Article
Mathematics
Aleksandr Abakumov, Yuri Izrailsky
Summary: This study investigates the influence of environmental conditions and fishery on a typical pelagic or semi-pelagic fish population and constructs a mathematical model of population dynamics with a size structure. The results indicate that environmental conditions affect the fish population through recruitment, and the optimal fishing effort exhibits high variability. Additionally, optimal harvesting contributes to the stabilization of population dynamics.
Article
Ecology
Robby R. Marrotte, Brent R. Patterson, Joseph M. Northrup
Summary: This study examined the drivers of moose population growth and found that negative density-dependent population growth and predation were the main factors limiting population growth. Harvest activities were also found to contribute to population declines. The study highlights the complex relationships between natural and human-caused mortality in driving ungulate population dynamics.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hunter Stanke, Andrew O. Finley, Grant M. Domke, Aaron S. Weed, David W. MacFarlane
Summary: Research has shown that over half of the most abundant tree species in the western United States have experienced population declines in the last two decades, with subalpine tree species showing particularly severe decline, indicating significant changes in forest composition and structure.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Urban Studies
Hiroki Kikuchi, Guenter Emberger, Haruo Ishida, Atsushi Fukuda, Satoru Kobayakawa
Summary: This study used a dynamic and spatial land use/transport model to simulate the impact of compact city policies on urban services and finances. The findings revealed that implementing compact city policies in the context of population decline led to widening disparities in urban and suburban public service levels and increased local government costs. Therefore, the development of compact cities requires the implementation of subsidy and preferential treatment policies to encourage residents to move to urban areas.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
C. Horswill, M. J. Wood, A. Manica
Summary: This study investigates the immigration dynamics of a long-lived colonial seabird and finds that the contribution of immigration to a declining population can have dramatic consequences, emphasizing the importance of temporal analyses of dispersal to protect population viability.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Hanna Bijl, Sandor Csanyi
Summary: This study examines the changes in abundance and harvest of fallow deer populations in Europe and analyzes the relationship between them. The research finds that both population and harvest have significantly increased, but the correlation between the two is not strong. The study also highlights the need for consistent and reliable data collection to effectively manage the growing populations of fallow deer and mitigate potential negative impacts in a holistic and responsible manner.
Article
Neurosciences
Scherazad Kootar, Md Hamidul Huque, Richard Arthur, Moyra Mortby, Kaarin J. Anstey
Summary: In a study of cognitively healthy men and women aged 60 and above, no significant association was found between anxiety symptoms and the risk of cognitive decline. Although some associations between anxiety symptoms and certain cognitive domains were identified, these associations were attenuated after adjusting for depression.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2021)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Linda Schoenborn, Thomas Thiele, Lars Kaderali, Andreas Greinacher
Summary: The study found that pathogenic antibodies in VITT patients decreased after receiving adenoviral vector Covid-19 vaccines, with improvements in platelet activation despite persistent positivity on ELISA. Additionally, 5 patients received additional vaccination without any sequelae.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michael E. Wheeler, Jeb A. Barzen, Shawn M. Crimmins, Timothy R. Van Deelen
Summary: Recent research on the impact of hunting on long-lived species populations demonstrates the rarity of strong compensatory responses. Harvesting non-territorial birds can maintain population equilibrium, but hunting territorial birds can lead to declining population sizes.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Letter
Ecology
Luke A. A. Rogers, Zachary Moore, Abby Daigle, Pepijn Luijckx, Martin Krkosek
Summary: Theory and analyses suggest that harvesting can disrupt population structure, leading to increased fluctuations. We conducted an experiment on Daphnia magna to study the effects of size-selective harvesting and stochasticity of food supply on population dynamics. Both harvesting and stochasticity increased population fluctuations. Harvesting depleted adults and induced population juvenescence, while stochasticity increased the abundance of juveniles. A fisheries model showed that harvesting led to higher reproductive rates and amplified demographic noise. These findings demonstrate that harvesting and stochasticity increase population variability and juvenescence.
