Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies5020011
Authors: Brenda Godoy Alexandre Marcelo Merten Cruz Karina Bohrer do Amaral Lilian Sander Hoffmann Thales Renato Ochotorena de Freitas Rebeca Zanini
Inshore and offshore bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, ecotypes were distinguished through genetics, distribution, diet, morphology, diversity, and social behaviors. Although T. truncatus is a widely studied species, few studies have focused on offshore populations. Offshore biodiversity is frequently neglected due to the difficulty of data collection, and therefore, it is challenging to assess how threatened these populations are. A small, offshore population of dolphins residing around the Saint Peter Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA) in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean has been monitored for several years, and a decrease in the number of dolphin sightings has recently been noticed. We analyzed a comprehensive mtDNA control-region sequence dataset for this species to infer the conservation status and better understand the relationships between the SPSPA population and other offshore populations. We assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of the bottlenose dolphin from inshore and offshore populations of the Atlantic Ocean. Offshore populations are more genetically diverse and have less variation between populations than inshore populations. The offshore populations share haplotypes, indicating potential gene flow. However, the SPSPA population presented the lowest levels of genetic diversity between populations. The conservation status of the SPSPA population is concerning, and it is necessary to apply effective management strategies to guarantee its protection.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies5020010
Authors: Joya Dutta Ibrahim Khalil Al Haidar Mohammed Noman Mohammad Abdul Wahed Chowdhury
Globally, suitable freshwater habitats are undergoing alterations and fish population declines, primarily attributed to the swift changes in climate and land use. Developing an effective conservation policy for freshwater fish necessitates careful consideration of the impacts of climatic and spatial factors. This study focuses on the analysis of 64 threatened freshwater fish in Bangladesh to anticipate their current and future climatically suitable habitats, utilizing the bioclim() species distribution model. Additionally, this study examines existing inland hydrographic networks and their corresponding harvest rates. The findings indicate that approximately 75% of the area of occupancy for the studied species is currently climatically suitable, but this is expected to decrease to 13% under future climate scenarios. Notably, 27 threatened species are at risk of lacking climatically suitable habitats in the future within their current area of occupancy. The three components of hydrographic networks—floodplains, rivers, and natural lakes—play varying roles in providing a climatically suitable habitat for the studied species. For instance, only 34% of threatened fish species are projected to find a suitable habitat over flood areas, 23% over rivers, and 16% over lakes. Existing protected areas presently offer limited protection (21% suitable area), expected to decline to 6% in the future, with no dedicated protected areas for freshwater fish. Floodplains are highlighted for providing habitat connectivity and facilitating brood fish dispersal. However, the unregulated and unmonitored annual harvest of freshwater fish from floodwater and rivers poses a potential silent cause for rapid population decline. Prioritizing the management of hydrographic components to maintain habitat connectivity, legal protection for threatened fish species, and establishing permanent protected areas for fish are crucial aspects in developing a conservation policy to mitigate the impact of future climate scenarios on threatened freshwater species.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies5010009
Authors: Sara El Yaagoubi Augustine Ovie Edegbene Mohamed El Haissoufi Rihab Harrak Majida El Alami
This study aimed to determine the impact of various pressures on the functional composition of OCH (Odonata, Coleoptera, and Heteroptera) in streams within the northwest Rif region of Morocco. We examined how OCH traits respond to human-induced pressures in selected stream sites in Morocco’s northwestern Rif region. OCH specimens were collected from 36 sites using a Surber sampler with dimension of 20 × 20 cm and mesh size of 500 µm over the course of two years, from 2021 to 2023. We measured physico-chemical and hydraulic parameters such as temperature, pH, DO, and NO-3. Sixty-seven trait attributes from 11 trait classes were assigned to the collected OCH taxa at the family level. Following the delineation of sites along the gradient of impacts in the study area, we categorized 7 sites as slightly impacted sites (SISs), 19 sites as moderately impacted sites (MISs), and 10 sites as heavily impacted sites (HISs). We successfully identified and categorized the traits as either vulnerable or tolerant based on RLQ models. Traits such as reproductive cycles per year and tegument respiration, which were positively correlated with SISs in the RLQ model and also positively correlated with depth and chlorine, were identified as vulnerable traits. Crawling locomotion and full water swimming were identified as tolerant traits. The distribution patterns of the OCH taxa revealed a robust correlation between the taxa and the sampling sites. Notably, taxa such as Nepidae, Naucoridae, and Corixidae exhibited widespread distribution and a strong association with the SISs. On the other hand, traits related to living macroinvertebrate food sources and reproduction in vegetation, specifically clutches, exhibited a negative correlation with total dissolved solids. Incorporating OCH functional traits into biomonitoring programs allows for a more comprehensive assessment of river ecosystems. This approach provides a nuanced understanding of how different stressors impact the community composition and overall ecological health.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies5010008
Authors: Mathias Emil Kaae Fenjuan Hu Jesper Leth Bak Morten Tune Strandberg Christian Frølund Damgaard
Heathland vegetation has undergone significant changes in the past century, e.g., due to airborne pollutants and a lack of proper management. Understanding the interactions between these factors in combination is pivotal for heathland conservation. Here, we studied the vegetation changes at a dune heath in a four-year manipulation experiment analysing the combined effects of nitrogen deposition, mowing, and deer grazing. Our results showed no significant effect of nitrogen deposition and deer grazing on plant growth and cover of dwarf shrubs within the experimental plots. However, high loads of nitrogen decreased bryophyte cover and increased the growth and cover of sand sedge Carex arenaria L. Mowing adversely affected the dwarf shrub community, e.g., the dwarf shrub species crowberry Empetrum nigrum L., and facilitated increased cover and plant growth of graminoids. Plant growth and the cover of C. arenaria increased in plots without deer grazing, whereas bryophyte cover decreased significantly without grazing. We do not recommend intensive mowing of vegetation as a conservation method for dune heaths because it promotes graminoids. From a conservation aspect, it is essential to consider the effect of deer on heathlands because they both impede some species and benefit others and mitigate the adverse effects of nitrogen deposition on dune heaths.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies5010007
Authors: Paulo Eduardo Branco Paiva Luís Mascarenhas Neto Natália Tomás Marques Beatriz Zarcos Duarte Amílcar Marreiros Duarte
Aphids affect citrus by causing leaf deformations and reducing fruit production. Additionally, aphids are a great concern due to their ability to transmit Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), the cause of tristeza, one of the main citrus diseases. In the last four years, citrus orchards in the south of Portugal (Algarve region) were sampled for aphid species identification and counting. Aphis spiraecola was the most abundant species, representing more than 80% of all identified aphids, and the damage (leaf deformation) it causes was directly proportional to its density. A. gossypii was the second most common species, followed by A. aurantii and Macrosiphum euphorbiae. The number of aphids in nymph stages was predominant over the adult stages (both wingless and winged) in all species. A. citricidus, the most efficient CTV vector, was not detected. The largest populations of A. spiraecola were observed in lemon and orange trees during spring (>100 individuals per shoot), with great damage observed in orange, lemon, and mandarin trees. A. gossypii was observed mainly in mandarin and tangor trees. There was a low activity of natural biological control agents, with the parasitism of A. spiraecola by Lysiphlebus spp. and Binodoxys spp. ranging from 0.3 to 1.5%. The numerical ratio ranged from 150 to 440 aphids per predator, and among these, syrphids were the most abundant, followed by lacewings and coccinellids (Scymnus).
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies5010006
Authors: Léa Mukubu Pika Trésor Mbavumoja Selemani Roselande Jesuka Jean Pierre Pitchou Meniko To Hulu Kouagou Raoul Sambieni Yannick Useni Sikuzani Jan Bogaert
Biodiversity conservation is a key factor in meeting sustainable development goals. This is even more important in cities, where green spaces are becoming increasingly scarce. This study analyzes Kinshasa’s proliferating ornamental plant nurseries, known as informal horticultural sites (IHSs). The analysis focused on characterizing the profile of horticulturists, their production conditions, and the ornamental species produced. A total of 15 IHSs were sampled using the “snowball” technique, and 178 horticulturists were surveyed. Based on the socio-professional profile of the horticulturists, five groups of IHS are distinguished after a hierarchical clustering of principal components (HCPC). We found that IHSs exclusively employed men, most of whom were new to the trade, from all levels of education, and most of whom ranged from 19 to 45 years old. Production conditions are relatively similar from one site to another. However, all IHSs are characterized by permanent land insecurity, the use of phytosanitary products, plant-conditioning methods that are not very diversified and calibrated to growers’ investment capacities, and diversified seed acquisition methods. A total of 139 ornamental species, most of them exotic, were identified. Of these, 37% are phanerophytes, and 24% are considered potentially invasive. We suggest ways of professionalizing the activity and protecting the urban environment.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies5010005
Authors: Jia-Le Cao Hong-Yi Liang Ya-Hui Zhang Shi-Lin Du Jin Zhang Yong Tao
As an important component of lake ecosystems, plankton are often used as indicators to evaluate the health of aquatic ecosystems, such as lakes and reservoirs. The plankton integrity index (P-IBI) is a highly utilized method for evaluating the ecological health of the lakes. This study took Dianchi Lake, located in the Yangtze River Basin, as the research object and analyzed the phytoplankton, zooplankton communities, and environmental factors at 11 sampling points in this lake during the wet season (July) in 2022 and the dry season (February) in 2023. The P-IBI was established to evaluate the health status of this lake ecosystem. The results showed that a total of 83 species of phytoplankton and 31 species of zooplankton were identified in Dianchi Lake, and the number of plankton species in the dry season was significantly higher than that in the wet season. The P-IBI evaluation results for the two hydrological periods were generally “good”. Linear regression analysis showed that there was a certain negative correlation between the P-IBI value and the comprehensive trophic level index (TLI), and the evaluation results were generally in line with the actual situation of the water body. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that there was a significant correlation between the P-IBI and its constituent parameters and individual water quality environmental factors, such as total nitrogen (TN) and electrical conductivity (EC). In summary, by reducing errors caused by spatial and temporal changes across various hydrological periods, P-IBI represents a more scientifically rigorous technique for lake water ecological health assessments within a certain time range.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies5010004
Authors: Shannon Wilson Marco Campera
Apex predators were extirpated from the UK hundreds of years ago. Practitioners have recently advocated for reintroductions of predators in the UK given their role as keystone species. For a reintroduction to take place, a survey of public desirability needs to be conducted. We aimed to understand the perspectives of people across the United Kingdom on the reintroduction of Eurasian lynxes, gray wolves, and brown bears. We collected data via mixed-methods questionnaires from 78 key stakeholders, such as farmers, the general public, nature conservationists, and those in environmental sectors, with these areas being seen as the most affected by these reintroductions. It was organizations that front these stakeholder groups which mainly distributed the survey as well as social media groups. We ran a path analysis, which highlighted that there was a negative correlation between respondents viewing the species as a danger toward livestock and humans, and the respondent seeing it as being good to have that species in their region. Overall, participants who stated that rewilding their region was a priority also stated that it would be good to have Eurasian lynx in their region. That said, 70% of farmers strongly disagreed with the reintroduction of Eurasian lynx. These findings showed that much of the United Kingdom would welcome the reintroduction of Eurasian lynx, but both farmers and the public would fear the loss of livestock that may come along with these species. Support can be gained through education and knowledge, which is a necessary step needed especially targeting farmers before any reintroduction plans can be made.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies5010003
Authors: Kyriaki Kitikidou Elias Milios Athanasios Stampoulidis Elias Pipinis Kalliopi Radoglou
Since biodiversity is a multifaceted aspect of natural systems, several indices have been suggested to measure it. In this paper, we examined a number of well-known diversity indexes to see whether some performed better than others when applied to forest data. In order to reach this goal, we used data on basic forest variables (such as the diameters, heights, and volumes of trees) from forest plots to see if common diversity indices lead to the same conclusions about changes in biodiversity in a pairwise comparison (i.e., comparing the same region at two different times or two different regions at the same time). Out of a collection of 17 diversity indices, 8 of them exhibited robustness, indicating their constant ability to demonstrate either an increase or decrease in biodiversity over pairwise comparisons. However, it is important to note that the remaining seven diversity indices may yield inconsistent or inconclusive results, but only with regard to forest data, highlighting the complexity and nuances of measuring biodiversity with different sorts of data. In this review article, all 17 indices are presented, allowing the reader to choose which ones are most applicable to their particular dataset (genetic, econometric, sociometric, etc.).
