2
|
Chung MG, Liu J. International food trade benefits biodiversity and food security in low-income countries. NATURE FOOD 2022; 3:349-355. [PMID: 37117563 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00499-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
To achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to food security and biodiversity, understanding their interrelationships is essential. By examining datasets comprising 189 food items across 157 countries during 2000-2018, we found that high-income countries exported more food to low-income countries than they imported. Many low-income countries, especially those with biodiversity hotspots, increasingly acted as net importers, suggesting that imports from high-income countries can benefit biodiversity in low-income countries. Because low-income countries without hotspots have rapidly raised their amounts of food exports to hotspot countries, such exports might help further reduce negative impacts on biodiversity. The increasing complexity of food trade among countries with and without biodiversity hotspots requires innovative approaches to minimize the negative impacts of global food production and trade on biodiversity in countries worldwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Gon Chung
- Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Jianguo Liu
- Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tsafack N, Borges PAV, Xie Y, Wang X, Fattorini S. Emergent Rarity Properties in Carabid Communities From Chinese Steppes With Different Climatic Conditions. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.603436] [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
Species abundance distributions (SADs) are increasingly used to investigate how species community structure changes in response to environmental variations. SAD models depict the relative abundance of species recorded in a community and express fundamental aspects of the community structure, namely patterns of commonness and rarity. However, the influence of differences in environmental conditions on SAD characteristics is still poorly understood. In this study we used SAD models of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in three grassland ecosystems (desert, typical, and meadow steppes) in China. These ecosystems are characterized by different aridity conditions, thus offering an opportunity to investigate how SADs are influenced by differences in environmental conditions (mainly aridity and vegetation cover, and hence productivity). We used various SAD models, including the meta-community zero sum multinomial (mZSM), the lognormal (PLN) and Fisher’s logseries (LS), and uni- and multimodal gambin models. Analyses were done at the level of steppe type (coarse scale) and for different sectors within the same steppe (fine scale). We found that the mZSM model provided, in general, the best fit at both analysis scales. Model parameters were influenced by the scale of analysis. Moreover, the LS was the best fit in desert steppe SAD. If abundances are rarefied to the smallest sample, results are similar to those without rarefaction, but differences in models estimates become more evident. Gambin unimodal provided the best fit with the lowest α-value observed in desert steppe and higher values in typical and meadow steppes, with results which were strongly affected by the scale of analysis and the use of rarefaction. Our results indicate that all investigated communities are adequately modeled by two similar distributions, the mZSM and the LS, at both scales of analyses. This indicates (1) that all communities are characterized by a relatively small number of species, most of which are rare, and (2) that the meta-communities at the large scale maintain the basic SAD shape of the local communities. The gambin multimodal models produced exaggerated α-values, which indicates that they overfit simple communities. Overall, Fisher’s α, mZSM θ, and gambin α-values were substantially lower in the desert steppe and higher in the typical and meadow steppes, which implies a decreasing influence of environmental harshness (aridity) from the desert steppe to the typical and meadow steppes.
Collapse
|
4
|
Rana SK, Rawal RS, Dangwal B, Bhatt ID, Price TD. 200 Years of Research on Himalayan Biodiversity: Trends, Gaps, and Policy Implications. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.603422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Global mountains, including the Himalaya, are highly vulnerable ecosystems, especially given climate and land-use changes. Here, we compile the literature on Himalayan biodiversity in order to assess spatial and taxonomic trends in research during the past 200 years. We identified 35,316 research outputs, including 28,120 journal articles, 3,725 doctoral theses, and 3,471 books. Nepal contributes the largest volume of published literature, followed by west Himalayan Indian states, with relatively few studies on the most biodiverse region lying to the east of Nepal. Publications on Himalayan biodiversity research have increased annually, especially after 1970, with an acceleration since 2000. Among the major taxonomic groups, the largest number of publications is on seed plants (angiosperms), followed by invertebrates (especially arthropods) and vertebrates. Some groups of organisms, notably fungi, bacteria, algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, etc., are clearly understudied. Among various research disciplines, ecology is the most dominant field followed by agriculture, ethnobiology, and paleontology. Some newer disciplines, including molecular biology and climate change, have contributed to the growth in the number of papers appearing during the last two decades. Despite an encouraging and rapid increase in research papers during this century, they are largely in low-impact-factor journals, likely to be subject to poor peer review, and many doctoral theses remain unpublished. The Government of India's development initiative emphasizes the importance of research in the Himalaya, which can be enhanced by improved quality of peer review and local journals registering in global indexing services.
