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Egg parasitoids of the family Scelionidae are important biological control agents in many agricultural systems, including rice. Several species attack Pentatomidae. Some are used in applied biological control programs. We studied the richness, abundance, and population fluctuations of scelionids through gradients of distance from the forest near the cultivated areas and in two stages of plant development under different rice managements. The work took place in two irrigated rice crops, one with organic management (O.M.) and another with conventional management (C.M.), in the municipality of Nova Santa Rita, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons. The parasitoids were collected with Malaise traps placed at different distances in relation to the riparian forest surrounding the rice crop. Specimens were collected twice a month from seeding until the rice harvest. The most abundant genera were Idris, Telenomus, and Baeus. Telenomus podisi, Telenomus sp. 3, Telenomus sp. 2, and Telenomus sp. 1, were the most abundant morphospecies, and their abundance changed over the plant stages and seasons. The rice phenological stage influenced the diversity over the two seasons and, in the second one, the kind of pesticide used possibly had a negative influence on the parasitoid assemblage in conventional management. Close to the forest, there was a greater abundance of Scelionidae in the C.M. area in the first season. This was not found in the O.M. area at any crop season. The high abundance of scelionids indicates that natural biological control may be important in the rice crop, particularly in areas under organic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental legislation requires well‐defined concepts, criteria, and indicators to support its effective implementation and provide legal security to the diverse stakeholders involved. The Native Vegetation Protection Law (NVPL) establishes the obligation to restore native vegetation in protected areas within rural properties. This federal law is regulated and implemented by each state through its own Environmental Compliance Program (Programa de Regularização Ambiental [PRA], in Portuguese). Landowners must register their land, indicate whether native vegetation needs to be restored (i.e. if there is an environmental debt), and submit a restoration plan to the state government for analysis, validation, and approval. Due to the high cost of forest restoration, natural regeneration has most likely become a viable strategy for Amazonian landowners to meet their environmental debts. However, according to disturbance intensity, frequency, and duration, natural regeneration will not always succeed. In this context, we analyzed the PRAs of the seven main Amazonian states to assess the status of their implementation, identify how natural regeneration is defined and approached in the law, and evaluate whether improvements in the law are needed to ensure effective restoration to accomplish the NVPL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of nature-based solutions to address the climate and biodiversity challenges have become widely acknowledged. In numerous ways, nature-based solutions align with the Sustainable Development Goals. Serbia, like many other countries, faces many negative impacts of climate change crises. In order to meet sustainable development goals linked to water pollution and biodiversity, we investigated the potential of two plants, namely, Iris pseudocorus L. and Juncus effusus L., and tested for zinc reduction, previously found as an emerging contaminant of urban waters in Serbia. We focused on the investigation of native Serbian plants, that are reported as highly valuable and endangered. Results confirmed that both plant species have high accumulation capacity for Zn uptake, whereas growth and resistance were higher for Juncus effusus L. plants. While the concentration of zinc in Iris plants ranged from 45.85 mg/L to 193.05 mg/L, the concentration found in Juncus plants ranged from 36.2 mg/L to 264.59 mg/L for leaves and 53.20 mg/L for roots. This study contributes to the support for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Serbia within biodiversity conservation and sustainable water management, by providing information of plant species that can be included in future sustainable nature-based solutions projects, like bioretention systems and constructed wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat loss is an important driver in the rapid decline of many insects. The restoration of roadside habitat has been touted as an opportunity to support communities of bumble bees and butterflies, two insect groups of conservation concern. However, it is unclear how current roadside restoration methods translate to pollinator abundance and diversity.Here, we ask how the plant communities of roadsides seeded with native and non‐native seed mixes affect bumble bee and butterfly communities 2–20 years after planting.We found that bumble bee and butterfly abundance and diversity were positively correlated with floral abundance and diversity. However, the pollinator community in plots planted with diverse native seed mixes did not differ from that found in plots seeded with species‐poor non‐native mixes, likely because many forbs in the native seed mixes had poor establishment, and all plots were readily colonised by species that were never planted.While plots with more native flowers did not necessarily support higher pollinator diversity, we did find several native plants that established well in roadsides and supported pollinators, including goldenrods (Solidago spp.), milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) and wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa).Our data suggest that managing a more diverse and abundant floral community will benefit bumble bees and butterflies. Refining the composition of native seed mixes, adding more floral abundance to non‐native mixes and investing in management for native plant communities may increase the habitat value of roadsides for pollinator communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clearing of native vegetation on private agricultural land has contributed greatly to the loss of ecosystems and biodiversity worldwide. Native vegetation on private land may be cleared for a variety of reasons, of which the expansion of agriculture is only one. In this study, we investigate how the clearing of native vegetation on private land is influenced by (1) the utilitarian, social and hedonic objectives of landholders and (2) the way in which the presence of native vegetation interacts with the farm system to contribute to, or detract from, achieving those objectives. Using data from a survey of agricultural landholders in New South Wales, Australia, we found that the landholders’ management of native vegetation was strongly influenced by their perceptions of the opportunities and threats the native vegetation on their properties presented to them. The implications are drawn for predicting the clearing of native vegetation and designing effective policy interventions to influence the extent of clearing.

