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The Land-use change emerges as a fundamental factor in the increase in zoonotic diseases, affecting both ecosystems and human populations. The edge effect between forested areas and their surrounding environments, modifies species distribution, and consequently the dynamics zoonotic wildlife. Patches with high perimeter-to-area ratios may experience a more pronounced edge effect, justifying the relevance of studying patch shape in a disease dynamics. In addition, competition between species, especially between those that act as reservoirs and those that do not, plays a crucial role in eco-epidemiological dynamics. In this context, our study addresses competition dynamics between two species employ the Lotka–Volterra model. We introduce an internal classification in the host species with two compartments, susceptible and infected, and model the disease transmission rate using a function linked to parameters associated with the edge effect. Specifically, the transmission rate differentiates interactions between susceptible and infected individuals in the core area and the edge of the patch, being a function dependent on the shape index of the patch, and is of the edge effect and host density. We predicted that, although competition can decrease the spread of the disease among hosts, the edge effect can paradoxically increase it. • Edge effects alter zoonotic disease dynamics. • The basic reproductive number is key to understanding eco-epidemiological dynamics. • Edge effects can amplify disease dynamics, even with intra-specific competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Urban expansion intensity decreases tree species richness in remnant forests. • Species with resource conservation traits are threatened by edge-expansion types. • Higher levels of urbanization were linked to species in the sapling and shrub strata that possess traits of high seed mass when the urbanization period was extended. • The delayed impacts of urbanization levels are observed. Remnant urban forests, or scattered patches of forest within urban areas, serve as crucial biodiversity reservoirs. Investigating how urban environments influence biodiversity within these forests is essential for enhancing conservation strategies. This study examined data from 15 remnant forest patches in Guiyang, China, to assess the impacts of spatiotemporal urban expansion on species richness and functional traits across different life forms and ontogenetic stages in both interior and edge habitats of these patches. Employing generalized linear regression models, we examined variables including the intensity of urban expansion, road density, type of expansion, compound terrain complexity, and the interplay between urbanization levels and the timeframe of urban development. Our results indicated that increased urban expansion intensity positively affected the species richness of shrubs, yet negatively influenced tree richness. Furthermore, high urbanization levels were associated with lower species richness in adult trees and the species in the sapling and shrub layers with high seed mass traits when the duration of urbanization was prolonged. Additionally, we observed that edge-expansion type urban growth notably increased the risk of losing species with resource-conservation traits compared to leapfrog growth patterns. These outcomes highlight the detrimental effects of intensive urban expansion and edge-expansion growth on the conservation of woody plants, especially those characterized by resource conservation traits. They also draw attention to the delayed impacts of urbanization on plant diversity. In response, we advocate for the reduction of urban expansion intensity and control over edge-expansion growth patterns to protect plant diversity in remnant forests. It is also critical to prioritize the conservation of remnant forest patches located in areas that have undergone extensive urbanization for prolonged periods, as these are particularly vulnerable to biodiversity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of landscape ecology's main goals is to unveil how biodiversity is impacted by habitat transformation. However, the discipline suffers from significant context dependency in observed spatial and temporal trends, hindering progress towards understanding the mechanisms driving species declines and preventing the development of accurate estimates of future biodiversity change. Here, we discuss recent evidence that populations' and species' responses to habitat change at the landscape scale are modulated by factors and processes occurring at macroecological scales, such as historical disturbance rates, distance to geographic range edges, and climatic suitability. We suggest that placing landscape ecology studies in a macroecological lens will help to explain seemingly inconsistent results and will ultimately create better predictive models to help mitigate the biodiversity crisis. Context dependency in species responses to habitat change can be explained by processes occurring at macroecological scales, such as distance to geographic range edges, climatic suitability, and evolutionary history of disturbance events. Further exploration of how multiple stressors at different scales interact will lead to a better understanding of the strength and direction of anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity. In the same way that edge effects impact biodiversity in patches with more convoluted shapes, range-edge effects may also drive higher sensitivity to habitat change in species with more complex range shape. Using a cross-scale approach will lead to more accurate predictions of biodiversity change with habitat transformation and more effective conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation planning focuses on core habitats, often overlooking ecotones, which can hold unrecognised potential for biodiversity conservation. This study focused on ecotonal habitat use in alpine reptile metacommunities, with emphasis on a grassland specialist, the critically endangered alpine she-oak skink, Cyclodomorphus praealtus. Survey transects in grasslands and woodlands in Kosciuszko National Park in the Australian Alps were used to investigate reptile occupancy and richness. Data was analysed using a multi-species occupancy model in relation to (1) distance from nearest grassland to assess grassland specialists' occupancy into woodland areas while accounting for imperfect detection, and (2) normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) to assess the importance of high resource patches. Among the 11 reptile species detected, our hypothesis that grassland specialists would inhabit woodland ecotones was confirmed. The furthest occurrence of C. praealtus from the closest grassland was 41 m with a predicted occupancy of 0.06 (0.004 – 0.169 95 % Bayesian credible intervals) at 100 m. Contrary to conventional edge effect theories, our results revealed no increase in species richness nearer to the woodland ecotone from grasslands or with higher NDVI values. This study underscores the importance of including ecotonal buffers in ecological impact assessments and conservation plans for habitat specialists, that may still use ecotones of adjacent habitats. The findings emphasize the need for broader survey efforts beyond core habitats to capture the distribution of threatened species effectively. Incorporating ecotonal habitats into conservation strategies is crucial, particularly for specialist species whose dynamic use of ecotones may help safeguard them amidst predicted habitat transformation from anthropogenic influences and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic habitat loss and fragmentation are major concerns to conservationists, since these processes lead to species decline and extinction. Edge effect is one of the most important causes of biodiversity losses in fragmented habitats. The depth of edge influence, the distance over which the edge effect penetrates into the adjacent habitat is a central issue, as it fundamentally determines whether the habitat fragment has any remaining core habitat, which is essential for the survival of habitat specialist species. We reviewed 204 edge studies on ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) of different feeding habits, in forests, one of the habitats most impacted by humans. Meta-analysing 1814 abundance data of 351 ground beetle species from forest edges and their adjoining interiors, we showed that forest edges had significantly higher abundance of herbivorous, omnivorous, and predatory ground beetles than their interiors. Edge history considerably affected the depth of edge influence which on all trophic groups was similar in natural edges and those maintained by agriculture (≤ 10–20 m), while it was wider (> 300 m) when created by forestry or other anthropogenic activities. Consequently, the minimum area of a forest fragment should be ∼ 330 ha in order to keep half of it as core habitat to preserve forest-interior species. • We analysed ground beetle abundance in forest interiors and their edges. • 1814 edge-interior abundance comparisons were evaluated by meta-analysis. • All types of forest edges had higher ground beetle abundance than their interiors. • Depth of edge influence was ≤20 m at natural and agriculture-maintained edges. • Depth of edge influence was larger in forestry- or other human-maintained edges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We investigated the thermal buffering of forest retention practices. • T max was lower in retention forests than in clear-cuts but higher than in old forests. • Basal area and canopy cover were identified as key factors impacting microclimates. • Preserving tree diversity and standing deadwood enhance stands' thermal buffering. • Lying deadwood related negatively to canopy cover, likely lowering thermal buffering. Retention forestry is increasingly adopted as an alternative to clearcutting practices and involves retaining structural and compositional complexity (e.g., living and dead trees) from preharvest to postharvest. Past studies have examined the role of retention forestry in supporting various ecosystem functions and biodiversity, whilst its microclimate buffering capacity has been largely neglected. We investigated the microclimates and the underlying mechanisms of retention forests relative to clearcuts and old forests in a boreal forest landscape in central Sweden. We found that both air temperature and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) differed significantly between the forest types. Old forests consistently exhibited the most buffered forest microclimates, followed by retention forests, while clearcuts displayed the lowest. Basal area and canopy cover were identified as the key determinants influencing air temperature and VPD across the forest types. Retention practices can also impact a stand's microclimates. Specifically, maintaining diverse tree species had the potential to lower the stand's maximum temperature, given its positive association with canopy cover. Large volumes of lying deadwood were found to be negatively correlated with both basal area and canopy cover, likely contributing to increased maximum temperatures. Furthermore, standing deadwood directly lowered the maximum temperature within forest stands. Finally, edge effects were observed in the retention forests, with south-facing edges experiencing significantly higher maximum temperature and VPD compared to north-facing edges and forest interiors. These south-facing edge effects were positively associated with the difference in lying deadwood volumes between forest edges and interiors. Our findings support the positive influence of retention practices on a stand's microclimate buffering, achieved through preserving diverse tree species, standing deadwood, and implementing measures to prevent severe wind-induced tree mortality, particularly in south-facing edges (e.g. creating south-facing buffer zones). Forest managers and policy makers can utilize these results to minimize the climate-change impacts on below-canopy biodiversity and functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities adjacent to protected areas have been intensifying as human population grows, with protected areas in some regions effectively becoming islands within a sea of human development. Studies examining the effects of forest harvesting and deforestation on the biodiversity of adjacent protected areas have primarily focused on study areas within the tropics. Due to concerns about impacts of low-retention or clearcut harvesting on biodiversity in adjacent protected areas, the province