Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rachel H. Toczydlowski, Libby Liggins, Michelle R. Gaither, Tanner J. Anderson, Randi L. Barton, Justin T. Berg, Sofia G. Beskid, Beth Davis, Alonso Delgado, Emily Farrell, Maryam Ghoojaei, Nan Himmelsbach, Ann E. Holmes, Samantha R. Queeno, Thienthanh Trinh, Courtney A. Weyand, Gideon S. Bradburd, Cynthia Riginos, Robert J. Toonen, Eric D. Crandall
Summary: Genomic data are being generated and archived rapidly, but a lack of spatiotemporal metadata poses challenges for genetic diversity monitoring. Only a small fraction of genomic datasets contain geographic coordinates and collection years, highlighting the need for streamlined data processes and updated policies to address the growing metadata gap.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sara Phillips
Summary: By assessing the unique traits of traded animals and their role in ecosystems, researchers can evaluate the potential impact of losses.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Robert Nasi
Summary: The cultivation of oil palm is a permanent practice, but a five-year study shows that incorporating native trees into the monoculture can enhance biodiversity and ecosystem functioning without significantly reducing crop yields. The presence of native trees benefits the plantation ecosystem while maintaining crop productivity.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emiliano Donadio, Sebastian Di Martino, Sofia Heinonen
Summary: A foundation is reintroducing native species to restore ecosystems and develop ecotourism.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lin Zhang, Jason Rohr, Ruina Cui, Yusi Xin, Lixia Han, Xiaona Yang, Shimin Gu, Yuanbao Du, Jing Liang, Xuyu Wang, Zhengjun Wu, Qin Hao, Xuan Liu
Summary: Outbreaks of zoonotic diseases are accelerating due to globalization, with alien species introductions playing a significant role. This study finds a positive correlation between the number of zoonosis events and the richness of alien zoonotic hosts worldwide, as well as associations with climate change, land-use change, biodiversity loss, human population density, and PubMed citations.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
James Reed, Koen Kusters, Jos Barlow, Michael Balinga, Joli Rumi Borah, Rachel Carmenta, Colas Chervier, Houria Djoudi, Davison Gumbo, Yves Laumonier, Kaala B. Moombe, Elizabeth L. Yuliani, Terry Sunderland
Summary: ILAs that aim to balance conservation and development need to incorporate ecological factors and consider potential trade-offs. Re-integrating ecology into ILAs will not only improve ecological understanding, but also generate insights into local and traditional knowledge. Better incorporation of the ecological dimension requires engaging relevant stakeholders using participatory methods.
Article
Biology
R. Edward Grumbine, Jianchu Xu
Summary: Accelerating declines in biodiversity and unmet targets in the Convention on Biological Diversity's Strategic Plan have sparked calls for transformative change. This change will alter the nature of work under the CBD, requiring steps such as drawing lessons from transition research, planning for climate change, reframing area-based conservation, mainstreaming biodiversity, and increasing resources to accommodate a broader range of participants.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Henrik Thurfjell, Linda Laikre, Robert Ekblom, Sean Hoban, Per Sjogren-Gulve
Summary: The study highlights the importance of genetic diversity for species adaptability and survival, emphasizing the need for monitoring to ensure maintenance. Data showed that some species may have an effective population size, while information on remaining populations or historical range was available for only 20% of species. Additionally, genetic diversity in some species is being monitored using DNA-based methods.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Amber Himes-Cornell, Juan Francisco Lechuga Sanchez, Caroline Potter, Clayton McKean, Jake Rice, Kim J. Friedman, Serge M. Garcia, Dave L. Fluharty
Summary: In 2010, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) set a target to conserve 10% of the ocean through marine protected areas (MPAs) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). However, only a few OECMs have been reported as of early 2022. Clear guidance on the scope and limits of these measures is needed to assist countries in achieving the CBD's Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. This review evaluates how area-based fisheries management measures align with the criteria for OECMs and contribute to biodiversity conservation goals.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Feilun Wu, Yuanchi Ha, Andrea Weiss, Meidi Wang, Jeffrey Letourneau, Shangying Wang, Nan Luo, Shuquan Huang, Charlotte T. Lee, Lawrence A. David, Lingchong You
Summary: Spatial partitioning modulates the dynamics of microbial communities, promoting the persistence of populations with negative interactions and suppressing those with positive interactions. An intermediate level of partitioning maximizes the overall diversity of the community.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michael H. H. Price, Jonathan W. Moore, Brendan M. Connors, Kyle L. Wilson, John D. Reynolds
