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The services provided by the world's coral reefs are threatened by increasingly frequent and severe marine heatwaves. Heatwave-induced degradation of reefs has often been inferred from the extent of the decline in total coral cover, which overlooks extreme variation among coral taxa in their susceptibility and responses to thermal stress. Here, we provide a continental-scale assessment of coral cover changes at 262 shallow tropical reef sites around Australia, using ecological survey data on 404 coral taxa before and after the 2016 mass bleaching event. A strong spatial structure in coral community composition along large-scale environmental gradients largely dictated how coral communities responded to heat stress. While heat stress variables were the best predictors of change in total coral cover, the pre-heatwave community composition best predicted the temporal beta-diversity index (an indicator of change in community composition over time). Indicator taxa in each coral community differed before and after the heatwave, highlighting potential winners and losers of climate-driven coral bleaching. Our results demonstrate how assessment of change in total cover alone may conceal very different responses in community structure, some of which showed strong regional consistency, and may provide a telling outlook of how coral reefs may reorganize in a warmer future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tonga's Special Management Areas (SMAs) have been widely supported by the people of Tonga as a successful approach to the comanagement of their fisheries and marine resources. However, due to the dominant focus on expansion of the program over recent years, challenges remain for the effective and consistent monitoring and evaluation needed to understand program impacts. This review compiles all known ecological, fisheries, and socio-economic monitoring and evaluation reports related to Tonga's Special Management Areas from 2010 onwards. A total of 25 projects with available reports were identified, with most examining ecological (42%) and socio-economic (42%) aspects of SMAs, whereas reporting on SMA fisheries data (e.g. catch) was limited to five available projects. Most studies also represented 'baseline' ecological and socio-economic surveys of SMAs during implementation. Only three studies have assessed the ecological impact of SMAs post intervention, and only one of these incorporated 'follow-up' surveys at a second time point. Among these, impacts remain mixed, with some SMAs resulting in larger and more abundant fish, but others showing no impact. Other monitoring challenges include no gender disaggregation of data, no monitoring of gleaning, haphazard monitoring by communities, and general concerns of cost, fit for purpose, and overinvestment. Although the limited available ecological data indicates that SMAs can increase fish size and abundance in some cases, rationalised, more efficient, and targeted monitoring is required to better understand and strengthen the functioning of SMAs and inform community and government management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding what influences species and trait composition is critical for predicting changes in communities driven by landscape transformation.We explored how life‐history traits are associated with the persistence of mammal species in human‐dominated habitats within the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve, South Africa. We combined data from a camera trap study and a local ecological knowledge‐based survey in an integrated occupancy model to analyse species occurrence along a gradient of anthropogenic landscape transformation.Results confirmed that mammal occurrence in human‐modified habitats was related to specific life‐history traits. Species with more specialist diets, as well as larger body mass species were more likely to stay in protected areas. Species with slow reproductive strategies occupied more natural areas.Combining different monitoring methods enabled us to increase spatial coverage and mammal sighting numbers. This approach fostered research participation by various stakeholders, an important step for co‐designing wildlife‐friendly anthropogenic spaces.Synthesis and applications. Integrating data from a standard ecological protocol and structured participatory citizen knowledge allowed us to identify the species functional traits associated with mammal species occurrence in anthropogenic landscapes at a local scale. These results advocate for wisely combining methods and will guide conservation‐orientated land‐use planning towards the protection of natural habitats in the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve. This methodological approach will enable managers and conservationists to use data obtained from diverse protocols and should catalyse the involvement of citizens in biodiversity monitoring and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the intersection of agroecology and sustainable tourism, shedding light on the adaptive resilience within rural communities. Focused on the delicate balance between tourism‐driven economic gains, social‐ecological enhancements, and environmental conservation, the research centers on a case study involving four communities within the Mueang Khong subdistrict of Chiang Dao, Northern Thailand. Methodologically, the fieldwork conducted in 2022 combined ecological and landscape surveys with qualitative methods, including interviews, observations, and document analysis, to capture insights into local communities' perspectives, behaviors, and experiences. By adopting an agroecological approach to tourism, these communities have demonstrated their dynamism of adaptability and resilience in response to challenges posed by existing tourism activities and emerging circumstances. A significant catalyst contributing to this adaptability is the UNESCO recognition of Doi Chiang Dao as a new biosphere reserve, fostering new collaborations among diverse stakeholders and raising awareness regarding positive ecological conservation, food diversity and security, and improved livelihoods. This study argues that the ability to adapt, aiming to cultivate thriving communities and achieve balanced economic growth, responsible tourism, social inclusivity, and resource management, stands as a fundamental pillar for sustainable development in rural areas of Northern Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biota of cave habitats faces heightened conservation risks, due to geographic isolation and high levels of endemism. Molecular datasets, in tandem with ecological surveys, have the potential to precisely delimit the nature of cave endemism and identify conservation priorities for microendemic species. Here, we sequenced ultraconserved elements of Tegenaria within, and at the entrances of, 25 cave sites to test phylogenetic relationships, combined with an unsupervised machine learning approach for detecting species. Our analyses identified clear and well-supported genetic breaks in the dataset that accorded closely with morphologically diagnosable units. Through these analyses, we also detected some previously unidentified, potential cryptic morphospecies. We then performed conservation assessments for seven troglobitic Israeli species of this genus and determined five of these to be critically endangered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatio-temporal models can be used to analyze data collected at various spatial locations throughout multiple time points. However, even with a finite number of spatial locations, there may be insufficient resources to collect data from every spatial location at every time point. We develop a spatio-temporal finite-population block kriging (ST-FPBK) method to predict a quantity of interest, such as a mean or total, across a finite number of spatial locations. This ST-FPBK predictor incorporates an appropriate variance reduction for sampling from a finite population. Through an application to moose surveys in the east-central region of Alaska, we show that the predictor has a substantially smaller standard error compared to a predictor from the purely spatial model that is currently used to analyze moose surveys in the region. We also show how the model can be used to forecast a prediction for abundance in a time point for which spatial locations have not yet been surveyed. A separate simulation study shows that the spatio-temporal predictor is unbiased and that prediction intervals from the ST-FPBK predictor attain appropriate coverage. For ecological monitoring surveys completed with some regularity through time, use of ST-FPBK could improve precision. We also give an R package that ecologists and resource managers could use to incorporate data from past surveys in predicting a quantity from a current survey. Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear on-line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid cancer rates have risen globally over the past four decades, with Puerto Rico experiencing a particularly pronounced increase. This may be linked to higher metal exposure, as some metals are endocrine disruptors and carcinogens. Currently, certain regions of Puerto Rico have Superfund programs because of high concentrations of metals in the soil. Therefore, we investigated the association between thyroid cancer incidence and three metals (lead, cadmium, and mercury) with known endocrine-disrupting properties and increased levels in soil samples in Puerto Rico. We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data for heavy metal levels and the thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) as a thyroid cancer marker. Additionally, we performed an ecological study using data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report on Metals from Natural and Anthropogenic Sources in Puerto Rico Soils and data from the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry on age-adjusted thyroid cancer incidence rates from 2015 to 2019. Through NHANES analysis, we found a significant negative association between mercury and TgAb. Through our ecological study, we observed higher thyroid cancer incidence rates and increased metal levels in the soil in the northern parts of Puerto Rico. Our heterogenous results necessitate further research on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructed parks for mangrove wetlands are considered crucial for preserving coastal ecosystems. However, several challenges confront the construction and maintenance of existing mangrove parks in the Great Bay Area of China, such as the survival rates of newly planted plants, declining plant diversity, and fluctuating quality of water and soil. While various methods exist for restoring mangrove wetland parks, there is a need for a health assessment of mangrove parks to quantify related health indicators. Previous studies mainly focused on individual species and the ecological functions of mangroves, neglecting the complexity of the overall health of communities. Based on the current situation of mangrove parks in the Great Bay Area, this paper proposes a methodology and workflow with Zhenhai Bay National Wetland Park as a study area, aimed at identifying potential health factors through field surveys on ecological communities and structures, biosafety, water and soil, and external threats and disturbances. Experiments and indicators were carried out for the evaluation, and the quantified results showed that the mangrove park had an average level of health, with the central area being more sensitive than the north and south parts. The assessment results can guide further landscape design, wetland restoration, and tourism planning, and serve as a reference for other health assessments for mangroves in similar urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Takins in the Eastern Himalayas of China are very diverse; however, species research in this region is lacking. Therefore, limited background data are available on the different subspecies present in this region. Using ecological models and surveys, this study examined the factors of two subspecies in this region, including phenotypic characteristics, population, activity, and distribution range, to provide species identification and classification references. The results revealed that the Mishmi takin and Bhutan takin could be differentiated using camera trapping. Their distribution areas, population densities, and population sizes could be determined in all human-accessible areas of the Eastern Himalayas in China. Thus, this study contributes to basic animal diversity knowledge and provides detailed information and references for species identification, distribution ranges, and population characteristics of the Mishmi and Bhutan takins. Moreover, this study provides resource data for subspecies classification that can be used to promote effective protection measures for endangered species. Limited background data are available on the Mishmi takin (Budorcas taxicolor taxicolor) and Bhutan takin (Budorcas taxicolor whitei) subspecies in the Eastern Himalayas of China because of the lack of systematic field investigations and research. Therefore, mature-animal ecological methods were used to evaluate these takin subspecies' phenotypic characteristics, distribution range, activity rhythm, and population size. From 2013 to 2022, 214 camera traps were installed for wild ungulate monitoring and investigation in all human-accessible areas of the Eastern Himalayas, resulting in 4837 distinguishable takin photographs. The external morphological characteristics were described and compared using visual data. Artificial image correction and related technologies were used to establish physical image models based on the differences between subspecies. MaxEnt niche and random encounter models obtained distribution ranges and population densities. Mishmi takins have a distribution area of 17,314 km2, population density of 0.1729 ± 0.0134 takins/km2, and population size of 2995 ± 232. Bhutan takins have a distribution area of 25,006 km2, population density of 0.1359 ± 0.0264 takins/km2, and population size of 3398 ± 660. Long-term monitoring data confirmed that the vertical migration within the mountain ecosystems is influenced by climate. Mishmi takins are active at 500–4500 m, whereas Bhutan takins are active at 1500–4500 m. The two subspecies were active at >3500 m from May to October yearly (rainy season). In addition, surveying combined with model simulation shows that the Yarlung Zangbo River is not an obstacle to migration. This study provides basic data that contribute to animal diversity knowledge in biodiversity hotspots of the Eastern Himalayas and detailed information and references for species identification, distribution range, and population characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Coastal ecosystems are vital for numerous demersal and benthopelagic species, offering critical habitats throughout their life cycles. Effective monitoring of these species in complex coastal environments is essential, yet traditional survey methodologies are often impractical due to environmental constraints like strong currents and high wave regimes. This study introduces a new cost-effective Baited Remote Underwater Video System (BRUVS) design featuring a vertical structure and 360° cameras developed to overcome limitations of traditional BRUVS, such as system anchoring, overturning, and restricted frame view. The new design was compared against a previous one used on the northwest Iberian coast. Key performance metrics included species detection, habitat identification, and operational efficiency under complex hydrodynamic conditions. Findings reveal that the two designs can effectively identify the common species typically observed in the study area. However, the new design outperformed the previous by significantly reducing equipment losses and anchoring issues. This enhancement in field operations' simplicity, operability, portability, and resiliency underscores the new system's potential as a cost-effective and efficient tool for demersal and benthopelagic ecological surveys in challenging coastal seascapes. This innovative BRUVS design offers advanced monitoring solutions, improving habitat assessment accuracy and responsiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of variation in population processes (e.g. population growth) across broad spatiotemporal scales is fundamental to population ecology and critical for conservation decision‐making. Count data from rigorous surveys (e.g. surveys with probabilistic sampling design and distance sampling information) can inform population processes but are often limited in space and time. Participatory science data cover broader spatiotemporal extents but are prone to bias due to limited to no sampling design and lack of distance sampling information, hindering their capability of informing population processes.Here, we developed an integrated dynamic N‐mixture model that jointly analyses rigorous survey and participatory science data to inform population growth at broad spatiotemporal extents. The model contains a flexible scaling parameter that allows fixed and random effects to account for biases and errors in participatory science data. We conducted simulations to evaluate the inference performance of this model across a broad range of spatial and temporal overlap between rigorous survey and participatory science data. We also conducted a case study of Baird's Sparrow (Centronyx bairdii), a species of conservation concern, to illustrate the application of the integrated model with rigorous survey data from the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions programme and participatory science North American Breeding Bird Survey and eBird data.Simulations showed that the integrated model improved precision without biasing parameter estimates, in comparison with a model informed by rigorous survey data alone. The case study further demonstrated the utility of the integrated model for quantifying range‐wide, long‐term population processes and environmental drivers despite limited spatiotemporal extent of rigorous survey data. In particular, we found that population growth rate peaked under medium temperature, which were only apparent in the integrated model.The integrated model developed in this study is useful for understanding wildlife population processes at broad spatiotemporal scales with count data. The flexible structure of this model, in particular the scaling parameter, makes it highly adaptable to a broad range of ecological systems and survey procedures. These properties make this modelling approach highly relevant for both population ecology and conservation practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations and research on the giant African snail (GAS) mainly focus on Achatina fulica. However, in recent years, a more harmful GAS, Achatina immaculata, has