Prunus serotina and Robinia pseudoacacia are the most widespread invasive trees in Central Europe.In addition,according to climate models,decreased growth of many economically and ecologically important native trees w...Prunus serotina and Robinia pseudoacacia are the most widespread invasive trees in Central Europe.In addition,according to climate models,decreased growth of many economically and ecologically important native trees will likely be observed in the future.We aimed to assess the impact of these two neophytes,which differ in the biomass range and nitrogen-fixing abilities observed in Central European conditions,on the relative aboveground biomass increments of native oaks Qucrcus robur and Q.petraea and Scots pine Pinus sylvestris.We aimed to increase our understanding of the relationship between facilitation and competition between woody alien species and overstory native trees.We established 72 circular plots(0.05 ha)in two different forest habitat types and stands varying in age in western Poland.We chose plots with different abundances of the studied neophytes to determine how effects scaled along the quantitative invasion gradient.Furthermore,we collected growth cores of the studied native species,and we calculated aboveground biomass increments at the tree and stand levels.Then,we used generalized linear mixed-effects models to assess the impact of invasive species abundances on relative aboveground biomass increments of native tree species.We did not find a biologically or statistically significant impact of invasive R.pseudoacacia or P.serotina on the relative aboveground,biomass increments of native oaks and pines along the quantitative gradient of invader biomass or on the proportion of total stand biomass accounted for by invaders.The neophytes did not act as native tree growth stimulators but also did not compete with them for resources,which would escalate the negative impact of climate change on pines and oaks.The neophytes should not significantly modify the carbon sequestration capacity of the native species.Our work combines elements of the per capita effect of invasion with research on mixed forest management.展开更多
As the sole obligate symbiotic birds in Africa,oxpeckers offer a unique model for studying symbiotic relationships.Due to the multitrophic level they occupy and the context dependent foraging behavior they exhibit,the...As the sole obligate symbiotic birds in Africa,oxpeckers offer a unique model for studying symbiotic relationships.Due to the multitrophic level they occupy and the context dependent foraging behavior they exhibit,the type of symbiotic relationship can be variable.In addition to providing a cleaning service to the host by removing ticks,oxpeckers frequently feed on blood,mucus,and saliva,inflicting potential damage on the host.Here,we used DNA metabarcoding on faecal samples to analyze the taxonomic composition of the trophic interactions of the Yellow-billed Oxpecker(Buphagus africanus)and Red-billed Oxpecker(B.erythrorhynchus)in northeastern Namibia.In contrast to conventional methods,DNA metabarcoding allows for a detailed identification of dietary resources encompassing both mammal hosts and consumed arthropods within the same samples.With this information,we examined differences in the diet composition between oxpecker species and localities,as well as the co-occurrence between host and arthropod species.Our findings revealed that oxpeckers predominantly source their diet from mammals,ticks,and flies;however,ticks and flies rarely co-occur in the diet of an individual.We observed variability among individuals in their feeding ecology,which is strongly correlated with locality and,to a lesser extent,with the mammal host.We noted a high degree of mobility between hosts within relatively short periods,with 32%of the samples showing traces of at least two mammal hosts.This study illustrates the dynamic foraging behavior of these specialized symbiotic birds,shedding light on their potential role in pest control services and disease transmission.展开更多
Mountains exhibit a high degree of endemism and diversity,however,quantifying their biodiversity can be challenging.Similar to islands,species isolation in mountainous regions results in comparable patterns of evoluti...Mountains exhibit a high degree of endemism and diversity,however,quantifying their biodiversity can be challenging.Similar to islands,species isolation in mountainous regions results in comparable patterns of evolution and extinction,rendering their biodiversity unique and highly susceptible to anthropogenic threats.The topographic relief in mountains plays a crucial role in creating habitat complexity,which in turn contribute to high plant diversity.Here,we investigated plant diversity in the volcano mountaintop vegetation on the Poços de Caldas Plateau,a region situated in the ecotone between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado,characterized by natural radiation and significant anthropogenic intervention.We employed an automated approach through the filtering of georeferenced and non-georeferenced data to obtain a list of plant species in the region.Additionally,we statistically investigated the similarity among different high-altitude vegetations belonging to the campos de altitude from the Atlantic Forest and campos rupestres from the Cerrado.The plateau exhibits high plant diversity,including 1,659 specific and infraspecific taxa,especially belonging to Asteraceae and Poaceae.Our analyses suggest that geographical distance is a strong predictor of dissimilarity and that the Poços de Caldas Plateau is more floristically related to the campos rupestres,despite being associated with campos de altitude.The region possesses a unique set of biodiversity,indicating that it may be a distinct formation.Additionally,we hypothesize that Pleistocene events likely influenced the conformation of the current floristic composition in the region through species interchange between the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest.Our study also highlights the few taxa assessed for conservation status and anthropogenic threats that this habitat is facing.展开更多
Forest habitats are critical for biodiversity,ecosystem services,human livelihoods,and well-being.Capacity to conduct theoretical and applied forest ecology research addressing direct(e.g.,deforestation)and indirect(e...Forest habitats are critical for biodiversity,ecosystem services,human livelihoods,and well-being.Capacity to conduct theoretical and applied forest ecology research addressing direct(e.g.,deforestation)and indirect(e.g.,climate change)anthropogenic pressures has benefited considerably from new field-and statistical-techniques.We used machine learning and bibliometric structural topic modelling to identify 20 latent topics comprising four principal fields from a corpus of 16,952 forest ecology/forestry articles published in eight ecology and five forestry journals between 2010 and 2022.Articles published per year increased from 820 in 2010 to 2,354 in 2021,shifting toward more applied topics.Publications from China and some countries in North America and Europe dominated,with relatively fewer articles from some countries in West and Central Africa and West Asia,despite globally important forest resources.Most study sites were in some countries in North America,Central Asia,and South America,and Australia.Articles utilizing R statistical software predominated,increasing from 29.5%in 2010 to 71.4%in 2022.The most frequently used packages included lme4,vegan,nlme,MuMIn,ggplot2,car,MASS,mgcv,multcomp and raster.R was more often used in forest ecology than applied forestry articles.R software offers advantages in script and workflow-sharing compared to other statistical packages.Our findings demonstrate that the disciplines of forest ecology/forestry are expanding both in number and scope,aided by more sophisticated statistical tools,to tackle the challenges of redressing forest habitat loss and the socio-economic impacts of deforestation.展开更多
