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Studies at local spatial scales have shown that the generalist honeybee Apis mellifera L. can strongly affect the structural organization and properties of pollination networks. However, there is still little knowledge on how the connectivity of the honeybee within networks (i.e. interactive role) could affect pollination networks at a global scale. To fill this gap, we evaluated how the interactive role of A. mellifera could affect niche overlap, specialization, and robustness of pollination networks. We used 109 weighted pollination networks spread across about 94 degrees of latitude and 227 degrees of longitude. We developed a new standardized framework based on species removal to assess the impact of the honeybee on plant-pollinator networks. We found that when the honeybee was removed from the networks, plant species had less niche overlap (i.e. shared fewer interactions via their pollinators) and the networks became more specialized and more robust to species extinctions. Our findings indicate that A. mellifera’s effects on pollination networks vary geographically and could influence several ecological and evolutionary factors acting at local scales, including pollination services. We hope this contribution will stimulate new macroecological studies involving abundant and generalist species and their functional roles within ecological communities., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Organisms that are part of complex ecosystems interact not only with other organisms but also with their environment, affecting ecosystem functions. In aquatic ecosystems filter feeders affect ecosystem functioning by transferring energy and nutrients from the water to the benthos. The filter-feeding unionoid mussels can have strong effects on nutrient release and biodeposition in streams, affecting primary and secondary production. In a 90-day field cage experiment during winter 2019-2020, effects of the critically endangered freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) and leaf litter on benthic macroinvertebrate communities were tested using a factorial study design. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected from the cages and examined in the lab. No significant effects of mussels, leaf litter or their interaction on the abundance and diversity of invertebrates were found for most groups. The abundance of Simulidae was however lower in cages with mussels compared to cages without mussels. The presence of mussels in streams may therefore affect ecosystem function, here shown as a possible effect on the interspecific competition for food sources between filter feeders., Organismer i komplexa ekosystem interagerar inte bara med andra organismer utan också med sin miljö, samt påverkar ekosystemfunktioner. I akvatiska ekosystem påverkar filtrerare ekosystemfunktioner genom att överföra energi och näringsämnen från vattnet till det bentiska samhället. De filtrerande unionoida musslorna kan ha stora effekter på närsalter och biodeposition i vattendrag, vilket påverkar primär- och sekundärproduktionen. I ett 90-dagars fältbursförsök under vintern 2019-2020 testades effekterna av den starkt hotade sötvattenspärlemusslan (Margaritifera margaritifera) och löv på bentiska samhällen. Makroevertebrater provtogs i burarna och undersöktes på lab. Det fanns inga signifikanta effekter av musslor, löv eller deras interaktion på makroevertebraters tätheter och diversitet för de flesta grupper. Tätheter av Simulidae var dock lägre i burar med musslor jämfört med burar utan musslor. Förekomsten av musslor i vattendrag kan därför påverka ekosystemets funktion, här visat som en möjlig effekt på mellanartskonkurrens mellan filtrerare.

Organisms that are part of complex ecosystems interact not only with other organisms but also with their environment, affecting ecosystem functions. In aquatic ecosystems filter feeders affect ecosystem functioning by transferring energy and nutrients from the water to the benthos. The filter-feeding unionoid mussels can have strong effects on nutrient release and biodeposition in streams, affecting primary and secondary production. In a 90-day field cage experiment during winter 2019-2020, effects of the critically endangered freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) and leaf litter on benthic macroinvertebrate communities were tested using a factorial study design. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected from the cages and examined in the lab. No significant effects of mussels, leaf litter or their interaction on the abundance and diversity of invertebrates were found for most groups. The abundance of Simulidae was however lower in cages with mussels compared to cages without mussels. The presence of mussels in streams may therefore affect ecosystem function, here shown as a possible effect on the interspecific competition for food sources between filter feeders., Organismer i komplexa ekosystem interagerar inte bara med andra organismer utan också med sin miljö, samt påverkar ekosystemfunktioner. I akvatiska ekosystem påverkar filtrerare ekosystemfunktioner genom att överföra energi och näringsämnen från vattnet till det bentiska samhället. De filtrerande unionoida musslorna kan ha stora effekter på närsalter och biodeposition i vattendrag, vilket påverkar primär- och sekundärproduktionen. I ett 90-dagars fältbursförsök under vintern 2019-2020 testades effekterna av den starkt hotade sötvattenspärlemusslan (Margaritifera margaritifera) och löv på bentiska samhällen. Makroevertebrater provtogs i burarna och undersöktes på lab. Det fanns inga signifikanta effekter av musslor, löv eller deras interaktion på makroevertebraters tätheter och diversitet för de flesta grupper. Tätheter av Simulidae var dock lägre i burar med musslor jämfört med burar utan musslor. Förekomsten av musslor i vattendrag kan därför påverka ekosystemets funktion, här visat som en möjlig effekt på mellanartskonkurrens mellan filtrerare.