Article
Forestry
Callie A. Oldfield, Jonathan P. Evans, Sarah C. Oldfield
Summary: The study reveals that the ability to sprout in oak populations can help trees survive in the understory for long periods but may also lead to the death of genetic individuals. The population as a whole shows a slow decline trend, with midstory trees shrinking over time through stem replacement or mortality.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
J. Terrill Paterson, Kelly M. Proffitt, Jay J. Rotella
Summary: The study examines the age-specific pregnancy and survival rates of elk populations and their effects on population dynamics. The results show that pregnancy rates increase with age until reaching a plateau among prime ages, while survival rates plateau among prime-aged animals and decline for the oldest ages. Additional mortality from harvest results in a shift in the age structure towards younger animals with lower pregnancy probabilities. Calf survival rates and pregnancy rates are important factors influencing population growth. The findings provide valuable insights for elk population management.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hui Shi, Fei-Fei Jin, Robert C. J. Wills, Michael G. Jacox, Dillon J. Amaya, Bryan A. Black, Ryan R. Rykaczewski, Steven J. Bograd, Marisol Garcia-Reyes, William J. Sydeman
Summary: Ocean memory, measured by the year-to-year persistence of sea surface temperature anomalies, is projected to decline due to the shoaling of the upper-ocean mixed layer depth caused by global surface warming. This decline in ocean memory results in shorter lead times for skillful predictions of sea surface thermal conditions, posing challenges for predicting climate extremes and managing marine biological resources.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Mehdi Khaki, Ibrahim Hoteit
Summary: Water scarcity and environmental challenges are affecting many parts of the world, particularly the arid Middle East region. A considerable water storage depletion is observed across the Middle East, including groundwater, not only over dryer parts but also in areas with above-average annual rainfall. The study also reveals a close link between water storage declines and other environmental factors such as dust storms and loss of vegetation canopies.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Steven P. Rossi, Sean P. Cox, Mike O. Hammill, Cornelia E. den Heyer, Douglas P. Swain, Arnaud Mosnier, Hugues P. Benoit
Summary: Research has shown that annual quotas of 6000 grey seals, with 50% of hunted seals being young of the year, can reduce predation on commercially valuable prey species, but overhunting may lead to decreased seal abundance. Strategies targeting higher proportions of young-of-the-year seals are less likely to trigger conservation concerns, but require larger quotas to achieve removal targets.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Tibebu Alemu, Cino Pertoldi, Kitessa Hundera, Argaw Ambelu
Summary: Riparian vegetation in East Africa has been severely degraded by human activities, and further research is needed to determine the factors affecting it. A study in southwest Ethiopia found that plant community composition, species richness, and diversity were lowest along streams beside agricultural land and highest along forested streams. The results highlight the importance of sustainable management for riparian vegetation conservation and restoration.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Rene Worup Rorbaek, Tobias Astell Andersen, Cino Pertoldi, Alex Jorgensen, Sussie Pagh
Summary: This study compared the diets of captive-born and wild-born mink for the first time. The diets of captive-born and wild-born mink were evaluated, and the diets of mink in mainland Denmark and the seasonal variations in diet were compared. The stomachs of 243 wild-born and 114 captive-born mink were analyzed. The study found no significant differences in the diets of captive-born mink and wild-born mink from the two populations. More empty stomachs were found during spring, indicating a diet bottleneck.
Article
Biology
Heidi Holm Hansen, Sara Sofie Bertelsen, Cino Pertoldi, Sussie Pagh, Helle Vilhelmsen
Summary: The hazel dormouse is a threatened species and understanding its ecology is crucial for conservation purposes. This study aims to compare the preferences of hazel dormice for nesting materials today compared to four decades ago and investigate their preferences for vegetation coverage at nest sites. Beech, grass, and bark are the most important nest materials in both periods, and high shrub coverage above 2 m may be of great importance for hazel dormice.
Article
Remote Sensing
Peter Povlsen, Anne Cathrine Linder, Hanne Lyngholm Larsen, Petar Durdevic, Daniel Ortiz Arroyo, Dan Bruhn, Cino Pertoldi, Sussie Pagh
Summary: Drones equipped with thermal cameras have expanded the possibilities for monitoring wildlife, particularly in the case of the declining European hare population in Denmark. This study used a DJI Mavic 2 drone with thermal imaging to investigate its efficacy in identifying and counting hares. Test flights were conducted to determine optimal flight altitudes and camera settings, and a case study over a 242 ha agricultural area validated the methodology. The results showed that thermal imaging-based drone surveys are a viable alternative to traditional counting methods for monitoring hares.
Article
Ecology
Maria Fernanda Torres Jimenez, Nicolas Chazot, Thaise Emilio, Johan Uddling Fredin, Alexandre Antonelli, Soren Faurby, Christine D. Bacon
Summary: Palms that are tall and live in humid regions are more likely to have pinnate leaves, while annual precipitation associates with pinnate shapes. Early diversification of palms was dominated by pinnate-dissected leaves, which have remained the most species-rich form throughout palm history. This study contributes to our understanding of the connection between leaf shape diversity and biological and climatic factors.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Rasmus Ostergaard Pedersen, Soren Faurby, Jens-Christian Svenning
Summary: If human-linked extinctions and extirpations had not occurred, the effects of herbivorous mammals in natural ecosystems would have been much stronger. Our study estimates that wild mammals currently consume a median of 11% of net primary productivity (NPP) in natural areas, which would have been 21% without extinctions and extirpations. These findings highlight the significant impact of species losses on ecosystem structure and functioning.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Soren Krabbe Staahltoft, Magnus Fjord Aaser, Jakob Nodgaard Strange Jensen, Ismat Zadran, Emil Birkmose Sorensen, Anders Esbjerg Nielsen, Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup, Dan Bruhn, Anne Cathrine Linder, Christian Sonne, John Frikke, Cino Pertoldi
Summary: Virtual fencing is a new method of containing livestock using GPS technology and auditory warnings and electric impulses. This study examines the effectiveness of one such system in a rotational strip grazing regime with 17 Angus bull calves, and aims to determine which calves are more likely to receive electric impulses. The system proves effective at containing the bull calves and they learn to associate the warnings with the impulses. However, there are individual differences in the number of warnings and impulses received.