of Nova Scotia implemented interim harvesting guidelines adjacent to all parks and protected areas in 2019. To examine the effectiveness of these guidelines, we designed a study to quantify the relative influence of previous clearcut harvesting immediately adjacent to Cloud Lake Wilderness Area based on changes in bird communities along transects beginning 100 m inside clearcuts and extending 300 m into the protected area. Ordinations revealed clear differences in the bird communities among transect points; clearcut and edge bird communities differed significantly from those 200 and 300 m inside the protected area and those 100 m inside the protected area comprised of a blend of species from the other 4 transect point locations. Overall species richness and many individual species abundances reflected this pattern as well - 13 species with clear responses across transect point locations were intermediate in abundance at sites 100 m into the protected area. The weight of evidence from our study supports other research showing that the zone of influence from clearcut harvesting on passerine birds in adjacent forest is at least 100 m for many species. These results suggest that a minimum harvesting and development buffer adjacent to protected areas of between 100 and 200 m would be a reasonable management approach if the objective is to minimize the effects of these activities on the bird communities within protected areas. To determine if a partial harvest within the buffer would maintain biodiversity within a protected area will require additional research that directly compares the influence of partial harvesting to no-harvest prescriptions on a variety of taxa. Additional studies in other protected areas that vary in size and have dissimilar landscape contexts, habitat conditions, and bird communities could provide further insight. • Human activities adjacent to protected areas (PAs) have been intensifying. • We quantified the influence of clearcut harvesting on bird communities in PAs. • There were clear differences in the bird communities among transect locations. • The influence of clearcut harvesting was greater than 100 m for many species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Data and perceptions suggest the US-Mexico borderlands have seen both environmental improvements and degradation since NAFTA. • Environmental infrastructure and public participation improvements can be attributed to NAFTA's environmental institutions. • A loss of regional water is associated with NAFTA's encouragement of mining and export agriculture in northern Mexico. • Confounding factors such as global trade and immigration politics complicate attribution of overall environmental changes to NAFTA. • Missing environmental data complicates analysis. Twenty-five years after the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into force, what impact has it had on the US-Mexico border environment? This paper asks what lessons NAFTA offers to contemporary debates about trade and environmental governance through analysis of time series data and expert perceptions on the environment of the US-Mexico borderlands. In the early 1990s, scholars and activists argued that NAFTA would have mostly negative impacts on the US-Mexico border, creating water scarcity and increasing air, land and water pollution; degrading ecosystems; and causing health problems. The debate over NAFTA was part of the larger discussion on the environmental impacts of trade and globalization. In response to these concerns, several governance institutions were created to monitor the environment (the Commission for Environmental Cooperation) and to certify and fund improvements to environmental infrastructure along the US-Mexico border (the Border Environment Cooperation Commission and North American Development Bank). NAFTA was recently replaced with a new trade deal (the USMCA). In this paper we review trends in environmental conditions over the past 25 years, mostly on the Mexican side of the border where greater impacts were anticipated, through datasets, institutional reports and scholarly literature. We also present and discuss the results of semi-structured interviews and surveys with 49 experts (researchers, activists, government personnel, and other border institutional actors) to understand the varied legacy of NAFTA on the border environment at 25 years. Although missing data and challenges in attribution complicated our analysis, we found both positive and negative trends in environmental indicators and the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the effective growth in challenges and an urge in establishment for sustainable business, companies trading globally are inclined towards the implementation of highly efficient cross-border reallocations of revolving capital. The prominent objective of this research paper is therefore the clear identification of the active key attributes and specifications of all strategic measures for efficient sustainable cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) of the Islamic companies in the Gulf region that are keen to engage with the non-Islamic companies across the globe. This paper also explores the paradigm of culture, in its different manifestations, it was and still is a primary factor of creativity. This study also focuses on building some better understanding of the role of "Culture for Open Innovation Dynamics." Initially, since the need to interpret community, that can also influence the dynamics of open innovation, has sharply increased, the research addresses open innovation dynamics and its significant concerns related to cross border mergers and cross culture ventures of firms and organizations. The researcher purposively selected 15 financial institutions from the selected Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 key individuals including Board of Directors (BOD) members, lawyers and the Shariah scholars involved with three Islamic banks and two Islamic insurance companies in GCC. The findings indicate a consensus among the respondents regarding how the Shariah corporate governance principles can present barriers for cross-border M&As. Key obstacles to the success of cross-border M&As between the Islamic and the non-Islamic companies include the Shariah compliance, weak systems of disclosure, dependency, corruption in compliance, having family members on the Board, weakened communication with external auditors, different interpretations of Shariah by different scholars and a lack of alternative Islamic financial instruments. The comprehensive research in this paper fills the research gap by specifying the key attributes of considering the future implementation and management of M&As in broader scopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agri-environment scheme (AES) approaches can be classified according to whether they prescribe management in non-productive areas, such as field boundaries and wildflower strips, or in productive areas, such as arable crops. Here we tested the ecological effectiveness of two popular AESs in Germany: wildflower strips next to winter wheat fields as off-field management and organic farming on winter wheat fields as on-field management. We selected ten landscapes along a field size gradient with three focal wheat fields, one conventional field with flower strip, one organic field and one conventional field without flower strip as a control. We sampled arthropods with pitfall traps at field edges and field interiors. We selected three ecological traits for spiders and carabids (body size, feeding trait, dispersal ability). We calculated community weighted mean values (CWM), and we used linear mixed effects models to test the effect of management type and transect position on CWM values. We found pronounced edge effects on most traits, and weaker effects of field size and AES in shaping functional traits. Smaller spiders, spiders with higher ballooning propensity and more web-builders were in the field interior than at the field edge, whereas carnivore carabids preferred field interiors. We also found a strong effect of landscape configuration, i.e. mean field size, as larger field size was positively related to more web-building spiders and more carnivore beetles. Flower strips enhanced populations of web-building spiders. Our results suggest that small-scale agriculture leading to high landscape-scale edge density has a major effect in shaping functional traits and potential ecosystems services in agricultural landscapes. Spider and carabid communities exhibit very different responses to edge vs. interior sites, and, based on the landscape-scale field size gradient emphasize the importance of landscape configuration in shaping the heterogeneity of the arthropods' traits and presumably ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Habitat fragmentation impacts ectoparasite communities. • Ectoparasite prevalences differed between continuous forests and forest fragments. • Proximity to the forest edge (<750 m) lead to decreasing ectoparasite prevalences. • Ectoparasite species richness increased with forest size. • Ectoparasites and their biodiversity are ecologically vulnerable. Habitat loss and fragmentation drive the worldwide depletion of biodiversity. Although it is known that anthropogenic disturbances severely affect host and ecosystem integrity, effects on parasites are largely understudied. This study aims to investigate if and how habitat fragmentation affects the composition of ectoparasite communities on small mammalian hosts in two networks of dry deciduous forest fragments in northwestern Madagascar. Forest sites differing in size, proportion of edge habitat and host density were studied in the Ankarafantsika National Park and in the Mariarano region. A total of 924 individuals of two mouse lemur species, Microcebus murinus (n = 200) and Microcebus ravelobensis (n = 426), and two rodent species, endemic Eliurus myoxinus (n = 114) and introduced Rattus rattus (n = 184), were captured to assess ectoparasite infestations. Ectoparasite prevalence and ectoparasite species richness were statistically related to nine ecological variables applying generalized linear mixed models. Hosts harbored ticks (Haemaphysalis microcebi), mites (Schoutedenichia microcebi , Listrophoroides spp., Laelaptidae gen. spp.) and sucking lice (Lemurpediculus spp., Polyplax sp., Hoplopleuridae gen. sp.). Parasite prevalence differed significantly between host species for all detected parasite taxa. Proximity to the forest edge led to a significant reduction in ectoparasites. Parasite-specific edge effects were observed up to a distance of 750 m from the forest edge. The obtained results imply that habitat fragmentation impacts ectoparasite communities, in particular by negatively affecting temporary parasite species. The results are best explained by an interplay of parasite life cycles, responses to changes in abiotic factors induced by edges and host-specific responses to habitat fragmentation. The negative responses of most studied ectoparasite taxa to forest edges and habitat fragmentation demonstrate their ecological vulnerability that may eventually threaten the integrity of ecosystems and potentially impact ectoparasite biodiversity worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Spatial metrics analysis can quantify environmental heterogeneity. • Bare patch areas can be used as an important indicator of Kobresia pasture degradation. • The spatial turnover of plant species increases with total edge length of bare patches. • Bare patch area led to a decrease in forb and an increase in grass in the richness proportion along the degradation of Kobresia pastures. The Kobresia pasture in the Tibetan Plateau, as the world's largest and most unique pastoral alpine ecosystem, is undergoing severe degradation, visible in the formation of bare patches. Characteristics of bare patches in Kobresia pastures are regarded as indicators of the fragmentation and degradation of the alpine landscapes. Here, we used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)-based low-elevation remote sensing to monitor 72 study sites in the eastern Tibetan Plateau for identifying the spatial patterns of bare patches of Kobresia pasture degradation on regional scale. We conducted field surveys of species composition, quantified fragmentation caused by bare patches using four landscape indices (patch area, total edge length, shape index and splitting index, representing the patch area, length of the edge, shape, and dispersion of the bare patches, respectively), then modeled the response of plant species richness and productivity at the scale of 50 × 50 m to the Kobresia pasture fragmentation