The clearing of native vegetation on private agricultural land has contributed greatly to the loss of ecosystems and biodiversity worldwide. Native vegetation on private land may be cleared for a variety of reasons, of which the expansion of agriculture is only one. In this study, we investigate how the clearing of native vegetation on private land is influenced by (1) the utilitarian, social and hedonic objectives of landholders and (2) the way in which the presence of native vegetation interacts with the farm system to contribute to, or detract from, achieving those objectives. Using data from a survey of agricultural landholders in New South Wales, Australia, we found that the landholders' management of native vegetation was strongly influenced by their perceptions of the opportunities and threats the native vegetation on their properties presented to them. The implications are drawn for predicting the clearing of native vegetation and designing effective policy interventions to influence the extent of clearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds are a prominent component of urban biodiversity yet many species, particularly forest-dependent birds, are vulnerable to landscape transformation. We examined the relative influence of three factors that potentially influence forest bird communities in residential areas of Melbourne, Australia: (i) local habitat attributes; (ii) types of land use; and (iii) biotic interactions with an aggressive native species, the noisy miner (Manorina melanocephala). We also investigated characteristics of urban sites that contribute most to landscape-level diversity of forest species. We systematically surveyed forest birds at 300 sites in a range of urban land-uses; with sites clustered in 30 landscapes representing gradients in housing cover and tree cover. Composition and richness of forest bird communities differed among land-use types: sites with greater cover of native canopy trees had a distinct and richer avifauna. However, a pervasive influence on communities was the relative abundance of the noisy miner, a native species that aggressively excludes small insectivores. Sites in native vegetation made the greatest contribution to landscape-level richness of forest birds, but also were negatively influenced by noisy miner occurrence. The dominance of the noisy miner poses a challenge for conservation because actions to improve urban habitat for forest species may also benefit this aggressive species. Conservation of forest birds will depend on larger forest tracts, fringing residential areas, which are less suitable for the noisy miner and serve as potential source populations for forest species. Within residential areas, enhancing understorey complexity with native shrubs and mid-storey will help improve urban habitats for forest birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Mexico, land use changes have significantly impacted the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in a negative way. In light of this, we evaluate the alpha and beta components of the taxonomic diversity of amphibians and reptiles in a heterogeneous landscape in west-central Mexico. Additionally, we provide a checklist of amphibian and reptile species recorded over nine years of observations within the studied landscape and surrounding areas. The land cover/use types with the highest species richness and alpha taxonomic diversity differed between amphibians and reptiles. Overall beta taxonomic diversity was high for both groups, but slightly higher in reptiles. This taxonomic differentiation mainly corresponded to a difference in the turnover component and was greater in pristine habitats compared to disturbed ones. The checklist records 20 species of amphibians (ten of which are endemic) and 48 of reptiles (30 endemics). Additionally, the study expands the known geographical distribution range of one species of frog and three species of snakes. Our findings suggest that heterogeneous landscapes with diverse land cover/use types can provide essential habitats for the conservation of amphibian and reptile species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young tropical forests have higher relative plant densities of potentially nodulating Leguminosae species than old forests, but comparisons of their proportions of effective N-fixing plants and amounts of fixed N are scarce. We determined leaf N stocks derived from symbiotic biological N fixation in woody legumes of young and old forests under the following five edaphoclimatic conditions, in Northeastern Brazil: (1) humid lowland coastal; (2) humid montane; (3) subhumid high fertility soil; (4) semiarid high fertility soil; and (5) semiarid montane low fertility soil. N amounts derived from fixation and stocked in the leaves were estimated using the 15N natural abundance technique. Fixed N stocks in the leaves were low in both young and old forests of the nutrient-poor semiarid montane forests (< 0.3 kg ha−1) due to the low relative densities of nodulating legume plants (15 and 10 pl ha−1, respectively), despite most individuals of the nodulating species fixing N. The relative density of nodulating species in the four other sites was higher in the young (148 to 635) than in the old forests (42 to 327 pl ha−1), as was the density of effectively fixing plants (96 to 265 vs. 9 to 140 pl ha−1). Leaf N stocks were also higher in the young than in the old forests, especially in the coastal humid forest (15.6 vs. 3.2 kg ha−1), except in the humid montane site (2.4 vs. 6.2 kg ha−1), due to the large N-fixing legume leaf biomass of the old forest. N fixation seems to provide an ecological advantage over non N-fixing plants in young tropical forests, usually growing on N poor soils, but not in semiarid forests growing on soils which are poor in other nutrients, like P, in which fixation is very low. However, the advantage of N-fixing legumes may also be related to other environmental variables and fixation continues to play a role in old forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The plant community in roadside right‐of‐ways is an important component of transportation infrastructure. Revegetation after construction is an opportunity to improve the plant community and create pollinator habitat. However, native seed mixes are substantially more expensive than those used in conventional roadside plantings, and transportation agencies often lack resources for management. Here, we compare the actively flowering plant community across a growing season in roadside plots seeded with native seed mixes versus non‐native seed mixes in Minnesota, USA. Plots varied in age from 2 to 20 years old. We demonstrate that native seeded plots had more native flowering forbs than non‐native seeded plots, as native flowers were rare in the non‐native seeded plots. However, despite some native species establishing well, many species in native seed mixes had poor or non‐existent establishment. Furthermore, the native and non‐native seeded plots converged in the makeup of their floral communities after a few years; part of this pattern is due to colonisation of species that were never seeded at either type of plot. Practical implication. If the goal of revegetation is to produce diverse, native dominated floral communities in roadsides, agencies must invest more in long‐term management. Managers could also alter seed mixes to remove species that fail to establish, which would reduce the cost of the seed mix, but not the diversity of the plant community that ultimately establishes. The use of such streamlined seed mixes across more land area would increase the availability of pollinator habitat without substantially altering current budgets or management plans.

Biodiversity offsetting seeks to balance losses in biodiversity from development with offset actions that generate biodiversity gains. In Victoria, Australia, native vegetation offset policy aims to achieve No Net Loss (NNL) in biodiversity, meaning gains from offsetting must be at least equivalent to development losses. Gains may be generated from measures that protect the existing biodiversity from loss (averted loss gains), and those that restore or enhance the biodiversity (improvement gains). However, previous work has suggested the Victorian offset policy overestimates averted loss gains, allowing a larger development impact for the same offset. Here, we undertake a detailed examination of five impact‐offset exchanges permitted under Victorian offset policy in 2019 and 2020, comparing gains under the policy to those resulting from plausible counterfactuals. We find that the projected gains from averted loss were likely to be overestimated by between 3 and 240 times, compared to the counterfactuals. If this level of over‐estimation holds throughout the scheme, it would mean that up to 86% of offsets purchased do not compensate for permitted impacts to native vegetation, thwarting Victoria's NNL policy objective. We discuss the key policy issues and make recommendations to address over‐estimating averted loss gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban greenspaces are vital refugia for insect biodiversity, but seasonal fluctuation responses of insect taxa to urbanisation and local attributes of urban greenspaces are not well known. Regions with mild temperate climates and winter-flowering plants have active winter pollinators that are often neglected. A thorough knowledge of the seasonally fluctuating ecological needs of insects is essential for adequate insect-friendly greenspace management. Hover flies are cosmopolitan inhabitants of urban greenspaces where they provide multiple critical ecosystem services such as pollination and pest control. Our study uses a multi-scale approach to determine the seasonal effects of urbanisation on hover fly richness, abundance, and assemblages in urban greenspaces. We selected 30 sites along an urbanisation gradient (as measured by human population density) in Sydney, Australia, and sampled each site over a year across seasons. We found that hover fly species richness was higher in winter and spring than in summer, while abundance was highest in winter and lowest in summer. Our results also show that a combination urbanisation and local attributes of urban greenspaces (flower richness, flower abundance, human population density, and proportion of native flowers) combined to affect hover fly species richness and abundance in seasonally dependant ways. Hover flies are especially abundant and diverse during winter- a time of the year when other native floral visitors are less active. Thus, hover flies may be important pollinators of the large community of winter-flowering plants in Australia. Urban greenspaces can be made more hospitable to hover flies by implementing simple management initiatives, such as complementing native floral resources with non-native flowers in periods of scarcity.

