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Background: Long-term biomonitoring of macroinvertebrates is a popular and valuable approach for assessing the status of freshwater ecosystems, identifying the impact of stressors, and evaluating ecosystem health. Although macroinvertebrate-based biomonitoring can be effective in detecting changes in distribution patterns and community trends over time, crayfish often remain undetected or unreported by biomonitoring efforts despite their importance in maintaining the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Results: By analyzing a comprehensive database of long-term macroinvertebrate time series, we found that most sampling methods and assessment schemes can detect both native and non-native crayfish in running waters if sites are continuously sampled. However, native crayfish were detected to a lesser extent and by fewer methods. Kick-net sampling and assessment techniques prevailed as the most efficient methods for capturing crayfish. However, the substantial number of time series lacking crayfish data calls into question whether these methods are sufficiently comprehensive to encapsulate crayfish populations accurately. The use of other targeted methods such as baited traps or hand catching may provide a more reliable estimate of their presence. Conclusions: Given the detrimental impacts of non-native crayfish and the decline in native crayfish populations, we strongly recommend that stakeholders and managers incorporate a combination of these approaches into their monitoring efforts. The use of different taxonomic levels (family vs. genus vs. species level) in estimating biological indices and biomonitoring tools can cause delays in identifying new non-native specie's occurrences, hindering effective water quality assessment and ecosystem management by governments and stakeholders. Therefore, whenever possible, we call for standardized taxonomic levels for biomonitoring studies and management strategies to accurately address these issues and make recommendations going forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecosystem service value (ESV) is an important basis for measuring an ecological environment's quality and the efficient management of ecosystems. It is particularly necessary to explore a proven methodology for assessing and predicting ESV dynamics coupled with policy-oriented scenarios that can provide a theoretical groundwork for macro decision, particularly in the context of implementing ecological protection and restoration projects. This study selected the land cover (LC) of Sichuan Province at five periods and the spatiotemporal dynamic equivalent factor method to assess the ESVs from 2000 to 2020. Additionally, the study coupled the Markov chain and GeoSOS-FLUS model, and predicted the future pattern of ESVs under four future development scenarios. The results show that (a) the areas of forests, shrubs, waters, wastelands, wetlands, and impervious areas showed a continuous increase from 2000 to 2020, with the most frequent interchanges occurring among croplands, forests, and grasslands. (b) The implementation of ecological protection and restoration projects led to a 13,083.32 × 108 yuan increase in ESV, and barycenter of the ESVs is located in the northeastern part of Ya'an and exhibits a tendency to move towards the northeast. (c) The ESV aggregation pattern of each city has remained unchanged, with Ganzi being the only city with a high aggregation. Overall, there are more conflict cities than coordination cities between economic development and the ecological environment. (d) The total ESV in 2025 will continue to increase under all development scenarios, reaching a maximum of 50,903.37 × 108 yuan under the EP scenario. This study can provide insights for ecological planning decisions and sustainable regional socio-economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative ecosystem‐based management typically relies on hypothetical ecosystem models that are difficult to validate for all but the best‐studied systems.Here, we develop a management scheme that is based on predictive models driven by the observed dynamics.We show that near‐optimal management policies can be constructed from time‐series data by merging empirical dynamic modelling and stochastic dynamic programming. The Empirical Dynamic Programming approach performs well in cases we examined and outperformed a commonly used single‐species alternative.We expect model‐free ecosystem‐based management to be of use wherever ecosystem dynamics are uncertain or observations of the system do not cover all relevant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land cover change scenarios hold far-reaching implications for ecosystem services (ES), highlighting the need for understanding the trade-offs and synergies underlying the provision of multiple ES. The insufficient knowledge of the mechanisms governing the relationships among multiple ES, along with the lack of information on trade-offs among ES under different scenarios, restricts the ability to provide effective information for decision-makers. To fill this gap, we assessed the interplay among six ES: climate regulation, habitat creating and maintaining species diversity, cultivated crops, regulation of the chemical condition of freshwaters by living processes (water quality), water yield, and control of erosion rates, within three river basins in northwest Portugal. We employed the InVEST to map the state of these ES in 2018, along with three projected land cover scenarios for 2050: business-as-usual, farmland return, and afforestation. Our findings indicated the business-as-usual scenario could lead to detrimental impacts on climate regulation, habitat creating and maintaining species diversity, and control of erosion rates. In contrast, the farmland return scenario showed less drastic decreases in habitat-creating and maintaining species diversity and control of erosion rates compared to the business-as-usual scenario. Afforestation emerged as the most favorable scenario, with a 13.6% increase in climate regulation and a 1.3% improvement in habitat-creating and maintaining species diversity. Cluster analysis allowed the identification of six levels of spatial synergies between ES, with regions of high forest cover showing extreme synergy and populated areas exhibiting the lowest levels of synergy, suggesting that a well-planned combination of these practices could yield substantial benefits for future ES provision. These results provide crucial insights for decision-makers to enhance ecosystem management and promote societal well-being. Importantly, our findings underscore the significance of considering multiple ES and their interrelationships in land use planning to achieve sustainable development objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To support the movement in marine fisheries management toward ecosystem‐based fisheries management by exploring ecosystem‐level reference points (ELRPs) as an option for managing fisheries at the ecosystem level. An ELRP is an ecosystem harvest level or indicator with one or more associated benchmarks or thresholds (i.e., targets, limits) to identify, monitor, or maintain desirable ecosystem conditions and functions. Methods: This paper explores the development and implementation of ELRPs in fisheries management to support ecosystem and fisheries sustainability, help identify when ecosystem changes that impact fisheries resources occur, and foster discussions of trade‐offs in management decisions. Result: We organize existing and potential ELRPs into five categories (statistical analysis of nonlinear dynamics and tipping points, ecosystem productivity, ecosystem trophic information, biodiversity, and human dimensions), provide an overview of analytical methods that can estimate ELRP benchmarks, provide examples of where ELRP benchmarks are being used today, and evaluate pros and cons of the different ELRP categories. We also attempt to identify potential next steps for fisheries scientists and managers to further the science, development, and application of ELRPs. Conclusion: Ecosystem‐level reference points can be used as a proactive accountability mechanism to achieve ecosystem objectives and maintain the ecosystem in a preferred operating space or as an early warning that ecosystem‐level changes (e.g., tipping points) could be imminent if current biological and ecological trends in the system continue. Impact statementEcosystem‐level reference points (ELRPs) are a fundamental concept in ecosystem‐based fisheries management (EBFM) that are not currently being used to their full potential. Given the challenges associated with managing fisheries in a changing climate, this paper highlights ELRPs as a tool to advance the field of EBFM in the United States and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuaries are productive ecosystems that are vulnerable to human impacts and environmental disturbances. Estuaries are often inhabited by foundation species that facilitate other organisms by creating and modifying habitats. However, spatiotemporal variability and underpinning drivers of facilitation from estuarine foundation species are poorly studied, especially in the context of monitoring and conservation. Here, we combined the analyses of satellite, drone, and camera images, close‐up field sampling of quadrats and individuals, and laboratory microscopy, to quantify co‐occurrences between the cockle Austrovenus stutchburyi and green macroalga Ulva spp., and their associated invertebrate communities, across spatial resolutions and environmental gradients in a New Zealand estuary. We found higher abundance of Ulva in winter and higher abundance of Austrovenus at a site near the ocean. Furthermore, Ulva was, across space and time, often attached to Austrovenus, either live or dead shells, suggesting a hierarchy between a primary (cockle) and secondary (macroalgae) foundation species. Finally, Ulva provided a better habitat for mobile invertebrates than Austrovenus, and thereby increased estuarine diversity through a density‐dependent facilitation cascade, which also was consistent in space and time. Overall, our study showed that facilitation cascades can be indirectly inferred and monitored through remote sensing of foundation species using supplementary imaging methods, and that integration of data across scales allows researchers to better understand the drivers and consequences of facilitation from foundation species. These insights may