Hasil untuk "Ecology"

E. S.

P. W. Richards, C. Elton

G. E. Hutchinson

M. Willson

D. Mann, W. Hammitt, D. Cole

Fangqi Sun, Hongbo Jiang, Jaturong Kumla et al.

Endophytic fungi associated with roots of the baobab tree (Adansonia digitata L.) remain poorly documented in terms of species diversity worldwide. During an ongoing fungal survey in the dry-hot valleys of Honghe (Yunnan Province, China), five endophytic fungal strains were isolated from healthy roots of A. digitata. Based on multi-locus phylogenetic analyses of four loci (ITS, LSU, SSU, and rpb2), combined with morphological observations, all five strains were identified as belonging to the genus Polyschema. Hence, three novel species are introduced in the present study, namely P. adansoniae-digitatae, P. hongheense, and P. radicicola. This study constitutes the first record of Polyschema from mainland China. Detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic placements of the three new species are provided. Additionally, the species diversity, morphology, and phylogeny of Polyschema are updated and discussed. These findings enrich knowledge of endophytic fungal diversity associated with baobab in China and provide insights into the taxonomy and diversity of Polyschema. Furthermore, an updated discussion on the ecology and genera within the family Latoruaceae is presented.

D. Walker

A. Farina

S. Erkman

Stream Ecology, Lesson Summary

Akshit R. Suthar, Alan R. Biggs, James T. Anderson

Despite increasing conservation efforts for shorebirds, there are widespread declines in many shorebird species in North America. Climate change is causing significant shorebird range shifts and population declines. This study investigates the relationship between meteorological variability and shorebird population dynamics over ten years (2014–2023) at Fish Haul Beach, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA. Shorebirds, reliant on specific habitats for breeding and foraging, are increasingly vulnerable to climate-driven changes, including shifts in temperature, precipitation, and wind speed. Using Generalized Additive Models with Poisson distribution, we analyzed species-specific count data for 12 shorebird species in relation to annual meteorological variables. Additionally, the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope were employed to assess decadal trends in population counts. The results reveal significant declines in Black-bellied Plover (<i>Pluvialis squatarola</i>), Marbled Godwit (<i>Limosa fedoa</i>), and Willet (<i>Tringa semipalmata</i>). In contrast, Semipalmated Plover (<i>Charadrius semipalmatus</i>) and Piping Plover (<i>Charadrius melodus</i>) showed increasing trends, indicating potential habitat benefits or conservation success. Temperature emerged as a key driver affecting the abundance of several species, while precipitation and wind speed also played crucial roles in shaping population dynamics. Our findings underscore the sensitivity of shorebird populations to weather fluctuations, emphasizing the need for integrating meteorological variability into management strategies to ensure shorebird conservation. This study provides critical insights into the impacts of meteorological variables on migratory shorebird populations along the Atlantic Flyway. It highlights the importance of maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems in South Carolina.

T. Schowalter

Xiaoli Ren, Tao Feng, Juan Lei et al.

The activated carbon was prepared with the Cephalosporin Mycelia Residue (CMR) obtained from Wichita Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and the adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics of Cefoperazone Sodium and Sulbactam Sodium (CS &amp; SS) onto the activated carbon derived from the CMR were investigated. The results of activated carbon characterization showed that the iodine value of the activated carbon derived from the CMR was 1044 mg·g−1, the SBET was 596 m2·g−1, electron microscope scanning showed that the surface of activated carbon was porous and heterogeneous. Four kinds of kinetic models and four kinds of thermodynamic models were used to fit the experimental data of adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics, respectively. In addition, the ΔG0, ΔH0 and ΔS0 was calculated and analysised. The results showed that pseudo-second order model fitted the best to the adsorption kinetic data, indicating that the adsorption rate was proportional to the square of the adsorption site. Redlich-Peterson and Langmuir isotherm model fitted the best to the adsorption thermodynamic data, indicating that CS &amp; SS was mainly adsorbed in single molecular layer on the surface of activated carbon. ΔH0> 0 indicated that the adsorption was endothermic, high temperature was conductive to the adsorption of CS &amp; SS.

N. Hart

Pedro Medrado Krainovic, Angélica Faria de Resende, Nino Tavares Amazonas et al.

Restoring tropical forests still relies on expensive tree planting. Timber production from native trees offers a promising opportunity to make restoration financially viable, but species growth data are lacking. We assessed the potential of tropical forest restoration plantations for producing native timber in the Atlantic Forest. For that we inventoried a chronosequence of unmanaged restoration plantation sites with ten commercial native tree species. Then we developed growth models and used the Growth-Oriented Logging (GOL) method to inform targeted management decisions, including an optimized timber-focused scenario, based on growth and bole quality assessment. Usually, growth-rate classes for saw wood production would be defined according to the time necessary for achieving 35 cm in DBH. Harvesting age was markedly reduced using GOL for species of fast-growth (from <50 to <25 years), intermediate-growth (from 50 to 70 to 25–50 years), slow-growth (from >70 to 50–75 years). Following GOL, basal area was 42 ± 30% larger at harvest (taking 35 ± 23% more time) or 60 ± 16.5% smaller (taking 66 ± 16% less time). The optimized scenario speeded tree-size achievement and anticipated harvesting in an average of 58 years. Species selection, individualization, and silvicultural management are critical for producing timber in forest restoration programs.

