Global Ecology and Conservation最新文献

{"title":"Obstacles affecting seedling germination and reproductive success of the critically endangered species Abies beshanzuensis","authors":"Lifang Zhang ,&nbsp;Yougui Wu ,&nbsp;Jie Feng ,&nbsp;Yang Zhang ,&nbsp;Aya Hafsi ,&nbsp;Donghao Wu ,&nbsp;Jinliang Liu ,&nbsp;Boliang Wei ,&nbsp;Hongfei Lv ,&nbsp;Mingjian Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03317","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03317","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Abies beshanzuensis</em> M. H. Wu is a critically endangered plant with only three wild mother trees in the world, it has a small distribution range limited to Baishanzu National Park, and its natural regeneration has been extremely low, with fewer than three seedlings appearing from 2007 to 2017. Despite the critically endangered status in China, little is known about the obstacles affecting the natural regeneration and reproduction of this species. In our study, we investigated various factors that could influence seed germination, seedling growth, seed quality, and overall production throughout the life cycle of <em>A. beshanzuensis</em>. Our findings highlighted the importance of litter removal in its natural habitat. Over five years following the removal of litter, we observed the emergence of 687 new seedlings, demonstrating a significant enhancement in both germination and seedling survival. Seedling abundance and mortality were greatly influenced by litter thickness, total carbon content, NO₃^--N, and available phosphorus. Seedlings height growth rate was significantly affected by litter coverage, canopy density at 1.3 m height, total nitrogen, and litter thickness. Additionally, the insufficient energy and lower values of actual photochemical rate, electron transfer rate, and photochemical quenching coefficient support in leaves with cones in the branch and branches with cones in the branch, contributed to abnormal development of female cones, leading to endosperm and embryo abortion. Our findings underscore the significant impact of environmental factors on seedling germination and growth, and highlight that insufficient energy support and reduced photosynthetic capability during female cone reproductive development may pose significant obstacles to the success of <em>A. beshanzuensis</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article e03317"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142699075","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":"A heart-rot fungus, Inonotus obliquus (chaga), mediates microhabitat creation in birch snags and contributes to forest fungal diversity","authors":"Asko Lõhmus,&nbsp;Piret Lõhmus","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03319","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03319","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ecological significance of fungi in terrestrial ecosystems is generally acknowledged but the ecological networks mediated by particular fungal species are seldom described. In this note, we draw attention to an undescribed function of a well-known heart-rot fungus, <em>Inonotus obliquus</em> (chaga). This species mostly inhabits live birches (<em>Betula</em>), where it forms sterile conks used in ethnomedicine. Less known is that its short-lived fruit-bodies develop under the bark after the tree death and release the spores by cracking the bark. Based on studies in Estonia, we report that this process is a major mechanism that removes bark from standing dead birches and that the exposed wood becomes a distinct woody substrate. We report nearly 50 species of epixylic lichens and allied fungi on birch snags, most notably calicioid fungi, which include several species of conservation concern. Because forest management suppresses that stage through multiple mechanisms (removal of trees with conks and dead trees; shortened rotations; preference for conifer monocultures), the keystone function can be lost even if <em>I. obliquus</em> persists in the area. Additionally, multi-functional forestry that supports chaga for its conk use should pay attention to that later phase of fruit-body formation to maintain natural functioning of this species. Such microhabitat providing functions may be more widespread among fungi that currently acknowledged.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article e03319"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142698487","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":"Cumulative mortality effects on roe deer population dynamics in the boreal forest: Searching for pathways of population persistence","authors":"Cécile A.E. Carpentier ,&nbsp;Marco Heurich ,&nbsp;Olivier Gimenez ,&nbsp;Olivier Devineau ,&nbsp;John D.C. Linnell","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03318","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03318","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ungulate populations can exhibit various growth patterns, which are influenced by factors such as predation and resource availability. Favourable environments can lead to irruptive growth, resulting in resource depletion. However, additional pressures from predation, and hunting can potentially impact population development leading to declines or even local extinctions. This study uses simulation models to explore the potential impact of multiple mortality sources on roe deer populations. We develop an