aid in the development of efficient monitoring strategies and ultimately improve the management of estuarine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to analyze the effects of enabling management control systems (MCSs) and relational capabilities (interorganizational learning and coordination) on conflict management in innovation ecosystems. Design/methodology/approach: Shedding light on relational governance, structural equation modeling (symmetric analysis) and qualitative comparative fuzzy-set analysis (asymmetric analysis) were applied to a sample of 164 Brazilian firms associated with science and technology parks (STPs), a specific type of innovation ecosystem. Findings: The results of the symmetric analysis showed that enabling MCSs have a direct and positive effect on conflict management, as well indirect effects through interorganizational learning and coordination. The results of the asymmetric analysis indicated four solutions to promote high levels of conflict management, with enabling MCS solutions standing out, as they are present in the majority of cases in the sample. Originality/value: Interorganizational conflict in innovation ecosystems are inevitable, but the previous literature is inconclusive about how the interrelation between MCS and relational capabilities can foster the management of these conflicts. By providing evidence on the predictors and solutions that lead to high levels of conflict management, this study presents valuable insights into how firms and STPs can mutually promote organizational and relational benefits throughout the innovation activities developed among those involved in innovation ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thuja koraiensis Nakai (Cupressaceae) is an endangered conifer species that holds significant ecological importance as an endemic plant in Korea. To facilitate the adaptive management of ecosystems on the Korean peninsula in the face of climate change, the use of species distribution models (SDMs) can be instrumental in supporting climate-adaptive forest restoration programs. In this study, we collected occurrence and bioclimatic data from remote sensing to analyze the current and projected distribution of T. koraiensis. We employed four different SDMs, namely, the general additive model, generalized boosted model, general linear model, and random forest, to predict the potential distribution of T. koraiensis under both current and future climate scenarios. To assess the risk of extinction for this species, we utilized ensemble-averaged models to estimate the extent of area loss in currently suitable habitats for T. koraiensis, with a focus on stable true skill statistic (TSS) results exceeding 0.9. Encouragingly, our results indicate that T. koraiensis is likely to persist into the 2070s, specifically when considering the representative concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 scenario for climate change on the Korean peninsula. These findings provide robust predictions regarding the future habitat occupancy probabilities of T. koraiensis populations across South Korea. Moreover, they contribute to the development of climate-adaptive forest restoration programs, taking into account long-term perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands provide resources, regulate the environment, and stabilize shorelines; however, they are among the most vulnerable ecosystems in the world. The classification of mangrove species allows the determination of the habitat of each species, thereby serving as a basis for determining protection solutions and planning plans for mangrove conservation and restoration according to each environmental condition. We used Phantom 4 multispectral unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to collect data from wetland areas in the Dong Rui Commune, which is one of the most diverse and valuable wetland ecosystems in northern Vietnam. A tree-species classification map was constructed through a combination of the object-based image analysis method and spectral reflectance values of each plant species, and the characteristic distributions of mangrove plants, including Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Rhizophora stylosa, and Kandelia obovata, were determined with an overall accuracy of 91.11 % and a kappa coefficient (K) of 0.87. The overall accuracy for Rhizophora stylosa was the highest (94.23 %), followed by Kandelia obovata (93.61 %) and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (85.50 %). An experiment was conducted to map plant taxonomy in the same area based only on a graph of spectral reflectance values at five single-spectral bands, and normalized difference vegetation index values were constructed, resulting in an overall accuracy of 78.22 % and a K of 0.67. The constructed map is useful for classifying, monitoring, and evaluating the structure of each group of mangroves, thereby serving as a basis for determining the distribution of each mangrove species according to natural conditions and contributing to the formulation of policies for afforestation and mangrove conservation in Dong Rui commune.

Estuarine ecosystems are threatened by numerous anthropogenic pressures. Fish assemblages are a dominant component of estuarine macrofauna and serve as indicators for the health of these transitional water ecosystems. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is increasingly used to assess the biodiversity of fishes in estuaries. However, there is a need to further establish how effective eDNA metabarcoding can be relative to conventional fish sampling methods across multiple estuaries and seasons. This study compared fish assemblages detected via eDNA metabarcoding of surface water samples to contemporary sampling with conventional fishing gears in three temperate estuaries (UK), during early summer and autumn. Most species caught by fishing were detected by eDNA. Species richness estimates from eDNA were two to ten times higher than estimates based on fishing, and included taxa of conservation importance and a non-native species. The eDNA assemblage composition was significantly different to the assemblage detected by seine nets. Importantly, eDNA methods could effectively discriminate between fish assemblages of different estuaries and seasons. Fish assemblages in estuaries are often not monitored due to resource constraints. The dynamic nature of estuaries may make fishing gear deployment difficult and inconsistent. The findings indicate that eDNA metabarcoding is suited to gathering large amounts of information on fish biodiversity, at a relatively low sampling effort, compared to established fishing methods. Therefore, eDNA shows promise as an assessment tool for fish assemblage structure and ecosystem health in estuarine environments, with application to statutory monitoring.

This study investigates the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in monitoring and managing marine ecosystems to address the impacts of climate change on Kenya’s Blue Economy. It aims to assess the threats posed by climate change to these ecosystems and explore the potential of AI solutions to enhance adaptation and resilience. The research employs a comprehensive review of secondary data sources, including academic publications, reports from reputable institutions, and other relevant materials. The study analyzes existing literature on AI applications in marine ecosystem management and climate change mitigation, focusing on the specific context of Kenya’s Blue Economy. The study reveals that climate change poses significant threats to Kenya’s marine ecosystems, including coral bleaching, ocean acidification, sea-level rise, and disruptions to ocean currents. AI technologies offer promising solutions for monitoring and managing these impacts, with applications in predictive modeling, resource optimization, and decision support. The research highlights the need for further exploration into specific AI applications tailored to Kenya’s unique coastal challenges and the importance of incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives. Additionally, it emphasizes the necessity for long-term impact assessments of AI technologies in the context of climate change mitigation. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on AI applications in environmental management, particularly within the context of Kenya’s Blue Economy. By identifying the potential of AI to enhance resilience and sustainability in marine ecosystems, the research offers valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners involved in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Climate change and anthropogenic activities are reshaping dryland ecosystems globally at an unprecedented pace, jeopardizing their stability. The stability of these ecosystems is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and supporting local communities. Yet, the mechanisms governing their stability are poorly understood, largely due to the scarcity of comprehensive field data. Here we show the patterns of community temporal stability and its determinants across an aridity spectrum by integrating a transect survey across China's drylands with remote sensing. Our results revealed a U-shaped relationship between community temporal stability and aridity, with a pivotal shift occurring around an aridity level of 0.88. In less arid areas (aridity level below 0.88), enhanced precipitation and biodiversity were associated with increased community productivity and stability. Conversely, in more arid zones (aridity level above 0.88), elevated soil organic carbon and biodiversity were linked to greater fluctuations in community productivity and reduced stability. Our study identifies a critical aridity threshold that precipitates significant changes in community stability in China's drylands, underscoring the importance of distinct mechanisms driving ecosystem stability in varying aridity contexts. These insights are pivotal for developing informed ecosystem management and policy strategies tailored to the unique challenges of dryland conservation.

The article explores how modeling the human well-being benefits of ecosystem restoration and management can enhance environmental decision-making. Topics discussed include the integration of ecosystem services into decision processes, the use of various quantitative and qualitative tools to assess and manage these services, and the importance of stakeholder engagement and community involvement in successful restoration projects.