Summary: The study revealed that wild sockeye salmon populations in the Skeena River watershed have declined over the past century, but the artificial enhancement of one population has offset these declines to maintain aggregate levels similar to historical ones. Population diversity has decreased by 70%, with a shift in life-history diversity. Despite stability in total returns, a reduction in spatial extent may impact local fisheries and ecosystems.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michael C. Orr, Alice C. Hughes, Mark J. Costello, Huijie Qiao
Summary: This study aims to improve the use of conservation data resources by enhancing automation and other methods. It suggests the need for a unified data system and automated workflows for integrating different types of data through cross-validation. International collaboration and capacity building are also necessary for achieving global conservation goals and resource mobilization.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sean Hoban, Catriona D. Campbell, Jessica M. da Silva, Robert Ekblom, W. Chris Funk, Brittany A. Garner, Jose A. Godoy, Francine Kershaw, Anna J. MacDonald, Joachim Mergeay, Melissa Minter, David O'Brien, Ivan Paz Vinas, Sarah K. Pearson, Silvia Perez-Espona, Kevin M. Potter, Isa-Rita M. Russo, Gernot Segelbacher, Cristiano Vernesi, Margaret E. Hunter
Summary: International agreements like the CBD are crucial for global conservation efforts, but often overlook genetic diversity, which is essential for adaptation to environmental changes. While most Parties to the CBD recognize the importance of genetic diversity, their actions mainly focus on variation within crops and livestock rather than monitoring and in situ conservation. Recommendations for future frameworks include improving awareness, assessment, and monitoring of genetic diversity for more consistent and comprehensive reporting.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Michael R. Appleton, Alexandre Courtiol, Lucy Emerton, James L. Slade, Andrew Tilker, Lauren C. Warr, Monica Alvarez Malvido, James R. Barborak, Louise de Bruin, Rosalie Chapple, Jennifer C. Daltry, Nina P. Hadley, Christopher A. Jordan, Francois Rousset, Rohit Singh, Eleanor J. Sterling, Erin G. Wessling, Barney Long
Summary: The 2020 global spatial targets for protected areas set by the Convention on Biological Diversity have almost been achieved, but management effectiveness remains deficient. Personnel shortages are widely cited as major contributing factors but have not previously been quantified. Expansion of protected areas to 30% coverage by 2030 will require a significant increase in personnel, including rangers or equivalents, for effective management.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amy K. Hahs, Bertrand Fournier, Myla F. J. Aronson, Charles H. Nilon, Adriana Herrera-Montes, Allyson B. Salisbury, Caragh G. Threlfall, Christine C. Rega-Brodsky, Christopher A. Lepczyk, Frank A. La Sorte, Ian MacGregor-Fors, J. Scott MacIvor, Kirsten Jung, Max R. Piana, Nicholas S. G. Williams, Sonja Knapp, Alan Vergnes, Aldemar A. Acevedo, Alison M. Gainsbury, Ana Rainho, Andrew J. Hamer, Assaf Shwartz, Christian C. Voigt, Daniel Lewanzik, David M. Lowenstein, David O'Brien, Desiree Tommasi, Eduardo Pineda, Ela Sita Carpenter, Elena Belskaya, Gabor L. Loevei, James C. Makinson, Joanna L. Coleman, Jon P. Sadler, Jordan Shroyer, Julie Teresa Shapiro, Katherine C. R. Baldock, Kelly Ksiazek-Mikenas, Kevin C. Matteson, Kyle Barrett, Lizette Siles, Luis F. Aguirre, Luis Orlando Armesto, Marcin Zalewski, Maria Isabel Herrera-Montes, Martin K. Obrist, Rebecca K. Tonietto, Sara A. Gagne, Sarah J. Hinners, Tanya Latty, Thilina D. Surasinghe, Thomas Sattler, Tibor Magura, Werner Ulrich, Zoltan Elek, Jennifer Castaneda-Oviedo, Ricardo Torrado, D. Johan Kotze, Marco Moretti
Summary: Cities can support diverse and distinct biological communities, but urbanization also leads to the loss of habitats and species. This global analysis on vertebrate and invertebrate species shows that urbanization causes taxon-specific changes in trait composition, with reproductive strategy traits showing the strongest response. Maximizing opportunities to support different urban trait syndromes is crucial for conservation and management programs in cities.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Ambrocio Melvin A. Matias, Iva Popovic, Joshua A. Thia, Ira R. Cooke, Gergely Torda, Vimoksalehi Lukoschek, Line K. Bay, Sun W. Kim, Cynthia Riginos
Summary: Genomic studies have revealed extensive hidden diversity in reef-building corals, which is highly underestimated in terms of evolutionary and ecological relevance. Additionally, symbiotic algae within coral host species can provide adaptive responses to environmental stress and may contribute to coral genetic variation. This study examines the genetic variation of Acropora tenuis coral host and its associated symbiotic algae across the Great Barrier Reef. The results demonstrate three distinct genetic clusters of coral hosts, associated with latitude and inshore-offshore reef position, while symbiotic algae diversity is influenced by reef location relative to shore.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Rachel H. Toczydlowski, Donald M. Waller
