Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Diana E. Bowler, Corey T. Callaghan, Netra Bhandari, Klaus Henle, M. Benjamin Barth, Christian Koppitz, Reinhard Klenke, Marten Winter, Florian Jansen, Helge Bruelheide, Aletta Bonn
Summary: This study examines the spatial bias of species occurrence records in multiple biodiversity databases in Germany and tests whether the bias in relation to land cover or land use has changed over time. The findings indicate that the proportion of records from urban areas has increased over time, while the proportion within protected areas has remained consistent. These changing sampling biases have implications for the estimation of long-term trends in species' distributions.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kang Huang, He Zhang, Chengliang Wang, Rong Hou, Pei Zhang, Gang He, Songtao Guo, Shiyi Tang, Baoguo Li, Charles Oxnard, Ruliang Pan
Summary: A systematic understanding of dynamic animal extinction trajectories in different regions of a country like China is crucial for developing practical conservation strategies. Research on terrestrial mammalian diversity in China revealed that the southwest and southeastern parts of the northwest are the most historically and contemporarily diverse areas, suggesting they should be prioritized for protected area designation.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Robert Beyer, Andrea Manica
Summary: This study combines reconstructions of global climate and land use from 6000 BCE to 1850 CE with empirical data on the spatial distributions and habitat requirements of 16,919 mammal, bird, and amphibian species to estimate changes in their range sizes over the past millennia. It found that pre-Industrial land use and climate change had small impacts on most species, with negative effects observed across all species for land use. The study also highlights that current rates of range loss exceed previous millennia's range changes significantly prior to the Industrial period.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marcel Cardillo, Alexander Skeels, Russell Dinnage
Summary: Three major global changes, namely climate change, human population growth, and land-use change, pose risks to the world's mammal biodiversity. Conservation efforts have mainly focused on species currently threatened with extinction, but there is a need to be more proactive in protecting species that may become threatened in the future. By considering the severity of threats faced by each species and their biological characteristics, we have identified species with over-the-horizon extinction risk. Our models predict that by 2100, up to 20% of nonmarine mammal species may have combinations of multiple future risk factors, with hotspots concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and southern/eastern Australia. Targeting these species with proactive conservation efforts can help prevent a new wave of mammal species from becoming threatened with extinction by the end of this century.
Article
Ecology
D. Ionescu, M. Bizic, R. Karnatak, C. L. Musseau, G. Onandia, M. Kasada, S. A. Berger, J. C. Nejstgaard, M. Ryo, G. Lischeid, M. O. Gessner, S. Wollrab, H. -P. Grossart
Summary: Local biodiversity patterns are influenced by topography, land use, nutrient supplies, and other factors. However, long-term intensive industrial agriculture can lead to a homogenization effect on biodiversity. This study used deep amplicon sequencing of environmental DNA to investigate the impact of land use on biodiversity levels and community composition in kettle holes. The results showed that land use intensification and landscape wide nutrient enrichment resulted in a homogenization of aquatic biodiversity.
ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2022)
Article
Geography
Monica Dimson, Thomas W. Gillespie
Summary: Understanding the observation process is crucial for effectively utilizing low-structure citizen science data. In this study, we examined how characteristics of observers, such as activity level and primary location, influenced the spatial and taxonomic patterns of iNaturalist participation in the Hawaiian Islands. We found that visitors accounted for the majority of observers, with enthusiastic participants predominantly being visitors. Resident observers had a stronger bias towards developed areas and areas with fewer protections. The participation rate grew exponentially until 2019, but decreased in spring 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Article
Engineering, Civil
V. Picozzi, A. Akbaba, A. M. Avossa, F. Ricciardelli
Summary: This paper highlights the issue of using downsampled data, which leads to underestimated design wind speeds. It proposes a technique to correct for this bias and improve the reliability of design wind speeds and velocity pressures. The technique is validated using datasets from four Italian meteorological stations, showing a significant increase in return velocity pressure after correction.