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies5010002
Authors: Yannick Useni Sikuzani Héritier Khoji Muteya Jonas Yona Mleci Médard Mpanda Mukenza François Malaisse Jan Bogaert
This study examines the spatio-temporal dynamics of Acacia auriculiformis in Lubumbashi city, southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in the context of rapid urbanization following the liberalization of the mining sector. The city has experienced significant demographic growth and unplanned spatial expansion, resulting in a decrease in vegetation cover. The introduction and proliferation of A. auriculiformis, an exotic tree species, have occurred without strategic planning or monitoring. Utilizing digitized remote sensing imagery from 2006, 2014, and 2021, we quantified the expansion of A. auriculiformis along the urban–rural gradient. Additionally, a floristic inventory conducted in 2021 provided insights into tree diversity within A. auriculiformis plantations. Our findings indicate a substantial increase in the number and area of A. auriculiformis patches, predominantly in urban zones. However, the patch values, highest in 2006, were shown to decline by 2021, especially in urban areas. The floristic inventory identified 39 tree species within A. auriculiformis plantations, including predominant species such as Albizia lebbeck, Albizia alba, and Leucaena leucocephala. Notably, 20 of these species are exotic, with half being invasive. In contrast, the 19 indigenous species were primarily found in peri-urban areas. While a greater number of tree species were observed in urban zones, larger average diameters were recorded in peri-urban zones. The persistence and expansion of A. auriculiformis in a landscape characterized by declining tree cover suggest its potential sustainability in this setting. However, A. auriculiformis plantations have facilitated the establishment of predominantly exotic and potentially invasive species. These findings highlight the need for the strategic management of A. auriculiformis and associated exotic flora to mitigate their spread and to consider their role in the restoration of degraded lands.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies5010001
Authors: Anna M. Pieri John L. Harris Mickey W. Matthews Shawn W. Hodges Ashley R. Rodman Jennifer L. Bouldin Alan D. Christian
Historically, 23 freshwater mussel species have been documented from the Buffalo National River (BNR), a 246 km, free-flowing river in northern Arkansas. The potential threats to BNR include land use/land cover changes, eutrophication, recreation, physical habitat changes, and various climate change-related effects. Twelve quantitative mussel bed sites were established and then sampled using a stratified random sampling protocol to evaluate the long-term changes between 2006 and 2020–2021 in population and assemblage characteristics. We compared (1) overall mussel bed persistence, sampling confidence levels and study-wide relative abundances, and compared species’ size and size-frequency distributions; (2) 10 overall site assemblage variables using paired t-tests; (3) site-level mean density, richness, and diversity indices using pair-wise Mann–Whitney U statistics; and (4) assemblage composition using Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling. The major findings included the following: (1) sampling efforts based on a targeted 80% confidence level appears relatively robust, (2) BNR mussel assemblage composition and structure were relatively stable (however, small mussel bed persistence is a concern), (3) 7 of 23 sites were outliers based on freshwater mussel composition and habitat characteristics, and (4) assemblage composition changed with three species declining (Actinonaias ligamentina, Lasmigona costata, and Ptychobranchus occidentalis) and four species increasing (Cambarunio hesperus, Cyclonaias tuberculata, Eurynia dilatata, and Venustaconcha pleasii) between monitoring events.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4040050
Authors: Sam M. Driver Cord B. Eversole Daniel R. Unger David L. Kulhavy Christopher M. Schalk I-Kuai Hung
Anaxyrus microscaphus (The Arizona Toad) is an at-risk species that is endemic to the southwestern United States. Despite conservation concerns, little is known about the ecological drivers of its distribution and habitat use. We investigated the potential distribution of A. microscaphus at the range-wide scale and local scales (i.e., Zion National Park), using MaxEnt to model habitat suitability under current and future climate scenarios. Our models incorporated 12 environmental variables, including climatic, geomorphological, and remotely sensed data. The results showed good model accuracy, with temperature and elevation being the top contributing variables. Currently, 42.6% of the park’s area provides a suitable habitat for A. microscaphus, but projections for 2050 and 2070 indicate a significant reduction in suitable habitat across its range. Temperature was the most influential variable, with habitat suitability decreasing as the annual mean temperatures exceeded 10 °C. Precipitation, vegetation, and topography variables also significantly contributed to the models. The most suitable habitat within Zion National Park occurred along sloped rivers and streams and in valleys with sandy soils, emphasizing the importance of riparian habitat conservation for A. microscaphus survival and persistence. As climate change progresses, the species’ habitat is expected to become increasingly constrained across local and range-wide scales. Our models demonstrated a shift in the suitable habitat towards major river systems, indicating a potential reliance on larger permanent river systems as smaller, more ephemeral habitats decrease in size and abundance. Future management strategies should prioritize conserving and enhancing the resilience of these habitats. MaxEnt models can guide population survey efforts and facilitate the identification of priority conservation areas, saving time and resources for species of concern such as A. microscaphus. Further research, including field surveys and large-scale analyses, is necessary to further refine our understanding of this species’ distribution and how it may be impacted by climate and habitat change.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4040049
Authors: Nthabeliseni Munyai Abel Ramoelo Samuel Adelabu Hugo Bezuidehout Hassan Sadiq
The relationship between plant productivity, measured according to biomass and species richness, is a fundamental focal point in community ecology, as it provides the basis for understanding plant responses or adaptive strategies. Although studies have been conducted on plant biomass and environmental factors, research concerning mountainous grassland areas is scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the influence of environmental factors on aboveground plant biomass in the mountainous grassland of the Mountain Zebra National Park, South Africa. Biomass distribution was uneven within the park, owing to certain species having relatively higher biomass values. These differences may be attributed to the chemical and physical properties of the soil, including carbon and nitrogen content, soil pH, and soil texture (sand, silt, and coarse fragments). A disc pasture meter was used to collect biomass data. Multiple regression analysis revealed that most environmental factors did not significantly influence plant biomass. The only environmental factor influencing plant biomass was soil pH; the influences of other factors were not statistically significant. The results of this study elucidate the interactions of environmental factors with plant biomass. Future research could investigate how environmental factors influence plant biomass, both below and above the ground in mountainous grassland.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4040048
Authors: Thomas E. Marler
Translocation of endangered plant species and facilitating in situ regeneration require knowledge of the factors that define suitable habitat characteristics. Four approaches were employed to define how antecedent and contemporary plant identity influenced Cycas seedling growth and survival in Guam, Yap, and the Philippines. Cycas micronesica K.D. Hill or Cycas nitida K.D. Hill & A. Lindstr. seedlings growing beneath the canopy of the maternal parent tree reached 100% mortality in 4 to 8 year. Cycas micronesica seedlings planted beneath a conspecific male adult tree reached 68% mortality in two years while seedlings planted away from a conspecific individual exhibited 100% survival. Cycas micronesica seedlings planted beneath monostands of invasive Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit or Vitex parviflora Juss. reached 40% mortality in two years while seedlings planted in adjacent native forest cover exhibited 100% survival. Cycas micronesica seedlings planted in soil conditioned for 9 months by conspecifics, heterospecific native species, Carica papaya L., L. leucocephala, or V. parviflora exhibited the greatest growth in the soils conditioned by heterospecific natives and the least growth in the soils conditioned by the three invasive species. The seedlings growing in soil conditioned by conspecifics exhibited the most coralloid roots and the greatest shoot:root ratio. These studies confirmed that the identity of antecedent and competitive plants strongly influenced the longevity and growth of Cycas seedlings. Conservationists may improve outcomes by avoiding degraded forests that have experienced invasive plant species when positioning translocation projects. Planting Cycas seedlings in biodiverse native forest but away from a conspecific individual may lead to the greatest success in population recovery.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4040047
Authors: Tamirat Solomon Vaishali Gupta Chris Major Ncho
Livestock production, as one of the oldest and most significant human activities, plays a vital role in fulfilling the global demand for human nutrition and other animal-related products while contributing to poverty reduction. However, it is also important to address the environmental impact of livestock animals. Over 60% of the global biomass harvested annually to support human activity is directed towards this sector, raising concerns about its sustainability. In addition to substantial water and fertilizer usage reported in recent years, it is estimated that 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions are generated by the livestock sector. Furthermore, the increasing amount of manure resulting from intensive animal farming raises concerns about its disposal and potential water pollution. The degradation of pasture and rangeland is another significant contributor to soil erosion. Multiple approaches are being studied to reduce the environmental impact of livestock production, but a sustainable alternative may be through forestry. Forests play a vital role in countering livestock emissions by absorbing billions of tons of carbon dioxide each year, and they act as a crucial carbon sink. Furthermore, the diversity and age of forests impact the carbon sequestration process. Forests also help to combat climate change by reducing soil erosion and regulating the water cycle. As such, sustainable forest management is essential as forests provide multiple benefits, including economic, environmental, and social benefits, while also sequestering carbon. In this review, the current impact of modern livestock production is described, along with the potential for mitigating it through forestry-based solutions.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4040046
Authors: Cong Zhou Akihiro Nakamura Xiaoyang Song Masatoshi Katabuchi
Artificial light at night (ALAN) demonstrated a new ecological factor that influences organisms through a multi-approach. Yet, the impacts of ALAN on understory plants remain largely unknown. We evaluated whether ALAN would affect the leaf mass per area (LMA) of understory plants through a two-year field light experiment in a tropical rubber plantation in south China. We hypothesized that ALAN could impact the understory in two ways: by directly supplementing light to aboveground plant parts (which increases LMA) and indirectly affecting soil nutrient composition by attracting insects (which decreases LMA). We selected two species: Colocasia gigantea, representing shade-tolerant species, and Melastoma candidum, representing light-demanding species. We measured canopy openness, LMA, soil nutrients, and individual distance away from light resources. Our Bayesian linear mixed model showed a negative relationship between LMA and the strength of ALAN, indicating that ALAN may influence LMA more indirectly by enhancing soil nutrient availability rather than directly acting as a light resource. This relationship was significant for Colocasia gigantea but not for Melastoma candidum. These results suggest that ALAN might have complex and species-specific impacts on the understory ecosystem. Our study underscores the need for continued research and informed management of anthropogenic ecosystems.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4040045
Authors: Tiago Monteiro Condé Niro Higuchi Adriano José Nogueira Lima Moacir Alberto Assis Campos Jackelin Dias Condé André Camargo de Oliveira Dirceu Lucio Carneiro de Miranda
Forest phytophysiognomies have specific spatial patterns that can be mapped or translated into spectral patterns of vegetation. Regions of spectral similarity can be classified by reference to color, tonality or intensity of brightness, reflectance, texture, size, shape, neighborhood influence, etc. We evaluated the power of accuracy of supervised classification algorithms via per-pixel (maximum likelihood) and geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) for distinguishing spectral patterns of the vegetation in the northern Brazilian Amazon. A total of 280 training samples (70%) and 120 validation samples (30%) of each of the 11 vegetation cover and land-use classes (N = 4400) were classified based on differences in their visible (RGB), near-infrared (NIR), and medium infrared (SWIR 1 or MIR) Landsat 8 (OLI) bands. Classification by pixels achieved a greater accuracy (Kappa = 0.75%) than GEOBIA (Kappa = 0.72%). GEOBIA, however, offers a greater plasticity and the possibility of calibrating the spectral rules associated with vegetation indices and spatial parameters. We conclude that both methods enabled precision spectral separations (0.45–1.65 μm), contributing to the distinctions between forest phytophysiognomies and land uses—strategic factors in the planning and management of natural resources in protected areas in the Amazon region.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4040044
Authors: Chuanphot Thinphovong Anamika Kritiyakan Ronnakrit Chakngean Yossapong Paladsing Phurin Makaew Morgane Labadie Christophe Mahuzier Waraphon Phimpraphai Serge Morand Kittipong Chaisiri
Wildlife communities are positively affected by ecological restoration and reforestation. Understanding the dynamics of mammal communities along a gradient of a human-dominated habitat to a protected habitats, right up to a reforestation habitat, is crucial for assessing the effects of reforestation on conservation biology and disease ecology. We used data obtained from a set of camera traps and live traps implemented in the “Spillover Interface” project. A network analysis showed that the reforested area was central in the sharing of mammal species between human-dominated habitats, such as plantations, and the protected area. A network analysis also confirmed the centrality of the domestic dog and the rodent Rattus tanezumi (R. tanezumi) in shared habitats and the co-occurrence with other mammal species. This rodent species was previously mentioned as a bridge species between habitats favouring disease transmission. This study is a first step to identify potential reservoirs and habitat interfaces associated with the risk of zoonotic diseases and pathogen spillover.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4040043
Authors: Lingling Li Hongqi Wu Yimin Gao Sance Zhang
Cultivating cotton and sustaining its productivity are challenging in temperate arid regions around the globe. Exploring suitable cotton cultivation areas to improve productivity in such climatic regions is essential. Thus, this study explores the ecologically suitable areas for cotton cultivation using the MaxEnt model, having 375 distribution points of long-staple cotton and various factors, including 19 climatic factors, 2 terrain factors, and 6 soil factors in Xinjiang. The area under the curve (AUC) of the predicted results was greater than 0.9, indicating that the model’s predictions had fairly high accuracy. However, the main environmental factors that affected the cotton’s growth were the lowest temperature in the coldest month, the hottest month, the precipitation in the driest season, and the monthly average temperature difference. Further, the temperature factors contributed 71%, while the contribution ratio of terrain and soil factors was only 22%. The research indicated that the current planting area was consistent with the predicted area in many areas of the study. Still, some areas, such as the Turpan region northwest of Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, are supposed to be suitable for planting cotton, but it is not planted. The current potential distribution area of long-staple cotton is mainly located in Aksu Prefecture and the northern part of the Kashgar Prefecture region. The climatic prediction shows that the growing area of long-staple cotton may expand to southern Altay, central Aksu, and Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture. This study will be helpful for cotton cultivation suitability areas in Xinjiang and other regions with similar environments.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4040042
Authors: Amanda Hathaway Marco Campera Katherine Hedger Marianna Chimienti Esther Adinda Nabil Ahmad Muhammed Ali Imron K. A. I. Nekaris
Accelerometers are powerful tools for behavioral ecologists studying wild animals, particularly species that are difficult to observe due to their cryptic nature or dense or difficult to access habitats. Using a supervised approach, e.g., by observing in detail with a detailed ethogram the behavior of an individual wearing an accelerometer, to train a machine learning algorithm and the accelerometer data of one individual from a wild population of Javan slow lorises (Nycticebus javanicus), we applied a Random Forest model (RFM) to classify specific behaviors and posture or movement modifiers automatically. We predicted RFM would identify simple behaviors such as resting with the greatest accuracy while more complex behaviors such as feeding and locomotion would be identified with lower accuracy. Indeed, resting behaviors were identified with a mean accuracy of 99.16% while feeding behaviors were identified with a mean accuracy of 94.88% and locomotor behaviors with 85.54%. The model identified a total of 21 distinct combinations of six behaviors and 18 postural or movement modifiers in this dataset showing that RFMs are effective as a supervised approach to classifying accelerometer data. The methods used in this study can serve as guidelines for future research for slow lorises and other ecologically similar wild mammals. These results are encouraging and have important implications for understanding wildlife responses and resistance to global climate change, anthropogenic environmental modification and destruction, and other pressures.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030041
Authors: Evangelia V. Avramidou Evangelia Korakaki Ermioni Malliarou Alexandra D. Solomou George Mantakas George Karetsos
A first assessment of genetic diversity and expansion of the invasive species Amorpha fruticosa L. was estimated in the 91E0* (Annex I Dir. 92/43/EEC) priority habitat of Nestos. A. fruticosa is a perennial deciduous shrub belonging to the family Fabaceae and is native to the south-western part of North America, which recently was introduced to Europe as an ornamental plant. Its expansion through the cross-border river of Nestos has significant negative effects on the 91E0* habitat (a habitat with Alnus glutinosa, Populus alba, and Ulmus minor). Herein, we studied the genetic diversity with amplified fragment length polymorphisms fragments of eastern and western populations in order to see if there is one genetic pool for the species. Furthermore, we estimated the regeneration index (IR) in order to see the potential expansion of this invasive species. Results showed that eastern and western populations have almost equal heterozygosity (He) and with a slightly higher value for the western population, which was in agreement with the results of the IR. This is an innovative study that discusses the implications of A. fruticosa of 91E0* habitat in Nestos and proposes management measures to eliminate its expansion and improve the resilience of the habitat.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030040
Authors: Kyriaki Bourma Elias Milios Kalliopi Radoglou Kyriaki Kitikidou