Research has indicated that simple forest eco-system composition,structure and diversity have uncompli-cated community relationships and insufficient pest control capabilities.To investigate changing characteristics o...Research has indicated that simple forest eco-system composition,structure and diversity have uncompli-cated community relationships and insufficient pest control capabilities.To investigate changing characteristics of plant and insect communities in under pest outbreaks in Larix principis-rupprechtii plantations,the research areas were defined as mature(48–50 years)and young(24–29 years)infested stands along with healthy stands.The results show a reduction in the complexity and diversity of plant communi-ties and herbaceous plant guilds(polycultures of beneficial plants)and the complexity and dominance of insect com-munities,especially natural insect enemies.The results also show the relative simplicity of the main factors of commu-nity change and development that represent the characteris-tics of pest outbreaks in L.principis-rupprechtii plantations.The complexity and diversity of plant communities,particu-larly herbaceous plant guilds play a fundamental role in the regulation and development in forest ecosystems.展开更多
Environmental conditions can change markedly over geographical distances along elevation gradients,making them natural laboratories to study the processes that structure communities.This work aimed to assess the influ...Environmental conditions can change markedly over geographical distances along elevation gradients,making them natural laboratories to study the processes that structure communities.This work aimed to assess the influences of elevation on Tropical Montane Cloud Forest plant communities in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest,a historically neglected ecoregion.We evaluated the phylogenetic structure,forest structure(tree basal area and tree density)and species richness along an elevation gradient,as well as the evolutionary fingerprints of elevation-success on phylogenetic lineages from the tree communities.To do so,we assessed nine communities along an elevation gradient from 1210 to 2310 m a.s.l.without large elevation gaps.The relationships between elevation and phylogenetic structure,forest structure and species richness were investigated through Linear Models.The occurrence of evolutionary fingerprint on phylogenetic lineages was investigated by quantifying the extent of phylogenetic signal of elevation-success using a genus-level molecular phylogeny.Our results showed decreased species richness at higher elevations and independence between forest structure,phylogenetic structure and elevation.We also verified that there is a phylogenetic signal associated with elevation-success by lineages.We concluded that the elevation is associated with species richness and the occurrence of phylogenetic lineages in the tree communities evaluated in Mantiqueira Range.On the other hand,elevation is not associated with forest structure or phylogenetic structure.Furthermore,closely related taxa tend to have their higher ecological success in similar elevations.Finally,we highlight the fragility of the tropical montane cloud forests in the Mantiqueira Range in face of environmental changes(i.e.global warming)due to the occurrence of exclusive phylogenetic lineages evolutionarily adapted to environmental conditions(i.e.minimum temperature)associated with each elevation range.展开更多
Multiple borehole samples are collected from the Baiyun Depression in deep-water area of the northern South China Sea(SCS)in an effort to reconstruct transgression processes during the Paleogene based on palynalgal an...Multiple borehole samples are collected from the Baiyun Depression in deep-water area of the northern South China Sea(SCS)in an effort to reconstruct transgression processes during the Paleogene based on palynalgal analysis.This study indicates that the Baiyun Depression generated a large group of palynopore assemblages and fluvial/lacustrine-related algae during the early and middle Eocene when the Wenchang Formation was deposited.The entire depression was dominated by fluvial and lacustrine facies before transgression.Its eastern and southeastern sags transitioned to shallow marine environment by generating a large abundance of marine dinoflagellates during the Enping deposition of the late Eocene.Meanwhile,the southern uplift zone simply yielded fluvial/lacustrine-related palynopores and algae,and was dominated by the fluvial and lacustrine environment during the early stage of the Enping Formation,prior to shifting into transitional setting in the later period.Northwestern sags remained extensive fluvial and delta facies without existence of marine dinoflagellates.It was until the depositional stage of the Zhuhai Formation(Oligocene)that the overall depression was strongly impacted from transgression process.Both eastern and southeastern sags were mainly under deep marine setting on a continental slope while northwestern and southern areas developed transitional facies.Although distribution and accumulation patterns varied greatly among sub-sags,the overall Baiyun Depression was characterized by widespread development of marine dinoflagellates.It should be noted that the northwestern sag also partly generated large-scale river delta deposits.Due to the eustatic rise and change of SCS spreading axis,the overall Baiyun Depression was mostly influenced by the deep marine environment on a continental slope during the early Miocene.Both northwestern sag and southern uplift zone were found plentiful marine dinoflagellates.In summary,transgression initiated from the eastern and southeastern Baiyun Depression before subsequently progressing into the farther west.Evolution of transgression process is also greatly consistent with the gradual westward expansion of the SCS.展开更多