Abstract Biodiversity offsetting seeks to balance losses in biodiversity from development with offset actions that generate biodiversity gains. In Victoria, Australia, native vegetation offset policy aims to achieve No Net Loss (NNL) in biodiversity, meaning gains from offsetting must be at least equivalent to development losses. Gains may be generated from measures that protect the existing biodiversity from loss (averted loss gains), and those that restore or enhance the biodiversity (improvement gains). However, previous work has suggested the Victorian offset policy overestimates averted loss gains, allowing a larger development impact for the same offset. Here, we undertake a detailed examination of five impact‐offset exchanges permitted under Victorian offset policy in 2019 and 2020, comparing gains under the policy to those resulting from plausible counterfactuals. We find that the projected gains from averted loss were likely to be overestimated by between 3 and 240 times, compared to the counterfactuals. If this level of over‐estimation holds throughout the scheme, it would mean that up to 86% of offsets purchased do not compensate for permitted impacts to native vegetation, thwarting Victoria's NNL policy objective. We discuss the key policy issues and make recommendations to address over‐estimating averted loss gains.

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Poultry litter on agricultural lands could introduce nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), heavy metals in soil and ground water. Native vegetations were identified to assess efficacy for phytoremediation of nutrients and metals from soil and water. Objective was to measure capability of multi-year native species to remove metals, nutrients, and prevent Nitrate-N leaching below the rooting zone. Treatments were distributed in four replicates with/without fertilization. Suction lysimeters were installed at 30, 60, and 90-cm depths in 3 of 4 replicates. Species were identified, recorded, five specified cuttings sampled. Plant, soil, water samples were prepared and analyzed by spectroscopy. Nitrate-N extraction, nitrates in water samples were determined using flow injection analysis. Fertilized plots (NVM) had 39% more biomass yield than unfertilized plots (NVN). In plants, nutrient and metal concentrations varied significantly with 14% increase in Zn, 36% and 26% in K and Mg over NVN for first and second year. Uneven between NVM and NVN, topsoil had higher values for most nutrients and metals. Largest P and (NO3−)−N in plant and water were observed from NVM. Cultivation of native vegetation appears to be an effective approach for remediation of excess nitrates-N, P, heavy metals from surface and sub-surface zones of the soil. Native vegetation has been used for soil fertility, specific reasons like the removal of pesticides or agrochemicals, and other chemical related exposures. Studies on the use of native vegetation for phytoremediation on agricultural lands are uncommon. This research looked at the capability of native vegetation of different species as a viable tool for the remo+val of excess nutrients and heavy metals from agricultural lands. Results indicated native vegetation can take up significant amounts of excess nutrients from soils, proportional to their biomass accumulation. Native Vegetation was therefore found to be a nutrient sink, capable of removing excess nutrients/metals from the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Prescribed fire is a common management practice in native rangelands that can result in significant losses of C, N, and P from plant and soil. This study evaluated the short-term, fire-induced changes in C, N, and P stocks in subtropical native rangelands in Florida, USA. Methods: Changes in C, N, and P stocks were quantified in aboveground biomass and soil (0-20 cm depth) in locations within native rangelands dominated by either saw-palmetto (Serenoa repens Bartr.; Saw-palmetto) or grasses (mixed C4 grasses; Grass). Results: Prescribed fire had no impact on soil temperature below 2.5 cm, but peak temperature at soil surface was greater in Saw-palmetto than Grass areas. Despite greater pre-fire aboveground biomass in Saw-palmetto (1115 g m−2) vs. Grass (689 g m−2), no difference in post-fire net loss (−660 g m−2) was observed between vegetation types. This occurred because 97% of biomass in Grass was combusted during fire vs. 65% in Saw-palmetto dominated areas. Similar responses were observed for aboveground C and P stocks. Fire-induced N loss was greater in Saw-palmetto (−6 g N m−2) than grass (−2.7 g N m−2). Soil C, N, and P stocks were not affected by prescribed fire. This was likely due to limited effects of prescribed fire on soil temperature. Although fire had no effect on soil respiration, ash addition increased soil potentially mineralizable C by 11%. Conclusion: Prescribed fire reduces C, N, and P stocks in aboveground vegetation, but limited impacts are expected to occur in soil pools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

City road verges often represent existing green space and provide opportunities for ecological enhancement. Urban greenspace improvement initiatives at the residential verge scale require genuine community support and engagement for success. We examined a community-based voluntary assisted verge greening program designed to enhance greenspace connectivity using native plants in a local municipality in Perth, Western Australia. A social survey of verge-greening program participants and non-participants was conducted to understand factors associated with community involvement. Results indicated general resident support for the program, where both groups viewed the program objectives positively. However, non-participants were less convinced, than participants, of the likelihood that the verge greening program would achieve its aims and the merits of some aims. This paper provides insight into a voluntary community engagement tool for developing urban green space connectivity and enhancing natural values at the residential roadside verge level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the validity of invertebrate diversity for evaluating the condition of minesite rehabilitation. Because the aim of rehabilitation of mined lands in this region is to establish a self‐sustaining ecosystem that resembles "bushland," a variety of remnant woodlands in the vicinity of the minesite were selected as reference sites. Reference sites encompassed a range of soil types (alluvial, coarse‐textured, or clay) and understorey structural types (grassy, grass, and shrub or shrubby). Grassland sites (cleared woodlands) were also sampled to provide a negative control. Epigaeic invertebrates of three rehabilitation sites were compared with five reference sites and three grassland sites using pitfall traps over 6 years. Sites were sampled annually and the annual data within each of two time periods (T1: 2008–2010 and T2: 2011–2013) were pooled. Ants, beetles, and springtails were identified as morphospecies, providing site species richness and composition data. Springtail metrics of all three habitats, reference, rehabilitation, and grassland, resembled each other in T1 as well as T2, indicating that rehabilitation rapidly provided suitable conditions for this group. In contrast, the ant and beetle composition of rehabilitation sites differed significantly from that of reference sites in T1 but not T2, although only ants matched the expected negative control with grassland sites remaining distinct from reference sites in both time periods. Thus, ant assemblages of rehabilitation sites show a positive trajectory toward native woodlands and away from grasslands. These findings demonstrate that rehabilitation sites are developing diverse invertebrate assemblages comparable to local remnant woodlands in relatively short time frames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban greenspaces are vital refugia for insect biodiversity, but seasonal fluctuation responses of insect taxa to urbanisation and local attributes of urban greenspaces are not well known. Regions with mild temperate climates and winter-flowering plants have active winter pollinators that are often neglected. A thorough knowledge of the seasonally fluctuating ecological needs of insects is essential for adequate insect-friendly greenspace