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Protected areas are essential conservation tools for mitigating the rapid decline of biodiversity. However, climate change represents one of the main challenges to their long‐term effectiveness, as it induces rapid changes in the geographical distribution of many species. We used ecological niche modelling to predict the impacts of climate change on the distribution of five endemic owls in the Atlantic Forest and evaluated the effectiveness of the protected areas network for their conservation. The results indicate that the protected areas network is currently effective in terms of representativeness for most species; however, there will be a decline for all species in the coming decades because of climate change. We found that the ecoregions in the northern part of the Atlantic Forest will experience a higher loss of species, whereas those ecoregions in the southern part will be important stable climatic refuges in the future. Therefore, we emphasize the need to complement the network of protected areas to increase their representativeness in the distribution of species that will be affected by climate change, reducing species loss and increasing connectivity between suitable areas. We hope the results presented herein will serve as a basis for decision‐makers to re‐evaluate and improve current conservation policies and decisions in order to address the challenges posed by climate change and secure the survival of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is considered to be a leading cause of species extinction, yet the likely effects of climate change on geographic distributions and conservation status of many threatened African plants have not seen detailed evaluation. Here, we used ecological niche modelling approaches to explore and evaluate climate change effects on potential geographic distributions of plants of the threatened West‐Central African genus Talbotiella. Our models showed that suitability was lower in the northern parts of its range in West Africa and at it's southern extremes in West‐Central Africa. Areas of West Africa between Liberia and southwestern Ghana were identified as potentially suitable areas where new populations or species of the genus could be discovered. Our model transfers to future conditions showed range shifts and contractions in the geographic distribution of the genus; species of the genus are threatened by additional factors such as habitat loss or degradation, agriculture and development of industrial infrastructure. Although species of the genus will likely persist in protected areas, conservation efforts should also include ex situ conservation approaches, particularly as regards individual species in the genus. This study shows how niche modelling approaches could be used to enhance the conservation and discovery of African biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biotropica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We point out complications inherent in biodiversity inventory metrics when applied to large-scale datasets. The number of units of inventory effort (e.g., days of inventory effort) in which a species is detected saturates, such that crucial numbers of detections of rare species approach zero. Any rare errors can then come to dominate species richness estimates, creating upward biases in estimates of species numbers. We document the problem via simulations of sampling from virtual biotas, illustrate its potential using a large empirical dataset (bird records from Cape May, NJ, USA), and outline the circumstances under which these problems may be expected to emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a global phenomenon that presents diverse threats to global food security. Of the avocados (Persea americana Mill), Hass is the most commonly cultivated variety in the world, representing an important source of nutrition in numerous countries, yet its potential risks in the face of climate change are unknown. Here, we characterise current and future potential distributional areas for Hass avocado under different scenarios of climate change across the Americas. We use ecological-niche modelling approaches to explore implications of changes in climate, considering 22 general circulation models, two emissions scenarios, and six model parameterisations. The current potential distribution of Hass avocado extends across tropical America (excluding most of Amazonia), including some areas at higher latitudes. Future projections show stability in potential distribution. Range expansions are expected mainly in temperate areas, and range contractions are related to temperature and precipitation increases, mostly in Amazonia. Model parametrisations contributed the most to overall variation in future projections, followed by climate models, and then emissions scenarios. Our conclusion of relative stability for the crop's potential distribution is still subject to effects on other components of avocado production systems, and may be vulnerable to extreme phenomena. Avocado is an important tropical crop plant, known to be particularly responsive to environment in terms of survival and production, yet likely effects of global climate change on its potential geography remain unknown. This study used correlative ecological niche models to explore the future geographic potential, which has implications for future development of its production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Species‐level forecasts of distributional potential and likely distributional shifts, in the face of changing climates, have become popular in the literature in the past 20 years. Many refinements have been made to the methodology over the years, and the result has been an approach that considers multiple sources of variation in geographic predictions, and how that variation translates into both specific predictions and uncertainty in those predictions. Although numerous previous reviews and overviews of this field have pointed out a series of assumptions and caveats associated with the methodology, three aspects of the methodology have important impacts but have not been treated previously in detail. Here, we assess those three aspects: (1) effects of niche truncation on model transfers to future climate conditions, (2) effects of model selection procedures on future‐climate transfers of ecological niche models, and (3) relative contributions of several factors (replicate samples of point data, general circulation models, representative concentration pathways, and alternative model parameterizations) to overall variance in model outcomes. Overall, the view is one of caution: although resulting predictions are fascinating and attractive, this paradigm has pitfalls that may bias and limit confidence in niche model outputs as regards the implications of climate change for species’ geographic distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Therya is the property of Asociacion Mexicana de Mastozoologia, A. C. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, the effects of rainfed maize crop management on agroecosystem health was studied. In the state of Puebla, three systems were analyzed: traditional agriculture (TA), conservation agriculture (CA), and conventional agriculture (CVA). A methodological proposal for evaluation was developed through the Agroecosystem Health Index on an interval scale (0–5), to which a cluster analysis and an ordinal scale (1–3) were applied. Finally, the variance of the data was analyzed under a bifactor design (management, site). The variables of study were chemical, physical, and biological properties of the soil, as well as annual net income of the production unit. The interval scale applied to the chemical properties of the soil indicates that TA has better conditions for growing corn, with a score of 3.6, followed by CA with 3.5, and CVA with 3.3. The cluster analysis only showed correlation with the order of the scores for the type of management. The ordinal scale showed a holistic view of the conditions of the plot’s resources and CA was ranked first, followed by CVA and TA, for their ability to promote the health of the agroecosystem. A statistically significant effect of the management was found in all chemical and physical soil properties, whereas for the biological factors it was necessary to analyze the dominant taxonomic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The goldspotted oak borer Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer is an invasive pest of three Quercus species in southern California, U.S.A. As a native and potentially indigenous exotic species, its distribution and potential damage is largely unknown in Mexico., We used the maximum entropy algorithm to determine the bioclimatic variables that may explain the distribution of A. auroguttatus, as well as its interaction with the distribution of known hosts in Mexico., Our model calculated high suitability for A. auroguttatus in the biogeographical provinces of California, the northern and southern areas of Sierra Madre Occidental and the northwestern area of the Mexican Plateau; moderate suitability was projected in the Baja California, Sonora and Sierra Madre Occidental provinces. Potential distribution of A. auroguttatus was overlapping with native ranges of Quercus agrifolia, Quercus emoryi Torrey and Quercus hypoleucoides A. Camus. Precipitation of the coldest quarter (23.6%), isothermality (23.5%), precipitation seasonality (17.3%) and mean temperature of the coldest quarter (11.2%) contributed most to explaining its distribution in Mexico., The geographical interaction (i.e. the likelihood that the habitat would be suitable for coexistence) of A. auroguttatus with its hosts in Mexico was projected in the California province (46 382.60 km2, probably as an exotic species) and the northwestern areas of Mexican Plateau and Sierra Madre Occidental provinces (74 013.45 km2, probably as native)., Determining the areas of environmental suitability for A. auroguttatus and its host distribution can focus ground surveys, contribute to management efforts and assist in the development of risk assessments for Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tropical Conservation Science is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Simple Summary: Here, we describe climate change effects on biodiversity, mainly in pest species related to greenhouse production. We used statistical and theoretical methods to describe crops' vulnerability under worldwide climate change. Some insects (flies) generate economic damage in mushroom, strawberry, and nursery production. We determined potential risk areas for the invasion of three fly species under different climate change scenarios in 2050. Range expansion was determined in the Northern Hemisphere; however, some regions in South America, Africa, and Australia had increases and potentially invasive areas. Our results provide information for farmers, researchers, and politicians for decision-making around production to reduce possible damage caused by pests. Lycoriella species (Sciaridae) are responsible for significant economic losses in greenhouse production (e.g., mushrooms, strawberries, and nurseries). The current distributions of species in the genus are restricted to cold-climate countries. Three species of Lycoriella are of particular economic concern in view of their ability to invade areas in countries across the Northern Hemisphere. We used ecological niche models to determine the potential for range expansion under future climate change scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) in the distribution of these three species of Lycoriella. Stable environmental suitability under climate change was a dominant theme in these species; however, potential range increases were noted in key countries (e.g., USA, Brazil, and China). Our results illustrate the potential for range expansion in these species in the Southern Hemisphere, including some of the highest greenhouse production areas in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological gradients are important for species in nature. However, there is a need to better understand how varying levels of disturbance influence the functional roles of beetle species within a crop area characterized by different types of natural vegetation. Here, we test such effects by studying a perturbation gradient – an ecological gradient that transitions from a natural area near the ecotone of a deciduous forest (a transitional zone between crops and forest) to a crop. The beetle specimens were collected along transects parallel to the ecotone, and their functional diversity was assessed using a clustering analysis and functional indices. We identified 21 species of beetles, and the highest species richness was observed in the Chrysomelidae family. A functional analysis revealed two main groups, including