Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jinbo Li, Ying Zhao, Afeng Zhang, Bing Song, Robert Lee Hill
Summary: Short-term grazing exclusion may increase N2O emissions, particularly during freeze-thaw cycles. Soil liquid water content is the primary environmental factor influencing N2O emissions.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
Julien Meloche, Alexandre Langlois, Nick Rutter, Donald McLennan, Alain Royer, Paul Billecocq, Serguei Ponomarenko
Summary: Increasing surface temperatures in the Arctic have reduced the extent and duration of annual snow cover, affecting polar ecosystems. Accurate monitoring of these ecosystems requires detailed information on snow cover properties at resolutions below 100 meters. In this study, a machine learning method using topographic parameters and the Random Forest algorithm was applied to an arctic landscape, providing predictions of snow depth distributions with good accuracy.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Ryan Buron, Mark E. Hostetler, Michael Andreu
Summary: Both residential areas and urban forest fragments can provide stopover habitat for migrating birds. The study aimed to determine which species prefer urban forest fragments or adjacent residential areas during migration and whether different vertical strata guilds of birds are associated with different habitats. The results showed that under-canopy birds significantly preferred urban forest fragments, while canopy birds used both habitats more equally. Residential neighborhoods with vertical vegetation structure had more bird species. This highlights the importance of conserving and restoring certain vegetative characteristics in urban ecosystems.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Li, Xinyue Zhao, Quanhua Zhao
Summary: This paper presents a snow depth estimation algorithm for forest areas by introducing a forest phase to characterize the effect of forests on backscattering electromagnetic wave. The algorithm was verified in a study area, and the results show that it can effectively improve the accuracy of snow depth estimation in forest areas.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Israt Jahan, Tommaso Savini, Paul M. Thompson, Philip D. Round, George A. Gale
Summary: This study investigated the bird community structure and its associations with vegetation characteristics and potential human impacts in seasonal floodplain grassland along the lower Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers in Bangladesh. The results show that the diversity of grassland birds is influenced by vegetation type and height. Grazing has a negative impact on the abundance of grassland birds, while limited grass harvesting increases their overall diversity.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. W. Yang, L. M. Jiang, J. Lemmetyinen, J. M. Pan, K. Luojus, M. Takala
Summary: This study combined a microwave snow emission model with a random forest machine learning technique to retrieve snow depth over China, with optimized snowpack descriptors. The inclusion of effGS greatly enhanced the overall performance in snow depth estimation, showing better performance on a temporal scale compared to a spatial scale.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Jeongha Park, Dongkyun Kim
Summary: In this paper, a stochastic approach is proposed to simulate realistic continuous snow depth time series using a snow depth estimation model and a stochastic weather generation model. The proposed model accurately estimates snow depth by considering precipitation type, snow ratio, and decreased snow depth. The model shows high efficiency values when applied to meteorological stations in Korea and accurately reproduces standard and extreme value statistics of observed data. This model has wide applications in snow related risk analysis, data simulation for ungauged areas, and climate projection studies.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Munemasa Teramoto, Toru Hamamoto, Naishen Liang, Takeshi Taniguchi, Takehiko Y. Ito, Richa Hu, Norikazu Yamanaka
Summary: This study investigated the abiotic and biotic factors controlling soil respiration dynamics in a coastal dune ecosystem in western Japan. The seasonal dynamics of soil respiration were found to be mainly controlled by abiotic factors such as soil temperature and moisture, while the response to summer drought stress varied among different vegetation species. Additionally, the spatial dynamics of soil respiration were mainly influenced by the distribution of belowground plant biomass and autotrophic respiration.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guang-Rui Wang, Xiao-Feng Li, Jian Wang, Yan-Lin Wei, Xing-Ming Zheng, Tao Jiang, Xiu-Xue Chen, Xiang-Kun Wan, Yan Wang
Summary: Satellite passive microwave remote sensing is used to estimate snow depth and snow water equivalent, but the presence of forests introduces uncertainties. A pixel-wise forest transmissivity estimation model is proposed in this study to improve the estimation accuracy of snow depth.
