EcosciencePub Date : 2019-08-14DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2019.1645565
S. Melles, Christopher Scarpone, Adisa Julien, Julie B. Robertson, Jennifer Bello Levieva, Courtney Carrier, R. France, Sabrina Guvenc, W. Y. Lam, Michelle. Lucas, Alexus Maglalang, Keira M. McKee, F. Okoye, Kayla Morales
{"title":"Diversity of Practitioners Publishing in Five Leading International Journals of Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology, 1987–2015 Relative to Global Biodiversity Hotspots","authors":"S. Melles, Christopher Scarpone, Adisa Julien, Julie B. Robertson, Jennifer Bello Levieva, Courtney Carrier, R. France, Sabrina Guvenc, W. Y. Lam, Michelle. Lucas, Alexus Maglalang, Keira M. McKee, F. Okoye, Kayla Morales","doi":"10.1080/11956860.2019.1645565","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2019.1645565","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Between 1987 and 1995, research papers published in five leading journals of applied ecology and conservation biology (AECB) were overwhelmingly produced by American and British authors. A significant proportion of overall variation in research productivity among nations could be explained by differences in gross national product (GNP). Here, we used bibliometric analyses for a comparative assessment to determine if geographical patterns of research changed or remained consistent between the periods, 1987–1995 and 2007–2015. Our results revealed an absence of a marked increase in geographical diversity of research. Imbalances persisted in global research efforts in five leading journals, with research productivity remaining significantly correlated to national differences in wealth. There is a disparity between where scientific research continues to be conducted and where hotspots of biodiversity are known to exist as indicated by our study and several other recent papers. This is an alarming finding as research is needed to establish conservation status, and work by others shows that the level of conservation spending is significantly correlated with mitigating biodiversity loss and improving species at risk status.","PeriodicalId":51030,"journal":{"name":"Ecoscience","volume":"26 1","pages":"323 - 340"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/11956860.2019.1645565","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42447534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcosciencePub Date : 2019-08-05DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2019.1645566
Ivonne Martínez-González, B. Ruiz-Guerra, N. Velázquez-Rosas
{"title":"Elevational Relationship between Functional Leaf Traits and Insect Herbivory in Two Cloud Forest Understory Species in Mexico","authors":"Ivonne Martínez-González, B. Ruiz-Guerra, N. Velázquez-Rosas","doi":"10.1080/11956860.2019.1645566","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2019.1645566","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The composition, diversity, structure, leaf characteristics and productivity of plant communities in cloud forests vary along altitudinal gradients. These changes may drive interactions with insect herbivores; however, the empirical evidence is scarce. We evaluated seven leaf traits (specific leaf area, leaf density, leaf strength, C, N and water content, and C:N ratio) and insect herbivory of two shrub species (Xylosma flexuosa, Cinnamomum psychotrioides) at two elevations (1300 and 1600 m asl) in a Mexican cloud forest. We expected higher leaf herbivory at 1300 m, associated with a higher quality of leaf tissues (high specific leaf area, water and N content). Plant traits differed between species and elevation. In X. flexuosa, leaf density and C:N ratio were higher at 1600 m, while N content, leaf strength and C content were lower. In C. psychotrioides, only leaf density was higher at 1300 m. In accordance with these traits, herbivory was higher at 1300 m, but only in X. flexuosa. Herbivory levels ranged from 1% to 4.7% and were higher in X. flexuosa than in C. psychotrioides. Variation in leaf traits determines herbivory levels in X. flexuosa; however, perceived differences may also relate to biotic or abiotic factors driving herbivore abundance.","PeriodicalId":51030,"journal":{"name":"Ecoscience","volume":"26 1","pages":"341 - 346"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/11956860.2019.1645566","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47057987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcosciencePub Date : 2019-07-29DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2019.1646064
Dang Xiaohong, Pan Xia, Gao Yong, Liu Yang, Wang Zhenyi, Meng Zhongju
