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Castillo-Valdez PF, Rodriguez-Salvador M, Ho YS. Scientific Production Dynamics in mHealth for Diabetes: Scientometric Analysis. JMIR Diabetes 2024; 9:e52196. [PMID: 39172508 DOI: 10.2196/52196] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The widespread use of mobile technologies in health care (mobile health; mHealth) has facilitated disease management, especially for chronic illnesses such as diabetes. mHealth for diabetes is an attractive alternative to reduce costs and overcome geographical and temporal barriers to improve patients' conditions. OBJECTIVE This study aims to reveal the dynamics of scientific publications on mHealth for diabetes to gain insights into who are the most prominent authors, countries, institutions, and journals and what are the most cited documents and current hot spots. METHODS A scientometric analysis based on a competitive technology intelligence methodology was conducted. An innovative 8-step methodology supported by experts was executed considering scientific documents published between 1998 and 2021 in the Science Citation Index Expanded database. Publication language, publication output characteristics, journals, countries and institutions, authors, and most cited and most impactful articles were identified. RESULTS The insights obtained show that a total of 1574 scientific articles were published by 7922 authors from 90 countries, with an average of 15 (SD 38) citations and 6.5 (SD 4.4) authors per article. These documents were published in 491 journals and 92 Web of Science categories. The most productive country was the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, China, Australia, and South Korea, and the top 3 most productive institutions came from the United States, whereas the top 3 most cited articles were published in 2016, 2009, and 2017 and the top 3 most impactful articles were published in 2016 and 2017. CONCLUSIONS This approach provides a comprehensive knowledge panorama of research productivity in mHealth for diabetes, identifying new insights and opportunities for research and development and innovation, including collaboration with other entities, new areas of specialization, and human resource development. The findings obtained are useful for decision-making in policy planning, resource allocation, and identification of research opportunities, benefiting researchers, health professionals, and decision makers in their efforts to make significant contributions to the advancement of diabetes science.
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Ho YS, Fülöp T, Krisanapan P, Soliman KM, Cheungpasitporn W. Artificial intelligence and machine learning trends in kidney care. Am J Med Sci 2024; 367:281-295. [PMID: 38281623 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2024.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in kidney care has seen a significant rise in recent years. This study specifically analyzed AI and ML research publications related to kidney care to identify leading authors, institutions, and countries in this area. It aimed to examine publication trends and patterns, and to explore the impact of collaborative efforts on citation metrics. METHODS The study used the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) of Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Core Collection to search for AI and machine learning publications related to nephrology from 1992 to 2021. The authors used quotation marks and Boolean operator "or" to search for keywords in the title, abstract, author keywords, and Keywords Plus. In addition, the 'front page' filter was applied. A total of 5425 documents were identified and analyzed. RESULTS The results showed that articles represent 75% of the analyzed documents, with an average author to publications ratio of 7.4 and an average number of citations per publication in 2021 of 18. English articles had a higher citation rate than non-English articles. The USA dominated in all publication indicators, followed by China. Notably, the research also showed that collaborative efforts tend to result in higher citation rates. A significant portion of the publications were found in urology journals, emphasizing the broader scope of kidney care beyond traditional nephrology. CONCLUSIONS The findings underscore the importance of AI and ML in enhancing kidney care, offering a roadmap for future research and implementation in this expanding field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuh-Shan Ho
- Trend Research Centre, Asia University, Wufeng, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Tibor Fülöp
- Medical Services, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
| | - Pajaree Krisanapan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, Thailand, 12120
| | - Karim M Soliman
- Medical Services, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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Al-Moraissi EA, Ho YS, Christidis N. Publication performance and trends in bruxism research: A bibliometric analysis. J Oral Rehabil 2023; 50:1217-1228. [PMID: 37334738 DOI: 10.1111/joor.13544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bruxism is an umbrella term that encompass a multidimensional spectrum of masticatory muscle activities. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to do a bibliometric analysis including citation performance in the research topic of bruxism, by using an innovative method including details of article title, author keyword, KeyWords Plus and abstracts. METHODS The data were retrieved 2022-12-19 from the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Core Collection, and the online version of the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) for studies published 1992 to 2021. To evaluate research trends, the distribution of keywords in the article title and author-selected keywords were used. RESULTS The search yielded 3233 documents in SCI-EXPANDED, of which 2598 were of the document-type 'articles' published in 676 journals. The analysis of the articles revealed that "bruxism/sleep bruxism," "electromyography," "temporomandibular disorders" and "masticatory muscles" are the most used keywords by the authors. Further, the most frequently cited study was published 9 years ago and handles the present definition of bruxism. CONCLUSION The most productive authors and those with the highest performance have some common features; they have several national and international collaborations; and they have published articles about the definition, aetiology/pathophysiology and prevalence of bruxism, all senior researchers in the field of TMD. Hopefully, based on this study, researchers and clinicians will have information to be stimulated to outline future research projects on bruxism-related aspects, and to initiate new international or multinational collaborations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Essam Ahmed Al-Moraissi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Thamar University, Thamar, Yemen
| | - Yuh-Shan Ho
- Trend Research Centre, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Nikolaos Christidis
- Division of Oral Diagnostics and Rehabilitation, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