Article
Agronomy
Xiaowen Ge, Jiaojun Zhu, Deliang Lu, Danni Wu, Fengyuan Yu, Xiaohua Wei
Summary: Seasonal snow cover in temperate forests provides a thermally stable and humid refuge for overwintering plants. Canopy composition affects snow depth and below-the-snow temperature. Higher proportion of Korean pine in the canopy leads to higher snow interception rate, lower peak snow depth, faster snow melting rate, and shorter snow cover duration. The performance of different forest types varies in different snowfall years and slopes.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Thaiane Weinert da Silva, Carla Suertegaray Fontana
Summary: The study found that the amount of nearby native grassland does not significantly impact the species richness and abundance of grassland birds in restoration areas. It is suggested that the vegetation structure in these restoration sites may already provide necessary resources and suitable habitat for the birds. The previous landscape features, such as continuous native grassland in the surroundings, were crucial for the recovery of vegetation structure.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Munehiro Kitazawa, Yuichi Yamaura, Kazuhiro Kawamura, Masayuki Senzaki, Satoshi Yamanaka, Masashi Hanioka, Futoshi Nakamura
Summary: The study shows that abandoned farmland plays an important role as habitat for grassland and forest species at large scales, providing a valuable alternative habitat for species whose primary habitats have been lost to agricultural expansion. Adopting a functional group approach can contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the habitat suitability of abandoned farmland and help establish appropriate conservation strategies.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pengtao Wei, Tingbin Zhang, Xiaobing Zhou, Guihua Yi, Jingji Li, Na Wang, Bo Wen
Summary: By combining meteorological, remote sensing, and environmental data, a model was developed to reconstruct daily snow depth data for the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The model showed that snow depth variations are influenced by multiple environmental factors, and it demonstrated improved accuracy in reconstructing snow depth data compared to traditional methods, especially for shallow snow depths.
Article
Forestry
Cathryn H. Greenberg, Maria Whitehead, J. Drew Lanham, Joseph Tomcho
Summary: We compared forest structure and breeding bird communities between shelterwood harvests (SW; n = 15) and mature upland hardwood forests (M; n = 16) over 17 years (Y). The study found that rapid increases in small tree stem densities and shrub cover, primarily blackberry, occurred in SW after timber harvests. Breeding birds showed higher abundance, richness, and diversity in SW compared to M, especially in the first several years post-harvest.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Clint R. V. Otto, Haochi Zheng, Torre Hovick, Max Post van der Burg, Benjamin Geaumont
Summary: This study quantifies the relationship between the market value of grasslands to commercial beekeepers and the importance of grasslands for bird conservation. It finds that grassland conversion can negatively impact beekeepers' revenue and highlights the co-benefits of grassland conservation for supporting migratory birds.
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Munehiro Kitazawa, Masayuki Senzaki, Hiroaki Matsumiya, Seiichi Hara, Haruka Mizumura
Summary: This study estimated the current population size and breeding range of the Lanius cristatus subspecies, L. c. superciliosus, within Japan through a nationwide survey. The findings revealed a drastic decline in both population and range, highlighting the urgent need to protect remaining breeding habitats and establish effective conservation strategies for this subspecies.
