulus and adjusting the timing of weed control can significantly increase productivity. This study emphasizes the importance of managing weeds throughout the entire growth cycle, based on the vegetation cover, to achieve maximum effectiveness.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nils Radecker, Claudia Pogoreutz, Hagen M. Gegner, Anny Cardenas, Florian Roth, Jeremy Bougoure, Paul Guagliardo, Christian Wild, Mathieu Pernice, Jean-Baptiste Raina, Anders Meibom, Christian R. Voolstra
Summary: The altered nutrient cycling during heat stress is found to be a primary driver of the functional breakdown of coral-algal symbiosis. Energy limitation and altered symbiotic nutrient cycling are key factors in the early heat stress response, directly contributing to the breakdown of the coral-algal symbiosis.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jacob M. Dybiec, Nicholas P. Danz, Deric R. Learman, Donald G. Uzarski
Summary: This study found that dissolved oxygen and specific conductance were strong predictors of denitrification potential in wetlands, while correlations with plant community composition varied amongst vegetation types. Spatial variation in denitrification potential was most strongly correlated with plant community composition, both vertically through the soil column and horizontally across the marshes. The metric-based predictive model constructed from these relationships was highly predictive of denitrification potential, providing a more accessible method for estimating denitrification in wetlands and a framework for building similar models in other wetland systems.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rafael Alcala-Herrera, Beatriz Moreno, Martin Aguirrebengoa, Silvia Winter, Ana Belen Robles-Cruz, Maria Eugenia Ramos-Font, Emilio Benitez
Summary: This study compared soils from organic and conventional vineyards and predicted functional profiles through metagenomic analysis. It found that organic viticulture enhances functions related to the cycling of organic N, P, and C substrates, while conventional management increases the potential capacity of the soil to regulate the cycling of inorganic forms of N. Organic viticulture has the potential to address climate change in the context of sustainable agriculture.
Article
Ecology
Yumei Luo, Quan Chen, Fan Liu, Can Dai
Summary: This study found that the diversity of plant communities in constructed wetlands is closely related to plant growth and nutrient removal capacity. Plant communities with diverse growth forms showed higher removal capacity for nitrogen and phosphorus, while monocultures or combinations of the same type of plant did not perform as well. Plant roots played a crucial role in nutrient consumption. Large plants showed a greater increase in biomass in polyculture environments, which greatly enhanced the absorption and assimilation of nitrogen and phosphorus.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mateus Dantas de Paula, Matthew Forrest, Liam Langan, Joerg Bendix, Juergen Homeier, Andre Velescu, Wolfgang Wilcke, Thomas Hickler
Summary: This study explored the main drivers of community assembly along an elevational gradient in highly diverse tropical rainforests by implementing plant trait variation and improved soil organic matter dynamics in a dynamic vegetation model. The results suggest that the elevational temperature gradient indirectly drives community assembly and ecosystem functioning through its effect on soil nutrient dynamics and vegetation traits. Activation of nutrient limitations to plant growth and mycorrhizal nutrient uptake were found to be crucial for realistic model predictions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samuel G. Woodman, Sacha Khoury, Ronald E. Fournier, Erik J. S. Emilson, John M. Gunn, James A. Rusak, Andrew J. Tanentzap
Summary: Defoliating insects disrupt boreal catchments by redistributing carbon and nitrogen from forests to lakes, altering biogeochemical cycles significantly. DOC reductions and DIN increases in lake waters due to insect outbreaks exceed between-year trends, indicating the importance of these outbreaks in driving biogeochemical cycles in forest catchments.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Florian Lecorvaisier, Dominique Pontier, Benoit Soubeyrand, David Fouchet
Summary: Research has found that the use of vaccines that do not entirely block pathogen transmission may lead to the evolution of more virulent strains. High vaccine coverage favors the emergence and prevalence of avirulent strains, and competition between strains is crucial for the eradication of toxigenic strains when these vaccines are used.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Monica E. Barros, Ana Arriagada, Hugo Arancibia, Sergio Neira
Summary: The stock biomass of carrot prawn in the south-central area of Chile has decreased in the past 12 years, mainly due to fishing mortality. Predation mortality has been less studied and quantified, so it is important to estimate and compare predation and fishing mortality to understand their effects on fishing stocks. A food web model was built to analyze the biomass changes and evaluate the relative contribution of different mortality factors. The results showed that predation mortality was the main component of total mortality for carrot prawns and yellow prawns.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Shubham Krishna, Victoria Peterson, Luisa Listmann, Jana Hinners
Summary: This study incorporated viral dynamics into an ecosystem model to investigate the effects of viruses on ecosystem dynamics under current and future climatic conditions. The results showed that the presence of viruses increased nutrient retention in the upper water column, leading to a reduction in phytoplankton biomass and transfer of biomass to higher trophic levels.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Zahra Dehghan Manshadi, Parastoo Parivar, Ahad Sotoudeh, Ali Morovati Sharifabadi
Summary: This study demonstrates the importance of strategies such as limiting built-up areas, preserving green spaces, and protecting water resources on the urban carrying capacity in arid and semi-arid regions. Implementing a combination of policies aimed at enhancing urban green spaces and regulating water demand is found to be the most effective in terms of health and urban carrying capacity.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Shay S. Keretz, Daelyn A. Woolnough, Todd J. Morris, Edward F. Roseman, David T. Zanatta
