Article
Agronomy
Elizabeth Pesiu, Gaik Ee Lee, Muhammad Razali Salam, Jamilah Mohd Salim, Kah Hoo Lau, Jean Wan Hong Yong, Mohd Tajuddin Abdullah
Summary: We investigated and compared the tree species composition and diversity of different forest types in Setiu Wetlands and Terengganu's major islands, and found variations in composition and structure among different forest types.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mariana Cardoso-Andrade, Henrique Queiroga, Mafalda Rangel, Ines Sousa, Adela Belackova, Luis Bentes, Frederico Oliveira, Pedro Monteiro, Nuno Sales Henriques, Carlos M. L. Afonso, Ana F. Silva, Bernardo R. Quintella, Jose L. Costa, Miguel P. Pais, Sofia Henriques, Marisa I. Batista, Gustavo Franco, Emanuel J. Goncalves, Miguel Henriques, Teresa Leonardo, Paula Coelho, Robert Comas-Gonzalez, Laura P. Fernandez, Carla Quiles-Pons, Andre Costa, Cristina Espirito-Santo, Joao J. Castro, Francisco Arenas, Sandra Ramos, Vasco Ferreira, Jorge M. S. Goncalves, Barbara Horta e Costa
Summary: This paper describes a structured expert-based methodology for co-defining a list of multidisciplinary Marine Protected Area (MPA) performance indicators. The proposed methodology can support future processes aiming to define and prioritize MPA performance indicators.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pierre Courtois, Cesar Martinez, Alban Thomas
Summary: In this study, a cost-benefit optimization framework for the management of invasive alien species (IASs) is proposed. The framework takes into account the spatially explicit costs and benefits of invasion control and incorporates the spatial invasion dynamics. The study applies the framework to the control of primrose willow invasion in a protected area in France and provides recommendations for targeted control on heavily invaded areas that are highly valued by users.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. Rodriguez-Rodriguez, R. Larrubia, J. D. Sinoga
Summary: The study used a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) research design to compare the effects of protected rural municipalities (cases; N = 52) versus unprotected rural municipalities (controls; N = 55) in Spain. The results showed that depopulation was generally worse in protected areas compared to unprotected areas, with some exceptions that require further exploration. Municipalities in Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) performed better in terms of rural depopulation, while those in Biosphere Reserves and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) showed mostly worse figures.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Marine
Murat Bilecenoglu, Melih Ertan Cinar
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive assessment of alien species occurrences in 11 Marine Protected Areas on the Aegean and Levantine coasts of Turkey, revealing differences in alien species composition between regions. The majority of alien species originate from the Red Sea, with the Suez Canal identified as a primary introduction pathway. Additionally, the study highlights the lack of effective protection against bioinvasions in the MPAs along the Turkish coastline.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Iram M. Iqbal, Heiko Balzter, Firdaus-e-Bareen, Asad Shabbir
Summary: The study conducted in two protected areas in Punjab, Pakistan, shows that hyperspectral remote sensing can help distinguish invasive plant species from native species, with red-edge parameters showing the highest potential for discrimination. Band combinations in the red-edge region showed the best spectral separability (85%) for all species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
A. Donnelly, D. Rodriguez-Rodriguez
Summary: Coastal protected areas in the Mediterranean Basin have been effective in conserving natural habitats and reducing land development, with the exception of Israel. Legally stringent reserves are generally more effective than multiple-use PAs, except in Albania, France, and Cyprus.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Micheli Duarte de Paula Costa, Maria Fernanda Adame, Catherine V. Bryant, Jack Hill, Jeffrey J. Kelleway, Catherine E. Lovelock, Anne Ola, Michael A. Rasheed, Cristian Salinas, Oscar Serrano, Nathan Waltham, Paul H. York, Mary Young, Peter Macreadie
Summary: Vegetated coastal ecosystems, particularly mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrasses, are effective in sequestering and storing carbon, making them valuable for climate change mitigation and adaptation. A study in Queensland, Australia estimated that the total sedimentary organic carbon stocks in the state were 569 +/- 98 Tg C, with the majority occurring in three regions. Protected areas in Queensland play a significant role in conserving these carbon assets in coastal wetlands.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Emily Erskine, Rosie Baillie, David Lusseau
Summary: Globally, there are more photos posted by more users in MPAs. Flickr users mentioned nature and wildlife topics more in MPAs. MPA photos were described more positively and were more popular.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Maria Camila Sanchez-Prieto, Antonio Luna-Gonzalez, Alejandro Espinoza-Tenorio, Hector Abelardo Gonzalez-Ocampo
Summary: This study proposes a method for projecting the impacts of ecotourism activities in protected areas in short-, mid-, and long-term scenarios. By utilizing input from expert panels and local communities to develop solutions for ecotourism, the aim is to maximize the efficacy of ecotourism activities and address challenges faced by local communities. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in promoting sustainable ecotourism and biodiversity conservation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wanqing Qian, Jianshe Chen, Qun Zhang, Changlu Wu, Qiang Ma, Brian R. Silliman, Jihua Wu, Bo Li, Qiang He
