Article
Ecology
Bram Van Moorter, Ilkka Kivimaeki, Manuela Panzacchi, Santiago Saura, Bernardo Brandao Niebuhr, Olav Strand, Marco Saerens
Summary: Niche modeling is used to assess the effects of anthropogenic land use and climate change on species distributions and inform spatial conservation planning. The functional habitat framework integrates biotic, abiotic, and movement constraints in niche modeling using network theory, showing its superiority over traditional suitability. This framework opens up a wide range of applications in spatial conservation planning.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Daniele Tonina, James A. McKean, Daniel Isaak, Rohan M. Benjankar, Chunling Tang, Qiuwen Chen
Summary: Climate change threatens biodiversity, particularly the habitats of cold-water fishes like Chinook salmon. The decline in summer flow caused by climate change leads to reductions in habitat area and connectivity for these fishes, posing risks to population abundance and persistence.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Maia Raymundo, Ciemon Frank Caballes, Margaret M. Mayfield, Karlo Hock
Summary: Climate change is causing range shifts in species distribution, but fragmented landscapes hinder species movement. This study proposes using road verges as corridors to connect high quality habitats and facilitate species dispersal and survival.
Article
Limnology
Agustin M. De Wysiecki, Federico Cortes, Andres J. Jaureguizar, Adam Barnett
Summary: Predicting the potential distribution and connectivity of species at a global scale is important for understanding habitat availability and movement patterns. This study used environmental niche modeling to investigate the global distribution of the broadnose sevengill shark, a highly mobile temperate marine coastal species. The findings revealed suitable areas in temperate regions of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and simulated possible dispersal corridors using underwater seamount data. This study highlights the significance of global and regional data in assessing habitat suitability for species, and provides insights for studying other highly mobile species.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Felix Pellerin, Elvire Bestion, Laurane Winandy, Lucie Di Gesu, Murielle Richard, Robin Aguilee, Julien Cote
Summary: Contemporary climate change has varying effects on population dynamics depending on landscape structure. This study investigates the impacts of warm climates on lizard traits and population dynamics in habitats with different connectivity. The results show that warm climates have different effects on lizard populations depending on the connectivity among thermal habitats, and landscape fragmentation can drastically alter population responses to climate change.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
David L. Stokes, Arianne F. Messerman, David G. Cook, Leyna R. Stemle, Julian A. Meisler, Christopher A. Searcy
Summary: The study used a 19-year dataset to examine the effectiveness of current conservation efforts for the Sonoma County distinct population segment of California tiger salamanders. The results showed a 48% decrease in relative larval densities over the study period, highlighting the inadequacy of the current conservation approach and emphasizing the need for active management of preserves to effectively conserve the species.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dorothee Hodapp, Irene T. Roca, Dario Fiorentino, Cristina Garilao, Kristin Kaschner, Kathleen Kesner-Reyes, Birgit Schneider, Joachim Segschneider, Adam T. Kocsis, Wolfgang Kiessling, Thomas Brey, Rainer Froese
Summary: Driven by climate change, marine biodiversity is undergoing rapid changes, faster than those in terrestrial ecosystems. Understanding the impact of these changes on future marine life is crucial for conservation, due to increasing demands for marine resources. Our analysis predicts a decline in core habitat area for many species, with a net loss of 50% for almost half of all marine species by 2100 under the high-emission scenario. Distributional reorganization will lead to gaps around the equator for a significant number of marine species, disrupting their continuous ranges. Invasion rates in higher latitudes and polar regions will also introduce new predators and change ecosystem and food web structure. The degree of reorganization and its consequences will depend on greenhouse gas emission pathway.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tae-Sung Kwon, Cheol Min Lee, Eun-Sook Kim, Myoungsoo Won, Sung-Soo Kim, Young-Seuk Park