Collapse
|
5
|
Fitak RR, Antonides JD, Baitchman EJ, Bonaccorso E, Braun J, Kubiski S, Chiu E, Fagre AC, Gagne RB, Lee JS, Malmberg JL, Stenglein MD, Dusek RJ, Forgacs D, Fountain-Jones NM, Gilbertson MLJ, Worsley-Tonks KEL, Funk WC, Trumbo DR, Ghersi BM, Grimaldi W, Heisel SE, Jardine CM, Kamath PL, Karmacharya D, Kozakiewicz CP, Kraberger S, Loisel DA, McDonald C, Miller S, O'Rourke D, Ott-Conn CN, Páez-Vacas M, Peel AJ, Turner WC, VanAcker MC, VandeWoude S, Pecon-Slattery J. The Expectations and Challenges of Wildlife Disease Research in the Era of Genomics: Forecasting with a Horizon Scan-like Exercise. J Hered 2020; 110:261-274. [PMID: 31067326 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esz001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The outbreak and transmission of disease-causing pathogens are contributing to the unprecedented rate of biodiversity decline. Recent advances in genomics have coalesced into powerful tools to monitor, detect, and reconstruct the role of pathogens impacting wildlife populations. Wildlife researchers are thus uniquely positioned to merge ecological and evolutionary studies with genomic technologies to exploit unprecedented "Big Data" tools in disease research; however, many researchers lack the training and expertise required to use these computationally intensive methodologies. To address this disparity, the inaugural "Genomics of Disease in Wildlife" workshop assembled early to mid-career professionals with expertise across scientific disciplines (e.g., genomics, wildlife biology, veterinary sciences, and conservation management) for training in the application of genomic tools to wildlife disease research. A horizon scanning-like exercise, an activity to identify forthcoming trends and challenges, performed by the workshop participants identified and discussed 5 themes considered to be the most pressing to the application of genomics in wildlife disease research: 1) "Improving communication," 2) "Methodological and analytical advancements," 3) "Translation into practice," 4) "Integrating landscape ecology and genomics," and 5) "Emerging new questions." Wide-ranging solutions from the horizon scan were international in scope, itemized both deficiencies and strengths in wildlife genomic initiatives, promoted the use of genomic technologies to unite wildlife and human disease research, and advocated best practices for optimal use of genomic tools in wildlife disease projects. The results offer a glimpse of the potential revolution in human and wildlife disease research possible through multi-disciplinary collaborations at local, regional, and global scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer D Antonides
- Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
| | - Eric J Baitchman
- The Zoo New England Division of Animal Health and Conservation, Boston, MA
| | - Elisa Bonaccorso
- The Instituto BIOSFERA and Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, vía Interoceánica y Diego de Robles, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Josephine Braun
- The Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, CA
| | - Steven Kubiski
- The Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, CA
| | - Elliott Chiu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Anna C Fagre
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Roderick B Gagne
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Justin S Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Jennifer L Malmberg
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Mark D Stenglein
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Robert J Dusek
- The U. S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI
| | - David Forgacs
- The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program of Genetics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | | | - Marie L J Gilbertson
- The Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
| | | | - W Chris Funk
- The Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Daryl R Trumbo
- The Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | | | | | - Sara E Heisel
- The Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - Claire M Jardine
- The Department of Pathobiology, Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pauline L Kamath
- The School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME
| | | | | | - Simona Kraberger
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
| | - Dagan A Loisel
- The Department of Biology, Saint Michael's College, Colchester, VT
| | - Cait McDonald
- The Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (McDonald)
| | - Steven Miller
- The Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Caitlin N Ott-Conn
- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Disease Laboratory, Lansing, MI
| | - Mónica Páez-Vacas
- The Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb), Facultad de Ciencias de Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Machala y Sabanilla, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Alison J Peel
- The Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Wendy C Turner
- The Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY
| | - Meredith C VanAcker
- The Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Sue VandeWoude
- The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Jill Pecon-Slattery
- The Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute-National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Moreira F, Allsopp N, Esler KJ, Wardell‐Johnson G, Ancillotto L, Arianoutsou M, Clary J, Brotons L, Clavero M, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Fagoaga R, Fiedler P, Filipe AF, Frankenberg E, Holmgren M, Marquet PA, Martinez‐Harms MJ, Martinoli A, Miller BP, Olsvig‐Whittaker L, Pliscoff P, Rundel P, Russo D, Slingsby JA, Thompson J, Wardell‐Johnson A, Beja P. Priority questions for biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean biome: Heterogeneous perspectives across continents and stakeholders. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Moreira