age-structured, two-sex demographic matrix model for roe deer, which we parameterise with empirical demographic estimates obtained from published studies in Norway. We develop scenarios to assess the influence of mortality sources such as hunting, predation by lynx and red foxes, and environmental stochasticity on roe deer population dynamics. When simulating favourable environments without predation, roe deer populations tended to erupt due to the species' rapid reproductive capacity. However, additional sources of mortality, such as predation or harvest, lead to severe population declines, and even to quasi-extinction, especially when occurring in combination. Environmental stochasticity such as periodic severe winters with heavy snowfall reduces the growth rate and population densities even further. On the other hand, accounting for some form of spatial heterogeneity through immigration and refuges stabilised populations, with a reduced risk of quasi-extinction. Our results provide meaningful insights into the properties of this system allow implications for the management and identify areas where further exploration is needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article e03318"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142698945","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":"Conservation behaviors of local communities towards mangrove forests in Iran","authors":"Moslem Savari ,&nbsp;Hamed Eskandari Damaneh ,&nbsp;Hadi Eskandari Damaneh","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mangrove forests are a sensitive and fragile ecosystem at risk of extinction and destruction due to excessive exploitation in recent years. Moreover, insufficient studies, programs, and practical policies to safeguard these ecosystems have exacerbated their degradation. In this context, the present research was conducted to find the factors that determine the willingness of Iranian rural households towards mangrove forest conservation. The extended protection motivation theory (PMT) by adding the variables of moral norms (MN) and knowledge was used as the study's theoretical framework. This research was conducted using the questionnaire survey method and with the help of structural equations (SEM). The research's statistical population comprised all rural communities within Minab city in southern Iran. The findings of the research showed that the initial PMT explains 0.54 % of the variance of behavioral intention of rural households in applying forest conservation behaviors. The primary constructs of the PMT encompass perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, self-efficacy, response efficacy, and response costs, each of which positively influences the behavioral intention of rural households. Notably, the incorporation of knowledge and MN variables enhances the model's explanatory power regarding the BI of rural households to forest conservation by 21.8 %. In the current research, knowledge was identified as the most important factor, so policymakers can promote safe behavior in the natural environment by emphasizing it and providing the basis for sustainable forest development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article e03311"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142699073","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":"Responses of plant stoichiometric niche to locust disturbance with different densities in Inner Mongolia grasslands","authors":"Yuan Liang ,&nbsp;Guangming Zhang ,&nbsp;Chen Chen ,&nbsp;Narui Li ,&nbsp;Quansheng Chen ,&nbsp;Caifeng Yan ,&nbsp;Hao Wang ,&nbsp;Hongqing Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03309","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03309","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Producers, consumers, decomposers and their relationships are all important biological components of a healthy ecosystem. Grasshoppers (including locusts) have been extensively studied as a group of members of grassland ecosystems. However, the effects of different degrees of locust disturbance on plant niches remain unclear. We carried out a field experiment by manipulating locust (<em>Oedaleus asiaticus</em>) grazing at different densities in the Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station in northern China, to investigate the outcome of locust plague on plant C:N:P stoichiometric niche. Based on the <em>Copula</em> function with improved modelling methods to simulate the stoichiometric niche projection map of different plants, we found that <em>Leymus chinensis</em> and <em>Stipa grandis</em>, after being disturbed by locusts, had a relatively larger niche space and niche overlap among the seven plant species, indicating that they remained the dominant species in the area. <em>Achnatherum sibiricum</em>, <em>Cleistogenes squarrosa</em>, and <em>Koeleria cristata</em> showed little change in their C:N:P stoichiometric niche in response to locust plague, while the mechanisms involving stoichiometric niche variation were not the same in these plants; food importance to locust and physiology (e.g., photosynthesis pathway type) may account for this. Our results suggest that a heavy degree of locust plague might benefit the expansion of chemical niche space (species' niche in chemical resource utilization) in some plants in Inner Mongolian grasslands, but does not necessarily increase their physical niche (species' niche under abiotic environmental conditions like