Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Pauline Delbosc, Ilse Lagrange, Clemence Rozo, Farid Bensettiti, Jan-Bernard Bouzille, Douglas Evans, Arnault Lalanne, Sebastien Rapinel, Frederic Bioret
Summary: Research on the conservation status of coastal habitats under the EU's Habitats Directive has shown varied methods and tools, with a focus on coastal dunes in the Mediterranean biogeographic region. There are knowledge gaps in data availability and measurement methods, and the assessment process is complicated and expert-driven. Multiscalar approaches and innovative technologies like databases and remote sensing may help improve replicable methods and monitoring.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rebecca A. Senior, Brunno F. Oliveira, James Dale, Brett R. Scheffers
Summary: This study explores the conflicting roles of aesthetic value in biodiversity conservation by evaluating the aesthetics of passerines, the most speciose group of birds, using color metrics. The tropics are identified as global color hotspots, representing diverse and uniquely colored passerine assemblages. The pet trade, which currently affects 30% of passerines, targets uniquely colored species and related clusters. An additional 478 species are at risk of future trade based on their coloration and phylogenetic relationships. Modeling predicts localized losses of color diversity and uniqueness, highlighting the importance of proactive regulation of the bird trade to protect charismatic biodiversity and color hotspots.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marek Marciniak, Daniel Gebler, Mateusz Grygoruk, Joanna Zalewska-Galosz, Krzysztof Szoszkiewicz
Summary: The study aimed to assess the influence of filtration stream and hydraulic gradient on water crowfoot distribution in European rivers. The study found that the hyporheic zones covered with Ranunculus vegetation were mainly influenced by groundwater drainage. The intensity of groundwater filtration varied significantly, and the non-vegetated riverbed had a higher filtration rate compared to the zones with Ranunculus. The study provides evidence for the importance of water exchange in the hyporheic zone for the growth and conservation of Ranunculus vegetation.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Peng Wang, Wancai Xia, Enhua Zhou, Yanhong Li, Jie Hu
Summary: The wild populations of C. pictus and C. amherstiae are decreasing due to habitat fragmentation and poaching. Most suitable habitats are not in nature reserves and are highly fragmented. Recommendations are made for the Chinese government to formulate conservation plans for these species' populations.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Isabelle Anguelovski, Esteve Corbera
Summary: Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) have received significant attention in global research and policy agreements. However, there is ongoing debate over their ability to achieve environmental and social goals. Current designs often prioritize economic and elite interests, neglecting nature-inspired justice and equity.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Dorothy Hok Yau Tang, Piero Visconti
Summary: Dragonflies and damselflies, important ecological indicators, are not well-protected under the EU Habitats Directive despite facing threats and declining populations. More systematic research and monitoring are needed to address conservation gaps.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Louise Turpin, Katia Diadema, Arnault Lalanne, Maelle Le Berre, Guillaume Papuga, Olivier Argagnon
Summary: This study aims to develop a simple prioritization method for habitats and analyze their conservation values in the French Mediterranean region. The method calculates a score based on legal obligation, territorial responsibility, conservation condition, and local interests and objectives. The results highlight the high conservation priority of dune habitats and provide guidance for habitat conservation strategies.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Bernard W. T. Coetzee, Sam M. Ferriera, Izak P. J. Smit
Summary: The concept of the wilderness ethic is in a deadlock. Despite calls for action to conserve wilderness, the idea of wilderness thinking still remains separate from most major global environmental policy mechanisms. We argue that the wilderness ethic needs to evolve quickly to better reflect contemporary conservation frameworks, which focus on a people and nature-centered approach. Only by incorporating the central role and rights of people into the traditional wilderness ethic can policies effectively guide pathways towards sustainability.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Raoul Beunen, Sander Kole
Summary: The Netherlands has undergone institutional changes in implementing the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, including revisions to nature conservation laws, introduction of new policy instruments, and the establishment of shared concepts and norms. Over time, national aims and rules were replaced with new instruments, but these changes did not lead to improvements in directive implementation and instead made sustainable conservation efforts more challenging in the Netherlands.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas M. Neeson, Sean M. Wineland, Erin Phillips, Jonathan McFadden
Summary: Conservation programs come in various sizes, and their dynamics differ significantly. The changes in participation and spending in emerging programs and mature programs are driven by different factors. Legislation, shifting priorities, changes in policies or management, and individuals' willingness to participate all play a role in the changes of conservation programs.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yanjie Xu, Andy J. Green, Taej Mundkur, Ward Hagemeijer, Haitham Mossad, Herbert H. T. Prins, Willem F. de Boer
