Global Ecology and Conservation最新文献

{"title":"Persistent yet limited impact of protected areas on coastal wetland restoration in megacity cores","authors":"Kai Jia ,&nbsp;Ailin Huang ,&nbsp;Liming Deng ,&nbsp;Xiaoling Yin ,&nbsp;Yue Deng ,&nbsp;Zhiwei Hou ,&nbsp;Zhao Li ,&nbsp;Ying Liu ,&nbsp;Jie Shen ,&nbsp;Ji Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03270","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03270","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coastal wetlands, vital hubs of economic activities, are under significant pressure, leading to the establishment of protected areas as a crucial conservation tool. Yet, uncertainties remain regarding the long-term effectiveness of these areas, especially in megacity cores subject to intense human disturbances. This study utilized long-term Landsat satellites monitoring to track the annual impact of protected areas on coastal wetland variations in the Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area from 1990 to 2020. Using annual classification datasets featuring 8 land cover/land use types with an average overall accuracy of 94.0±0.4 %, the research identified a significant increase in wetland areas before 2002, followed by a slight decline due to the exploitation of aquaculture and water bodies. Protected areas established for over seven years demonstrated a significantly positive impact on wetland restoration, underscoring the value of long-term conservation efforts. While mangrove protected areas showed strong recovery trends, other wetlands in developing regions continued to decline despite protection. This analysis indicated that the overall benefits of protected areas diminished when considering broader spatial contexts. These insights emphasized the need for adaptive management strategies to enhance the effectiveness of protected areas in urban environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142535580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Daily activity rhythm of sympatric ungulate species in Fanjingshan Reserve, China","authors":"Dan Xiang ,&nbsp;Bingshun Meng ,&nbsp;Bo Xie ,&nbsp;Xiaolong Huang ,&nbsp;Cheng Wang ,&nbsp;Jingcheng Ran ,&nbsp;Haijun Su ,&nbsp;Mingming Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03271","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03271","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sympatric species inhabiting similar ecological niches can coexist by partitioning aspects of available ecological resources, such as temporal, spatial, and nutritional niches. Ungulates often coexist in the same habitat, resulting in temporal partitioning and divergence in foraging strategies and spatial utilization. To understand the temporal patterns of ecological differentiation and coexistence mechanisms among sympatric ungulates, we analyzed the monitoring data in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China, from 2017 to 2022. Kernel density estimation was used to scrutinize disparities in diurnal activity patterns among four ungulates [tufted deer (<em>Elaphodus cephalophus</em>), Reeves' muntjac (<em>Muntiacus reevesi</em>), wild boar (<em>Sus scrofa</em>), and mainland serow (<em>Capricornis milneedwardsii</em>)] as well as the interspecies variances during different seasons, at diverse altitudes, and between breeding and non-breeding periods. Daily activity patterns differed significantly among four species, with those of tufted deer, Reeves' muntjac, and wild boar affected significantly by season and breeding cycle. In addition, the daily activity rhythms of four species were affected by altitude. Thus, the daily activity rhythms of these ungulates were resulted from a combination of environmental factors and interspecific competitive interactions, as well as the reproductive cycle of each species. Our results provided a scientific reference for the effective management of wildlife and forest ecosystems, and we suggest that knowledge of temporal dynamics should be integrated into conservation planning for these sympatric species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142571464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Accumulation of soil microbial necromass carbon and its contribution to soil organic carbon after vegetation restoration in the Tibetan Plateau","authors":"Xiangjun Pei ,&nbsp;Junjie Lei ,&nbsp;Xiaodong Wang ,&nbsp;Yang Xiao ,&nbsp;Zhihan Yang ,&nbsp;Runying Zhao ,&nbsp;Cangli Zeng ,&nbsp;Zhenyu Luo ,&nbsp;Jingji Li ,&nbsp;Ningfei Lei ,&nbsp;Qingwen Yang ,&nbsp;Shuming Peng ,&nbsp;Xuejun Cheng ,&nbsp;Pingfeng Li ,&nbsp;Xiaolu Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03269","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03269","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vegetation restoration has been proved as an effective strategy to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in degraded ecosystems. However, due to different vegetation restoration practices and climate zones, changes of SOC content, dynamics, sources and their controlling mechanisms after vegetation restoration remain inadequately addressed. Taking the advantage of four-year vegetation restoration, we explored the effects of vegetation restoration on SOC content through its fractions, soil aggregates, soil enzymes and microbial necromass contribution to SOC in a desertification region in the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Results showed that vegetation restoration increased SOC contents by 68 % for 0 – 10 cm, 29 % for 10 – 30 cm and 11 % for 30 – 50 cm compared to site without vegetation restoration. Vegetation restoration increased soil macroaggregates (&gt; 0.25 mm) and decreased soil microaggregates (0.53 – 0.25 mm), but increased their associated SOC contents. Meanwhile, vegetation restoration enhanced microbial necromass and its contribution to SOC. Structural equation model revealed