temperature and humidity). To our knowledge, the present work is the first to study C:N:P stoichiometric niche variation in response to locust disturbance and may have significance in theoretical studies and provide guidance for the protection of biodiversity and grassland ecosystem management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article e03309"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142698490","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":"Drivers of hunting and photographic tourism income to communal conservancies in Namibia","authors":"J.D. Goergen ,&nbsp;M. Lindeque ,&nbsp;M.P. Louis ,&nbsp;K.F. Kellner ,&nbsp;G.J. Roloff ,&nbsp;J.L. Belant","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03294","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03294","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hunting and photographic tourism provide ecosystem services that can facilitate conservation. Understanding factors influencing how tourism industries generate income is necessary to ensure sustainable community-based natural resource management. We evaluated effects of large mammal occurrence and landscape attributes on incomes from hunting and photographic tourism earned by communal conservancies in Namibia during 1998–2022. We compiled annual incomes and occurrence of ‘Big 5’ species (elephant [<em>Loxodonta africana</em>], buffalo [<em>Syncerus caffer</em>], black rhino [<em>Diceros bicornis</em>], lion [<em>Panthera leo</em>], and leopard [<em>P. pardus</em>]) using conservancy accounting and wildlife monitoring data. Hunting occurred in 70 of 86 conservancies and generated income almost twice as rapidly as photographic tourism (2.9 and 5.4 years after conservancy establishment, respectively). Hunting income increased with conservancy area and number of Big 5 species present but decreased with conservancy age and increasing mean elevation, topographic diversity, and distances to national parks. Photographic tourism occurred in 39 conservancies and generated 447 % greater median annual income than hunting for conservancies earning &gt;$0. Big 5 species occurrence increased the probability conservancies earned &gt;$0 photographic income but not the amount of photographic income. Photographic income increased with conservancy age and higher annual precipitation but decreased with higher mean elevation. Large mammals are an important driver of income to Namibia’s conservancies and hunting and photographic tourism can provide complementary benefits. We recommend Namibia’s conservancies, particularly those established more recently with smaller area, consider inter-conservancy wildlife co-management and collaboration with tourism industries to improve income potential and develop more sustainable community-based natural resource economies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article e03294"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142698485","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":"Response to Frey et al.’s critique of Goldberg et al. 2022 and ramifications regarding the risk of plague to an imperiled chipmunk","authors":"Amanda R. Goldberg","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03308","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03308","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We thank Frey et al. for their response to our manuscript as we think this provides an excellent opportunity for further dialogue regarding the effects of plague on wildlife populations and the difficulties in interpreting and explaining how this disease system may function under natural conditions. Herein, we will attempt to directly address some of the criticisms of Goldberg et al. 2022b. We may have been remiss in not providing sufficient detail on the history of our experimental design, which could have led to misconceptions. The criticisms helped point out such weaknesses and we are thankful for the opportunity to address them here.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article e03308"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142699069","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":"Major diet of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) over different developmental stages in rice-field: Agroecological interactions between fishes and rice in Sichuan, China, based on DNA metabarcoding approach","authors":"Mengling Wu ,&nbsp;Ruisen Lu ,&nbsp;Wenhao Huang ,&nbsp;Hongyi Liu ,&nbsp;Yan Zou ,&nbsp;Ling Tao ,&nbsp;Yun Sun ,&nbsp;Qiong Wang ,&nbsp;Keyi Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03298","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03298","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rice-fish co-culture system (RFS) is a traditional cooperative farming model employed in southern China that can achieve doubling the harvest of rice (<em>Oryza</em> sp.) and fish. Most studies on RFS have focused on ecological mechanisms, benefits, ecosystem services, and agroecosystem functions; however, little is known about the baseline dietary composition in common carp of RFS, particularly across different developmental stages. In this study, we applied DNA metabarcoding of invertebrates (<em>COI</em>) and plants (<em>Rbcl</em>) to investigate the natural diets of common carp (<em>Cyprinus carpio</em>) across three developmental stages: juvenile (May), sub-adult (July), and adult (September). The animal-derived diets of common carp