Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Beyene Zewdie, Yves Bawin, Ayco J. M. Tack, Sileshi Nemomissa, Kassahun Tesfaye, Steven B. Janssens, Sabine Van Glabeke, Isabel Roldan-Ruiz, Tom Ruttink, Olivier Honnay, Kristoffer Hylander
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between genetic variation in Arabica coffee and the incidence of four major fungal diseases in southwestern Ethiopia. Results showed that the genetic composition of coffee sites was related to the occurrence of the diseases, but in a specific way for each disease. The findings provide baseline information for studying the molecular basis of disease resistance in coffee.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Robin Daelemans, Eva Hulsmans, Emily Laenen, Serge Remy, Tim Belien, Olivier Honnay
Summary: Biological pest control is seen as an important aspect of sustainable farming systems, but the influence of local management and landscape factors on natural enemy communities and pest infestations is often overlooked. Using Piecewise Structural Equation Modelling, this study examines the effects of landscape composition, configuration, and local management practices on natural enemy communities, their pest control services, and the resulting pest infestation and yield damage in apple crops.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Alexandra Evans, Hanne de Kort, Rein Brys, Karl J. Duffy, Jana Jersakova, Tiiu Kull, Marc-Andre Selosse, Spyros Tsiftsis, Julita Minasiewicz, Hans Jacquemyn
Summary: This study investigates the genetic structure and adaptive potential of the terrestrial orchid Epipactis helleborine. It identifies Mediterranean and Carpathian forests as glacial refugia and central Europe and Italy as important genetic sources during postglacial recolonization. The study also reveals the association between adaptive single-nucleotide polymorphisms and temperature, elevation, and precipitation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sean Hoban, Michael W. Bruford, Jessica M. da Silva, W. Chris Funk, Richard Frankham, Michael J. Gill, Catherine E. Grueber, Myriam Heuertz, Margaret E. Hunter, Francine Kershaw, Robert C. Lacy, Caroline Lees, Margarida Lopes-Fernandes, Anna J. MacDonald, Alicia Mastretta-Yanes, Philip J. K. McGowan, Mariah H. Meek, Joachim Mergeay, Katie L. Millette, Cinnamon S. Mittan-Moreau, Laetitia M. Navarro, David O'Brien, Rob Ogden, Gernot Segelbacher, Ivan Paz-Vinas, Cristiano Vernesi, Linda Laikre
Summary: The goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) have evolved to include maintaining genetic diversity, restoring genetic connectivity, developing national conservation strategies, and reporting on these using feasible indicators.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jonas Depecker, Lauren Verleysen, Justin A. Asimonyio, Yves Hatangi, Jean-Leon Kambale, Ithe Mwanga Mwanga, Tshimi Ebele, Benoit Dhed'a, Yves Bawin, Ariane Staelens, Piet Stoffelen, Tom Ruttink, Filip Vandelook, Olivier Honnay
Summary: Degradation and regeneration of tropical forests have significant impacts on gene flow and genetic structure of understorey species. However, these processes have been studied inadequately in tropical Africa. This study focused on Coffea canephora, an economically important species found in the understorey of Central and West African rainforests. The researchers aimed to quantify genetic diversity, genetic structure, and pedigree relations in wild C. canephora populations, and also investigated the associations between these factors and forest disturbance and regeneration. The results showed high genetic diversity in C. canephora populations, with no evidence of genetic erosion in disturbed old-growth forest compared to undisturbed old-growth forest. This study highlights the importance of monitoring the response of wild Robusta coffee populations to ongoing forest degradation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Danny A. P. Hooftman, Adam Kimberley, Sara A. O. Cousins, Silvia Santamaria Bueno, Olivier Honnay, Patricia Krickl, Jan Plue, Peter Poschlod, Anna Traveset, James M. Bullock
Summary: Ancient semi-natural grasslands in Europe are crucial for providing ecosystem services, and Grassland Green Infrastructure (GGI) surrounding these grasslands can supplement the provision of these services. A study investigated the potential of GGI to deliver various ecosystem services, concluding that GGI had lower delivery for conservation, pollination, and aesthetic appeal, but not for carbon storage. These differences were attributed to fewer plant species and compositional differences in GGI compared to the core grasslands. Improved management of GGI can enhance landscape-wide delivery of nature conservation value and pollination.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jonas Warson, Michel Baguette, Virginie M. Stevens, Olivier Honnay, Hanne De Kort
Summary: Habitat loss has significant impacts on reciprocal coevolution, especially for small and isolated populations. This study examined the effects of decreasing habitat patch size and connectivity on coevolutionary interactions between the Alcon blue butterfly and the marsh gentian. The results showed that habitat characteristics did not affect coevolutionary signatures in the host plants, but more pronounced signatures were observed in spatially isolated and large butterfly populations. Habitat loss can facilitate coevolution by limiting maladaptive alleles and maintaining locally beneficial ones. The study also found that the allelic richness of coevolutionary markers was decoupled from neutral markers, indicating different effects of habitat loss on coevolutionary and neutral processes. Conservation interventions are needed to preserve the dynamics of this specialized coevolutionary system by maintaining a spatial mosaic of connected and isolated habitats.
