Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Laszlo Zoltan, Eszter Tanacs, Tibor Standovar
Summary: As biodiversity studies at a multi-scale level require significant resources, proxy indicators from databases are often used to address questions at a larger spatial scale. However, careful consideration and validation methods are required when applying such indicators, especially from different monitoring systems. This study validates the results of the MAES-HU forest condition assessment using finer-scale field data and highlights the importance of integrating key conservation indicators into existing monitoring systems.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anna Padovan, Nachshon Siboni, Mirjam Kaestli, William L. King, Justin R. Seymour, Karen Gibb
Summary: The study conducted in northern tropical Australia found that V. parahaemolyticus was more common and abundant during the wet season, influenced by temperature and conductivity, while V. vulnificus abundance was affected by nutrient concentrations and turbidity. The overall Vibrio community was more diverse in the wet season, with temperature and dissolved oxygen playing a crucial role in determining community composition.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yolanda F. Wiersma, R. Troy McMullin
Summary: Calicioids are a group of fungi that are similar in appearance and have been used as indicators of old-growth forests. Factors such as tree age, continuity, scale, and ecological and structural variability may affect the presence of calicioids. In this study, the number of calicioid species was recorded in 51 stands in Canada's boreal forest, and it was found that species diversity was influenced by stand age and condition. Calicioid density showed a positive correlation with lichen biomass and richness, indicating that calicioid diversity can serve as an indicator of habitat condition or conservation value in the boreal forest.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Rezaul Karim, Lucy Reading, Les Dawes, Ofer Dahan, Glynis Orr
Summary: The study in Australia's Wet Tropics region near the Great Barrier Reef found that the usage of PS II-inhibiting herbicides has decreased over the past decade. Among the 12 PS II herbicides monitored, only hexazinone and metribuzin were recently applied. Hexazinone showed substantial transport through the vadose zone before eventually disappearing, while metribuzin was not detected in groundwater or the soil profile.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joachim Maes, Adrian G. Bruzon, Jose I. Barredo, Sara Vallecillo, Peter Vogt, Ines Mari Rivero, Fernando Santos-Martin
Summary: An assessment of forest ecosystems in Europe reveals that certain forest areas are undergoing degradation, resulting in reduced soil quality, sparse tree cover, and decreased species richness of threatened birds. This indicates the need for further restoration and improved management to restore forests to their natural state.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sisi Liu, Stefan Kruse, Dirk Scherler, Richard H. Ree, Heike H. Zimmermann, Kathleen R. Stoof-Leichsenring, Laura S. Epp, Steffen Mischke, Ulrike Herzschuh
Summary: Studies along elevational gradients show that the richest plant taxa occurred during the cool phase after glacier retreat around 14,000-10,000 years ago, while a decrease in plant taxa richness was observed during the warm early to mid-Holocene when forests expanded. Livestock grazing since 3,600 years ago has had a weak impact on promoting plant taxa richness. Based on inferred dependencies, future warming-related alpine habitat loss is likely to lead to a substantial decrease in plant taxa richness.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Luis Manuel Morales-Gallegos, Tomas Martinez-Trinidad, Patricia Hernandez-de la Rosa, Armando Gomez-Guerrero, Dionicio Alvarado-Rosales, Luz de Lourdes Saavedra-Romero
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the stress induced by the urban environment on trees and its impact on the condition of the crown. The study found correlations between variables such as crown density (Cdn), crown transparency (Ctr) and vegetation indices such as normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and blue-normalized difference vegetation index (BNDVI). Therefore, it is possible to evaluate the health condition of trees in urban green areas by using vegetation indices.
