Ecologies最新文献

{"title":"Exploring mtDNA Databases to Evaluate the Population Structure and Genetic Diversity of Tursiops truncatus in the Atlantic Ocean: Implications for the Conservation of a Small, Offshore Population","authors":"Brenda Godoy Alexandre, Marcelo Merten Cruz, Karina Bohrer do Amaral, Lilian Sander Hoffmann, Thales Renato Ochotorena de Freitas, Rebeca Zanini","doi":"10.3390/ecologies5020011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5020011","url":null,"abstract":"Inshore and offshore bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, ecotypes were distinguished through genetics, distribution, diet, morphology, diversity, and social behaviors. Although T. truncatus is a widely studied species, few studies have focused on offshore populations. Offshore biodiversity is frequently neglected due to the difficulty of data collection, and therefore, it is challenging to assess how threatened these populations are. A small, offshore population of dolphins residing around the Saint Peter Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA) in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean has been monitored for several years, and a decrease in the number of dolphin sightings has recently been noticed. We analyzed a comprehensive mtDNA control-region sequence dataset for this species to infer the conservation status and better understand the relationships between the SPSPA population and other offshore populations. We assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of the bottlenose dolphin from inshore and offshore populations of the Atlantic Ocean. Offshore populations are more genetically diverse and have less variation between populations than inshore populations. The offshore populations share haplotypes, indicating potential gene flow. However, the SPSPA population presented the lowest levels of genetic diversity between populations. The conservation status of the SPSPA population is concerning, and it is necessary to apply effective management strategies to guarantee its protection.","PeriodicalId":502647,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":"97 40","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140377466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Conservation Priorities for Threatened Fish to Withstand Climate Crisis: Sustainable Capture and Protection of Inland Hydrographic Ecosystems","authors":"Joya Dutta, Ibrahim Khalil Al Haidar, M. Noman, Mohammad Abdul Wahed Chowdhury","doi":"10.3390/ecologies5020010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5020010","url":null,"abstract":"Globally, suitable freshwater habitats are undergoing alterations and fish population declines, primarily attributed to the swift changes in climate and land use. Developing an effective conservation policy for freshwater fish necessitates careful consideration of the impacts of climatic and spatial factors. This study focuses on the analysis of 64 threatened freshwater fish in Bangladesh to anticipate their current and future climatically suitable habitats, utilizing the bioclim() species distribution model. Additionally, this study examines existing inland hydrographic networks and their corresponding harvest rates. The findings indicate that approximately 75% of the area of occupancy for the studied species is currently climatically suitable, but this is expected to decrease to 13% under future climate scenarios. Notably, 27 threatened species are at risk of lacking climatically suitable habitats in the future within their current area of occupancy. The three components of hydrographic networks—floodplains, rivers, and natural lakes—play varying roles in providing a climatically suitable habitat for the studied species. For instance, only 34% of threatened fish species are projected to find a suitable habitat over flood areas, 23% over rivers, and 16% over lakes. Existing protected areas presently offer limited protection (21% suitable area), expected to decline to 6% in the future, with no dedicated protected areas for freshwater fish. Floodplains are highlighted for providing habitat connectivity and facilitating brood fish dispersal. However, the unregulated and unmonitored annual harvest of freshwater fish from floodwater and rivers poses a potential silent cause for rapid population decline. Prioritizing the management of hydrographic components to maintain habitat connectivity, legal protection for threatened fish species, and establishing permanent protected areas for fish are crucial aspects in developing a conservation policy to mitigate the impact of future climate scenarios on threatened freshwater species.","PeriodicalId":502647,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":"116 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140380172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Odonata, Coleoptera, and Heteroptera (OCH) Trait-Based Biomonitoring of Rivers within the Northwestern Rif of Morocco: Exploring the Responses of Traits to Prevailing Environmental Gradients","authors":"Sara El Yaagoubi, A. O. Edegbene, Mohamed El Haissoufi, Rihab Harrak, M. El Alami","doi":"10.3390/ecologies5010009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5010009","url":null,"abstract":"This study aimed to determine the impact of various pressures on the functional composition of OCH (Odonata, Coleoptera, and Heteroptera) in streams within the northwest Rif region of Morocco. We examined how OCH traits respond to human-induced pressures in selected stream sites in Morocco’s northwestern Rif region. OCH specimens were collected from 36 sites using a Surber sampler with dimension of 20 × 20 cm and mesh size of 500 µm over the course of two years, from 2021 to 2023. We measured physico-chemical and hydraulic parameters such as temperature, pH, DO, and NO-3. Sixty-seven trait attributes from 11 trait classes were assigned to the collected OCH taxa at the family level. Following the delineation of sites along the gradient of impacts in the study area, we categorized 7 sites as slightly impacted sites (SISs), 19 sites as moderately impacted sites (MISs), and 10 sites as heavily impacted sites (HISs). We successfully identified and categorized the traits as either vulnerable or tolerant based on RLQ models. Traits such as reproductive cycles per year and tegument respiration, which were positively correlated with SISs in the RLQ model and also positively correlated with depth and chlorine, were identified as vulnerable traits. Crawling locomotion and full water swimming were identified as tolerant traits. The distribution patterns