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Ho YS, Tapolyai M, Cheungpasitporn W, Fülöp T. A bibliometric analysis of publications in Renal Failure in the last three decades. Ren Fail 2023; 45:2241913. [PMID: 37724541 PMCID: PMC10512923 DOI: 10.1080/0886022x.2023.2241913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Publications in Renal Failure in Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) between 1992 and 2021 were analyzed. Six publication indicators: total, independent, collaborative, first author, corresponding author, and single author publications as well as their related citation indicators, were used to compare performances of countries, institutes, and authors. Comparison of the highly cited papers and journal's impact factor (IF) contributors was discussed. In addition, the main research topics in the journal were presented. Results show that China published the most total articles and reviews, as well as the first-author papers and corresponding-author papers in the journal. The Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan ranked the top in five publication indicators: total, single-institution, inter-institutionally collaborative, first author, and corresponding-author papers. A low percentage of productive authors emerged as a journal IF contributor. Similarly, only a limited relationship between highly cited papers and IF contributing papers was found. Publications related to hemodialysis, chronic kidney disease, and acute kidney injury were the most popular topic, while meta-analysis was new focus in the last decade in the journal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuh-Shan Ho
- Trend Research Centre, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Mihály Tapolyai
- Department of Nephrology, Szent Margit Kórhaz, Budapest, Hungary
- Medicine Service, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
| | | | - Tibor Fülöp
- Department of Nephrology, Szent Margit Kórhaz, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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Monge-Nájera J, Ho YS. Highly cited tropical medicine articles in the Web of Science from 1991 to 2020: A bibliometric analysis. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2023; 117:645-654. [PMID: 37096457 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trad021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An adequate response to health needs to include the identification of research patterns about the large number of people living in the tropics and subjected to tropical diseases. Studies have shown that research does not always match the real needs of those populations, and that citation reflects mostly the amount of money behind particular publications. Here we test the hypothesis that research from richer institutions is published in better-indexed journals, and thus has greater citation rates. METHODS The data in this study were extracted from the Science Citation Index Expanded database; the 2020 journal Impact Factor (IF2020) was updated to 30 June 2021. We considered places, subjects, institutions and journals. RESULTS We identified 1041 highly cited articles with ≥100 citations in the category of tropical medicine. About a decade is needed for an article to reach peak citation. Only two COVID-19-related articles were highly cited in the last 3 y. The most cited articles were published by the journals Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Brazil), Acta Tropica (Switzerland) and PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases (USA). The USA dominated five of the six publication indicators. International collaboration articles had more citations than single-country articles. The UK, South Africa and Switzerland had high citation rates, as did the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the UK, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA and the WHO in Switzerland. CONCLUSIONS About 10 y of accumulated citations is needed to achieve ≥100 citations as highly cited articles in the Web of Science category of tropical medicine. Six publication and citation indicators, including authors' publication potential and characteristics evaluated by Y-index, indicate that the currently available indexing system places tropical researchers at a disadvantage against their colleagues in temperate countries, and suggest that, to progress towards better control of tropical diseases, international collaboration should increase, and other tropical countries should follow the example of Brazil, which provides significant financing to its scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián Monge-Nájera
- Laboratorio de Ecología Urbana, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Universidad Estatal a Distancia, San José 11502, Costa Rica
| | - Yuh-Shan Ho
- Trend Research Centre, Asia University, No. 500 Lioufeng Road, Wufeng, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
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Das A, Choudhury KM, Choudhury AK. An assessment of mangrove vegetation changes in reference to cyclone impacted climatic alterations at land-ocean interface of Indian Sundarbans with application of remote sensing-based analytical tools. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:89311-89335. [PMID: 37452248 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28486-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Mangrove ecoregions of the Indian Sundarbans (IS) are highly productive ecosystems in the Bengal delta of the Indian subcontinent. These mangroves are crucial in reducing the negative consequences of extreme environmental events like excessive wave movements and periodic storm surges, in addition to serving as an important habitat for a variety of distinct flora and animals. The Bay of Bengal has been increasingly affected by climatic changes like increase in sea surface temperature (SST), salinization, and sediment loads, a decrease in freshwater intake, and sea level rise. In the last two decades (2000-2020), these climatic phenomena have increased the frequency of tropical cyclones. From 2000 to 2020, the loss of landmass has been attributed to exposure to these climate changes. According to open-source satellite imaging data, such losses in land area have also led to a decrease in the amount of mangrove vegetation. Thus, to monitor the health of mangrove vegetation, Landsat-based health indicators like normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI), and combined mangrove recognition index (CMRI) have been considered in this study. CMRI, as a mangrove-specific index, was measured on the basis of the difference of NDVI and normalized difference water index for remote sensing of vegetation liquid water from space (NDWI_Gao). Furthermore, datasets for abiotic variables have been extrapolated from remotely sensed data for the said period using specific formulae. Both long-term and short-term temporal trends have been considered to better envisage the impact of episodic cyclonic events on mangrove health (1990-2020). Our findings indicate that cyclones altered the habitat with respect to land area and salinization status which would possibly render the dominance of more halotolerant forms with loss of freshwater mangrove biodiversity. Even though plantation efforts have shown the recovery of mangroves in this area, sudden storm surges and concomitant salinization of habitat put the plantation efforts in vain. A combination of factors like salinization, rise in SST, rainfall reduction in pre- and post-monsoon periods and episodic cyclonic events would probably lead to further deterioration of mangrove health in this area. Since the IS is suffering the most from climatic change and intermittent cyclonic occurrences, it is crucial to consider this when making policy decisions. Appropriate actions must be taken along with stronger conservation techniques, to protect this vulnerable environment. Better conservation tactics and ongoing plantation efforts would stop the loss of mangrove vegetation and its habitat, even though the growing frequency of episodic storm occurrences cannot be stopped.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arghadeep Das