process. Our results indicated that species richness and biomass production decreased significantly with each increasing bare patch index. The total edge length of bare patches increased the spatial turnover of plant species. Although bare patch area significantly decreased the species richness of plant communities, it led to a decrease in forb richness and an increase in grass richness along the degradation of Kobresia pastures. Bare patch areas, as the most easily accessible and highly accurate parameter by UAV-based low-elevation remote sensing, significantly related to the decrease in species richness and productivity, and mainly explained the changes in functional group composition. For assessing the ecological integrity of grassland functionality (plant species diversity and above-ground productivity), bare patch area can be used as an important indicator of Kobresia pasture degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than half of the world's population lives in urban areas. Sustaining healthy urban forests is increasingly relevant to this population given the wide range of economic, ecological, and social benefits that urban forests provide. Yet forests in cities grow in sites that are fragmented, with frequent disturbance, altered soils, and complex land use history, which can lead to the degradation of forest conditions and the benefits they provide. We measured forest composition and structure in 1124 plots across 53 parks in New York City's (NYC) 2,497-ha natural area forests and uplands. To better understand the factors responsible for their current condition, we documented historical land use in each plot using aerial imagery going back 90 years, quantified edge effects using remote sensing, and field-measured contemporary disturbances, soil characteristics and light. In the last 90 years, the majority of contemporary natural areas in NYC have recolonized from farmland, built, landscaped lawn, and open field cover-types to forests (from a mean of 37% to 76% forest cover). Areas previously documented as having human land use (e.g. arable agriculture), now have double the amount of invasive species cover compared to sites that were forested or natural areas in the last 90 years. Contemporary measures of forest edge, light, and soil pH have a stronger association with native species basal area, species richness, and invasive species cover, but have an additive effect with measures of historical land cover and local site-level disturbances. We find that a history of non-forest cover, in combination with high soil pH and edge adjacency, was associated with the most invaded contemporary forests. Overall, it appears that a non-forest land use history may be a precursor to altered environmental conditions, making it an important lens upon which to understand forest succession more broadly in complex human-dominated forests, like those in New York City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical land-use change is the key driver of the global extinction crisis. Understanding of the effects of land-use change on biodiversity depends on using a method that can accurately detect impacts. Studies evaluating conservation questions using small mammals in the tropics are mostly conducted using live-trap or pitfall, yet those that use both methods revealed substantial variation in the range and number of species sampled. A key question is whether variation between trapping methods alters the interpretation of the impacts of land-use change on small mammals. Focusing on the fragmented Brazilian Atlantic Forest, we sampled across five landscape units: interior and edge of contiguous forest; riparian forest remnant connected near or far from the contiguous forest; and unconnected riparian remnant. We found contrasting results from live-trap and pitfall regarding species composition, community structure, and functional abundance of small mammals. We then show that interpretations of land-use change impacts on small mammal communities differ significantly when using live-trap versus pitfalls. Using live-traps, riparian forest closely connected to contiguous forest supported similar composition and structure as the contiguous forest, but similarity decreased with distance from contiguous forest sinks. With pitfalls, the estimated small mammal community did not differ among habitats. Methodological variation could result in key impacts of land-use change on small mammals going undetected and in erroneous conservation planning within fragmented landscapes, indicating either a necessity to use live-traps or a combination of both methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We compared residual tree mortality in post-fire and post-harvest island remnants. • We also evaluated the effects of island edges and other drivers of tree mortality. • Tree mortality was similar in post-fire and post-harvest island remnants. • Tree mortality in edge plots was similar to interior plots. • Species identity and tree size were the main drivers of tree mortality. Ecosystem-based Forest Management (EBM) is a global paradigm with different forms of implementation. In North America, a key aspect of EBM is the emulation of natural disturbances such as wildfire, with retention forestry representing one dominant approach to implementation. Retention is intended to reduce the contrast between ecological legacies present in fire-disturbed and harvested stands by leaving unharvested patches or "island remnants". These island remnants provide refugia for forest species, accelerate forest regeneration, and supply coarse woody material over time. However, the objectives of leaving retention patches could be compromised by excessive post-disturbance tree mortality, which may erode canopy cover in patches. Comparisons of residual tree mortality in dispersed retention or partial harvest to reference forests and clearcuts exist, but rarely have comparisons to island remnants created by wildfires been made, despite this being the model for these patches. Here, we sampled island remnants in burned and harvested areas in aspen-dominated mixedwood forests in Alberta, Canada, a decade after disturbance. We sought to: (i) test for differences in post-disturbance tree mortality in island remnants (fire versus harvest) (ii) determine if forest island edges experience higher tree mortality than plots located in the interior, and (iii) examine whether tree species, tree size, and stand density influence tree mortality patterns. Post-disturbance tree mortality was quantified using visual field surveys. Additionally, we dated a sub-sample of trees to quantify temporal patterns of tree mortality. We found that harvest-created island remnants did not exhibit higher residual tree mortality than similar-sized fire island remnants. Edge effects also had no impact on tree mortality, irrespective of disturbance type. Aspen (Populus tremuloides) had higher mortality than spruce (Picea glauca), and small-sized trees had a higher probability of mortality than large-sized trees. While previous studies have reported elevated rates of mortality for retention trees in relation to reference stands, we found similar mortality rates for trees in fire and harvest island remnants. These results support the continued implementation of retention forestry using island remnants within the scope of EBM in Alberta to promote forest recovery and resilience following disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Presence of E. pubescens seeds did not affect the seed removal of H. thibetanus by removers. • Presence of H. thibetanus seeds decreased the seed removal of E. pubescens by ants. • Ant-mediated neighboring seed effects disappeared when rodents were present. • Seed removal of H. thibetanus by ants varied between the forest edge and the interior. • The strength of neighboring effects did not vary between the forest edge and the interior. Although neighboring plants can influence animal-seed dispersal interactions, little is known about the effect of neighboring seeds and the influence of habitat on seed dispersal by ants. Here we investigated the influence of neighboring seeds on seed removal in two coexisting myrmecochorous species (Epimedium pubescens and Helleborus thibetanus) from temperate deciduous forests of Qinling Mountains, central China, by examining (1) the potential role of ants and rodents and (2) whether the neighboring seed effect differed between forest edge and interior. We found that, presence of the higher-ESMR (elaiosome: seed mass ratio) E. pubescens did not significantly affect seed removal of the lower-ESMR H. thibetanus. By contrast, the presence of H. thibetanus decreased the seed removal rates of E. pubescens , with only a significant effect in rodent exclusion (ant alone) rather than in both ant exclusion (rodent alone) and full access (rodent + ant). Moreover, we found that those effects were not significantly different between the forest edge and the interior, which may be attributed to a similar pattern of overall seed-dispersing ant abundance in the two habitats. This suggested that neighboring seeds could influence seed removal of the focal plant depending on the absence of rodents; when rodents were present, the interaction of rodents and ants rendered no influence of neighboring seeds on seed removal. Our results show that the neighborhood effect was regulated by both dispersers and predators, and this effect was not context-dependent at a small spatial scale. This study highlights the importance to understand the effect of shared seed-removing animals and habitat context to assess the neighboring seed effect on plant-animal interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The positive influence of heterogeneity in vegetation and land-use on animal diversity is generally well established, but it has not been conclusively confirmed yet in millipede communities inhabiting karst canyons where biodiversity is to large extent determined by variation in topography (e.g., elevation). We studied how millipede assemblages (Diplopoda) vary between forest, forest edge, and meadow habitats in this specific karst environment. We sampled millipedes by pitfall trapping during two vegetation seasons (from March to October in 2001 and 2002) in approximately monthly intervals across nine sites in Central Slovakia (Veľká Fatra Mts). In total, 951 individuals belonging to 12 species from 6 families and 10 orders were collected. The dominant species was Unciger foetidus , which was also one of the two most frequent species along with Polydesmus complanatus. Although the total number of captured millipedes was greatest on forest edges (395 individuals), intermediate in meadows, and lowest in forests (214 individuals), millipede abundance and species composition varied considerably within each habitat type among the sites. Total millipede species richness in meadow and forest edge habitats was the same (11 species) and it was lower in forest habitats (7 species), while species diversity (Shannon's H ′) and equitability (E) were greatest in meadows. Millipede diversity measures (species richness or equitability) were correlated positively with species richness of herb layer and negatively with shrub layer equitability, soil conductivity, and soil phosphorus. Thus, we found complex patterns of heterogeneity in millipede community composition and richness across studied habitats and elevations that were driven by habitat type and plant community and soil characteristics. While millipede abundance patterns varied, open habitats supported most species-rich millipede communities at lower elevations, while forest edges were most species-rich at the high elevation. • Millipede abundance and composition varied across meadow-edge-forest habitat mosaic. • Millipede diversity was greater in meadow than forest habitats at low elevations. • Millipede diversity was greater at forest edges than in meadow or forest habitats at high elevation. • Millipede diversity increased with herb richness and declined with shrub equitability, soil phosphorus and conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Stand characteristics did not vary along forest edge-interior gradient. • Above-ground carbon stock did not vary along forest edge-interior gradient. • There was strong interaction between pioneer and late successional tree species. • Pioneer species affected distribution and occurrence of late successional species. Abstract Comparative studies were undertaken in five forest fragments (Chawia, Fururu, Mbololo, Ngangao and Vuria) of varying sizes in Taita Hills, Kenya to determine the effects of forest edge on the forest structure, species diversity and richness and above-ground carbon