been reported. In order to understand the invasive status of A. immaculata in China, we take Shenzhen, a coastal city in Southern China, as an example to carry out an ecological survey on the field populations of the two species of GAS in various districts. We explore the differences in the invasive characteristics of the two species of snails in terms of their dietary intake, cold adaptation and drought resistance. The results indicate that, based on the phylogenetic tree analysis, more than half of the sampled snails exhibit higher similarity to A. immaculata. The number of wild A. immaculata is significantly greater than that of A. fulica, and 70.64% of the 746 GAS are A. immaculata. At the same time, it is also found that the maximum shell length of A. immaculata is 135.83 mm, with an average shell length of 76.00 mm, which is significantly different from the average shell length of A. fulica (56.57 mm, p < 0.01). The food intake assay shows that there is no difference in the food preferences of the two species, but the food demand of A. immaculata is significantly greater than that of A. fulica (2.32 fold, p < 0.01). In the cold adaptation assay, A. immaculata recovers from the cold dormancy state significantly faster than A. fulica (1.92 fold, p < 0.05), and the speed with which A. immaculata enters the dormancy state in the drought environment is significantly slower than that of A. fulica (0.706 fold, p < 0.05). With the characteristics of a large body size, large food intake and strong resistance to cold and drought resistance, A. immaculata has the potential to be dominant in competition with A. fulica in the same ecological niche, and it has become the main invasive species of GAS in Shenzhen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the relationship between population dynamics, economic growth, and planetary boundaries. It emphasizes the impact of population size, consumption, and resource intensity on the environment. While consumption growth is the main driver of environmental impact, population growth indirectly contributes as well. The United Nations' stance on population growth and its connection to environmental harm is also discussed. The article concludes that reducing population size and focusing on welfare rather than economic growth is necessary to address the environmental crisis. Additionally, the article examines the different mortality transitions in China and India, with China's population starting to decline and India's population still growing. The need to address the healthcare needs of India's growing older population is highlighted. The global issue of population aging is also discussed, with the proportion of people over 65 expected to increase by 2050. The challenges and concerns of population aging for high-income countries are addressed, and potential solutions such as pronatalist policies and immigration are debated. The article suggests that the growthist paradigm, which prioritizes economic growth, may need to be reevaluated in light of social and environmental problems. [Extracted from the article]

Many sampling and analytical methods can estimate the abundance, distributions, and diversity of birds and other wildlife. However, challenges with sample size and analytical capacity can make these methods difficult to implement for resource‐limited monitoring programs. To apprise efficient and attainable sampling designs for landbird monitoring programs with limited observational data, we used breeding season bird point survey data collected in 2016 at four forest restoration sites in Indiana, USA. We evaluated three subsets of observed species richness, total possibly breeding landbirds, Partners in Flight Regional Conservation Concern (PIF RCC) landbirds, and interior forest specialists (IFSs). Simulated surveys based on field data were used to conduct Bayesian Michaelis–Menten curve analyses estimating observed species as a function of sampling effort. On comparing simulated survey sets with multiple habitat types versus those with one habitat, we found that those with multiple habitat types had estimated 39%–83% greater observed PIF RCC species richness and required 41%–55% fewer visits per point to observe an equivalent proportion of PIF RCC species. Even with multiple habitats in a survey set, the number of visits per point required to detect 50% of observable species was 30% higher for PIF RCC species than for total breeding landbird species. Low detection rates of IFS species at two field sites made precise estimation of required effort to observe these species difficult. However, qualitatively, we found that only sites containing mature forest fragments had detections of several bird species designated as high‐confidence IFS species. Our results suggest that deriving specialized species diversity metrics from point survey data can add value when interpreting those data. Additionally, designing studies to collect these metrics may require explicitly planning to visit multiple habitat types at a monitoring site and increasing the number of visits per survey point. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1954–1968. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA. Key Points: Four forest restoration sites in Indiana supported a variety of potentially breeding migratory bird species, including interior forest specialists and regional conservation concern species.At forest restoration sites in Indiana with various habitat types, it was necessary to visit both open and woody plant‐dominated habitats to efficiently detect bird species of regional conservation concern.When analyzing bird point survey data, deriving specialized species diversity metrics, such as richness of habitat specialist species or conservation concern species, can add value when interpreting those data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient biodiversity surveys are critical for successful restoration monitoring and management. We studied the effect of varying sampling effort on the observed species richness of surveys of small mammals (trapping transects), bats (passive acoustic detection), and medium to large mammals (trail cameras). Field studies provided mammalian biodiversity data for 4 bottomland hardwood restoration sites in northeastern Indiana. Subsampled data were used to simulate monitoring surveys with a range of levels of effort. We then used hierarchical Bayesian nonlinear mixed models to analyze how different components of sampling effort affected observed species richness, a key monitoring outcome. We found that observed small mammal richness increased with the increased number of transects in a survey, while observed bat and medium to large mammal richness increased with the increased duration of sampling. Variation between sites was important for the observed richness of small mammals and bats but not for medium to large mammals. The key driver of richness observed in simulated surveys was related to the spatial scale at which target fauna interact with the habitat, with decreasing richness accompanied by a greater spatial scale of animal–habitat interactions. Our findings suggest taxon‐specific recommendations for efficiently quantifying the mammalian diversity of managed sites. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1969–1981. © 2020 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC) Key Points: Hierarchical subsampling was used to simulate how different levels of sampling effort affected the observed biodiversity of mammals.Observed small mammal species richness increased with number of samples (i.e., transects).For bats and medium to large mammals the duration of sampling, not number of samples, had the greatest effect on observed species richness.The spatial scale at which a species interacts with the habitat determined which component of sampling effort had the greatest effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Environmental DNA (eDNA) detection is a transformative tool for ecological surveys which in many cases offers greater accuracy and cost-effectiveness for tracking low-density, cryptic species compared to conventional methods. For the use of targeted quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based eDNA detection, protocols typically require freshly prepared reagents for each sample, necessitating systematic evaluation of reagent stability within the functional context of eDNA standard curve preparation and environmental sample evaluation. Herein, we assessed the effects of long-term storage and freeze–thaw cycles on qPCR reagents for eDNA analysis across six assays. Results: Results demonstrate qPCR plates (containing pre-made PCR mix, primer-probe, and DNA template) remain stable at 4 °C for three days before thermocycling without fidelity loss irrespective of qPCR assay used. Primer-probe mixes remain stable for five months of − 20 °C storage with monthly freeze-thaw cycles also irrespective of qPCR assay used. Synthetic DNA stocks maintain consistency in standard curves and sensitivity for three months under the same conditions. These findings enhance our comprehension of qPCR reagent stability, facilitating streamlined eDNA workflows by minimizing repetitive reagent preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commensal relationships between wild plants and their dispersers play a key ecological and evolutionary role in community structure and function. While non-human dispersers are often considered critical to plant recruitment, human dispersers