- Phycology Lab, Department of Botany, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, Rahara, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700118, India
| | | | - Avik Kumar Choudhury
- Phycology Lab, Department of Botany, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, Rahara, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700118, India.
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Ezugwu AE, Oyelade ON, Ikotun AM, Agushaka JO, Ho YS. Machine Learning Research Trends in Africa: A 30 Years Overview with Bibliometric Analysis Review. ARCHIVES OF COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING : STATE OF THE ART REVIEWS 2023; 30:1-31. [PMID: 37359741 PMCID: PMC10148585 DOI: 10.1007/s11831-023-09930-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The machine learning (ML) paradigm has gained much popularity today. Its algorithmic models are employed in every field, such as natural language processing, pattern recognition, object detection, image recognition, earth observation and many other research areas. In fact, machine learning technologies and their inevitable impact suffice in many technological transformation agendas currently being propagated by many nations, for which the already yielded benefits are outstanding. From a regional perspective, several studies have shown that machine learning technology can help address some of Africa's most pervasive problems, such as poverty alleviation, improving education, delivering quality healthcare services, and addressing sustainability challenges like food security and climate change. In this state-of-the-art paper, a critical bibliometric analysis study is conducted, coupled with an extensive literature survey on recent developments and associated applications in machine learning research with a perspective on Africa. The presented bibliometric analysis study consists of 2761 machine learning-related documents, of which 89% were articles with at least 482 citations published in 903 journals during the past three decades. Furthermore, the collated documents were retrieved from the Science Citation Index EXPANDED, comprising research publications from 54 African countries between 1993 and 2021. The bibliometric study shows the visualization of the current landscape and future trends in machine learning research and its application to facilitate future collaborative research and knowledge exchange among authors from different research institutions scattered across the African continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Absalom E. Ezugwu
- Unit for Data Science and Computing, North-West University, 11 Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom, 2520 South Africa
| | - Olaide N. Oyelade
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Abiodun M. Ikotun
- Unit for Data Science and Computing, North-West University, 11 Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom, 2520 South Africa
| | - Jeffery O. Agushaka
- Unit for Data Science and Computing, North-West University, 11 Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom, 2520 South Africa
| | - Yuh-Shan Ho
- Trend Research Centre, Asia University, No. 500, Lioufeng RoadWufeng, Taichung, 41354 Taiwan
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Al-Moraissi EA, Christidis N, Ho YS. Publication performance and trends in temporomandibular disorders research: A bibliometric analysis. JOURNAL OF STOMATOLOGY, ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY 2023; 124:101273. [PMID: 36057419 DOI: 10.1016/j.jormas.2022.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are common, can be both painful and non-painful, and encompass various conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint, the masticatory muscles or both TMD. Therefore, the purpose of this bibliometric analysis was to synthetically analyze citation performance in TMD, to address a more innovative method including details of article title, author keyword, KeyWords Plus, and abstracts. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data used in this study were retrieved from the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Core Collection, the online version of the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) between 1992 and 2021. The distribution of key words in the article title and author‑selected keywords were used to evaluate research trends. RESULTS Of the 7,228 documents in SCI-EXPANDED, 6,138 documents met all inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis, of which 4,945 were articles. The present bibliometric analysis of the articles published in the research filed of TMD revealed that orofacial pain, bruxism, chronic pain, and myofascial pain are the most commonly used keywords by the authors. Further, over the last 30 years 4,945 articles are published in the field of TMD, and the far most frequently cited study was published 8 years ago and handles the diagnostic criteria of TMD. The USA and Brazil were top two ranking productive countries of publication on TMD. The most productive journal was Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, followed by Cranio-The Journal of Craniomandibular & Sleep Practice and Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache. The most productive authors were P. Svensson, R. Ohrbach, and F. Lobbezooas. The most productive institutes were Sao Paulo University (Brazil), Malmo University (Sweden), and Washington university (USA) CONCLUSION: Based on the outcome of this bibliometric study, the authors hope that both clinicians and researchers will have information to shape their future research focus, finding prominent institutions in their nearby area, or even to be stimulated to initiate new international or even multinational collaborations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Essam Ahmed Al-Moraissi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Thamar University, Thamar, Yemen
| | - Nikolaos Christidis
- Division of Oral Diagnostics and Rehabilitation, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge SE-141 04, Sweden
| | - Yuh-Shan Ho
- Trend Research Centre, Asia University, No. 500 Lioufeng Road, Wufeng, Taichung 41354, Taiwan.