Summary: This study surveyed native freshwater mussels in the St. Clair-Detroit River system and found 14 live unionids representing 9 species. However, the model used to predict their presence in the main channels was not successful. The study also revealed characteristic differences between the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Zhengrong Zhang, Xuemei Li, Xinyu Liu, Kaixin Zhao
Summary: This study examines land use change in the Chinese Tianshan mountainous region using system dynamics and patch-generating land use simulation models. The results show an expansion in forest and construction land, a decline in grassland area, and an increase in cultivated land area from 2005 to 2020. By 2040, unused land, grassland, and water are expected to decrease while other land types increase, with construction land showing the most significant increase. The study provides insights for future ecological and environmental management in the region.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Amira Khelifa, Nadjia El Saadi
Summary: This paper develops an agent-based model to study malaria disease transmission, taking into account the interactions between hosts, vectors, and aquatic habitats, as well as their geographical locations. The simulation results highlight the significant role of aquatic habitats in infection transmission and disease persistence, and demonstrate the effectiveness of eliminating these habitats in limiting disease transmission.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Guillaume Peron
Summary: The theory for movement-based coexistence between species often overlooks small-scale, station-keeping movements. However, at this scale, there are many instances where positive correlations exist between species traits that are expected to be negatively correlated based on current theory. Through simulations, the researcher presents a counter-example to demonstrate that functional tradeoffs are not a necessary condition for movement-based coexistence. This study highlights the significance of species-specific space use patterns under the time allocation tradeoff hypothesis.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Sandra Y. Mendiola, Nicole M. Gerardo, David J. Civitello
Summary: Research on the use of insect microbial symbionts as a means of controlling the spread of insect vectors and the pathogens they carry has made significant progress in the last decade. This study focused on the relative importance of simultaneous effects caused by a symbiont called Caballeronia spp. on the ability of squash bugs to transmit phytopathogenic Serratia marcescens. The researchers found that infection with Caballeronia significantly reduced pathogen titers and cleared S. marcescens in bugs, thus reducing the vectoring potential of these pests. The study also showed that maximizing symbiont prevalence in the vector population is crucial for effectively mitigating plant infections.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Shirui Hao, Dongryeol Ryu, Andrew W. Western, Eileen Perry, Heye Bogena, Harrie Jan Hendricks Franssen
Summary: This study investigates the sensitivity of model yield prediction to uncertainties in model parameters and inputs using the Sobol' method. The results show that yield is more sensitive to changes in water availability and nitrogen availability, depending on soil, management, and weather conditions.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Nitika Mundetia, Devesh Sharma, Aditya Sharma
Summary: This study focused on assessing groundwater sustainability using different modeling approaches in a river basin in Rajasthan, India. The results showed a decrease in future groundwater recharge and emphasized the need for better management and conservation practices to achieve sustainable development goals.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Sukdev Biswas, Sk Golam Mortoja, Ritesh Kumar Bera, Sabyasachi Bhattacharya
Summary: Bacteria play a crucial role in regulating the nutrient cycle of ecosystems, and maintaining a thriving bacterial population is essential for the sustainability of these environments. This study introduces the concept of cooperation as a group defense mechanism employed by bacteria and incorporates it into the functional response, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the complex tritrophic food chain dynamics. The results highlight the importance of a balance between strong group defense and moderate cooperation for bacteria sustainability and overall system stability.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
D. Z. M. Le Gouvello, S. Heye, L. R. Harris, J. Temple-Boyer, P. Gaspar, M. G. Hart-Davis, C. Louro, R. Nel
Summary: This study modeled the dispersal pathways and compared potential dispersal corridors of different sea turtle species in the Western Indian Ocean. The results showed that ocean currents play a major role in driving dispersal, with species and years exhibiting differences in dispersal patterns. Active swimming had little influence on dispersal during the first year.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Review
Ecology
Yingying Duan, Haina Rong, Gexiang Zhang, Sergey Gorbachev, Dunwu Qi, Luis Valencia-Cabrera, Mario J. Perez-Jimenez
Summary: Computing models are an effective way to study population dynamics of endangered species like giant pandas. This paper proposes a unified framework and conducts a comprehensive survey of computing models for giant panda ecosystems. Multi-factor computing models are more suitable for studying giant panda ecosystems.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Samantha Lai, Theophilus Zhi En Teo, Arief Rullyanto, Jeffery Low, Karenne Tun, Peter A. Todd, Siti Maryam Yaakub
Summary: Understanding the exchange of genetic material among populations in the marine environment is crucial for conservation efforts. Agent-based models are increasingly used to predict dispersal pathways, including for seagrasses. This study highlights the importance of considering both sexual propagules and asexual vegetative fragments when evaluating seagrass connectivity.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2024)