stock along a forest edge-interior gradient, and the relationship between pioneer and late successional tree species. For each forest fragment, belt transects proportional to the forest area were established. Within each belt transect, plots of 10 × 10 m were systematically established and replicated three times in a stratum at an interval between 10 and 50 m along a forest edge-interior gradient depending on the size of the forest fragment for assessment of the forest structure, species diversity and richness and above-ground carbon stock, and the relationships between pioneer and late successional tree species. Results showed that there was no significant edge effect on tree species diversity in Chawia (p = 0.564), Fururu (p = 0.689), Mbololo (p = 0.369), Ngangao (p = 0.576) and Vuria (p = 0.338), although the species diversity was higher in the forest interior than in the intermediate forest and on the forest edge. Similarly, there was no significant edge effect on species richness in Chawia (p = 0.490), Fururu (p = 0.507), Mbololo (p = 0.303), Ngangao (p = 0.886) and Vuria (p = 0.090). Above-ground carbon stocks were not significantly affected by edge effect in Chawia (p = 0.704), Fururu (p = 0.908), Mbololo (p = 0.544), Ngangao (p = 0.991) and Vuria (p = 0.590). Tabernaemontana stapfiana and M. lanceolata co-existed with 45.5% and 18.2% of the late successional tree species respectively while 9.1% of the late successional tree species co-existed with each of the following pioneer tree species: A. gummifera , M. conglomerata , S. guineense and X. monospora. These results could be used to develop conservation strategies that may minimize forest degradation and biodiversity erosion and loss in the fragmented forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry semi-natural grasslands are highly species-rich, and therefore often protected in cultural landscapes of Central Europe. However, reserves are typically small and may be subjected to edge effects. Here, we ask how grassland biodiversity changes from edges neighbouring arable fields into grassland interior. We compared plant diversity of protected grasslands adjacent to organically versus conventionally managed arable fields. We surveyed the vegetation along 50 m transects from the arable field border into the grasslands, and compared site characteristics via Ellenberg indicator values and measured soil parameters. Averaged linear mixed-effects models showed an increase of diversity with increasing distance from the adjacent field, from a mean observed richness of 25 species per 4 m²-plot at the border to more than 30 species in the interior. For organic sites, models consistently showed 13 species more per plot than for conventional sites. Diversity for the two land use types remained different over the entire transect length. Thus, the effect of adjacent field farming extends far into the interior of the protected grasslands, yet overall organic farming is less detrimental. We assume that this is related to a combination of differences in local farm management, such as pesticide application, and the wider landscape context associated with the farm type. Buffer zones with at least organic-like management could improve the conservation value of nature reserves. • increase of grassland plant diversity with increasing distance from adjacent field. • semi natural grasslands next to organic fields had higher plant diversity. • effect of adjacent field extends far into the interior of the protected grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant communities in highly fragmented tropical landscapes can undergo biotic homogenization and differentiation after land-use changes, such as forest fragmentation. Here we evaluated the beta diversity of understory plant communities in fragmented forest remnants and assessed species geographic distribution to infer potential local and regional scale dependency of homogenization and differentiation pathways in the Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil. More specifically we assessed: (i) community composition; (ii) the frequency of locally rare species, generalists, interior and edge specialists; (iii) the relative contribution of beta diversity components; and (iv) the influence of widely, intermediate and narrowly distributed species to the observed patterns. Understory communities were sampled in a nested design with plots allocated to the interior and edge of forest fragments, and geographic distributions were estimated based on occurrence records from herbaria collections. Our results revealed differences in species composition among fragments and habitat types (edge and interior). Most of the sampled species were classified as locally rare. The turnover component of beta diversity explained a higher proportion of variation in species composition among fragments and habitats. Species richness and abundance were higher in the interior of fragments and most of the recorded species in the study had a wide geographic distribution. Our results support a local community differentiation (high beta diversity) among fragments and habitat types and suggest a potential regional homogenization, given the predominance of widely distributed generalist species in a domain historically characterized by high levels of endemism. We recommend urgent protection and restoration actions on the few remaining fragments of the Atlantic Forest given that each remnant can support different plant assemblages that have been increasingly threatened. Future studies should explicitly consider multiple spatial and temporal scales across fragmented tropical landscapes to better understand links with biotic homogenization and differentiation of ecological communities. • Plant communities may experience local differentiation and regional homogenization. • Species classified as locally rare may present wide geographic distributions. • Forest remnants can support different plant assemblages, with high species turnover. • The remnants contain a significant portion of understory plant biodiversity and need protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The grassland area has shown a decreasing trend in the past 21 years. • The grassland has been severely fragmented in the past 21 years. • Edge grassland has higher productivity compared with core grassland. • Edge grassland has a stronger thermal buffer compared with core grassland. The impact of land use/cover change on land surface temperature is an important topic in research on biodiversity, environment planning, sustainability. However, such studies are rare in grassland ecosystems. Based on morphological spatial pattern analysis, we analyzed the change in grassland landscape patterns in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia from 2000 to 2020. We also examined the impact of grassland landscape pattern change on productivity and land surface temperature. We found that the grassland area decreased significantly, with grassland fragmentation increasing during the past 20 years. A series of landscape types showed different area changes: the area of islet and perforation increased, and the area of core, edge, and bridge decreased. Compared with the core grassland, the edge grassland shows higher productivity, which is a positive edge effect. Moreover, the edge grassland has a lower daytime temperature, higher nighttime temperature, and a smaller daily range than that in the core grassland. Our study highlights that the edge grassland has higher productivity and stronger thermal buffering. We suggest that more attention should be paid to the edge areas in grassland management to alleviate the thermal stress caused by human induced climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In 2000–2015, the total NPP values of different vegetation types in the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River Basin increased. • The NP, LPI, and PLADJ were the core landscape metrics used to assess the NPP changes in forest, Shrubland, and grassland. • In the identification of landscape pattern factors affecting NPP, the random forest algorithm had a better explanation than the Pearson correlation algorithm. Human activities and climate change directly affect the composition, structure, and function of ecosystems and, consequently, their net primary productivity (NPP). In this study, we explored the response relationships between landscape pattern indices and NPP changes in three major vegetation types (forest, grassland, and shrubland) in the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River Basin using a random forest model. The results showed that landscape fragmentation increased, leading to higher landscape heterogeneity and edge effects. Patch shapes became more irregular, and spatial distribution became more dispersed. From 2000 to 2015, both vegetation types and NPP showed significant spatial heterogeneity in the study area. The number of patches (NP), largest patch index (LPI), and percent-like adjacency (PLADJ) metrics were used to determine the core landscape characteristics to assess the NPP changes in forest, shrubland, and grassland, respectively. This study provides a basis for understanding the relationships among landscape patterns, vegetation types, and NPP and serves as a reference for developing NPP predictive models in the Loess Plateau region. Alterations in vegetation categories have a direct impact on the composition, configuration, and performance of ecosystems., Consequently, the net primary productivity (NPP) of vegetation is markedly affected. In this study, by elucidating the spatiotemporal dynamics of landscape pattern indices and regional NPP, To investigate the response relationships between landscape pattern indices and NPP changes in the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River Basin, and identify the indices that have the greatest impact on NPP while considering both vegetation type and landscape, we employed a random forest model in three major vegetation types (forest, grassland, and shrubland). This image shows the changes in vegetation types in the upper and middle Yellow River basin from 2000 to 2015 resulting in changes in NPP for different vegetation types and changes in landscape pattern indices that play a dominant role in NPP changes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas are the best strategy to conserve native biodiversity around the world. In Southeast Asia, most of the pristine tropical forest habitats are limited to terrestrial protected areas such as national parks and wildlife reserves. Endau Rompin National Park (ERNP) is one of undisturbed biodiversity-hotspots in the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia but surrounded by industrial oil palm plantations and threatened by habitat fragmentation. To date, little is known about the distribution and habitat requirement of wildlife, including those conservation priority species in the ERNP. This study aims to investigate the mammal distribution in the ERNP by estimating the probability of occurrence of a species among sampled sites. At 24 camera-trapping sites, we used passive infrared camera traps to detect the forest wildlife. We estimated wildlife occupancy by using single-season occupancy analysis while considering of imperfect detection and relating it to stand- and landscape-level variables. We detected 26 species of native wild animals in the study area including several conservation priority species such as Asian elephant, Asian tapir, and Malayan tiger. The site occupancy of conservation-priority species attests to ERNP's status as an important regional biodiversity hotspot. The detection probabilities of wildlife species were highly sensitive to specific ecological variables at stand- and landscape-level. Our data indicated that tree canopy cover, forest edges, adjacent human settlements, and riparian habitats (e.g., stream and river) are crucial for the persistence of the native wildlife species. Our results suggest that pristine forest habitat such as those typical to the ERNP are critical for wildlife conservation. We suggest that the stand- and landscape-level ecological variables are considered in the conservation planning to protect the forest biodiversity and ecological integrity of the national park and other terrestrial protected areas in the tropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In Western Europe, conversion of heathlands to planted forest had a severe impact on biodiversity by inducing habitat closure. • Forest edges may offer important linear habitats for ectotherm persistence but they remain understudied. • We demonstrate that canopy cover along edge cross-section provide a simple and useful index