Ecosystem restoration, as a core strategy for implementing Nature-based Solutions (NbS), inherently aligns with NbS principles. Despite significant progress in biodiversity conservation and restoration, China still faces risks of ecosystem degradation. To maximize the potential of NbS in China's restoration efforts, it is crucial to develop a framework rooted in NbS principles. However, the application of NbS is hindered by weak theoretical foundations and a lack of comprehensive case studies. This study integrated NbS principles with key theoretical concepts, including sustainable development, socio-ecological systems, ecosystem services, biodiversity, restoration ecology, natural capital, and ecological products, to develop a NbS-based theoretical framework for ecosystem restoration. Drawing on insights from the ''Generation Restoration'' report, we synthesized representative practices across various Chinese ecosystems, including farmlands, forests, freshwater, grasslands, oceans, coasts, peatlands and urban areas. Our study provides both a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for integrating NbS into ecosystem restoration, aiming to enhance conservation efforts and promote sustainable development in China.

Estuaries are among the most productive of aquatic ecosystems. Yet the collective understanding of patterns and drivers of primary production in estuaries is incomplete, in part due to complex hydrodynamics and multiple controlling factors that vary at a range of temporal and spatial scales. A whole-ecosystem experiment was conducted in a deep, pelagically dominated terminal channel of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (California, USA) that seasonally appears to become nitrogen limited, to test whether adding calcium nitrate would stimulate primary productivity or increase phytoplankton density. Production did not respond consistently to fertilization, in part because nitrate and phytoplankton were dispersed away from the manipulated area within 1–3 days. Temporal and spatial patterns of gross primary production were more strongly related to stratification and light availability (i.e., turbidity) than nitrogen, highlighting the role of hydrodynamics in regulating system production. Similarly, chlorophyll was positively related not only to stratification but also to nitrogen—with a positive interaction—suggesting stratification may trigger nutrient limitation. The average rate of primary production (4.3 g O2 m−2 d−1), metabolic N demand (0.023 mg N L−1 d−1), and ambient dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentration (0.03 mg N L−1) indicate that nitrogen can become limiting in time and space, especially during episodic stratification events when phytoplankton are isolated within the photic zone, or farther upstream where water clarity increases, dispersive flux decreases, and stratification is stronger and more frequent. The role of hydrodynamics in organizing habitat connectivity and regulating physical and chemical processes at multiple temporal and spatial scales is critical for determining resource availability and evaluating biogeochemical processes in estuaries.

Generating signals of reduced resilience in ecosystems is crucial for conservation and management endeavors. However, the practical implications of such systems are still limited due to the lack of high-frequency data and uncertainties associated with predicting complex systems such as ecosystems. This study aims to investigate the potential of time series analysis of remote sensing data in detecting signals of reduced resilience in mangrove forest ecosystems. Using time series analysis of remote sensing images, the resilience of mangrove forests was explored across two distinct study sites. One site (Qeshm Island) has been adversely affected by land-use and land-cover changes, while the other (Gabrik) serves as a reference ecosystem. The study uses data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite to quantify three remotely sensed indices: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI), and the Modified Vegetation Water Ratio (MVWR). In addition, Landsat data has been used to explore temporal alterations in land-use and landcover change. To identify signals of reduced resilience, trend analyses of indicators such as autocorrelation (acf (1)) and standard deviation (SD) are applied. The findings revealed a notable decrease in resilience, signaled by significant upward trends in NDVI statistical metrics for Qeshm Island (Kendall's T of acf (1): 0.50 and SD: 0.90), contrasting with the pattern observed in Gabrik (Kendall's T of acf (1): -0.19 and SD: -0.19). These results align with our expectations derived from previous studies. Despite MNDWI significantly indicating reduced resilience in Qeshm Island (Kendall's T of acf (1): 0.86 and SD: 0.90), it also signaled decreased resilience in Gabrik (Kendall's T of acf (1): 0.79 and SD: 0.90). Moreover, MVWR failed to indicate signals of reduced resilience in both sites, specifically in Qeshm (Kendall's T of acf (1): -0.10 and SD: -0.07) and in Gabrik (Kendall's T of acf (1): -0.72 and SD: -0.12). These findings may be explained through quantitative analyses of land-use and landcover change. While Qeshm Island and Gabrik share similarities in climate, geography, and annual rainfall, the analysis of land-use and land-cover change revealed significant differences between the two study areas. Qeshm Island underwent drastic increases in the built-up class by a 64.40% change between 1996 and 2014, whereas the built-up class expanded modestly by a 4.04% change in the Gabrik site. This study contributes to advancing our understanding of ecosystem dynamics. The findings of this study can be integrated with ecosystem management tools to enhance the effectiveness of conservation efforts. This is the first report of the successful application of remote sensing in generating signals of reduced resilience within mangrove forests in the Middle East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring programs that integrate both structural and functional ecosystem components play integral roles in ecosystem management and conservation planning. In the early 1990's, the marine ecosystem of the waters surrounding Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) underwent a regime shift. Several demersal and pelagic fish stocks collapsed simultaneously, and this had significant ecological and socioeconomic consequences. As this regime shift impacted numerous commercial and non-commercial species, assessments based on individual species would be insufficient. We explored a variety of metrics that capture different facets of diversity across multiple species to provide a more robust ecosystem assessment. These were species richness, evenness, community-weighted means of maximum body length and trophic level (i.e., the mean maximum body size or trophic level of the species present in a community), and functional dispersion (FDis). The objectives of this study were 1) to assess trends in community structure of the NL demersal community during the post-collapse period (1995-2018), 2) explore how the various community-level metrics differ or are redundant, and 3) investigate how these metrics are associated with important covariates. Several metrics were redundant and displayed strongly positive, temporal trends being consistent with expectations for a recovery encompassing the entire demersal community. In particular, unweighted community-weighted means of body length and trophic level displayed nearly equal temporal patterns, showing increasing trends throughout the study period which were most prominent in the northern study area and within a limited depth range at the upper shelf break. Corresponding biomass-weighted metrics were also correlated with each other but only showed similar increasing tendencies after the first decade. In contrast, species richness did not show any temporal increase. Evenness and biomass-weighted FDis showed similar temporal patterns, decreasing during the first decade followed by strong increases during subsequent years, patterns that were directly linked to variation in Northern shrimp and Atlantic cod biomass. This study demonstrates how a variety of community metrics can provide insight into different aspects of the post-collapse recovery of the demersal community and help us better understand the complexity of the changes the ecosystem is undergoing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green space is a direct way to improve the carbon sink capacity of urban ecosystems. The carbon storage assessment of megacity green spaces is of great significance to the service function of urban ecosystems and the management of urban carbon zoning in the future. Based on multi-period remote sensing image data, this paper used the CASA model and the InVEST model to analyze the spatio-temporal variation and driving mechanism of carbon storage in Shenzhen green space and discussed the applicability of the two models to the estimation of carbon storage in urban green space. The research results showed that, from 2008 to 2022, in addition to the rapid expansion of construction land, the area of green space and other land types in Shenzhen showed a significant decrease trend. The estimation results of the carbon storage model showed that the carbon storage of green space shows a significant trend of reduction from 2008 to 2022, and the reduction amounts are 0.8 × 106 t (CASA model) and 0.64 × 106 t (InVEST model), respectively. The evaluation results of the model show that, in megacities, the spatial applicability of InVEST model is lower than that of CASA model, and the CASA model is more accurate in estimating the carbon storage of urban green space. The research results can provide a scientific basis for the assessment of the carbon sink capacity of megacity ecosystems with the goal of "dual carbon". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eutrophication assessments in water management to quantify nutrient loads and identify mitigating measures seldom include the contribution from horse facilities. This may be due to lack of appropriate methods, limited resources, or the belief that the impact from horses is insignificant. However, the recreational horse sector is growing, predominantly in multi-functional peri-urban landscapes. We applied an ecosystem management approach to quantify nutrient loads from horse facilities in the Stockholm Region, Sweden. We found that horses increased the total loads with 30–40% P and 20–45% N, with average area-specific loads of 1.2 kg P and 7.6 kg N ha−1 year−1. Identified local risk factors included manure management practices, trampling severity, soil condition and closeness to water. Comparisons of assessment methods showed that literature standard values of area-specific loads and water runoff may be sufficient at the catchment level, but in small and more complex catchments, measurements and local knowledge are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystems experiencing pressures are at risk of rapidly transitioning ("tipping") from one state to another. Identifying and managing these so-called tipping points continue to be a challenge in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, particularly when multiple potentially interacting drivers are present. Knowledge of tipping points, the mechanisms that cause them, and their implications for management practices are evolving, but often in isolation within specific ecological realms. Here, we summarize current knowledge of tipping points in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial realms and provide a multi-realm perspective of the challenges and opportunities for applying this knowledge to ecosystem management. We brought together conservation practitioners and global experts in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial tipping points and identified seven challenges that environmental policymakers and managers contend with including (1) predictability, (2) spatiotemporal scales, (3) interactions, (4) reversibility, (5) socio-ecological context, (6) complexity and heterogeneity, and (7) selecting appropriate action. We highlight opportunities for cross-scalar and cross-realm knowledge production and provide recommendations for enabling the management of tipping points. Although knowledge of tipping points is imperfect, we stress the need to continue working toward incorporating tipping points perspectives in environmental management across all realms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire management techniques play a critical role in mitigating the impact of bushfires on communities and ecosystems. In Australia, government agencies implement hazard reduction burn programs, while Indigenous communities have used fire for ecosystem management for thousands of years. The positive effect of prescribed burning goes beyond bushfire risk mitigation, with impacts also on soil and ecosystem health. This study evaluates the effects of prescribed burning on soil properties, with implications for soil and ecosystem health. Two fire management techniques were evaluated: agency-led prescribed burning and cultural burning. Both fire treatments resulted in an increase in soil moisture, showing that they positively affect the soil water balance (the greater effect seen following the agency-led burn). Both fire treatments also resulted in a decrease in soil bulk density and an increase in organic matter content, with the greater effect seen for soils affected by the Indigenous-led burn. These results show that both fire management techniques positively affect soil health, with important consequences for aboveground ecosystem health. Cultural burning is the most efficient to promote reduced soil bulk density (important for nutrient availability and microbial activity) and increase carbon and nitrogen stores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests face a variety of threats in the modern era. Agroforestry systems, both traditional and introduced, have a tremendous capacity for providing sustainable resources and combating the impact of global climate change. Indigenous agroforestry and forest land-use systems are important reservoirs for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, providing a potential contribution to livelihood security for rural communities. This study aimed to assess the tree diversity and carbon stock of agroforestry and adjoining forests along altitudinal gradients, ranging between 700 and 2200 masl (i.e., lower, middle, and upper altitudes) by laying sample plots randomly of a size of 20 × 20 m2. In the forest land-use system, the maximum Importance Value Index (IVI) included Dalbergia sissoo (71.10), Pyrus pashia (76.78), and Pinus roxburghii (79.69) at the upper, middle, and lower elevations, respectively, whereas, in the agroforestry land-use system, the IVI reported for Ficus semicordata was 43.05 at the upper, while for Grewia optiva it was at 53.82 at the middle and 59.33 at the lower altitudes. The below-ground biomass density (AGBD) was recorded as 1023.48 t ha−1 (lower), 242.92 t ha−1 (middle), and 1099.35 t ha−1(upper), while in the agroforestry land-use system, the AGBD was 353.48 t ha−1 (lower), 404.32 t ha−1 (middle), and 373.23 t ha−1 (upper). The total carbon density (TCD) values recorded were 630.57, 167.32, and 784.00 t ha−1 in forest land-use systems, and 227.46, 343.23, and 252.47 in agroforestry land-use systems for lower, middle, and upper altitudes, respectively. The Margalef's Index values for agroforestry and forests ranged from 2.39 to 2.85 and 1.12 to 1.30, respectively. Soil organic carbon (SOC) stock recorded 45.32, 58.92, and 51.13 Mg C ha−1 for agroforestry and 61.73, 42.65, and 71.08 Mg C ha−1 for forest in lower, middle and upper elevations, respectively. The study suggests that selecting land use patterns can be an effective management system for tree species at different elevations for carbon storage, helping to mitigate climate change and aiding in sustainable management of ecosystems in the Garhwal Himalayas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial symbionts are essential components of healthy biological systems. They are increasingly recognized as important factors in the study and management of threatened species and ecosystems. Despite management shifts at the ecosystem level, microbial communities are often neglected in discussions of holobiont conservation in favor of the primary members of a symbiosis. In this study, we addressed the bacterial community knowledge gap for one of two federally endangered lichen species in the United States, Cetradonia linearis (Cladoniaceae). We collected 28 samples of the endangered rock gnome lichen (Cetradonia linearis) from 13 sites and characterized bacterial communities in thalli using 16S rRNA metabarcoding to investigate the factors influencing the microbiome composition and diversity within the thallus. We found that Proteobacteria (37.8% ± 10.3) and Acidobacteria (25.9% ± 6.0) were the most abundant phyla recovered. Cyanobacteria were a major component of the microbiome in some individuals, despite this species associating with a green algal symbiont. Habitat, climate, and geography were all found to have significant influences on bacterial community composition. An analysis of the core microbiome at a 90% threshold revealed shared amplicon sequence variants in the microbiomes of other lichens in the family Cladoniaceae. We concluded that the bacterial microbiome of Cetradonia linearis is influenced by environmental factors and that some bacterial taxa may be core to this group. Further exploration into the microbiomes of rare lichen species is needed to understand the importance of bacterial symbionts to lichen diversity and distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species–environment relationships are often studied at large spatial scales, but effective conservation requires an understanding of local-scale environmental drivers and pressures. Widespread degradation and fragmentation of forests have increased the proportion of tropical mammal habitat that is affected by edge effects. Edge effects include greater exposure to anthropogenic disturbance and abiotic changes that synergistically influence how well populations can cope with climate change. We investigated relationships between distance to the forest edge, forest structure, microclimate and terrestrial mammal detections in a selectively logged forest at the boundary of Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia. We collected mammal detection data from motion-activated camera traps, microclimate data from automated climate data loggers and forest structure data from vegetation plots. Daily mean and maximum temperatures significantly decreased with distance from the forest edge, whereas tree height and minimum temperature increased. Mammal diversity was lower at the forest edge compared to the interior. Mammals were detected less frequently at the forest edge, although this relationship varied between mammal orders. Mammal detections were best explained by temperature, tree height and tree diameter at breast height. These results demonstrate that abiotic changes in forests brought on by edge effects have negative impacts on mammals, but these effects vary between mammal taxa because of differing sensitivities to human disturbance. Our findings highlight the importance of considering local-scale environmental drivers in determining species–environment relationships to identify key habitat features such as microclimate refuges that should be prioritized in ecosystem management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how businesses in Taiwan's servicescapes are adapting to the growing trend of mobile payments and innovation ecosystems. Through the analysis of four case studies, we uncover the strategies these firms employ to address the challenges posed by changing consumer payment habits. Our research reveals that these companies are establishing efficient mechanisms within their ecosystems, supported by well-structured organizational frameworks. By leveraging innovation ecosystems, they are reshaping financial services and promoting collaborative growth among participants through technology, platforms, resource sharing, and knowledge exchange. This collaborative approach is driving significant changes in the sector, helping these businesses navigate through various challenges while fostering innovation and growth. Additionally, the scarcity of comprehensive observations of the digital payment ecosystem highlights the necessity for further exploration of actor interactions, regulatory mechanisms, and ecosystem management strategies. Such research efforts are crucial for enhancing our understanding of the evolving landscape of digital payments and innovation ecosystems, facilitating informed decision-making and promoting sustainable development in this dynamic industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific ecosystem management requires the clarification of the synergic and trade-off relationship between ecosystem services, particularly in the environmentally delicate Loess Plateau region. Previous studies have indirectly deduced that ecological restoration projects affect ESRs by analyzing their impacts on ecosystem services, but there is no direct evidence from the existing research to show whether and to what extent different ecological restoration projects have an impact on trade-off synergies, which weakens the explanatory strength of ecological restoration projects as an important factor affecting ESRs. In this study, based on the spatial mapping of three pairs of relationships between three typical ESs in Fugu County, Shaanxi Province, and the relative contribution of each ecological restoration projects, as well as Ecosystem services and the relationship between them, were explored through the boosted regression tree modeling (BRT). This study proved that different ecological restoration projects have different impacts on ESRs. The results indicated that the three pairs of ESRs obtained among the three ecosystem services in Fugu County could be categorized into two types. The relationship between carbon storage and soil conservation and the relationship between carbon storage and water conservation CS–WC were spatially predominantly trade-offs, and their spatial distributions were highly similar. Various ecological restoration projects have varying effects on ESRs. The connection between ecological restoration projects and ESRs involves a nonlinear transformation, and the change varies from project to project. Based on the above findings, this study further explores the influence process of various types of ecological restoration projects on ESRs, and provides scientific support for optimizing ecosystem management and comprehensive management of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasping the interrelationship between the supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESs) and spatial scale characteristics is the foundation for effective ecological zoning management, which helps to realize a win–win situation for both ecological protection and economic development. This paper focuses on the following three real problems: mismatch in ES supply and demand evaluation, mechanical and subjective delineation of ecological zoning, and rough management strategies, and constructs a multi-scale ecological zoning management framework for the "comprehensive evaluation of supply and demand, ecological zoning, and enhancement of human well-being". This study integrates the InVEST model, SOM, Z-score quadrant matching, and coordination degree method, and applies them to the ecological management zoning of Hangzhou. The results show that (1) the spatial differentiation of ESs in Hangzhou is significant. The spatial pattern of the five types of ES supply varies at the county scale and the grid scale on which ES demand is concentrated and is consistent at different scales. (2) ES supply–demand matching in Hangzhou is at the basic coordination and can be divided into four modes including HH, LH, LL, and HL at both the county and grid scales. On the small scale, the proportion of mismatches declines slightly, but the severity rises. (3) ES supply is divided into four categories as follows: the food production bundle, the carbon storage bundle, the ESs balancing bundle, and the ESs depleting bundle, and clarifies the priority of ES management. (4) Construct an ecological management practice path, delineates 6 ecological management zones at the county scale and 19 secondary management zones at the grid scale. Targeted measures are proposed in terms of supply–demand adjustment strategies, ecological management strategies, and key implementation areas. This study helps to incorporate the interaction between the supply and demand of ESs into the planning framework and provides decision-making support for refined ecological management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acknowledging the critical role of accurate peatland distribution estimation, this paper underscores the significance of understanding and mapping these ecosystems for effective environmental management. Highlighting the importance of precision in estimating peatland distribution, the research aims to contribute valuable insights into ecological monitoring and conservation efforts. Prior studies lack robust validation, and while recent advancements propose machine learning for peatland estimation, challenges persist. This paper focuses on the integration of deep learning into peatland detection, underscoring the urgency of safeguarding these global carbon reservoirs. Results from convolutional neural networks (CNNs) reveal a decrease in the classified peatland area from 8226 km2 in 1999 to 5156 km2 in 2019, signifying a 37.32% transition. Shifts in land cover types are evident, with an increase in estate plantation and a decrease in swamp shrub. Human activities, climate, and wildfires significantly influenced these changes over two decades. Fire incidents, totaling 47,860 from 2000 to 2019, demonstrate a substantial peatland loss rate, indicating a correlation between fires and peatland loss. In 2020, wildfire hotspots were predominantly associated with agricultural activities, highlighting subsequent land cover changes post-fire. The CNNs consistently achieve validation accuracy exceeding 93% for the years 1999, 2009, and 2019. Extending beyond academic realms, these discoveries establish the foundation for enhanced land-use planning, intensified conservation initiatives, and effective ecosystem management—a necessity for ensuring sustainable environmental practices in Indonesian peatlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupling effects created by transboundary and local factors on ecosystem services are often difficult to determine. This poses great challenges for ecosystem protection and management in border areas. To decrease uncertainty, it is crucial to quantify and spatialize the impact multiple factors have on ecosystem services within different scenarios. In this study, we identified key transboundary and local factors from a set of 15 sorted factors related to four main ecosystem services. We employed a Bayesian Network--Geographic Information System (BN-GIS) model to simulate 90 scenarios with multiple factors combinations, quantifying and spatializing the coupling effects on the main ecosystem services. These simulations were conducted in the Pu'er region, which is situated alongside three countries, and serves as a representative border area in southwest China. The results showed that: (1) The coupling effects of multiple factors yield significant variations when combined in different scenarios. Managers can optimize ecosystem services by strategically regulating factors within specific areas through the acquisition of various probabilistic distributions and combinations of key factors in positive coupling effect scenarios. The outcome is a positive coupling effect. (2) Among the four main ecosystem services in the Pu'er region, food availability and biodiversity were affected by key transboundary and local factors. This suggests that the coupling of transboundary and local factors is more likely to have a significant impact on these two ecosystem services. Of the 45 combination scenarios on food availability, the majority exhibit a negative coupling effect. In contrast, among the 45 combination scenarios on biodiversity, most scenarios have a positive coupling effect. This indicates that food availability is at a higher risk of being influenced by the coupling effects of multiple factors, while biodiversity faces a lower risk. (3) Transboundary pests & diseases, application of pesticides, fertilizer & filming, population density, and land use were the key factors affecting food availability. Bio-invasion, the normalized differential vegetation index, precipitation, and the landscape contagion index were the key factors affecting biodiversity. In this case, focusing on preventing transboundary factors such as transboundary pests & disease and bio-invasion should be the goal. (4) Attention should also be paid to the conditions under which these transboundary factors combine with local factors. In the areas where these negative coupling effects occur, enhanced monitoring of both transboundary and local factors is essential to prevent adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land surface temperature (LST) and its interaction with normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) are crucial for better understanding of environmental changes in current scenario. Therefore, the purpose of conducting this study was to examine, how LST and NDVI change as a function of elevation in Rajasthan. In present study, MODIS derived NDVI and LST and digital elevation model (DEM) from shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM) have been used. Results revealed that the LST and NDVI both were significantly influenced by elevation. Elevation, NDVI and LST varied from -6 to 1698 m, -0.09 to 0.65 and 24 to 45°C throughout the study region. In contrast to LST, which has a decreasing gradient from western to eastern portions, the spatial variability of NDVI has decreasing gradients from southern and eastern to western regions. The highest mean LST value (39.76 ± 0.2.9 0C) was obtained in elevation range of -6 to 168 m, whereas NDVI value (0.38 ± 0.06) in elevation ranges of 589 - 1698 m. The elevation has strong positive correlation with NDVI (R² = 0.26) and negative correlation with LST (R² = 0.28). Findings from this research can be utilized as a platform for environmental and land use planning for sustainable ecosystem management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest biomass allocation is a direct manifestation of biological adaptation to environmental changes. Studying the distribution patterns of forest biomass along elevational gradients is ecologically significant for understanding the specific impacts of global change on plant resource allocation strategies. While aboveground biomass has been extensively studied, research on belowground biomass remains relatively limited. Furthermore, the patterns and driving factors of the belowground biomass proportion (BGBP) along elevational gradients are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the specific influences of climatic factors, soil nutrients, and key leaf traits on the