that increasing microbial necromass carbon, changing soil aggregates and their associated SOC were the main mechanisms of increasing SOC content after vegetation restoration. Our result further indicated a large potential of SOC sequestration through vegetation restoration in the TP. These findings have important implications for natural based solution for carbon neutrality for China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142537353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal changes and recovery of benthic macroinvertebrate communities after the Hebei Spirit oil spill in the subtidal area around the Taean Peninsula in South Korea","authors":"Chae-Lin Lee ,&nbsp;Dae-Seong Lee ,&nbsp;Sungtae Kim ,&nbsp;Jae-Won Yoo ,&nbsp;Won Ok Jeong ,&nbsp;Byungkwan Jeong ,&nbsp;Young-Seuk Park","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03265","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03265","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Marine oil pollution is a significant environmental issue that significantly threatens ocean ecosystems. It occurs frequently and has devastating consequences for marine life, coastal habitats, and human communities. We examined the recovery of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in shallow subtidal areas following the Hebei Spirit oil spill around the Taean Peninsula, South Korea, in 2007. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected seasonally from 15 survey sites between 2008 and 2015. Immediately after the spill in 2008, species richness and density of benthic macroinvertebrates decreased by 66.7 % and 37.0 %, respectively, compared to before the oil spill in 2007. Cluster analysis based on benthic macroinvertebrate communities delineated the communities from 2008 to 2009 as a distinct cluster characterized by markedly low species richness. Communities from other periods exhibited spatiotemporal variability based on the sampling location and sediment characteristics. By 2011, species richness and density had recovered to levels similar to those in 2007, which was particularly pronounced regarding the resurgence of arthropods and mollusks. Notably, populations of amphipods that are particularly sensitive to oil, such as <em>Urothoe</em> sp. and <em>Byblis</em> spp., showed signs of recovery in 2011; however, recovery of the benthic community at the site nearest to the oil spill area, was not evident until July 2013, as indicated by the benthic opportunistic polychaete amphipod index. This underscores that prolonged time periods are required for communities to fully recuperate after oil spills.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142571326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Organisms with high dispersal ability as a proxy for biogeographical characterisation of the Mediterranean biome","authors":"Dušan Senko ,&nbsp;Marek Svitok ,&nbsp;Marek Slovák ,&nbsp;Zuzana Fačkovcová ,&nbsp;Luca Paoli ,&nbsp;Jaromír Kučera ,&nbsp;Silvana Munzi ,&nbsp;Joelle Breidy ,&nbsp;Hiba Dokmak ,&nbsp;Anna Guttová","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03268","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03268","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Mediterranean biome offers a diverse range of habitats, particularly rocky environments, known for their long-term stability and persistence. Adapted to these rocky surfaces, chasmophytes thrive in this region, benefiting from reduced competition and human interference. The distribution of stress-tolerant cryptogams with generally broad niches represents a significant gap in the biogeography of the region. This study investigates whether complex symbiotic organisms with a potential for long-distance dispersal could serve as biogeographic indicators for delimitation of the Mediterranean biome's boundaries. Through comprehensive chorology data research, saxicolous lichen congeners of the genus <em>Solenopsora</em> were mapped across the Mediterranean Basin as a model area. Environmental predictors (climate and geology) were employed to predict suitable habitats, shedding light on the lichens' ecological niches. Habitat suitability models consistently aligned with the Mediterranean's geographical area, indicating a tight link between lichen distribution and Mediterranean climate classification. While climate change may pose vulnerabilities, no significant range shifts beyond the latitudinal limit of the Mediterranean were predicted. Despite overlapping climatic niches, differences in microhabitat preferences in terms of insolation were observed among studied taxa. Vulnerable regions with potential habitat decreases were identified under future scenarios, emphasizing the importance of environmental heterogeneity in securing local species persistence. This study supports the hypothesis that these lichen symbiotic systems are restricted to the Mediterranean Basin, highlighting their potential to reflect Mediterranean climate, environmental stability, and indicate the boundaries of the Mediterranean biome. Our investigation demonstrates that collection-based research can yield significant contributions to current biogeography.