The purpose of this research is to develop a Graded Biodiversity Assessment (GBA) index to provide an estimation of the biodiversity in managed natural forests. In order to facilitate the present project, parameters are performed, confirmed, and annotated for their use as GBA components, notably the wood stock, age, canopy density, regeneration existence, and aspect of the forest under study. These five parameters are easily retrieved from the standard forest management plans. To assist the application of this forest-specific GBA index, data for each of the five index components is coded in three biodiversity levels as per the original description, with group cut-offs of 0, 0.5, and 1. We compute the Consistency Index to quantify the degree of reliability of our selection of GBA components ξ (Ksi) of the Best-Worst Method (BWM). With the proposed GBA index, foresters canhave a new tool at their disposal, which can be used to drive decision making and determineforest regions with low or high biodiversity value, with five parameters that are common in the standard forest management plans.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030039
Authors: Vikentia Fragkiadaki Efstathia Lazaridi María J. Suso Antonios Tsagkarakis F. Javier Ortiz-Sánchez Penelope J. Bebeli
Plant–pollinator interactions research can assist in the development of more ecologically friendly crop breeding methods, leading to enhanced global food security. In the present study, we have aimed to assess fifteen floral traits as insect attractancies of six bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.) landraces, a neglected crop. Four traits related to seed yield were also measured. Abundance and foraging behavior of potential insect pollinators on bitter vetch flowers were recorded, and their species were identified. Differences among landraces regarding floral and yield traits were statistically significant in most cases. A total number of four insect species were recorded as positively visiting flowers and constituting potential pollinators of bitter vetch. At a landrace level, there was a positive correlation between potential insect pollinators’ foraging activity and the number of open flowers, especially for the landrace ERV65-Kastania, Korinthia (p ≤ 0.01). Floral tube length, as well as standard petal length, was also positively correlated in some cases with potential insect pollinator species abundance and their visitation frequency. A positive correlation was also recorded between seed yield-related traits, which varied among landraces, and potential insect pollinators’ foraging activity. The results showed that bitter vetch flowers can attract and receive positive visits from insects, despite their mainly self-pollination reproductive system. Bitter vetch flower traits, such as the number of open flowers, floral tube length, and standard petal length, could, therefore, be useful as breeding tools, aiming to develop varieties with insect pollinator-friendly traits that could lead to enhanced seed yield production and help to conserve wild insect species biodiversity in the context of sustainable agriculture.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030038
Authors: Ram Chander Sihag
Several insect species visit the flowers of a plant to obtain floral rewards in the form of pollen and/or nectar. In return, we would anticipate that those visitors would contribute to the reproductive success of the plant. Do these visitors contribute equally towards the reproductive success of the plant? This issue has been the interest of many pollination ecologists. To find a solution to this problem, I investigated the pollination ecology of rocket (Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav. ssp. sativa (Mill.) Thell), an important leafy vegetable used as salad. I captured the flower visitors with a hand net from the experimental field and had these identified. I also recorded the number of loose pollen grains carried on the body of the visitors of different species and deposited on the stigmas. Effects of single and multiple visits of visitors on the seed set of rocket flowers were also determined. Abundances and foraging rates of the flower visitors of this species were recorded and their values were used to calculate their respective contributions towards the reproductive success of this species. Five species of Hymenoptera, three of Diptera, one of Lepidoptera, and one of Coleoptera visited the flowers of the rocket. Apis florea was the most abundant among the flower visitors, followed by the dipterous flies, Apis mellifera, Apis dorsata, Andrena savignyi, and Andrena leaena in descending order. The number of loose pollen grains carried and deposited, foraging behaviors, foraging rates, and abundances did not provide conclusive measures to differentiate the contributions of different flower visitors towards the reproductive success of the rocket. However, the data recorded on abundances, foraging behaviors, and foraging rates together could do so. Accordingly, Andrena savignyi was the most efficient pollinator of rocket, followed by Andrena leaena, Apis dorsata, Apis mellifera, and Apis florea; dipterous flies were the least efficient pollinators of this plant species. In rocket, 28.84% of pollination was brought by Andrena savignyi, 24.69% by Andrena leaena, 20.34% by Apis dorsata, 18.37% by Apis mellifera, and 7.7% by Apis florea; dipterous flies caused only 0.06% pollination. Butterflies were very rare and Coccinella sp. was not a pollinator of this plant. Therefore, not all the pollinators of rocket contributed equally towards its reproductive success (seed production). Bees brought about 99.94% of total pollination and melittophily distinctly predominated over other pollination modes. However, among the bees, native bees together are the major pollinators in the flowers of rockets and accomplished more than 81.5% pollination. Therefore, the conservation of native bees is most important for the pollination of crops such as rockets.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030037
Authors: Stephanie A. Poindexter Vincent Nijman Muhammed Ali Imron K. Anne-Isola Nekaris
An animal’s ability to navigate its home range in search of essential resources is a key aspect of its ecology. To reach these resources, animals employ varying navigational processes depending on their exocentric or egocentric view of their environment. The goal of this study was to determine if the Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus), a nocturnal arboreal primate found in southeast Asia, uses some form of cognitive map and spatial memory while navigating their environment. Using behavioural and GPS data of six males and seven females collected at the Little Fireface Project field station based in West Java, Indonesia, we measured their frequency of revisiting important feeding trees, route overlap, and points where individuals significantly changed directions. We found that all individuals predominantly used four tree species while feeding and foraging. The lorises also displayed a high level of route overlap, leading us to conclude that they likely utilize a route-based cognitive map where certain landmarks are integral to their nightly movement. Few studies have specifically focused on strepsirrhine spatial cognition in the wild; here, we show the navigational mechanism used by the Javan slow loris to reach distant/out-of-sight resources. The evident reliance on spatial cognition in a strepsirrhine species suggest that it could be an important selective pressure for primates at the earliest stages of primate cognitive evolution. In addition to the importance of spatial memory in theoretical discourse, understanding slow loris movement has practical applications to conservation, particularly regarding the numerous translocations undertaken by individuals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. We discuss the importance of considering soft release training and monitoring in such releases.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030036
Authors: José Telo da Gama
Soils are crucial life supporters and nutrient providers, their functionality impacted by their nutritional balance, pH, and organic matter content. These substrates help regulate water, support diverse organisms, and play a critical role in carbon sequestration, especially in the context of climate change. However, soils are under threat from anthropogenic and climatic pressures, warranting active resource management strategies. The European Union (EU) has acknowledged soil sustainability’s importance, encouraging eco-friendly agricultural practices and enhanced soil carbon storage. However, the criticality of soils is often overlooked when establishing global sustainable development goals. Counteracting soil degradation is key in battling desertification and influenced by factors like unsustainable agriculture, deforestation, and poor irrigation. Innovative solutions like circular economy approaches and sustainable biomass utilization are necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also, improving dietary habits and reducing food waste can help mitigate the environmental impact of food consumption, with a shift towards plant-based proteins being more sustainable. Addressing these challenges will contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030035
Authors: Abravi Essenam Kissi Grace B. Villamor Georges Abbevi Abbey
The ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) strategy is considered an effective approach to address the impact of climate change while ensuring the continued provision of ecosystem services on which farming depends. However, understanding the EbA’s effectiveness for smallholder farmers in the Savannah region remains limited. The focus of this study is to explore the EbA practices that have been implemented by farming communities in the Savannah region of Togo. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these practices and the perceived co-benefits reported by 425 smallholder farmers who participated in the survey. Our findings show that five practices, namely agroforestry, crop rotation, grass hedge/stone bunds, in-field water drainage channel, and intercropping, were practiced mainly by smallholder farmers and perceived as effective in reducing their vulnerability to climate risks. In addition, the benefits observed were linked to all five EbA practices. As a result, we can determine the suitable combination of EbA practices that fulfil the requirements of smallholder farmers, including co-benefits such as food security, adaptation advantages, and ecosystem service provisions. Such findings provide insights for developing integrated agriculture and climate change policies suitable for weather-induced disaster-prone areas such as the Savannah region.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030034
Authors: Spiros Paramithiotis Maria Dimopoulou
The preservation of microbial diversity is an issue not properly addressed, considering their role in shaping Earth into a habitable planet and their contribution to human well-being. The disturbance of their natural habitats triggers responses, which are reflected in the modification of microecosystem composition and metabolic activities. This is also the case with food-related microecosystems; changes in the growing environment, recorded as agricultural practices and manufacturing or storage conditions, result in similar alterations in the residing microcommunity. In fact, the principle aim of food microbiology is to favor the growth of health-promoting microorganisms and restrict the development of the ones that may negatively affect the quality of food or even cause infection or intoxication. Therefore, the current perspective is one-sided, disregarding issues of general interest, such as the preservation of actual biodiversity. The aim of the present article is to present the current food microbiology perspective, which is based on the different roles of food-related microbiota and highlight the need to move from an anthropocentric to a microbe-centric perception.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030033
Authors: Sophan Chhin Gregory Dahle
Diplodia pinea is a fungal pathogen that causes Diplodia shoot blight in pines and is widely spread in red pine (Pinus resinosa) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) forests in Michigan. The objective of this study was to examine whether infection with D. pinea compromises wood quality in pine stands. Acoustic data was collected using an acoustic tomographer from the stem region at breast height (1.3 m) of red pine and jack pine trees across two categories of forest health condition (control vs. Diplodia-affected), in two latitudinal regions (Lower Peninsula vs. Upper Peninsula), and two levels of initial stand density (low vs. high). The acoustic data was used to infer the wood quality (i.e., density) in these two tree species since material of higher density generally has higher sound velocity rates. Red pine had significantly higher wood quality (i.e., higher sound velocities) in the Upper Peninsula region compared to the Lower Peninsula region. Within each latitudinal region, red pine sound velocities did not show significant differences between forest health condition or initial stand density levels. Jack pine showed no significant differences in sound velocities across the treatment categories. The results indicate that latitudinal region appears to have more impact on red pine wood quality than the influence of forest health condition (presence of Diplodia shoot blight) or initial stand density. All analyzed factors (latitudinal region, forest health condition, and stand density) did not have a significant impact on the wood quality of jack pine.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030032
Authors: Daniel Escoriza Santiago Poch Dani Boix
Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot, containing a large proportion of endemic species. To make conservation efforts more effective, it is necessary to understand the spatial distribution of this huge biodiversity. In this study, the patterns of morphological variation and diversity in the adult anurans of Madagascar were evaluated and compared across different climatic regions. These patterns were investigated for 370 species (2360 specimens), and the variation in 13 morphological traits obtained from taxonomic databases was assessed. The results revealed differences in body size distribution across climatic regions and that the most morphologically distinctive species occur in humid regions. The analysis also showed that anuran assemblages tend to be more species-rich, more morphologically diverse, and more morphologically clustered in tropical rainforests. These patterns are attributable to regional variations in the amount and seasonality of precipitation. An understanding of the complex patterns of spatial diversity could be useful for regional prioritization in the conservation of Madagascan anurans.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030031
Authors: Marion Baratange Johana Cardoso Diane C. Robin Patrice A. Marchand
The use of macro-organisms for crop protection is one of the four pillars of biocontrol. These predators or parasitoids of crop pests are used, by introduction or conservation, in fields, greenhouses and orchards in order to reduce the impact of sucking (sap-feeding) or chewing (phytophagous) insects. However, plant protection is not the only usage of these macro-organisms, and the category was recently expanded to include global usefulness for plants in Europe. Since 2012, under the provisions of Articles L. 258-1 and -2, R. 258-1 of the French Rural and Maritime fishing Code (CRPM), and Decree no. 2012-140 of 30 January 2012, the introduction of non-indigenous macro-organisms has been regulated. Using all published national regulations, organism lists and outcomes from the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES), we have characterized these indigenous and allowed non-indigenous macro-organisms in a systemic and complete way. After first studying these regulations and their impact in 2018, we analyze here the macro-organisms involved and their implementation regarding their origins, targets and applications in crop growth and protection.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030030
Authors: Nataliia Zarubina Vladislav Semak Oleg S. Burdo Liliia P. Ponomarenko
In this study, the long-term (i.e., over a 27-year period) dynamics of 137Cs content are presented for seven species of fish in both the cooling pond (CP) of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Kaniv Reservoir (KR). The decline of 137Cs specific activity in fish exhibits various patterns. For certain years in the KR, fish belonging to different ecological groups experienced an increase rather than a decrease in specific activity levels of 137Cs. From 2012 to 2014, the concentration of 137Cs in all studied species in the KR ranged from 4 to 23 Bq/kg. In the CP during 2012–2013, fish still showed high contamination levels, ranging from 770 to 8300 Bq/kg. The ecological half-life (Teco) was determined for all the studied fish species. For most fish species (i.e., P. fluviatilis, B. bjoerkna, A. brama, S. lucioperca, A. aspius), the shortest 137Cs Teco values were obtained in the CP, being a highly radiocaesium-contaminated waterbody. In contrast, two fish species (R. rutilus and S. glanis) in the CP exhibited a considerably slower rate of 137Cs removal from their bodies compared to even the relatively cleaner KR. Moreover, the 137Cs Teco in R. rutilus and S. glanis was nearly twice as long as that observed in other species within the CP. We assume that the redistribution of 137Cs in the body of fish is affected by multidirectional mechanisms: accumulation, retention, and/or excretion. The functioning of these mechanisms can vary among different fish species. The observed level of 137Cs content in a particular fish species at a given time point results from the combined effects of these mechanisms. Fish likely have the ability to absorb and accumulate radiocaesium in their bodies selectively, and this demand appears to be species-specific.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030029
Authors: José Ramón Arévalo
The journal Ecologies experienced continuous growth throughout the year 2022 [...]
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4030028
Authors: Madeline L. Metzger Scott A. Grubbs
Protected areas are relatively free of human disturbance, are especially common in montane regions, and provide opportunities to study native fauna and flora. Stoneflies are model organisms to assess present and future environmental changes. While stoneflies inhabit cold lakes and a wide size range of lotic systems, diversity is greatest in streams draining mountain landscapes. This study addressed seasonal and elevation patterns of a stonefly fauna inhabiting a protected landscape draining the eastern flank of Mount Mitchell, the highest point of the Appalachian Mountains, USA. In total, 58 species were collected with estimated richness values ranging from 63 to 65. Species determinations were assisted with an integrative molecular approach using the mitochondrial barcode gene. Sampling during spring yielded the most species seasonally. Although certain species were only found at lower or higher sites, several were collected from across a broad range of elevations. Roughly 1/3 (21 = 36%) of the fauna present is known only from the southern Appalachian Highlands region, including one species described as new during this study. The assemblage reported here, however, did not closely align with other Appalachian fauna. Overall, well-structured faunal research continues to be important in light of continuing habitat modifications and climate change.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4020027
Authors: Alessandro Paletto Selim Bayraktar Claudia Becagli Isabella De Meo
The recreational value of a forest is related to the degree of naturalness that can be measured by considering qualitative and quantitative characteristics of deadwood and habitat trees. Forest user groups’ knowledge and opinions towards forest naturalness can support decision-makers in defining strategies. Among user groups, the literature shows a knowledge gap regarding the new generations’ perceptions and opinions related to biodiversity conservation. The aim of this study is to investigate young generations’ perception and preferences towards deadwood in forests. A questionnaire was developed and administrated online—in Italy and Türkiye—to a sample of university students under 25 years old. A total of 407 questionnaires (187 in Italy and 220 in Türkiye) were collected and processed. The results show that students from both countries have a high level of knowledge of deadwood and its role in forests. Most respondents perceive standing dead trees in forests to be aesthetically negative, while large lying deadwood is perceived as aesthetically positive. The attention of young generations towards issues related to biodiversity conservation is confirmed by the significance given in both countries to the management strategy that closely aligns with natural processes of mortality in undisturbed forests, where deadwood is allowed to remain without removal.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4020026
Authors: Thomas P. Sullivan Druscilla S. Sullivan