Summary: Existing international frameworks and policies for bird conservation focus more on individual sites rather than the network and connectivity between sites. We propose a three-step quantitative approach to protect bird movement connectivity from a network perspective. This approach can serve as a tool for comprehensive and dynamic monitoring of site network robustness.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mark Wiering, Sabrina Kirschke, Nasir Uddin Akif
Summary: Nutrient pollution from agriculture is a major obstacle to achieving the water quality goals of the European Water Framework Directive. This study analyzes the relationship between governance structures and the practical measures taken to address diffuse nutrient pollution, as well as the choice of policy instruments. The results suggest that the governance structures may not be as important as previously thought in determining the nature of practical measures and policy instrument choices.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jan Christian Habel, Martin M. Gossner, Thomas Schmitt
Summary: According to the study, charismatic value is higher for species listed on the EU Habitats Directive compared to species of conservation priority and not-listed species. Species of high conservation priority cover a restricted trait space and do not overlap with charismatic species.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jorge E. Ramirez-Albores, David A. Prieto-Torres, Alejandro Gordillo-Martinez, Luis E. Sanchez-Ramos, Adolfo G. Navarro-Siguenza
Summary: The study evaluated the representativeness values of Mesoamerican endemic birds within the protected area network and proposed increasing protection coverage to achieve higher representativeness values. By using different removal rules, priority conservation areas were identified, with a low overlap between current protected areas and priority areas.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Rossella Boscolo Brusa, Alessandra Feola, Federica Cacciatore, Emanuele Ponis, Adriano Sfriso, Piero Franzoi, Matteo Lizier, Paolo Peretti, Bruno Matticchio, Nicola Baccetti, Valerio Volpe, Luigi Maniero, Andrea Bonometto
Summary: The Habitat Directive of European Union recognizes the Coastal Lagoons as priority habitats due to the threat of their disappearance. Restoration of these habitats can follow natural or ecological approaches, and a methodological approach is detailed with five key issues: environmental context, desired state, policies and socio-economic context, typology of recovery, and monitoring methods. The LIFE Lagoon Refresh project in the Venice Lagoon is presented as a case study, including actions such as freshwater diversion, morphological restoration, transplants, and reduction of hunting and fishing pressures.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Julia Ramsauer, Lluis Brotons, Sergi Herrando, Alejandra Moran-Ordonez
Summary: The study investigated the use of bird-seed-dispersal indicators (BSDI) based on species distribution models (SDMs) in predicting the distribution of Viscum album. Results showed that Turdus spp. richness indicator at 3500 m scale explained up to 15% of variance, while climatic conditions and percentage of olive groves were also significant predictors. The abundance or species richness BSDI were less effective in predicting V. album distribution.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hector Abarca, Alejandra Moran-Ordonez, Dani Villero, Daniel Guinart, Lluis Brotons, Virgilio Hermoso
Summary: Despite the conservation efforts made in the European Union, the decline of biodiversity continues. The Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 aims to address this by expanding protected areas and improving their effectiveness. This study demonstrates the use of a spatial optimisation tool to design a multi-zoning scheme for the Natura 2000 network, integrating species and habitat distributions as well as human activities. The findings show little trade-offs between nature conservation and human uses, but spatial trade-offs may arise as management zones become more fragmented for larger human use targets.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biodiversity Conservation
Dale G. Nimmo, Alan N. Andersen, Sally Archibald, Matthias M. Boer, Lluis Brotons, Catherine L. Parr, Morgan W. Tingley
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Roger Puig-Girones, Lluis Brotons, Pere Pons
Summary: The study analyzes the impact of fire on open-habitat bird species and finds that the time elapsed since the fire, fire severity, and proximity of potential population sources are related to species richness. Some species show time lags in response to post-fire changes, while water deficit plays a significant role in bird occurrence.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Adriano Mazziotta, Johanna Lundstrom, Nicklas Forsell, Helen Moor, Jeannette Eggers, Narayanan Subramanian, Nuria Aquilue, Alejandra Moran-Ordonez, Lluis Brotons, Tord Snall
Summary: To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, it is necessary to increase the global terrestrial carbon sink. Forests provide various climate change mitigation solutions, such as bioenergy, bioeconomy, and protection. These different solutions have different impacts on ecosystem services, with bioenergy and bioeconomy solutions decreasing the multifunctionality of ecosystem services, while protected forests increase biodiversity and non-wood ecosystem services.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Juan Tao, Chengzhi Ding, Jinnan Chen, Liuyong Ding, Sebastien Brosse, Jani Heino, Virgilio Hermoso, Ruidong Wu, Ziwang Wang, Jiaxin Hu, Rongxiao Che, Xiaowei Jin, Songhao Ji, Dekui He