{"title":"Spatial Heterogeneity of Wind-Eroded Soil Particles Around Nitraria tangutorum Nebkhas in the Ulan Buh Desert","authors":"Dang Xiaohong, Pan Xia, Gao Yong, Liu Yang, Wang Zhenyi, Meng Zhongju","doi":"10.1080/11956860.2019.1646064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2019.1646064","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Nitraria tangutorum is a widely distributed shrub in the Jilantai Salt Lake at the southwest edge of Ulan Buh Desert. Due to their role in increasing soil fertility, nebkhas (coppice dunes) are regarded as important components of arid land ecosystems. Yet, despite their frequent occurrence, little information exists regarding their dust fall effect and influence range. We investigated the grain size distribution around N. tangutorum at a small scale (within 10 m) according to four wind directions and analyzed the spatial heterogeneity of particles. The amount of non-erodible particles (>0.85 mm) increased with distance from the shrub. The amount of erodible (<0.45 mm) and semi-erodible particles (0.45–0.85 mm) showed an opposite trend, indicating that the shrubs have a protective effect. The dominant particles around the shrubs were non-erodible due to long term accelerated wind erosion and subsequent removal of fine particles.","PeriodicalId":51030,"journal":{"name":"Ecoscience","volume":"26 1","pages":"347 - 358"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/11956860.2019.1646064","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47469634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcosciencePub Date : 2019-06-17DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2019.1629060
Amanda E. Martin, E. Pervin, S. L. Graham, M. Henry, L. Fahrig
{"title":"Abundance of Aerially-Dispersing Spiders Declines with Increasing Road Traffic","authors":"Amanda E. Martin, E. Pervin, S. L. Graham, M. Henry, L. Fahrig","doi":"10.1080/11956860.2019.1629060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2019.1629060","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Roads and traffic have been implicated in population declines in a number of taxonomic groups. However, there is little research into the potential effects of roads or traffic on spiders. Here, we tested the prediction that there would be fewer aerially-dispersing (i.e., ballooning) spiders at high-traffic than low-traffic roads. We used custom-made sticky traps attached to a vehicle to collect ballooning spiders along 10 high-traffic–low-traffic rural road pairs in southeastern Ontario, Canada. We collected half as many spiders at high-traffic than low-traffic roads. This provides the first published evidence of negative traffic effects on ballooning spiders. Although consistent with our prediction that ballooning spiders are less abundant at high-traffic roads, there are several possible explanations for this finding. Further study is needed to investigate these explanations, including whether the observed traffic effect reflects reduced population sizes near high-traffic roads or reduced ballooning behaviour near high-traffic roads. If the former, then roads may represent a significant conservation concern for ballooning spider species.","PeriodicalId":51030,"journal":{"name":"Ecoscience","volume":"26 1","pages":"383 - 388"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/11956860.2019.1629060","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45045892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcosciencePub Date : 2019-05-26DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2019.1613753
Erico Fernando Lopes Pereira-Silva, E. Hardt, Murilo Bellato Biral, Victor Camargo Keller, Welington Braz Carvalho Delitti
{"title":"Effects of Recent Fire on Soil Conditions and Nutrient Use of a Native and an Invasive Grass in the Brazilian Savanna","authors":"Erico Fernando Lopes Pereira-Silva, E. Hardt, Murilo Bellato Biral, Victor Camargo Keller, Welington Braz Carvalho Delitti","doi":"10.1080/11956860.2019.1613753","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2019.1613753","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In fire-influenced savanna ecosystems, native and invasive exotic plants may use different abilities to coexist and compete for nutrients available in post-fire soil. The availability and uptake of nitrate by two C4 grasses (Urochloa brizantha (exotic invasive) and Axonopus siccus (native)) were characterized in an unburned area and in a recently burned area in the Cerrado of Southeastern Brazil. Ecophysiologic tests were performed to measure Nitrate Reductase Activity (NRA) and nitrate content in leaves and roots. Soil fertility was also analyzed. In the unburned area, organic matter (25.3 ± 2.4 g kg–1), phosphorus (19.0 ± 2.0 mg dm–3), and nitrate (19.9 ± 7.4 mg dm–3) levels were higher than in the recently burned area, which had 27% less cations in the soil. In comparison with soils from the recently burned and unburned areas, ashes of the recently burned area had higher pH, electrical conductivity and nitrate, potassium, and calcium contents. In both areas, the aboveground part of U. brizantha was more responsive to nitrate compared to A. siccus and both had low belowground NRA. This confirms the working hypothesis that the two species undergo distinct ecophysiologic processes and indicate the adaptive potential of U. brizantha to bypass soil nutrient limitation.","PeriodicalId":51030,"journal":{"name":"Ecoscience","volume":"26 1","pages":"359 - 370"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/11956860.2019.1613753","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42868075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcosciencePub Date : 2019-05-20DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2019.1613752