In semiarid regions, the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) is a major small mammal species occupying perennial grassland habitats that include old-fields, native bunchgrass–sagebrush, and some agricultural settings. We investigated population changes in deer mouse populations in perennial grasslands, both natural and old-field, from 1982 to 2003 in southern British Columbia, Canada. Hypotheses (H) predicted that P. maniculatus populations will have (H1) multiannual fluctuations in abundance driven by population increases from extended breeding in summer and winter; (H2) relaxed spring reorganization events in some years leading to higher overall recruitment and survival; and (H3) interspecific competition with montane voles that causes deer mice to be lower in density when voles are higher. P. maniculatus populations in old-field and grass–sagebrush sites had clearly defined periods of high “peak” mean numbers (32–52/ha) and other times of low mean numbers (20–22/ha). Based on mean annual peak density in autumn, deer mouse populations exhibited fluctuations of 3–4 years in both habitats, but this pattern was not always present. The greater numbers of P. maniculatus in high than low years was directly related to population increases from extended breeding seasons and an increased number of lactating females, thereby supporting H1. Spring breeding season declines occurred but were similar or less in high than low years of mean abundance and were relaxed in comparison to forest populations of deer mice in other studies. Thus, H2 was supported for recruitment with high numbers of young-of-the-year breeding and total number of juvenile recruits but for survival was equivocal. Total summer survival was consistently higher in high than low population years but juvenile productivity in all years was poor. Mean abundance of P. maniculatus and M. montanus in old-field sites were highly correlated, and hence H3 was not supported. This latter result is the first, to our knowledge, of P. maniculatus coexisting in a similar pattern of population fluctuations with a Microtus species in a mainland grassland habitat. Higher than average precipitation in the year preceding a peak population of deer mice may have enhanced herbaceous vegetation and contributed to population increases in both habitats. We conclude that the old-field habitat associated with this agricultural setting provides optimum habitat for P. maniculatus and facilitates multiannual population fluctuations in this species.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4020025
Authors: Jose Gil-Dolz David Riba Dietmar Crailsheim
Wild chimpanzees live in large and complex social communities, but their complexity is determined by the number of potential social partners as well as the frequent changes in group composition due to fission–fusion dynamics. Alternatively, captive housed chimpanzee groups are usually much smaller and less complex. However, studies have shown that groups can be housed in adjacent habitats, potentially increasing the number of social partners, i.e., granting additional relationship opportunities and enhanced social complexity. While most social network studies analyze social groups as closed systems, this study assessed the impact of social interactions between two neighboring groups of chimpanzees, based on two social network indices (Vertex strength centrality and Deviation from edge weight disparity). Furthermore, Linear Mixed Models (LMMs) were employed to assess whether gender, age, and intra-/intergroup directionality influenced these indices. We recorded occurrences of social behaviors, social proximity and whether chimpanzees observed individuals in the other group as a measure of interest. Most social behaviors were directed towards group members; however, 13% were directed towards the neighboring group. Although enclosure barriers constrained the chimpanzee’s capacity to physically interact, it does not necessarily impede social interactions with the outside world. Hence, the presence of neighboring chimpanzees potentially provides additional relationship opportunities, increasing social stimulation and complexity leading to an enriching social environment.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4020024
Authors: Thomas E. Marler L. Irene Terry
Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi invaded Guam in 2003 and caused the widespread mortality of the indigenous Cycas micronesica K.D. Hill population. The regeneration of the surviving tree population continues to be constrained 20 years later, and a look at the changes in megastrobili traits may inform future conservation management decisions concerning regeneration. We quantified megastrobilus reproductive effort and output from 2001 to 2022 to address this need. The reproductive effort of each megastrobilus was immediately reduced by the invasion, as the number of megasporophylls declined by 29%, and the number of ovules declined by 73% in 2006. Reproductive output was also damaged, as the percent seed set declined by 56% and the number of seeds per strobilus declined by 88%. These fecundity metrics have shown few signs of recovery through 2022. Our results reveal that chronic A. yasumatsui infestations, combined with other invasive herbivore threats, have damaged the host C. micronesica population through a sustained reduction in ovule production and the percent seed set for each megastrobilus, thereby impairing regeneration. This plant response to the biotic threats is distinct from the ongoing mortality of mature trees and emerging seedlings. Conservation interventions may be required to foster a return to adequate regeneration during future attempts to aid C. micronesica recovery.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4020023
Authors: Elizabeth K. Dahedl Hidetoshi Urakawa
Harmful cyanobacterial blooms of the toxin-producing Microcystis have become a growing problem for Southwest Florida freshwater bodies. Recently, a 2016 bloom in Lake Okeechobee and a 2018 bloom in the Caloosahatchee River both led to the declaration of a state of emergency for the state of Florida. Fast-acting suppression methods are needed to protect residents and wildlife. Hydrogen peroxide and L-lysine have shown promising results in selectively inhibiting the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa and are more ecologically friendly due to fast degradation in water or the biological enhancement of nontarget organisms, respectively. We further explored the use of hydrogen peroxide, L-lysine, and combined treatments of both chemicals, which have never been tested before, for the rapid suppression of Microcystis. We assessed the susceptibility of seven M. aeruginosa strains and six other phytoplankton (Cyanobium spp., Synechococcus sp., Dolichospermum planctonica, Mychonastes homosphaera, and Chromochloris zofingiensis) commonly found in Florida, and revealed that susceptibility was diverse. All three treatments were effective at inhibiting the growth of M. aeruginosa, mixed treatments (16.7 mg/L hydrogen peroxide: 8 mg/L L-lysine) were most effective with a median growth inhibition ratio of 94.2% on the last day of the experiment, while hydrogen peroxide (16.7 mg/L) (83.8%) and L-lysine (8 mg/L) (78.5%) were less so. We found axenic M. aeruginosa to be significantly more sensitive to hydrogen peroxide when compared with nonaxenic strains (p < 0.01, n = 18). L-lysine was found to be significantly more toxic to M. aeruginosa than other examined cyanobacteria and chlorophyte strains at the end of the experiment (p < 0.001, n = 33), demonstrating its specificity to this cyanobacterium, while hydrogen peroxide and mixed treatments had varying effects on the other tested phytoplankton.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4020022
Authors: Elizabeth Johnson Althea Hotaling Hagan Patrick Hiesl
Prairie and savanna ecosystems have declined dramatically worldwide. In the Southeastern United States, longleaf pine savannas have been reduced to less than 3% of their pre-European range. Restoring longleaf pine across the area has become a regional goal. Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash) is critical to carrying the ecologically important fire through this ecosystem in some longleaf pine savannas. Little bluestem has a range that spans most of north America and is thought to display ecotypic variation. As a part of a longleaf pine restoration project in Camden, SC, we investigated whether the seed source of little bluestem and the site preparation techniques impacted the survival and growth of broadcasted seeds. In the field and greenhouse, we compared locally and commercially sourced seeds and field site preparation techniques including discing, raking, or no treatment. At the end of the growing season, there were significantly more plants grown from seeds collected locally compared to plants from seeds available commercially. Plants grown from locally collected seeds also invested more heavily in roots than plants grown from commercial seeds. Site preparation techniques did not appear to significantly impact plant survival. Collecting seed locally will help to ensure long-term restoration success by establishing populations of plants that are adapted to the local environmental conditions.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4020021
Authors: Johann Michael Köhler Linda Ehrhardt Jialan Cao Frances Möller Tim Schüler Peter Mike Günther
Soil samples taken during archaeological investigations of a historical tannery area in the eastern suburb of the medieval city of Jena have been investigated by 16S r-RNA gene profiling. The analyses supplied a large spectrum of interesting bacteria, among them Patescibacteria, Methylomirabilota, Asgardarchaeota, Zixibacteria, Sideroxydans and Sulfurifustis. Samples taken from soil inside the residues of large vats show large differences in comparison to the environmental soil. The PCAs for different abundance classes clearly reflect the higher similarity between the bacterial communities of the outside-vat soils in comparison with three of the inside-vat soil communities. Two of the in-side vat soils are distinguishable from the other samples by separate use of each abundance class, but classes of lower abundance are better applicable than the highly abundant bacteria for distinguishing the sampling sites by PCA, in general. This effect could be interpreted by the assumption that less abundant types in the 16S r-RNA data tend to be more related to an earlier state of soil development than the more abundant and might be, therefore, better suited for conclusions on the state of the soils in an earlier local situation. In addition, the analyses allowed identification of specific features of each single sampling site. In one site specifically, DNA hints of animal residue-related bacteria were found. Obviously, the special situation in the in-site vat soils contributes to the diversity of the place, and enhances its Beta-diversity. Very high abundancies of several ammonia-metabolizing and of sulphur compound-oxidizing genera in the metagenomics data can be interpreted as an echo of the former tannery activities using urine and processing keratin-rich animal materials. In summary, it can be concluded that the 16S r-RNA analysis of such archaeological places can supply a lot of data related to ancient human impacts, representing a kind of “ecological memory of soil”.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4020020
Authors: Nataliia Zarubina
This study investigated the content of 137Cs (a long-lived radioactive isotope of caesium) in various parts of Pinus sylvestris L. (Scotch pine) and Dicranum polysetum Sw. (rugose fork-moss) at three different sites within the exclusion zone of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant over two years. The Leliv site is located within the 10 km zone, while the Paryshiv and Dytiatky sampling sites are within the 30 km zone. Samples of different P. sylvestris organs were collected, including 1- and 2-year-old branches and needles and wood and outer bark, and the entire D. polysetum. Sampling was conducted every two weeks throughout the year during 2014 and 2015. The specific activity levels of 137Cs in the samples were measured using gamma spectrometry with a CANBERRA gamma spectrometer unit and a coaxial high-purity HPGe semiconductor detector. The study found that at the Leliv and Paryshiv sites, the highest content of 137Cs in living organs of P. sylvestris was found in the wood. At the Dytiatky site, the needles and branches of the first and second years had anomalously high concentrations of radiocaesium (137Cs). This could be due to a thin layer of forest litter (1.5 cm) at that site. The study also found significant changes in the specific activity levels of 137Cs in living pine organs throughout the year. The highest concentration was observed in pine branches and needles in summer, and the maximum values in wood were observed in winter. The study suggests that a constant circulation of 137Cs in the soil–plant system can cause seasonal changes in the content of 137Cs in living pine organs. Symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi can play an important role in the circulation of radiocaesium in forest ecosystems. The outer bark of P. sylvestris did not show any seasonal changes in the content of 137Cs. It may not be involved in radiocaesium redistribution inside the plant but can serve as a long-term source of this radionuclide entering the forest litter. The study found no seasonal changes in the accumulation of 137Cs by D. polysetum, which might be due to the physiological characteristics of this plant species. Based on the analysis of the conducted studies, the recommendation is to consider the seasonal changes in the content of 137Cs during monitoring activities and when using Scots pine in areas potentially contaminated with this radionuclide.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4020019
Authors: Rúben Pereira Sabrina M. Rodrigues Diogo M. Silva Sandra Ramos
The northern coast of the Iberian Peninsula is an important spawning and nursery area for several marine fish species, some of which are economically exploited by fisheries and under management plans. Larval stages of fish are highly sensitive to environmental change and anthropogenic pressures, and Marine Protected Areas (MPA) can help mitigate the impacts on fish populations. This study investigated the environmental drivers of the temporal and spatial patterns of the larval fish assemblages inhabiting a small coastal MPA along the NW Portuguese Iberian Coast. Seasonal surveys were conducted over two years at nine sampling stations distributed throughout the MPA to collect larval fish samples and water parameters. Results showed that a total of 39 different fish taxa were identified. In terms of abundance, reef-associated species, such as Parablennius gattorugine (54.6%), and marine species that use estuaries as nursery areas, such as Ammodytes tobianus (15.7%) and Clupeidae n.i. (8.8%) dominated the larval fish assemblages. The larval fish assemblages were characterized by a strong temporal pattern that, according to CCA analyses, was related to the temporal variability of water temperature, pH, chlorophyll α, TPM, and also the river flow of an adjacent river. This study showed that 47% of the fish larvae belonged to commercially exploited species, highlighting the importance of this MPA as a nursery area for the early life stages of the fish population. Overall, these new findings emphasize the role of MPAs in ensuring the connectivity of fish species between marine-estuarine habitats and enhancing the conservation of fish populations.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4020018
Authors: Armando Avalos Jiménez Susana María Lorena Marceleño Flores Oyolsi Nájera González Fernando Flores Vilchez
Currently, there is a world coffee production crisis which has been attributed, among other factors, to the COVID-19 pandemic that affected the development of productive agricultural activities. In this scenario, Mexico is in a declining situation by showing a reduction in coffee production areas in recent years. Therefore, it is necessary to promote actions that contribute to the recovery of the resource, particularly in the states with agricultural potential. In the present work, the potentially suitable areas for coffee cultivation are identified through the application of tools that allow for characterizing the biophysical conditions that define the current spatial distribution and, from the analysis of these characteristics, generate a Potential Distribution Model (PDM) of the suitable zones for coffee production. The methodology was developed through the application of the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm, starting with the collection and preparation of coffee presence records, followed by a correlation analysis and identification of significant variables, the subsequent execution of the model in various configurations to observe the contribution of each variable through a jackknife test, and finally validation of the model with a random sample selection of 30%, to achieve an AUC of 0.98 and TSS of 0.96. The present model was able to identify and quantify the environmentally suitable zones for coffee production, highlighting the regions with ideal potential for the specie. These results are intended to serve as a basis for the generation of planning strategies aimed at managing, improving, and increasing coffee production areas, as well as being used to establish biological corridors to promote biodiversity, conservation, and alternative economic activities such as tourism and furthermore for future work on the analysis of production scenarios and impacts of climate change. It is concluded that 30% of Nayarit’s territory has ideal conditions for coffee cultivation, especially the region delimited by the municipalities of Tepic and Xalisco, the eastern zone of Compostela, and the southwest of San Blas, which should be considered as a Priority Conservation Area (APC) for coffee cultivation in the state.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4020017
Authors: Sophia Barinova Elena Krupa Yelena Khitrova
The problem of assessing the impact of pollution in protected areas prompted us to apply a combined method of bioindication and spatial mapping of phytoplankton data from six lakes in the Burabay National Nature Park in Northern Kazakhstan. The issue of monitoring planning was quite acute for this landscape-homogeneous area among the Kulunda steppes. Phytoplankton in each of the six lakes was collected in the summer season of 2019 at a total of 54 sampling stations. In total, 139 species of algae and cyanobacteria from seven taxonomic phyla were found in the phytoplankton of the Burabay Park during the study period. Three phyla were the richest in species: diatoms, green algae, and cyanobacteria. Based on species richness, abundance, and biomass, as well as bioindicators and calculated indices of organic pollution and toxic effects, the current ecological state of the lake was assessed as being under the influence of pollution, of the mesotrophic type and with a high capacity for self-purification. Statistical mapping, calculated by the correlation of the species composition and categories of indicators, revealed the zones of anthropogenic impact located on the shores of the lake, and the water of the lakes as weakly alkaline, quality classes 2–3. An increase in the number of cyanobacteria in coastal communities was revealed, which may be associated with an increase in the biogenic load on the lake ecosystems. The results of the analysis and mapping of indicators revealed that two major factors regulated phytoplankton: salinity and organic pollution. The sources of organic pollution are mostly associated with the intake of substances from the coastal zone, where resorts, roads, and settlements are located.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4020016
Authors: Augusta Costa Ana Cristina Moreira
Stem diameter growth in living trees refers to the invariably increase in dimension over a given period. However, reversible stem diameter decrease could occur, related to water movement in the vessels within the wood (on a daily basis) and to tree water deficit and depletion of stored water (on a seasonal basis). Recently, the perennial decrement in stem diameter size has been related to a tree decline pathway, and eventually resulting in tree death. In this study, we analysed stem diameter intra-annual growth dynamics of holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia Lam.) trees for two full growing seasons in distinct woodlands, Laborela and Aldeia dos Fernandes, in southern Portugal (Ourique district). Our focus was to assess stem diameter growth patterns and trends in holm oak trees in endangered woodlands with high tree mortality and to question if perennial decrement. Holm oaks in Laborela were much more sensitive in their stem diameter variations than in Aldeia dos Fernandes and, on average, their stem diameter decreased continuously by 1.0 mm along the 2-year study period, with a slightly higher annual decrease in the first study year (0.6 mm.yr−1). In addition, on average, trees had a higher decrease in stem sectional area of 5.8 cm2 in Laborela against a decrease of 3.7 cm2 in Aldeia dos Fernandes, where the stem diameter of holm oaks only decreased in the first study year (0.1 mm.yr−1). In each study area, the repeated- measures ANOVA showed that tree size effect influenced the stem diameter variations in contrast to tree crown defoliation. Trees were, on average, relatively smaller in Laborela, with DBH = 35.5 cm against DBH = 40.6 cm in Aldeia dos Fernandes, and were highly sensitive in their stem diameter decrement along two consecutives full growing seasons. This is the first exploratory study on assessing the stem diameter fluctuations on holm oaks to address a decline pathway. Our results revealed that holm oaks can survive during two consecutive growing seasons, with a continuous decrease in their stem diameters, which might indicate one tree’s decline pathway.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4020015
Authors: Christopher E. Orozco-González María E. Ocasio-Torres