have received much less attention, especially when it comes to non-domesticated plants. Australia, as a continent historically characterized by economies reliant on non-domesticated plants, is thus a key system for exploring the ecological role of people as seed dispersers in the absence of agriculture. Here, we utilize a controlled observation research design, employing ecological surveys and ethnographic observations to examine how seed dispersal and landscape burning by Martu Aboriginal people affects the distribution of three preferred plants and one (edible, but non-preferred) control species. Using an information theoretic approach, we find that the three preferred plants show evidence of human dispersal, with the strongest evidence supporting anthropogenic dispersal for the wild bush tomato, Solanum diversiflorum. Human dispersal of wild plants has received limited attention. Here, the authors combine ecological surveys and ethnographic observations to examine how Martu Aboriginal people's seed dispersal and landscape burning impact plant distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text highlights various conservation efforts and environmental challenges in Indonesia, focusing on the poaching of Javan rhinoceroses, successful conservation efforts for Sumatran elephants, and the reintroduction of zebra sharks. It also discusses the struggles faced by the Lanun Indigenous community in Belitung Island and the conservation efforts of Anis Suratin in Sulawesi. Additionally, the text covers new research on reef manta rays in Raja Ampat and the importance of scavengers in wetland ecosystems. The document also touches on global conservation efforts, such as the success of the scimitar-horned oryx reintroduction in Chad and the importance of protecting red colobus monkeys in Africa. [Extracted from the article]

Phthalates (PAEs) are a class of organic pollutants that are continuously released and present in the environment and are listed as priority-controlled pollutants. Soil is one of the main final fates of PAEs in the environment, and China has fully launched investigations and controls on soil pollution of PAEs. Analysis is the foundation of environmental monitoring and scientific research, and the certified reference materials in soil are important means to ensure the accuracy and reliability of determination for soil. However, the existing relevant reference materials do not meet the actual needs of pollution monitoring in China. In this study, according to the characteristics of PAEs pollution and quality control requirements of actual samples, four certified reference materials for PAEs analysis in soils have been developed through the nine laboratories’ collaborative analysis. The candidates were mainly collected from agricultural soils, plastic film mulched soil, industrial soil, and plastic recycling station soil. After homogeneity and stability testing, the results show that both homogeneity and stability meet the requirements. During the certification process, in response to the difficulty of controlling the PAEs analysis blank, the pollution source of the blank was identified and confirmed, and strict quality control measures were formulated to ensure that the blank concentration throughout the entire process remained stable within a certain range. Nine laboratories used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to collaboratively determine the values of 4 PAEs and evaluated their uncertainty in soils. The certified values of 4 PAEs in soils ranging from 36µg/kg to 2.87mg/kg. The authoritative domestic laboratory used isotope dilution mass spectrometry to verify the accuracy of the certification results. This series of reference materials have been approved as a national first-class reference material, numbered from GBW07595 to GBW07598, which meets the requirements of PAEs analysis quality assurance and quality control, and provides technical support for ecological geological survey and evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are the most diverse animal taxon on Earth and play a key role in ecosystem functioning. However, they are often neglected by ecological surveys owing to the difficulties involved in monitoring this small and hyper-diverse taxon. With technological advances in biomonitoring and analytical methods, these shortcomings may finally be addressed. Here, we performed passive acoustic monitoring at 141 sites (eight habitats) to investigate insect acoustic activity in the Viruá National Park, Brazil. We first describe the frequency range occupied by three soniferous insect groups (cicadas, crickets and katydids) to calculate the acoustic evenness index (AEI). Then, we assess how AEI varies spatially and temporally among habitat types, and finally we investigate the relationship between vegetation structure variables and AEI for each insect category. Overall, crickets occupied lower and narrower frequency bands than cicadas and katydids. AEI values varied among insect categories and across space and time. The highest acoustic activity occurred before sunrise and the lowest acoustic activity was recorded in pastures. Canopy cover was positively associated with cricket acoustic activity but not with katydids. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the role of time, habitat and vegetation structure in shaping insect activity within diverse Amazonian ecosystems. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn many agricultural, forestry, environmental, and ecological surveys, data are often spatial in nature and exhibit spatial nonstationarity. A well-known method for addressing spatial nonstationarity and capturing the spatially varying relationships between different variables is Geographic Weighted Regression (GWR). The calibration approach is one of the most widely used techniques in sample surveys for incorporating the known population characteristics of auxiliary variables by changing the original sampling design weights. The model-calibration approach is an improvement on the conventional calibration approach that can handle a variety of assisting working models. Two-stage sampling is one of the most frequently used sampling strategies in large-scale sample surveys. In the present study, a couple of GWR model-calibration estimators were proposed under two-stage sampling, assuming the availability of population-level complete auxiliary information. Under a set of regularity assumptions, the asymptotic properties of the developed estimators have been evaluated such as design unbiasedness, model unbiasedness, approximate variance, and estimators of variances. The performance of the developed estimators has been compared with the existing estimators through a spatial simulation study and a design-based simulation based on real data. The performance of the proposed estimator was found to be more precise than the existing estimators under two-stage sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the aquatic ecosystem of Caohai Lake in Guizhou Province has significantly changed with the deterioration of water quality and lake ecosystem health. Phytoplankton is an important indicator of aquatic ecosystem. It is of great significance to investigate the phytoplankton community structure and its relationship with environmental factors in understanding the ecological status and developing feasible restoration measures for the Lake. This study conducted sampling surveys on the species, cell density and biomass of phytoplankton and water quality during different seasons in 2021. The results indicated that a total of 78 phytoplankton species were identified, belonging to 7 phyla. The abundance and biomass of phytoplankton were (3.89±2.08)x107 ~ (2.38±8.01)x108 cells⋅L-1 and (12.46±5.49) ~ (29.78±8.01) mg⋅L-1, respectively, showing seasonal changes in summer>autumn> spring> winter. The composition of dominant species varied seasonally. Microcystis sp., Pseudoanabaena sp., Scenedesmus Meyen sp. and Cyclotella sp. were the dominant species all year round. The overall mean ShannonWiener diversity index (H') of phytoplankton ranged from 1.71 to 2.63, with an annual average of 2.20 The overall mean Pielou evenness index (J) ranged from 0.52 to 0.78, with an annual average of 0.67. The overall mean Margalef species richness index (Dm) ranged from 1.30 to 1.62, with an annual average of 1.46. And the comprehensive evaluation of water ecology showed the water quality was in eutrophication. The results of Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the main environmental factors were dissolved oxygen (DO), permanganate index (CODMn), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). Redundancy analysis (RDA) and Pearson correlation analysis of phytoplankton community characteristics and environmental factors indicated that the key environmental factors affecting phytoplankton were TP and DO. Compared with the ecological survey of Caohai Lake since 2004, there exists a significant change in phytoplankton communities with an obvious increase in algal cell abundance in 2021, which is a key node for the transition from macrophyte- to phytoplankton-dominated state. Timely measures should be taken to promote the restoration of submerged macrophyte and prevent occurrence of algal blooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering and ecological survey data obtained on oil and oil–gas condensate fields in Eastern Siberia (Krasnoyarsk krai, Irkutsk oblast, and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)) are