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Hederström V, Ekroos J, Friberg M, Krausl T, Opedal ØH, Persson AS, Petrén H, Quan Y, Smith HG, Clough Y. Pollinator-mediated effects of landscape-scale land use on grassland plant community composition and ecosystem functioning - seven hypotheses. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:675-698. [PMID: 38118437 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Environmental change is disrupting mutualisms between organisms worldwide. Reported declines in insect populations and changes in pollinator community compositions in response to land use and other environmental drivers have put the spotlight on the need to conserve pollinators. While this is often motivated by their role in supporting crop yields, the role of pollinators for reproduction and resulting taxonomic and functional assembly in wild plant communities has received less attention. Recent findings suggest that observed and experimental gradients in pollinator availability can affect plant community composition, but we know little about when such shifts are to be expected, or the impact they have on ecosystem functioning. Correlations between plant traits related to pollination and plant traits related to other important ecosystem functions, such as productivity, nitrogen uptake or palatability to herbivores, lead us to expect non-random shifts in ecosystem functioning in response to changes in pollinator communities. At the same time, ecological and evolutionary processes may counteract these effects of pollinator declines, limiting changes in plant community composition, and in ecosystem functioning. Despite calls to investigate community- and ecosystem-level impacts of reduced pollination, the study of pollinator effects on plants has largely been confined to impacts on plant individuals or single-species populations. With this review we aim to break new ground by bringing together aspects of landscape ecology, ecological and evolutionary plant-insect interactions, and biodiversity-ecosystem functioning research, to generate new ideas and hypotheses about the ecosystem-level consequences of pollinator declines in response to land-use change, using grasslands as a focal system. Based on an integrated set of seven hypotheses, we call for more research investigating the putative pollinator-mediated links between landscape-scale land use and ecosystem functioning. In particular, future research should use combinations of experimental and observational approaches to assess the effects of changes in pollinator communities over multiple years and across species on plant communities and on trait distributions both within and among species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Hederström
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Johan Ekroos
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Magne Friberg
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Theresia Krausl
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Øystein H Opedal
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Anna S Persson
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Hampus Petrén
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Yuanyuan Quan
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Henrik G Smith
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Yann Clough
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
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Tscharntke T, Batáry P, Grass I. Mixing on- and off-field measures for biodiversity conservation. Trends Ecol Evol 2024:S0169-5347(24)00085-5. [PMID: 38705769 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
The continuing biodiversity losses through agricultural expansion and intensification are dramatic. We argue that a mix of on- and off-field measures is needed, overcoming the false dichotomy of the land sharing-sparing debate. Protected land is essential for global biodiversity, while spillover between farmed and natural land is key to reducing species extinctions. This is particularly effective in landscapes with small and diversified fields. Focusing only on protected land fails to conserve a wealth of species, which often provide major ecosystem services such as pest control, pollination, and cultural benefits. On-field measures must minimise yield losses to prevent increased demand for food imports from biodiversity-rich regions, requiring enforcement of high social-ecological land-use standards to ensure a good life for all.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Péter Batáry
- "Lendület" Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary; Faunistics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Agriculture, Ecotrophology, and Landscape Development, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg, Germany
| | - Ingo Grass
- Ecology of Tropical Agricultural Systems, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Center for Biodiversity and Integrative Taxonomy (KomBioTa), University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
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3
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Priyadarshana TS, Martin EA, Sirami C, Woodcock BA, Goodale E, Martínez-Núñez C, Lee MB, Pagani-Núñez E, Raderschall CA, Brotons L, Rege A, Ouin A, Tscharntke T, Slade EM. Crop and landscape heterogeneity increase biodiversity in agricultural landscapes: A global review and meta-analysis. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14412. [PMID: 38549269 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Agricultural intensification not only increases food production but also drives widespread biodiversity decline. Increasing landscape heterogeneity has been suggested to increase biodiversity across habitats, while increasing crop heterogeneity may support biodiversity within agroecosystems. These spatial heterogeneity effects can be partitioned into compositional (land-cover type diversity) and configurational heterogeneity (land-cover type arrangement), measured either for the crop mosaic or across the landscape for both crops and semi-natural habitats. However, studies have reported mixed responses of biodiversity to increases in these heterogeneity components across taxa and contexts. Our meta-analysis covering 6397 fields across 122 studies conducted in Asia, Europe, North and South America reveals consistently positive effects of crop and landscape heterogeneity, as well as compositional and configurational heterogeneity for plant, invertebrate, vertebrate, pollinator and predator biodiversity. Vertebrates and plants benefit more from landscape heterogeneity, while invertebrates derive similar benefits from both crop and landscape heterogeneity. Pollinators benefit more from configurational heterogeneity, but predators favour compositional heterogeneity. These positive effects are consistent for invertebrates and vertebrates in both tropical/subtropical and temperate agroecosystems, and in annual and perennial cropping systems, and at small to large spatial scales. Our results suggest that promoting increased landscape heterogeneity by diversifying crops and semi-natural habitats, as suggested in the current UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, is key for restoring biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tharaka S Priyadarshana
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Emily A Martin
- Animal Ecology, Institute of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University of Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Clélia Sirami
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, UMR Dynafor, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Ben A Woodcock
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Eben Goodale
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Carlos Martínez-Núñez
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Estación Biológica de Doñana EBD (CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Myung-Bok Lee
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Emilio Pagani-Núñez
- Centre for Conservation and Restoration Science, School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Chloé A Raderschall
- Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
| | | | - Anushka Rege
- Centre for Nature-Based Climate Solutions, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Annie Ouin
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, UMR Dynafor, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Teja Tscharntke
- Department of Agroecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eleanor M Slade
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore City, Singapore
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Radočaj D, Gašparović M, Radočaj P, Jurišić M. Geospatial prediction of total soil carbon in European agricultural land based on deep learning. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169647. [PMID: 38151124 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Accurate geospatial prediction of soil parameters provides a basis for large-scale digital soil mapping, making efficient use of the expensive and time-consuming process of field soil sampling. To date, few studies have used deep learning for geospatial prediction of soil parameters, but there is evidence that it may provide higher accuracy compared to machine learning methods. To address this research gap, this study proposed a deep neural network (DNN) for geospatial prediction of total soil carbon (TC) in European agricultural land and compared it with the eight most commonly used machine learning methods based on studies indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. A total of 6209 preprocessed soil samples from the Geochemical mapping of agricultural and grazing land soil (GEMAS) dataset in heterogeneous agricultural areas covering 4,899,602 km2 in Europe were used. Prediction was performed based on 96 environmental covariates from climate and remote sensing sources, with extensive comprehensive hyperparameter tuning for all evaluated methods. DNN outperformed all evaluated machine learning methods (R2 = 0.663, RMSE = 9.595, MAE = 5.565), followed by Quantile Random Forest (QRF) (R2 = 0.635, RMSE = 25.993, MAE = 22.081). The ability of DNN to accurately predict small TC values and thus produce relatively low absolute residuals was a major reason for the higher prediction accuracy compared to machine learning methods. Climate parameters were the main factors in the achieved prediction accuracy, with 23 of the 25 environmental covariates with the highest variable importance being climate or land surface temperature parameters. These results demonstrate the superiority of DNN over machine learning methods for TC prediction, while highlighting the need for more recent soil sampling to assess the impact of climate change on TC content in European agricultural land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorijan Radočaj
- Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Chair of Geoinformation Technology and GIS, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia.
| | - Mateo Gašparović
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Geodesy, Chair of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Kačićeva 26, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Petra Radočaj
- Layer d.o.o., Vukovarska cesta 31, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Mladen Jurišić
- Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Chair of Geoinformation Technology and GIS, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia.