Article
Ecology
Elisa Thouverai, Matteo Marcantonio, Emanuela Cosma, Francesca Bottegoni, Roberto Cazzolla Gatti, Luisa Conti, Michele Di Musciano, Marco Malavasi, Vitezslav Moudry, Petra Simova, Riccardo Testolin, Piero Zannini, Duccio Rocchini
Summary: Global change caused by human activity has diverse effects on Earth's biomes and alters the functioning of ecological systems. Remote sensing is a vital tool to assess these changes by collecting extensive data on different components of the Earth system at various temporal and spatial resolutions. This study aims to utilize a novel visualization method, helical graphs, to display ecosystem changes using the abundant data obtained through remote sensing. The results demonstrate that helical graphs are valuable in highlighting trends that may not be easily detected in traditional time series analysis. Overall, helical graphs have significant applications in ecology, leveraging the wealth of data available from remote sensing.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stephen E. Williams, Alejandro de la Fuente
Summary: Authors suggest that montane biodiversity is more vulnerable to climate change compared to other ecosystems, with few studies empirically validating predicted changes. Monitoring data from the Australian Wet Tropics World Heritage Area reveals declines in mid and high elevation species abundance, while lowland species are increasing. The area is experiencing rapid degradation, which may be indicative of similar impacts in tropical montane ecosystems globally.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dominika Chmolowska, Marcin Nobis, Elzbieta Rozei-Pabiran, Irena M. Grzes, Pawel Radzikowski, Mateusz Okrutniak, Waldemar Celary, Jakub Sternalski, Julia Shrubovych, Katarzyna Wasak-Sek
Summary: Habitat translocation is a method used to protect habitats during construction projects. This study focused on the translocation of wet meadows to derelict land and analyzed the impact on soil, vegetation, and invertebrate groups. The results showed decreased soil porosity and reduced numbers of springtails, while grasshopper numbers increased in the translocated plots. Biodiversity was maintained, although an influx of cosmopolitan species was observed and some vulnerable species declined in number.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Caroline A. Canham, Clement Duvert, Leah S. Beesley, Michael M. Douglas, Samantha A. Setterfield, Fiona L. Freestone, Steven Clohessy, Robyn C. Loomes
Summary: This study used isotopic analysis and measurements of plant water relations to assess water sources for riparian trees at two sites with different hydrogeological processes. The results showed that the water sources used by riparian trees reflect local hydrogeology and resource availability, with trees at different sites using water sourced differently based on their hydrogeological characteristics.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Karel Mokany, James K. McCarthy, Daniel S. Falster, Rachael Gallagher, Thomas D. Harwood, Robert Kooyman, Mark Westoby
Summary: This study investigates the diversity patterns and potential environmental drivers of vascular plants in Australia by integrating vegetation plot survey data. The models predict that temperature and precipitation are the strongest environmental predictors for diversity, with soil texture and topographic heterogeneity also important. The predicted species richness and compositional dissimilarity highlight areas of high plant diversity in southwestern Australia, eastern rainforests, and the Australian Alps.
Review
Forestry
Janne Toivonen, Annika Kangas, Matti Maltamo, Mikko Kukkonen, Petteri Packalen
Summary: The role of forests in biodiversity assessment and planning is substantial, as they support approximately 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. However, there is a lack of research in geographical areas and forest types other than temperate and boreal forests.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bireda Alemayehu, Juan Suarez-Minguez, Jacqueline Rosette, Saeed A. Khan
Summary: This study utilized time series satellite data to detect vegetation changes in the Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia from 2000 to 2020 and investigated their links with ecosystem conditions. The results showed that most phenology indicator parameters did not exhibit significant trends, but certain ecosystem condition indicators showed positive trends, particularly for Acacia decurrens plantations, Eucalyptus plantations, and grasslands. The most abrupt changes were recorded in 2015, 2012, and 2014, with approximately 30% of vegetation changes being positive in magnitude.
Article
Zoology
Bartholomew S. Hacobian, Michael F. Braby, Edward A. Petrie
Summary: A new subspecies, Philiris diana fortuna ssp. nov., has been discovered in the Atherton Tableland, showing substantial phenotypic differences from the nominotypical subspecies Philiris diana diana Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914.