Maria J. A. Creighton, J. Bennett
{"title":"Taxonomic Biases Persist from Listing to Management for Canadian Species at Risk","authors":"Maria J. A. Creighton, J. Bennett","doi":"10.1080/11956860.2019.1613752","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2019.1613752","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Management planning for Canadian species at risk of extinction begins with recommendation for legal protection under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), and ends with Action Plans that guide management implementation. Roughly five years after the enactment of SARA in 2002, multiple studies identified taxonomic biases associated with the SARA listing process. Here, we provide a comprehensive test of whether taxonomic biases remain over a decade later. We also test whether biases in listing are propagated through to management implementation. We find that birds, reptiles and plants are more likely to be legally protected than other species. Arthropods and fishes are less likely to be protected, with unlisted fish species being twice as likely to be threatened by resource use than other unlisted species. We also find that arthropods and amphibians are less likely to have Action Plans than other species. In addition, we find no evidence that biases in listing or management have improved over time. Canadian species at risk recovery programs appear to be biased both in legal protection and management, disfavouring arthropods, amphibians and harvested fishes. If SARA is to fulfil its stated purpose, such biases must be directly addressed, through a transparent and formalised prioritisation system.","PeriodicalId":51030,"journal":{"name":"Ecoscience","volume":"26 1","pages":"315 - 321"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/11956860.2019.1613752","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43852671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcosciencePub Date : 2019-04-27DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2019.1598644
Leonardo da Silva Tomadon, G. A. Dettke, M. G. Caxambu, I. J. M. Ferreira, E. V. Couto
{"title":"Significance of Forest Fragments for Conservation of Endangered Vascular Plant Species in Southern Brazil Hotspots","authors":"Leonardo da Silva Tomadon, G. A. Dettke, M. G. Caxambu, I. J. M. Ferreira, E. V. Couto","doi":"10.1080/11956860.2019.1598644","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2019.1598644","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The Brazilian Atlantic Forest and Brazilian Savanna (i.e., Cerrado) are classified as World Biodiversity Hotspots. Our goal was to analyze the spatial distribution of endangered species in both habitats within the Mourão River basin, southern Brazil. Forest remnants were mapped using Landsat 8 satellite images applying NDVI medium and landscape metrics. Locations of endangered species were added as an additional layer. The result was a map of 4015 forest remnants of which 97.66% were smaller than 50 ha, and 2.34% were larger than 50 ha. A total of 41 species was recorded in the Atlantic Forest fragments of the basin (total area: 25 502.6 ha), and 32 species in the Brazilian Savanna (total area: 8.6 ha). The forest fragment with the greatest richness of endangered species was Lago Azul State Park with 29 species endangered at the state level and six at the national level. The second and third most species-rich fragments corresponded to Brazilian Savanna fragments: Cerrado Ecological Station and Lote 7H. The integration of GIS, landscape metrics and spatial distribution of endangered species is an important tool for the identification of priority areas for biodiversity conservation.","PeriodicalId":51030,"journal":{"name":"Ecoscience","volume":"26 1","pages":"221 - 235"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/11956860.2019.1598644","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41459032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcosciencePub Date : 2019-04-14DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2019.1588511
Jean-Daniel Bontemps, J. Hervé, Anaîs Denardou
{"title":"Partition Idéalisée et Régionalisée de la Composition en Espèces Ligneuses des Forêts Françaises","authors":"Jean-Daniel Bontemps, J. Hervé, Anaîs Denardou","doi":"10.1080/11956860.2019.1588511","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2019.1588511","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Forest tree species strongly influence forest dynamics and management. French forests have the greatest compositional diversity in Europe, which constrains the quantitative analysis of associated wood resources. A partition of French forests according to dominant tree species composition and stratified by biogeographical regions (GRECO) was developed in order to handle this diversity. The partition relies on forest composition as measured by the national forest inventory (2006–2015, > 65,000 plots). It builds on the J-shaped distribution of elementary composition abundance, identifies dominant compositions describing at least 50% of the GRECO's area, and groups minor compositions. An ecological assessment of this partition and its application to the analysis of the