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unraveling key environmental drivers of spatial variation in plant functional traits: Insights from Dacrydium pectinatum de Laub. in natural communities on Hainan Island, China","authors":"Haodong Liu ,&nbsp;Gaoqiang Zhang ,&nbsp;Tianqi Li ,&nbsp;Siyuan Ren ,&nbsp;Baihua Chen ,&nbsp;Kaibin Feng ,&nbsp;Shanshan Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaoqing Zhao ,&nbsp;Xingxing Rong ,&nbsp;Pengyao Qin ,&nbsp;Junpeng Zhao ,&nbsp;Wei Li","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03267","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03267","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate predictions of species distribution and coexistence in response to environmental changes depend on a thorough understanding of how functional traits relate to environmental conditions. However, there is still limited evidence regarding the sources of functional trait variation and the environmental mechanisms that regulate these traits in tropical forests. This study focuses on <em>Dacrydium pectinatum</em> de Laub., a crucial and endangered species native to the tropical mountain forests of Hainan Island, China. We gathered functional trait data from 68 permanent plots of <em>D. pectinatum</em> situated in three regions: Bawangling (163 tree species), Diaoluoshan (127 tree species), and Jianfengling (175 tree species). Nine functional traits were measured at the species level, and their variation patterns and sources were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models and variance decomposition methods. Our findings reveal that environmental pressures cause variations in trait relationships across different site conditions at the species level. Typically, inter-specific trait variation exceeds intra-specific variation, particularly for leaf area (LA) and specific leaf area (SLA). This indicates that trait variability is influenced by how species adapt to and balance specific environmental conditions. Site conditions significantly impact trait variation, especially for SLA, leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and wood density (WD). Additionally, intraspecific variation is notable for certain traits, reflecting individual responses to environmental heterogeneity. At the community level, eight out of nine traits exhibit significant changes in community-weighted mean (CWM) across various site conditions and environmental gradients. For instance, LA's CWM increases with soil fertility, whereas SLA, leaf nitrogen content (LNC), and leaf phosphorus content (LPC) show differences between site conditions. LDMC and WD decrease significantly in high-fertility environments, suggesting a transition from resource conservation to resource acquisition strategies within communities as soil fertility rises. Geographic variables play a crucial role in trait distributions across different community levels, with elevation and soil factors also contributing significantly to trait variation. Overall, our study provides direct evidence of how environmental filtering influences plant functional trait distributions and community assembly. Future research should explore the mechanisms driving these trait-environment relationships and their responses across various ecological contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142535581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Population structure and dynamic characteristics of Taxus cuspidata in Baishilazi National Nature Reserve, China","authors":"Baoliang Chang ,&nbsp;Shuai Yu ,&nbsp;Wei Chen ,&nbsp;Xingyuan He ,&nbsp;Yanqing Huang ,&nbsp;Yue Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03263","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03263","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Taxus cuspidata</em> is listed as a first-class national key protected plant in the northeast region, with scarce individuals in the wild and significant conservation value. We conducted a systematic field survey to explore the population structure and dynamic characteristics of <em>T. cuspidata</em> in the Baishilazi National Nature Reserve. A total of 313 <em>T. cuspidata</em> were recorded, displaying a spatially clustered distribution. Young individuals made up 33 % of the population, and the population's diameter class structure indicated a decreasing trend in population size. The population's survival curve closely resembled the Deevey-II type. These results suggest that the proportion of young individuals and strong potential for self-renewal. Geographic analysis revealed that north-facing slopes with moderate gradients were the primary habitat for <em>T. cuspidata</em> in the reserve. Interspecific analysis identified <em>Acer ukurunduense</em> and <em>A. komarovii</em> as the species with the highest interspecific associations with <em>T. cuspidata</em>. The population is projected to continue growing. The nature reserve is effectively fostering the natural renewal and recovery of <em>T. cuspidata</em> populations. These findings offer valuable insights for the conservation management of <em>T. cuspidata</em> in Baishilazi National Nature Reserve, supporting the sustainable development of endangered species populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142535644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plant-root-litter-soil C, N, P stoichiometry and plant phosphorus accumulation and utilization response to warming and phosphorus input in desert steppe","authors":"Lingxia Feng ,&nbsp;Bing Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03266","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03266","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nutrient cycling in desert steppe can be affected by continuous climate warming and exogenous nutrient inputs. This would alter plant nutrient uptake and utilization, affecting the plant production and service functions of desert ecosystems. However, we know remarkably little about the patterns of the plant-root-litter-soil system nutrient redistribution response to warming and phosphorus input in the P-limited desert steppe. The relationships between plant-root-litter-soil C, N, P contents, stoichiometry, and plant, root phosphorus accumulation and utilization are unclear. In this study, open-top chambers (OTCs) were used to simulate climate warming. We experimented with warming and phosphorus fertilizer application to explore the changes in C, N, P contents and stoichiometry along the plant-root-litter-soil continuum, and the relationships with plant, root phosphorus accumulation, and phosphorus utilization efficiency. The study demonstrated that warming increased root C, N contents, and root N:P, without a corresponding change in phosphorus content across the plant-root-litter-soil continuum. Phosphorus addition significantly elevated plant P, root P, litter P, and soil available phosphorus (AP) and decreased its C:P and N:P. Thereby boosting plant, root phosphorus accumulation and reducing plant, root phosphorus utilization efficiency, further affecting plant production. The key influence factors of plant, root phosphorus accumulation and utilization efficiency were root P, root C:N, and plant C:P. The results highlighted that the altered plant-root-litter-soil C:N:P stoichiometry induced by warming and exogenous phosphate fertilizer input would regulate plant, root phosphorus uptake and utilization patterns to adapt to the P-deficient soil environment in desert steppe.