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Bibliometric Analysis of Veterinary Communication Education Research over the Last Two Decades: Rare Yet Essential. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9060256. [PMID: 35737308 PMCID: PMC9227039 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9060256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Research of veterinary communication education is a relatively rare but important field, and its importance has been increasingly noticed recently. This study aims to describe the existing veterinary education research literature by adopting the systematic bibliometric approach. We conducted a comprehensive literature exploration on worldwide veterinary education and veterinary communication education publications in the Web of Science Core Collection database from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2021. VOSviewer and EXCEL were used to identify trends and patterns in characteristics of the publications, including author affiliations and countries, and the publishing journals. Based on our search criteria, in the past 22 years, there have been 6006 veterinary education publications with 101 publications in 2000, 684 publications in 2021 (577% increase), and 677 communication-related publications with 9 publications in 2000, 107 publications in 2021 (1189% increase). The VOSviewer results indicate that both the United States and England were the most vigorous countries with close collaboration. Our results show the publication quantity has been increasing at a sharp slope rate over the past twenty years, which indicates the importance and growth of veterinary education and the veterinary communication education research field, and identifies the international collaborations among countries and institutions.
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Nature’s Contributions to People in Vulnerability Studies When Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Landscapes. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14074200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The geographic landscape is a recurrent unit of analysis in vulnerability studies. Single descriptions are often used to show the elements exposed in these landscapes. However, the concept requires specifying the components of the landscape and its functioning as a unit. Thus, the purpose of this research was to use the analysis of Nature’s Contributions to People (NCP) to describe the global contribution of landscape elements to human activities, prioritizing the units in which the effects of climate change may imply greater impacts on the human population. For this, we analyzed six categories of nature’s contributions applied to the landscape units in a fragment of the Mexican Pacific coast. The units with mangrove cover had the highest nature contributions. It is expected that the application of this approach in the exposure component of vulnerability studies will allow a better understanding of the non-return relationship and the search for adaptive nature-based solutions.
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The Opposite of Biotic Resistance: Herbivory and Competition Suppress Regeneration of Native but Not Introduced Mangroves in Southern China. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13020192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Mangrove forests are increasingly threatened by plant invasions worldwide, but some mangrove species are invasive and threaten salt marsh and native mangrove ecosystems. The southern coast of China is invaded by the cordgrass Spartina alterniflora, and the mangrove Sonneratia apetala, providing a model system for studying the processes and mechanisms through which non-native species establish and spread. We used a transplant experiment to test the overarching hypothesis that native herbivores and plants provided biotic resistance against invasion by S. apetala, and that the importance of these factors would vary geographically. Survival of transplanted mangrove seedlings was lower in Zhangjiang Estuary (23°55′ N) than in Leizhou Bay (20°56′ N), and varied with species and habitats. S. apetala had higher survival and growth rates than native mangroves at both sites, and S. apetala grew taller than the S. alterniflora canopy at Leizhou Bay in only two growing seasons. In contrast, native mangroves grew poorly in S. alterniflora. Grazing by rodents and insects suppressed the growth and survival of Kandelia obovata and Avicennia marina in Zhangjiang Estuary and Leizhou Bay, but had little effect on S. apetala. Competition with vegetation (S. alterniflora and native mangroves) exacerbated the reduced survival of native mangroves, and these effects varied across study sites. Low survival of non-native S. apetala in vegetated habitats at Zhangjiang Estuary was likely due to a synergistic effect of low winter temperatures and low light intensity. Escape from herbivory (the opposite to biotic resistance) and fast growth may drive the quick expansion of non-native S. apetala in China. Rapid encroachment of S. apetala may transform the native mangrove forests and monospecific intertidal Spartina grasslands into non-native mangrove forests in the southern coast of China.
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