Mohammad Reza Ashrafzadeh, Kamalaldin Shahbazinasab, Alireza Mohammadi et al.

Human encroachment in natural habitats and consequent landscape modifications pose significant threats to animal populations, particularly endangered species. Therefore, studying the factors that determine the spatial distribution of large carnivores, including those at risk, holds great significance in developing effective conservation strategies. Among the most endangered bear populations worldwide, the conservation of the brown bear Ursus arctos population in the Central Zagros Mountains (southwestern Iran), which represents the species’ southernmost geographical range, is currently facing serious challenges. However, little is known about the species’ geographical range and the critical factors affecting its distribution in this area. Here, we employed a modelling approach to estimate the geographical distribution of this brown bear population and identify the primary landscape features that contribute to the species’ distribution. Our analysis revealed the following findings: (1) about 45% of the study area comprises suitable habitat for brown bears; (2) main factors influencing bear distribution, along with their respective contributions, are (a) distance to conservation areas and prohibited hunting areas (CAs/PHAs; 33.7%), (b) maximum temperature during the warmest month (21.6%), (c) landscape roughness (14.8%), (d) forest density (11.2%) and (e) mean annul precipitation (10.6%); and (3) roughly 69% the predicted suitable habitats exist outside CAs/PHAs. This highlights the importance of considering areas beyond CAs/PHAs in future conservation strategies, were the connectivity among forest patches is crucial for bear survival. The recent escalation of human activities, such as the harvesting of natural resources (e.g., medicinal and aromatic plants, fruits and honey), orchard and agricultural development, overgrazing of livestock, and the construction of water transfer infrastructures from the mountains to downstream regions, raises significant concerns for bear conservation in the study area. These activities contribute to landscape changes and have the potential to escalate conflicts between local communities and bears. Our findings highlight opportunities for designating new areas for brown bear habitat conservation and for promoting landscape connectivity.

A. Agrawal, D. Ackerly, F. Adler et al.

Yuan Wang, Guoyin Cai, Liuzhong Yang et al.

Rapid urbanisation has highlighted problems in the urban ecological environment and stimulated research on the evaluation of urban environments. In previous studies, key factors such as greenness, wetness, and temperature were extracted from satellite images to assess the urban ecological environment. Although air pollution has become increasingly serious as urbanisation proceeds, information on air pollution is not included in existing models. The Sentinel-5P satellite launched by the European Space Agency in 2017 is a reliable data source for monitoring air quality. By making full use of images from Landsat 8, Sentinel-2A, and Sentinel-5P, this work attempts to construct a new remote sensing monitoring index for urban ecology by adding air quality information to the existing remote sensing ecological index. The proposed index was tested in the Beijing metropolitan area using satellite data from 2020. The results obtained using the proposed index differ greatly in the central urban region and near large bodies of water from those obtained using the existing remote sensing monitoring model, indicating that air quality plays a significant role in evaluating the urban ecological environment. Because the model constructed in this study integrates information on vegetation, soil, humidity, heat, and air quality, it can comprehensively and objectively reflect the quality of the urban ecological environment. Consequently, the proposed remote sensing index provides a new approach to effectively monitoring the urban ecological environment.

Andrew Wesley Legan

Abstract The gall‐forming aphid Mordwilkoja vagabunda has been an out‐group in molecular studies of the evolution of social behavior in the Pemphigus genus, but Mordwilkoja aphids have not previously been assayed for social behavior, such as altruistic defense. This study reports experiments carried out in July in Ithaca, NY, in which nymphs (immature aphids) of M. vagabunda were video‐recorded under a stereomicroscope while they encountered pyralid moth larvae in a plastic arena. Mordwilkoja vagabunda nymphs of all instars used their legs to claw moth larvae while pressing their rostrums against the larvae, possibly to pierce the cuticle. Many of the attacking aphids were alatoid nymphs, rather than the specialized first‐instar soldiers typically observed in Pemphigus species. Mordwilkoja vagabunda nymphs moved in bursts that sometimes became synchronized among several aphids in the same vicinity. These synchronized, rhythmic movements may be antipredator defense strategies comparable to the collective twitching and kicking response observed in colonies of Aphis nerii and other aphid species. Defensive behaviors by M. vagabunda nymphs may be altruistic fortress defense strategies, which maximize the inclusive fitness of the clone.

V. Paul, M. Puglisi, R. Ritson-Williams