In this study, aquatic macroinvertebrates were used as bioindicators to determine the ecological conditions of the Lapa River, located between the municipalities of Cayey and Salinas, Puerto Rico. The water quality of the river was evaluated through the calculation of the Puerto Rico Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP-PR), as well as its degree of contamination using the Puerto Rico Family Biotic Index (FBI-PR). Bimonthly sampling was conducted across four sampling sites for a period of 12 months. The sampling sites were positioned upstream and downstream within the nature reserve, and outside and downstream its borders. The BMWP-PR results showed that the site upstream-inside the nature reserve had good water quality, and the site downstream-inside the nature reserve had regular water quality, showing some areas with eutrophication. The water quality outside-downstream from the nature reserve was poor. The FBI-PR results showed that there was mild organic contamination inside the nature reserve, while there was substantial organic contamination in the site that was outside-downstream from the nature reserve. We concluded that the section of the river located within the nature reserve had better ecological conditions than the stretch of the river located outside-downstream of the nature reserve, because it is located within a protected area that has barely been impacted by human activity.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010014
Authors: Hassan Al-Razi Marco Campera Sabit Hasan Marjan Maria Vincent Nijman K. Anne-Isola Nekaris
Agricultural expansion has had a detrimental effect on tropical forests and the animal communities that depend on them. Agroforestry systems, however, with their more complex tree and plant communities, have been shown to be important habitats for a range of globally threatened species, including nocturnal animals. Here, we present novel data on the encounter rates of seven species of nocturnal mammals in relation to agroforestry systems within four national parks and associated plantations in Bangladesh to examine if encounter rates were influenced by the human population density, presence of plantations, and human access as represented by a Human Influence Index of anthropogenic disturbance. We walked 70.3 km of transects with only semi-natural forest, 26.9 km of transects with semi-natural forest and gardens, and 21.7 km of transects with semi-natural forest and monocultures over 55 nights from 2017–2019. Of the seven species of nocturnal mammals we detected, all were present in Satachari National Park, whereas six occurred in Lawachara National Park, Rajkandi Forest Range, and Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Within these national parks, three species (Bengal slow loris, large Indian civet, particolored flying squirrel) were more frequently recorded in areas with human disturbance, especially agroforestry plantations. With declining forest cover in Bangladesh, we highlight here the potential of agroforestry systems as emerging important habitats for these species. We encourage long-term studies of these lesser-studied taxa to understand fully the capacity of agroforestry systems in order to support their long-term conservation.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010013
Authors: Matthew A. Etterson Elizabeth A. Paulukonis S. Thomas Purucker
Hummingbirds are charismatic fauna that provide important pollination services, including in the continental US, where 15 species regularly breed. Compared to other birds in North America, hummingbirds (family Trochilidae) have a unique exposure route to pesticides because they forage on nectar. Therefore, hummingbirds may be exposed to systemic pesticides borne in nectar. They also may be particularly vulnerable to pesticide exposure due to their small size and extreme metabolic demands. We review relevant factors including hummingbird life history, nectar residue uptake, and avian bioenergetic considerations with the goal of clearly identifying and articulating the specific modeling challenges that must be overcome to develop and/or adapt existing modeling approaches. To help evaluate these factors, we developed a dataset for ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) and other avian species potentially exposed to pesticides. We used the systemic neonicotinoid pesticide imidacloprid as an illustration and compared results to five other common current use pesticides. We use the structure of Pop-GUIDE to provide a conceptual modeling framework for implementation of MCnest and to compile parameter values and relevant algorithms to predict the effects of pesticide exposure on avian pollinators. Conservative screening assessments suggest the potential for adverse effects from imidacloprid, as do more refined assessments, though many important limitations and uncertainties remain. Our review found many areas in which current USEPA avian models must be improved in order to conduct a full higher-tier risk assessment for avian pollinators exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides, including addition of models suitable for soil and seed treatments within the MCnest environment, ability to include empirical residue data in both nectar and invertebrates rather than relying on existing nomograms, expansion of MCnest to a full annual cycle, and increased representation of spatial heterogeneity. Although this work focuses on hummingbirds, the methods and recommendations may apply more widely to other vertebrate pollinators.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010012
Authors: Daniel B. Raudabaugh M. Catherine Aime
Lichens are symbiotic partnerships between a filamentous fungus and a photosymbiotic “alga”. Studies show that lichens harbor endothallic fungi, but that some taxa have been difficult to isolate from the main filamentous thallus-forming fungus and other faster growing lichenicolous/endothallic fungi. Therefore, we aimed to develop and evaluate liquid yeast-enrichment strategies to (1) isolate lichen-associated yeasts in pure culture, and (2) determine the taxonomic placement and breadth of the diversity of culturable yeasts. Eighty-two lichen samples were collected and washed with distilled water, and healthy thalli were ground up and added to seven different yeast-enrichment broths. Yeast colonies were isolated in pure culture and identified using molecular techniques. Initial isolates were identified using BLASTn analysis, and a taxonomic refinement was completed using PhyML analysis. In total, 215 isolates were obtained. The most prevalently isolated ascomycetous yeasts were within the Dothideomycetes (Aureobasidium, Plowrightia, and Dothiora), while the most frequently isolated basidiomycetous yeasts belonged to the genera Curvibasidium, Sporobolomyces, and Tremella. The generic placements could not be determined for 17 isolates, and in total 25 novel species were recovered. The results of this research indicate that (1) lichen-associated yeasts are diverse, (2) employing liquid enrichment strategies is effective for isolating many of these, and (3) lichen thalli represent a valuable untapped reservoir of diverse and novel yeast species.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010011
Authors: Stefani Cruz-Rosa Omar Pérez-Reyes
Nanoparticles are man-made materials defined as materials smaller than 100 nm in at least one dimension. Titanium oxide nanoparticles are of great interest because of their extensive use in self-care products. There is a lack of nanotoxicological studies of TiO2 NPs in benthic organisms to have evidence about the effects of these pollutants in freshwater ecosystems. Atya lanipes is a scraper/filter that can provide a good nanotoxicological model. This study aims to determine how the TiO2 NPs can develop a toxic effect in the larvae of the Atya lanipes shrimp and to document lethal and sublethal effects after acute exposures to TiO2 NP suspensions of: 0.0, 1.0, 10.0, 50.0, 100.0, and 150.0 mg/L. The results show that early exposure to TiO2 NPs in Atya lanipes creates an increase in mortality at 48 and 72 h exposures, hypoactivity in movements, and morphological changes, such as less pigmentation and the presence of edema in exposed larvae. In conclusion, TiO2 NPs are toxic contaminants in the larval stage of the Atya lanipes. It is necessary to regulate these nanoparticles for purposes of the conservation of aquatic biodiversity, especially for freshwater shrimp larvae and likely many other larvae of filter-feeding species.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010010
Authors: Efstathia Lazaridi María J. Suso F. Javier Ortiz-Sánchez Penelope J. Bebeli
Impact of pollination on the agri-food sector is of paramount importance. Pollinators contribute to the maintenance of ecosystems, the reproduction and survival of many plants, and their presence usually leads to increased yield and quality of agricultural products. Breeding and selecting for plant traits for enhancing pollinator visits could therefore lead to more resilient farming systems. In stating the advantages of enhancing pollinators in agricultural systems, this study was designed aiming to assess six cowpea accessions for their flower traits and their effect on insect-pollinators. Pollinators species abundance and foraging activity was recorded and their impact on yield was investigated. Twenty-five of the twenty-seven flower traits studied differed statistically significantly among cowpea accessions. The main pollinators recorded belonged to the genus Xylocopa (Latreille, 1802). Seed and fresh pod yield was not affected by pollinators. The floral traits related to pollinators abundance and foraging activity were flower color, inflorescence position and the hours that the flowers per plant remained open during the day. However, they were not related linearly to pollinators abundance and foraging activity; therefore, they did not constitute safe traits for selection aiming to increase pollinators visitation. The findings suggested that other traits, such as pollen and nectar reward, probably perform a more important role in attracting pollinators compared to flower traits.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010009
Authors: Alexandra Malygina Alexander Balkin Elena Polyakova Sergey Stefanov Alexey Potekhin Natalia Gogoleva
Hot springs are known as highly adverse extreme environments where thermophilic and hyperthermophilic microorganisms can survive. We describe taxonomic diversity of several microbial biofilms collected along water temperature gradient in hot streams in the aquatic system of the Stolbovskie hot springs on Kunashir Island, Kurils, Russia. The taxonomic composition of the studied microbial communities was assessed by the 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding for bacteria and archaea, and by the 18S rRNA gene metabarcoding for protists. Richness and diversity of bacteria in the geothermal microbial communities decreased with the increase of temperature, while for archaea, the tendency was the opposite. Ciliophora was the most represented taxon of protists. The biofilms of various kinds that we found in a very local area of the geothermal system were different from each other by taxonomic composition, and the level of their taxonomic diversity was significantly influenced by water temperature.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010008
Authors: Julia Marie Zigann Richard M. Gersberg Volker Lüderitz
The objective of the manuscript was to study the effects of dead wood on macroinvertebrates (MI) assemblages occupying different habitat patches. Three streams were studied, with control and wooded sections in each stream from which MI were sampled for all substrate types (wood, fine detritus, gravel, sand). This contribution deals with three German streams Ihle, Nieplitz, and Verlorenwasser, which belong to the stream type 14 (sand-dominated lowland stream) and are located in the landscape unit Fläming. This type of stream, where large wood could be most influential, has been relatively understudied. This study focused on quantifying substrate distribution and macroinvertebrate taxonomy and performing statistical analysis of MI densities with regard to substrate type. The area-specific invertebrate assemblages were differentiated for MI density, dry matter density and taxonomic richness of invertebrates. In addition to macroinvertebrates, a special focus was on aquatic and semi-aquatic insects. There were significant differences between the control and wooden sections. The macroinvertebrate assemblages (individual density, dry matter density and species richness) of the detritus of the wood sections only in the Verlorenwasser was significantly and positively affected (two or three times) by the deadwood. Detritus in the wood sections of the Nieplitz and Verlorenwasser contained more sensitive species like EPT than detritus from the control sections. On the other hand, no significant difference in MI populations were determined for the sand of the wood sections compared to the sand of the control sections. In all water bodies, the wood substrate promoted all investigated indicators of macrozoobenthos as compared to sand of the wood sections. Detritus significantly promoted macrozoobenthos colonization in the wood sections as compared to sand of the Nieplitz and the Verlorenwasser. The MI density and dry matter density in the Ihle was also significantly promoted by detritus, although not significantly with regard species richness. Two significant correlations were also identified. The more sand that was present in the Ihle and the Verlorenwasser, the more the macroinvertebrate assemblages were inhibited. Additionally, the larger the area of detritus in the Ihle and the area of wood in the Nieplitz, the more MI populations were encouraged. The influence of the deadwood position on MI was also investigated, but there was no significant difference. Incline bridges, flow guides and parallel wood position types were settled in similar quality and quantity.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010007
Authors: Md Imam ul Khabir Daphne Topps Jannatul Ferdous Jhumur Anthony Adesemoye Jasmine Brown Antoine Newman Boakai K. Robertson Javed Iqbal Muhammad Saleem
Rhizosphere soil ecosystems are represented by the diversity of different soil aggregate-size classes, such as large macroaggregates, small macroaggregates, mesoaggregates, and microaggregates. Though these aggregate-size classes represent distinct biological, chemical, and physical properties, little is known about their dynamics and relationships with belowground and aboveground plant traits. In this study, we examined the relationships of various soil aggregate-size classes and their organic carbon contents with many aboveground and belowground soybean plant traits. Our study revealed several novel and interesting relationships between soil structural properties and plant traits. Notably, small macroaggregates represented a major portion of the rhizosphere soil ecosystem of soybean plants while organic carbon contents decreased with decreasing size of soil aggregates. Only microaggregates showed a significant relationship with root architectural traits, such as length and surface area. Among all soil aggregate size classes, the abundance of small macroaggregates and the organic carbon contents of microaggregates were better correlated with plant traits. In general, organic carbon contents of different soil aggregate-size classes showed positive correlations with leaf trichome density (defense traits) and major macronutrients, such as root P, K, and S contents; while there were mostly negative correlations with some micronutrient (Ca, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, and Mg) contents of roots and shoots. However, the abundance of small macroaggregates mostly positively correlated with the mineral contents of plant roots and shoots. Collectively, the positive and negative correlations of organic carbon contents of different soil aggregate-size classes with trichomes (defense) and physiological traits (micro-mineral contents) suggest their significance in plant nutrition and defense. Though our results suggest the relationships of soil aggregate properties with aboveground and belowground traits, further research is needed to discern the role of soil structural traits in mediating plant growth, development, defense, and physiology.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010006
Authors: Jorian A. Hendriks Mariaty Mariaty Siti Maimunah Namrata B. Anirudh Brendan A. Holly Roy H. J. Erkens Mark E. Harrison
Assessing a taxon’s response to change in environmental variables is fundamental knowledge to understanding trends in species diversity, abundance, and distribution patterns. This is particularly needed on Borneo, where knowledge on Odonata populations in different habitats is poor. To address this gap, we present the first study investigating the relationship between morphology and species distribution of Odonata communities in a heath (kerangas)-dominated mixed-mosaic-lowland forest in southern Borneo. We sampled 250-m line transects in three habitat types: mixed peatcswamp, kerangas, and low-pole peatcswamp, with weekly surveys from December 2019 to February 2020. A total of 309 individuals were detected from 25 species. Anisoptera and Zygoptera diversity was the highest in mixed peatcswamp and lowest in low pole, while abundance was the highest in low pole and lowest in kerangas; with kerangas notably harboring a very small sample size. Odonata community assemblages differed most between mixed peat swamp and low pole. Morphological data were compared between suborders and habitats. Anisoptera showed significantly larger thoraces, hindwings, and hindwing-to-body ratio than Zygoptera. Anisoptera in low pole were significantly smaller in body, thorax, and hindwing compared to both kerangas and mixed peat swamp. Anisoptera showed a strong association with pools and Zygoptera with flowing water. Heterogeneity, habitat characteristics, presence of specialists, body size, and the interaction between species’ morphological traits and habitat characteristics likely explained the trends observed.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010005
Authors: Tawqir Bashir Tapajit Bhattacharya Kamal Poudyal Sambandam Sathyakumar
Species with similar resource requirements cannot coexist for long. To facilitate co-existence, carnivores adapt different strategies to partition the available resources in space and time. In high-altitude ecosystems with limited resources the operation becomes complex. We assessed species diversity and spatio-temporal resource partitioning among felid species inhabiting the intricate habitats of Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR), Eastern Himalaya. We used systematic camera trap surveys along with abundance and overlap indices to generate information on their space use and activity patterns. We recorded six species of felids belonging to five genera, including four species of global conservation importance. The differential use of space by felids was observed with respect to the habitat types determined by sharp altitudinal gradients with varied levels of spatial and altitudinal overlap. Maximum overlap was observed among Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temminckii, jungle cat Felis chaus and clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa. The felids had distinct activity profiles from one other, particularly between golden cat and leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis. Pianka’s index also provided weak evidence for temporal overlap among species. The overall results indicate that habitat heterogeneity facilitates primary separation at the spatial scale, although species are also segregated temporally. Golden cat was the most adaptive felid in the area, depicting a peculiar pattern of spatio-temporal segregation with other species. We suspect either intense competition or dietary segregation among some species, and propose a further investigation of their diet and the activity patterns of their prey. The study presents an early template of carnivore community organization in resource-scarce high-altitude environments, thus, offering huge ecological and conservation significance.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010004
Authors: Ecologies Editorial Office Ecologies Editorial Office
High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010003
Authors: Roberta Pastorelli Isabella De Meo Alessandra Lagomarsino
In recent decades, sustainable forest management has been increasingly recognized, promoting the diffusion of silvicultural practices aimed at considering all components of the forest system. Deadwood is an important component of the forest ecosystem. It plays a fundamental role in providing nutrients and habitats for a wide variety of saprotrophic and heterotrophic organisms and significantly contributes to soil formation and carbon storage. Deadwood is inhabited by a plethora of organisms from various kingdoms that have evolved the ability to utilize decaying organic matter. This community, consisting of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic species, can be defined as “necrobiome”. Through the interactions between its various members, the necrobiome influences the decay rates of deadwood and plays a crucial role in the balance between organic matter decomposition, carbon sequestration, and gas exchanges (e.g., CO2) with the atmosphere. The present work aims to provide an overview of the biodiversity and role of the microbial communities that inhabit deadwood and their possible involvement in greenhouse gas (CO2, N2O, and CH4) emissions.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010002
Authors: Nataliia E. Zarubina Vladislav Semak Oleg S. Burdo Liliia P. Ponomarenko