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Liu J, Jin X, Lin J, Liang X, Zhang X, Zhou Y. Identification and characteristic analysis of semi-natural habitats in China's economically developed areas: New insights to inform cultivated land system ecological conservation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 351:119804. [PMID: 38091730 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Identifying and characterizing semi-natural habitats (SNHs) are important to the ecological conservation of cultivated land systems and implementing China's ecological civilization strategy. This study revealed the concept and characteristics of SNHs in Chinese cultivated land systems regarding human activities, resource types, and spatial landscape patterns. The resource quantity, landscape quality, and spatial distribution of SNHs in Southern Jiangsu's cultivated land system were analyzed by constructing the identification model of "land use/land cover type-cultivated land use intensity-spatial landscape pattern". The results showed that the area of SNHs in Southern Jiangsu's cultivated land system was 25.35%, significantly influenced by cultivated land intensification and expansion. The higher the cultivated land use intensity, the lower the quantity of SNHs, and the proportion of SNHs in the intensive-use pattern was only 2.97%. 68.18% of the SNHs in Southern Jiangsu were water, and habitats for important species, such as woodland, grassland, wetlands, and bare land, were scarce. A small patch area, high landscape fragmentation, poor landscape richness and diversity, and low connectivity accompanied increased cultivated land use intensity. From the extensive to intensive utilization, the spatial spread of SNHs from low-value aggregation to high-value scatter areas, with hotspot areas of cultivated land use intensity and SNHs existing only in a small part of Nanjing and Changzhou. This study provides a scientific reference for the rehabilitation and restoration of SNHs in the context of the ecological transformation of land use. It promotes the sustainable intensification of cultivated land systems. It also provides new ideas for linking ecological and urban spaces to form a stable and systematic national ecological safety network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingping Liu
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xiaobin Jin
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, 210023, China; Natural Resources Research Center, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia 11 District, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Jinhuang Lin
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xinyuan Liang
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xiaolin Zhang
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yinkang Zhou
- School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Exploitation and Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing, 210023, China; Natural Resources Research Center, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia 11 District, Nanjing, 210023, China
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6
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Tan H, Xing Q, Mo L, Wu C, Zhang X, He X, Liang Y, Hao R. Occurrence, multiphase partitioning, drivers, and ecological risks of current-use herbicides in a river basin dominated by rice-vegetable rotations in tropical China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168270. [PMID: 37918751 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Rice-vegetable rotation practices prevail in subtropical and tropical agriculture worldwide, with applications of current-use herbicides (CUHs) vital for nontarget plant control. After application, CUHs migrate to environmental compartments, where the occurrence, fate, and ecological risks have not been well characterized. To further understand the occurrence and multiphase partitioning, as well as to evaluate potential drivers and mixture risks in environmental compartments, we analyzed 11 CUHs in 576 samples from 36 rice-vegetable rotations in Nandu River basin, Hainan, China. Samples included soil, water, suspended particulate matter, and sediment collected during both rice and vegetable planting periods. The CUH concentrations varied across environmental compartments, but with high levels of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid organophosphorus herbicides (OPHs) frequently detected, accounting for 82.3 % to 99.0 % in environmental compartments. Phenoxy acid (PAA) and chloroacetanilide (ANH) herbicides were detected at lower frequencies. Spatiotemporal variation was significantly different among OPHs, ANHs, and PAAs, with geographic and crop-related patterns most evident for CUHs rather than OPHs. Structural equation model, redundancy, and boosted regression tree analyses indicated environmental compartment properties (pH, organic matter, and Fe/Al oxides), crop type, and wet/dry climate were important drivers of spatiotemporal patterns. Fugacity ratios indicated multiphase partitioning and transport of CUHs differed in rice and vegetable planting periods. A new assessment framework based on species-sensitive distributions and environmental compartment weight index indicated unacceptable risks of CUHs (risk quotient >1 in >50 % of sites), with most risks from OPHs (10.5 % to 98.0 %) and butachlor, acetochlor, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Risk hot spots were identified as the soil, the central region, and the vegetable planting period, potentially threatening nontarget organisms (e.g., Lemna minor, Glomus intraradices, and Apis mellifera). This study provides a new risk assessment framework and demonstrates the domination of OPHs in CUH contamination and risks in the tropics, thus helping guide policymakers and stakeholders on herbicide management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huadong Tan
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, PR China; National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Environment, Danzhou 571737, PR China; Hainan Engineering Research Center for Non-point Source and Heavy Metal Pollution Control, Danzhou 571737, PR China
| | - Qiao Xing
- Hainan Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Haikou 571126, PR China
| | - Ling Mo
- Hainan Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Haikou 571126, PR China
| | - Chunyuan Wu
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, PR China; National Agricultural Experimental Station for Agricultural Environment, Danzhou 571737, PR China; Hainan Engineering Research Center for Non-point Source and Heavy Metal Pollution Control, Danzhou 571737, PR China.