elevational pattern of BGBP using data from 926 forests at 94 sites across China. In this study, BGBP data were calculated from the root biomass to the depth of 50 cm. Our findings indicate considerable variability in forest BGBP at a macro scale, showing a significant increasing trend along elevational gradients (p < 0.01). BGBP significantly decreases with increasing temperature and precipitation and increases with annual mean evapotranspiration (MAE) (p < 0.01). It decreases significantly with increasing soil phosphorus content and increases with soil pH (p < 0.01). Key leaf traits (leaf nitrogen (LN) and leaf phosphorus (LP)) are positively correlated with BGBP. Climatic factors (R2 = 0.46) have the strongest explanatory power for the variation in BGBP along elevations, while soil factors (R2 = 0.10) and key leaf traits (R2 = 0.08) also play significant roles. Elevation impacts BGBP directly and also indirectly through influencing such as climate conditions, soil nutrient availability, and key leaf traits, with direct effects being more pronounced than indirect effects. This study reveals the patterns and controlling factors of forests' BGBP along elevational gradients, providing vital ecological insights into the impact of global change on plant resource allocation strategies and offering scientific guidance for ecosystem management and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to integrate research on customer success (CS) management with the service ecosystems perspective of selling to enhance the understanding of the CS management function and the outcomes selling firms should expect based on implementation of CS management. Design/methodology/approach: The authors apply the service ecosystems perspective of selling to describe how CS management is manifested in practice by offering relevant insights and practical industry examples. Findings: Study findings identify relevant ecosystem actors, acting on behalf of the customer, required for the delivery of desirable customer outcomes. Study findings also link the orchestration efforts of CS managers to theory-based tenets for explanation of how CS management facilitates the attainment of competitive advantages via the thickening and thinning of ecosystem crossing points. Research limitations/implications: Given that the research is conceptual, additional research that empirically examines this framework and the insights presented would lend further credence to the recommendations the authors suggest. Practical implications: From a practical perspective, the authors present a "Customer Relationship and Solution Innovation Matrix" which integrates necessary value-creating activities that CS managers perform and the coordination with internal actors that CS managers rely on to create value. Originality/value: Although the practice of CS management is becoming increasingly common, theoretical approaches capable of explaining the function have been lacking. Similarly, while the service ecosystems perspective redefines selling to encompass a broader set of actors than traditionally examined, practical examinations of the theory are limited. The authors address these issues, integrating both research streams for an enhanced understanding of the CS management function through the service ecosystems perspective theoretical lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoring ecosystems and enhancing biodiversity is one of many regulatory ambitions under the European Green Deal. The motivations to do so include, but are not limited to, enabling carbon removal by capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in land. The business model of such schemes is to help the EU and its Member States meet their climate obligations whilst safeguarding biodiversity, and when relevant, enable sustainable agricultural practices by creating transferable carbon credits awarded to land managers pursuing such practices. The idea of introducing market-based mechanisms in the management of ecosystem services is not a novelty, but the increasing prominence of carbon removals in the European Green Deal and its related legislative actions warrants careful consideration of legal quandaries about how such removals are to be carried out, why, where and by whom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Korea is one of the countries with a significant proportion of its national territory covered by forests. However, it remains unclear what management strategies for providing forest ecosystem services are preferred by the residents. This study explores South Korean residents' preferences for managing local forest ecosystem services, with a focus on how these preferences vary by forest ownership. Using the choice experiment method, this research identified residents' willingness to pay for seven key local forest ecosystem services, along with a tax measure. The findings indicate a strong preference for biodiversity as the primary ecosystem service in both national/public and private forests, with residents willing to pay an average of KRW 28,370 (USD 21.80) per household per year and KRW 31,670 (USD 24.34) per household per year, respectively, for its enhancement. Preferences varied depending on forest ownership, with noticeable differences in perceptions of services like water supply, non-timber forest product supply, carbon storage, and recreation. Based on forest ownership, these variations in perceptions highlight the importance of managing ecosystem services in line with national/public forests and private forests, which significantly influences residents' preferences. The study emphasizes the necessity of formulating ecosystem service management policies that account for the region's unique natural resource characteristics, aiming to maximize ecological benefits for the local population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term fishing bans have spurred extensive debate regarding their impacts on ecosystem structures, functions, and water qualities. However, data on the effects of specific changes induced by fishing bans on ecosystem structures, functions, and water qualities in lakes are still lacking. Therefore, the present study addresses this knowledge gap by employing an Ecopath model to assess alterations in an ecosystem's structure and function before (2011) and after (2021) the implementation of the fishing ban in Caohai Lake and its association with changes in water quality. (1) We observed a substantial reduction in the area covered by submerged aquatic vegetation after the ban, amounting to a 65% decrease in coverage compared with that before the ban, and a 60% reduction in the total ecosystem's biomass. (2) Following the ban, the number of fish species increased from 7 to 14, and this was accompanied by a rise in the fish biomass from 14.16 t·km−2 to 25.81 t·km−2; a 4.5-fold increase in the total system consumption was observed, signifying accelerated energy and material flows within the ecosystem. (3) The fishing ban exhibited no significant impact on the total nitrogen concentration; however, it significantly reduced the water's transparency and increased the total phosphorus, ammonia nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand, and chlorophyll contents (p < 0.05). This shift in nutrient dynamics fostered a transformation from a macrophyte-dominant lake to an alga-dominant lake. The fish abundance and diversity increase in closed-type macrophytic lakes, thereby accelerating energy and material flows within food webs. These findings present novel insights into the effective policy management of fishing bans within the Yangtze River Basin, thus enhancing our understanding of sustainable lake ecosystem management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Screen the priority of emerging contaminants (ECs) from sediments is essential for risk assessment to aquatic environment and human health. Currently, priority approaches mainly focus on contaminant identification, exposure analysis, risk assessment, and hazard properties. However, there is still far from the reality due to, for instance, limitations on lack of occurrence data and uncertainty analysis. In this study, the multi-criteria screening method on the basis of hazard potential (HP) and exposure potential (EP) integrating with uncertainty analysis was developed for prioritization of 185 ECs, which have been reported to be widely found in the Yangtze River sediment. The HP based on the ecological risk and human health, and the EP according to the occurrence were both quantitatively analyzed. The priority index of these 185 chemicals was the product of the normalized HP and the normalized EP. Results: According to the priority ranking scheme, 20 chemicals were identified as the top-priority, and 58 compounds as high-priority, respectively. After uncertainty scoring for each chemical based on data availability, there were 7 compounds (5 pesticides and 2 PFASs) recommended as the major priority ECs. In addition, the current study also emphasized that necessary for further studying some ECs, such as PFAS alternatives, as the data limitation may lead to reduce accurate prioritization. Conclusions: Overall, this study provides an efficient approach for screening priority ECs, which is useful for river ecosystem health management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast human climate change we are witnessing in the early twenty-first century is inextricably linked to the health and function of the biosphere. Climate change is affecting ecosystems through changes in mean conditions and variability, as well as other related changes such as increased ocean acidification and atmospheric CO2 concentrations. It also interacts with other ecological stresses like as degradation, defaunation, and fragmentation.Ecology and climate monitoring are critical to understanding the complicated interactions between ecosystems and changing climate trends. This review paper dives into the issues of ecological and climate monitoring, emphasizing the complications caused by technical limits, data integration, scale differences, and the critical requirement for accurate and timely information. Understanding the ecological dynamics of these climatic impacts, identifying hotspots of susceptibility and resistance, and identifying management measures that may aid biosphere resilience to climate change are all necessary. At the same time, ecosystems can help with climate change mitigation and adaptation. The processes, possibilities, and constraints of such