Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Paul R. Elsen, Earl C. Saxon, B. Alexander Simmons, Michelle Ward, Brooke A. Williams, Hedley S. Grantham, Salit Kark, Noam Levin, Katharina-Victoria Perez-Hammerle, April E. Reside, James E. M. Watson
Summary: Rapid climate change is impacting biodiversity, ecosystem function, and human well-being, resulting in changes to the distribution of terrestrial life zones, with the pace of change accelerating. These changes have already had negative consequences for social and ecological systems.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shan Zhang, Jindong Zhao, Meng Yao
Summary: Using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling from 109 water sites in Beijing, China, we detected 126 vertebrate species including fish, birds, mammals, and reptiles. The eDNA approach showed higher detection probabilities for aquatic species compared to terrestrial and arboreal species, and higher detection probabilities for lentic sites compared to lotic sites. The detection probabilities were also correlated with the size of lentic waterbodies. These findings demonstrate the potential of eDNA metabarcoding for efficient monitoring of urban vertebrate biodiversity.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Pawel Mikus, Bartlomiej Wyzga, Aneta Bylak, Krzysztof Kukula, Maciej Liro, Pawel Oglecki, Artur Radecki-Pawlik
Summary: Effective sediment entrapment in incised channels can mitigate the adverse effects of channel incision and alluvial bed substrate loss on ecosystems of mountain watercourses downstream from check dams. Restoring ecosystem balance through measures such as installing block ramps and lowering high dam reservoirs can improve physical habitat conditions and positively impact benthic macroinvertebrates and fish communities in the restoration project area.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. H. A. van Leeuwen, J. J. de Leeuw, J. J. J. Volwater, O. A. van Keeken, H. Jin, A. M. Drost, D. Waasdorp, E. Reichman, L. Ursem, E. S. Bakker
Summary: Current rates of habitat loss require science-based predictions on how to restore or newly create lost habitat types. In aquatic ecosystems, littoral zones are key habitats for food web functioning, but they are often replaced by unnatural steep shorelines for water safety. To reverse this trend, knowledge is needed on how to successfully (re)create littoral zones. We quantified the response of an aquatic food web to the large-scale creation of new heterogeneous littoral habitats in shallow lake Markermeer, the Netherlands.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Gretchen M. Luchauer, Stephanie Freeman-Day, Burnell C. Fischer
Summary: Urban development decisions can isolate streams and forests, but some cities still maintain connectivity between them. Streams are often altered or buried to make room for development, while forests are fragmented and at risk of destruction. Understanding the connectivity between urban streams and forests can lead to improved green infrastructure design and strengthen the connection between residents and the environment.
Article
Ecology
Hsi-Cheng Ho, Florian Altermatt, Luca Carraro
Summary: Understanding species distribution and interactions in river networks is crucial for scientific research and conservation. A mechanistic model integrating biological and hydrological aspects reveals that species richness is associated with nutrient load, connectivity, modularity, and omnivory, while being negatively related to connectance, nestedness, and niche overlap. However, the stochasticity of trophic interactions is a stronger predictor than spatial variables such as distance and drainage area. These patterns result from the coupled biological and physical processes in river networks.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jingjing Du, Wenrui Qv, Yulong Niu, Shuaikang Yuan, Lingyan Zhang, Huilian Yang, Yuyan Zhang
Summary: The pattern of acid rain affects the dissolution activity of heavy metals in water and poses challenges and risks to ecosystem stability. A study on the combined effects of acid rain and ZnO nanoparticles found that co-exposures significantly increased enzyme activity and fungal diversity.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Marc Peipoch, Scott H. Ensign
Summary: Riverine algal groups with distinct life histories can exhibit unique patterns of structural and functional behavior. Novel methods to differentiate between these groups can enhance the understanding of river ecosystem processes. Our study supports the use of chlorophyll and turbidity hysteresis analysis to infer the sources and transport of suspended algal biomass.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
James Major, Denielle Perry, Clare Aslan, Ryan McManamay
Summary: With increasing demand for water in the arid southwest, pressure is mounting on aquatic and riparian species that rely on riverine habitat for survival. Efforts are needed to fill gaps in protection for species like the narrow-headed garter snake, by potentially elevating NRI reaches to WSRA protection, offering needed protection for these species.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carolyn J. M. Brown, R. Allen Curry, Michelle A. Gray, Jennifer Lento, Deborah L. MacLatchy, Wendy A. Monk, Scott A. Pavey, Andre St-Hilaire, Bernhard Wegscheider, Kelly R. Munkittrick
Summary: In most countries, major development projects must undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. However, many assessments fail to link pre- and post-development monitoring effectively. Fish are important components of EIA evaluations, and the concept of Ecosystem Services (ES) provides a framework centered around the needs and benefits of fish. Focusing on the critical needs of fish in an environmental monitoring framework can better align risk, development, and monitoring assessment processes.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Allison Swartz, Dana Warren
Summary: Many headwaters in temperate North America have mid-succession riparian forests, which are recovering from historic land clearing. These young forests have simple structures compared to late-succession forests. Creating canopy gaps in the riparian forest can enhance structural complexity and provide productivity hotspots in streams, potentially increasing apex predator abundances. However, increased light may also affect stream temperature, which is important for coldwater fish. A study found that creating gaps in the riparian forest had small positive effects on adult cutthroat trout and total vertebrate biomass in streams.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Eleanor Jennings, Elvira de Eyto, Mary Dillane, Per-Erik Mellander, Fiona Regan, Robert Wilkes, Maria O'Neill, Ciprian Briciu-Burghina, Patricia Antunes, Phil Jordan, Joerg Arnscheidt, Suzanne Linnane, Valerie McCarthy, Yvonne McElarney, Daire OhUallachain, Alec Rolston, Caroline Wynne
Summary: Until recent decades, water monitoring mainly relied on laboratory analysis. However, with the advancement of technology, it is now possible to automatically monitor parameters using in-situ sensors and provide remote access to the data. High frequency monitoring captures short-term changes and long-term trends, providing new insights compared to traditional monitoring.
BIOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT-PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY
(2022)