We present a new comprehensive index for mapping the relative conservation value of threatened biodiversity.The index is based on explicit criteria to (1) select threatened species according to regional government re-sponsibility for species’conservation; (2) combine species’presence by means of weighting factors based ondifferences in threat status, sensitivity to disturbance, functional role, and amount of knowledge; and (3) mapspecies distributions at the scale of 1 km × 1 km UTM squares or lower from the information available. We testedthe performance of the index in the forest of Andalusia (southern Spain), an extensive European region of87,268 km2, with 43,864 km2(ca. 50%) classified as forest habitats. All species included in the Annexes of theEuropean Birds and Habitats Directives inhabiting the target area, plus the regionally endemic species either‘Critically Endangered’or‘Endangered’not (yet) covered by the Directives were selected. Thefinal list included224 species: 81 plants, 76 birds, 31 mammals, 22 arthropods, six reptiles,five amphibians, and three mollusks.Fine-scale distribution maps were available for 108 species (48%). The remaining maps were downscaled frompublished 10 km × 10 km UTM maps using knowledge on species’habitat requirements and land-use maps. Weoverlapped thefine-scale maps with the 86,546 forest tiles of the Andalusian Forest Map and weighted presencesby a factor of relative conservation estimated for each species to obtain an index of the relative conservation ofeach forest tile. Index values were higher in protected areas, and in different forest habitats according to ex-pected numbers of endangered species. Index values were correlated with the existence value of threatenedspecies, but the index underestimate existence values especially for the most valuable tiles. The proposed indexallows mapping the relative conservation value of threatened biodiversity by integrating knowledge on allthreatened species into a single variable. I

Riparian zones contribute with biodiversity and ecosystem functions of fundamental importance for regulating flow and nutrient transport in waterways. However, agricultural land-use and physical changes made to improve crop productivity and yield have resulted in modified hydrology and displaced natural vegetation. The modification to the hydrology and natural vegetation have affected the biodiversity and many ecosystem functions provided by riparian zones. Here we review the literature to provide state-of-the-art recommendations for riparian zones in agricultural landscapes. We analysed all available publications since 1984 that have quantified services provided by riparian zones and use this information to recommend minimum buffer widths. We also analysed publications that gave buffer width recommendations to sustain different groups of organisms. We found that drainage size matters for nutrient and sediment removal, but also that a 3 m wide buffer zone acts as a basic nutrient filter. However, to maintain a high floral diversity, a 24 m buffer zone is required, while a 144 m buffer is needed to preserve bird diversity. Based on the analysis, we developed the concept of “Ecologically Functional Riparian Zones” (ERZ) and provide a step-by-step framework that managers can use to balance agricultural needs and environmental protection of waterways from negative impacts. By applying ERZ in already existing agricultural areas, we can better meet small targets and move towards the long-term goal of achieving a more functional land management and better environmental status of waterways.

Riparian zones contribute with biodiversity and ecosystem functions of fundamental importance for regulating flow and nutrient transport in waterways. However, agricultural land-use and physical changes made to improve crop productivity and yield have resulted in modified hydrology and displaced natural vegetation. The modification to the hydrology and natural vegetation have affected the biodiversity and many ecosystem functions provided by riparian zones. Here we review the literature to provide state-of-the-art recommendations for riparian zones in agricultural landscapes. We analysed all available publications since 1984 that have quantified services provided by riparian zones and use this information to recommend minimum buffer widths. We also analysed publications that gave buffer width recommendations to sustain different groups of organisms. We found that drainage size matters for nutrient and sediment removal, but also that a 3 m wide buffer zone acts as a basic nutrient filter. However, to maintain a high floral diversity, a 24 m buffer zone is required, while a 144 m buffer is needed to preserve bird diversity. Based on the analysis, we developed the concept of “Ecologically Functional Riparian Zones” (ERZ) and provide a step-by-step framework that managers can use to balance agricultural needs and environmental protection of waterways from negative impacts. By applying ERZ in already existing agricultural areas, we can better meet small targets and move towards the long-term goal of achieving a more functional land management and better environmental status of waterways.