processed and systematized. We have determined mean (background) concentrations of heavy metals and toxic elements, which are subject to obligatory monitoring during engineering and ecological surveys (lead, cadmium, zinc, copper, nickel, arsenic, and mercury) for the main associations of soils, the prevalent kinds of soils, and units of geochemical and metallogenic zoning. It is established that the differences between soil varieties in concentrations of the studied elements are in general rather small, which is explained by the common source of elements—terrigenous deposits of the Lower Paleozoic—and poorly developed processes of bioaccumulation in taiga conditions. Peat–podzolic iron–illuvial soils are characterized by increased concentrations of copper and nickel. The effect of the lithogenic basis on concentrations of heavy metals and toxic elements is more pronounced than the impact of the transformations of initial material during soil formation. Correlation coefficients are determined, dendrograms of interrelations of the content of elements are constructed, and the following associations of elements are revealed: nickel and zinc; cadmium, mercury, and arsenic; and copper and lead. The resulting mean concentrations of elements may be used as background ones in subsequent engineering and ecological surveys in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective undergraduate statistical education requires training using real-world data. Textbook datasets seldom match the complexities and messiness of real-world data and finding these datasets can be challenging for educators. Consulting and industrial datasets often have nondisclosure agreements. Academic datasets often require subject area expertise beyond those of a general education or lack connections to real-world applications. Many governments, including the United States, now require the release of data from projects they directly complete or fund though grants and contracts. We show how statistical educators may find datasets and incorporate them into courses. Specifically, we use two examples from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and one example from the ecology literature. We demonstrate the use of these datasets in an upper-level analysis of variance (ANOVA) class. In addition to describing how we found the datasets, we describe how to include them into course work and the course's student assessments. We have used these datasets over multiple semesters and included student feedback from these courses. Although our examples focus on an ANOVA class, the general methods for finding data shared here could be used for statistical classes ranging from high school to graduate education. for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From shore to sea, coral reefs can generally be divided into a lagoon zone, a reef crest, and a fore reef. Environmental variables, such as nutrient fluxes, light availability, and water temperature, vary among the zones and influence the biodiversity of submerged macrophytes. Additionally, the biodiversity of vegetation within the lagoon appears to be affected by multiple and extremely localized conditions. We investigated the impact of small‐scale variations on vegetation diversity, and implemented an ecological survey within a well‐defined area inside of a lagoon at Bise Point, Okinawa, Japan. A total of 20 macroalgal species (four green algae, six brown algae, and ten red algae) and four seagrass species were identified from the surveyed quadrats over a period of 19 months, from October 2019 to March 2021. Patterns in species occurrence were spatially and temporally heterogeneous. Notably, water motion and sediment flux were highly variable among the monitoring sites. Redundancy analysis allowed us to evaluate the significance of environmental factors on the vegetation of each monitoring area. Six environmental factors were considered in this study, but their impacts on local vegetation were not equivalent. Redundancy analysis suggested that water depth, flow velocity, and the ratio of the small fraction of deposition particles were the three factors with the strongest influence on local vegetation. This study provides some crucial insights into the determinants of vegetation in a coral reef lagoon. Our findings suggest that the factors we examined exert more influence on the vegetation than seasonal effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution of the Lagos Lagoon is one of the major ecological concerns in Lagos metropolis. The ecological survey of coliform was performed to determine the level of pollution in Lagos Lagoon. Water samples were collected from Iddo, Makoko, Unilag, Oyingbo, and Marina sample stations. The physicochemical and bacteriological analyses were performed under standard procedures. The values of the water samples ranged from; 4.2±0.019 to 7.7±0.016 for pH; 26.7 ±0.012 to 28.9±0.125 for temperature (°C); 0.38±0.016 to 0.56±0.044 for turbidity (nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU)) and 541.8±13.207 to 40672.02±1252.930 for salinity(mg/L). The selected physicochemical parameter results were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA test. The test revealed that the mean values of the parameters were not significantly different for the five sample stations. The pairwise test revealed no significant difference between the sample stations in the Lagos Lagoon. The predominant bacteria isolated belonged to the following genera: Klebsiella, Escherichia, Providencia, Salmonellae, Enterobacter, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, and Citrobacter. The total viable counts ranged from 1.0 x 107 cfu/mL to 2.5 x 109 cfu/mL, and the total coliform counts ranged from 1.0 x 105 cfu/mL to 2.5 x 106 cfu/mL. The study revealed high coliform count in Lagos Lagoon. Therefore, the study stresses the need for authorities to implement laws and regulations to prohibit the discharge of untreated wastes into waterbodies to control faecal pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Who joins extremist movements? Answering this question is beset by methodological challenges as survey techniques are infeasible and selective samples provide no counterfactual. Recruits can be assigned to contextual units, but this is vulnerable to problems of ecological inference. In this article, we elaborate a technique that combines survey and ecological approaches. The Bayesian hierarchical case–control design that we propose allows us to identify individual-level and contextual factors patterning the incidence of recruitment to extremism, while accounting for spatial autocorrelation, rare events, and contamination. We empirically validate our approach by matching a sample of Islamic State (ISIS) fighters from nine MENA countries with representative population surveys enumerated shortly before recruits joined the movement. High-status individuals in their early twenties with college education were more likely to join ISIS. There is more mixed evidence for relative deprivation. The accompanying extremeR package provides functionality for applied researchers to implement our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuba is struggling with a growing environmental problem: the uncontrolled spread of the allochthonous weed species marabou (Dichrostachys cinerea) throughout the country. Over the last 70 years, marabou has become a formidable invasive species that poses a threat to Cuban biodiversity and agricultural productivity. In this paper, we present a free and affordable method for regularly mapping the spatial distribution of the marabou based on the Google Earth Engine platform and ecological surveys. To test its accuracy, we develop an 18-year remote sensing analysis (2000–2018) of marabou dynamics using the Valle de los Ingenios, a Cuban UNESCO World Heritage Site, as an experimental model. Our spatial analysis reveals clear patterns of marabou distribution and highlights areas of concentrated growth. Temporal trends illustrate the aggressive nature of the species, identifying periods of expansion and decline. In addition, our system is able to detect specific, large-scale human interventions against the marabou plague in the area. The results highlight the urgent need for remedial strategies to maintain the fragile ecological balance in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct observation, through surveys, underpins nearly all aspects of environmental sciences. Survey design theory has evolved to make sure that sampling is as efficient as possible whilst remaining robust and fit-for-purpose. However, these methods frequently focus on theoretical aspects and often increase the logistical difficulty of performing the survey. Usually, the survey design process will place individual sampling locations one-by-one throughout the sampling area (e.g. random sampling). A consequence of these approaches is that there is usually a large cost in travel time between locations. This can be a huge problem for surveys that are large in spatial scale or are in inhospitable environments where travel is difficult and/or costly. Our solution is to constrain the sampling process so that the sample consists of spatially clustered observations, with all sites within a cluster lying within a predefined distance. The spatial clustering is achieved by a two-stage sampling process: first cluster centres are sampled and then sites within clusters are sampled. A novelty of our approach is that these clusters are allowed to overlap and we present the necessary calculations required to adjust the specified inclusion probabilities so that they are respected in the clustered sample. The process is illustrated with a real and on-going large-scale ecological survey. We also present simulation results to assess the methods performance. Spatially clustered survey design provides a formal statistical framework for grouping sample sites in space whilst maintaining multiple levels of spatial-balance. These designs reduce the logistical burden placed on field workers by decreasing total travel time and logistical overheads.Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear on-line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time‐to‐detection (TTD) occupancy models are increasingly used to study site occupancy of organisms. Occupancy is a reduced representation of abundance (distinguishing only between 0 and >0 individuals), which is also often a quantity of interest. In this paper, we present a novel framework for TTD occupancy models that address limitations of existing approaches. Our approach incorporates factors that accommodate detection heterogeneity among sites/visits and inter‐visit dependency, allowing for the relaxation of some restrictive assumptions inherent in previous models. As a result, our framework offers a robust and versatile tool for analysing various ecological data sets.We employ a maximum likelihood approach to estimate model parameters and conduct inference for the proposed TTD occupancy models. A key feature of these models is the introduction of a community parameter. This parameter characterizes the similarity of detectabilities, ranging from complete independence to complete identity, across multiple site visits. This framework disentangles the detection rate, abundance and occupancy, similar to the popular N‐mixture model. For situations where abundance estimation is not the primary goal, a family of mixed gamma exponential TTD models is developed, which generally exhibit more stable numerical properties compared to N‐mixture type TTD models.The performance of the proposed models and some reduced models is evaluated through simulation studies. The results indicate that the N‐mixture TTD model tends to considerably overestimate the occupancy probability when the community parameter is less than one, a condition necessary to satisfy the strict closure population assumption. On the other hand, the standard exponential TTD occupancy model underestimates the occupancy probability in the presence of unobserved detection heterogeneity and inter‐visit dependency. An analysis of 63 bird species in the Karoo region of South Africa demonstrates the enhanced flexibility of the proposed TTD occupancy models for data fitting.This paper demonstrates the importance of employing more flexible and general models to accurately capture the complexities of ecological systems or survey data. We provide R‐code to fit all considered models to data. The proposed TTD model framework contributes to enhancing our understanding of species occupancy distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Challenges associated with cubozoan jellyfish detection and the limitations of current detection techniques limit the ability of scientists to fill critical knowledge gaps surrounding their ecology. Environmental DNA (eDNA), however, has proven useful as an ecological survey tool to detect and study these deadly jellyfish. This study aimed to leverage the power of eDNA to detect and explore the distribution of the Australian box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri), encompassing both its medusae and polyp life history stages, within an open coastal bay (Horseshoe Bay) of Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia. Our investigation focused on a hypothesis concerning the source locations of the jellyfish within Horseshoe Bay and, through a comparison of both life history stage distributions, aimed to determine potential population stock boundaries. eDNA results aligned with the predicted nearshore distribution of medusae. Further, the elusive benthic polyp stage was also detected. These findings confirmed Horseshoe Bay as a source location of the jellyfish. Moreover, our evidence supported a model that the area likely represents a population stock of the species. This adds to growing evidence suggesting some cubozoan jellyfish have population stocks of small spatial scales in both open and relatively closed ecosystems such as estuaries. In conclusion, this study serves as a notable example of eDNA's ability to resolve critical knowledge gaps surrounding cubozoan ecology and to enhance the management ability of these deadly jellyfish to reduce envenomations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ecological Survey of Northern Rhodesia, undertaken in the 1930s under the leadership of Colin Trapnell, was a seminal exercise to relate soil, vegetation and agricultural practices through intensive field observation. In this article we examine early activities of the survey in the Upper Valley region around the Kafue Flats and the neighbouring plateau where Trapnell recognized how geomorphological processes of normal erosion gave rise to distinctive soils with associated vegetation communities and considerable potential for crop production. We consider how Trapnell's approach to field work gave him a particular insight into how soil conditions constrained agriculture in the Zambian environment, the adaptive value of traditional practices, and how these were developed as communities moved and responded to social, economic and environmental change. We argue that Trapnell's work was innovative, and that distinctions must be drawn between his understanding and what has been called the ecological theory of development. Close attention to Trapnell's experience could inform modern efforts to understand indigenous knowledge of African soils and their agricultural potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liolaemus lutzae is a small liolaemid lizard critically endangered and restricted to coastal restinga (salty sand dune habitats covered by herbaceous and shrubby vegetation by seaside) habitats of the state of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. This lizard has been predicted to be extinct by 2080. We studied some of the environmental factors that influence occupancy by the species and detectability by the observer, in addition to investigating which populations remain occupying the areas along its original geographical distribution. We sampled 25 different beach habitats of restinga areas in the state, by 100‐meter replicates of linear transects. The estimated probability of occupancy was 69% (0.69 ± 0.05), and the estimated detectability was 50% (0.50 ± 0.03). The detection model with the best fit contained only the air temperature variable. Occupancy was best described by four variables: number of disturbance sources on the transect, vegetation cover in a 50‐meter buffer, exposed sand cover substrate in a 20‐meter buffer, and built‐up area cover in a 50‐meter buffer. No observations of L. lutzae were made in eight of the 25 restinga areas sampled along the original distribution of the lizard. In seven of these areas, the species had its populations extirpated many years ago, based on the 2007/2008 monitoring data. Conversely, in one area where the species was frequently observed during field surveys and different ecological studies on the species made in last decade, it was not recorded in the present study, indicating a possible recent population extirpation. We recommend that conservation measures be urgently implemented to mitigate anthropogenic impacts on the areas of the remaining populations of this lizard throughout its range, especially preserving the structure and functions of the remaining vegetation of beach habitat along restinga areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myxospermy, the release of seed mucilage upon hydration, plays multiple roles in seed biology. Here, we explore whether seed mucilage occurs in a suite of temperate grassland species to test if the prevalence of species producing seed mucilage is associated with habitat type or seed characteristics. Seventy plant species found in wet or dry North American temperate grasslands were tested for the presence of seed mucilage through microscopic examination of seeds imbibed with histochemical stain for mucilage. Mucilage production was compared among species with different moisture requirements and seed mass. In this study, 43 of 70 of species tested produced seed mucilage. Seed mucilage did not differ based on habitat type, species moisture requirements, or seed mass. Most seed mucilage was non‐adherent and did not remain stuck to the seed after extrusion. Seed mucilage was a common trait in the surveyed temperate grassland species and was observed in 61% of evaluated species. Surprisingly, seed mucilage was more common in temperate grasslands than in previous ecological surveys from arid/semiarid systems, which found 10%–31% myxospermous species. Given the high prevalence, seed mucilage may influence seedling ecology in temperate grasslands and requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The easy implementation of a nature-based solution (NBS) to address a prompt stabilisation of burnt areas may be crucial in the Mediterranean forest environment. A plot scale hydrological and ecological survey was conducted in a pine forest of the