Summary: Restoration of coastal wetlands often focuses on relieving abiotic stress and preventing disturbances, while overlooking the impact of herbivorous grazers on plant recovery. Field experiments have shown that crab grazing, rather than abiotic stress, is the main obstacle to the recovery of native foundation plant species such as Scirpus maritimus. Control measures for crab grazing are essential for successful restoration, even in areas with optimal abiotic conditions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dubravka Milic, Nada Bubanja, Jordana Ninkov, Stanko Milic, Jovica Vasin, Jadranka Lukovic
Summary: The study investigated the total heavy metal content in soil and plants in Long Beach, Montenegro, identifying plant species suitable for remediation of polluted sites. It was found that underground organs exhibit higher bioaccumulation of heavy metals than aboveground parts, with certain species showing potential for phytostabilization and phytoremediation of specific heavy metals.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
David D. Hofmann, Dominik M. Behr, John W. McNutt, Arpat Ozgul, Gabriele Cozzi
Summary: This study evaluated the adequacy of KAZA-TFCA transboundary conservation area using dispersal data of African wild dogs, showing regional differences in landscape permeability related to human activities and natural geographical features. It highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts to maintain or restore connectivity, especially in areas with transboundary dispersal.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Martin Jung, Matthew Lewis, Myroslava Lesiv, Andy Arnell, Steffen Fritz, Piero Visconti
Summary: This study reveals that forest management has been largely ignored in previous conservation assessments, leading to overly optimistic species extinction risk and habitat assessments. Disturbed and human-managed forests dominate the distribution ranges of most forest-associated species. The study emphasizes the importance of explicitly considering forest management in global and regional assessments.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Minerva Singh, Charlotte Griaud, C. Matilda Collins
Summary: Thailand boasts rich biodiversity and numerous protected areas, but there are shortcomings in the protection of national ecosystems and a need for more focus on vulnerable environments and hotspot populations. The study calls for strengthening protection of high-risk areas, optimizing the existing protected area network, increasing coverage, and addressing challenges and trade-offs in the face of population growth and agricultural intensification.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Review
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Kathryn E. Smith, Michael T. Burrows, Alistair J. Hobday, Nathan G. King, Pippa J. Moore, Alex Sen Gupta, Mads S. Thomsen, Thomas Wernberg, Dan A. Smale
Summary: Climatic extremes, particularly marine heatwaves (MHWs), have become more frequent and intense due to global warming, impacting the integrity of marine ecosystems. This review explores the impacts of MHWs on individual, population, and community levels, as well as the broader ecosystem services. It also discusses current research on biological impacts, approaches to predicting and adapting to future events.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Ming Nie, Wenwen Liu, Steven C. Pennings, Bo Li
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xin Wang, Junhong Bai, Chen Wang, Tian Xie, Wei Wang, Dawei Wang, Guangliang Zhang
Summary: Our research aimed to find new resources for bacterial nitrification inhibitors (BNIs) and investigate their mechanisms of action through multiomics approaches. We discovered that leaf extracts from Suaeda salsa (both red and green phenotypes) in the Yellow River Delta showed strong nitrification inhibition ability. We identified oxalic acid (OA) and protocatechuic aldehyde (PA) as novel BNIs, constructed their synthetic pathways, identified key genes involved in their synthesis, and revealed their inhibition mechanisms on Nitrosomonas europaea using transcriptomics and metabolomics. Another finding was that PA exhibited nitrification inhibition effects in saline-alkali soil, cinnamon soil, and red soil, with the most effective inhibition in saline-alkali soil, while OA only showed nitrification inhibition effects in red soil.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Zhonghua Ning, Baoshan Cui, Cong Chen, Tian Xie, Weilun Gao, Youzheng Zhang, Zhenchang Zhu, Dongdong Shao, Dongxue Li, Junhong Bai
Summary: Understanding how geomorphic structures influence habitat invasibility is crucial for predicting invasive species range-expansion. This study focuses on the role of tidal channel meanders in regulating the invasion of Spartina alterniflora in the Yellow River Delta, China. The findings indicate that hydrodynamic variables, soil abiotic stresses, and propagule pressure play significant roles in facilitating or inhibiting Spartina invasion. The meandering geomorphic structures of tidal channels can act as stepping-stones for Spartina's landward spread.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xinxin Wang, Xiangming Xiao, Xi Zhang, Jihua Wu, Bo Li
Summary: Coastal wetlands are vulnerable to sea-level rise, extreme climate, and human activities, especially in large river deltas. This study quantified the changes in area and patch number of coastal wetlands in China's four major river deltas, and assessed the effects of driving factors. It was found that the Liaohe River Delta and Yellow River Delta experienced substantial losses, while the Yangtze River Delta showed recent recoveries. The Pearl River Delta had a relatively stable area trend but an increasing patch number trend. Protected areas were effective in halting the decreasing trends in coastal wetland areas, but were counteracted by invasive plant invasions.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ken Joseph E. Clemente, Mads S. Thomsen