| | - Xiaoying Zhang
- Haikou Experimental Station, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, PR China
| | - Xiaoyu He
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, PR China; Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
| | - Yuefu Liang
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, PR China; Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Rong Hao
- Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
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Wang Z, Liu S, Su Y. Spatiotemporal evolution of habitat quality and its response to landscape patterns in karst mountainous cities: a case study of Guiyang City in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:114391-114405. [PMID: 37861839 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30420-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Habitat quality heterogeneity is one of the concrete manifestations of landscape pattern changes caused by human activities, which is of great significance to improve habitat quality by optimizing landscape pattern, thus scientifically protecting biodiversity and promoting ecological civilization construction. The coupling of rapid urbanization and ecological restoration measures has had a significant influence on the habitat quality of fragile and fragmented karst mountainous cities in recent years. In this study, spatiotemporal dynamics and heterogeneity of habitat quality and the impact of landscape patterns on habitat quality are analyzed in Guiyang, a typical karst mountain city in southwest China, mainly using the key methodologies such as the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model, Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA), and hierarchical partitioning (HP). We found that the habitat quality index of Guiyang City improved from 0.6643 to 0.6988 during 2000-2019; the distribution of habitat quality has significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity and spatial aggregation effect with the low values or the decreased areas concentrated in and around the built-up areas or urbanization expansion areas. Landscape composition had greater contribution than landscape configuration to habitat quality. The increased areas of natural habitat have had a positive effect on habitat quality. Moreover, each landscape configuration had a significant positive or negative correlation with the habitat quality. Therefore, implementing ecological protection and restoration measures in karst mountainous cities might be an effective strategy to improve habitat quality during rapid urbanization. Furthermore, optimizing habitat patterns, reducing the habitats loss, and protecting the natural habitat integrity are crucial to improving and maintaining biodiversity in the study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences / Institute of Agro-Bioengineering, Guizhou University, Huaxi District, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Mountain Ecology & Agro-Bioengineering, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Shujun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences / Institute of Agro-Bioengineering, Guizhou University, Huaxi District, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Mountain Ecology & Agro-Bioengineering, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Yuan Su
- College of Forestry, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China
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Chen Y, Rasool MA, Hussain S, Meng S, Yao Y, Wang X, Liu Y. Bird community structure is driven by urbanization level, blue-green infrastructure configuration and precision farming in Taizhou, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160096. [PMID: 36372169 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Land use/land cover (LULC) changes and high urbanization rates are the main drivers of avian habitat loss in developing countries. However, few studies have examined the effects of urbanization intensity on avian diversity distribution and its importance in guiding eco-friendly urban planning. We surveyed bird distribution (n = 67 species) in different seasons using local ecological knowledge (LEK) and transect line methods in Jiangyan District from July 2018 to May 2019. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the effects of urbanization levels on birds relative density and richness during spring-summer (breeding season) and autumn-winter seasons (non-breeding season). Generalized linear models (GLM) were identified for the landscape composition and configuration that drive relative density and richness in native bird communities. Using redundancy analysis (RDA), we identified the landscape composition and configuration factors affecting bird foraging and roosting at urbanization levels. The results showed high dependency of waders and granivores on paddy fields and dry arable land respectively during the breeding season. During non-breeding season, wetland abundance, land cover, connectivity and total area of BGI were important habitat factors in attracting birds. Moreover, the landscape composition and configuration factors of BGI: wetlands as well as farmland habitats, are the main environmental cues that influence bird foraging. Therefore, to increase habitat suitability over landscape matrix, we propose creation of multiple waterbodies and green corridors of variable types and sizes on natural patches to improve the connectivity of ecological network. We also recommend land management interventions in farmland ecosystems, which could contribute to natural habitat restoration and improve bird biodiversity in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixue Chen
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | | | - Sarfraz Hussain
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Shuang Meng
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Yipeng Yao
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
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9
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Yoshioka A, Mitamura T, Matsuki N, Shimizu A, Ouchi H, Oguma H, Jo J, Fukasawa K, Kumada N, Jingu S, Tabuchi K. Camera-trapping estimates of the relative population density of Sympetrum dragonflies: application to multihabitat users in agricultural landscapes. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14881. [PMID: 36874968 PMCID: PMC9983425 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although camera trapping has been effectively used for wildlife monitoring, its application to multihabitat insects (i.e., insects requiring terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems) is limited. Among such insects, perching dragonflies of the genus Sympetrum (darter dragonflies) are agroenvironmental indicators that substantially contribute to agricultural biodiversity. To examine whether custom-developed camera traps for perching dragonflies can be used to assess the relative population density of darter dragonflies, camera trapping, a line-transect survey of mature adult dragonflies, and a line-transect survey of exuviae were conducted for three years in rice paddy fields in Japan. The detection frequency of camera traps in autumn was significantly correlated with the density index of mature adults recorded during the transect surveys in the same season for both Sympetrum infuscatum and other darter species. In analyses of camera-detection frequency in autumn and exuviae in early summer, a significant correlation was observed between the camera-detection frequency of mature adults and the exuviae-density index in the following year for S. infuscatum; however, a similar correlation was not observed for other darter species. These results suggest that terrestrial camera trapping has the potential to be effective for monitoring the relative density of multihabitat users such as S. infuscatum, which shows frequent perching behavior and relatively short-distance dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Yoshioka