The ecological half-life of 137Cs was calculated individually for four symbiotrophic fungi species (Boletus edulis, Imleria badia, Suillus luteus, Paxillus involutus) at 10 sampling sites in the Chornobyl exclusion zone and in the Kyiv region. It was found that the maximum rate of excretion of 137Cs from the fungi organisms is characteristic for the territory with the maximum levels of soil contamination, i.e., for a zone near Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. In areas with low 137Cs content, a slowing down of the excretion rate predominates. These results reveal different fungal response to the distinct concentration levels of 137Cs in forest ecosystems. This observation further suggests that radiocaesium can be selectively accumulated by fungi and used in their life processes. Presence of this 137Cs retention mechanism in fungi leads to a longer contamination of woody plants-symbionts.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies4010001
Authors: Benjamin J. Dolan Abby L. Kalkstein Madeline Haase Paige Chernisky Alivia Niese Ashlie N. Hicks Dolly Miller
Pyrus calleryana was intentionally introduced to North America from east Asia in the early 1900s as rootstock for the edible pear tree, Pyrus communis. It was identified as an ideal decorative, agricultural, and horticultural tree because of its small stature, early spring flowering, fire blight resistance and inoffensive fruits. P. calleryana escaped cultivation and is now considered an invasive species, typically found on roadsides, prairies, and fields. The aim of this study is to characterize pollinator community diversity from planted and feral trees, as well as diversity as it compares to expected communities derived from research-grade iNaturalist observations. Pollinators were collected by hand on planted and feral P. calleryana trees in April 2018–2022. A total of 14 taxa of insect pollinator were collected from P. calleryana flowers, with similar levels of diversity of pollinator taxa collected from planted and feral trees, and Apis mellifera and Andrena spp. the most common taxa observed. The sampled pollinator community did not differ from the expected pollinator communities generated using the iNaturalist data on either the planted or feral P. calleryana.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3040042
Authors: Aabir Banerji Kasey Benesh
Water resources are critically important, but also pose risks of exposure to toxic and pathogenic microbes. Increasingly, a concern is toxic cyanobacteria, which have been linked to the death and disease of humans, domesticated animals, and wildlife in freshwater systems worldwide. Management approaches successful at reducing cyanobacterial abundance and toxin production have tended to be short-term solutions applied on small scales (e.g., algaecide application) or solutions that entail difficult multifaceted investments (e.g., modification of landscape and land use to reduce nutrient inputs). However, implementation of these approaches can be undermined by microbial species interactions that (a) provide toxic cyanobacteria with protection against the method of control or (b) permit toxic cyanobacteria to be replaced by other significant microbial threats. Understanding these interactions is necessary to avoid such scenarios and can provide a framework for novel strategies to enhance freshwater resource management via systems science (e.g., pairing existing physical and chemical approaches against cyanobacteria with ecological strategies such as manipulation of natural enemies, targeting of facilitators, and reduction of benthic occupancy and recruitment). Here, we review pertinent examples of the interactions and highlight potential applications of what is known.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3040041
Authors: Shannon P. Weatherley Hannah K. Laird Caitlyn M. Gatley-Montross Sarah B. Whorley
Given the wide usage of Roundup, a common herbicide, the impacts of its presence in ecological communities are of great interest. Many studies have investigated the effects of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, on different factions of an ecosystem including on animals, plants, microorganisms, and nutrients. The current study expanded upon these works using Roundup instead of glyphosate to provide a realistic application in which to observe the development of microbial assemblages and nutrient composition in two different habitats. Winogradsky columns were prepared using benthic material from a ditch and a pond. Varying concentrations of Roundup were introduced to the columns at the beginning of the study and microbial growth and nutrient compositions from each column were measured weekly. The results indicate that the presence of Roundup has varying effects on microorganisms and nutrients. While photosynthetic microbes were negatively impacted, a shift in the microbial composition to heterotrophic microbes indicates that these microorganisms were able to utilize some ingredients in Roundup as a nutrient source. Additionally, the temporal analysis of nutrient compositions indicated that microbes metabolize glyphosate starting with the phosphate moiety even when the other compounds in Roundup are present. While these trends were observed in both benthic habitats, the composition of the ecological community can affect its ability to utilize the ingredients in Roundup as a nutrient source.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3040040
Authors: Huanhuan Wang Rui Zhang Yuanyuan Zhao Hongzhi Shi Guoshun Liu
In this study, four different biochar application rates and a control were set up using indoor potted tobacco, to study the effects of biochar on the microbial diversity and metabolism of tobacco-growing soil. The five treatments were as follows: control—0% biochar (w/w) + 26 g fertilizer/pot; biochar treatments—1% biochar (w/w) + 26 g fertilizer/pot, 2% biochar (w/w) + 26 g fertilizer/pot, 3% biochar (w/w) + 26 g fertilizer/pot, and 4% biochar (w/w) + 26 g fertilizer/pot. We found that biochar increases the microbial diversity of soils and simultaneously changes the microbial community structure. Under the influence of biochar, soil urease activity increased by 18%, invertase activity increased by 23.40%, polyphenol oxidase activity increased by 59.50%, and catalase activity increased by 30.92%. Biochar also significantly increased the microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen content of the soil. Soil microbial biomass nitrogen had a positive correlation on bacterial diversity, with the highest coefficient, while soil microbial biomass carbon had a positive correlation on fungal diversity, with the highest coefficient. The microbial diversity and metabolic capacity of soil are improved under the influence of biochar, and soil enzyme activity and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen have positive impacts on soil microbial diversity.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3040039
Authors: Ruslan Suleymanov Ekaterina Dorogaya Aufar Gareev Aleksandr Minnegaliev Mansur Gaynanshin Sergey Zaikin Larisa Belan Iren Tuktarova Azamat Suleymanov
The ecotoxicological condition of soils around mining areas is most often unsatisfactory, which affects entire ecosystems and human health. This research sought to analyze the morphological, agrochemical properties, and content of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn) and metalloids (As) of soils located in a floodplain. The study was conducted within the city of Sibay (Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia). The soil samples were collected from the floodplains of the rivers Karagayly and Khudolaz. According to morphological studies, the soil cover was represented by the Lithic Leptosols, Stagnic Phaeozems, and Fluvisols. The results showed that the soils were characterized by high values of organic matter, potassium, and low levels of phosphorus. Soils that were located away from the city in the Karagayly River were not contaminated. However, the floodplain areas pertaining to the urban district and located near the quarries were characterized by severe anthropogenic soil pollution, disrupted integrity of the soil cover, decreased vegetation, and accumulating labile forms of heavy metals and metalloids. The highest degree of pollution was observed in the floodplain soil of the river Khudolaz where all elements exceeded the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) level. Soils in the floodplain of the Karagayly river were marked by an increased degree of contamination of Zn: exceeding MPC by 1.6 times. With the trend toward an arid climate, the ecotoxicological condition of floodplain soils is an important challenge.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3040038
Authors: Taiki Mori
The Bag Index (TBI) is a novel approach using standardized materials (i.e., commercial tea bags) to evaluate organic matter decomposition by determining two indexes: the early stage decomposition constant k (k_TBI) and litter stabilization factor S (S_TBI). k_TBI is defined as the decomposition constant of an asymptote model describing the decomposition curve of rooibos tea, whereas S is the ratio of the stabilized to total hydrolysable fractions of green tea. However, it was recently revealed that both k_TBI and S_TBI deviate from the actual S and k values accurately determined by fitting an asymptote model to the time series mass of green and rooibos teas remaining (k_fitting and S_fitting, respectively). Nevertheless, k_TBI and S_TBI, which can be determined in a cost- and labor-effective manner, might indicate the relative values of k_fitting and S_fitting across different soils and be useful for comparative analyses. Therefore, this study investigated the positive correlations of k_TBI and S_TBI with k_fitting and S_fitting, respectively, in which case these indexes are useful for comparative analyses. However, the result showed that k_TBI was negatively correlated with k_fitting. This study underscores the importance of obtaining time-series data for accurately determining the decomposition constant of an asymptote model describing the decomposition curve of rooibos tea. S_TBI was positively correlated with S_fitting, implying that S_TBI can be used as an indicator of S.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3040037
Authors: Tom R. Davis Matt Nimbs
There is a need for improved understanding of how climate-change driven rises in sea level and increased ocean temperatures will affect fish assemblages in rocky shore tidal pools. Rising sea levels are predicted to alter habitat availability and increasing ocean temperatures will drive tropicalisation, both of which are likely to alter tidal pool fish assemblages. Consequently, we examined changes in fish assemblages in tidal pools at four sites in Coffs Harbour, Australia, using baited video sampling. Data were collected seasonally at each site, in pools at differing tidal elevations. We identified significant differences in tidal pool fish assemblages among elevations and found that assemblages exhibited cyclic seasonal patterns. Modelling identified that ocean temperature was the most powerful factor for explaining variations in assemblages, followed by pool area and pool elevation. Results highlight that distinct fish assemblages occur in tidal pools at different elevations and indicate that assemblages at higher elevations could be squeezed out by rising sea levels and by increased competition from tropical fish species. Future conservation assessments are needed to determine whether latitudinal and vertical range shifts for tidal pool fishes are possible, with facilitation of these range shifts needed to address displacement of tidal pool fishes by rising sea levels and ocean temperatures.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3040036
Authors: Marco Favretti
The book addresses the problem of describing the dynamics of the interaction of alien species with an ecosystem using modern network theory [...]
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3040035
Authors: Mohan Ram Aradhana Sahu Shyamal Tikadar Devesh Gadhavi Tahir Ali Rather Lahar Jhala Yashpal Zala
The information on the ranging behaviour and migration pattern of vultures is of critical conservation importance. Vultures’ range over vast areas in human-dominated landscapes where anthropogenic activities may influence their long-term survival. This paper uses the satellite telemetry of 11 individuals of six vulture species to assess their home ranges and seasonal movement patterns. The study aimed to find daily and monthly distances covered by vultures, their home range size, and the influence of breeding season on resource utilisation and activity rates. A total of 114,820 locations were collected between October 2020 and November 2021. The results indicate that the size of the core area is smaller during the breeding season of the resident species, such as the Indian vulture (Gyps indicus), white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), and red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) than the non-breeding season. vulture’s daily and monthly movement (mean) also decreased in the breeding season. The annual home range and core areas, calculated as 95% and 50%Utilisation Distribution differed between breeding and non-breeding seasons. The migratory vultures moved significantly longer distances across days and months than the resident species. Their annual migration patterns also differed with respect to time and migration routes.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3040034
Authors: Deepa Dangol Laxman Khanal Naresh Pandey Anuj Ghimire Randall C. Kyes
Animals inhabiting colder climates have a larger body size (Bergmann’s rule) and smaller body extremities (Allen’s rule), which help homeothermic animals to retain heat. Such ecogeographical phenomena have frequently been observed in animals along the latitudinal gradient and have occasionally been tested along the elevational gradient. This study tested whether these ecogeographic rules hold true for the morphology of sparrows (Passer spp.) along the elevational gradient offered by the Himalaya in central Nepal. Seventy house sparrows and twenty-eight tree sparrows were captured from 22 different localities of central Nepal between 100 and 3400 m asl, and morphological traits such as body size (body mass, tarsus length, wing length and tail length) and body extremities (bill length and bill width) were measured. Linear regression analysis was used to test the association of morphological measurements with elevation and climatic variables. House sparrows (Passer domesticus) had a wider elevational distribution range and exhibited significantly larger body sizes than the Eurasian tree sparrows (P. montanus). House sparrows had larger body sizes and smaller bills at higher elevations in adherence to Bergmann’s rule and Allen’s rule. Bill length in house sparrows showed a positive association with the temperature following the proposition of Allen’s rule. However, the morphological measurements in Eurasian tree sparrows did not show a distinct pattern with elevation and climatic variables. Therefore, this study concludes that ecogeographical phenomena such as Bergmann’s rule and Allen’s rule could be species-specific based on their biological and ecological characteristics.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3040033
Authors: Sèlomè Wilfried Sintondji Zacharie Sohou Katrijn Baetens Geneviève Lacroix Emile Didier Fiogbé
The purpose of this work was to investigate the physical and chemical dynamics of Lake Nokoué for its efficient management. For this purpose, two sampling campaigns per month from five stations (North, South, Central, East and West) were conducted for a period of one year (November 2020 to November 2021). Physic and chemical parameters (temperature, salinity, depth, water transparency, pH, dissolved oxygen and total dissolved solids) were measured and wet substrate samples were collected to study the granulometry. Data analysis revealed that Lake Nokoué is mainly affected by two regimes: flooding and low water. Flooding, which is not directly related to rainfall, did not begin until one month after the major rainy season in June. The sources that contributed to the flooding of Lake Nokoué were the freshwater tributaries coming mainly from the Ouèmé River and the flow of the Sô River from August to November. The inflow of fresh water contributed to the decrease in salinity and transparency of the lake from the east to the south. During the low water period (from December to July), Lake Nokoué is characterized by an increase in salinity and transparency from the south to the northeast due to the massive intrusion of sea water into the lake. The highest dissolved oxygen levels are observed in the south and center (5.92 ± 0.46 mg/L) while it varies greatly in the north and west (Eichhornia crassipes concentration zone) during flooding. The average annual depth of Lake Nokoué was 1.47 ± 0.66 m with an average annual pH of 6.85 ± 0.56.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3040032
Authors: Thomas P. Sullivan Druscilla S. Sullivan
Responses of forest-floor small mammals to clearcutting are species-specific with generalists occupying a range of habitats, and specialists persisting on clearcuts for variable periods. We investigated the responses in abundance and species composition of small mammal communities to cumulative clearcutting of coniferous forests on a landscape that had four independent clearcutting events (Periods 1 to 4) over a 42-year interval from 1979 to 2020 in south-central British Columbia, Canada. We ask if the small mammal communities have changed significantly over these decades owing to removal of old-growth forest by clearcut harvesting. Hypotheses (H) predicted that the small mammal community would (H1) increase in abundance, species richness, and diversity on new clearcuts owing to the availability of early seral post-harvest habitats from cumulative clearcutting; and (H2) have higher mean abundance, species richness, and species diversity in clearcut than uncut forest sites, owing to availability of vegetative food and cover. A third hypothesis (H3) predicted that abundance of (i) early seral vegetation (herbs and shrubs) and (ii) small mammal populations, will be greater in ungrazed clearcut sites than in those grazed by cattle (Bos taurus). Mean total numbers of small mammals on new clearcuts declined in Periods 3 and 4, and hence did not support the abundance part of H1. Much of this decline was owing to low numbers of the long-tailed vole (Microtus longicaudus) and meadow vole (M. pennsylvanicus). Two generalist species: the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) and northwestern chipmunk (Neotamias amoenus), contributed to high mean species richness and diversity in Periods 2 and 3 before these metrics declined in Period 4, and hence partly supported H1. The similarity in mean total numbers of small mammals in Periods 2 to 4 did not support the abundance prediction of H2 that total numbers would be higher in clearcut than uncut forest sites. Higher mean species richness (Periods 2 and 3) and diversity (Period 3) measurements on clearcut than forest sites, particularly in the early post-harvest years, did support these parts of H2. The vegetation part (i) of H3 was not supported for herbaceous plants but it was for shrubs. The small mammal part (ii) of H3 that populations would be higher in ungrazed than grazed clearcut sites was supported for abundance but not for species richness or diversity. The decline and near disappearance of both species of Microtus was possibly related to the reduction in plant community abundance and structure from grazing (at least for shrubs) and potentially from drought effects associated with climate change. Loss of microtines from these early seral ecosystems may have profound negative effects on various ecological functions and predator communities.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3040031
Authors: Alessandro Ferrarini Marco Gustin
Behavioral and movement ecology have quickly advanced as a result of the development of biotelemetry devices and analytical techniques. Global positioning system (GPS) transmitters assist scientists in gathering location and movement data at detailed spatial and temporal resolutions. Machine-learning methods can then be applied to GPS data to provide insights into the ecological mechanisms of animal behavior and movements. By means of accurate GPS data-loggers, in 2019, 2020, and 2021, we tracked 8 red-footed falcons at the two largest colonies in Italy. We collected 13,484 GPS points and used recently introduced machine-learning methodology Unsupervised Animal Behaviour Examiner (UABE) to deduce the regular, nested, and hourly ethograms of the tracked individuals. We found clear and significant patterns of the red-footed falcons’ behaviors on monthly, daily, and hourly bases. Our study is a step forward in advancing the knowledge of this threatened species, and provides a baseline assessment of the current behavioral patterns of this red-footed falcon population, with which results of future studies can be compared to detect potential behavioral changes that act as early warnings of increased human disturbance.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3030030
Authors: Marc H. Hanke Haille Leija Robert A. S. Laroche Shailee Modi Erin Culver-Miller Rachel Sanchez Neha Bobby