Summary: Inbreeding results in the expression of harmful recessive alleles, reducing fitness and causing inbreeding depression (ID). Both purging (through selection) and fixation (through drift) are expected to reduce deleterious mutations and ID in more inbred populations. However, these predictions have not been well-tested in wild populations, where the opposite fitness outcomes of purging and fixation are concerning. To address this, we studied 12 wild populations of Impatiens capensis and found that more inbred populations had fewer polymorphic loci, less fecund mothers, and smaller progeny, suggesting higher fixed loads. However, despite the presence of appreciable ID, it did not systematically decline in more inbred populations. Additionally, the relationship between heterozygosity and fitness differed in outcrossed and highly inbred populations, suggesting the presence of other forces that prevent purging and fixation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Thomas J. Richards, Katrina McGuigan, J. David Aguirre, Adriana Humanes, Yves-Marie Bozec, Peter J. Mumby, Cynthia Riginos
Summary: Global environmental change is happening rapidly, with coral reefs being one of the most threatened ecosystems. To ensure the survival of wild populations, adaptation is necessary. However, our understanding of the complex ecological and evolutionary dynamics of corals is limited, hindering predictions about their ability to adapt to future conditions.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Andre P. Samayoa, J. David Aguirre, Erwan Delrieu-Trottin, Libby Liggins
Summary: This study examined the historical biogeography of endemic marine fishes in subtropical islands of the Southwest Pacific. The results showed that most species originated in mainland Australia and that both geographical proximity and climatic differences played a significant role in determining colonization and speciation.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Graeme S. Cumming, Maja Adamska, Michele L. Barnes, Jon Barnett, David R. Bellwood, Joshua E. Cinner, Philippa J. Cohen, Jennifer M. Donelson, Katharina Fabricius, R. Quentin Grafton, Alana Grech, Georgina G. Gurney, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Andrew S. Hoey, Mia O. Hoogenboom, Jacqueline Lau, Catherine E. Lovelock, Ryan Lowe, David J. Miller, Tiffany H. Morrison, Peter J. Mumby, Martin Nakata, John M. Pandolfi, Garry D. Peterson, Morgan S. Pratchett, Timothy Ravasi, Cynthia Riginos, Jodie L. Rummer, Britta Schaffelke, Thomas Wernberg, Shaun K. Wilson
Summary: SDG 14 aims to secure marine sustainability by 2030, and understanding the changing seascape, global actions, and the collaboration between science and society are vital for achieving this goal in the Asia-Pacific region. Through a horizon scan, researchers identified nine emerging research priorities that can contribute to marine sustainability, including understanding seascape evolution, drivers of change, and the costs and benefits to people. Researchers can contribute by developing interdisciplinary understandings, emphasizing equity and justice, and improving knowledge of cross-scale processes.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Gareth B. Jenkins, Andrew P. Beckerman, Celine Bellard, Ana Benitez-Lopez, Aaron M. Ellison, Christopher G. Foote, Andrew L. Hufton, Marcus A. Lashley, Christopher J. Lortie, Zhaoxue Ma, Allen J. Moore, Shawn R. Narum, Johan Nilsson, Bridget O'Boyle, Diogo B. Provete, Orly Razgour, Loren Rieseberg, Cynthia Riginos, Luca Santini, Benjamin Sibbett, Pedro R. Peres-Neto
Summary: We urge journals to mandate archiving open data in a user-friendly format for readers. Consistent implementation will allow contributors to receive recognition through open data citation and promote scientific advancements.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalie J. Forsdick, Jana Wold, Anton Angelo, Francois Bissey, Jamie Hart, Mitchell Head, Libby Liggins, Dinindu Senanayake, Tammy E. Steeves
Summary: This article emphasizes the importance of careful and considered data management in the context of increasing accessibility to large-scale biodiversity genomic datasets. It recognizes the challenges associated with managing such datasets and provides guidance and resources for biodiversity genomics researchers.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cynthia Riginos, Marlene Jahnke
Summary: Comparative methods are crucial for understanding biodiversity distribution, yet current research primarily focuses on single species. In this study, Zbinden et al. utilized landscape genetics to investigate the landscape genomics of 31 fish species in the White River Basin, revealing the significant impact of stream hierarchy on fish population structure. These findings provide empirical evidence for conservation and fisheries management.