Urban development should rely on the form of architecture,and incorporating urban planning concepts into architectural design can better assist urban construction.Taking the design of Incheon Geomdan Cultural Complex ...Urban development should rely on the form of architecture,and incorporating urban planning concepts into architectural design can better assist urban construction.Taking the design of Incheon Geomdan Cultural Complex in South Korea as an example,this paper analyzes how to reflect urban planning elements in architectural design,and studies the role and value of cultural complex architecture in urban development from multiple perspectives such as culture,ecological environment,and public space.It hopes to gain more research and design ideas to promote the development of cultural industries in the region,leverage the advantages of regional cultural formats,and create new cultural settlements in cities.展开更多
The basic situation and ecological resources of Tian-e-zhou Development Zone,Shishou City were briefly introduced.Aiming at the problems such as poor plant diversity,low utilization rate of local resources and lack of...The basic situation and ecological resources of Tian-e-zhou Development Zone,Shishou City were briefly introduced.Aiming at the problems such as poor plant diversity,low utilization rate of local resources and lack of local landscape in the site,and three major planning and design goals such as respecting for ecological environment protection,combining landscape resources and production resources,and creating a good plant,ecology,rural culture science popularization atmosphere were proposed under the premise of following the principle of ecological protection.Besides,it is needed to gradually restore the vitality of rice field and water of the site,give play to the popular science and tourism functions of the site,and create a rural environment integrating ecological protection,tourism,science popularization and research and promoting the development of local industries,which provides reference for the future rural environment regulation and planning design under the policy of rural revitalization.展开更多
With the rapid development of urbanization,landscape architecture has become an indispensable component of daily life.In order to achieve better landscape effects and protect the ecological environment,landscape ecolo...With the rapid development of urbanization,landscape architecture has become an indispensable component of daily life.In order to achieve better landscape effects and protect the ecological environment,landscape ecology theory can be integrated into landscape planning to carry out disciplinary crossing and integration research between landscape ecology and landscape architecture.In this study,based on the basic theories of landscape ecology,the waterfront landscape of Dapo Town was designed,with the aim to achieve ecological balance in planning,showcase biodiversity,and create a harmonious landscape ecological environment which can benefit both nature and people.This design combined artificial and natural elements while improving the natural environment,which promoted a harmonious relationship between humans and nature,thus enriching the spatial organization of the city,and playing a role in regulating the urban environment and climate.展开更多
Land degradation poses significant threats to food and environmental security globally. In arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), livestock production is an important and significant livelihood. Unfortunately, overstocking...Land degradation poses significant threats to food and environmental security globally. In arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), livestock production is an important and significant livelihood. Unfortunately, overstocking and overgrazing have diminished pasture availability, and thus adversely impacting on the sector’s contribution to food security for many ASAL communities. The Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Program in its quest to combat soil erosion, deforestation, and Prosopis juliflora invasion in the Lake Bogoria Landscape, Baringo County, Kenya has supported the establishment of Cenchrus ciliaris (buffel grass) since 2018. Despite its introduction and establishment, the socioeconomic factors influencing its adoption remain undocumented. This study evaluated these factors in three administrative wards, namely: Ilchamus, Mochongoi, and Marigat of Baringo South Sub-County. Data was collected from 103 households using a semi-structured questionnaire, key informant interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Our results revealed that Cenchrus ciliaris adoption has partially reduced soil erosion and deforestation, improved livelihoods and environmental conservation. Nearly 50% of the respondents have established 2 to 5 acres of buffel grass pasturelands on their farms. The level of education of the respondents for had a significant association with the participants’ knowledge regarding the advantages of pasture production for environmental conservation (χ2 = 16.93;p χ2 = 77.71;p χ2 = 18.3;p χ2 = 3.8;p Cenchrus ciliaris value chain are recommended as practical strategies of enhancing livestock production and environmental conservation in Kenya’s ASALs.展开更多
The trace elements chemistry of Bartlett Pond, a small shallow wetland pond in Laredo, Southern Texas, was sampled to evaluate the dynamics of trace elements impacts on water quality and ecosystems ecology of the pond...The trace elements chemistry of Bartlett Pond, a small shallow wetland pond in Laredo, Southern Texas, was sampled to evaluate the dynamics of trace elements impacts on water quality and ecosystems ecology of the pond. Two types of fish (bass and tilapia) were also sampled to see the trace element accumulation in different parts of their body. The concentrations of trace elements in water samples were found in the following order: Fe ≫Sb > Pb > As ≫Co > Tl > Cr > Cd within Bartlett Pond. Overall, the water quality of the pond is unacceptable for drinking and any other purposes as trace element concentrations (e.g. As, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, Fe, Sb and Tl) are exceedingly higher (several fold) than the WHO and US EPA guidelines. Predictive and correlation analysis shows that most trace elements exhibit a strong positive correlation among them indicating the same anthropogenic sources and biogeochemical processes regulate these trace elements within the pond. Distributions of the trace elements in water exhibit different shapes mostly as positively skewed distribution for As, Cd, Co, Cr, and Tl, symmetrical distribution for Fe and almost symmetrical distribution for Pb and Sb. Concentrations of As, Co and Tl accumulated much higher in different parts of the Bass than Tilapia fish. The concentrations of As, Tl, Co, and Sb appeared significantly higher in different parts of the body of both Bass and Tilapia than the maximum SRM certified values. Accumulation of these contaminants in fish tissues pose increased health risks to humans who consume these contaminated fish although fishing is prohibited. Anthropogenic activities in the region primarily degrade the whole pond ecosystem ecology of the Bartlett Pond and waters of this pond to be not recommended for any use. These findings may be useful for the scientific community and concerned authorities to improve understanding about these precious natural resources and conservation of the ecosystem ecology.展开更多