Summary: The occurrence change of Korean butterflies was more influenced by habitat change than climate change, with large-scale reforestation resulting in an increase in forest species and a decrease in grassland species over the past 60 years. The shift from bare-ground or grassland to forests played a key role in the occurrence of Korean butterflies, confounding any possible influence of climate change.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jody M. Taft, Bryan Maritz, Krystal A. Tolley
Summary: Climate shifts during the Quaternary Period have influenced the population structure and evolution of Psammophis snakes in southern Africa, with genetic analyses suggesting that the P. leightoni complex likely represents a single species. Paleontological modeling also indicates varying levels of connectivity between these taxa, supporting the proposal to synonymize the three species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Debra A. Patla, Charles R. Peterson
Summary: Field research and surveys have played a crucial role in documenting amphibian population declines. This study focuses on the decline of Columbia Spotted Frogs in Yellowstone National Park, finding that human activities and habitat fragmentation are the main drivers, while climate change was not a significant factor. This long-term case study serves as a cautionary tale about shifting baselines and emphasizes the impact of land use on amphibian populations.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jie Hu, Philippe Vandenkoornhuyse, Fadwa Khalfallah, Romain Causse-Vedrines, Cendrine Mony
Summary: This study investigates the effect of corridors on the dynamics of plant root endospheric fungal assemblages, and finds that connected plants have higher species richness, lower beta-diversity, and more deterministic assembly compared to isolated plants, with these effects becoming more pronounced as host plants develop.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pushpinder S. Jamwal, Mirko Di Febbraro, Maria Laura Carranza, Melissa Savage, Anna Loy
Summary: The study focused on assessing the vulnerability of three otter species in the Himalayan region to climate and land use changes until 2050. Results demonstrated that both future climate and land use changes will have significant impacts on the geographical range of the otters, with land use alterations having a more severe effect than climate change. Sensitivity was found to play a more crucial role than exposure in determining the vulnerability of the otters, indicating the importance of intrinsic components such as species sensitivity in vulnerability assessments.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shengnan Yang, Xiaoyi Wang, Junhua Hu
Summary: Amphibians are at risk of habitat loss and fragmentation due to climate change, impacting their ability to adapt. The study predicts significant habitat and connectivity losses for mountain frogs in central and southern China, with increased fragmentation and optimistic projections along the Sichuan Basin. Conservation strategies should focus on preserving climate-change refugia and habitat connectivity to ensure species persistence.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Julian Resasco, Melissa A. Burt, John L. Orrock, Nick M. Haddad, DeWayne Shoemaker, Douglas J. Levey
Summary: A study found that the effects of ecological corridors on invasive ants are transient, with the differences in fire ant density and native ant species richness between connected and unconnected habitat patches decreasing over time.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Boniface K. Ngarega, John M. Nzei, Josphat K. Saina, Marwa Waseem A. Halmy, Jin-Ming Chen, Zhi-Zhong Li
Summary: Understanding the influence of environmental covariates on the distribution of aquatic plant species is crucial, particularly in the context of climate change. This study focuses on Ottelia, an important aquatic genus, and examines the effects of climate change on its distribution in Africa. The findings highlight the significance of topography and climate variables, such as temperature and precipitation, in shaping the distribution patterns of Ottelia species. The study also emphasizes the importance of water-temperature conditions and the potential impacts of climate change on fragmentation and habitat loss. Additionally, the assessment of niche overlap provides insights into the similarities among Ottelia species. Overall, the study emphasizes the need for conservation efforts to protect natural Ottelia populations and provides valuable information for understanding the distribution of Ottelia species in Africa.