Article
Ecology
Adrian Hill, Maria Fernanda Torres Jimenez, Nicolas Chazot, Cibele Cassia-Silva, Soren Faurby, Leonel Herrera-Alsina, Christine D. D. Bacon
Summary: The selection of fruit by animal dispersers with different mobility directly influences the geographical range size of plants and may impact plant diversification. Through studying palms, it was found that species with fruit colors attractive to birds have smaller range sizes, while those with fruit colors attractive to mammals have larger range sizes. Furthermore, the mobility of dispersers was not identified as the main driver of diversification in palms, and the complexity of extinction rate had a significant impact on model performance and diversification rates.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Line Holm Andersen, Christian Ransborg, Cino Pertoldi, Sussie Pagh, Simon Bahrndorff
Summary: Ecosystem engineering species like beavers play a crucial role in restoring biodiversity by building dams and lodges, altering natural hydrology, and creating multiple habitats for various organisms. A study in Klosterheden, Denmark examined the impact of beaver reintroduction on flying invertebrate biomass and moth diversity. The presence of beavers was found to influence invertebrate biomass and moth diversity, with vegetation productivity and structural heterogeneity also increasing in areas with beavers. These findings highlight the significance of beavers as ecosystem engineers that shape invertebrate species composition, riparian structure, and productivity.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biology
B. M. Farina, S. Faurby, D. Silvestro
Summary: Secondary transitions to aquatic environments are common among vertebrates, and different levels of aquatic adaptations are irreversible in fully aquatic lineages, while reversible in semi-aquatic lineages. This study also found a consistent trend towards increased body mass and a significant association with a more carnivorous diet in lineages transitioning to aquatic realms, including semi-aquatic ones, which can be explained by thermoregulation constraints and a prevalence of more nutritious diets associated with water environments.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Troels Pank Arboll, Sophie Lund Rasmussen, Nadieh de Jonge, Anne Haslund Hansen, Cino Pertoldi, Jeppe Lund Nielsen
Summary: The recent development of ancient DNA sequencing techniques has provided valuable insights into previous civilizations, but their full potential has not yet been realized. In this study, researchers extracted ancient DNA from a 2900-year-old clay brick from the palace of King Ashurnasirpal II in Nimrud, Iraq. They identified 34 unique taxonomic groups of plants, making the pioneering discovery that ancient DNA can be effectively protected and successfully extracted from well-preserved clay. Future research in this area has significant scientific prospects and could lead to a deeper understanding of ancient and lost civilizations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Anna-Sofie Lutzhoft Svendsen, Louise Bach Nielsen, Jakob Brauner Schmidt, Dan Bruhn, Line Holm Andersen, Cino Pertoldi
Summary: eDNA metabarcoding is a new method for studying the diet of wild animals. This study compared eDNA metabarcoding with microscopy to determine the diet of four species of waterfowl. It was found that combining morphological analysis and DNA metabarcoding can provide sufficient information for ecological inquiries.
Article
Remote Sensing
Peter Povlsen, Dan Bruhn, Cino Pertoldi, Sussie Pagh
Summary: Wildlife abundance surveys are crucial for nature conservation and management decisions. However, monitoring cryptic and nocturnal mammals can be challenging. In this study, a novel monitoring method using an aerial drone with laser rangefinder and high zoom capabilities was proposed. The drone method outperformed traditional spotlight count surveys in recording hare density and coverage area.
Article
Remote Sensing
Hanne Lyngholm Larsen, Katrine Moller-Lassesen, Esther Magdalene Ellersgaard Enevoldsen, Sarah Bogh Madsen, Maria Trier Obsen, Peter Povlsen, Dan Bruhn, Cino Pertoldi, Sussie Pagh
Summary: This study investigates the use of a drone equipped with a thermal camera for recognizing wild mammal species in open areas and determining the sex and age of red deer and roe deer in Denmark. The results show that the drone images can effectively distinguish different animal species based on their body measures and using thermal images is more time-efficient and less invasive for population studies of deer compared to traditional methods.
Article
Ecology
Hans Ulrik Riisgard, Rachael A. Kealy, Josephine Goldstein, Jonathan R. Brewer, Vita Solovyeva, Peter Funch
Summary: This study developed a new experimental approach to measure the individual pumping rate of choanocytes in sponges. By using live-cell imaging and particle tracking, the researchers were able to accurately measure the pumping rate of choanocytes based on the live dimensions of choanocyte chambers. The results showed that each choanocyte pumped between 54 and 68 cubic micrometers per second.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2023)