A north China county takes numerous measures to improve river ecology.EVERY winter,flocks of ruddy shelducks fly to Xiaotanzi,a village on the bank of the Yellow River in Jungar Banner in north China’s Inner Mongolia...A north China county takes numerous measures to improve river ecology.EVERY winter,flocks of ruddy shelducks fly to Xiaotanzi,a village on the bank of the Yellow River in Jungar Banner in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Here they blithely play over and on the waters,providing a lovely view to people.展开更多
中国科学院生态环境研究中心城市与区域生态国家重点实验室欧阳志云团队,在耕地开垦对生态保护成效的影响研究中取得新进展。相关研究成果以Natural capital investments in China undermined by reclamation for cropland为题,发表在...中国科学院生态环境研究中心城市与区域生态国家重点实验室欧阳志云团队,在耕地开垦对生态保护成效的影响研究中取得新进展。相关研究成果以Natural capital investments in China undermined by reclamation for cropland为题,发表在《自然-生态与进化》(Nature ecology&evolution)上。展开更多
In the context of global climate change, this study reviews and discusses the three aspects of ecology, economic development of surrounding communities, ecological balance and snow mountain activities in the Haba Snow...In the context of global climate change, this study reviews and discusses the three aspects of ecology, economic development of surrounding communities, ecological balance and snow mountain activities in the Haba Snow Mountain Reserve through literature collation and research. 1) The Hengduan Mountain Plate of Haba Snow Mountain is affected by the high altitude temperate monsoon and is sensitive to climate change. There has been continuous glacier melting and snow line fluctuations. Although there is no forest line movement, the vegetation at the junction of the forest line has increased. 2) Human activities in the Haba Snow Mountain Reserve have shown an active trend, and the Biomass in various ecosystems in the region is inversely correlated. 3) Climate change will have a negative impact on landscape attraction and tourism safety in snowy mountain areas. 4) Haba Snow Mountain Reserve needs more perfect biological species statistical research and dynamic vegetation research to support the establishment of a perfect ecological protection strategy and ecological early warning in the region. 5) As the frequency of tourist activities in the Haba Protected Area increases, corresponding environmental protection signage, garbage cleaning methods, and tourist education have not been synchronizedly improved.展开更多
The importance of water to our lives cannot be overemphasized as it is the source of all living things. Water scarcity is a concern in many Middle Eastern nations due to war and politics. Many people lose their essenc...The importance of water to our lives cannot be overemphasized as it is the source of all living things. Water scarcity is a concern in many Middle Eastern nations due to war and politics. Many people lose their essence due to actions made by their rulers, such as the Marsh Arabs. Water and biodiversity should be considered, and governments should be held accountable for attaining a more balanced lifestyle and reducing immigrant levels. Many academics have also explored the hydro-immigration of marshland residents. They suffer more hazards due to a lack of money, poor education, and social instability than their colleagues who remain in their own country. Furthermore, they have insufficient health care and have difficulty integrating into the new community. This implies that not all nations that receive such migrants can implement programs to assist the immigrants. This research reveals how wars, hydro-politics, and immigration issues have drastically affected architecture and social structures in the Arab Marshes region, leading to ecological destruction, mass migrations, and cultural loss. Therefore, this work focuses on the need to critically investigate all factors covered within the context of this research.展开更多
What is it?Ecology is the science of how humans,animals and plants live together.For example,in the city you can find birds,rats,insects and plants that all live in the same space.Many of them eat things that people ...What is it?Ecology is the science of how humans,animals and plants live together.For example,in the city you can find birds,rats,insects and plants that all live in the same space.Many of them eat things that people don’t want any more.If you go to a forest,you can see different kinds of plants,insects,small animals like rabbits and birds living there;they all eat different things in the forest,and some eat each other!展开更多
This review explores the recent development of research on rainbow herbicides as chemical weapons and the geographies of chemical warfare in what is now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. While the use and impacts of ...This review explores the recent development of research on rainbow herbicides as chemical weapons and the geographies of chemical warfare in what is now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. While the use and impacts of Agent Orange have previously been well documented, the production and extensive application of five other rainbow agents by the United States military has only recently been investigated in detail. What is exceptional about this research of chemical warfare landscapes is that the 23 refereed journal publications in this review were designed, implemented, and published in a unique collective research project by Ken Olson and a Merry Band of Military Retirees. Their groundbreaking research portfolio includes many geographical dimensions and the political ecology of chemical warfare. This includes the extensive exposure of civilians in Vietnam to these chemical agents, exposure of US military personnel in Southeast Asia and Panama, exposure of civilians near the private industrial sites that produced these rainbow agents in North America and the hazardous soil contamination that perseveres at these sites in Vietnam and the US. Given this impressive research depth and global scope, this review explores the unique way this research portfolio was developed by a Merry Band of Retirees through an interview with its leader, Ken Olson. It examines the goals and ethical orientation of these military veterans, the political ecology involved, the creative strategies they utilized to produce this innovative research, and how they changed the way Veterans exposed to chemical warfare agents are treated by the US government.展开更多
