Article
Ecology
Karel Mokany, Chris Ware, Skipton N. C. Woolley, Simon Ferrier, Matthew C. Fitzpatrick
Summary: This article presents a working guide to Generalized Dissimilarity Modelling (GDM) for characterizing and predicting beta diversity. It provides guidance on various aspects of GDM, including data preparation, model fitting, refinement, and assessment. The article also highlights the potential of GDM for spatial biodiversity analyses and suggests priority areas for future research and development.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jaime Burbano-Giron, Kerstin Jantke, Maria Alejandra Molina-Berbeo, Natalia Buritica-Mejia, J. Nicolas Urbina-Cardona, Lina Maria Sanchez-Clavijo, Andres Etter
Summary: Given the threats to biodiversity and limited resources for conservation, it is important to improve our understanding of uncertainty in using surrogates for representing spatial conservation priorities. This study presents a comprehensive spatial conservation approach for Neotropical biodiversity, considering surrogates for three biodiversity attributes. The results highlight the importance of using integrative information of surrogates for different levels of biodiversity in identifying priority areas for conservation.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luca Carraro, Rosetta C. Blackman, Florian Altermatt
Summary: Due to the increasing threats to riverine ecosystems, there is a need for innovative approaches to assess biodiversity across different taxonomic groups and spatio-temporal scales. Recent advancements in using environmental DNA (eDNA) data and eDNA transport models in rivers have allowed for a comprehensive understanding of riverine biodiversity, supporting conservation efforts.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Erica S. Nielsen, Maria Beger, Romina Henriques, Sophie von der Heyden
Summary: This study proposes a new framework for assessing the impact of environmental changes on species vulnerability, highlighting the importance of integrating different objectives in conservation plans. The research found that multi-objective conservation plans can counteract uncertainties associated with future vulnerabilities.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Katharine R. E. Sims, Lucy G. Lee, Neenah Estrella-Luna, Margot R. Lurie, Jonathan R. Thompson
Summary: Substantial funding is allocated to new land protection, and access to protected open space is crucial for marginalized communities. The study shows disparities in the distribution of protected open space across social marginalization dimensions. A screening tool is developed to identify communities with high social marginalization and low nearby protected open space. Incorporating environmental justice criteria in conservation prioritization processes can shift patterns of future land protection.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Boris R. Krasnov, Irina S. Khokhlova, Mathias S. Kiefer, Daniel Kiefer, Marcela Lareschi, Sonja Matthee, Juliana P. Sanchez, Georgy I. Shenbrot, Michal Stanko, Luther van Der Mescht
Summary: This study investigated patterns of changes in host-flea interactions and analyzed the environmental drivers of these changes. Different components contributed differently to the turnover of rare and common interactions, and the effects of environmental factors on turnover varied between continents, turnover components, and rare versus common interactions. The results suggest that the patterns of interaction turnover are geographically invariant, but the drivers of turnover differ due to species-specific responses to the environment.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sebastian Martinuzzi, Ashley M. Olah, Luis Rivera, Natalia Politi, Eduarda M. O. Silveira, Guillermo Martinez Pastur, Yamina M. Rosas, Leonidas Lizarraga, Paula Nazaro, Sofia Bardavid, Volker C. Radeloff, Anna M. Pidgeon
Summary: Closing the research-implementation gap is crucial for biodiversity conservation. This study in Argentina combines species distributions, human footprint data, and existing forest zoning to identify priority forest conservation areas. The research highlights the inadequacy of the current zoning scheme in protecting priority conservation areas and emphasizes the value of integrating species distributions and human footprint maps into land use plans to guide conservation efforts.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sandrine Pavoine, Carlo Ricotta
Summary: Functional traits determine species' responses to environmental change and/or determine species' effects on ecosystem functions. To include functional distinctiveness as a criterion in conservation strategies, we need formal quantification of species' degree of distinctiveness while incorporating extinction risk. Our framework is particularly relevant at the local scale, where species extinctions impact ecosystem functioning and where conservation policies are developed.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Arne Mertens, Rony Swennen, Nina Ronsted, Filip Vandelook, Bart Panis, Gabriel Sachter-Smith, Dang Toan Vu, Steven B. Janssens
Summary: This study examines the distribution, risk, and conservation status of wild banana species, finding that 11 out of 59 assessed species are vulnerable and nine are endangered. The northern Indo-Burmese region is identified as having the highest environmental suitability for most wild banana species. Assessments show that the conservation of the banana CWR is currently insufficient both in and ex situ.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Julian Resasco, Robert J. Fletcher
Summary: The study found that both spatial and environmental processes play a role in structuring ant communities. When considering landscape structure, spatial processes had a greater impact on ant community dissimilarity compared to environmental variables.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christine Hanna Lydia Schonberg
Summary: The sponge classification system relies on the functional interpretation of traditional morphologies to identify community-level changes, with growth form sponges responding to flow regimes and sediments.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kristina Floigl, Yanina Benedetti, Jiri Reif, Petr Vorisek, Federico Morelli
Summary: The current rates of land use have a significant impact on temporal changes in avian communities. Designating and managing protected areas properly is crucial in mitigating the adverse effects of these changes on species populations. Our study in Czechia shows that protected areas have higher bird species richness and lower temporal changes in avian communities. The implementation of Natura 2000 has likely facilitated the positive "umbrella" effect of protected areas on avian communities.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Luis G. Oliveira-Dalland, Laura R. V. Alencar, Leandro R. Tambosi, Paola A. Carrasco, Rhett M. Rautsaw, Jesus Sigala-Rodriguez, Gustavo Scrocchi, Marcio Martins
Summary: Despite global efforts to create new protected areas, the continuous decline in biodiversity raises questions about the effectiveness of these areas in conserving viper species in the Neotropical region. Most viper species have less than 25% of their distribution covered by protected areas, leaving them exposed to serious threats.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Konstantinos Stefanidis, Anthi Oikonomou, Georgios Dimitrellos, Dionysios Tsoukalas, Eva Papastergiadou
Summary: In addition to quantifying taxonomic diversity, studying alpha and beta functional diversity patterns in aquatic communities can enhance our understanding of ecosystem responses to environmental changes.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
Joan Gimenez, Ruben Venegas-Li, Tessa Mazor, Salit Kark, Noam Levin
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the representation equality of biogeochemical regions at different depths in the Mediterranean Sea for biodiversity conservation. Findings revealed unequal protection of biogeochemical regions across depths, with some areas not meeting global conservation targets. Certain sub-basins have higher protection levels, while non-European Mediterranean countries show lower values in protection and conservation equality metrics.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)