Summary: The lack of high-resolution distribution maps for freshwater species poses a fundamental challenge to biodiversity conservation worldwide. This study developed a framework to delineate the distributions of freshwater fishes in a high-resolution drainage map, revealing potential conflicts between freshwater biodiversity and human disturbances. The study emphasizes the need for expanding the network of protected areas to ensure the conservation of China's freshwater fishes and their associated ecosystems.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Maria Trivino, Alejandra Moran-Ordonez, Kyle Eyvindson, Clemens Blattert, Daniel Burgas, Anna Repo, Tahti Pohjanmies, Lluis Brotons, Tord Snall, Mikko Monkkonen
Summary: In this study, using Finland as a case study, the researchers assessed the potential supply of various ecosystem services under different management regimes and climate change scenarios. Results showed that the effects of management on the future supply of these services were, on average, 11 times higher than the effects of climate change across all services. The importance of these drivers also differed significantly between northern and southern Finland.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stefano Canessa, Jose Salgado-Rojas, Dani Villero, Lluis Brotons, Felix Amat, Daniel Guinart, Sonia Solorzano, Lluis Lopez, Xavier Comas, Virgilio Hermoso
Summary: Optimization methods are not commonly used in supporting species recovery programs, due to the difficulty in representing and optimizing complex multidimensional problems. However, a study demonstrates how integer linear programming can be used to solve such complex problems in reintroduction planning for the critically endangered Montseny brook newt, optimizing site restoration efforts, captive releases, and monitoring.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Francisco Blanco-Garrido, Virgilio Hermoso, Miguel Clavero
Summary: Historical records are important for understanding long-term changes in species distribution, but they are often scarce or found in non-scientific sources. Gazetteers could be a valuable source of historical species records, and the Madoz dictionary from the 19th century contains extensive information on geography and wildlife in Spain. The database created from this dictionary provides valuable data on freshwater fauna records, which can be used for conservation and management purposes.
REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sander Jacobs, Fernando Santos-Martin, Eeva Primmer, Fanny Boeraeve, Alejandra Moran-Ordonez, Vania Proenca, Martin Schlaepfer, Lluis Brotons, Robert Dunford, Sandra Lavorel, Antoine Guisan, Joachim Claudet, Zuzana Harmackova, Inge Liekens, Jennifer Hauck, Kasper Kok, Yves Zinngrebe, Simona Pedde, Balint Czucz, Cosimo Solidoro, Matthew Cantele, Christian Rixen, Anna Heck, Jomme Desair, Tobias Plieninger, Paula A. Harrison
Summary: This study compares the impacts of six future scenarios on sustainable development goals and biodiversity targets in Europe and Central Asia. The findings emphasize the importance of transformative change and provide insights into preferred directions for political transformation. The study also highlights the potential to avoid significant societal losses and generate multiple benefits.
Article
Environmental Studies
Virgilio Hermoso, Gerard Bota, Lluis Brotons, Alejandra Moran-Ordonez
Summary: Photovoltaic production is growing globally, but its unplanned growth often leads to conflicts with other land uses such as agriculture and biodiversity conservation. Adequate planning is urgently needed to minimize these conflicts. A case study in Catalonia, Spain demonstrates how to identify priority areas for photovoltaic development and achieve regional targets while considering agriculture and biodiversity conservation. Setting targets at the whole regional scale was the only way to achieve photovoltaic targets, but it resulted in heterogeneous distribution of development efforts and impacts. Setting targets based on available area led to the most equitable distribution while approaching the regional target. Proper planning of photovoltaic development is crucial to avoid negative impacts on other land uses.
Article
Ecology
Duarte S. Viana, Francisco J. Oficialdegui, Maria del Carmen Soriano, Virgilio Hermoso, Miguel Clavero
Summary: The study analysed the distribution and niche dynamics of the Italian crayfish in the Iberian Peninsula over the past 200 years. The distribution expanded from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century, mostly towards coastal-influenced areas. After the introduction of North American crayfish, the niche shifted towards rough mountain areas. This research highlights the dynamic nature of the crayfish's distribution and niche in the presence of invaders and explores the conditions for coexistence.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Judit Lecina-Diaz, Maria-Luisa Chas-Amil, Nuria Aquilue, Angelo Sil, Lluis Brotons, Adrian Regos, Julia Touza
Summary: In southern Europe, land abandonment and an unbalanced investment toward fire suppression have increased wildfire risk. This study combines scenario analysis, fire landscape modelling, and economic tools to identify land-use policies that can reduce wildfire-related losses in the Geres-Xures Transboundary Biosphere Reserve. The combination of High Nature Value farmlands (HNVf) and fire-smart land-use strategies is the most efficient way to reduce wildfire hazard and minimize damages.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)