At present,the major problems facing the water resource environment worldwide include water pollution,water resource shortage,and water ecosystem degradation.The discharge of industrial wastewater,agricultural non-poi...At present,the major problems facing the water resource environment worldwide include water pollution,water resource shortage,and water ecosystem degradation.The discharge of industrial wastewater,agricultural non-point source pollution,and the discharge of urban sewage lead to a serious decline in water quality,which directly affects the safety of human drinking water and the living environment of aquatic organisms.Additionally,the unbalanced distribution and excessive exploitation of water resources lead to the problem of water shortage in many areas,which then leads to social and economic contradictions and ecological crises.In terms of ecosystems,the phenomena of water ecological degradation and reduction of biodiversity are increasingly obvious,and the carrying capacity of aquatic ecosystems are gradually declining.This paper aims to analyze the natural,social,and economic factors affecting the water resource environment,and propose effective strategies to protect the water ecology.To provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the sustainable utilization of water resources and the long-term development of the water ecosystem.展开更多
基金financed by the National Science Centre,Poland,under project No.2019/35/B/NZ8/01381 entitled"Impact of invasive tree species on ecosystem services:plant biodiversity,carbon and nitrogen cycling and climate regulation"by the Institute of Dendrology,Polish Academy of Sciences。
文摘Prunus serotina and Robinia pseudoacacia are the most widespread invasive trees in Central Europe.In addition,according to climate models,decreased growth of many economically and ecologically important native trees will likely be observed in the future.We aimed to assess the impact of these two neophytes,which differ in the biomass range and nitrogen-fixing abilities observed in Central European conditions,on the relative aboveground biomass increments of native oaks Qucrcus robur and Q.petraea and Scots pine Pinus sylvestris.We aimed to increase our understanding of the relationship between facilitation and competition between woody alien species and overstory native trees.We established 72 circular plots(0.05 ha)in two different forest habitat types and stands varying in age in western Poland.We chose plots with different abundances of the studied neophytes to determine how effects scaled along the quantitative invasion gradient.Furthermore,we collected growth cores of the studied native species,and we calculated aboveground biomass increments at the tree and stand levels.Then,we used generalized linear mixed-effects models to assess the impact of invasive species abundances on relative aboveground biomass increments of native tree species.We did not find a biologically or statistically significant impact of invasive R.pseudoacacia or P.serotina on the relative aboveground,biomass increments of native oaks and pines along the quantitative gradient of invader biomass or on the proportion of total stand biomass accounted for by invaders.The neophytes did not act as native tree growth stimulators but also did not compete with them for resources,which would escalate the negative impact of climate change on pines and oaks.The neophytes should not significantly modify the carbon sequestration capacity of the native species.Our work combines elements of the per capita effect of invasion with research on mixed forest management.
基金partially supported by the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund(NSFAF)Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau(KfW)-University of Namibia(UNAM,BMZ Ref.2015.67.015)+2 种基金funded by the project TROPIBIO NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000046supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme(NORTE2020)developed in the framework of the“Twin Lab CIBIO/UNAM”(UNESCO Chair Life on Land)。
文摘As the sole obligate symbiotic birds in Africa,oxpeckers offer a unique model for studying symbiotic relationships.Due to the multitrophic level they occupy and the context dependent foraging behavior they exhibit,the type of symbiotic relationship can be variable.In addition to providing a cleaning service to the host by removing ticks,oxpeckers frequently feed on blood,mucus,and saliva,inflicting potential damage on the host.Here,we used DNA metabarcoding on faecal samples to analyze the taxonomic composition of the trophic interactions of the Yellow-billed Oxpecker(Buphagus africanus)and Red-billed Oxpecker(B.erythrorhynchus)in northeastern Namibia.In contrast to conventional methods,DNA metabarcoding allows for a detailed identification of dietary resources encompassing both mammal hosts and consumed arthropods within the same samples.With this information,we examined differences in the diet composition between oxpecker species and localities,as well as the co-occurrence between host and arthropod species.Our findings revealed that oxpeckers predominantly source their diet from mammals,ticks,and flies;however,ticks and flies rarely co-occur in the diet of an individual.We observed variability among individuals in their feeding ecology,which is strongly correlated with locality and,to a lesser extent,with the mammal host.We noted a high degree of mobility between hosts within relatively short periods,with 32%of the samples showing traces of at least two mammal hosts.This study illustrates the dynamic foraging behavior of these specialized symbiotic birds,shedding light on their potential role in pest control services and disease transmission.
基金IFSULDEMINAS-Campus Poços de Caldas for supporting the research.
文摘Mountains exhibit a high degree of endemism and diversity,however,quantifying their biodiversity can be challenging.Similar to islands,species isolation in mountainous regions results in comparable patterns of evolution and extinction,rendering their biodiversity unique and highly susceptible to anthropogenic threats.The topographic relief in mountains plays a crucial role in creating habitat complexity,which in turn contribute to high plant diversity.Here,we investigated plant diversity in the volcano mountaintop vegetation on the Poços de Caldas Plateau,a region situated in the ecotone between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado,characterized by natural radiation and significant anthropogenic intervention.We employed an automated approach through the filtering of georeferenced and non-georeferenced data to obtain a list of plant species in the region.Additionally,we statistically investigated the similarity among different high-altitude vegetations belonging to the campos de altitude from the Atlantic Forest and campos rupestres from the Cerrado.The plateau exhibits high plant diversity,including 1,659 specific and infraspecific taxa,especially belonging to Asteraceae and Poaceae.Our analyses suggest that geographical distance is a strong predictor of dissimilarity and that the Poços de Caldas Plateau is more floristically related to the campos rupestres,despite being associated with campos de altitude.The region possesses a unique set of biodiversity,indicating that it may be a distinct formation.Additionally,we hypothesize that Pleistocene events likely influenced the conformation of the current floristic composition in the region through species interchange between the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest.Our study also highlights the few taxa assessed for conservation status and anthropogenic threats that this habitat is facing.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971541).