of microhabitat thermal quality and suitability for heliothermic reptiles. • The amount of solar radiation reaching the ground is a driver of reptiles occurrence and abundance on forest edges. • Appropriate edges management provide a relevant land sharing strategy to conciliate reptile conservation and commercial forestry. In Western Europe, natural habitats such as heathlands have been converted into many commercially managed forests, with severe impacts on biodiversity. In dense planted forests, forest edges are often the only suitable areas for ectothermic organisms highly dependent on open habitats for thermoregulation. Surprisingly, the influence of forest edges structure on the thermal quality of microhabitats and reptile species distribution remains poorly understood. In this study, we examined two reptile species and thermal quality of interior forest edges of a coniferous forest in Western France (Brittany). We focused on two hypotheses (i) the vegetation structure of the forest edges drives the thermal quality of the habitat and (ii) structural complexity of the forest edges influences the abundance of two heliothermic reptiles: the common adder (Vipera berus) and the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara). We first deployed temperature sensitive data loggers to quantify thermal conditions along 16 cross-sections of inner forest margins. For each section, 4 temperature loggers were placed at 1, 3, 5 and 7 m from the driveway and we examined the relation to vegetation structure and canopy cover. Second, we carried visual encounter surveys in 55 edges in order to measure the response of two reptiles to the structure of the forest margin along exploitation driveway. Our results show that high local canopy cover decreases microhabitat quality within interior forest edges. We also found that common lizard abundance was significantly influenced by the edge orientation and increased with global canopy openness and ground level vegetation. Adder abundance only increased significantly with the driveway width, suggesting the unmodelled effect of other biotic/abiotic variables. Our study shows that thermal quality of interior edges and driveway characteristics are relevant to support heathland reptile populations. We posit that maintain strips of favourable microhabitats should be an efficient land sharing strategy to combine forestry activities and biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mega dams result in habitat loss and fragmentation in lowland tropical forests, compromising the diversity and ecosystem functioning in remnant habitat islands. We investigated the structure of aerial insectivorous bat assemblages within insular forest patches created by a vast ∼30-year-old hydropower reservoir and adjacent mainland continuous forests in Central Amazonia. Bats were surveyed using passive bat recorders across 34 sites. We assessed bat assemblage responses to landscape insularization and estimated the contribution of assemblage-wide components of β-diversity. Additionally, we assessed the effects of local vegetation, and both patch and landscape variables on bat species diversity. Continuous forest sites in the mainland retained higher species richness and bat activity compared to islands, leading to divergent species composition between forest sites. Larger islands (>100 ha) and continuous forests tended to share a similar assemblage composition manly drive by species richness differences with a minor contribution of species replacements. Moreover, local vegetation structure, island size, and landscape edge area exerted significant effects on species richness, bat activity, and species composition, with small degraded islands and landscapes dominated by forest edges exhibiting pervasive species loss. Our study highlights the detrimental impacts of forest fragmentation induced by large dams on aerial insectivorous bat assemblages. If new dam projects are inevitable, we recommend the creation of extensive protected areas in land-bridge island systems and their adjacent continuous forests. Those protected sites can minimize the negative impacts of small islands, safeguarding forest quality for forest-dependent bats, which ensures the continuity of their ecosystem services. • Mega-dams are a significant threat to Amazonian biodiversity. • Bat assemblages are poorer and present lower activity after ∼30 years of isolation. • Bat assemblages are highly influenced by local, patch and landscape characteristics. • Larger islands tend to have a similar bat composition to continuous forests. • Even strictly protected islands cannot sustain their original bat diversity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We combine GIS and Differential Calculus to introduce new road effect and edge effect indices through new free software. • We evaluate the performance of these new indices to explain the abundance of small mammals. • Road and edge effects were more relevant to explain abundance of small mammals than forest area. • LIE and AVLIE allow for separating the road effect from the edge effect. Abstract Roads negatively affect many vertebrate species, whereas edge effect may favor some generalist species. This study aims to: 1) present a new way to calculate "line integral effects", represented by LIE and AVLIE, through new computer software, making this concept accessible to a broad audience of researchers interested in the study of Road Ecology and Tropical Forest Ecology; and, 2) test the performance of LIE and AVLIE indices, applied to road effect (LIE_road and AVLIE_road) and to edge effect (LIE_edge and AVLIE_edge), other road effect indices and forest area, using a data set on small mammal abundance in a human modified landscape in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Road and edge effects were represented by new metrics: Line Integral Effect (LIE) and Average Integral Effect (AVLIE), calculated using Line Integral from Differential Calculus of Several Variables through new free software developed by the second author. LIE_road and LIE_edge measure the total sum of the effect of roads (represented by lines) and edges (polygons), respectively, in relation to the forest fragment (point). AVLIE_road and AVLIE_edge measure the average of road and edge effect, respectively, in relation to the same sampling point. We used generalized linear regression models to explore the relationships between the abundance of the two groups of small mammals (forest specialists and habitat generalists) and the independent variables representing road, edge and forest effects. For forest specialists, the best model included AVLIE_road (negatively associated with abundance) and AVLIE_edge (negatively associated), while for habitat generalists, the best model included AVLIE_road (negatively associated) and LIE_edge (positively associated). Thus, there are more small mammals where road effect is lower. Forest fragments with higher edge effect showed more habitat generalists and less forest specialists. LIE and AVLIE could be useful metrics to explore edge effect separately to road effect on wildlife in forest fragments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edge effects have drastically affected species living in tropical forests. However, understanding how species respond to edge effects remains a challenge, owing to the many factors involved and different responses of each species thereto. Here, we analyzed how the abundance of two sympatric scorpion species ( Tityus pusillus and Ananteris mauryi ) and their potential prey varied as a function of microhabitat changes (litter depth, dry mass, and leaf shape) from edge to interior forest habitats. We further analyzed the contribution of potential prey to scorpion abundance and reproductive periods. Data were collected monthly at three 300-m² transects/site at distances of 10, 100, and 200 m from the forest edge in a fragment of the Atlantic forest in northeastern Brazil, between April 2016 and March 2017. Scorpions responded differentially to edge effects, with A. mauryi abundance being similar along the edge-interior gradient, whereas T. pusillus had a higher abundance in the interior. As T. pusillus inhabit the top layer of the leaf litter, this species will possibly be more influenced by edge effects. In contrast, being a humicolous scorpion and inhabiting the bottom layers of leaf litter, A. mauryi would not be influenced by edge effects as much as T. pusillus . The reproductive period also was distinct between the two species, with T. pusillus reproducing in the dry season and A. mauryi in the rainy season. The oscillation in the abundance of different groups of prey at different periods maintained the overall prey abundance at a relatively constant level throughout the year, mitigating the effects of prey availability on the abundance and reproductive period of the scorpions. These results suggest that microhabitat exploitation is a key factor to sustain litter-dwelling scorpions in disturbed forest remnants and that T. pusillus can be an ecological indicator of edge effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Links between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are well established. Beyond biodiversity per se, community composition can have strong effects on ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, spatial processes including edge effects, can impact the diversity-functioning relationship. These spatial processes are especially relevant within a food web context, such as the transfer of plant biomass across the food chain through herbivory. The relative importance of diversity, community composition and spatial context on herbivory pressure at the community and the species level is, however, poorly understood. To fill this gap in our understanding, we studied to what degree herbivory in temperate forest plots varies according to edge distance, tree diversity and forest composition. In contrast to the prevailing view of tree herbivory increasing at forest edges, we found that the effects of forest edge and tree diversity on leaf herbivory were masked by effects of forest composition, i.e. the specific contributions of the tree species. The strongest composition effect found was increased herbivory on Quercus robur in the presence of Fagus sylvatica . Our findings highlight that neither edge distance, tree diversity, nor the interaction affected one ecosystem function, namely herbivory, whilst tree community composition did. This warrants consideration of identity and composition effects in future studies if we are to deepen our understanding of the determinants of ecosystem functions across systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the processes and consequences of habitat fragmentation is highly relevant since it represents a serious threat to biodiversity. However, fragmentation includes several facets that are difficult to dissect, such as loss of habitat connectivity, edge effects, and habitat loss. In this study, we analyze by mathematical and computational means a single isolated component of habitat fragmentation: the loss of connectivity. The main novelty of our approach is that we consider the entire temporal process by which a continuous habitat gets progressively divided into two isolated patches. For this purpose, we present a new mathematical model. Our results indicate that, in line with empirical evidence, connectivity loss derived from habitat fragmentation could lead to either a decrease or an increase in total population abundance during the process. We give some conditions under which the mentioned effects should occur. We conclude that connectivity loss could exert strong influences on non-equilibrium populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edge contrast, is one of the main determinants of edge effects. This study examines the response of plant and pollinator diversity (bees and butterflies) to forest edge contrast, i.e. the difference between forests and adjacent open habitats with different disturbance regimes. We also investigated a potential cascading effect from plants to pollinators and whether edge structure and landscape composition mediate the relationship between edge contrast and beta diversity of pollinators. We sampled 51 low-contrast edges where forests were adjacent to habitats showing low levels of disturbance (i.e. grey dunes, mowed fire-breaks, orchards, grasslands) and 29 high-contrast edges where forests were adjacent to more intensively disturbed habitats (i.e. tilled firebreaks, oilseed rape) in three regions of France. We showed that plant diversities were higher in edges than in adjacent open habitat, whatever the edge contrast. However, plant beta diversity did not differ significantly between low and high-contrast edges. While we observed higher pollinator diversities in adjacent habitats than in low-contrast edges, there were no significant differences in pollinator beta diversity depending on edge contrast. We did not observe a cascading effect from plants to pollinators. Plant and bee beta diversities were mainly explained by local factors (edge structure and flower cover) while butterfly beta diversity was explained by surrounding landscape characteristics (proportion of land cover in grassland). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of ecosystem carbon density (including aboveground and belowground biomass, and soil carbon stocks) across edge-affected forest fragments remains poorly understood. The objectives of this study were to document patterns in ecosystem carbon pools of edge-affected fengshui forests in South China. Differences in ecosystem carbon density between forest edges and interiors were investigated, and how edge effects and plant community characteristics influence ecosystem carbon density explored. In forty-five 40 × 40 m plots within five forest fragments, ecosystem carbon density was significantly higher in interior forest plots than in edge plots. Ecosystem carbon density increased sharply from forest edge to interior. Aboveground biomass and mineral soils were the two largest contributors to the total ecosystem carbon pool in all types of plot. The proportion of total carbon density accounted for by aboveground biomass decreased (35.9%–33.1%) from core to edge plots, while the proportion accounted for by soils increased (38.8% to 46.7%). Hence, edge effects strongly influenced ecosystem carbon density. Results from this study will enhance our ability to evaluate the role of fengshui forests in regional carbon pools and provide data for developing and validating carbon cycling models for subtropical forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on first-principles calculations, the electronic properties of Cadmium Sulfide nanoribbons (CdSNRs) have been studied with both zigzag (Z-CdSNRs) and armchair shaped edges (A-CdSNRs). For Z-CdSNRs, the structures with both edges decorated by H or F atoms show half-metallic or semiconducting properties, respectively. Only S-dominated edge decorated by H/F atoms, Z-CdSNRs show metallic properties. Only Cd-dominated edge is hydrogenated, Z-CdSNRs can be observed from a metallic to half metallic transition. But instead of fluorinated, the structures show the metallic properties. However, either edge or both edges are hydrogenated or fluorinated, A-CdSNRs exhibit semiconducting properties, and their band gap decreases monotonically with increasing ribbons width (n). When a stress is applied on the half-hydrogenated A-CdSNRs, their band gap displays a steady decrease trend. Moreover, A-CdSNRs are more stable than Z-CdSNRs, while the hydrogenated systems are more stable than fluorinated systems. The results show that different structures of CdSNRs decorated with the different edges can play different nature as semiconducting – half-metallic – metallic properties. The research has important theoretical significance for the electronic design and assembly of CdSNRs structures, and provides a new perspective for the potential application of CdSNRs in nanoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Arthropod richness is strongly determined by plant richness indicating protected habitats. • Number of red-listed plant species best predicts red-listed arthropod richness. • Plant richness is more relevant for most arthropod groups than habitat amount. • Semi-natural habitats and edge density promote conservation-relevant plant species. The massive declines in terrestrial arthropods reported across Europe call for effective methods to monitor and promote biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes. Previous studies vary in their support for the suitability of plants as indicators of arthropod diversity, while the potential of subsets of conservation-relevant plant species to estimate arthropod richness remains to be tested. Moreover, the relative importance of plant species richness compared to other factors driving arthropod richness, such as land-use intensity, habitat amount and landscape configuration, is poorly understood. We conducted a multi-scale field study in Southern Germany, sampling vascular plants and terrestrial arthropods in four local land-use types (forest, grassland, arable field, settlement) across large-scale gradients of climate and land-use intensity. We obtained an extensive arthropod dataset using Malaise traps as sampling method and DNA metabarcoding for species identification. We compared the correlation of three sets of plant species richness (total, red-listed and biotope-indicator plants) with arthropod richness, including different trophic and taxonomic groups. Using mixed-effect models, we assessed the partial effects of plant species richness, habitat amount and landscape configuration on local arthropod richness while controlling for climate and land-use effects, and explored the environmental drivers of plant species richness. Arthropod species numbers of all trophic groups strongly responded to species numbers of plants that indicate protected habitats, while red-listed plant species richness was a key determinant for the richness of red-listed arthropods and butterflies. In most cases, plant species richness and temperature were stronger drivers of arthropod richness than the amount of surrounding semi-natural habitat and landscape configuration. While total plant species richness was highest in settlements, the richness of biotope-indicator plants was highest in forests and positively influenced by the amount of semi-natural habitat and edge density. The number of red-listed plant species increased with edge density at the landscape scale but was independent of habitat amount. We conclude that the richness of conservation-relevant plant species provides a powerful indicator of arthropod diversity, and underpins the potential of such plant lists for monitoring habitat quality. Our study highlights the importance of openings in forests for conservation of plants and arthropods as well as of preserving and restoring fragments of high-quality biotopes in agricultural and urban areas where the amount of semi-natural habitat is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We explored how small scale-food availability, forest structure and landscape heterogeneity influenced habitat use of by roe deer. • Variables of forest structure like canopy openness, trees species richness and vertical complexity influenced roe deer habitat use more than small-scale food abundance, and landscape-scale forest matrix variables such as forest-edge density and forest cover. • Lying deadwood reduced roe deer habitat use, possibly due to physical obstruction of movement. • Manipulating local forest structure may provide a means by which to manipulate roe deer habitat use and thus control where damages occur. Browsing damages to young trees can have lasting impacts on forest structure. Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), the most common and widespread large herbivore in central Europe, create a vast majority of this damage. To lessen the impact, it is important to understand the relationship between roe deer and the landscape matrix, and which factors such as food availability and cover will drive the use of habitat by roe deer. In this study, we explored how small scale-food availability (5 × 5 m2), forest structure (100 × 100 m2) and landscape heterogeneity (500 m radius) influenced the use of habitat by roe deer in an intensively managed temperate mountainous mixed forest with implemented retention forestry practices. Using camera-trap detections of roe deer from 130 study plots in the southern Black Forest, monitored for 2.5 years, we found that local forest structure had the strongest influence on roe deer habitat use. Contrary to our expectations, landscape features, such as edge density between forest and non-forest, did not affect roe deer detections, probably because overall anthropogenic pressure is high and homogenous throughout our study system. Small-scale food availability also had little influence, which is likely due to widespread availability throughout the study area. Roe deer were also detected less where there were higher amounts of lying deadwood in autumn, indicating that retention forestry methods may have a negative impact on roe deer habitat use. Since forest structure was the strongest driver of roe deer habitat use, this study supports earlier claims that forests may be managed by affecting roe deer habitat use, thereby browsing damage intensity, through manipulation of food availability and cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Coupling ecosystem services is a methodological innovation. • The spatial–temporal variation of landscape ecological risk is significant. • Urbanization, mineral development and policies are important influencing factors. The study aims to clarify the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of landscape ecological risk in Hailar River basin in recent 30 years, and to serve for scientific formulation of ecological management strategies. In the study, ecosystem services were used to improve the traditional landscape ecological risk assessment method, and the theoretical basis of landscape ecological risk was clarified using the human-nature system method. The results show that, on the spatial scale, the overall landscape ecological risk of Hailar River basin is characterized by high in the middle and low around. The high-risk areas are mainly located in the transition zone of "urban-grassland" and "urban-forest" in the middle of the basin and the main mining areas, which are distributed in strips along the main roads and rivers. Low risk areas are mainly distributed in the Great Khingan Mountains forest area in the east and north of the basin. In terms of time scale, the landscape ecological risk in the edge of the watershed has always maintained a high proportion of low-risk areas (75.35 %), while the area of high-risk areas in the middle of the watershed has experienced a process of first increasing and then decreasing. In terms of ecological governance, high-risk areas should achieve orderly urban construction and orderly development of mineral resources, and establish a classified management system of natural resources. Low risk areas should continue to promote measures to prohibit logging and limit grazing, and establish a supporting ecological compensation mechanism. The conclusion shows that urbanization, mineral development and management, and the implementation of forest and grass policies are the main driving factors for the change of landscape ecological risks in Hailar River basin. The basic principles of zoning control and human land coordination should be adhered to, and the size of cities and towns should be adjusted reasonably to promote the orderly development of mineral resources and the orderly construction of projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Edge effects constraint the abundance and composition of endemic species but not of introduced ones. • Both biogeographical categories and temporal dynamics play a role in forming assemblage patterns. • Endemics are the most abundant but richness is similar for all biogeographic categories. • The edge can affect the abundance of indigenous species up to100 m into the forest interior. Pristine Azorean forests have been deeply fragmented since human colonization. Fragmentation increases the length of edges and it therefore promotes edge habitats. Studying the impact of edge habitat on species assemblages is crucial to highlight the importance of forest connectivity and guide management strategies. This study explores the impact of forest edges on arthropod assemblages, and particularly investigates the differences of arthropod communities between three habitats, along a distance gradient from the forest edge near a pasture matrix to the core forest. We also compare patterns of arthropod communities with different biogeographic status (endemic, native non-endemic, and introduced species), given the island context. We sampled in a pristine forest on Terceira Island bordered by semi-natural pastures, using flight interception traps. Overall, endemic species dominated arthropod abundances whereas species richness and diversity were similar between the three biogeographic categories. We found evidence of a strong edge effect on arthropod assemblages, adjusted both by biogeographic categories and seasonality. Indigenous (endemic