management. Hover flies are cosmopolitan inhabitants of urban greenspaces where they provide multiple critical ecosystem services such as pollination and pest control. Our study uses a multi-scale approach to determine the seasonal effects of urbanisation on hover fly richness, abundance, and assemblages in urban greenspaces. We selected 30 sites along an urbanisation gradient (as measured by human population density) in Sydney, Australia, and sampled each site over a year across seasons. We found that hover fly species richness was higher in winter and spring than in summer, while abundance was highest in winter and lowest in summer. Our results also show that a combination urbanisation and local attributes of urban greenspaces (flower richness, flower abundance, human population density, and proportion of native flowers) combined to affect hover fly species richness and abundance in seasonally dependant ways. Hover flies are especially abundant and diverse during winter- a time of the year when other native floral visitors are less active. Thus, hover flies may be important pollinators of the large community of winter-flowering plants in Australia. Urban greenspaces can be made more hospitable to hover flies by implementing simple management initiatives, such as complementing native floral resources with non-native flowers in periods of scarcity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of native plants in land application systems for treated municipal wastewater (TMW) can contribute to ecological restoration. However, research on the potential of native species to manage the nutrients and contaminants contained in TMW is scarce. At a 10-hectare field site irrigated with TMW at >4000 mm yr−1, we investigated the distribution of nutrients and trace elements in the soil–plant system, comparing the New Zealand native Myrtaceae species Leptosperum scoparium and Kunzea robusta with pasture. The results showed that plant growth did not correlate with TMW irrigation rates. L. scoparium and K. robusta had higher foliar trace element concentrations than pasture, but these were not correlated with TMW irrigation rates. The pasture accumulated more N and P (68 kg of N ha−1 yr−1 and 11 kg of P ha−1 yr−1) than the Myrtaceae species (0.6–17 kg of N ha−1 yr−1 and 0.06–1.8 kg of P ha−1 yr−1). Regular harvesting of the pasture would likely remove more N and P from the site than the Myrtaceae species. The results highlight the importance of adjusting TMW application rates to the soil–plant capacity, in which case, native plants could provide ecological or economic value to TMW-irrigated land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green spaces in many urban areas are under severe threats; the area under green cover is declining, habitat quality is deteriorating due to fast urbanisation and the booming real estate market. Therefore, we investigated the avian richness of a natural remnant area and compared it with species richness data previously published in the literature about gardens, urban parks, and academic campuses in Pune, India. In two years of our survey, we recorded 65 species at the natural remnant site, 15 of which are rare considered in urban areas. Among recorded species, 17 are habitat specialists and 14 have declining population. Natural remnant patches are generally inaccessible to the general public; they have undergrowth of vegetation and aerial leaf litter, which may be the reason for the higher species richness and the occurrence of rare species. Our findings indicate that the natural remnant site in Pune has a unique and relatively rich assemblage of bird species, thus provide further support for the notion that natural remnant sites are valuable for urban biodiversity conservation. Therefore, we suggest that small, isolated patches of natural vegetation should receive more attention in conservation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean‐type ecosystems are under chronic ecological stress. By assessing changes in plant species and functional groups across the landscape, identifying ecosystem degradation is possible. The Santa Monica Mountains are in close proximity to a densely populated urban area where non‐native species invasions are being driven by changing fire regimes, climate change, and anthropogenic disturbances. Non‐native growth impacts biodiversity levels and vegetation distributions of native plant communities that are critical for ecosystem health. This study uses analyses of line‐point data from the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program to assess ecosystem health in the Santa Monica Mountains from 2014 to 2020 and, in particular, to assess the effects of the 2018 Woolsey Fire on the balance of native and non‐native species in the region. Results of this analysis show an increase in non‐native cover since 2014 and rapid regrowth of non‐native annual grasses and herbaceous cover after the 2018 Woolsey Fire while native communities regrew more slowly. A hotspot of non‐native cover was identified in the Northern Simi Hills region, and rapid regrowth was seen after the Woolsey Fire. The hotspot is dominated by non‐native annual grasses and annual herbaceous species, some of which returned to prefire populations within a year after the Woolsey Fire. These results raise concerns for the future of native vegetation composition and function throughout the park and highlight the damage densely populated non‐native plant communities accumulate in the wake of disturbance events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing food security in high mountains is a multidimensional conundrum because of complex climate patterns and environmental attributes. These conditions affect water supplies, biodiversity, droughts, and other hazards. The climate change–land degradation nexus, although it is difficult to disentangle, poses formidable challenges. Isolated mountain villages, coupled with poverty, a strained subsistence existence, conflict, and marginal lands make the residents vulnerable to malnutrition, stunting, and food access. Because the arable land is mostly in confined valleys, food production is insufficient. The soils are typically infertile, with little organic matter; on hillslopes, thin soil and rock cover, coupled with short growing seasons, restrict crop production. High-elevation pastures are overgrazed, and the natural hazard impacts on food security are often overlooked. We examine food security through these multifaceted stressors, instead of merely focusing on production and distribution, and present an integrated approach to assess natural and anthropogenic stressors and feedback loops affecting food security linked to planning, mitigation, and coping strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Mediterranean‐type ecosystems are under chronic ecological stress. By assessing changes in plant species and functional groups across the landscape, identifying ecosystem degradation is possible. The Santa Monica Mountains are in close proximity to a densely populated urban area where non‐native species invasions are being driven by changing fire regimes, climate change, and anthropogenic disturbances. Non‐native growth impacts biodiversity levels and vegetation distributions of native plant communities that are critical for ecosystem health. This study uses analyses of line‐point data from the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program to assess ecosystem health in the Santa Monica Mountains from 2014 to 2020 and, in particular, to assess the effects of the 2018 Woolsey Fire on the balance of native and non‐native species in the region. Results of this analysis show an increase in non‐native cover since 2014 and rapid regrowth of non‐native annual grasses and herbaceous cover after the 2018 Woolsey Fire while native communities regrew more slowly. A hotspot of non‐native cover was identified in the Northern Simi Hills region, and rapid regrowth was seen after the Woolsey Fire. The hotspot is dominated by non‐native annual grasses and annual herbaceous species, some of which returned to prefire populations within a year after the Woolsey Fire. These results raise concerns for the future of native vegetation composition and function throughout the park and highlight the damage densely populated non‐native plant communities accumulate in the wake of disturbance events.