文摘Forest habitats are critical for biodiversity,ecosystem services,human livelihoods,and well-being.Capacity to conduct theoretical and applied forest ecology research addressing direct(e.g.,deforestation)and indirect(e.g.,climate change)anthropogenic pressures has benefited considerably from new field-and statistical-techniques.We used machine learning and bibliometric structural topic modelling to identify 20 latent topics comprising four principal fields from a corpus of 16,952 forest ecology/forestry articles published in eight ecology and five forestry journals between 2010 and 2022.Articles published per year increased from 820 in 2010 to 2,354 in 2021,shifting toward more applied topics.Publications from China and some countries in North America and Europe dominated,with relatively fewer articles from some countries in West and Central Africa and West Asia,despite globally important forest resources.Most study sites were in some countries in North America,Central Asia,and South America,and Australia.Articles utilizing R statistical software predominated,increasing from 29.5%in 2010 to 71.4%in 2022.The most frequently used packages included lme4,vegan,nlme,MuMIn,ggplot2,car,MASS,mgcv,multcomp and raster.R was more often used in forest ecology than applied forestry articles.R software offers advantages in script and workflow-sharing compared to other statistical packages.Our findings demonstrate that the disciplines of forest ecology/forestry are expanding both in number and scope,aided by more sophisticated statistical tools,to tackle the challenges of redressing forest habitat loss and the socio-economic impacts of deforestation.
文摘Research has indicated that simple forest eco-system composition,structure and diversity have uncompli-cated community relationships and insufficient pest control capabilities.To investigate changing characteristics of plant and insect communities in under pest outbreaks in Larix principis-rupprechtii plantations,the research areas were defined as mature(48–50 years)and young(24–29 years)infested stands along with healthy stands.The results show a reduction in the complexity and diversity of plant communi-ties and herbaceous plant guilds(polycultures of beneficial plants)and the complexity and dominance of insect com-munities,especially natural insect enemies.The results also show the relative simplicity of the main factors of commu-nity change and development that represent the characteris-tics of pest outbreaks in L.principis-rupprechtii plantations.The complexity and diversity of plant communities,particu-larly herbaceous plant guilds play a fundamental role in the regulation and development in forest ecosystems.
基金supported this work by granting the doctoral scholarship to Ravi Fernandes Mariano,Carolina Njaime Mendes and Cléber Rodrigo de Souza,and through the master’s scholarship to Aloysio Souza de Mourathe postdoctoral scholarship to Vanessa Leite Rezende+2 种基金The authors also thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico(CNPQ)by project funding(Edital Universal 2014,Process 459739/2014-0)the Instituto Alto-Montana da Serra Fina,the Fundação de AmparoàPesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais(FAPEMIG)the Fundação Grupo Boticário de ProteçãoàNatureza,and finally the Fundo de Recuperação,Proteção e Desenvolvimento Sustentável das Bacias Hidrográficas do Estado de Minas Gerais(Fhidro).
文摘Environmental conditions can change markedly over geographical distances along elevation gradients,making them natural laboratories to study the processes that structure communities.This work aimed to assess the influences of elevation on Tropical Montane Cloud Forest plant communities in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest,a historically neglected ecoregion.We evaluated the phylogenetic structure,forest structure(tree basal area and tree density)and species richness along an elevation gradient,as well as the evolutionary fingerprints of elevation-success on phylogenetic lineages from the tree communities.To do so,we assessed nine communities along an elevation gradient from 1210 to 2310 m a.s.l.without large elevation gaps.The relationships between elevation and phylogenetic structure,forest structure and species richness were investigated through Linear Models.The occurrence of evolutionary fingerprint on phylogenetic lineages was investigated by quantifying the extent of phylogenetic signal of elevation-success using a genus-level molecular phylogeny.Our results showed decreased species richness at higher elevations and independence between forest structure,phylogenetic structure and elevation.We also verified that there is a phylogenetic signal associated with elevation-success by lineages.We concluded that the elevation is associated with species richness and the occurrence of phylogenetic lineages in the tree communities evaluated in Mantiqueira Range.On the other hand,elevation is not associated with forest structure or phylogenetic structure.Furthermore,closely related taxa tend to have their higher ecological success in similar elevations.Finally,we highlight the fragility of the tropical montane cloud forests in the Mantiqueira Range in face of environmental changes(i.e.global warming)due to the occurrence of exclusive phylogenetic lineages evolutionarily adapted to environmental conditions(i.e.minimum temperature)associated with each elevation range.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.42076066。
文摘Multiple borehole samples are collected from the Baiyun Depression in deep-water area of the northern South China Sea(SCS)in an effort to reconstruct transgression processes during the Paleogene based on palynalgal analysis.This study indicates that the Baiyun Depression generated a large group of palynopore assemblages and fluvial/lacustrine-related algae during the early and middle Eocene when the Wenchang Formation was deposited.The entire depression was dominated by fluvial and lacustrine facies before transgression.Its eastern and southeastern sags transitioned to shallow marine environment by generating a large abundance of marine dinoflagellates during the Enping deposition of the late Eocene.Meanwhile,the southern uplift zone simply yielded fluvial/lacustrine-related palynopores and algae,and was dominated by the fluvial and lacustrine environment during the early stage of the Enping Formation,prior to shifting into transitional setting in the later period.Northwestern sags remained extensive fluvial and delta facies without existence of marine dinoflagellates.It was until the depositional stage of the Zhuhai Formation(Oligocene)that the overall depression was strongly impacted from transgression process.Both eastern and southeastern sags were mainly under deep marine setting on a continental slope while northwestern and southern areas developed transitional facies.Although distribution and accumulation patterns varied greatly among sub-sags,the overall Baiyun Depression was characterized by widespread development of marine dinoflagellates.It should be noted that the northwestern sag also partly generated large-scale river delta deposits.Due to the eustatic rise and change of SCS spreading axis,the overall Baiyun Depression was mostly influenced by the deep marine environment on a continental slope during the early Miocene.Both northwestern sag and southern uplift zone were found plentiful marine dinoflagellates.In summary,transgression initiated from the eastern and southeastern Baiyun Depression before subsequently progressing into the farther west.Evolution of transgression process is also greatly consistent with the gradual westward expansion of the SCS.