Aspromonte Massif (southern Italy) affected by a high fire severity in summer 2021. The hydrological response to 30 rainfall event groups is analysed by monitoring nine sloping plots distributed into three plot blocks (forested according to the pre-fire situation, burnt with randomly directed felled logs and burnt with manually felled logs redirected along contour lines). The hydrological response of bare soil is mitigated by about 30% through the combined effects of the NBS and the vegetation cover by pioneer species. Although the regeneration of Pinus radiata is scarcer in the arranged plots, the spontaneous vegetation, once gone, prepares better edaphic conditions for the triggering of forest dynamics assured by the auto-succession of Pinus radiata. In terms of woody mechanical resistance, NBS durability is compatible with the time required for seedlings to regenerate the forest ecosystem. The results achieved so far encourage further research on higher slopes and complementary aspects (vegetal and animal biodiversity, economic factors, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African savanna ecosystems are home to the world's richest large herbivore (LH) assemblages. However, its landscapes are changing faster than any other region on Earth due to human activities and natural events. Therefore, understanding the factors influencing the distribution of LH in these human‐dominated environments is crucial for decision‐making on wildlife and habitat management. We combined ecological aerial surveys, camera trap, and dung count data to investigate how ecological (habitat types, perennial rivers, and rainfall) and anthropogenic (human settlements and cattle grazing areas) factors influence the distribution of LH species in Limpopo National Park (LNP). We used generalized linear models fitting binary logistic regression models to distinguish 25‐km2 cells occupied (where the species were detected) by elephants (Loxodonta africana), buffalos (Syncerus caffer), zebras (Equus quagga), kudus (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), nyalas (Tragelaphus angasii), and impalas (Aepyceros melampus) from unoccupied regions (where the species were not detected) in the LNP landscape. We found that habitat type and rainfall were the most influential factors shaping the pattern of LH distribution in the LNP, except for elephants, whose prevalence was not associated with rainfall. The prevalence of zebras was positively associated with the proximity to perennial rivers, while kudus avoided these areas. While some species (zebras, kudus, and impalas) tended to avoid settlements, others (elephants, buffalos, and nyala) seemed attracted to settlements. Cattle grazing areas were the worst predictors of the distribution of all study species. Our results disclosed the role of ecological factors for the distribution of LH and showed that anthropogenic disturbances seemed to either (partially) prevent the occurrence of LH or show the potential for human–wildlife conflict risk in the study area. Therefore, the results highlight the need to investigate/quantify the potential human–wildlife conflict risk at finer spatial scales to improve future management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to investigate the ecological aspects of urban plazas in order to improve energy management and preserve it in architecture. The research method in this study is descriptive-analytical. In the descriptive part of the research, the subject literature related to the urban plaza and the ecological approach has been discussed. In the analytical part, first, 47 ecological criteria effective in promoting energy management in the urban plaza have been identified and then sent to experts and analyzed through the Delphi method. In the third stage, according to the results of the Delphi method, using the structural analysis method and Mic Mac software, 21 influential factors were identified and then the driving forces were extracted. The results include 5 decisive and influential driving forces including: symmetry and closeness of nature with human habitat with a weight of 653, use of renewable energy with a weight of 588, protection of landscapes with a weight of 588, integration of architecture and green space with a weight of 571 and the use of ecological materials with a weight of 555 are directly effective on improving energy management using ecological criteria. Also, 6 risk driving forces include: energy management with a weight of 641, thermal insulation with a weight of 581, use of smart systems with a weight of 577, use of solar energy with a weight of 556 and efficiency in the use of clean energy with a weight of 550 They are indirectly effective on the conditions of the plaza to improve energy management through ecological criteria. In fact, for energy management in urban plazas with an ecological approach, 5 main driving forces should be considered in locating and designing the plaza, and 6 risk driving forces should be considered as secondary factors. According to the results of the system analysis, it can be said that the way the variables are distributed in the scatter plane indicates the instability of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific bottom-trawl surveys are ecological observation programs conducted along continental shelves and slopes of seas and oceans that sample marine communities associated with the seafloor. These surveys report taxa occurrence, abundance and/or weight in space and time, and contribute to fisheries management as well as population and biodiversity research. Bottom-trawl surveys are conducted all over the world and represent a unique opportunity to understand ocean biogeography, macroecology, and global change. However, combining these data together for cross-ecosystem analyses remains challenging. Here, we present an integrated dataset of 29 publicly available bottom-trawl surveys conducted in national waters of 18 countries that are standardized and pre-processed, covering a total of 2,170 sampled fish taxa and 216,548 hauls collected from 1963 to 2021. We describe the processing steps to create the dataset, flags, and standardization methods that we developed to assist users in conducting spatio-temporal analyses with stable regional survey footprints. The aim of this dataset is to support research, marine conservation, and management in the context of global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated models are a popular tool for analyzing species of conservation concern. Species of conservation concern are often monitored by multiple entities that generate several datasets. Individually, these datasets may be insufficient for guiding management due to low spatio‐temporal resolution, biased sampling, or large observational uncertainty. Integrated models provide an approach for assimilating multiple datasets in a coherent framework that can compensate for these deficiencies. While conventional integrated models have been used to assimilate count data with surveys of survival, fecundity, and harvest, they can also assimilate ecological surveys that have differing spatio‐temporal regions and observational uncertainties. Motivated by independent aerial and ground surveys of lesser prairie‐chicken, we developed an integrated modeling approach that assimilates density estimates derived from surveys with distinct sources of observational error into a joint framework that provides shared inference on spatio‐temporal trends. We model these data using a Bayesian Markov melding approach and apply several data augmentation strategies for efficient sampling. In a simulation study, we show that our integrated model improved predictive performance relative to models for analyzing the surveys independently. We use the integrated model to facilitate prediction of lesser prairie‐chicken density at unsampled regions and perform a sensitivity analysis to quantify the inferential cost associated with reduced survey effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeologists and others have long overlooked ecosystems stewarded by Indigenous Peoples on the Northwest Coast of North America due to colonial perspectives on food-procurement strategies. As a result, these places remain largely overlooked and unprotected in present-day conservation and cultural resource management. Further, identifying, understanding, and revitalizing these systems are key to supporting the food security, cultural identity, and inter-generational knowledge transfer of Indigenous Peoples. This is the case with the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking Songhees First Nation (Coast Salish/southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia), where colonialism has severely impacted traditional knowledge about estuarine root gardens. To address this issue, and the desire of the lək̓ʷəŋən to revitalize these sites, this study employs a novel interdisciplinary methodology to evaluate a potential garden on the archipelago of Tl'chés. By combining archaeology, ecology, and pedology, and conducting ecological surveys, soil analysis, and archaeological excavations, we found that past cultivation practices have left measurable impacts at the site more than 100 years after management ceased. We conclude that evidence of estuarine root garden management is present in the Coast Salish, and that it is possible to identify sites in areas where they are no longer known by the community, re-integrating them within traditional food systems and re-defining