- Fukushima Regional Collaborative Research Center, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Miharu, Tamura-gun, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Toshimasa Mitamura
- Hama-dori Research Centre, Fukushima Agricultural Technology Centre, Soma, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Matsuki
- Aizu Research Centre, Fukushima Agricultural Technology Centre, Aizubange, Fukushima, Japan
| | | | - Hirofumi Ouchi
- Fukushima Regional Collaborative Research Center, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Miharu, Tamura-gun, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Oguma
- Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Jaeick Jo
- Fukushima Regional Collaborative Research Center, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Miharu, Tamura-gun, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Keita Fukasawa
- Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Nao Kumada
- Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shoma Jingu
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forest Research and Management Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Ken Tabuchi
- Tohoku Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Morioka, Iwate, Japan
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10
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Lisón F, Matus-Olivares C, Troncoso E, Catalán G, Jiménez-Franco MV. Effect of forest landscapes composition and configuration on bird community and its functional traits in a hotspot of biodiversity of Chile. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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11
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Chen S, Wu C, Lin D, Chen T, Trac LVT. An empirical and expert‐knowledge hybrid approach to implement farmland habitat assessment for birds. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Szu‐Hung Chen
- International Master Program of Agriculture National Chung Hsing University Taichung City Taiwan
| | - Chen‐Fa Wu
- Department of Horticulture National Chung Hsing University Taichung City Taiwan
- Innovation and Development Center of Sustainable Agriculture National Chung Hsing University Taichung City Taiwan
| | - Da‐Li Lin
- Endemic Species Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Taiwan Nantou County Taiwan
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland Queensland Australia
| | - Tien‐Shui Chen
- Endemic Species Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Taiwan Nantou County Taiwan
| | - Luu Van Thong Trac
- Department of Horticulture National Chung Hsing University Taichung City Taiwan
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12
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Tanács E, Bede-Fazekas Á, Csecserits A, Kisné Fodor L, Pásztor L, Somodi I, Standovár T, Zlinszky A, Zsembery Z, Vári Á. Assessing ecosystem condition at the national level in Hungary - indicators, approaches, challenges. ONE ECOSYSTEM 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.7.e81543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The availability of robust and reliable spatial information on ecosystem condition is of increasing importance in informing conservation policy. Recent policy requirements have sparked a renewed interest in conceptual questions related to ecosystem condition and practical aspects like indicator selection, resulting in the emergence of conceptual frameworks, such as the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting - Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA) and its Ecosystem Condition Typology (ECT). However, while such frameworks are essential to ensure that condition assessments are comprehensive and comparable, large-scale practical implementation often poses challenges that need to be tackled within stringent time and cost frames.
We present methods and experiences of the national-level mapping and assessment of ecosystem condition in Hungary. The assessments covered the whole country, including all major ecosystem types present. The methodology constitutes four approaches of quantifying and mapping condition, based on different interpretations of naturalness and hemeroby, complemented by two more using properties that ‘overarch’ ecosystem types, such as soil and landscape attributes. In order to highlight their strengths and drawbacks, as well as to help reconcile aspects of conceptual relevance with practical limitations, we retrospectively evaluated the six mapping approaches (and the resulting indicators) against the indicator selection criteria suggested in the SEEA-EA. The results show that the various approaches have different strengths and weaknesses and, thus, their joint application has a higher potential to address the specific challenges related to large-scale ecosystem condition mapping.
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13
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Hemminger K, König H, Månsson J, Bellingrath‐Kimura S, Nilsson L. Winners and losers of land use change: A systematic review of interactions between the world’s crane species (
Gruidae
) and the agricultural sector. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8719. [PMID: 35356570 PMCID: PMC8948072 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
While agricultural intensification and expansion are major factors driving loss and degradation of natural habitat and species decline, some wildlife species also benefit from agriculturally managed habitats. This may lead to high population densities with impacts on both human livelihoods and wildlife conservation. Cranes are a group of 15 species worldwide, affected both negatively and positively by agricultural practices. While eleven species face critical population declines, numbers of common cranes (Grus grus) and sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) have increased drastically in the last 40 years. Their increase is associated with higher incidences of crane foraging on agricultural crops, causing financial losses to farmers. Our aim was to synthesize scientific knowledge on the bilateral effects of land use change and crane populations. We conducted a systematic literature review of peer‐reviewed publications on agriculture‐crane interactions (n = 135) and on the importance of agricultural crops in the diet of cranes (n = 81). Agricultural crops constitute a considerable part of the diet of all crane species (average of 37%, most frequently maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)). Crop damage was identified in only 10% of all agriculture‐crane interactions, although one‐third of interactions included cranes foraging on cropland. Using a conceptual framework analysis, we identified two major pathways in agriculture‐crane interactions: (1) habitat loss with negative effects on crane species dependent on specific habitats, and (2) expanding agricultural habitats with superabundant food availability beneficial for opportunistic crane species. The degree to which crane species can adapt to agricultural land use changes may be an important factor explaining their population response. We conclude that multi‐objective management needs to combine land sparing and land sharing strategies at landscape scale. To support viable crane populations while guaranteeing sustainable agricultural production, it is necessary to include the perspectives of diverse stakeholders and streamline conservation initiatives and agricultural policy accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karoline Hemminger