Article
Ecology
Damien A. Fordham, Stuart C. Brown, H. Resit Akcakaya, Barry W. Brook, Sean Haythorne, Andrea Manica, Kevin T. Shoemaker, Jeremy J. Austin, Benjamin Blonder, Julia Pilowsky, Carsten Rahbek, David Nogues-Bravo
Summary: Research shows that the extinction process of the woolly mammoth involved complex ecological mechanisms and factors such as climate change, with human impact playing a significant role in its demise. Humans began influencing the extinction of woolly mammoths well before the Holocene, exerting lasting effects on their population size and range.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stuart C. Brown, Camille Mellin, Jorge Garcia Molinos, Eline D. Lorenzen, Damien A. Fordham
Summary: The vulnerability of marine biodiversity to accelerated rates of ocean warming is poorly understood, but it is predicted that future warming will disproportionately affect the most speciose marine communities, potentially threatening biodiversity in more than 70% of global hotspots. Conservation actions are needed to protect marine biodiversity by facilitating the redistribution of species beyond their endemic biogeographic range.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Elisabetta Canteri, Stuart C. Brown, Niels Martin Schmidt, Rasmus Heller, David Nogues-Bravo, Damien A. Fordham
Summary: This study used multiple approaches including modern and fossil occurrence records, ancient DNA, spatiotemporal reconstructions of past climatic change, and species-specific population ecology to analyze the ecological mechanisms behind the decline and extinction of muskox in Eurasia and its expansion in North America. The results show that climatic change played a key role in driving muskox distribution shifts and demographic changes, with human activities also contributing to population declines. This research highlights the vulnerability of muskox to future warming and emphasizes the importance of using process-explicit macroecological models for the conservation and management of this iconic species in the Arctic.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Vishesh L. Diengdoh, Stefania Ondei, Rahil J. Amin, Mark Hunt, Barry W. Brook
Summary: Functional connectivity between protected areas in Australia, important for butterfly species, is predicted to decrease in future scenarios of land use, land cover, and climate change. Changes are expected to occur along the edges of species' current distribution. Results can be used for comparisons with other studies and to identify priority areas for conservation.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Luke A. Yates, Zach Aandahl, Shane A. Richards, Barry W. Brook
Summary: Specifying, assessing, and selecting statistical models are crucial for ecological research. We provide a comprehensive and accessible review on the technical aspects of cross validation for model selection, including bias correction, estimation uncertainty, score choice, and overfitting mitigation. Our recommendations include using leave-one-out cross validation or k-fold with bias correction for minimizing bias and using calibrated selection to mitigate overfitting.
ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tristan Derham, Christopher Johnson, Brianna Martin, Julia Ryeland, Stefania Ondei, Matthew Fielding, Barry W. Brook
Summary: The Tasmanian emu coexisted with Aboriginal people for thousands of years, but rapidly went extinct soon after European colonization. Research suggests that hunting activities played a major role in their extinction, and reintroducing them to Tasmania would require community support.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Matthew C. McDowell, Shane D. Morris, Christopher N. Johnson, Brianna Martin, Barry W. Brook
Summary: This study models the changes in the range of the Broad-toothed rat, Mastacomys fuscus, by using fossil, sub-fossil, and contemporary records. It reveals that Mastacomys fuscus had a wider range and occupied more diverse environmental conditions in the recent past compared to its current distribution. The contraction of the species' distribution on mainland Australia to high-elevation areas occurred rapidly and recently. The research emphasizes the importance of utilizing sub-fossil data in understanding the changes in distribution and habitat occupation of threatened species for conservation planning.