Extreme climate change events are capable of modifying the physiognomy of landscapes, impacting millions of people around the world. Consequently, the traditional knowledge of people residing in these regions about local natural resources may also be affected. To identify how the traditional use of native plant species can be influenced by a change in the availability of these species in a rural community in a semi-arid region, in a scenario of climatic extremes, we developed a Pressure Indicator for Use Preference (PIUP), seeking to identify the species under the greatest pressure of use. The study was carried out in the São Francisco Rural Community, in the Cabaceiras Municipality, in the semi-arid region of the Paraíba State, with 42 local informants. The species with the highest PIUP had their potential distribution for the year 2050 modeled using the HadGEM2-ES climate model under the RCP4.5 scenario, as an optimistic forecast, and the RCP8.5 scenario, as a pessimistic forecast. The construction of the models identified a potential increase in the coverage area of all analyzed species, with a greater territorial extension for the RCP8.5 scenario. Myracrodoun urundeuva M. Allemão, Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. and Croton blanchetianus Baill were the species with the lowest potential area growth for the year 2050. The high use of species, especially M. urundeuva M. Allemão, associated with reduced growth in a more arid environment is a worrying factor for the population structure of the species, as well as for rural communities that make representative use of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural landscapes often overlap with areas of high biodiversity. Conservation efforts in these areas have the potential to play a pivotal role in mitigating biodiversity loss and supporting global conservation targets. This study investigates the effectiveness of private conservation interventions established in an agricultural landscape and biodiversity hotspot of Tasmania, Australia. Using a synthetic control design, we assessed two interventions: conservation covenants, which limit disturbances, and a stewardship program emphasizing active management. Our analysis, segmented by dominant vegetation group, examines both habitat condition and woody cover. Results indicate substantial variability both within and between programmes. The stewardship programme generally improved habitat conditions for native grasslands and grassy woodlands, although increased woody cover in native grasslands was a negative outcome. Conservation covenants had positive effects on grassy woodlands and modified agricultural land but were less effective in native grasslands. The study highlights challenges in private conservation, such as balancing landowner engagement with conservation goals and ensuring consistent monitoring. Long-term monitoring and adaptive management are crucial for sustainable ecological benefits, and integrating privately managed conservation efforts with public reserves has the potential to help achieving global biodiversity targets. Insights from this research can guide future conservation strategies, promoting effective management practices in working landscapes. • Evaluated conservation efforts in an agricultural biodiversity hotspot • Assessed impacts of stewardship programs and conservation covenants • Varied effectiveness observed across different vegetation groups • Challenges identified in balancing conservation goals with landowner engagement • Recommendations for integrating conservation strategies in working landscapes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to its ecological importance, the Caatinga biome, one of the most extensive seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF) in the world, has a relevant socioeconomic role as it is used as a primary natural resource by local communities. However, inadequate ecosystem management practices have resulted in gradual loss of natural vegetation in this ecosystem. Carbon stock estimation is a parameter that can contribute as a support tool for managing and maintaining the few remaining natural vegetated areas. In this study, we calibrated and validated the CENTURY model to simulate carbon stocks in areas of the Caatinga, in the state of Pernambuco, and compared the predictive capacity of the CENTURY model with available estimates. In the validation dataset, the average for biomass stocks was 33.1 Mg C ha−1, this value is close to those observed in the literature for the region. The model also performed well when estimating carbon stocks in the soil (r2 = 0.79, p = 0.017). Ecosystem modeling combined with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a promising tool for estimating carbon stocks in the Caatinga, where field sampling campaigns are generally expensive and have scarce research funding opportunities. Furthermore, it also allows the evaluation of the effect of environmental changes on C stocks in long-term studies, which is essential for creating and implementing public policies to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change on the ecosystem. However, additional efforts are needed to improve C estimates, especially in areas with a strongly negative water balance. • The CENTURY model adjusted for Brazilian "SDTF" with a more comprehensive database. • Spatialization of CENTURY C outputs was made using R platform. • This computational tool can be used for C inventories on Caatinga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme wildfires present an ever-increasing problem in different landscapes around the world. Here, we explore recent wildfires to prioritize recovery efforts and mitigate effects of future wildfires in the Pantanal, the largest continuous wetland in the world. Using ecological niche modeling (ENM), we categorize affected areas based on potential levels of degradation by fire and the predicted suitability for threatened and fire-sensitive plants. Based on this information, we identify key areas for fire prevention. Under land cover change scenarios predicted for 2050, approximately 25 % of the land cover under future threat will have potentially high biomass accumulation. We identified 1272 km2 in priority areas with forest formation, with restoration cost of at least US$ 576,189. This case study provides an analysis workflow that can be used to assess other wildfire-threatened parts of the world. These results can inform public policy to establish new fire brigades, conservation efforts using Integrated Fire Management, and restoration areas to mitigate biodiversity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The functioning of arid zone ecosystems depends on the fraction of precipitation that enters the soil and can be absorbed by vegetation. Vegetation affects infiltration by modifying droplet size, altering soil structure and changing microtopography. The objective of this study was to evaluate infiltration parameters in two soil-vegetation complexes in the central Monte region of San Juan. M&M: Visual interpretation of satellite images and fieldwork identified and characterized soil-vegetation complexes (SVCs). Bare soil and covered soil were the two surface conditions defined for each SVCs. A simple ring and variable load infiltrometer performed the infiltration tests. The samples taken from the soil determined texture, organic matter content, apparent density, available nitrogen, and salinity, among others. Results and Conclusions: Two SVCs were recognized: one dominated by Prosopis flexuosa and the other by Larrea divaricata. In the first complex, the soil presented a sandy clay loam texture, while in the