- Leibniz‐Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) Müncheberg Germany
- Humboldt‐Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Hannes König
- Leibniz‐Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) Müncheberg Germany
| | - Johan Månsson
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Riddarhyttan Sweden
| | | | - Lovisa Nilsson
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Riddarhyttan Sweden
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14
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Grassland type and presence of management shape butterfly functional diversity in agricultural and forested landscapes. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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15
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Frank T, Aeschbacher S, Zurbrügg C, Bruckner A. Partitioning of arthropod species diversity in temperate meadows, wildflower areas and pastures. Basic Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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16
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Hoffmann H, Peter F, Donath TW, Diekötter T. Landscape- and time-dependent benefits of wildflower areas to ground-dwelling arthropods. Basic Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2021.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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17
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Dorigo L, Boscutti F, Sigura M. Landscape and microhabitat features determine small mammal abundance in forest patches in agricultural landscapes. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12306. [PMID: 34820165 PMCID: PMC8603830 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Intensification of agricultural landscapes represent a major threat for biodiversity conservation also affecting several ecosystem services. The natural and semi-natural remnants, available in the agricultural matrix, represent important sites for small mammals and rodents, which are fundamental for sustaining various ecosystem functions and trophic chains. We studied the populations of two small mammals (Apodemus agrarius, A. sylvaticus) to evaluate the effects of landscape and habitat features on species abundance along a gradient of agricultural landscape intensification. The study was performed in Friuli Venezia Giulia (north-eastern Italy) during 19 months, in 19 wood remnants. Species abundance was determined using Capture-Mark-Recapture (CMR) techniques. In the same plots, main ecological parameters of the habitat (at microhabitat and patch scale) and landscape were considered. Abundance of A. agrarius increased in landscapes with high extent of permanent crops (i.e., orchards and poplar plantations) and low content of undecomposed litter in the wood understory. Instead, A. sylvaticus, a more generalist species, showed an opposite, albeit less strong, relationship with the same variables. Both species were not affected by any landscape structural feature (e.g., patch shape, isolation). Our findings showed that microhabitat features and landscape composition rather than wood and landscape structure affect populations’ abundance and species interaction. The opposite response of the two study species was probably because of their specific ecological requirements. In this light, conservation management of agricultural landscapes should consider the ecological needs of species at both landscape and habitat levels, by rebalancing composition patterns in the context of ecological intensification, and promoting a sustainable forest patch management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Dorigo
- Museo Friulano di Storia Naturale, Udine, Italy
| | - Francesco Boscutti
- Di4A - Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Maurizia Sigura
- Di4A - Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
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18
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Sidemo‐Holm W, Ekroos J, Smith HG. Land sharing versus land sparing—What outcomes are compared between which land uses? CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- William Sidemo‐Holm
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University Lund Sweden
- AgriFood Economics Centre, Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - Johan Ekroos
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - Henrik G. Smith
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University Lund Sweden
- Department of Biology Lund University Lund Sweden
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19
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Deák B, Báthori F, Lőrinczi G, Végvári Z, Nagy DD, Mizser S, Torma A, Valkó O, Tóthmérész B. Functional composition of ant assemblages in habitat islands is driven by habitat factors and landscape composition. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20962. [PMID: 34697323 PMCID: PMC8546063 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00385-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragmented natural habitats within human-transformed landscapes play a key role in preserving biodiversity. Ants as keystone species are essential elements of terrestrial ecosystems; thus, it is important to understand the factors influencing their presence. In a large-scale multi-site study, we surveyed ant assemblages using sweep netting and D-vac sampling on 158 ancient burial mounds preserving grassland habitats in agricultural landscapes in East-Hungary. We asked the following questions: (1) How do habitat factors and landscape composition affect species richness and functional diversity of ants? (2) Which ant traits are affected by habitat factors and landscape composition? Despite their small sizes, mounds as permanent and relatively undisturbed landscape elements could provide safe havens for diverse ant assemblages even in transformed agricultural landscapes. The complex habitat structure of wooded mounds supported high species and functional diversity of ant assemblages. Ant species on wooded mounds had small or medium-sized colonies, enabling the co-existence of more species. The effect of landscape composition on ant assemblages was mediated by habitat factors: steep slopes buffered the negative effect of the cropland matrix and enabled higher ant diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Deák
- Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány út 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary.,Lendület Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Center for Ecological Research, Alkotmány út 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Báthori
- Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány út 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary.,Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány út 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
| | - Gábor Lőrinczi
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Végvári
- Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Centre for Ecological Research, Karolina út 29, Budapest, 1113, Hungary.,Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Eberswalder Str. 90, 15374, Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Dávid D Nagy
- MTA-DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Mizser
- MTA-DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary.,Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Attila Torma
- Lendület Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Center for Ecological Research, Alkotmány út 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary.,Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Valkó
- Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány út 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary.