JOURNAL OF HEREDITY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sean Hoban, Jessica M. da Silva, Alicia Mastretta-Yanes, Catherine E. Grueber, Myriam Heuertz, Margaret E. Hunter, Joachim Mergeay, Ivan Paz-Vinas, Keiichi Fukaya, Fumiko Ishihama, Rebecca Jordan, Viktoria Koppa, Maria Camilla Latorre-Cardenas, Anna J. MacDonald, Victor Rincon-Parra, Per Sjogren-Gulve, Naoki Tani, Henrik Thurfjell, Linda Laikre
Summary: Recent scientific evidence emphasizes the importance of maintaining and monitoring genetic diversity for the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Three genetic diversity indicators, including non-DNA based assessments, have been proposed for reporting to the Convention on Biological Diversity and other conservation initiatives. These indicators allow for an approximation of genetic diversity using existing demographic and geographic information, informing policy decisions. Ongoing efforts in calculating and applying these indicators, as well as addressing implementation challenges, are described, highlighting the potential of using existing biodiversity observation data to report on genetic diversity.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Eva Hulsmans, Robin Daelemans, Vincent Cuypers, Elien Van Der Straeten, Marie Vanderlinden, Tim De Blanck, Win Vertommen, Margaux Boeraeve, Willem Proesmans, Olivier Honnay
Summary: Recent declines in insect pollinators due to agricultural land use are threatening ecosystem services in agroecosystems. This study evaluates the effectiveness of organic farming in perennial cropping systems by analyzing the effects of agricultural management and landscape on pollinator diversity and fruit yield in apple orchards. The results suggest that conserving and restoring semi-natural habitats and promoting landscape diversity are crucial for pollinator conservation in orchard landscapes.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Robin Daelemans, Eva Hulsmans, Lysander Fockaert, Liesbet Vranken, Luc De Bruyn, Olivier Honnay
Summary: Managing agricultural landscapes to meet both environmental and societal demands requires surveying and modeling multiple ecosystem services, quantifying the impact of agricultural management, and considering the surrounding landscape. This study evaluated the multifunctionality of organic apple orchards, orchards with integrated pest management, and semi-natural grasslands using 23 indicators for agronomical, ecological, and economic performance. The results showed that organic farming had limited beneficial effects on ecological performance but provided similar income levels as integrated pest management. The study highlights the importance of preserving semi-natural habitats within agricultural landscapes for enhancing biodiversity and biodiversity-based ecosystem services.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Paulien Verscheure, Olivier Honnay, Niko Speybroeck, Robin Daelemans, Nicolas Bruffaerts, Brecht Devleesschauwer, Tobias Ceulemans, Laura Van Gerven, Raf Aerts, Rik Schrijvers
Summary: The increase in allergies to aeroallergens is attributed to interactions with environmental and lifestyle changes, with environmental nitrogen pollution potentially being a key driver. While the ecological impact of nitrogen pollution is well understood, its indirect effect on allergies in humans is not well documented. This literature review focuses on the impact of nitrogen pollution on plant communities, plant productivity, and pollen properties, and how these changes contribute to allergy burden. The majority of studies have examined the impact of atmospheric nitrogen pollution on pollen and allergens, leading to allergy symptoms, but limited research has been conducted on the impact of soil and aqueous nitrogen pollution on pollen allergenic reactivity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yonas Ugo Utaile, Olivier Honnay, Simon Shibru Cheche, Kenny Helsen
Summary: This study evaluated three woody removal methods for controlling Dichrostachys cinerea, but none of the methods were effective enough to completely eradicate the plant and restore biodiversity.
APPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Gerba Daba, Robin Daelemans, Gezahegn Berecha, Margot W. J. Geerinck, Christel Verreth, Sam Crauwels, Bart Lievens, Olivier Honnay
Summary: This study investigated the genetic diversity of coffee leaf rust (CLR) caused by H. vastatrix in Ethiopia using genetic fingerprinting. The results showed that different coffee management systems and altitudes have significant effects on the genetic structure of CLR. The findings suggest that spore dispersal and selection pressure are likely responsible for the observed high genetic diversity and structure of CLR isolates in Ethiopia.
INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Annie Guiller, Guillaume Decocq, Thomas Kichey, Pedro Poli, Katrien Vandepitte, Francoise Dubois, Olivier Honnay, Deborah Closset-Kopp
Summary: In rural landscapes, the composition and management intensity of agricultural areas affect genetic diversity, spatial genetic structure, and gene flow in forest plant populations. This study found that low matrix permeability disrupts gene flow and decreases spatial genetic structure, particularly for forest specialist species.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Frederik Van Daele, Olivier Honnay, Steven Janssens, Hanne De Kort
Summary: Climate change and increased drought frequencies threaten forest herb populations. Habitat fragmentation disrupts climate adaptation and induces evolutionary changes in mating systems. The study found that habitat fragmentation disrupts climate adaptation and adaptive responses to drought stress.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)