Increasing aridity is one of the most important trends of current climate change. Leaf functional traits suggest a substantial basis for assessing the aridity effects on vegetation. However, since plants possess diverse leaf morphology and anatomy due to different evolutionary history of taxa, the effect of aridity can hardly be revealed in a multi-species analysis. We studied leaf functional traits for 317 samples of 193 plant species in steppe and desert communities along a 1600-km latitudinal gradient in Southern Siberia (Transbaikalia, Russia) and Mongolia. We determined morphological leaf traits, quantitative anatomical parameters, physiological parameters, and photosynthetic pigments content. Different relevance of leaf traits for indication of plant response to climate has been demonstrated. The clearest changes in site-mean values along the aridity gradient were shown for leaf thickness, total chloroplast number per leaf area (Nchl/A) and total surface area of chloroplasts (Achl/A) and cells (Ames/A) per leaf area. Unlike leaf size and leaf mass per area, these quantitative mesophyll parameters related to plant photosynthetic capacity were strongly correlated with climate. We found no evidence for a decrease in sizes of mesophyll cells with aridity, but cell volume as well as chloroplast number per cell were linked with plant functional type (PFT). We revealed an increase in Nchl/A and Achl/A in desert-steppe species in comparison to steppe and forest-steppe vegetation types within each PFT of C3-plants (C3-dicot herbs, C3-dicot shrubs, C3-monocots and C3-succulents). C4-plants were generally characterized by low Achl/A and Ames/A, but had higher rate of CO2-transfer through mesophyll and chloroplast surfaces. C3- and C4-plants differed in response to aridity and showed opposite trends in changes of leaf traits along the aridity gradient. We conclude that leaf mesophyll traits contribute to important mechanism of climatic adaptation in different PFTs along a

Riparian zones contribute with biodiversity and ecosystem functions of fundamental importance for regulating flow and nutrient transport in waterways. However, agricultural land-use and physical changes made to improve crop productivity and yield have resulted in modified hydrology and displaced natural vegetation. The modification to the hydrology and natural vegetation have affected the biodiversity and many ecosystem functions provided by riparian zones. Here we review the literature to provide state-of-the-art recommendations for riparian zones in agricultural landscapes. We analysed all available publications since 1984 that have quantified services provided by riparian zones and use this information to recommend minimum buffer widths. We also analysed publications that gave buffer width recommendations to sustain different groups of organisms. We found that drainage size matters for nutrient and sediment removal, but also that a 3 m wide buffer zone acts as a basic nutrient filter. However, to maintain a high floral diversity, a 24 m buffer zone is required, while a 144 m buffer is needed to preserve bird diversity. Based on the analysis, we developed the concept of “Ecologically Functional Riparian Zones” (ERZ) and provide a step-by-step framework that managers can use to balance agricultural needs and environmental protection of waterways from negative impacts. By applying ERZ in already existing agricultural areas, we can better meet small targets and move towards the long-term goal of achieving a more functional land management and better environmental status of waterways.

Riparian zones contribute with biodiversity and ecosystem functions of fundamental importance for regulating flow and nutrient transport in waterways. However, agricultural land-use and physical changes made to improve crop productivity and yield have resulted in modified hydrology and displaced natural vegetation. The modification to the hydrology and natural vegetation have affected the biodiversity and many ecosystem functions provided by riparian zones. Here we review the literature to provide state-of-the-art recommendations for riparian zones in agricultural landscapes. We analysed all available publications since 1984 that have quantified services provided by riparian zones and use this information to recommend minimum buffer widths. We also analysed publications that gave buffer width recommendations to sustain different groups of organisms. We found that drainage size matters for nutrient and sediment removal, but also that a 3 m wide buffer zone acts as a basic nutrient filter. However, to maintain a high floral diversity, a 24 m buffer zone is required, while a 144 m buffer is needed to preserve bird diversity. Based on the analysis, we developed the concept of “Ecologically Functional Riparian Zones” (ERZ) and provide a step-by-step framework that managers can use to balance agricultural needs and environmental protection of waterways from negative impacts. By applying ERZ in already existing agricultural areas, we can better meet small targets and move towards the long-term goal of achieving a more functional land management and better environmental status of waterways.