Editorial Material
Ecology
Ivan Jaric, Jessie C. Buettel, Barry W. Brook
Article
Ecology
Ivan Jaric, Ricardo A. Correia, Marino Bonaiuto, Barry W. Brook, Franck Courchamp, Josh A. Firth, Kevin J. Gaston, Tina Heger, Jonathan M. Jeschke, Richard J. Ladle, Yves Meinard, David L. Roberts, Kate Sherren, Masashi Soga, Andrea Soriano-Redondo, Diogo Verissimo, Uri Roll
Summary: Societal awareness and engagement with environmental problems are crucial for effective conservation programs. Research shows that public attention to cultural products decreases over time, which could also limit motivation for conservation efforts. This study addresses the concept of attention transience in conservation, discusses its drivers and mechanisms, and provides an overview of conservation issues for which it is particularly relevant. Attention transience allows conservationists a brief opportunity to focus public awareness and mobilize support, emphasizing the importance of tailored marketing campaigns, targeted communication, and efforts to refocus attention on key issues.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
E. M. Ringwaldt, B. W. Brook, J. C. Buettel, C. X. Cunningham, C. Fuller, R. Gardiner, R. Hamer, M. Jones, A. M. Martin, S. Carver
Summary: This study investigates the dynamics and drivers of landscape-scale wildlife disease using the case of sarcoptic mange in bare-nosed wombats in Tasmania, Australia. The research finds that the Tasmanian landscape is almost universally suitable for wombats, except in areas with high mean annual precipitation. However, the clinical signs of sarcoptic mange are widespread but heterogeneously distributed. The disease is most likely to occur in areas with high host habitat suitability, low annual precipitation, near freshwater sources, and minimal topographic roughness.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Barry W. Brook, Stephen R. Sleightholme, Cameron R. Campbell, Ivan Jaric, Jessie C. Buettel
Summary: The Thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, has become a symbol of human-induced extinction. Despite the last captive animal dying in 1936, reports of possible ongoing survival in remote regions of Tasmania capture public interest. Analysis of observational records suggests the Thylacine most likely became extinct in the late 20th century, but there is a small chance of persistence in remote areas.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas Cherico Wanger, Barry W. Brook, Theodore Evans, Teja Tscharntke
Summary: The use of pesticides on tropical crops has increased significantly in recent decades, posing a threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services. While amphibians and reptiles are common in tropical agricultural landscapes, there are few field studies that measure the impacts of pesticides on these species. This study conducted a year-long field experiment in Indonesia and found that pesticide application cannot predict the diversity patterns of amphibians and reptiles in cocoa plantations. However, exposure to herbicides and insecticides in vegetable gardens resulted in the elimination of amphibians, while reptiles were less impacted by insecticides and unaffected by herbicides. The loss of a common amphibian species due to pesticide use suggests a strong indirect negative effect of pesticides on their role as pest-control agents. The authors recommend landscape-based Integrated Pest Management and further ecotoxicological studies on amphibians and reptiles to establish a regulatory framework and ensure the recognition and protection of their ecosystem services.
Article
Fisheries
Stephen D. Gregory, Jonathan P. Gillson, Katie Whitlock, Jon Barry, Peter Gough, Robert J. Hillman, David Mee, Graeme Peirson, Brian A. Shields, Lawrence Talks, Simon Toms, Alan M. Walker, Ben Wilson, Ian C. Davidson
Summary: Accurate and unbiased estimation of fishery stock sizes is essential for effective fishery management. In this study, we proposed a method to estimate salmon stocks by transferring information from data-rich rivers to data-poor rivers. We developed a Beta-Binomial model and considered various covariates to estimate stock sizes. The resulting estimates were deemed useful for river-specific, national, and international salmon stock assessments.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucile Leveque, Rahil J. Amin, Jessie Buettel, Scott Carver, Barry Brook
Summary: This study examines the factors influencing the distribution of the Tasmanian native hen and predicts its future distribution changes under climate change. The results show that 37% of Tasmania is currently suitable for the native hens, with low summer precipitation, low elevation, human-modified vegetation, and urban areas being key factors. Urban areas can also serve as "oases" in unsuitable regions, supporting high breeding activity. Under climate change predictions, the native hens are expected to lose only 5% of their occupied range by 2055. Overall, the species is resilient to climate change and benefits from anthropogenic landscape modifications, making it a rare example of a flightless rail adapting to human activity.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Thomas Botterill-James, Calum X. Cunningham, Christopher N. Johnson, Sean Haythorne, Damien A. Fordham, Barry W. Brook, Richard P. Duncan, David M. Forsyth
Summary: Using a validated pattern-oriented model, we demonstrate how the future distribution and abundance of invasive fallow deer in Tasmania can be significantly reduced by targeted increases in harvest and prioritizing removal around high conservation value regions. Our approach can be applied to project the likely effects of management interventions on future distributions and abundances for a range of invasive species.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)