nature-based climate change solutions must be investigated and assessed. Addressing these issues is critical for developing successful policies and strategies for mitigating the effects of climate change and promoting sustainable ecosystem management. Human actions inscribe their stamp in the big narrative of our planet's story, affecting the very substance of the global atmosphere. This transformation goes beyond chemistry, casting a spell on the physical characteristics that choreograph Earth's brilliant dance. These qualities, like heavenly notes, create a song that echoes deep into the biosphere. We go on a journey via recorded tales of ecological transformation as they respond to the ever-shifting environment in this text. We peek into the rich fabric of change, drawing insight from interconnected observatories. Nonetheless, this growing symphony is set to unleash additional transformational stories - narratives of natural riches and rhythms that are both economically and environmentally essential. Understanding these stories is essential for navigating this developing epic. A roadmap for sustainable development necessitates the ability to comprehend these stories, a problem that resonates across the breadth of monitoring programs, particularly in the infancy of integrated sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests support a variety of functions essential for the provisioning of ecosystem services. However, invasive plants can disrupt forest functioning, particularly in temperate forest understories that commonly experience invasive plant encroachment, by altering community-level trait distributions. Invasive plants, frequently characterized by acquisitive traits such as higher specific leaf area and nitrogen content, may either outcompete native species with different trait values (displacement), or add trait values to the existing community (complementarity). Therefore, complementarity may still allow restoration of the original community function by removing invasive species, and consequently the added provision of function when compared to the natives, but displacement may not. While understanding which process occurs is critical in managing ecosystem functionality, little is known about the impact of invasion on the co-occurring native community trait distributions. To address this knowledge gap, we leveraged survey data on temperate forest understories that varied in their degree of invasion (i.e., gradient of invasion). We calculated the community- weighted mean of three leaf traits: leaf nitrogen, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content -- traits strongly linked to invasion, sensitive to environmental changes, and that affect ecosystem functions. Our findings show that increasing invasion had a significant positive effect on total (native and invasive) community leaf nitrogen, but did not alter native community trait distributions. This suggests that potential impacts on ecosystem functions, such as increased primary productivity and nitrogen cycling, would be primarily driven by trait complementarity and not displacement. We did not find any significant differences in the total or native communities with respect to specific leaf area or leaf dry matter content. Differentiating trait displacement from trait complementarity contributes to our understanding of how invasion affects functionality of understory plant communities in forests. Additionally, it provides a valuable framework to facilitate evidence-based decisions for the management of ecosystem functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of restoring peatlands for the future of both people and nature. While the authors agree with the need for restoration, they argue that the approach presented in a previous article overlooks the complex social, cultural, and political dynamics involved in peatland restoration. They emphasize the need for a more inclusive and context-specific approach that takes into account the needs and aspirations of local communities. The authors also highlight the importance of engaging with the value systems and governance issues that affect peatland restoration. [Extracted from the article]

Bioenergetics models estimate ectotherm growth, production, and prey consumption – all key for effective ecosystem management during changing global temperatures. Based on species‐specific allometric and thermodynamic relationships, these models typically use the species' lab‐derived optimum temperatures (physiological optimum) as opposed to empirical field data (realized thermal niche) that reflect actual thermal experience. Yet, dynamic behavioral thermoregulation mediated by biotic and abiotic interactions may provide substantial divergence between physiological optimum and realized thermal niche temperatures to significantly bias model outcomes. Here, using the Wisconsin bioenergetics model and in‐situ year‐round temperature data, we tested the two approaches and compared the maximum attainable lifetime weight and lifetime prey consumption estimates for two salmonid species with differing life histories. We demonstrate that using the realized thermal niche is the better approach because it eliminates significant biases in estimates produced by the physiological optimum. Specifically, using the physiological optimum, slower‐growing Salvelinus namaycush maximum attainable lifetime weight was underestimated, and consumption overestimated, while fast‐growing Oncorhynchus tshawytscha maximum attainable weight was overestimated. While the physiological optimum approach is useful for theoretical studies, our results demonstrate the critical importance that models used by management utilize up‐to‐date system‐ and species‐specific field data representing actual in‐situ behaviors (i.e., realized thermal niche). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildfires are a common disturbance factor worldwide, especially over the last decade due to global climate change. Monitoring postfire forest regrowth provides fundamental information needed to enhance the management and support of ecosystem recovery after fires. The purpose of this study is to propose an algorithm for postfire forest regrowth monitoring using tasseled-cap-derived indices. A complex approach is used for its implementation, for which a model is developed based on three components—Disturbance Index (DI), Vector of Instantaneous Condition (VIC), and Direction Angle (DA). The final product—postfire regrowth (PFIR)—allows for a quantitative assessment of the intensity of regrowth. The proposed methodology is based on the linear orthogonal transformation of multispectral satellite images—tasseled cap transformation (TCT)—that increases the degree of identification of the three main components that change during a fire—soil, vegetation, and water/moisture—and implies a higher accuracy of the assessments. The results provide a thematic raster representing the intensity of the regrowth classes, which are defined after the PFIR threshold values are determined (HRI—high regrowth intensity; MRI—moderate regrowth intensity; and LRI—low regrowth intensity). The accuracy assessment procedure is conducted using very-high-resolution (VHR) aerial and satellite data from World View (WV) sensors, as well as multispectral Sentinel 2A images. Three different forest test sites affected by fire in Bulgaria are examined. The results show that the classified thematic raster maps are distinguished by a good performance in monitoring the regrowth dynamics, with an average overall accuracy of 62.1% for all three test sites, ranging from 73.9% to 48.4% for the individual forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising challenge of eutrophication in aquatic systems globally necessitates an understanding of phytoplankton community dynamics under diverse biomanipulation approaches. This study, conducted from June 2022 to July 2023 in the Yuqiao Reservoir's ponds in China, explored phytoplankton dynamics across ponds under different biomanipulation strategies. The study included a pond (BL) without fish stocking, a pond (CH) stocked with carnivorous and herbivorous fish, and another pond (CFD) incorporating a mix of carnivorous, filter-feeding, and detritus-feeding fish. Substantial seasonal variations in phytoplankton density and biomass were observed. In the BL pond, phytoplankton density ranged from 0.23 × 107 to 3.21 × 107 ind/L and biomass from 0.71 to 7.10 mg/L, with cyanobacteria predominantly in warmer seasons and a shift to cryptophytes and chrysophytes in winter. The CH pond exhibited a density range from 0.61 × 107 to 8.04 × 107 ind/L and biomass of 1.11 to 7.58 mg/L. Remarkably, the CFD pond demonstrated a significant reduction in both density (0.11 × 107 to 2.36 × 107 ind/L) and biomass (0.27 to 5.95 mg/L), indicating the effective implementation of its biomanipulation strategy. Key environmental factors including total nitrogen, water temperature, pH, chlorophyll-a, and total phosphorus played a significant role in shaping phytoplankton communities. The study highlights the importance of tailored biomanipulation strategies in aquatic ecosystem management, emphasizing long-term monitoring for sustainable management of eutrophication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the trade-offs/synergies of ecosystem services is crucial for achieving a win-win situation in economic development and ecological conservation. Past studies have lacked research on ecosystem service functional management zones that integrate socio-economic factors and ecological conservation, particularly based on predictive scenarios. Based on the above, this study innovatively established a multi scenario simulation model and framework (EST-EMZ) for the study of ecosystem service (ES) trade-off/synergy and ecological management zoning, combining remote sensing and socio-economic data from 2000 to 2020 in the Chang-Zhu-Tan Metropolitan Area (CZTMA). The model evaluates the dynamic trade-offs/synergies among different ecosystem services under various scenarios, aiming to seek the optimal management approach for enhancing the functionality and optimizing the structure of ESs in the future of the CZTMA. The results indicate the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the Ecosystem Service Value (ESV) of the CZTMA gradually declined from 601.57 billion yuan to 584.65 billion yuan. Under the three future scenarios, the ESV also decreased, with the Ecological Conservation Scenario (ECS) experiencing the most minor