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142534992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into the spatial ecology of the world’s most ancient dog: High-altitude movements of New Guinea dingoes","authors":"Benjamin L. Allen ,&nbsp;Chloe Miller ,&nbsp;Lisa Wolf ,&nbsp;Hendra K. Maury ,&nbsp;Leonardo A. Numberi ,&nbsp;Suriani Surbakti ,&nbsp;Berna Natalia Br Silaban ,&nbsp;Kukuh Indra Kusuma ,&nbsp;James K. McIntyre","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03264","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03264","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Knowledge of an animal’s activity patterns, home range size and space use is fundamental to understanding their basic ecology, and obtaining spatial data is an important research priority for newly discovered species, data-deficient species of conservation concern, or species of great scientific or public interest. Here we report the first spatial data obtained from wild-living dingoes near Puncak Jaya, New Guinea. Based on information from four dingoes monitored with GPS tracking collars between 2018 and 2022, we report that dingo home range sizes can be up to 128 km², dingoes travel up to 56.8 km per day, and they utilise rainforest and alpine habitats up to 4630 m above sea level. Dingoes at the site regularly traversed steep, rocky and barren alpine mountain crevasses to access more fertile areas at lower altitudes on the other side. These results imply that New Guinea dingoes may have physiological and genetic adaptations that enable them to live in high-altitude low-oxygen environments similar to Himalayan wolves, Ethiopian wolves, and other canids found in high-altitude areas. As the first domesticated animal and the world’s most ancient dog, and given their historic and current cultural significance, their illusiveness in the wild, and their trophic position as the largest terrestrial predators on the second-largest island in the world, we believe that further research on the ecology of New Guinea dingoes will continue to reveal important insights valuable for our understanding of human and animal ecology in this global biodiversity hotspot.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Initial impacts of wildfire on overwintering conditions for a Species-at-Risk snake","authors":"T.D. North ,&nbsp;C.E. Markle ,&nbsp;R.Y. Fallas ,&nbsp;P.A. Moore ,&nbsp;J.M. Waddington","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03258","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03258","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Peatlands are important ecosystems that are becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate-mediated disturbances such as wildfire, which can threaten peatland hydrological, biogeochemical, and ecological function. However, the magnitude of these changes and their impacts to peatland-dependent species worldwide is a key knowledge gap. Peatlands in the eastern Georgian Bay, Ontario, region provide overwintering habitat for the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (<em>Sistrurus c. catenatus</em>), a species considered at-risk across its North American range. Overwintering habitat is considered suitable when peat temperature is above 0°C and the water table position provides moisture without risk of prolonged flooding. This combination of suitable ecohydrological conditions, also known as the life zone or resilience zone, commonly occurs in hummocks which are raised microforms on the peatland surface. Due to a changing climate, peatlands are at risk of increased wildfire frequency and burn severity which may reduce overwintering habitat availability and suitability through changes in peat thermal and hydrological properties. In 2018, a wildfire burned over 11,000 ha of the eastern Georgian Bay landscape which supports critical habitat for the massasauga at the northern limit of the species range. To assess the potential impact of wildfire on massasauga overwintering habitat, we monitored water table position, snow depth, and peat thermal dynamics in hummocks across a burn severity gradient (unburned to severely burned) in three burned and three unburned peatlands across three winters (2019–2022). We found that hummocks were able to provide unflooded habitat above 0°C regardless of peat burn severity; however, there was moderate evidence that hummock burn severity influenced mean daily resilience zone size. Overall, hummock overwintering suitability appears to be dominantly controlled by peatland surface topography and interannual winter weather. With the frequency and intensity of wildfires predicted to increase globally under a changing climate, it is critical to understand how interannual variability of winter weather conditions influences overwintering habitat suitability after wildfire, to identify peatland ecosystems that provide resilient species at risk habitat.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142535583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}