BIRD CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yuichi Yamaura, Robert J. Jr Jr Fletcher, Steven J. Lade, Motoki Higa, David Lindenmayer
Summary: Improving matrix movement survival has a larger impact on population vital rates than improving matrix permeability alone. Upgrading dispersal passage to provide reproduction opportunities benefits population survival the most when habitat amount is moderate, and there are synergistic effects between habitat amount and improved matrix.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Taihei Yamada, Hirokazu Urabe, Futoshi Nakamura
Summary: This study investigated the diel migration pattern of pink salmon fry in three small streams and found that they mainly migrate within a few hours after sunset, possibly to avoid predation.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Takumi Akasaka, Terutaka Mori, Nobuo Ishiyama, Yuya Takekawa, Tomonori Kawamoto, Mikio Inoue, Hiromune Mitsuhashi, Yoichi Kawaguchi, Hidetaka Ichiyanagi, Norio Onikura, Yo Miyake, Izumi Katano, Munemitsu Akasaka, Futoshi Nakamura
Summary: Biodiversity conservation and disaster risk reduction have been handled separately, but establishing new protected areas in human-inhabited lowland areas with high flood risk could be a win-win strategy for conserving freshwater biodiversity and enhancing ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (eco-DRR).
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Munehiro Kitazawa, Yuichi Yamaura, Masayuki Senzaki, Masashi Hanioka, Haruka Ohashi, Michio Oguro, Tetsuya Matsui, Futoshi Nakamura
Summary: Land cover change for agriculture is a major threat to global biodiversity. A study in Japan's Hokkaido region found that over a 166-year period, such land cover change led to significant decline in bird species richness and abundance, as well as changes in community composition. This study provides important baseline information for future conservation policies.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kei Uchida, Azumi Okazaki, Takumi Akasaka, Junjiro N. Negishi, Futoshi Nakamura
Summary: This study found that plant species resilience was higher in disturbance legacy sites compared to open habitat sites. Perennial species richness plays a crucial role in the recovery of plant diversity in these legacy sites.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Yuichi Yamaura, Akira Unno, J. Andrew Royle
Summary: Meeting the demands for food and wood with a growing human population and per-capita consumption is a crucial conservation issue, often framed as a choice between land sparing and land sharing. While most empirical studies support land sparing, rigorous experimental design and the involvement of keystone structures in habitat are necessary to determine the efficiency of land sharing. A manipulative experiment in northern Japan showed that retaining naturally regenerated broad-leaved trees during conifer plantation harvesting increased forest bird abundance, indicating that a small amount of retention can be a cost-effective on-site conservation approach for plantation management.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Masayuki Senzaki, Daisuke Aoki, Munehiro Kitazawa, Seiichi Hara
Article
Forestry
Kazuhiro Kawamura, Yuichi Yamaura, Futoshi Nakamura
Summary: Globally, early successional habitats and their associated species are declining, while plantations are expanding and can serve as early successional habitats. The Gray Nightjar in Japan breeds and forages in early successional habitats, but its populations have been decreasing. This study found that increasing young forest cover within 500m enhanced nightjar occupancy, while elevation had a negative effect. Creation of young forest in landscapes can contribute to Gray Nightjar conservation.
JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Akira Terui, Hirokazu Urabe, Masayuki Senzaki, Bungo Nishizawa
Summary: The massive release of captive-bred native species may disrupt species interactions and compromise community stability, with limited demographic benefit to the enhanced species.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Masayuki Senzaki, Haruko Ando, Taku Kadoya
Summary: This study investigated the effects of noise on the dietary richness and specializations of omnivorous grasshoppers using experimental noise manipulation and faecal DNA metabarcoding. The researchers found that noise treatment expanded the grasshoppers' dietary richness and led to dietary generalizations, which were primarily explained by the direct effect of noise and were influenced by the indirect effects of noise.
Article
Forestry
Yusuke Yamada, Yuichi Yamaura, Katsuto Shimizu, Wataru Murakami, Kazuki Nanko, Norimasa Takayama
Summary: This study examines the trade-offs between timber and non-timber ecosystem services (ESs) in different social contexts in Japan. The results show that increasing awareness of ESs among the local population can lead to a more balanced use of ESs. The study suggests that local governments can raise awareness by educating forest enterprises or providing science-based information on ESs to foresters.
Correction
Forestry
Kazuhiro Kawamura, Yuichi Yamaura, Masashi Soga, Rebecca Spake, Futoshi Nakamura
JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2022)