Populations of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) have been historically declining due to both natural and anthropogenic stressors. In response, oyster reefs have been created with many different approaches. This study utilized intertidal reefs constructed with oyster shells recycled from local restaurants to provide oyster settlement substrate, reef-associated faunal habitat, and a barrier to prevent marsh erosion. The objective of this study was to determine how oyster population characteristics changed over four years (2016–2019) on five different reefs within Sweetwater Lake, Galveston Bay, Texas, with a secondary objective to examine how oyster populations responded after Hurricane Harvey. Over the study period, five different reefs were sampled each summer by removing five bags per reef to determine oyster abundance and size demography. For the three years of the study (2017–2019), we also quantified oyster spat recruitment to the reefs. Oyster abundance and size (shell height) varied interactively by year and reef number, whereas oyster recruitment was significantly lower following Hurricane Harvey and then returned to pre-storm levels. Our results further highlight the importance of reef placement for breakwater-style reefs, as it appears the hydrodynamics within Sweetwater Lake influenced both oyster abundance and size among individual reefs. While the created reefs receive limited larval influx due to the narrow opening between Sweetwater Lake and Galveston Bay proper, this limited connectivity seemed to prevent mass mortality from the freshwater influx from Hurricane Harvey. Therefore, projects creating oyster reefs should consider local and regional landscape factors for the long-term success of oyster populations and robustness to natural disasters.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3030029
Authors: Phillip N. Hogan Scott A. Grubbs
Faunistic studies of regional biodiversity of aquatic insects are increasing in importance as declines are noted globally. Federal and state government conservation attempts for rare and threatened species are predicated upon the initial research of specialized taxonomists and trained field biologists. The reporting of aquatic insect occurrence data provides a baseline for conservation agencies to compare water quality monitoring studies. Updated field work, literature reviews, and database queries for stoneflies from the mid-Atlantic United States of America state of Maryland necessitated an assessment of species diversity for the state. Seven new state records and one new literature record are presented, bringing the total number of species to 122. Chao1 estimates of species richness are presented for diversity hotspots and the state as a whole, indicating that increased sampling is still necessary to fully understand diversity patterns. Accompanying are assessments of elevation trends and adult presence patterns within nine families. Collections are predominantly restricted to the Appalachian region. Herein, we direct future efforts to focus on understudied regions. An outline of distribution knowledge for species is presented to inform upcoming State Wildlife Action Plans.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3030028
Authors: Nicole D. Henderson Alan D. Christian
Stream ecosystems provide invaluable ecosystem services but are highly impacted ecosystems in need of water quality monitoring for habitat change impacts. Freshwater macroinvertebrate (FWI) assemblages have been shown to be good indicators of water quality and are known to be vulnerable to land-use land cover (LULC) and other habitat changes. The goal of this case study was to use an existing dominant LULC analysis in the Neponset River watershed, Massachusetts, USA, as LULC sampling treatment groups to deliberately capture the influence of these LULC effects on meso-scale habitat quality, FWI assemblages, and FWI water quality indices at eight sampling reaches. To achieve this goal, we collected physical habitat measurements and FWI samples in the summers of 2010 and 2012 at eight reach-scale stations spread across four previously determined LULC sub-watershed types (forest, residential, industrial, and golf) in the watershed. We expected that LULC change would influence the habitat quality, which would influence the FWI assemblage water quality scores and composition. We also expected that the water quality at these LULC sub-watershed types would be reflected in the FWI assemblage composition. We identified five major findings from our study. Our first finding was that the habitat quality in the Neponset River watershed was somewhat degraded relative to pristine conditions. Our second finding was that our habitat characterization analysis reflected some separation of our reach-scale macrohabitat types at land-use land-cover treatment stations with some correlations with microhabitat variables. Our third finding was that the water quality base on FWI assemblages was generally degraded in reference to pristine conditions. Our fourth finding was that, contrary to our expectations, there was no significant correlation between our reach-scale EPA habitat quality scores and FWI water quality scores. Our fifth finding was that our FWI assemblage NMS showed separation of land-use land-cover sampling stations and that that low pollution-tolerant taxa dominated some of our LULC sampling treatment stations and influenced NMS groupings.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3030027
Authors: Makuété A. P. Tiawoun Pieter W. Malan Alvino A. Comole
Soil properties are important drivers of species distribution and community structure in grassland. This study was undertaken to assess the influence of soil properties on woody plant distribution around six selected communally managed rangelands in the District. At each communal rangeland, a total of 25 plots of 20 × 20 m were surveyed to record the density, frequency, and composition of woody species. Soil samples were collected for thirteen soil variables. A Tukey HSD (Tukey’s honestly significant difference) post hoc test was used to compare soil properties and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) to relate the soil properties to the woody species distribution. The study recorded a total of 17 woody species in 9 families. Fabaceae was the most dominant family, and Senegalia mellifera was the most abundant and frequent encroaching species. Most of the species were native, whereas Prosopis velutina was the only invasive alien species recorded. Senegalia mellifera, P. velutina, and Terminalia sericea were considered the most encroaching in the study sites, with densities exceeding 2000 TE ha-1 (i.e., tree equivalent). CCA results exhibited the strong effect of soil variables on the distribution of woody plant species. CCA ordination analyses showed that K was the most influential soil variable on woody species distributions, followed by Mg, CEC, Na, pH, sand, clay and silt. In terms of woody distribution, the CCA diagram showed similarities between Disaneng, Logageng and Tshidilamolomo. This study provides baseline information on woody species diversity for future management of this ecosystem.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3030026
Authors: Van Anh Thi Nguyen Francesco Blardoni Hung Bui Manh Robert Schlicht Sven Wagner
Seed dispersal and environmental heterogeneity, and the effects of their interaction, are perceived to be determinants of the spatial patterns of trees. We applied the spatial point process to analyse Vatica odorata (Griff.) Symington (Dipterocarpaceae) in Cuc Phuong National Park of Vietnam to understand its spatial patterns, and to decipher the main factors affecting seedling establishment of the species. We established a total of 12 replicated plots, each of which had one or two seed trees in the centre, and recorded all regeneration plants of V. odorata with their positions. A total of 671 regeneration plants were found. Covariates, including canopy, ground cover, and distance to seed trees, were measured on systematic grids of 4 × 4 m. In the context of the spatial point processes, we used a generalised linear mixed model, considering a random effect of the plot. In the model, the greatest distance observed is about 35 m from the seed tree. The canopy and ground cover have a significant impact on the regeneration of the species: The intensity of regenerating stems was greatest with a canopy cover of 70%. The ground cover range for good development of regenerating plants was between 10 and 30%.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3030025
Authors: Ram C. Sharma
This paper presents the Dominant Species-Physiognomy-Ecological (DSPE) classification system developed for large-scale differentiation of plant ecological communities from high-spatial resolution remote sensing images. In this system, the plant ecological communities are defined with the inference of dominant species, physiognomy, and shared ecological settings by incorporating multiple strata. The DSPE system was implemented in a cool-temperate climate zone at a regional scale. The deep recurrent neural networks with bootstrap resampling method were employed for evaluating performance of the DSPE classification using Sentinel-2 images at 10 m spatial resolution. The performance of differentiating DSPE communities was compared with the differentiation of higher, Dominant Genus-Physiognomy-Ecological (DGPE) communities. Overall, there was a small difference in the classification between 58 DSPE communities (F1-score = 85.5%, Kappa coefficient = 84.7%) and 45 DGPE communities (F1-score = 86.5%, Kappa coefficient = 85.7%). However, the class wise accuracy analysis showed that all 58 DSPE communities were differentiated with more than 60% accuracy, whereas more than 70% accuracy was obtained for the classification of all 45 DGPE communities. Since all 58 DSPE communities were classified with more than 60% accuracy, the DSPE classification system was still effective for the differentiation of plant ecological communities from satellite images at a regional scale, indicating its applications in other regions in the world.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3030024
Authors: David H. Miller Matthew Etterson Leah Oliver Elizabeth Paulukonis Nathan Pollesch S. Thomas Purucker D. Christopher Rogers Sumathy Sinnathamby Sandy Raimondo
Vernal pool fairy shrimp, Branchinecta lynchi, is a freshwater crustacean endemic to California and Oregon, including California’s Central Valley. B. lynchi is listed as a Federally Threatened species under the US Endangered Species Act, and as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List. Threats that may negatively impact vernal pool fairy shrimp populations include pesticide applications to agricultural land use (e.g., agrochemicals such as organophosphate pesticides) and climate changes that impact vernal pool hydrology. Pop-GUIDE (Population model Guidance, Use, Interpretation, and Development for Ecological risk assessment) is a comprehensive tool that facilitates development and implementation of population models for ecological risk assessment and can be used to document the model derivation process. We employed Pop-GUIDE to document and facilitate the development of a population model for investigating impacts of organophosphate pesticides on vernal pool fairy shrimp populations in California’s Central Valley. The resulting model could be applied in combination with field assessment and laboratory-based chemical analysis to link effects from pesticide exposure to adverse outcomes in populations across their range. B. lynchi has a unique intra-annual life cycle that is largely dependent upon environmental conditions. Future deployment of this population model should include complex scenarios consisting of multiple stressors, whereby the model is used to examine scenarios that combine chemical stress resulting from exposure to pesticides and climate changes.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3030023
Authors: Lea Franziska Stahl Manon Edo Timon Nonnenmacher Daniela Reif Friederike Rex Pascal Wegmann-Herr Andreas Kortekamp Jochen Fischer-Schuch Eckhard Thines Maren Scharfenberger-Schmeer
In this study, an amplicon metagenomic approach was used to determine the effect of repeated treatments with ozonized oleic acid on the microbial community of grapevine carpoplane. Differences in community composition of treated vineyards were compared to non-treated and conventionally treated samples regarding the prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbiome at two developmental stages (BBCH 83, BBCH 87). The results showed effects both on occurrence and on abundance of microorganisms and the community assembly. Wine-relevant genera such as Acetobacter and members of the former genus Lactobacillus could be identified as part of the natural microbiota. The impact of the new viticultural treatment on these organisms was assessed in liquid culture-based microtiter assays. Therefore, we investigated an array of two acetic acid bacteria (AAB), four lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and nine saccharomyces and non-saccharomyces yeasts. Brettanomyces bruxellensis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pediococcus sp. and Acetobacter aceti revealed the highest sensitivities against ozonized oleic acid (LIQUENSO® Oxygenat). Culture growth of these organisms was significantly reduced at an ozonide concentration of 0.25% (v/v), which corresponded to a quarter of the concentration used in the vineyard. The metabarcoding approach in combination with complementary in vitro assays allow new insights into treatment effects on the community and species scale.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3030022
Authors: Kristina Garber Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman Robert Curry Jeffrey M. Minucci Daniel E. Dawson Cameron Douglass Joseph P. Milone S. Thomas Purucker
The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) employs a tiered process for assessing risks of pesticides to bees. The model discussed in this paper focuses on honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). If risks to honey bees are identified at the first tier based on exposure and toxicity data for individual adult and larval honey bees, then effects are evaluated in higher-tier studies using honey bee colonies. Colony-level studies require large amounts of resources (to conduct and review) and can yield data complicated by the inherent variability of colonies, which are influenced by factors that cannot readily be controlled, including weather, pests, diseases, available forage, and bee management practices. To better interpret these data, the USEPA and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed a simulation model, BeePop+, that assesses potential honey bee colony-level effects of pesticides. Here, we describe this model using the population model guidance, use, interpretation, and development for ecological risk assessment (Pop-GUIDE) framework, which is a conceptual framework for the development and evaluation of population models. Within the context of Pop-GUIDE, BeePop+ is considered a “realistic-precise” model and reflects the inherent variability of colony response to pesticide exposure by simulating many outcomes. This model meets the desired features needed for use in pesticide risk assessments as its required data inputs are typically available, it is applicable to different US locations, and the outputs are both relevant to USEPA’s protection goals for honey bees and are consistent with the outcomes of empirical studies. This model has also been evaluated using available empirical colony-level data; however, additional evaluation with other studies may still be done in the future prior to completing implementation.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3030021
Authors: Christopher J. Butler
The dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) is a widespread understory palm of the southeastern United States. This palm is expected to be one of the species that exhibits a range shift in response to climate change, and the population at the northwestern edge of its distribution in Oklahoma appears to be increasing in both numbers and extent. However, this palm may also be susceptible to cold damage during unusually severe winters, which could potentially limit the spread of this species. An unusually cold arctic outbreak spread across the southern Great Plains during 13–17 February 2021, with minimum temperatures of −11 °C recorded in Houston (Texas), −15 °C in San Antonio (Texas), and −26 °C in Oklahoma City (Oklahoma). In order to evaluate the effects of the arctic outbreak on Sabal minor, I examined individuals in four counties (one site in Brazoria County, TX; one site in Brazos County, TX; two sites in McCurtain County, Oklahoma; and two sites in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma) in the period of 5–16 March 2021. At nearly every site, 30 individuals were examined, and the number of palmate leaves as well as the extent of the green area on the leaf was visually estimated, with percentages rounded to the nearest 5%. There was little evidence of cold damage from southeastern Oklahoma to coastal Texas, with palmate leaves retaining a median of 85% green area. However, some damage was noted in seedlings at the northernmost population in McCurtain County, Oklahoma. In contrast, extensive leaf damage was noted in dwarf palmetto plantings in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, with plants retaining a median of only 5% green leaf area. The results of this study suggest that arctic outbreaks are unlikely to prohibit the continued spread of this species at the northern edge of its native range but may cause damage to multiple plant growth stages that could reduce the rate at which the species survives and reproduces.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3030020
Authors: Marco Campera Michela Balestri Aria N. Stewart K. A. I. Nekaris
The activity patterns of mammals depend on environmental changes (e.g., moon luminosity, food availability, weather) and endogenous rhythms. Behavioral observations are traditionally used to estimate the activity patterns of animals, but low visibility and the cryptic nature of some species entail that, in certain conditions, the animal is visible only for around 60% of the time. Recent advances in technology allow automatic data collection on the activity levels of animals. We used five years of data collected via accelerometers to understand how moon luminosity, seasonality, sex, and weather conditions influence the activity levels of the nocturnal and cryptic Javan slow loris. We collected 9589 h on six females and 7354 h on six males. Via Generalized Additive Mixed Models, we found that lorises are lunarphobic; they reduce activity levels during cold nights, they have higher activity levels when the relative humidity is close to 100%, and they have high peaks of activity between December and February and between June and August. The activity levels are thus influenced by avoidance of predators, food availability, consumption of insects and nectar, physiological, and behavioral adaptations to cold temperatures and energy requirements during reproductive stages. We highlight the importance of using bio-loggers for cryptic animals as with behavioral observations only, and the observer might underestimate active behaviors and overestimate inactivity.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3030019
Authors: Priscila Ortega Hector Aguilar Vitorino
This study analyzed field and acclimatized (7 days) mangrove Ucides cordatus crabs from polluted and unpolluted environments to compare their HSP70 levels. The animals were cryo-anesthetized and dissected. Gills (anterior and posterior) and hepatopancreas were collected to evaluate total proteins and HSP70 levels using ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) method. The acclimatized animals from polluted environments showed higher HSP70 levels in the hepatopancreas than field animals. Results showed higher HSP70 levels in laboratory animals from the polluted environment than in field animals in the posterior gills. The regulation to decrease the damage caused by the environment and the acclimatization process may not be sufficient to stabilize physiological responses, especially in animals from polluted environments.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020018
Authors: Jill A. Awkerman Cathryn H. Greenberg
Amphibian populations are threatened globally by stressors, including diminishing availability of suitable wetland breeding sites, altered hydroregimes driven by changing weather patterns, and exposure to contaminants. Ecological risk assessment should encompass spatial and temporal scales that capture influential ecological processes and demographic responses. Following the PopGUIDE framework of population model development for risk assessment, we used matrix population models, in conjunction with existing hydroregime predictions, under a climate change scenario to evaluate the effects of environmental stochasticity and aquatic pesticide exposure on amphibians that are dependent on ephemeral wetlands. Using southern toads (Anaxyrus terrestris) as an example, we simulated population dynamics with breeding success dependent on hydroregime suitability. Years were defined as optimal, marginal, or insufficient for successful toad recruitment, based on the duration of their potential breeding season and rate of larval development to metamorphosis. We simulated both probabilistic and chronologically specific population projections, including variable annual fecundity, based on hydroregime suitability and reduced larval survival from carbaryl exposure. In our simulations, populations were more negatively impacted by prolonged drought, and consequently multiple sequential years of reproductive failure, than by aquatic pesticide exposure. These results highlight the necessity of reliable climate projections to accurately represent the effects of altered hydroregimes on amphibian populations. Risk assessment approaches could be improved with flexible modifications that allow inclusion of various extrinsic stressors and identification of demographic and ecological vulnerabilities when precise data are lacking.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020017