Riparian zones contribute with biodiversity and ecosystem functions of fundamental importance for regulating flow and nutrient transport in waterways. However, agricultural land-use and physical changes made to improve crop productivity and yield have resulted in modified hydrology and displaced natural vegetation. The modification to the hydrology and natural vegetation have affected the biodiversity and many ecosystem functions provided by riparian zones. Here we review the literature to provide state-of-the-art recommendations for riparian zones in agricultural landscapes. We analysed all available publications since 1984 that have quantified services provided by riparian zones and use this information to recommend minimum buffer widths. We also analysed publications that gave buffer width recommendations to sustain different groups of organisms. We found that drainage size matters for nutrient and sediment removal, but also that a 3 m wide buffer zone acts as a basic nutrient filter. However, to maintain a high floral diversity, a 24 m buffer zone is required, while a 144 m buffer is needed to preserve bird diversity. Based on the analysis, we developed the concept of “Ecologically Functional Riparian Zones” (ERZ) and provide a step-by-step framework that managers can use to balance agricultural needs and environmental protection of waterways from negative impacts. By applying ERZ in already existing agricultural areas, we can better meet small targets and move towards the long-term goal of achieving a more functional land management and better environmental status of waterways.

Policy mix analysis has been applied in research on energy, climate, urban and transport policy, and more recently biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services. However, policy mix analysis has thus far been employed at a high conceptual level, focusing on describing interactions between instrument types. Policy mix analysis rarely describes instrument ‘structure’ or functional characteristics in a way that would answer the question ‘what constitutes an instrument’? We describe how the rules-in-use taxonomy of the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework, developed for research on common pool resource management, can be used to characterize conservation policy instrument interactions. We demonstrate the approach on the well-known payments for ecosystem services (PES) program in Costa Rica and cross-compliance policies, arguing that PES is a policy mix rather than a single economic instrument. Our analysis shows how design features of PES described in the economics literature map to ‘rules-in-use’ in the IAD framework. The framework provides a terminology for defining what constitutes institutional context, comparing economic, regulatory and information instruments, and studying their interactions. The rules-in-use taxonomy of IAD is a ‘structural’ diagnostic approach, which needs to be combined with other tools that analyse the role and ‘agency’ of actors, as part of integrative environmental governance research.

Protecting essential habitats through the implementation of area closures has been recognized as a useful management tool for rebuilding overfished populations and minimizing habitat degradation. School shark (Galeorhinus galeus) have suffered significant stock declines in Australia; however, recent stock assessments suggest the population may have stabilized and the protection of closed nursery areas has been identified as a key management strategy to rebuilding their numbers. Young-of-The-year (YOY) and juvenile G. galeus were acoustically tagged and monitored to determine ontogenetic differences in residency and seasonal use of an important protected nursery area (Shark Refuge Area or SRA) in southeastern Tasmania. BothYOYand juvenile G. galeus showed a distinct seasonal pattern of occurrence in the SRAwith most departing the area during winter and only a small proportion of YOY (33%) and no juveniles returning the following spring, suggesting areas outside the SRA may also be important during these early life-history stages. While these behaviors confirm SRAs continue to function as essential habitat during G. galeus early life history, evidence of YOY and juveniles emigrating from these areas within their first 1-2 years and the fact that few YOY return suggest that these areas may only afford protection for a more limited amount of time than previously thought. Determining the importance of neighbouring coastal waters and maintaining the use of traditional fisheries management tools are therefore required to ensure effective conservation of G. galeus during early life history.

There are considered the functional roles of various socionic types in small groups and collectives. From positions of management the different variants of cooperation and conflict between personality types are described., Рассмотрены функциональные роли различных соционических типов в малых группах и коллективах. С позиций менеджмента описаны различные варианты сотрудничества и конфликта между типами личности.