and native non-endemic) species abundances were higher in the forest interior than at the edges or intermediate habitats, suggesting that indigenous arthropod assemblages were sensitive to the distance from the edge, a distance extended over 100 m to the core forest, whereas introduced species abundances were not impacted. Species diversity and richness did not differ between the three habitats either, regardless of the biogeographic categories. The composition of arthropods between the three habitats differed significantly when we considered all species or endemic species only, but not with native non-endemic or introduced species. However, the difference got obscured when seasonality was included in the analyses, suggesting that even though edges impact species composition, this impact varies seasonally and endemic species are particularly affected in early summer. Our results indicate that forest edges impact arthropods assemblages but endemic species are more likely to be constrained by the increase of edges than introduced species. Since most of these endemic species are of conservation concern, we urge to avoid forest management strategies that increase fragmentation and call for action to increase the size of protected natural parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current incessant threats of environmental changes, such as habitat fragmentation, may disrupt vital mutualistic plant-frugivore networks, threatening the whole ecosystem. To advance our knowledge of the magnitude of the impacts of such disruption, we need a better understanding of its structure and robustness. We addressed this by comparing several aspects of plant-frugivore networks in the forest edge and interior habitats of a fragmented forest, using field data on fruit removal by a community of frugivorous birds and lemurs from 40 tree species over 30 months. While the plant-frugivore networks in both habitats were significantly less nested than random expectations, the network in the forest edge habitat had higher value of nestedness compared to the network in the forest interior. Also, the networks in both habitats were highly modular compared to random expectations, with a dominance of species that are highly interactive within its modules. We also found that fruit size, weight, and color as well as tree height predicted the structural role of plants in the networks and their degree of specialization. Finally, the removal/loss of best-connected plants or animals resulted in a weak robustness of the networks in both habitats; this vulnerable pattern is more pronounced in forest edges than interior habitats. Interestingly, the loss of large-bodied seed dispersers from either habitat did not affect much the robustness of the networks; in contrast, when small-sized species were eliminated first, the network became less robust, especially for the edge community. These findings highlight the need to preserve species interactions in forest edges to avoid the collapse of the network, mitigating the impacts of species extinctions on ecosystem equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amazon forest stocks large quantities of carbon both in plant biomass and in soil. Deforestation has accelerated the process of forest fragmentation in the Brazilian Amazon, resulting in changes in carbon stocks in both biomass and soil. Logging, including that under legal forest management, can create edge-like conditions inside the forest. We investigated the relationship between changes in carbon stocks in the soil and the distance to the nearest edge in forest remnants after about 30 years of isolation. We assessed the effect of edges using geographically weighted regression (GWR), which considers the non-stationary character of soil carbon stocks and assigns relative weights to the observations according to the distance between them. Data from 265 georeferenced plots distributed over 28 ha of forest fragments in the Manaus region were included in these analyses. Soil-carbon stocks were estimated for areas before (1984–1986) and after (2012–2013) isolation of the fragments. The GWR model indicated an apparent relationship between change in carbon stocks and distance from the edge (R 2 = 0.79). The largest changes occurred in plots located closest to the edges. In 202 plots ⩽100 m from an edge, soil-carbon stock increased significantly (p = 0.01) by a mean of 1.34 Mg ha −1 over the ∼30-year period. Such changes in soil carbon stocks appear to be associated with higher rates of tree mortality caused by microclimatic changes in these areas. Increased necromass inputs combined with changes in composition and structure of vegetation may result in increased rates of decomposition of organic matter, transferring carbon to the soil compartment and increasing soil carbon stocks. Considering both “hard” edges adjacent to deforestation and “soft” edges in logging areas, the soil-carbon increase we measured implies an absorption of 6 × 10 6 MgC in Brazilian Amazonia. In hard edges maintained for ∼30 years, the soil-carbon increase offsets 8.3% of the carbon losses from “biomass collapse” in the first 100 m from a clearing. Soil carbon did not change significantly in 63 forest-interior plots, suggesting that global climate change has not yet had a detectible effect on this forest carbon compartment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to deforestation, intact tropical forest areas are increasingly transformed into a mixture of remaining forest patches and human modified areas. These forest fragments suffer from edge effects, which cause changes in ecological and ecosystem processes, undermining habitat quality and the offer of ecosystem services. Even though detailed and long term studies were developed on the topic of edge effects at local scale, understanding edge effect characteristics in fragmented forests on larger scales and finding indicators for its impact is crucial for predicting habitat loss and developing management options. Here we evaluate the spatial and temporal dimensions of edge effects in large areas using remote sensing. First we executed a neighborhood pixel analysis in 11 LANDSAT Tree Cover (LTC) scenes (180 × 185 km each, 8 in the tropics and 3 in temperate forested areas) using tree cover as an indicator of habitat quality and in relation to edge distance. Second, we executed a temporal analysis of LTC in a smaller area in the Brazilian Amazon forest where one larger forest fragment (25,890 ha) became completely fragmented in 5 years. Our results show that for all 11 scenes pixel neighborhood variation of LTC is much higher in the vicinity of forest edges, becoming lower towards the forest interior. This analysis suggests a maximum distance for edge effects and can indicate the location of unaffected core areas. However, LTC patterns in relation to fragment edge distance vary according to the analyzed region, and maximum edge distance may differ according to local conditions. Our temporal analysis illustrates the change in tree cover patterns after 5 years of fragmentation, becoming on average lower close to the edge (between 50 and 100 m). Although it is still unclear which are the main causes of LTC edge variability within and between regions, LANDSAT Tree Cover could be used as an accessible and efficient discriminator of edge and interior forest habitats in fragmented landscapes, and become invaluable for deriving qualitative spatial and temporal information of ecological and ecosystem processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percentage of forests saved due to establishment of protected areas is an important piece of information for government institutions and, therefore, is the goal of this study. However, non random location selection bias makes such information directly unobservable. To overcome this problem, propensity score matching was applied. Unlike in previous studies, impact of buffer zone management was assessed by estimating avoided deforestation in buffer zones and park edges. The study area is the state of Pará. Overall results revealed that park protection saved 0.72% of protected surface from deforestation during 2000–2004 year period (∼2900 km 2 of forests). The highest percentage of avoided deforestation was recorded in protected areas, situated near deforestation hotspots: central part of Eastern Pará, alongside Trans-Amazonian highway and on the banks of Amazon River. The findings also suggest that buffer zones tend to reduce deforestation where pressure on forests is lower, but substitution effect takes over in areas of high deforestation pressure (since loggers are prevented from deforesting within conservation units, deforestation in surrounding areas increases). Finally, the study does not find evidence of edge effects in the state of Pará. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the management of forest harvesting it is important to understand the processes that impact the re-colonisation of disturbed forests. Edge effects into disturbed forests have been identified as having important impacts on the re-colonisation of both flora and fauna. In a study system located in southern Tasmania, we investigated whether bryophyte colonisation of harvested forests was impacted by edge effects from a standing mature forest (forest influence) and if this effect persisted through time. We tested this by placing transects across a mature/regeneration forest boundary, then recording bryophyte community composition from the ground and coarse woody debris at set distances from the edge. A chronosequence of harvested forest ages (∼7, ∼27 and ∼45 years post harvesting) was used to determine if forest influence persisted through time. Models generated by non-linear canonical analysis of principal coordinates (NCAP) predicted the depth of forest influence, and ‘distances among centroids’ inferred the magnitude of forest influence. Results showed that bryophyte composition in regeneration forests responded to distance from a mature edge. Locations closer to a mature edge had greater similarity in community composition with mature forests. This study also showed that the response of bryophytes to forests influence persisted though time, even after canopy closure. Overall, mature forest species tended to be aided and early seral species restricted by forest influence. However, responses were species-specific and varied with forest age. The colonisation success of mature forest associated species was improved by forest influence; these species are typically at most at risk of being eliminated after disturbance. This result highlights the need to consider edge effects in management. The impact of forest influence on bryophytes therefore has the potential to be used in the design of areas to be harvested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that active screen plasma nitriding (ASPN) is driven using a pulsed D.C. power supply, due to several advantages such as improved control over temperature, nitrided layer phase composition and active species generation. In addition, the pulsed power supply helps to avoid the transition to the arc regime. The ASPN configuration in particular is preferred over conventional plasma nitriding due to complete elimination of edge effect, as plasma is not in direct contact with the samples. In this work, the influence of pulsed power supply parameters such as duty cycle, peak voltage, peak current and time averaged current is studied in an ASPN setup, on nitrided layer phase composition and surface hardness of austenitic stainless steel (ASS). In addition, optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is used to measure the excitation, vibrational and rotational temperatures ( T exc , T vib , T rot ), nitrogen dissociation fraction and concentration of active species N 2 ( C 3 Π u ) and N 2 + ( B 2 Σ u + ) (in terms of emission intensities) to clarify the results obtained from surface characterization. The results show that keeping time-averaged current constant, the surface hardness decreases with the duty cycle of the pulsed D.C. power supply. The results from OES and surface analysis are correlated, and as a result plasma parameters ( T exc , T vib , T rot ) and active species concentration (N, N 2 , N 2 + ) are found to be important precursors in surface hardening of ASS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragmentation and habitat loss contribute considerably to global declines of amphibians and reptiles. However, few studies focus on forest edges, created during the fragmentation process, as proximate drivers of the local demographic structure of populations. Here, we use abundance data of amphibians and reptiles to study their responses to