primary consumers (phytophages) and entomophagous beetles. The hedge area exhibited functional richness similar to the natural area. However, the functional evenness was consistently low across all the areas. The presence of natural habitats positively influenced beetle functionality and potentially impacted the abundance of deleterious species of beetles and their establishment at a low spatial scale. These findings underscore the importance of considering different spatial-scale-dynamics in agroecosystems and highlight the potential role of natural habitats in fostering functionality to indirectly control pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Components of a surrounding agricultural matrix can be important to the ecology of agroecosystems because they modulate biodiversity, abundance of pests (i.e., arthropods or weeds), and their natural enemies. Based on the assumption that organisms respond to edges, we assessed whether animals (beetles) and crop plants showed similar patterns across a gradient of perturbation and ecotones and natural habitats. Across the perturbation gradient, we analyzed (1) crop plant morphometry and (2) the structure of beetle populations in the perturbed area and natural habitats. Results showed that beetles (a bioindicator group) and A. hypochondriacus crop plants (perturbed area) responded similar to an ecotone, i.e., we found positive edge effects, but beetle richness negatively followed the gradient of perturbation affecting beetle nestedness and turnover. At the point nearest the ecotone, crop plants grew larger (e.g., panicle and plant height had the largest effects), which was consistent in time. Results supported the resource competition framework and resource distribution model in agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain amaranth, Amaranthus L., is an emerging crop cultivated worldwide. One way in which resources from the amaranth crop could be exploited as an alternative to grain is to grow amaranth in the dry season, harvest only the leaves, and incorporate them into meals. In this environmental condition, insects associated with the amaranth crop are poorly known. Results showed that Diabrotica balteata LeConte, was the most abundant species with 44.90% of the relative abundance. Nine species of Brentidae, Chrysomelidae, Coccinellidae, and Melyridae associated with dry-season amaranth, Amaranthus hypochondriacus L., crop were first reported for Puebla State, Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Media Luna lake-spring was selected as representative of all thermal or no thermal springs in the zone of Valley of Rioverde, a semi-arid vegetation in the North-eastern of Mexico. This system is inhabited by 11 fish species, of which six are native. Four of the native species are endemic to the region and threatened due to touristic pressure and to the introduction of exotic species. The objectives were to determine the characteristics that influence the spatial distribution of the fish species, to analyze their spatial distribution patterns, and to describe the relationships between the different species. The general aim was to establish some basis for the conservation of these fish communities and their habitat. Several sessions were initiated in 1992 through direct observation. Later, between 1998 and 1999 five systematically seasonal sampling sessions were conducted (54 subaquatic transects/session). Finally, the data was updated by sampling in summer 2002 and winter 2006. Through the analysis was performed only for endemics of the region, like Ataeniobius toweri Meek, Cualac tessellatus Miller, Cichlasoma bartoni Bean and C. labridens Pellegrin, in at least one life stage, showed correlation with habitat variables or with other species. For these species, patterns of spatial aggregation and association with other species were observed. These results show a certain degree of specialization of endemic species to some microhabitat characteristics, as well as a significant interaction with other native species which they coexist. In addition, some significant relations between endemic and alien species suggest an antagonist relation. Management actions focused in the touristic use of the spring represent the main threat for these species, followed by an adequate management of exotic species. This study provides basis for future responsible management of these wetlands, where tourism and conservation can be combined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquito-borne diseases account for human morbidity and mortality worldwide, caused by the parasites (e.g., malaria) or viruses (e.g., dengue, Zika) transmitted through bites of infected female mosquitoes. Globally, billions of people are at risk of infection, imposing significant economic and public health burdens. As such, efficient methods to monitor mosquito populations and prevent the spread of these diseases are at a premium. One proposed technique is to apply acoustic monitoring to the challenge of identifying wingbeats of individual mosquitoes. Although researchers have successfully used wingbeats to survey mosquito populations, implementation of these techniques in areas most affected by mosquito-borne diseases remains challenging. Here, methods utilizing easily accessible equipment and encouraging community-scientist participation are more likely to provide sufficient monitoring. We present a practical, community-science-based method of monitoring mosquito populations using smartphones. We applied deep-learning algorithms (TensorFlow Inception v3) to spectrogram images generated from smartphone recordings associated with six mosquito species to develop a multiclass mosquito identification system, and flag potential invasive vectors not present in our sound reference library. Though TensorFlow did not flag potential invasive species with high accuracy, it was able to identify species present in the reference library at an 85% correct identification rate, an identification rate markedly higher than similar studies employing expensive recording devices. Given that we used smartphone recordings with limited sample sizes, these results are promising. With further optimization, we propose this novel technique as a way to accurately and efficiently monitor mosquito populations in areas where doing so is most critical., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America.All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)