were dominated by prey from the orders Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Hemiptera, and the main plant-derived food items belonged to the families Poaceae, Araceae, and Hydrocharitaceae. We examined variations in the dietary compositions of common carp across three developmental stages to capture adaptations to seasonal changes in food resource availability. Additionally, we detected insect pests (species from the genera <em>Macrosteles</em> and <em>Mythimna</em>) and weeds (<em>Eleusine indica</em>, <em>Alternanthera philoxeroides</em>, <em>Mazus japonicus</em>, and <em>Poa annua</em>) in the diets of common carp, confirming the ecological benefits of common carp in rice fields by reducing insect pests and weeds. Characterizing the dietary composition and variation of common carp over developmental stages contributes to our understanding of its foraging ecology, dietary niche, and dynamics of trophic interactions, and provides critical information for evaluating the ecological benefits of common carp in RFS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article e03298"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142698486","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":"A national scale floodplain model revealing channel gradient as a key determinant of beaver dam occurrence and inundation potential can anticipate land-use based opportunities and conflicts for river restoration","authors":"Matthew Dennis ,&nbsp;Christof Angst ,&nbsp;Joshua R. Larsen ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Rey ,&nbsp;Annegret Larsen","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03304","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03304","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Eurasian beaver (<em>Castor fiber</em>) has expanded its range considerably due to reintroduction and conservation efforts and the species is now found in more than 30 countries across Europe. This expansion brings with it opportunities for nature restoration, the provision of river ecosystem services and the return of naturally functioning floodplains. It also has the potential for conflict with existing human land-use through dam induced floodplain inundation and wetland development. To maximise restoration benefits and minimise conflict, modelling approaches are needed that can predict the likelihood of dam building and include scenarios for subsequent floodplain inundation. This study describes the first national-scale comprehensive study on the drivers of beaver dam occurrence and beaver floodplain inundation potential. This revealed that channel gradient was the overriding driver of both dam occurrence and potential land-use impact. Although widely considered to be a key constraint, channel width exhibited considerably lower explanatory power. The delineation of areas reflecting overall opportunities and conflict reveals that the reintroduction of <em>Castor fiber</em> into Switzerland implies a net benefit from a landscape restoration perspective, though outcomes scaled closely with catchment position. Given the rapidly expanding population range and popularity of continuing beaver reintroductions, this approach could help maximise landscape restoration goals whilst minimising undesirable land-use conflicts that may harm conservation efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article e03304"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142660821","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":"Ecological redline policy strengthens sustainable development goals through the strict protection of multiple ecosystem services","authors":"Lijuan Wang ,&nbsp;Hua Zheng ,&nbsp;Yongzhe Chen ,&nbsp;Binbin Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03306","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>China’s stringent ecological redline (ERL) policy, which delineates minimum areas for strict protection, aims to safeguard crucial ecosystem services (ES) and advance sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, the relationship between ERL policy and SDGs remains unclear. Using a land use/land cover (LULC)-ES-SDGs analysis, this study explored the impact of ERL on SDGs in Baisha Li Autonomous County, a tropical mountainous region in Hainan, China, under ERL and business-as-usual (BAU) scenarios. Our findings reveal that under the BAU scenario, rubber plantation expansion at the expense of natural forests leads to a trade-off between product production and regulating services. This results in positive contributions to SDGs related to poverty and hunger and negative impacts on goals such as clean water and sanitation, and biodiversity conservation. However, the ERL scenario effectively reduces natural forest loss and rubber plantation expansion, leading to a decrease in product provisioning services and a substantial increase in regulating services. Consequently, the ERL scenario demonstrates decreased positive contributions to poverty and hunger-related SDGs while mitigating negative impacts on goals related to environmental sustainability. These results highlight the importance of ERL policies in balancing conservation and development, providing valuable insights for other regions seeking to achieve SDGs while safeguarding natural resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article e03306"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142699074","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}