ENGINEERING STRUCTURES
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Charles W. Davison, Carsten Rahbek, Naia Morueta-Holme
Summary: Research shows that land-use change is one of the greatest threats to nature, but there are challenges in forming a comprehensive synthesis due to influences such as location, research methods, and taxonomic focus. Biases in taxonomy and regional representation have been identified, calling for more studies in understudied regions to capture regional differences and enhance understanding of the impacts of land-use change on biodiversity.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Tibor Eros, Judit Petrovszki, Attila Morocz
Summary: This study integrated historical data and remote sensing-based landscape analyses to understand the landscape development of a large remnant floodplain and evaluate the present-day utilization of different river-floodplain habitat types. The results showed drastic transformation of the landscape due to river regulation works, resulting in the conversion of wetlands to agricultural land and a significant decrease in aquatic habitat area. The evaluation of present-day land use indicated that protected areas have higher potential for the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity. However, past changes and present-day utilization limit conservation and restoration possibilities.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yilin Chen, Deyan Ge, Per G. P. Ericson, Gang Song, Zhixin Wen, Xu Luo, Qisen Yang, Fumin Lei, Yanhua Qu
Summary: The authors use ecological genomic, niche modelling, and landscape genetic approaches to reveal the vulnerability of alpine species to climate change. They find that climate adaptation and dispersal can determine a species' response to climate change, but quantifying their impact remains challenging.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rubens Junqueira, Marcelo R. Viola, Jhones da S. Amorim, Sly C. Wongchuig, Carlos R. de Mello, Marcelo Vieira-Filho, Gilberto Coelho
Summary: This study analyzed the performance of climate reanalysis products in precipitation estimation, hydrological modeling, and historical drought analysis in a Brazilian savanna basin. The results showed that ERA5-Land performed well in precipitation estimation, hydrological modeling, and drought prediction, and there has been an increase in dry months and a decrease in wet months in recent decades.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tim J. Arciszewski, David R. Roberts
Summary: The study used residual conductivity to assess the influence of human activities on streams in northern Alberta, and found that residual conductivity can identify broad impacts of human activity, making it a suitable monitoring tool.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marianne Cohen, Michel Godron, Raphael Cretin-Pablo, Romain Pujos
Summary: The biodiversity in Mediterranean orchards, specifically olive groves, depends on past land use rather than current conditions only. Plant community parameters and species composition mainly rely on the effects of historical land use. The perceptions of olive growers play a role in the conservation of this biodiversity.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Isaac Kyere, Thomas Astor, Rudiger Grass, Thomas Fricke, Michael Wachendorf
Summary: The subsidization of energy crops in Germany has led to an increase in biogas plant capacity and a concern over sustainability. Using Northern Hesse as a case study, the study found that biogas plant capacity and elevation are significant drivers of changes in maize area.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Andres Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Juan Camilo Villegas, Nicola Clerici, Juan Fernando Salazar
Summary: Characterizing and managing deforestation in Colombia is crucial due to the diverse ecological and socio-economic conditions that influence forest loss. Agricultural activities play a significant role in deforestation, but the impact varies among regions, while internal conflict in the country has contrasting effects on historical deforestation. Understanding spatial and temporal behaviors of deforestation drivers is essential for effective conservation and management strategies.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Arnald Marcer, Elspeth Haston, Quentin Groom, Arturo H. Arino, Arthur D. Chapman, Torkild Bakken, Paul Braun, Mathias Dillen, Marcus Ernst, Agusti Escobar, David Fichtmueller, Laurence Livermore, Nicky Nicolson, Kaloust Paragamian, Deborah Paul, Lars B. Pettersson, Sarah Phillips, Jack Plummer, Heimo Rainer, Isabel Rey, Tim Robertson, Dominik Roepert, Joaquim Santos, Francesc Uribe, John Waller, John R. Wieczorek
Summary: Natural history collections are a valuable resource for understanding life on Earth, but a large portion of the data is not fully utilized. Precise location information is crucial for ecological and evolutionary research, yet a small percentage of records are georeferenced and provide coordinate uncertainty information.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Athanasios Damialis, Stefanie Gilles, Mikhail Sofiev, Viktoria Sofieva, Franziska Kolek, Daniela Bayr, Maria P. Plaza, Vivien Leier-Wirtz, Sigrid Kaschuba, Lewis H. Ziska, Leonard Bielory, Laszlo Makra, Maria del Mar Trigo, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
Summary: The study found that high pollen concentrations may lead to increased infection rates of SARS-CoV-2, especially in the absence of lockdown measures. Taking appropriate protective measures, such as wearing particle filter masks, can reduce the risk during high pollen concentrations.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nora Escribano, Arturo H. Arino, Andrea Pino-del-Carpio, David Galicia, Rafael Miranda
Summary: Zoos and aquariums, in addition to being preservation and entertainment enterprises, are also actors in the effort to address the biodiversity crisis. Through assessing trends in research topics and study organisms, as well as analyzing the growth rate of scientific papers, they demonstrate institutional efforts to increase knowledge about the species in their care.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Imanol Miqueleiz, Rafael Miranda, Arturo H. Arino, Tommaso Cancellario
Summary: IUCN Red List assessments for fish species can quickly become out of date, and in recent years, molecular techniques have provided new ways of obtaining information. The Iberian Peninsula serves as an example where reassessment of endangered freshwater fish species is needed due to patchy data coverage and higher threat levels reported within national Red Lists compared to global ones. Improved and up to date national Red Lists are essential for conservation efforts in the region.
Article
Psychology, Biological
L. Lezana, R. Hernandez-Soto, M. Diez-Leon, M. Rios, E. Baquero, D. Galicia
Summary: Early experiences in birds have a significant impact on their later behavioral phenotype and adaptation to the environment. This study found that barn owl chicks raised by humans or spent less time with their biological parents were more likely to fly towards their trainers. However, chicks that were raised the longest by their biological parents did not exhibit this behavior. The results also revealed the emergence of neophobia in barn owls between 17 and 19 days of age.
BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mario Gil-Conesa, Fares Amer, Silvia Carlos, Arturo H. Arino, Miguel A. Martinez-Gonzalez, Alejandro Fernandez-Montero
Summary: The Safe Campus Program at the University of Navarra in Spain aimed to ensure a safe return to campus during the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent outbreaks. Through COVID-19 education, campus adaptation, and PCR testing, the program successfully achieved low rates of SARS-CoV-2 infections on campus.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonio Picornell, Jesus Rojo, M. Mar Trigo, Rocio Ruiz-Mata, Beatriz Lara, Jorge Romero-Morte, Alicia Serrano-Garcia, Rosa Perez-Badia, Montserrat Gutierrez-Bustillo, Patricia Cervigon-Morales, Zuzana Ferencova, Julia Morales-Gonzalez, Estefania Sanchez-Reyes, Sergio Fuentes-Anton, Jose Sanchez-Sanchez, Ignacio Davila, Jose Oteros, Moises Martinez-Bracero, Carmen Galan, Herminia Garcia-Mozo, Purificacion Alcazar, Santiago Fernandez, Monica Gonzalez-Alonso, Estrella Robles, Anabel Perez de Zabalza, Arturo H. Arino, Marta Recio
Summary: This study analyzed the concentrations of airborne Alternaria spores at 18 sampling locations in Spain, and studied the optimal weather conditions for spore production. The results showed that temperature was the most relevant variable for Alternaria spore dispersion, with extremely warm temperatures in summer splitting the favorable period for spore production and dispersion into two separate seasons.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Arnald Marcer, Arthur D. Chapman, John R. Wieczorek, F. Xavier Pico, Francesc Uribe, John Waller, Arturo H. Arino
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of georeferencing quality for preserved specimen records served by GBIF. The results show that georeferencing quality is determined more by country of collection and publishing than by taxonomic group. The study also highlights the impact that coordinate uncertainty may have on predicted potential distributions.
Article
Biology
Monica Gonzalez-Alonso, Arturo H. Arino
Summary: Timely reporting of atmospheric pollen contents is crucial for doctors and allergy sufferers to plan treatment or preventive measures. A study of the Spanish network of pollen monitoring stations revealed gaps in data completeness, data obsolescence, and data publication. Some stations have discontinued publishing updated data, while others do not contribute to the main data aggregators, indicating the existence of obscure sites that record but do not report data. Recovering these dormant or silent sites could greatly improve the overall knowledge of pollen in Spain.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Monica Gonzalez-Alonso, Mihai Boldeanu, Tom Koritnik, Jose Goncalves, Lenz Belzner, Tom Stemmler, Robert Gebauer, Lukasz Grewling, Fiona Tummon, Jose M. Maya-Manzano, Arturo H. Arino, Carsten Schmidt-Weber, Jeroen Buters
Summary: We developed a new algorithm that can classify Alternaria spores using BAA500 automatic bioaerosol monitors. The algorithm achieved a validation unweighted mean IoU of 0.95 when trained on both original and artificially generated images. The algorithm accurately recognized the spores and the results correlated well with manual counts. It was also used to re-analyze a historical pollen monitoring dataset to fill in missing Alternaria spore counts.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Imanol Miqueleiz, Arturo H. Arino, Rafael Miranda
Summary: Freshwater habitats are crucial for biodiversity and ecosystem services, but they are under serious threats. Traditional approaches to protected areas have not effectively conserved freshwater fish. This study identifies priority sites for the conservation of irreplaceable rivers and freshwater fish, highlighting the significance of tropical rivers.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Amaia Zuazua-Ros, Leonardo de Brito Andrade, Sara Dorregaray-Oyaregui, Cesar Martin-Gomez, Juan Carlos Ramos Gonzalez, Robiel Manzueta, Bruno Sanchez Saiz-Ezquerra, Arturo H. Arino
Summary: The main goal of this article is to review the identification of pollutants expected to be exhaled through ventilation systems in residential buildings. The results show that while the use of mechanical ventilation systems has been proven to improve indoor air quality, there is a lack of knowledge about the environmental cost of this improvement, as well as a lack of quantitative studies on exhalation from buildings.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Allergy
M. Gonzalez-Alonso, M. Boldeanu, T. Koritnik, J. Goncalves, L. Belzner, T. Stemmler, R. Gebauer, L. Grewling, F. Tummon, J. M. Maya-Manzano, A. H. Arino, C. Schmidt-Weber, J. Buters
Article
Fisheries
Imanol Miqueleiz, Rafael Miranda, Arturo Hugo Arino, Elena Ojea
Summary: Biodiversity loss, accelerated by human-induced pressures, is a global problem. Overfishing, along with climate change, poses a major threat to species conservation in the marine realm. Evaluating the conservation status of top commercial marine fish species is crucial for ensuring safe standards. Although there has been a higher level of assessment for top-fished species, almost half of the species have outdated assessments. The FishBase Vulnerability Index does not provide valuable guidance for extinction threat. Collaboration with fisheries stakeholders and managers, as well as integrating new parameters from fisheries sources, is necessary for future evaluations of commercial fish species in the IUCN Red List.