second the texture was sandy loam. In both SVC, mean infiltration speed (p=0.03), basic (p=0.02) and initial infiltration (p=0.02) were statistically different between bare soil and covered soil. In addition, mean infiltration rate was 2.48 times higher in the complex dominated by carob trees compared to bare soil. These results suggest that the presence of vegetation favors the infiltration and entry of water into the soil. These data could be used as inputs for the elaboration or adjustment of hydrological models of the Monte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native plants constitute an enormous source of nutrients for grazing animals, although their use has been limited due to the lack of knowledge about its properties. The aim of this research was to evaluate the nutritional characteristics of native plants from flooded savannas ecosystem. Seven transects (290 km) were carried out through the montane forests, gallery forests and open savannah ecosystems. A total of 42 plant species were collected (22 arboreal, 13 shrubs, 5 climbing and 2 herb plants) and their nutritional composition and digestibility were evaluated. Data analysis included univariate and multivariate methods. Nutritional composition and digestibility varied among the groups of arboreal, shrub, climbing and herb species. At an individual level plants such as G. americana, C. cf minor-grandiflora and M. nobilis, A.Jahnii, P. hispidium, I. carnea, S. reticulate, H. furcellatus, and C. erosa stood out by their protein, ash, and digestibility. At a group level, a mixed of 19 plants presented the highest digestibility, and the lowest fiber fraction constituted a promising forage alternative. Data variability was explained in the 47% by protein, ash, digestibility, and the different fiber fractions variables. Further studies related with the animal acceptability, performance and the presence of secondary metabolites are needed before being fully recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited data on Sulphur (S) contents in arable soils for appropriate fertilizer recommendations in Ghana. Five study areas in a reconnaissance survey (RS), followed by an in-depth study of two areas comprising farms of different durations of cultivation, were investigated for the current total S and sulphate contents. Basic soil properties were measured using standard laboratory procedures. Total S and sulphate contents were determined using LECO instrument dry combustion and HPLC, respectively. The results showed wide variations in total S contents from 31 to 603 mg kg−1 in the Guinea Savannah (GS) zone. The mean trend was Forest > Forest-Transition (F-S) > north Guinea Savannah (nGS) > Deciduous Forest (DF) > south Guinea Savannah (sGS) in the RS sites, with a similar trend in the main study sites. Sulphate contents ranged from 5 to 25 mg kg−1, constituting 0.8 to 37% of the total S. The mean percent trend was sGS = DF > Forest > nGS > F-S. Soil organic carbon (SOC) was the major predictor of total S along with pedogenic minerals. Total S and crystalline pedogenic minerals predicted the sulphate contents. The results highlight the need for ecologically-based S fertilizer programmes to boost crop yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural expansion into natural habitats causes soil fertility decline after a period of cultivation. This study investigated changes in soil exchange properties in different farm types at Dompem and Adansam in the Forest and Forest–Savannah transition zones of Ghana as influenced by the duration of cultivation. Sixty farms were selected for soil sampling through a reconnaissance survey. The soils were subjected to physicochemical analysis. The results showed that the Dompem soils were loamic, had more amorphous Fe and Al oxides, were strongly acidic and had low contents of exchangeable acidity, a low sum of exchangeable bases (SEB), low effective cation exchangeable capacities (ECECs) and low available P. Conversely, the Adansam soils were arenic, slightly acidic and had relatively higher SEBs and ECECs. Interestingly, soil organic carbon (SOC) in the Dompem soils declined by >10% in relation to the duration of cultivation and showed rapid reductions within three years. Correspondingly, soil bulk density, CEC and SEB declined. In Adansam soils, only δpH declined in relation to the duration of cultivation. Soil organic carbon accounted for >50% of the ECEC and 49% of the SEB in Dompem soils but 36% of δpH in the Adansam soils. In conclusion, agricultural expansion, manifested in the duration of cultivation, mainly influenced soil charge properties through SOC decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water availability is influenced by climate conditions and physical characteristics such as topography, soil type, and land use and cover. The Atlantic Forest has a long deforestation history and shows a climatic and environmental gradient that results in natural vegetation diversity driven mainly by water availability and local conditions. Therefore, Atlantic Forest ecoregions are expected to show a natural variability of water responses and different hydrological effects caused by land-use cover change. In this study, we compared the hydrological response among 11 Atlantic Forest ecoregions in areas of native vegetation and pasture, using CHIRPS rainfall data, evapotranspiration by the MOD16A2 product of the MODIS satellite and water surplus calculated by the 19-year mass balance for 712 sampling points. The parameter “m”, which can be considered a proxy for local hydrological responsiveness, was calculated by equations based on the Budyko framework and varied between 1.2 and 3.6 in the biome. In 10 of the 11 ecoregions, the parameter “m” in native vegetation was statistically higher than in the pasture, and in the REST, ECOT, SEMI, STEP, and PARK ecoregions this difference was more pronounced. For all ecoregions, the R/P ratio was inversely proportional to the parameter “m”, but there were different levels of variation among them. In wetter and drier areas, there is less variation in the water surplus, while the greatest variations occurred in areas where the PET/P ratio is 1.5. In conclusion, the parameter “m” of native vegetation and pasture varies in different Atlantic Forest ecoregions. The results of each ecoregion regarding hydrological response and implications for water yield can be used to understand and plan changes in land use for water production.

The use of native plants in land application systems for treated municipal wastewater (TMW) can contribute to ecological restoration. However, research on the potential of native species to manage the nutrients and contaminants contained in TMW is scarce. At a 10-hectare field site irrigated with TMW at >4000 mm yr−1, we investigated the distribution of nutrients and trace elements in the soil–plant system, comparing the New Zealand native Myrtaceae species Leptosperum scoparium and Kunzea robusta with pasture. The results showed that plant growth did not correlate with TMW irrigation rates. L. scoparium and K. robusta had higher foliar trace element concentrations than pasture, but these were not correlated with TMW irrigation rates. The pasture accumulated more N and P (68 kg of N ha−1 yr−1 and 11 kg of P ha−1 yr−1) than the Myrtaceae species (0.6–17 kg of N ha−1 yr−1 and 0.06–1.8 kg of P ha−1 yr−1). Regular harvesting of the pasture would likely remove more N and P from the site than the Myrtaceae species. The results highlight the importance of adjusting TMW application rates to the soil–plant capacity, in which case, native plants could provide ecological or economic value to TMW-irrigated land.