| | - Béla Tóthmérész
- MTA-DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary.,Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
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20
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Fragment connectivity shapes bird communities through functional trait filtering in two types of grasslands. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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21
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Marja R, Klein AM, Viik E, Batáry P. Environmentally-friendly and organic management practices enable complementary diversification of plant–bumblebee food webs. Basic Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2021.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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22
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Broom DM. A method for assessing sustainability, with beef production as an example. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:1836-1853. [PMID: 33955119 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
A comprehensive approach to decisions about the use of land and other world resources, taking full account of biological and other scientific information, is crucial for good decisions to be made now and in future. The sustainability of systems for producing food and other products is sometimes assessed using too narrow a range of component factors. A production system might be unsustainable because of adverse effects on a wide range of aspects of human welfare, animal welfare, or the environment. All factors should be included in sustainability evaluation, otherwise products or actions might be avoided without adequate consideration of key factors or of the diversity of production systems. A scoring method that is based on scientific information and potentially of general relevance is presented here, using beef production as a example with a review of each of its sustainability components. This includes an overall combined score and specific factors that make the system unacceptable for some consumers. The results show that, in this example, the sustainability of the best systems is very much better than that of the worst systems. By taking account of scores for a wide range of components of sustainability in comparing beef-production systems, better quality policies about beef use can be formulated than when statements referring only to one system are considered. The least sustainable beef-production systems are extensive grazing that causes land degradation and the use of feedlots or indoor housing with grain feeding. Semi-intensive silvopastoral systems are the most sustainable beef-production systems, and well-managed pasture-fed beef from areas where crop production is uneconomic is also sustainable. This simple, scientifically based scoring system could be modified to use positive as well as negative scores and is of value for policy makers, researchers, producers, organisations aiming to improve sustainability, and the general public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald M Broom
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, U.K
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23
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Boetzl FA, Krauss J, Heinze J, Hoffmann H, Juffa J, König S, Krimmer E, Prante M, Martin EA, Holzschuh A, Steffan-Dewenter I. A multitaxa assessment of the effectiveness of agri-environmental schemes for biodiversity management. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2016038118. [PMID: 33649216 PMCID: PMC7958248 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2016038118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Agri-environmental schemes (AES) aim to restore biodiversity and biodiversity-mediated ecosystem services in landscapes impoverished by modern agriculture. However, a systematic, empirical evaluation of different AES types across multiple taxa and functional groups is missing. Within one orthogonal design, we studied sown flowering AES types with different temporal continuity, size, and landscape context and used calcareous grasslands as seminatural reference habitat. We measured species richness of 12 taxonomic groups (vascular plants, cicadas, orthopterans, bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies, flower visiting beetles, parasitoid wasps, carabid beetles, staphylinid beetles, and birds) representing 5 trophic levels. A total of 54,955 specimens were identified using traditional taxonomic methods, and bulk arthropod samples were identified through DNA metabarcoding, resulting in a total of 1,077 and 2,110 taxa, respectively. Species richness of most taxonomic groups, as well as multidiversity and richness of pollinators, increased with temporal continuity of AES types. Some groups responded to size and landscape context, but multidiversity and richness of pollinators and natural enemies were not affected. AES flowering fields supported different species assemblages than calcareous grasslands, but assemblages became more similar to those in seminatural grasslands with increasing temporal continuity. Our results indicate that AES flowering fields and seminatural grasslands function synergistically. Flowering fields support biodiversity even when they are relatively small and in landscapes with few remaining seminatural habitats. We therefore recommend a network of smaller, temporally continuous AES flowering fields of different ages, combined with permanent seminatural grasslands, to maximize benefits for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service delivery in agricultural landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian A Boetzl
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany;
| | - Jochen Krauss
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jonathan Heinze
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hannes Hoffmann
- Department of Landscape Ecology, Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, University of Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Jan Juffa
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian König
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Elena Krimmer
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Maren Prante
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Emily A Martin
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Zoological Biodiversity, Institute of Geobotany, Leibniz University of Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Andrea Holzschuh