growing stock are developed. The partition describes 61.4% of the forest area (66% of the growing stock) according to 29 dominant compositions, demonstrating its efficiency. These compositions revealed the importance of broadleaved mixtures, and of neglected forest strata (pine species in Northern France). Growing stock density appeared lowest in broadleaved compositions (Mediterranean oaks), and highest in some coniferous compositions (silver fir/ Norway spruce mixture in mountains). Partitioning highlights the role of ecological contexts and forest management on tree diversity.","PeriodicalId":51030,"journal":{"name":"Ecoscience","volume":"26 1","pages":"291 - 308"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/11956860.2019.1588511","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42759100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcosciencePub Date : 2019-04-01DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2019.1595932
A. Asemaninejad, R. Thorn, B. Branfireun, Z. Lindo
{"title":"Vertical Stratification of Peatland Microbial Communities Follows a Gradient of Functional Types across Hummock–Hollow Microtopographies","authors":"A. Asemaninejad, R. Thorn, B. Branfireun, Z. Lindo","doi":"10.1080/11956860.2019.1595932","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2019.1595932","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Microbes play crucial roles in global carbon cycles, particularly in peatland ecosystems that store vast quantities of carbon. Boreal peatlands are under stress from commercial extraction of peat, drainage for conversion to forestry and agricultural lands, and climate change. In this study, we identify key microbial groups and their ecological functions across peatland depth profiles and provide insight into how environmental changes related to water table may alter microbial communities. We examined the diversity and composition of prokaryotic communities across a microtopographic hummock–hollow gradient using Illumina sequencing. Communities formed a gradient of species and functional groups with depth, with overlap in functional groups at lower layers of hummocks and upper layers of hollows. Yet, overall, we found significantly different prokaryotic communities in hollows than hummocks. Surfaces of hummocks were typified by aerobic chemoorganotrophs, methanotrophs and chemoheterotrophs, mid-depths were typified by aerobic chemoorganotrophs, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and anaerobic nitrate reducers, while lower depths in hollows were typified by anaerobic and facultative anaerobic chemoorganotrophs, nitrate reducers and methanogenic archaea. Microbial composition as a function of hydrology and moisture regimes suggests that environmental changes that alter hydrological regimes (e.g., climate change, peatland draining) may alter carbon and nutrient cycling regimes.","PeriodicalId":51030,"journal":{"name":"Ecoscience","volume":"26 1","pages":"249 - 258"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/11956860.2019.1595932","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48912433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EcosciencePub Date : 2019-03-31DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2019.1590952
Yong Wang, Xinhao Huang, Yinghong Jiang, Xiongsheng Liu, F. Zhu
{"title":"Effects of N Addition on Soil Exchangeable Cations in a Young Keteleeria fortunei var. cyclolepis Forest","authors":"Yong Wang, Xinhao Huang, Yinghong Jiang, Xiongsheng Liu, F. Zhu","doi":"10.1080/11956860.2019.1590952","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11956860.2019.1590952","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The effects of simulated nitrogen (N) addition on soil exchangeable cations were assessed in a young Keteleeria fortunei var. cyclolepis forest in subtropical China. Three N addition schemes with three replications were designed for the forest control (without N addition, CK), low N (5 g N m–2 a–1, L-N) and high N (50 g N m–2 a–1, H-N). Results showed that continuous N addition resulted in increased, although not statistically significant, plant biomass of K. fortunei var. cyclolepis, while it significantly decreased cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (BS) and exchangeable base cations (BCs) (especially Ca2+ and Mg2+ under high N addition). General soil properties (except total P) were significantly affected by high N addition compared with the control. High N addition significantly increased the concentration of foliar N, and decreased the concentrations of foliar P, Ca2+ and Mg2+. Soil pH was also significantly altered by increased N addition, indicating that N addition significantly accelerated soil acidification. This study found that N addition was negatively correlated with soil pH, CEC and Ca2+, and that loss of BCs might be related to increased NO3–.","PeriodicalId":51030,"journal":{"name":"Ecoscience","volume":"26 1","pages":"259 - 268"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2019-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/11956860.2019.1590952","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46226707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}