decline, and the Economic Priority Scenario (EPS) witnessing the most substantial decrease. (2) In the historical period and the 2030 predicted scenarios, there is a predominant synergy among paired ESs in the CZTMA. Throughout the study period, the region's dominant ecosystem service bundle (ESB) is the high-service ecological regulation bundle, primarily located in the northeastern, western, and southern areas dominated by forests. (3) Based on ESV and urbanization intensity (UI), five different ecosystem management zones were identified: water balance zone (WBZ), coordinated improvement zone (CIZ), ecologically weak zone (EWZ), ecological conservation zone (ECZ), and ecological derivative zone (EDZ). Corresponding management and protection strategies for ecosystem services were proposed. The research findings offer potential solutions for optimizing land use and managing the trade-offs of ESs in metropolitan areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social-ecological interactions mediate water–energy–food security in small developing islands, but community-scale insights are underrepresented in nexus research. These interactions are dynamic in their response to environmental and anthropogenic pressures and need to be understood to inform sustainable land use planning into the future. This study centered on bringing together diverse stakeholders to explore water–energy–food futures using the "Kesho" (meaning "tomorrow" in Kiswahili) scenario tool for two of the largest islands that comprise the Zanzibar Archipelago. The methodology comprised four core stages: (1) exploration of how past drivers of change impacted water–energy–food security; (2) modeling of a Business as Usual Scenario for land cover change; (3) narrative development to describe alternative futures for 2030 based on themes developed at the community scale; and (4) predictions about how narratives would shape land cover and its implications for the nexus. These results were used to model alternate land cover scenarios in TerrSet IDRISI (v. 18.31) and produce visual representations of expected change. Findings demonstrated that deforestation, saltwater incursion, and a reduction in permanent waterbodies were projected by 2030 in a Business as Usual Scenario. Three alternative scenario narratives were developed, these included Adaptation, Ecosystem Management, and Settlement Planning. The results demonstrate that the effectiveness of actions under the scenario options differ between the islands, indicating the importance of understanding the suitability of national policies across considered scales. Synergies across the alternative scenario narratives also emerged, including integrated approaches for managing environmental change, community participation in decision making, effective protection of forests, cultural sensitivity to settlement planning, and poverty alleviation. These synergies could be used to plan strategic action towards effectively strengthening water–energy–food security in Zanzibar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use change and water supply–demand assessment are critical to achieving regional sustainable development and improving human wellbeing. In the context of complex climate change and socioeconomic development, there is an urgent need for systematic assessment and forecasting studies on how to combine physical, geographical, and socioeconomic factors to clarify patterns of change in the land use change and water supply–demand, as well as to respond appropriately to different climate and socioeconomic development scenarios in the future. Based on the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways-Representative Concentration Pathway (SSP-RCP) scenarios, a framework for simulating future land use change and assessing water supply–demand in the coupled SD-PLUS-InVEST model was constructed. The land use change in Guizhou Province from 2020 to 2050 was simulated using the SD-PLUS model, and the water supply–demand conditions were projected for 2030, 2040, and 2050 under multiple scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585). The research results indicated that (1) The land use change in the study area has significant spatial heterogeneity. It showed similar trends in the land use change in the SSP126 and SSP245 scenarios, with both artificial surfaces and forest showing an expansion trend, but the expansion of forest was most typical in the southwestern region in the SSP126 scenario, and there is a significant increase in the northeastern region in the SSP245 scenario. Additionally, there is a rapid expansion of artificial surfaces in the central region in the SSP585 scenario, and a more rapid expansion of cultivated land in the southeastern region, with a significant increase in the area of water bodies. (2) The changes in water supply from 2020 to 2050 under the three scenarios show a smaller increase (5.22–11.88%), a significant increase in water demand (29.45–58.84%), and an increase in the area of water shortage by about 2708.94–9084.40 km2, with the extent of the shortage increasing by about 23.71–79.50%. (3) According to the results of the SSP-RCP scenario projections, socioeconomic development has a significant impact on the growth of water demand, and climate and land use change may exacerbate the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of water supply–demand in the karst region. The systematic study of land use change and water supply–demand in Guizhou can provide a scientific basis for the sustainable management of regional ecosystems and the rational allocation of land and water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem services (ESs) play a crucial connecting role between human well-being and natural ecosystems. Investigating ESs and their interrelationships can aid in the rational distribution of resources and benefits and inform planning decisions that align with the principles of ecological civilization. Nonetheless, our current understanding of these relationships remains limited; thus, further theoretical exploration is required. This study employs the InVEST model to assess the key ESs in Guangdong Province for 2000 and 2018 and applies the multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) method to identify the primary drivers of ES changes and capture trends in spatial variations. The results showed that (1) from 2000 to 2018, the total carbon storage (CS) and habitat quality (HQ) decreased while the water yield (WY) and net primary productivity (NPP) increased. These ESs also showed spatial differences, with higher values observed in the hilly and mountainous areas of the north compared with the coastal and plain areas of the south. (2) Although the spatial distribution of ES trade-off strength varied, the overall pattern remained consistent from 2000 to 2018. The pairwise trade-off strength of CS-WY and WY-HQ decreased significantly in the northern region of Guangdong due to low rainfall, while that of CS-HQ decreased significantly in the Pearl River delta as a result of urbanization. Cultivated and forested land displayed higher and lower levels of NPP and WY, respectively, with forested land exhibiting greater trade-off strength than the other land use types. (3) Evident spatial heterogeneity was observed in the properties and intensity of the correlations between driving factors and changes in ES trade-offs. Natural factors were the primary determinants of trade-offs among ESs. However, at a regional scale, the landscape index and socioeconomic factors tended to represent stronger drivers. Based on these findings, we suggest that ecological management should be adjusted based on the geographic scale. This study offers a valuable approach to understanding the relationship between ES trade-offs and their drivers in geographic space and serves as a reference for the sustainable provisioning of ESs both locally and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marennine is a blue-green pigment produced by diatoms of the Haslea genus, one of which is Haslea ostrearia. This marennine pigment is water-soluble and confirmed to contain polyphenols and glycosides. There are two forms of marennine pigment: the intracellular form of marennine (IMn) and the extracellular form of marennine (EMn). Marennine pigments exhibit various biological activities such as antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, allelopathic, and inhibiting the growth of other diatoms. With this biological activity, marennine can be used in various fields, one of which is aquaculture. This research aims to determine the level of toxicity and analyze the effect of exposure to the extracellular marennine produced by H. ostrearia on the juvenile blood clam Tegillarca granosa. By using the toxicity test method, Bluewater which is a supernatant of H. ostrearia (BW) was tested on juveniles of commercially important bivalve species, the blood clams Tegillarca granosa, with three treatments, namely control (0 mg/L), treatment A (0.25 mg/L) and treatment B (0.5 mg/L of BW). The observation parameters of this study were LC50-72 h with one-way ANOVA analysis. The results showed that the BW produced by H. ostrearia increased the survival of juvenile blood clams T. granosa up to 27.7% in treatment B (0.5 mg/L) compared to control within 72 h. The one-way ANOVA analysis revealed that the control and treatment B (0.5 mg/L) were significantly different. This study shows that there is potential to develop the use of marennine in shellfish aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amylolytic bacteria play an important role in the ecosystem, especially as probiotic and bioremediation agents in cultivation, as examples can be found in minapadi culture. The purpose of this study was to determine the amylolytic bacteria in the waters of the minapadi pond. Bacterial isolation began with bacterial sampling, inoculation and isolation of bacteria, calculation of the total abundance of bacteria, observation of bacterial morphology and bacterial purification, isolation of amylolytic bacteria, and biochemical testing. Three isolates of amylolytic bacteria were successfully obtained, namely BA5, BA6, and BA7 with a weak to moderate activity index category. The amylolytic bacterial isolates obtained were successfully grouped into 3 different groups, namely Proteus sp., Staphylococcus sp., and Micrococcus sp. Amylolytic bacteria have a biodegradation role in the minapadi cultivation environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]