archaeological approaches to their study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite efforts from scientists and regulators, biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate. Unless we find transformative solutions to preserve biodiversity, future generations may not be able to enjoy nature's services. We have developed a conceptual framework that establishes the links between biodiversity dynamics and abiotic change through time and space using artificial intelligence. Here, we apply this framework to a freshwater ecosystem with a known history of human impact and study 100 years of community-level biodiversity, climate change and chemical pollution trends. We apply explainable network models with multimodal learning to community-level functional biodiversity measured with multilocus metabarcoding, to establish correlations with biocides and climate change records. We observed that the freshwater community assemblage and functionality changed over time without returning to its original state, even if the lake partially recovered in recent times. Insecticides and fungicides, combined with extreme temperature events and precipitation, explained up to 90% of the functional biodiversity changes. The community-level biodiversity approach used here reliably explained freshwater ecosystem shifts. These shifts were not observed when using traditional quality indices (e.g. Trophic Diatom Index). Our study advocates the use of high-throughput systemic approaches on long-term trends over species-focused ecological surveys to identify the environmental factors that cause loss of biodiversity and disrupt ecosystem functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Occurring in five distinct global regions, Mediterranean‐type ecosystems (MTEs) include both centres of agricultural production and hotspots of extratropical biodiversity – particularly for plants and bees. Considerable research has addressed the persistence of highly diverse biological communities within MTEs, despite their typically long histories of anthropogenic and natural disturbance. However, important questions remain, especially regarding the limits of ecological resilience in the face of accelerating environmental change. Here, we explore current knowledge regarding the effects of disturbance on MTE plant–pollinator communities. Location: Mediterranean Basin, California, Cape Province in South Africa, Central Chile and Southern South‐Western Australia. Taxa Studied: Flowering plants and pollinators (insects, birds and mammals). Methods: We reviewed the available literature about MTE plant–pollinator communities via a systematic search that yielded 234 case studies. We analysed this dataset to quantify research efforts across regions and taxonomic groups, the proportion of surveys addressing ecological interactions (i.e. rather than only taxonomic diversity) and the availability of work addressing community responses to specific stressors (viz. climate change, landscape alteration, fire, farming, grazing, urbanization and species introductions). Results: Current knowledge on MTE plant–pollinator communities is dominated by work from the northern Mediterranean Basin, while the Southern Hemisphere and California are markedly understudied by comparison. Taxonomic coverage is similarly uneven, with 58% of studies focusing only on a single pollinator group. Furthermore, less than half of the surveys address ecological networks. Finally, despite some pioneering work addressing fire, climate and species introductions, only 13% focus on the impact of stressors on interaction networks. Outlook: Based on our findings, we identify a need for coordinated international research efforts focusing on (i) community‐level studies, observational and experimental, (ii) ecological networks, (iii) functional traits mediating post‐disturbance recovery and (iv) impacts of combined/synergistic stressors. Progress in these areas will facilitate predictions about the long‐term impacts of global change on MTE plant–pollinator communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Rates of asthma-related emergency department visits have been shown to vary significantly by place (i.e. neighborhood) and race/ethnicity. The moderating factors of asthmatic events among Hispanic/Latino-specific populations are known to a much lesser degree. To assess the extent to which housing moderates the effect of poverty on Hispanic/Latino-specific asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits at an ecological level. Using data from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) and the 2016–2017 U.S. Census, a cross-sectional ecological analysis at the census tract-level was conducted. Crosswalk files from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development were used to associate zip codes to census tracts. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate rate ratios. The effect of poverty on asthma-related ED visits was significantly moderated by the median year of housing structures built. The effect of mid-level poverty (RR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.27, 1.95) and high-level poverty (RR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.22, 1.78) in comparison to low-level poverty, was significantly greater among census tracts with housing built prior to 1965 in comparison to census tract with housing built between 1965 and 2020. Communities with older housing structures tend to be associated with increased Hispanic/Latino ED visits apart from affluent communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-reproductive sexual behaviors have been reported in many different animal taxa, including non-human primates (NHPs). One of the Philippine NHPs that exhibits non-reproductive sexual behaviors, specifically same-sex sexual behaviors (SSSBs), is the long-tailed macaque (LTM). We observed SSSBs during our ecological and behavioral surveys of wild LTMs in Brgy. New Israel, Makilala, Philippines. We recorded multiple non-reproductive mounts (NRMs) among adult males with two detailed observations of anogenital contacts and ejaculations of the mounters. There are several hypotheses that may explain why these sexual behaviors are displayed by macaques (e.g. dominance assertion, social tension reduction, and inaccessibility of females); however, our observations could not be completely explained by these hypotheses due to our limited number of records. We recommend that more thorough research should be conducted to increase our understanding of the possible reasons behind the SSSBs of LTMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Field surveys were undertaken for five years, from 2018 to 2022, to decipher the distribution of Fritillaria roylei in seven districts of Himachal Pradesh. • The collected plant specimens (capsules with seeds and bulbs) from each site were studied for agro-morphological variability and phytosociological attributes. • Soil samples were collected to understand the nutrient status optimal for the growth of F. roylei. • Population attributes and ecological niche modelling showed potential future distribution area and cultivation hotspots for restoring this high-value endangered herb. • Conservationists can use the current findings to mitigate biodiversity losses by developing informed strategies for the conservation of this species with specific habitat priorities. In the Anthropocene epoch, there is a growing global conservation concern for rare, endangered, and threatened species owing to their increased vulnerability resulting in small population numbers and reliance on specialized habitats. To monitor and restore the waning populations of these species, predicting potential habitat maps is a valid strategy. Using population attributes and an ecological niche modelling approach, the current study aims to investigate potential distribution and cultivation hotspots for restoring the high-value and critically endangered medicinal herb, Fritillaria roylei (syn. Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don), in the alpine region of Himachal Pradesh, India. Various populations from eighteen sites exhibited a significant change in phytosociological attributes as a result of various anthropogenic threats. The current potential habitats correspond with actual distribution data, and the mean Area Under Curve (AUC) and True Skill Statistic values were 0.876 ± 0.158 and 0.650 ± 0.008, which emerged as satisfactory results. The Jackknife tests indicated bio 6 (Min Temperature of Coldest Period) as the most contributing climatic variable along with bio 15 (Precipitation Seasonality (Coefficient of Variation) contributing 26.2% to the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) distribution modelling algorithm model in governing the distribution of F. roylei. The model output showed that 48.47% area of Himachal Pradesh is suitable for F. roylei and 17.75% constitutes high and very high probability regions, suitable for the reintroduction of the species. Therefore, effective management strategies, based on scientific evidence, are urgently needed to conserve the remaining populations of this species. Conservationists can use the current findings to mitigate biodiversity losses and explore new populations of F. roylei , whilst policymakers can use the findings to implement the policy for the conservation of species with specific habitat priorities through the inclusion of species recovery programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]