Authors: George N. Hotos Ioanna Touloupi
In the quest of finding local strains of marine ciliates that can be easily cultured under a broad range of salinity and fed with microalgae, Fabrea salina Henneguy, 1890 and Condylostoma sp. Bory de St. Vincent, 1826 were cultured for 22 days in small volumes at a temperature of 16–18 °C and fed with flagellated microalgae. F. salina presented a clear preference for the salinity of 40 ppt and Condylostoma. sp. for 20 ppt. Rhodomonas salina Hill and Wetherbee, 1989 were the most efficient feeds, resulting in 30 ind./mL in F. salina and 73 ind./mL in Condylostoma. Dunaliella salina Teodoresco, 1905 and Nephroselmis sp. F. Stein, 1878 also resulted in considerable ciliate densities while Isochrysis galbana Parke, 1949 came last with the highest density in Condylostoma. The strain of Tetraselmis sp. F. Stein, 1878 (var. red pappas) which is transformed in immobilized palmelloid cells and the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae Hulburt, 1957, which is suspected of toxin production, were inappropriate for both ciliates. These ciliates can be easily cultured and can serve as useful organisms in bioassays and probably as live food in marine fish hatcheries.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020016
Authors: Munshi Md. Shafwat Yazdan Raaghul Kumar Solomon W. Leung
Micro-pollutants especially estrogens, progesterone, androgens, glucocorticoids, and growth hormones, are biological and chemical impurities that find their way into natural aquatic environments in trace quantities (ng/L), and possess a significant disturbance by impacting human and aquatic life. Due to the significant progress in in the analysis and detection techniques, these trace elements have been observed and quantified in several studies. However, as a result of limited methods and management technology, the adverse effects by these micro-pollutants in surface and coastal water is largely unknown. For this study, the compounds of estrogens, progesterone, androgens, glucocorticoids, and growth hormones have been selected according to their high frequent detection value in environmental waters. The concentration of the selected steroid and hormones ranges from 0.1–196 ng/L (estrogens), less than 0.1 to 439 ng/L (progesterone), 0.06–86 ± 2 (androgens), less than 0.1 to 433 ng/L (glucocorticoids), and 26.6 ng/g to 100 ng/L (growth hormones), and their percentage of removal efficiency varies from less than 10% to 99%, as the measurement of compounds concentration was found to be very low. Here, we report that future studies are necessary to detect the entry routes of these compounds into the environmental water, as well as to explore the technological approaches which are able to resolve this issue permanently.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020015
Authors: Chiara Accolla Amelie Schmolke Andy Jacobson Colleen Roy Valery E. Forbes Richard Brain Nika Galic
Mechanistic models are invaluable in ecological risk assessment (ERA) because they facilitate extrapolation of organism-level effects to population-level effects while accounting for species life history, ecology, and vulnerability. In this work, we developed a model framework to compare the potential effects of the fungicide chlorothalonil across four listed species of cyprinid fish and explore species-specific traits of importance at the population level. The model is an agent-based model based on the dynamic energy budget theory. Toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic sub-models were used for representing direct effects, whereas indirect effects were described by decreasing food availability. Exposure profiles were constructed based on hydroxychlorothalonil, given the relatively short half-life of parent chlorothalonil. Different exposure magnification factors were required to achieve a comparable population decrease across species. In particular, those species producing fewer eggs and with shorter lifespans appeared to be more vulnerable. Moreover, sequentially adding effect sub-models resulted in different outcomes depending on the interplay of life-history traits and density-dependent compensation effects. We conclude by stressing the importance of using models in ERA to account for species-specific characteristics and ecology, especially when dealing with listed species and in accordance with the necessity of reducing animal testing.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020014
Authors: Taiki Mori
Researchers have studied the impact of various anthropogenic activities on litter decomposition rates because of their large impact on the future carbon budget and climate change. However, any assessment of the global-scale impact of anthropogenic activity on litter decomposition requires standardized methods that can exclude the variability of litter chemistry. The Tea Bag Index (TBI) is widely used as a standardized method to obtain both the decomposition constant k of early-stage litter decomposition and the stabilization factor S. Recently, a tea bag manufacturer changed the materials and size of the tea bag mesh from a 0.25 mm woven mesh to a nonuniform, nonwoven mesh. To test whether these changes in mesh materials have any effect on the TBI approach, an incubation study was performed. Obtaining time series decomposition data for both green and rooibos teas, two essential assumptions of the TBI approach were examined: (i) that most of the unstabilized hydrolyzable fraction of green tea is decomposed within 90 days (unless the environment is unfavorable for decomposition) and (ii) the S of green tea is equal to that of rooibos tea. The results did not show a clear breakdown of the first assumption of the TBI approach due to the changes in mesh materials, and they did not support the second assumption. The S of rooibos tea determined by fitting an asymptote model to the time series data was significantly larger than the TBI-based S. In conclusion, the TBI may be undeterminable using nonwoven tea bags.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020013
Authors: Márcia Ramos Jorge Felipe Mendes Merey Bruno do Amaral Crispim Fábio Kummrow Alexeia Barufatti Fabiana Gomes da Silva Dantas Kelly Mari Pires de Oliveira Eduardo José de Arruda
The development of new insecticides for vector control that are toxicologically safe and eco-friendly (such as those obtained from industrial by-products) is an important public health concern. Previous research has shown that the obtained tCNSL (technical cashew nutshell liquid) + NatCNSLS (sodium tCNSL sulfonate mixture) emulsion displayed both surfactant properties and larvicidal activity (LC50-24 h 110.6 mg/L). Thus, the emulsion is considered a promising alternative product for the control of Aedes aegypti. The goal of this study was an ecotoxicological evaluation of the tCNSL + NatCNSLS mixture emulsion and its components. In addition, we compared the toxicity of the tCNSL + NatCNSLS mixture emulsion with toxicity data from larvicide currently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Ecotoxicological tests were performed to assess acute toxicity, phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and mutagenicity using Daphnia similis, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Oreochromis niloticus, Allium cepa, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Regarding acute toxicity, D. similis was the most sensitive test organism for the three evaluated products, followed by P. subcapitata and O. niloticus. The highest acute toxicity product was tCNSL. The tCNSL + NatCNSLS mixture emulsion did not show cytotoxic, genotoxic, or mutagenic effects, and showed low acute toxicity to D. similis. In addition, the tCNSL + NatCNSLS mixture emulsion presented a lower or similar toxicological classification to the larvicides recommended by the WHO. Therefore, ecotoxicological tests suggest that the tCNSL + NatCNSLS mixture emulsion can be considered a larvicide environmentally safe way to control Ae. aegypti.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020012
Authors: Sandy Raimondo Valery E. Forbes
Under standard guidance for conducting Ecological Risk Assessments (ERAs), the risks of chemical exposure to diverse organisms are most often based on deterministic point estimates evaluated against safety-factor-based levels of concern (LOCs). While the science and guidance for mechanistic effect models (e.g., demographic, population, and agent-based) have long been demonstrated to provide more ecologically relevant effect endpoints upon which risk can be evaluated, their application in ERAs has been limited, particularly in the US. This special issue highlights the state of the science in effect modeling for ERAs through demonstrated application of the recently published Population modeling Guidance, Use, Interpretation, and Development for ERA (Pop-GUIDE). We introduce this issue with a perspective on why it is critical to move past the current application of deterministic endpoints and LOCs. We demonstrate how the current, widely used approaches contain extensive uncertainty that could be reduced considerably by applying models that account for species life histories and other important endogenous and exogenous factors critical to species sustainability. We emphasize that it is long past time to incorporate better, more robust, and ecologically relevant effect models into ERAs, particularly for chronic risk determination. The papers in this special issue demonstrate how mechanistic models that follow Pop-GUIDE better inform ERAs compared to the current standard practice.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020011
Authors: Matthew A. Etterson
Recent research has provided valuable momentum for the development and use of population models for ecological risk assessment (ERA). In general, ERA proceeds along a tiered strategy, with conservative assumptions deployed at lower tiers that are relaxed at higher tiers with ever more realistic models. As the tier increases, so do the levels of time and effort required by the assessor. When faced with many stressors, species, and habitats, risk assessors need to find efficiencies. Conservative lower-tier approaches are well established, but higher-tier models often prioritize accuracy, and conservative approaches are relatively unexplored at higher tiers. A principle of efficiency for ecological modeling for population-level ecological risk assessment is articulated and evaluated against a conceptual model and an existing set of avian models for chemical risk assessment. Here, four published avian models are reviewed in increasing order of realism (risk quotient → Markov chain nest productivity model → endogenous lifecycle model → spatially explicit population model). Models are compared in a pairwise fashion according to increasing realism and evaluated as to whether conservatism increases or decreases with each step. The principle of efficiency is shown to be a challenging ideal, though some cause for optimism is identified. Strategies are suggested for studying efficiency in tiered ecological model deployment.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020010
Authors: Fernanda de Paula Natália Vama Vieira Gabriela Fiori da Silva Tiago Palladino Delforno Iolanda Cristina Silveira Duarte
Plants and their derivatives, such as fruits, can be inhabited by different bacteria. However, this microbiota is still poorly studied. Among the wide variety of metabolites that bacteria produce, biosurfactants have been identified as potential molecules in the development of bioprocesses for various industrial sectors. In this work, we analyzed and compared the microbiota of fruit residues (mango and orange), in order to compare two possible sources of bioprospecting. For this, a bioinformatics approach was used to perform the taxonomic analysis and the prediction of the functional profile of the microbiota present in the samples. The results showed that the microbiota present in both fruit residues have the potential in biotechnological applications to produce biosurfactants, as these microbiota have genes related to the biosynthesis of these compounds. The common core of the microbiota present in the samples—Stenotrophomonas, Klebsiella, Serratia and Citrobacter—proved, according to the literature, to be composed of biosurfactant producers, showing the biosurfactant potential of the bacteria isolated from orange and mango residues.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020009
Authors: Tatiana Novoselova Sophia Barinova Alexander Protasov
A comparison of two closely located reservoirs on the Southern Bug River and its tributary in the southern region of Ukraine is carried out. One of them (Tashlyk reservoir on a small river, tributary of the Southern Bug River) is a cooling reservoir (pond) for the nuclear power plant, the other (Alexandrovskoye reservoir, on the Southern Bug River) is used for agricultural purposes, for the production of electricity at a hydroelectric power plant, and as a lower reservoir for a pumped storage power plant. Comparison of the main indicators of phytoplankton in the reservoirs was carried out together with its spatial distribution. It was found that the distribution of coenotic groups of plankton in the cooling reservoir corresponds to thermal conditions. In the Alexandrovskoye reservoir, separate communities of plankton are formed along its length. The description of indicator species of algae in two reservoirs is given. The important role of the catchment basin was demonstrated with statistical maps. It was shown that a significant increase in temperature in the cooling pond did not lead to the depletion of phytoplankton.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020008
Authors: Sandra Hudina Ivana Maguire Paula Dragičević Nika Galic
Invasive crayfish are among the major threats to freshwater ecosystems, with the signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, being one of the most successful crayfish invaders in Europe. Approaches to invasive crayfish control range from manual and physical to biological and biocidal control methods. However, all of these approaches have their drawbacks and have limited efficacy. Among traditional approaches with minimal impacts on environment and non-target species, manual control via trapping is the most frequently applied. More innovative approaches comprise, among others, usage of sterile male release technique, whose efficacy in the field is yet to be fully tested, especially how it combines with more traditional approaches. A good alternative to costly and logistically challenging field comparisons of these approaches and their combinations is population modeling. Population models can integrate all relevant species-specific biological and ecological information and can be applied to identify management scenarios of highest impact on invasive crayfish abundances. In this study, we developed a conceptual population model of the invasive P. leniusculus following the Pop-GUIDE framework. In addition, we expanded on the framework to increase its applicability to other fields beyond environmental risk assessment. Finally, we discuss potential application of the model and its future use as a management tool.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020007
Authors: Kouame Jean Marc Kouman Akoua Tamia Madeleine Kouakou Kouassi Bruno Kpangui Issouf Bamba Yao Sadaiou Sabas Barima Jan Bogaert
Ivorian classified forests have been highly anthropized by cocoa farming. In an attempt to provide guidance to the government on approaches to the restoration of the forest while respecting the aspirations of local populations, permanent plots were set up in the classified forest of Haut-Sassandra, and were monitored and measured for 3 years. This study was intended to analyze the evolution of the vegetation of permanent plots in the classified forest of Haut-Sassandra from 2018 to 2021. The results show that the vegetation evolves with the cessation of some agricultural activities. These plantations are colonized by pioneer species during the first three years of the abandonment of agricultural activities. Mortality rates increased by 477.59% and recruitment rates were reduced by 61.87% in regularly maintained plantations compared to their condition three years ago. However, the plantations with no agricultural activities and those which were not maintained but harvested had the highest recruitment rates of pioneer and heliophilous individuals. In sum, tree species could recolonize the classified forest of Haut-Sassandra if clearing is prohibited in cocoa farms. However, the populations could continue to harvest the pods from the cocoa trees which are already established in the classified forest of Haut-Sassandra.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020006
Authors: Alessandro Ferrarini Marco Gustin
The red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) is a species that is of great interest to conservation. Because of this, understanding the red-footed falcon’s flight behavior is important for the conservation of this species. In this context, by using accurate GPS data-loggers, in 2019 and 2020, we analyzed its flight activity at the two largest colonies in Italy, and we collected 5840 GPS points. At night, all of the surveyed individuals were active during all of the hourly intervals, and they were in flight for about 10% of the time (40% in the daytime). The nocturnal flight activity showed a dual pattern: frequent and long-distance flights before sunrise (22.22% of time in flight; maximum distance from nest > 3 km) and after sundown (32.14% of time in flight; maximum distance from nest > 12 km), and limited and short-distance flights late at night (10 p.m.–5 a.m.; <5% of time in flight; maximum distance from nest < 100 m). Our study suggests that an increase in alfalfa crops and fallow land (in place of maize and soy crops) in the surroundings (i.e., 50–100 m) of the nests would considerably help this species to avoid, or at least to minimize, nocturnal flight activity, with expected improvements in its reproductive success. Our results are a step forward in advancing the knowledge of this important red-footed falcon population, which has been largely unknown so far. We provide here the first evidence ever of the red-footed falcon’s regular nocturnal flight activity during the nestling period (June–July).
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3020005
Authors: Lamiaa F. Shalabi Fedah S. Otaif
Commiphora species are of high medicinal importance. They are distributed in Saudi Arabia, mainly in rocky habitats and regions under mountains, including the east of Tihama, forming a distinct element of Saudi flora. The present study focuses on the botanical characterization of five species of Commiphora, i.e., C. erythraea, C. gileadensis, C. kataf, C. myrrha, and C. quadricincta. The morphological characters for each species were recorded comparatively, and their taxonomic relationships were examined using gross morphology by generating a UPGMA dendrogram, which separated the Commiphora species into two distinct groups. A dichotomous key was generated to facilitate the identification process of the plant, even by naked eye, by obvious characteristics. Because of the similarities in anatomical structure of the stem and petiole of most studied species, only the quantitative variations are illustrated comparatively. Seed macro- and micro-morphological characteristics were recorded comparatively to be used in the identification of a species in the case of leaf absence. The phytochemical study included measurements of total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The phytochemical results were correlated with the ethno-botanic survey. The traditional uses for all species were recorded using the questionnaire and open interviews method for data collecting. The results revealed that the most common Commiphora species that are traditionally used are C. myrrha and C. gileadensis. The study recommends more research on Commiphora species using more advanced techniques and tries to increase public awareness on the importance of these plants.
]]>Ecologies doi: 10.3390/ecologies3010004
Authors: Yanling Peng Jie Gao Xing Zhang
The insect data of 93 national nature reserves in China was used to identify the underlying drivers’ potential for species richness along geographical gradients. We assessed the correlations between predictors (climate and soil) and response variables (insect richness). We found that the following: insect diversity decreased significantly at higher latitudes. The latitudinal variation in insect richness seems to be driven by climate and soil variations and also the diversity of other biota. Among all the tested predictors, plant diversity explained the most latitudinal patterns of insect richness (R2 = 0.498). Insect richness showed a positive correlation with the diversity of other biota and climate factors (mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation) and was negatively associated with soil pH. Overall, the interspecific relationship between organisms was the main driver of insect diversity’s latitudinal pattern. However, the effects of climate and soil factors cannot be ignored.
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