The functional role of macroalgae-consuming fishes is particularly important in coral reefs, as they can mediate the recovery of degraded systems when macroalgae become esta b - lished. However, herbivory on coral reefs is often spatially and temporally variable, and the mechanisms that underpin variation in the consumption of algae are largely unknown. In this study, we examined local (within-reef, 100s of m) and broad-scale (regional, 100s of km) patterns of macroalgal herbivory along the spatial extent of Ningaloo Reef in northwestern Australia. Using underwater video cameras, we quantified the feeding rates of individual fish on a dominant macroalga Sargassum myriocystum, and we quantified social feeding behaviour to determine whether patterns in algal removal are influenced by whether fish feed as solitary individuals or as part of single-species or multi-species groups. While 23 fish species were observed biting macroalgae, spatial patterns in the intensity of herbivory were strongly driven by 3 species: Naso unicornis, Kyphosus vaigiensis and K. bigibbus. Feeding rates by individuals of these 3 species were always highest when individuals were part of monospecific groups, and we found a strong positive relationship between spatial patterns in the amount of macroalgae removed and the proportion of bites taken as part of groups, irrespective of fish size. This study highlights the importance of species-specific algae-herbivore interactions in coral reefs and shows that local variation in feeding behaviour is an important trait that contributes to explain spatial variability in macro - algal herbivory.

The article considers personality types as fulfillers of certain roles in socionic quadras (4-type groups): «Leader», «Bodyguard», «Joker» and «Feeler»., Предложено рассмотрение 4 ролей типов в соционических четверках — квадрах: «Лидера», «Телохранителя», «Шута» и «Чувствительного».

La biodiversité des eaux continentales se caractérise par une forte endémicité de nombreuses espèces résultant de la nature insulaire des milieux. Alors qu'elles n'occupent que 1-2 % des terres émergées une proportion importante de vertébrés (environ 1/3) vit dans les eaux continentales ou en dépendent étroitement pour réaliser leur cycle biologique. Certains systèmes aquatiques, comme les lacs dits anciens, sont de véritables laboratoires naturels pour étudier l'évolution, et il faut protéger ce patrimoine.Les recherches sur l'origine et la dynamique de la biodiversité aquatique (inventaire, phylogénie, biogéographie) doivent se poursuivre, notamment pour les milieux tropicaux encore mal connus. Les relations fonctionnelles entre les espèces et les écosystèmes constituent un nouveau centre d'intérêt qui nécessite à la fois de revisiter les résultats déjà obtenus, de mettre en place des recherches spécifiques, et de développer des approches expérimentales. Quelles relations existent-ils entre la biodiversité et la stabilité ou la productivité des écosystèmes par exemple ?La biodiversité est un médiateur entre les systèmes écologiques et les systèmes sociaux dont la conservation s'inscrit dans la problématique du développement durable. La valorisation économique de la biodiversité pose de nouvelles questions à l'économie de l'environnement malgré les difficultés méthodologiques rencontrées. Les questions qui intéressent les gestionnaires portent principalement sur l'état de santé des écosystèmes et les moyens de la caractériser (indicateurs biologiques par exemple). La gestion durable des ressources vivantes, et une meilleure évaluation des conséquences des introductions d'espèces (biomanipulations) constituent également des objectifs finalisés auxquels les recherches dans le domaine de la biodiversité aquatique se doivent d'apporter des éléments de réponse., As a result of their island-like nature, inland waters are usually characterised by a high level of endemicity for several animal groups. This patchy distribution also results in great genetic variability between populations. While inland waters occupy only 1-2 % of emerged lands an unusual high proportion of vertebrates (around 1/3) inhabits or is strongly dependant on inland waters to complete their biological cycle. This remarkable concentration of vertebrate biodiversity is also extremely vulnerable, given that inland water aquatic resources world-wide have undergone severe deterioration.The fragility of inland water ecosystems and their species has been recognised all over the world. These resources have been exposed to a variety of increasing pressures such as water extraction for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses, pollution (organic and inorganic), fishing, introduction of exotic species, habitat alterations in relation to water management, etc. These stressors to the inland water environments have affected, and will continue to affect life in all inland water ecosystems. One of the major causes of change in biodiversity has been, and most likely will continue to be long-term, climate change.More knowledge is needed about the identification of species, how biological diversity is distributed, and what the trends observed on the short- to long-term biodiversity changes are.In many tropical countries there are lakes and rivers lacking even the most basic research on fauna and flora. Pertinent information on biological diversity in most developing countries, when it exists, is too sparse or scattered to be of practical use. Therefore, efforts should be devoted to the development of computer data bases and information networks for the collection and storage of information dealing with the identification and distribution of freshwater biodiversity. Development of these systems would benefit from the expertise and collaboration of taxonomists all over the

Funk, J. L., Standish, R. J., Stock, W. D., & Valladares, F. (2015). Plant functional traits of dominant native and invasive species in Mediterranean-climate ecosystems. Ecology 97(1), 75-83. Available here.