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM
(2023)
Article
Ecology
A. J. J. Lynch, A. Ferrier, A. J. Ford, S. G. Haberle, S. Rule, L. Schneider, A. Zawadzki, D. J. Metcalfe
Review
Environmental Sciences
Saskia E. Werners, Russell M. Wise, James R. A. Butler, Edmond Totin, Katharine Vincent
Summary: Adaptation pathways have gained popularity in climate adaptation research and planning as a decision-focused approach. However, there is still a lack of systematic attempt to review and compare different approaches to adaptation pathways design and application. Analysis shows that different approaches correspond to different desired outcomes of pathways development, highlighting the need to focus on the utility of different methods in various decision contexts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
James R. A. Butler, Federico Davila, Robyn Alders, R. Michael Bourke, Steve Crimp, John McCarthy, Andrew McWilliam, Anton S. M. Palo, Lisa Robins, Michael J. Webb, Monica van Wensveen, Todd Sanderson, Daniel Walker
Summary: The frequency and severity of shocks to food systems are increasing globally, exacerbated by events like the current COVID-19 outbreak. Rapid assessments can help identify priority interventions by integrating diverse knowledge and data, but also come with risks and challenges that need to be addressed.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Brooke P. A. Kennedy, Wendy Y. Brown, James R. A. Butler
Summary: Managing dogs and cats in remote communities is challenging due to limited veterinary services and high reproductive rates. Engaging communities in analyzing and designing solutions themselves may lead to sustainable improvements. Stakeholder interviews and frame analysis revealed distinct groups with overlapping perceptions about overpopulation of dogs, suggesting a need for alignment in goals and values for effective management measures.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sara Busilacchi, James R. A. Butler, Ingrid van Putten, Michaela Cosijn, Joseph Posu, Ria Fitriana, Archie Slamet
Summary: It was found that both the characteristics of the value chains and the social-ecological context were important in determining motivations for engagement in legal and illegal value chains. In the South Fly region of Papua New Guinea, products like beche-de-mer, shark fins, and fish maw were valued. Value chain analysis revealed that illegal middlemen offered significantly lower prices to PNG fishers compared to legal buyers, with drivers for accepting lower prices including lack of information and reliance on middlemen.
HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF WILDLIFE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Brooke P. A. Kennedy, Wendy Y. Brown, James R. A. Butler
Summary: The challenges of managing populations and health of dogs and cats in remote communities require community participation, education, and training to achieve sustainable improvements.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Federico Davila, R. M. Bourke, Andrew McWilliam, Steven Crimp, Lisa Robins, Monica van Wensveen, Robyn G. Alders, James R. A. Butler
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on global food systems, particularly affecting Small Island Developing States. The study aimed to identify vulnerabilities, impacts, and opportunities for resilience and sustainable development in selected Pacific Island countries, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste. The major impacts have been on economies, posing risks to future food security and hampering progress towards Sustainable Development Goals.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Esther Sebastian-Gonzalez, Zebensui Morales-Reyes, Francisco Botella, Lara Naves-Alegre, Juan M. Perez-Garcia, Patricia Mateo-Tomas, Pedro P. Olea, Marcos Moleon, Jomar Magalhaes Barbosa, Fernando Hiraldo, Eneko Arrondo, Jose A. Donazar, Ainara Cortes-Avizanda, Nuria Selva, Sergio A. Lambertucci, Aishwarya Bhattacharjee, Alexis L. Brewer, Erin F. Abernethy, Kelsey L. Turner, James C. Beasley, Travis L. deVault, Hannah C. Gerke, Olin E. Rhodes, Andres Ordiz, Camilla Wikenros, Barbara Zimmermann, Petter Wabakken, Christopher C. Wilmers, Justine A. Smith, Corinne J. Kendall, Darcy Ogada, Ethan Frehner, Maximilian L. Allen, Heiko U. Wittmer, James R. A. Butler, Johan T. du Toit, Antoni Margalida, Pilar Oliva-Vidal, David Wilson, Klemen Jerina, Miha Krofel, Rich Kostecke, Richard Inger, Esra Per, Yunus Ayhan, Mehmet Sanci, Unsal Yilmazer, Akino Inagaki, Shinsuke Koike, Arockianathan Samson, Paula L. Perrig, Emma E. Spencer, Thomas M. Newsome, Marco Heurich, Jose D. Anadon, Evan R. Buechley, Cayetano Gutierrez-Canovas, L. Mark Elbroch, Jose A. Sanchez-Zapata
Summary: The study found that scavenger species with high olfactory acuity, social foragers, and obligate scavengers had the widest scavenging breadth. Social foragers also had a large paired nested degree in scavenger assemblages, likely due to being easier to detect by other species to signal carcass occurrence.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
I. Fazey, E. Carmen, H. Ross, J. Rao-Williams, A. Hodgson, B. A. Searle, H. AlWaer, J. O. Kenter, K. Knox, J. R. A. Butler, K. Murray, F. M. Smith, L. C. Stringer, S. Thankappan
Summary: Building community resilience in the face of climate change impacts requires significant societal change. Through relationship-building, capacity enhancement, enabling processes, and action-oriented research, beneficial social dynamics can be stimulated to support collaborative and systemic action. Further focus on the practical aspects of resilience building and new approaches will be crucial for advancing knowledge in this area.
SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. R. A. Butler, R. M. Wise, S. Meharg, N. Peterson, E. L. Bohensky, G. Lipsett-Moore, T. D. Skewes, D. Hayes, M. Fischer, P. Dunstan
Summary: Adaptation pathways are decision-making processes that can guide climate-resilient development in developing economies. In Papua New Guinea's Bismarck Sea, an adaptation pathways approach was tested for natural resource development and proved effective despite complex political dynamics.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Saskia E. Werners, Edward Sparkes, Edmond Totin, Nick Abel, Suruchi Bhadwal, James R. A. Butler, Sabine Douxchamps, Harrhy James, Nadine Methner, Jana Siebeneck, Lindsay C. Stringer, Katharine Vincent, Russell M. Wise, Mark G. L. Tebboth
Summary: This paper discusses conceptual and empirical advances on climate resilient development pathways since the fifth assessment report, finding a lack of dedicated concept development and conceptual ambiguity. The literature reveals four non-exclusive clusters of approaches and recommends operationalizing climate resilient development pathways as consolidating climate action and development decisions towards long-term sustainable development. A greater focus on justice and equity issues is needed as climate resilient development pathways will involve trade-offs. Substantiating this concept has the potential to bridge climate and development perspectives.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
I Fazey, J. R. A. Butler, J. Kozak, J. Dubinin, C. Manning-Broome, D. Reed, G. Leicester, S. A. Burge, B. Searle
Summary: Climate challenge brings three emergencies: visible, conceptual and existential, which are urgent and interconnected. Louisiana's historical coastal development and climate-induced sea level rise have led to visible emergencies like land loss and increased flooding, highlighting the need to address conceptual and existential challenges for a comprehensive solution.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew J. Colloff, Russell Gorddard, Nick Abel, Bruno Locatelli, Carina Wyborn, James R. A. Butler, Sandra Lavorel, Lorrae van Kerkhoff, Seona Meharg, Claudia Munera-Roldan, Enora Bruley, Giacomo Fedele, Russell M. Wise, Michael Dunlop
Summary: Adaptive transformation requires intentional transformative adaptation (ITA), achieved through a mix of incremental and transformative co-production processes to transform social-ecological systems. While ITA approaches help overcome adaptation challenges, there are still issues in practice, requiring different processes for resolution.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Edward Sparkes, Edmond Totin, Saskia E. Werners, Russell M. Wise, James R. A. Butler, Katharine Vincent
Summary: Adaptation pathways are a decision-focused approach to account for uncertainties and complexities in planning and implementing adaptation actions. The pathways approach incorporates flexibility into decision making to accommodate changing conditions over time and reduce undesirable consequences. However, there is a lack of specific guidance on implementing and sustaining adaptation pathways.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
James R. A. Butler, Mariella Marzano, Nathalie Pettorelli, Sarah M. Durant, Johan T. du Toit, Juliette C. Young
Summary: Rewilding is the reorganisation of wildness in ecologically degraded landscapes with minimal intervention, but the impact on human components and governance arrangements are often overlooked. This paper proposes an adaptive governance framework that integrates stakeholder collaboration and social trust to manage the unpredictable nature of rewilding initiatives.
FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yongcui Lan, Jinliang Wang, Qianwei Liu, Fang Liu, Lanfang Liu, Jie Li, Mengjia Luo
Summary: This study focuses on the five major plateau lake basins in central Yunnan, China, and constructs an ecological security pattern using the source-resistance surface-corridor-pinch point framework. The study simulates land use/cover change in the region and identifies early warning regions where future urban expansion poses a threat to current ecological source areas and corridors.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pingping Huang, Feng Zhao, Bailing Zhou, Kuidong Xu
Summary: This study investigates the distribution of benthic microeukaryotes in the China Seas and finds that they can stride over the ecological barrier of 32 degrees N. The study also highlights the significant influence of depth, temperature, and latitude on communities in the China Seas.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Federico Morelli, Yanina Benedetti, Jesse Stanford, Leszek Jerzak, Piotr Tryjanowski, Paolo Perna, Riccardo Santolini
Summary: Species distribution models (SDMs) are numerical tools used for predicting species' spatial distribution. This study found that ecological characteristics, such as habitat specialization, play a role in improving the accuracy of SDMs.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiaoxuan Wu, Hang Liu, Wei Liu
Summary: Global climate change, urbanization, and economic development have increased the need for sustainable human development, urban ecological governance, and low-carbon energy transformation. This study analyzes the green ecological transition in Chengdu based on panel data from 2010 to 2020, exploring its spatiotemporal evolution and key factors. The results show an overall upward trend in Chengdu's green ecological development and positive spatial autocorrelation in certain districts.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Castaldi Simona, Formicola Nicola, Mastrocicco Micol, Morales Rodriguez Carmen, Morelli Raffaella, Prodorutti Daniele, Vannini Andrea, Zanzotti Roberto
Summary: Sustainable agricultural practices are increasingly important for global and national environmental policies and economy. This study compared the sustainability of grape production under integrated and organic management using multiple indicators. The results showed that organic management was more beneficial for most environmental aspects of the agroecosystem compared to integrated management, without affecting grape yield.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gaia Vaglio Laurin, Alexander Cotrina-Sanchez, Luca Belelli-Marchesini, Enrico Tomelleri, Giovanna Battipaglia, Claudia Cocozza, Francesco Niccoli, Jerzy Piotr Kabala, Damiano Gianelle, Loris Vescovo, Luca Da Ros, Riccardo Valentini
Summary: Phenology monitoring is important for understanding forest functioning and climate impacts. This research compares the phenological behavior of European beech forests using Tree-Talker (TT+) and Sentinel 2 satellite data. The study finds differences in the information derived by the two sensor types, particularly in terms of season length, phenology changepoints, and leaf period variability. TT+ with its higher temporal resolution demonstrates precision in capturing the phenological changepoints, especially when satellite image availability is limited.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Huanhuan Pan, Ziqiang Du, Zhitao Wu, Hong Zhang, Keming Ma
Summary: The land use and cover changes resulting from coal mining activities and ecological restoration have had a significant impact on ecosystem services in mining areas. This study investigates the relationship between ecosystem services and land use intensity in coal mining areas, emphasizing the importance of understanding this interdependence for balanced human-land system development. The research examines the evolving relationship across different reclamation stages in Shanxi, China, using a coupling coordination degree model. The findings suggest the need for timely and judicious reclamation of coalfields, considering the land's bearing capacity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jingjuan He, Yijun Shi, Lihua Xu, Zhangwei Lu, Mao Feng
Summary: This study examines the spatial interplay between changes in the blue-green spatial distribution and modifications in land surface temperature grades in Shanghai. The findings reveal that the transformation of the blue-green spatial pattern differs between different sectors of the city, and the impact on the thermal environment varies spatially.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yi Xu, Di Zhang, Junqiang Lin, Qidong Peng, Xiaohui Lei, Tiantian Jin, Jia Wang, Ruifang Yuan
Summary: This study analyzed the response relationship between phytoplankton growth and water environmental parameters in the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China using long-term monitoring data and machine learning models. The results revealed the differences between monitoring sites and identified the key parameters that affect phytoplankton growth.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)