forest edges in nine fragmented forested landscapes of the Neotropics. Species-specific abundance data were collected in plots established at varying distances from their respective nearest forest edge. We tested for edge effects on the abundance of species, and used curve clustering techniques to group species with similar edge responses, i.e. species with either increasing or decreasing abundance from the matrix towards the forest interior. We also grouped species that showed no change in abundance with respect to the nearest forest edge and those whose abundance response was unimodal, peaking in either forest habitat or the surrounding matrix habitat. We found that 96% of all amphibians and 90% of all reptiles showed an edge response, with the abundance of 74.5% of amphibians and 57.3% of reptiles decreasing with increasing proximity to forest edges. However, species-specific edge effects were not always consistent, with some species having opposite edge responses when measured in different landscapes. The depth of edge effects exhibited by forest species, i.e. species that increased in abundance in the forest interior, extended up to one kilometre away from forest edges. We show that the median edge effect on forest species extends to 250 m within the forest interior, indicating that tropical forest patches with a mean diameter < 500 m (minimum area ≈ 78 ha) are unsuitable for half of forest-dependent species considered in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A coupled three-dimensional piezoelasticity solution for rectangular piezoelectric laminated plates with Levy-type boundary conditions is presented using the mixed-field multi-term extended Kantorovich method (EKM) and Fourier series expansion. The solution considers two-way electromechanical coupling, and satisfies all the essential and natural boundary conditions as well as the continuity conditions at the interface exactly at all points. The objective is to accurately characterize the edge effects in finite dimensional piezolaminated plates under mechanical and actuation potential loading, and also to provide a benchmark for assessing the accuracy of the two-dimensional laminate theories. The interlaminar shear stress is also accompanied by a singular stress field of the transverse normal (peel) stress near the edge. The numerical study is conducted for both single layer PZT plates for sensory applications and hybrid sandwich plates for smart structural applications. It is shown that the EKM solution predicts the displacement, stress, electric potential and electric displacement fields very accurately including the sharp variations of stresses near the edge, under the potential loading with just two/three terms in the trial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microclimatic forest influence (edge effects into open or regenerating areas) occurs within harvested forest, but the depth and magnitude may change depending on the design of the harvested area. This is an important consideration for managers, because gradients in microclimate can significant affect the ability of species to recolonise following disturbance. One harvesting method that can increase the amount of forest influence is aggregated retention. This technique involves leaving groups of trees (aggregates) within the harvested area, thus increasing the amount of regenerating forest that is near to an edge and therefore under forest influence. However, differences in the scale of forest influence generated from aggregates compared to unlogged forests surrounding harvested areas have not been tested. Understanding the ability of retained aggregates to generate forest influence is important in designing and implementing aggregated retention harvesting practices. This study tested whether retained aggregates generated similar levels of forest influence as mature forest surrounding harvested areas. Microclimatic forest influence was examined by monitoring spatial changes in air temperature and relative humidity along transects running from within standing mature forest into harvested forest. Intact forest and aggregate transects were located in the direction of maximum expected forest influence (south-facing edges). Results showed that forest influence was mostly similar in both depth and magnitude regardless of the type of forest from which it was generated. Temporal examination of forest influence showed that it changed throughout the day and across the year, with peaks in magnitude occurring during the middle of the day, and in months close to the equinoxes. Shade derived from standing trees was a potential driver of temporal patterns in microclimatic forest influence. At its peak magnitude, the microclimatic forest influence observed will likely have significant impacts on habitat suitability and thus, presumably, species recolonisation after disturbance. Results indicated that aggregated retention is an effective method for generating forest influence within harvested areas. Therefore, aggregated retention has the potential to be a valuable harvesting technique to alter microclimate and have beneficial impacts on the recovery of harvested forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land sharing and land sparing are contrasting proposals for minimising the impacts of agriculture on wild species. Edge effects (biophysical gradients near habitat boundaries) might reduce population sizes on spared land, particularly in highly-fragmented landscapes, so might change conclusions about whether land sparing or land sharing is better for species' persistence. We assessed this possibility by modelling the population sizes of 120 Ghanaian bird species in the presence of a range of hypothetical edge effects under land-sparing and land-sharing strategies, and at different levels of habitat fragmentation and agricultural production. We found that edge effects can reduce population densities on spared land, and in highly-fragmented landscapes can – at modest levels of agricultural production combined with high edge penetration distances – cause the optimal strategy to switch from land sparing to land sharing. Nevertheless, land sparing maximised population sizes for more species in most cases tested. This conclusion was best supported for sensitive species with small global geographical ranges, which are likely to include those of greatest future conservation concern. The size of patches of spared land affected conservation outcomes: population sizes were maximised under a land-sparing strategy that spared large blocks of natural habitat of ~ 1000 or, better, ~ 10,000 ha. To effect land sparing in practice would require policies that promoted both increases in agricultural yield and the establishment or protection of natural habitats on spared land. Because the optimum scale of patches of spared land for edge-sensitive species is generally larger than the size of individual farms, policies that facilitate coordinated action by farmers or other land managers might be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanisms of feeding by the invasive gastropod Rapana venosa from different biotopes of 11 sites along the Black Sea coast are discussed. Two methods – edge-drilling and suffocation – are used, but the prevailing method in a particular biotope depends on the type of bivalve prey. Drill signs were present on almost all shells of Chamelea gallina , captured by rapa whelks in field conditions, while in a field experiment, only 11% of all empty Mytilus galloprovincialis had drilling signatures. The degree of radula abrasion was also dependent on the available bivalves: it was the highest in biotopes with C. gallina and juvenile mussels, and the lowest in biotopes with large mussels. Intermediate degrees of abrasion were observed in biotopes with mixed prey: C. gallina and Anadara kagoshimensis , C. gallina and mussels, or small and large mussels. Since we observed only initial signs of drilling, simultaneous application of boring and suffocation could take place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edge effect is a common phenomenon observed in acoustic micro-imaging of microelectronic packages. In this paper, using flip chip package geometry as a test vehicle, finite element modelling is carried out to study the fundamental mechanism of the edge effect phenomenon. C-Line plot technique is developed for the characterization of edge effects in acoustic C-scan images, in particular solder joint C-scan images. Simulated results are compared to experimental results. Results reveal that edge effect generation is mainly attributed to the under-bump-metallisation structure. In addition, through analysis of the C-Line profile of edge effects, the impact of the transducer focal point and the spot size on the edge effect is investigated. Results show that slight off-focus can reduce the severity of the edge effect in which image sharpness is a trade-off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newly created forest edges have significant ecophysiological effects on bordering trees. We studied edge effects on microclimate and tree transpiration rates during wet and dry seasons along a 250 m transect spanning the edge of an unpaved road into an old growth tropical lowland forest in the Central Brazilian Amazon. Canopy openness decreased only minimal from the road (3.68%) towards the forest interior (1.69%). Vapor pressure deficit (measured at 2.2 m height above ground) was lower in the forest interior. The edge effect on microclimate penetrated deeper into the forest (>100 m) during the dry season compared to the wet season (<100 m). Overall, sap flux, and therefore transpiration rate, was 54% higher in trees adjacent to the road compared to forest interior trees. Higher transpiration rates at the forest edge can be explained by higher turbulences and energy exchange of the canopy boundary layer and by a shift in species composition to high water using secondary forest species 25 years after the road construction. Similar changes might be expected for other disturbances affecting local relative humidity and in situations that favor plants with water use traits differing from those found in the forest interior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggregated retention, in which patches of trees (aggregates) remain unlogged within larger harvested units, was first applied commercially in 1986. A primary goal was to maintain greater diversity of forest-dependent species through harvest, relative to conventional clearcutting. Despite its global application, the long-term benefits for biodiversity and the comparative responses of disparate taxonomic groups to aggregated retention are largely unknown. A critical knowledge gap relates to the role of ‘forest influence’ – whether and to what extent aggregates affect biodiversity in neighboring harvested areas. We sampled plants, beetles, and spiders/harvestmen in the world’s three oldest aggregated-retention sites (21–26 years old), matched with three recently harvested sites (5–8 years old). For each taxonomic group, we compared species composition between undisturbed aggregates and regenerating forests to assess the ‘lifeboating’ function of aggregates. For each group, we also modeled changes in species composition, and in the numbers of aggregate- and regeneration-affiliated species, with distance from the aggregate edge into the regenerating forest along transects at north-facing edges. For all three taxa, species composition differed between aggregates and regenerating forests in both older and recent sites, confirming the long-term effectiveness of aggregates for lifeboating. The compositional difference between habitats was significantly greater at recent than at older sites for plants, but not for invertebrates. Plants and spiders/harvestmen responded to forest influence, with a marginal response for beetles. Responses for plants and spiders generally manifested as increased numbers of aggregate-affiliated species and decreased numbers of regeneration-affiliated species in regenerating areas closer to edges. Our results indicate that aggregated retention has short- and long-term benefits for biodiversity reflecting both the lifeboating and forest-influence functions of aggregates. However, variation in the responses of plants, beetles and spiders suggests that these benefits cannot be generalized among taxa. We advocate broader application of aggregated retention in forests managed for timber production and encourage managers to incorporate the benefits of forest influence in harvest designs by arranging aggregates to reduce average distances from harvested areas to unlogged habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]