基金Sponsored by Beijing Natural Science Foundation General Project(8212009)Organized Research Project of North China University of Technology in 2023(110051360023XN278).
文摘Urban development should rely on the form of architecture,and incorporating urban planning concepts into architectural design can better assist urban construction.Taking the design of Incheon Geomdan Cultural Complex in South Korea as an example,this paper analyzes how to reflect urban planning elements in architectural design,and studies the role and value of cultural complex architecture in urban development from multiple perspectives such as culture,ecological environment,and public space.It hopes to gain more research and design ideas to promote the development of cultural industries in the region,leverage the advantages of regional cultural formats,and create new cultural settlements in cities.
文摘The basic situation and ecological resources of Tian-e-zhou Development Zone,Shishou City were briefly introduced.Aiming at the problems such as poor plant diversity,low utilization rate of local resources and lack of local landscape in the site,and three major planning and design goals such as respecting for ecological environment protection,combining landscape resources and production resources,and creating a good plant,ecology,rural culture science popularization atmosphere were proposed under the premise of following the principle of ecological protection.Besides,it is needed to gradually restore the vitality of rice field and water of the site,give play to the popular science and tourism functions of the site,and create a rural environment integrating ecological protection,tourism,science popularization and research and promoting the development of local industries,which provides reference for the future rural environment regulation and planning design under the policy of rural revitalization.
文摘With the rapid development of urbanization,landscape architecture has become an indispensable component of daily life.In order to achieve better landscape effects and protect the ecological environment,landscape ecology theory can be integrated into landscape planning to carry out disciplinary crossing and integration research between landscape ecology and landscape architecture.In this study,based on the basic theories of landscape ecology,the waterfront landscape of Dapo Town was designed,with the aim to achieve ecological balance in planning,showcase biodiversity,and create a harmonious landscape ecological environment which can benefit both nature and people.This design combined artificial and natural elements while improving the natural environment,which promoted a harmonious relationship between humans and nature,thus enriching the spatial organization of the city,and playing a role in regulating the urban environment and climate.
文摘Land degradation poses significant threats to food and environmental security globally. In arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), livestock production is an important and significant livelihood. Unfortunately, overstocking and overgrazing have diminished pasture availability, and thus adversely impacting on the sector’s contribution to food security for many ASAL communities. The Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Program in its quest to combat soil erosion, deforestation, and Prosopis juliflora invasion in the Lake Bogoria Landscape, Baringo County, Kenya has supported the establishment of Cenchrus ciliaris (buffel grass) since 2018. Despite its introduction and establishment, the socioeconomic factors influencing its adoption remain undocumented. This study evaluated these factors in three administrative wards, namely: Ilchamus, Mochongoi, and Marigat of Baringo South Sub-County. Data was collected from 103 households using a semi-structured questionnaire, key informant interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Our results revealed that Cenchrus ciliaris adoption has partially reduced soil erosion and deforestation, improved livelihoods and environmental conservation. Nearly 50% of the respondents have established 2 to 5 acres of buffel grass pasturelands on their farms. The level of education of the respondents for had a significant association with the participants’ knowledge regarding the advantages of pasture production for environmental conservation (χ2 = 16.93;p χ2 = 77.71;p χ2 = 18.3;p χ2 = 3.8;p Cenchrus ciliaris value chain are recommended as practical strategies of enhancing livestock production and environmental conservation in Kenya’s ASALs.
文摘The trace elements chemistry of Bartlett Pond, a small shallow wetland pond in Laredo, Southern Texas, was sampled to evaluate the dynamics of trace elements impacts on water quality and ecosystems ecology of the pond. Two types of fish (bass and tilapia) were also sampled to see the trace element accumulation in different parts of their body. The concentrations of trace elements in water samples were found in the following order: Fe ≫Sb > Pb > As ≫Co > Tl > Cr > Cd within Bartlett Pond. Overall, the water quality of the pond is unacceptable for drinking and any other purposes as trace element concentrations (e.g. As, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, Fe, Sb and Tl) are exceedingly higher (several fold) than the WHO and US EPA guidelines. Predictive and correlation analysis shows that most trace elements exhibit a strong positive correlation among them indicating the same anthropogenic sources and biogeochemical processes regulate these trace elements within the pond. Distributions of the trace elements in water exhibit different shapes mostly as positively skewed distribution for As, Cd, Co, Cr, and Tl, symmetrical distribution for Fe and almost symmetrical distribution for Pb and Sb. Concentrations of As, Co and Tl accumulated much higher in different parts of the Bass than Tilapia fish. The concentrations of As, Tl, Co, and Sb appeared significantly higher in different parts of the body of both Bass and Tilapia than the maximum SRM certified values. Accumulation of these contaminants in fish tissues pose increased health risks to humans who consume these contaminated fish although fishing is prohibited. Anthropogenic activities in the region primarily degrade the whole pond ecosystem ecology of the Bartlett Pond and waters of this pond to be not recommended for any use. These findings may be useful for the scientific community and concerned authorities to improve understanding about these precious natural resources and conservation of the ecosystem ecology.