- CIBIO/InBIOUniversity of Porto Vairão Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO, Institute of AgronomyUniversity of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
- Society for Conservation BiologyEurope Section Washington DC
| | - Nicky Allsopp
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Fynbos Node Claremont South Africa
| | - Karen J. Esler
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, and Centre for Invasion BiologyStellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Grant Wardell‐Johnson
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin University Perth Western Australia Australia
| | - Leonardo Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di AgrariaUniversità degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Portici Italy
| | - Margarita Arianoutsou
- Department of Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of BiologyNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens Greece
| | - Jeffrey Clary
- Natural Reserve SystemUniversity of California Davis California
| | - Lluis Brotons
- InForest Jru (CTFC‐CREAF) Solsona Spain
- CREAF Cerdanyola del Vallés Spain
- CSIC Cerdanyola del Vallés Spain
| | | | | | - Raquel Fagoaga
- Resource Ecology GroupWageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Peggy Fiedler
- Natural Reserve SystemUniversity of California Office of the President Oakland California
| | - Ana F. Filipe
- CIBIO/InBIOUniversity of Porto Vairão Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO, Institute of AgronomyUniversity of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
| | - Eliezer Frankenberg
- National Natural History CollectionsThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel
| | - Milena Holmgren
- Resource Ecology GroupWageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Pablo A. Marquet
- Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias BiológicasPontificia Universidade Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB)Laboratorio Internacional en cambio Global (LINCGlobal) Santiago Chile
- Centro de Cambio Global UCPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
| | - Maria J. Martinez‐Harms
- Center for Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES)Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Santiago Chile
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Unità di Analisi e Gestione delle Risorse Ambientali, Guido Tosi Research Group, Dipartimento di Scienze Teoriche e ApplicateUniversita' degli Studi dell'Insubria Varese Italy
| | - Ben P. Miller
- Kings Park ScienceDepartment of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Perth Western Australia Australia
| | - Linda Olsvig‐Whittaker
- German Protestant Institute of Archaeology in the Holy LandResearch Unit of the German Archaeological Institute, Auguste Victoria Compound Jerusalem Israel
| | - Patricio Pliscoff
- Centro de Cambio Global UCPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Departamento de EcologíaInstituto de Geografía Santiago Chile
| | - Phil Rundel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California (UCLA) Los Angeles California
| | - Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di AgrariaUniversità degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Portici Italy
| | - Jasper A. Slingsby
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Fynbos Node Claremont South Africa
- Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Cape Town Rondebosch South Africa
| | | | | | - Pedro Beja
- CIBIO/InBIOUniversity of Porto Vairão Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO, Institute of AgronomyUniversity of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Addison PFE, Bull JW, Milner‐Gulland EJ. Using conservation science to advance corporate biodiversity accountability. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2019; 33:307-318. [PMID: 30009509 PMCID: PMC7379537 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity declines threaten the sustainability of global economies and societies. Acknowledging this, businesses are beginning to make commitments to account for and mitigate their influence on biodiversity and report this in sustainability reports. We assessed the top 100 of the 2016 Fortune 500 Global companies' (the Fortune 100) sustainability reports to gauge the current state of corporate biodiversity accountability. Almost half (49) of the Fortune 100 mentioned biodiversity in reports, and 31 made clear biodiversity commitments, of which only 5 were specific, measureable, and time bound. A variety of biodiversity-related activities were disclosed (e.g., managing impacts, restoring biodiversity, and investing in biodiversity), but only 9 companies provided quantitative indicators to verify the magnitude of their activities (e.g., area of habitat restored). No companies reported quantitative biodiversity outcomes, making it difficult to determine whether business actions were of sufficient magnitude to address impacts and were achieving positive outcomes for nature. Conservation science can advance approaches to corporate biodiversity accountability by helping businesses make science-based biodiversity commitments, develop meaningful indicators, and select more targeted activities to address business impacts. With the biodiversity policy super year of 2020 rapidly approaching, now is the time for conservation scientists to engage with and support businesses in playing a critical role in setting the new agenda for a sustainable future for the planet with biodiversity at its heart.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prue F. E. Addison
- Department of Zoology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation ScienceUniversity of OxfordOxfordU.K.
| | - Joseph W. Bull
- Department of Food and Resource EconomicsCenter for Macroecology, Evolution, and ClimateUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and ConservationUniversity of KentCanterburyU.K.
| | - E. J. Milner‐Gulland
- Department of Zoology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation ScienceUniversity of OxfordOxfordU.K.
| |
Collapse
|