Summary: Many studies have focused on quantifying the ecological impacts of individual foundation species (FS), however, emerging data suggest that the interactions between co-occurring FS can have cascading effects on surrounding communities. This study analyzed manipulative interaction experiments from 148 papers to investigate the impacts of one FS on another, and found consistent negative impacts of seaweeds on angiosperms, while angiosperms and bivalves generally had positive impacts on each other.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Marco A. Campos, Qian Zhang, Jacquelinne J. Acuna, Joaquin I. Rilling, Tay Ruiz, Elizabeth Carrazana, Cristobal Reyno, Anthony Hollenback, Katelyn Gray, Deb P. Jaisi, Andrew Ogram, Junhong Bai, Ling Zhang, Rong Xiao, Mikael Elias, Michael J. Sadowsky, Jingming Hu, Milko A. Jorquera
Summary: Lake Villarrica in Chile was declared a nutrient-saturated lake due to increased phosphorus and nitrogen levels. This study used DNA sequencing and qPCR analyses to investigate the bacterial communities in sediments from different areas of the lake. The results showed differences in bacterial richness and diversity between anthropogenized and less-impacted sediments. Functional analysis revealed important functions related to nitrogen cycling, and certain bacterial families were identified as key players. The study also detected functional genes associated with phosphorus and nitrogen cycling, and found correlations between physicochemical properties and bacterial genera involved in nitrogen and phosphorus cycling.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yuanfei Pan, Mu Liu, Alejandro Sosa, Bo Li, Mang Shi, Xiaoyun Pan
Summary: This study investigates the metacommunities of endophytic fungi in the leaves of an invasive plant and finds that the structure of these fungal communities is influenced by multiple spatial scales and different drivers. These findings are important for understanding the global patterns of fungal diversity.
Editorial Material
Biology
Lai Zhang, Cao Shen, Sheng-jia Xue, Chi Xu
PHYSICS OF LIFE REVIEWS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Philip A. Martin, Alec P. Christie, Gorm E. Shackelford, Amelia S. C. Hood, Shengyu Wang, Bo Li, William Morgan, Madeleine Lee, David C. Aldridge, William J. Sutherland
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qinghua Zhao, Paul J. Van den Brink, Chi Xu, Shaopeng Wang, Adam T. Clark, Canan Karakoc, George Sugihara, Claire E. Widdicombe, Angus Atkinson, Shin-ichiro S. Matsuzaki, Ryuichiro Shinohara, Shuiqing He, Yingying. X. G. Wang, Frederik De Laender
Summary: Temperature and biodiversity changes can affect the ecological stability of natural food webs, but their joint effects are unclear. This study assessed these effects in 19 planktonic food webs and found that warmer temperatures were associated with lower stability, while biodiversity had inconsistent effects. The responses of stability were linked to the contributions from different trophic groups and the synchrony of species within the food web.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ronny Rotbarth, Egbert H. Van Nes, Marten Scheffer, Jane Uhd Jepsen, Ole Petter Laksforsmo Vindstad, Chi Xu, Milena Holmgren
Summary: Climate change is causing a northward shift of the boreal biome, but evidence of this shift is rare. Using satellite data, researchers found that tree cover change in the North American boreal biome has a strong north-south asymmetry, with no expansion at the northern boundary but a marked increase in the core range. However, tree cover declined at the southern boundary due to wildfires and logging, indicating a possible contraction of the biome that could lead to long-term carbon declines.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Ken Joseph E. Clemente, Mads S. Thomsen, Richard C. Zimmerman
Summary: This study used high-resolution remote sensing and seascape metrics to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of intertidal and shallow subtidal seagrass meadows in 20 estuaries in New Zealand. The results showed that the distribution and extent of seagrass meadows varied over time and space, with no clear patterns observed over the 5-year period. However, some estuaries experienced seagrass expansion during periods of higher sea surface temperature.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Shengyu Wang, Philip A. Martin, Yan Hao, William J. Sutherland, Gorm E. Shackelford, Jihua Wu, Ruiting Ju, Wenneng Zhou, Bo Li
Summary: Invasive Spartina species pose serious threats to global coastal ecosystems. A global meta-analysis of 102 studies found that physical measures quickly suppressed Spartina, but their effectiveness declined over time. Chemical measures decreased the abundance and growth of Spartina to a lesser degree in the early stage, but the effectiveness increased over time. Different management measures did not significantly decrease the diversity of native biota on the whole, but native-plant diversity significantly decreased with time after physical control.
FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Remote Sensing
Xi Zhang, Xiangming Xiao, Xinxin Wang, Xiao Xu, Shiyun Qiu, Lianghao Pan, Jun Ma, Ruiting Ju, Jihua Wu, Bo Li
Summary: Biological invasions, especially by Spartina alterniflora, are significantly impacting the structure and functions of coastal ecosystems in China. Urgent efforts to control the spread of this invasive species are hindered by the lack of time-series data. By using satellite images, this study successfully generated annual maps of Spartina saltmarshes from 1985 to 2020, revealing a continuous expansion of Spartina along the coast. The invasion history and frequency of changes were found to be influenced by latitude, with low latitudes experiencing longer and more frequent invasions. Human interventions have contributed to the decline in certain areas, but natural spread remains the primary driver of its extensive invasion.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION
(2023)