of the OCH taxa revealed a robust correlation between the taxa and the sampling sites. Notably, taxa such as Nepidae, Naucoridae, and Corixidae exhibited widespread distribution and a strong association with the SISs. On the other hand, traits related to living macroinvertebrate food sources and reproduction in vegetation, specifically clutches, exhibited a negative correlation with total dissolved solids. Incorporating OCH functional traits into biomonitoring programs allows for a more comprehensive assessment of river ecosystems. This approach provides a nuanced understanding of how different stressors impact the community composition and overall ecological health.","PeriodicalId":502647,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":"28 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140422270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How Do Nitrogen Deposition, Mowing, and Deer Grazing Drive Vegetation Changes on Dune Heaths?","authors":"M. Kaae, Fenjuan Hu, Jesper Leth Bak, Morten Tune Strandberg, C. Damgaard","doi":"10.3390/ecologies5010008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5010008","url":null,"abstract":"Heathland vegetation has undergone significant changes in the past century, e.g., due to airborne pollutants and a lack of proper management. Understanding the interactions between these factors in combination is pivotal for heathland conservation. Here, we studied the vegetation changes at a dune heath in a four-year manipulation experiment analysing the combined effects of nitrogen deposition, mowing, and deer grazing. Our results showed no significant effect of nitrogen deposition and deer grazing on plant growth and cover of dwarf shrubs within the experimental plots. However, high loads of nitrogen decreased bryophyte cover and increased the growth and cover of sand sedge Carex arenaria L. Mowing adversely affected the dwarf shrub community, e.g., the dwarf shrub species crowberry Empetrum nigrum L., and facilitated increased cover and plant growth of graminoids. Plant growth and the cover of C. arenaria increased in plots without deer grazing, whereas bryophyte cover decreased significantly without grazing. We do not recommend intensive mowing of vegetation as a conservation method for dune heaths because it promotes graminoids. From a conservation aspect, it is essential to consider the effect of deer on heathlands because they both impede some species and benefit others and mitigate the adverse effects of nitrogen deposition on dune heaths.","PeriodicalId":502647,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140426264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Citrus Aphids in Algarve Region (Portugal): Species, Hosts, and Biological Control","authors":"P. Paiva, L. Neto, N. Marques, Beatriz Zarcos Duarte, A. Duarte","doi":"10.3390/ecologies5010007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5010007","url":null,"abstract":"Aphids affect citrus by causing leaf deformations and reducing fruit production. Additionally, aphids are a great concern due to their ability to transmit Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), the cause of tristeza, one of the main citrus diseases. In the last four years, citrus orchards in the south of Portugal (Algarve region) were sampled for aphid species identification and counting. Aphis spiraecola was the most abundant species, representing more than 80% of all identified aphids, and the damage (leaf deformation) it causes was directly proportional to its density. A. gossypii was the second most common species, followed by A. aurantii and Macrosiphum euphorbiae. The number of aphids in nymph stages was predominant over the adult stages (both wingless and winged) in all species. A. citricidus, the most efficient CTV vector, was not detected. The largest populations of A. spiraecola were observed in lemon and orange trees during spring (>100 individuals per shoot), with great damage observed in orange, lemon, and mandarin trees. A. gossypii was observed mainly in mandarin and tangor trees. There was a low activity of natural biological control agents, with the parasitism of A. spiraecola by Lysiphlebus spp. and Binodoxys spp. ranging from 0.3 to 1.5%. The numerical ratio ranged from 150 to 440 aphids per predator, and among these, syrphids were the most abundant, followed by lacewings and coccinellids (Scymnus).","PeriodicalId":502647,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":"22 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140450732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and Evaluation of the Plankton Biological Integrity Index (P-IBI) in Dry and Wet Seasons for Dianchi Lake","authors":"Jia-Le Cao, Hong-Yi Liang, Ya-Hui Zhang, Shi-lin Du, Jin Zhang, Yong Tao","doi":"10.3390/ecologies5010005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5010005","url":null,"abstract":"As an important component of lake ecosystems, plankton are often used as indicators to evaluate the health of aquatic ecosystems, such as lakes and reservoirs. The plankton integrity index (P-IBI) is a highly utilized method for evaluating the ecological health of the lakes. This study took Dianchi Lake, located in the Yangtze River Basin, as the research object and analyzed the phytoplankton, zooplankton communities, and environmental factors at 11 sampling points in this lake during the wet season (July) in 2022 and the dry season (February) in 2023. The P-IBI was established to evaluate the health status of this lake ecosystem. The results showed that a total of 83 species of phytoplankton and 31 species of zooplankton were identified in Dianchi Lake, and the number of plankton species in the dry season was significantly higher than that in the wet season. The P-IBI evaluation results for the two hydrological periods were generally “good”. Linear regression analysis showed that there was a certain negative correlation between the P-IBI value and the comprehensive trophic level index (TLI), and the evaluation results were generally in line with the actual situation of the water body. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that there was a significant correlation between the P-IBI and its constituent parameters and individual water quality environmental factors, such as total nitrogen (TN) and electrical conductivity (EC). In summary, by reducing errors caused by spatial and temporal changes across various hydrological periods, P-IBI represents a more scientifically rigorous technique for lake water ecological health assessments within a certain time range.","PeriodicalId":502647,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":"18 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140493572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Perspectives of Key Stakeholders on the Reintroduction of Apex Predators to the United Kingdom","authors":"Shannon Wilson, Marco Campera","doi":"10.3390/ecologies5010004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5010004","url":null,"abstract":"Apex predators were extirpated from the UK hundreds of years ago. Practitioners have recently advocated for reintroductions of predators in the UK given their role as keystone species. For a reintroduction to take place, a survey of public desirability needs to be conducted. We aimed to understand the perspectives of people across the United Kingdom on the reintroduction of Eurasian lynxes, gray wolves, and brown bears. We collected data via mixed-methods questionnaires from 78 key stakeholders, such as farmers, the general public, nature conservationists, and those in environmental sectors, with these areas being seen as the most affected by these reintroductions. It was organizations that front these stakeholder groups which mainly distributed the survey as well as social media groups. We ran a path analysis, which highlighted that there was a negative correlation between respondents viewing the species as a danger toward livestock and humans, and the respondent seeing it as being good to have that species in their region. Overall, participants who stated that rewilding their region was a priority also stated that it would be good to have Eurasian lynx in their region. That said, 70% of farmers strongly disagreed with the reintroduction of Eurasian lynx. These findings showed that much of the United Kingdom would welcome the reintroduction of Eurasian lynx, but both farmers and the public would fear the loss of livestock that may come along with these species. Support can be gained through education and knowledge, which is a necessary step needed especially targeting farmers before any reintroduction plans can be made.","PeriodicalId":502647,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":"47 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139599822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Using Biodiversity Indices Effectively: Considerations for Forest Management","authors":"K. Kitikidou, E. Milios, Athanasios Stampoulidis, E. Pipinis, K. Radoglou","doi":"10.3390/ecologies5010003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5010003","url":null,"abstract":"Since biodiversity is a multifaceted aspect of natural systems, several indices have been suggested to measure it. In this paper, we examined a number of well-known diversity indexes to see whether some performed better than others when applied to forest data. In order to reach this goal, we used data on basic forest variables (such as the diameters, heights, and volumes of trees) from forest plots to see if common diversity indices lead to the same conclusions about changes in biodiversity in a pairwise comparison (i.e., comparing the same region at two different times or two different regions at the same time). Out of a collection of 17 diversity indices, 8 of them exhibited robustness, indicating their constant ability to demonstrate either an increase or decrease in biodiversity over pairwise comparisons. However, it is important to note that the remaining seven diversity indices may yield inconsistent or inconclusive results, but only with regard to forest data, highlighting the complexity and nuances of measuring biodiversity with different sorts of data. In this review article, all 17 indices are presented, allowing the reader to choose which ones are most applicable to their particular dataset (genetic, econometric, sociometric, etc.).","PeriodicalId":502647,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":"105 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139615978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Restoration of Degraded Landscapes along the Urban–Rural Gradient of Lubumbashi City (Democratic Republic of the Congo) by Acacia auriculiformis Plantations: Their Spatial Dynamics and Impact on Plant Diversity","authors":"Yannick Useni Sikuzani, Héritier Khoji Muteya, Jonas Yona Mleci, Médard Mpanda Mukenza, François Malaisse, Jan Bogaert","doi":"10.3390/ecologies5010002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5010002","url":null,"abstract":"This study examines the spatio-temporal dynamics of Acacia auriculiformis in Lubumbashi city, southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in the context of rapid urbanization following the liberalization of the mining sector. The city has experienced significant demographic growth and unplanned spatial expansion, resulting in a decrease in vegetation cover. The introduction and proliferation of A. auriculiformis, an exotic tree species, have occurred without strategic planning or monitoring. Utilizing digitized remote sensing imagery from 2006, 2014, and 2021, we quantified the expansion of A. auriculiformis along the urban–rural gradient. Additionally, a floristic inventory conducted in 2021 provided insights into tree diversity within A. auriculiformis plantations. Our findings indicate a substantial increase in the number and area of A. auriculiformis patches, predominantly in urban zones. However, the patch values, highest in 2006, were shown to decline by 2021, especially in urban areas. The floristic inventory identified 39 tree species within A. auriculiformis plantations, including predominant species such as Albizia lebbeck, Albizia alba, and Leucaena leucocephala. Notably, 20 of these species are exotic, with half being invasive. In contrast, the 19 indigenous species were primarily found in peri-urban areas. While a greater number of tree species were observed in urban zones, larger average diameters were recorded in peri-urban zones. The persistence and expansion of A. auriculiformis in a landscape characterized by declining tree cover suggest its potential sustainability in this setting. However, A. auriculiformis plantations have facilitated the establishment of predominantly exotic and potentially invasive species. These findings highlight the need for the strategic management of A. auriculiformis and associated exotic flora to mitigate their spread and to consider their role in the restoration of degraded lands.","PeriodicalId":502647,"journal":{"name":"Ecologies","volume":" 18","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139623496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}