文摘A north China county takes numerous measures to improve river ecology.EVERY winter,flocks of ruddy shelducks fly to Xiaotanzi,a village on the bank of the Yellow River in Jungar Banner in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Here they blithely play over and on the waters,providing a lovely view to people.
文摘中国科学院生态环境研究中心城市与区域生态国家重点实验室欧阳志云团队,在耕地开垦对生态保护成效的影响研究中取得新进展。相关研究成果以Natural capital investments in China undermined by reclamation for cropland为题,发表在《自然-生态与进化》(Nature ecology&evolution)上。
文摘In the context of global climate change, this study reviews and discusses the three aspects of ecology, economic development of surrounding communities, ecological balance and snow mountain activities in the Haba Snow Mountain Reserve through literature collation and research. 1) The Hengduan Mountain Plate of Haba Snow Mountain is affected by the high altitude temperate monsoon and is sensitive to climate change. There has been continuous glacier melting and snow line fluctuations. Although there is no forest line movement, the vegetation at the junction of the forest line has increased. 2) Human activities in the Haba Snow Mountain Reserve have shown an active trend, and the Biomass in various ecosystems in the region is inversely correlated. 3) Climate change will have a negative impact on landscape attraction and tourism safety in snowy mountain areas. 4) Haba Snow Mountain Reserve needs more perfect biological species statistical research and dynamic vegetation research to support the establishment of a perfect ecological protection strategy and ecological early warning in the region. 5) As the frequency of tourist activities in the Haba Protected Area increases, corresponding environmental protection signage, garbage cleaning methods, and tourist education have not been synchronizedly improved.
文摘The importance of water to our lives cannot be overemphasized as it is the source of all living things. Water scarcity is a concern in many Middle Eastern nations due to war and politics. Many people lose their essence due to actions made by their rulers, such as the Marsh Arabs. Water and biodiversity should be considered, and governments should be held accountable for attaining a more balanced lifestyle and reducing immigrant levels. Many academics have also explored the hydro-immigration of marshland residents. They suffer more hazards due to a lack of money, poor education, and social instability than their colleagues who remain in their own country. Furthermore, they have insufficient health care and have difficulty integrating into the new community. This implies that not all nations that receive such migrants can implement programs to assist the immigrants. This research reveals how wars, hydro-politics, and immigration issues have drastically affected architecture and social structures in the Arab Marshes region, leading to ecological destruction, mass migrations, and cultural loss. Therefore, this work focuses on the need to critically investigate all factors covered within the context of this research.
文摘What is it?Ecology is the science of how humans,animals and plants live together.For example,in the city you can find birds,rats,insects and plants that all live in the same space.Many of them eat things that people don’t want any more.If you go to a forest,you can see different kinds of plants,insects,small animals like rabbits and birds living there;they all eat different things in the forest,and some eat each other!
文摘This review explores the recent development of research on rainbow herbicides as chemical weapons and the geographies of chemical warfare in what is now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. While the use and impacts of Agent Orange have previously been well documented, the production and extensive application of five other rainbow agents by the United States military has only recently been investigated in detail. What is exceptional about this research of chemical warfare landscapes is that the 23 refereed journal publications in this review were designed, implemented, and published in a unique collective research project by Ken Olson and a Merry Band of Military Retirees. Their groundbreaking research portfolio includes many geographical dimensions and the political ecology of chemical warfare. This includes the extensive exposure of civilians in Vietnam to these chemical agents, exposure of US military personnel in Southeast Asia and Panama, exposure of civilians near the private industrial sites that produced these rainbow agents in North America and the hazardous soil contamination that perseveres at these sites in Vietnam and the US. Given this impressive research depth and global scope, this review explores the unique way this research portfolio was developed by a Merry Band of Retirees through an interview with its leader, Ken Olson. It examines the goals and ethical orientation of these military veterans, the political ecology involved, the creative strategies they utilized to produce this innovative research, and how they changed the way Veterans exposed to chemical warfare agents are treated by the US government.
基金The Knowledge Innovation Program of Wuhan-Shuguang Project(Project No.2023020201020361).
文摘At present,the major problems facing the water resource environment worldwide include water pollution,water resource shortage,and water ecosystem degradation.The discharge of industrial wastewater,agricultural non-point source pollution,and the discharge of urban sewage lead to a serious decline in water quality,which directly affects the safety of human drinking water and the living environment of aquatic organisms.Additionally,the unbalanced distribution and excessive exploitation of water resources lead to the problem of water shortage in many areas,which then leads to social and economic contradictions and ecological crises.In terms of ecosystems,the phenomena of water ecological degradation and reduction of biodiversity are increasingly obvious,and the carrying capacity of aquatic ecosystems are gradually declining.This paper aims to analyze the natural,social,and economic factors affecting the water resource environment,and propose effective strategies to protect the water ecology.To provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the sustainable utilization of water resources and the long-term development of the water ecosystem.