Knowledge from ecological sciences is an important reference for landscape design as Urban Green Spaces (UGS) play a critical role in the ecological protection of cities. There is an ongoing debate among ecologists on the value of exotic vegetation to ecosystem resilience and integrity, with authors arguing that in order for ecosystems to survive in future climates, exotic species with similar conditions in their current range must be considered. Others deem biodiversity vital for ecosystem functions and services, stating that most biodiversity losses are man-induced and should be addressed through the enhancement of native communities. Through a literature review, we confronted the arguments used in this debate, with the aim of conducting a comprehensive analysis of the potential of exotic and native vegetation in different aspects of the vegetation's performance. The outcomes are important for the assessment of vegetation assemblages within UGS projects. Despite the strong arguments regarding their performative and adaptive capacity, we conclude that exotics pose significant ecological risks and have multiple negative impacts on ecosystem processes. Natives not only present high adaptive capacity, but also provide additional benefits for biodiversity, ecosystem integrity, and for people. In a broader framework, the literature demonstrates a preference for the use of native species in most situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the interactions between protected areas and the surrounding landscape has become a central issue to conservation of biodiversity. The important role of protected areas in the preservation of biodiversity in tropical hotpots is widely recognized, but the role of the landscape surrounding those hotspots is poorly understood, particularly with regard to insects. In this study, we evaluated the species richness, composition, and beta diversity of Odonata assemblages inside and in the surroundings of a protected area in the Atlantic Forest hotspot. Sampling was carried out in the Private Reserve of Natural Heritage Veracel Station and its surroundings in the southern region of Bahia. Forty sites were sampled, 22 within the reserve and 18 in the surrounding areas. We found both a greater total species richness, and a greater richness with regard to the suborder Anisoptera in the surrounding areas. In addition, the species composition differed less between the sampling sites inside the protected area. Some of the species found inside the protected area did, however, make a greater contribution of the individual species to beta diversity (SCDB). Our study suggests that the surroundings of a protected area can contribute to the maintenance of regional diversity of dragonflies, but the protected areas play a vital role in supporting critically endangered species and populations of forest specialists, e.g., phytotelmatous species. Implications for insect conservation: Our results show that the composition of the odonate species assemblages may provide a means to assess the importance of protected areas to Odonata communities. Our study also highlights the importance of PAs to the maintenance of the regional Odonata species pool, especially to forest specialist species and to threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Restoration Plan is the result of a collaborative effort between UCSB’s Cheadle Center for Biological Diversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER) and a team of consultants lead by Environmental Science Associates (ESA). ESA conducted studies and prepared the design and construction documents for the earthwork to restore the landform of the project site to conditions suitable to support estuarine and transitional habitats, and to restore the South Parcel mesa to topography similar to its historic form. True Nature Design led the design of public access elements and designed the recycled water irrigation system to provide establishment irrigation to the restored native plant communities. Stantec provided civil engineering designs for the structural components of the project public access elements (crossing structures and finished trail surfaces). CCBER designed the plan for the matrix of aquatic, wetland, and upland habitats to be restored to the site, including species selection; planting methods; and habitat features to benefit wildlife. CCBER also lead the development  of the maintenance and monitoring methods and adaptive management strategy.The intent of this Restoration Plan is to describe the methodology for post grading restoration, enhancement, monitoring, and management of native habitats within the North Campus Open Space (NCOS) Restoration Project.

During 2012–2014, drought in California resulted in policies to reduce water consumption. One measure pursued was replacing lawns with landscapes that minimize water consumption, such as drought-tolerant vegetation. If implemented at broad scale, this strategy would result in reductions in irrigation and changes in land surface characteristics. In this study, we employ a modified regional climate model to assess the climatic consequences of adopting drought-tolerant vegetation over the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Transforming lawns to drought-tolerant vegetation resulted in daytime warming of up to 1.9°C, largely due to decreases in irrigation that shifted surface energy partitioning toward higher sensible and lower latent heat flux. During nighttime, however, adopting drought-tolerant vegetation caused mean cooling of 3.2°C, due to changes in soil thermodynamic properties and heat exchange dynamics between the surface and subsurface. Our results show that nocturnal cooling effects, which are larger in magnitude and of great importance for public health during heat events, could counterbalance the daytime warming attributed to the studied water conservation strategy. A more aggressive implementation, assuming all urban vegetation was replaced with drought-tolerant vegetation, resulted in an average daytime cooling of 0.2°C, largely due to strengthened sea breeze patterns, highlighting the important role of land surface roughness in this coastal megacity.

Managing water resources in regions with scarce data, like most developing countries, is still one of the major challenges around the world. Analysis of water quality parameters can provide important information for understanding the current status of water resources and their surroundings, including the changes that have occurred over time. This study aims to evaluate the influence of preservation areas on surface water quality in the Atlantic Forest biome. For this purpose, water quality monitoring sites with a greater number of parameters and longer monitoring time, located in six basins in the Atlantic Forest region of Brazil near preservation areas, were selected. This study employs seven statistical methods, such as cluster and principal component analysis (PCA), and promotes a robust analysis of the pollution of water resources in the Atlantic Forest. The most preserved basins, with more than 87% preservation area, have lower levels of pollution. The second most degraded basin, with 56% preservation area, presents intermediate pollution levels. The most degraded basin has the highest level of pollution. The basin with the lowest area of native vegetation is considered a degraded basin. Finally, non-point sources of pollution from agricultural activities were identified as the main sources of pollution in the region. The cophenetic correlation of 0.97 indicates a good performance of the cluster analysis. In addition, the pre-tests of PCA showed the suitability of the data for performing the test (Bartlett test, < 2.2e−16 and KMO, P= 0.7). The first principal component in the PCA, which accounts for 31.4% of the total variation, is associated with strong ammonia nitrogen and total Kjeldahl nitrogen loads, and moderate biological oxygen demand and nitrite loads. The second component, representing 13.6% of the total variation, indicates periods of self-cleaning of water resources after contamination. The results indicate the importance of maintaining preservation areas in the watershed contribution areas for the improvement of surface water quality in the Atlantic Forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel ecosystems are characterized by species compositions and relative abundances that differ from those that occurred previously and have the potential for introducing ecological change. In this study, we evaluated bird species that are able to dwell in novel ecosystems in a representative area of the Pampas region. We compared bird assemblages and vegetation structure of different types of novel ecosystems with native and exotic vegetation by using the point-count method of variable radios. We found that even when many bird species dwell in novel ecosystems (e.g., some native