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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24
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Deák B, Rádai Z, Bátori Z, Kelemen A, Lukács K, Kiss R, Maák IE, Valkó O. Ancient Burial Mounds Provide Safe Havens for Grassland Specialist Plants in Transformed Landscapes—A Trait-Based Analysis. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.619812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the intensified land use in transformed landscapes, grassland biodiversity is often restricted to habitat fragments inadequate for arable use or for urban development. In continental parts of Eurasia, the ~600,000 ancient burial mounds (called “kurgans”) built by nomadic tribes of the steppes are amongst the most widespread landmarks providing refuge for dry grassland species. In our study by using plant functional groups and functional traits, we aimed at gaining insight into the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping the structure and the composition of assemblages of grassland specialist plant species on kurgans embedded in the agricultural landscapes of East-Hungary. As a comparison, we also studied roadside verges and pristine extensive grasslands in the same region. We found that despite their small size, due to the lack of human disturbances and high microhabitat diversity kurgans can maintain a high species richness and percentage cover of specialists, especially when compared to verges. We revealed that assemblages of specialist plants on kurgans are characterized by traits typical to terrestrial habitat islands such as self-compatibility, large seed mass and tall stature. Kurgans and extensive grasslands were characterized by higher functional diversity (both at the level of single traits and multi-trait based functional dispersion) which is probably due to the higher level of environmental heterogeneity compared to the homogeneous environment in verges.
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25
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Klaus F, Tscharntke T, Bischoff G, Grass I. Floral resource diversification promotes solitary bee reproduction and may offset insecticide effects - evidence from a semi-field experiment. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:668-675. [PMID: 33524201 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Pollinator declines in agricultural landscapes are driven by multiple stressors, but potential interactions of these remain poorly studied. Using a highly replicated semi-field study with 56 mesocosms of varying wild plant diversity (2-16 species) and oilseed rape treated with a neonicotinoid, we tested the interacting effects of resource diversity and insecticides on reproduction of a solitary wild bee. Compared to mesocosms with oilseed rape monocultures, availability of resources from wild plants complementing oilseed rape doubled brood cell production. In addition, bee reproduction increased due to plant diversity and identity effects. Exposure to neonicotinoid-treated oilseed rape reduced bee larval to adult development by 69%, but only in mesocosms with oilseed rape monocultures. Availability of complementary flower resources can thus offset negative effects of neonicotinoid-treated oilseed rape on wild bee reproduction. Policy should encourage the implementation of diverse floral resources mitigating negative effects of crop monocultures and insecticides, thereby sustaining solitary bee populations in agricultural landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Klaus
- University of Göttingen, Agroecology, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Gabriela Bischoff
- Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Bee Protection, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ingo Grass
- University of Göttingen, Agroecology, Göttingen, Germany.,University of Hohenheim, Ecology of Tropical Agricultural Systems, Stuttgart, Germany
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26
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Smaller and Isolated Grassland Fragments Are Exposed to Stronger Seed and Insect Predation in Habitat Edges. FORESTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/f12010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Habitat fragmentation threatens terrestrial arthropod biodiversity, and thereby also leads to alterations of ecosystem functioning and stability. Predation on insects and seeds by arthropods are two very important ecological functions because of their community-structuring effects. We addressed the effect of fragment connectivity, fragment size, and edge effect on insect and seed predation of arthropods. We studied 60 natural fragments of two grassland ecosystems in the same region (Hungarian Great Plain), 30 forest-steppes, and 30 burial mounds (kurgans). The size of fragments were in the range of 0.16–6.88 ha for forest-steppe and 0.01–0.44 ha for kurgan. We used 2400 sentinel arthropod preys (dummy caterpillars) and 4800 seeds in trays for the measurements. Attack marks on dummy caterpillars were used for predator identification and calculation of insect predation rates. In the case of seeds, predation rates were calculated as the number of missing or damaged seeds per total number of exposed seeds. Increasing connectivity played a role only in generally small kurgans, with a negative effect on insect and seed predation rates in the edges. In contrast, fragment size moderated edge effects on insect and seed predation rates in generally large forest-steppes. The difference between edges and centres was more pronounced in small than in large fragments. Our study emphasizes the important role of landscape and fragment-scale factors interacting with edge effect in shaping ecosystem functions in natural grassland fragments of modified landscapes. Managing functional landscapes to optimize the assessment of ecosystem functions and services needs a multispatial scale approach.
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27
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28
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Arthropod functional traits shaped by landscape-scale field size, local agri-environment schemes and edge effects. Basic Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2020.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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