generalist species, most of the exotic bird species), species with narrower habitat requirements avoid them. Our study suggests that although a large number of native species closely associated with native vegetation may avoid these novel ecosystems, they could represent alternative habitats for habitat generalist native fauna in the context of declining native ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the factors that drive the distributions of threatened species is often critical for informing effective conservation management actions. Species distribution models can be used to distinguish common habitat features shared by limited historical records and identify other areas where a species might persist. In this study, we built a species distribution model for the Endangered and cryptic Kangaroo Island dunnart (Sminthopsis fuliginosus aitkeni). We fitted generalised linear models using incidental records and presence-absence data from surveys between 1969 and 2018. In the models we included the variables rainfall, percentage native vegetation in the surrounding 2 km2, and post-fire vegetation age. The modelling suggested that rainfall and to a lesser extent post-fire vegetation age are good predictors of dunnart occurrence, with dunnart occurrence greatest in areas of high rainfall (>600 mm) and vegetation age classes <30 years post fire. Potentially suitable habitat for the KI dunnart was predicted to be on the central-western side of Kangaroo Island. These results suggest that careful fire management could benefit the dunnart, and that decreased rainfall (as projected by Australian climate models), will be a threat in the long term. Extensive recent fires on western Kangaroo Island suggest that climate-related threats are already being realised. We built a species distribution model for the cryptic and endangered Kangaroo Island dunnart (Sminthopsis fuliginosus aitkeni). The modelling suggested that rainfall and to a lesser extent post-fire vegetation age are good predictors of dunnart occurrence, with potentially suitable habitat located on the central west of the island. These results suggest that careful fire management could benefit the dunnart, and that decreased rainfall (as projected by Australian climate models), will be a threat in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More and more, wildfires are raging in large parts of the world due to a warmer climate, more frequent and severe droughts, and continued land-use changes. In Brazil, the weakening of public environmental policies has further aggravated wildfires with widespread impacts across the country. Here, we investigated the determinants of the impact of fire in the Brazilian biomes using a dataset of burned areas between 2001 and 2019 to simulate its future impact under alternative policy and climate scenarios. We began by deriving a fire impact index using a principal component (PC) analysis comprising the variables: 1. fire intensity, 2. fire recurrence, 3. burned area size, 4. mean time interval between successive fires, and 5. predominance of fires in the dry season. We considered as High Impact Fires (HIF) those areas whose values of the first PC were above the 90th percentile. HIF occurred in the Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal, but not in the Atlantic Forest, Pampa, and Caatinga biomes. As the main drivers of HIF, our spatial autoregressive models (SAR) (Amazônia R2 = 0.66, Pantanal R2 = 0.86 and Cerrado R2 = 0.79) indicated the climate (Amazon, 25%, Pantanal, 53%, and Cerrado, 56%) together with land-use change (Amazon, 75%, Pantanal, 25%, and Cerrado, 38%). Most HIF occurred in native vegetation remnants (NVR) (55% in the Amazon, 86% in the Pantanal and 94% in the Cerrado), especially in places close to areas deforested over the last two decades. Only in Pantanal fuel loads (dry biomass) play a major role in HIF (22% of explanation). In the Cerrado, it only accounted for 4% of the observed variability and in the Amazon, it was not a significant factor. Over the analyzed period, HIF imposed a loss of 23%, on average, on the NDVI response of the native vegetation in the Amazon, 19% in the Cerrado and 16% in the Pantanal, thus indicating physiological stress. Simulations of future climate and land-use change pointed to a dramatic increase in HIF by 2050. Under the RCP4.5 and strong environmental governance scenario, HIF in the Cerrado would expand from the current 3% of the biome to 15%, from 7 to 8% in the Pantanal and from 0.7 to 1.2% in the Amazon. In addition, the impact of fire would intensify in 95% of the Cerrado, 97% of the Amazon and 74% of the Pantanal. Effective public and private policies will be vital to mitigate the growing threat of HIF. In this sense, our spatially explicit models can help direct prevention and firefighting programs.

Global crop production rate has exceeded the availability of pollination services provided by managed honeybees, and habitat loss remains a key factor in the loss of wild pollinators. Revegetation of agricultural land and wild pollination may provide a solution; however, the collection of floral trait data that are correlated to pollinator preferences remains an under studied and complex process. Here, we demonstrate a method for scent analysis, ordination [non-metric dimensional scaling (NMDS)], and clustering outputs that provides a fast and reproducible procedure for a broad grouping of flora based on scent and unlocking characteristic inter-floral patterns. We report the floral profiles of 15 unstudied native Australian plant species and the extent to which they match the commonly cultivated seed crops of Daucus carota L and Brassica rapa L. Through solid-phase microextraction (SPME) paired with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), we identify a set of inter-family shared, common floral volatiles from these plant species as well as unique and characteristic patterns.

Sustainable development goals imply proper landscape management, a challenging task in human-dominated environments, where the identification of key habitats is often necessary to achieve the conservation of multispecies communities or threatened taxa. We studied the avian composition of 9 habitats in Tota Lake, a highly diverse Andean wetland affected by human activities. We evaluated the richness, abundance, dominance, and bird diversity, and used a species-habitat network approach to assess some emerging properties of the landscape and to identify key habitats for conservation. We observed 116 bird species, with a low diversity index (Shannon = 2.2) due to the dominance of gregarious species. The landscape showed a substantial sensitivity to disturbances due to habitat loss. Natural habitats were more important than human-related habitats, except for the wooded pastures used for low-scale grazing, which are among the most important coverages. This habitat represented a good example of sustainable land use. In contrast, the croplands and touristic beach were notoriously unsustainable in terms of wildlife conservation. Among the natural habitats, the most important was the marshes that presented the higher richness, abundance, importance for the landscape network, and was the most used by birds of conservation concern. Natural forest habitats, despite being reduced and fragmented, were more important to birds than the extensive forest of introduced exotic vegetation, probably due to the evolutionary history of the birds with the native vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native plants constitute an enormous source of nutrients for grazing animals, although their use has been limited due to the lack of knowledge about its properties. The aim of this research was to evaluate the nutritional characteristics of native plants from flooded savannas ecosystem. Seven transects (290 km) were carried out through the montane forests, gallery forests and open savannah ecosystems. A total of 42 plant species were collected (22 arboreal, 13 shrubs, 5 climbing and 2 herb plants) and their nutritional composition and digestibility were evaluated. Data analysis included univariate and multivariate methods. Nutritional composition and digestibility varied among the groups of arboreal, shrub, climbing and herb species. At an individual level plants such as G. americana, C. cf minor-grandiflora and M. nobilis, A.Jahnii, P. hispidium, I. carnea, S. reticulate, H. furcellatus, and C. erosa stood out by their protein, ash, and digestibility. At a group level, a mixed of 19 plants presented the highest digestibility, and the lowest fiber fraction constituted a promising forage alternative. Data variability was explained in the 47% by protein, ash, digestibility, and the different fiber fractions variables. Further studies related with the animal acceptability, performance and the presence of secondary metabolites are needed before being fully recommended.