Regional diversity reverses the negative impacts of an alien predator on local species-poor communities

Ecology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 97 (10) ◽  
pp. 2740-2749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlie J. G. Loewen ◽  
Rolf D. Vinebrooke

Author(s):  
Mozzamil Mohammed ◽  
Bernd Blasius ◽  
Alexey Ryabov

AbstractThe dynamics of trait-based metacommunities have attracted much attention, but not much is known about how dispersal and spatial environmental variability mutually interact with each other to drive coexistence patterns and diversity. Here, we present a spatially explicit model of competition for two essential resources in a metacommunity on a one-dimensional environmental gradient. We find that both the strength of dispersal and the range of spatial environmental variability affect coexistence patterns, spatial structure, trait distribution, and local and regional diversity. Without dispersal, species are sorted according to their optimal growth conditions on the gradient. With the onset of dispersal, source-sink effects are initiated, which increases the effects of environmental filtering and interspecific competition and generates trait lumping, so that only a few species from an environment-defined trait range can survive. Interestingly, for very large dispersal rates, species distributions become spatially homogeneous, but nevertheless two species at the extreme ends of the trade-off curve can coexist for large environmental variability. Local species richness follows a classic hump-shaped dependence on dispersal rate, while local and regional diversity exhibit a pronounced peak for intermediate values of the environmental variability. Our findings provide important insights into the factors that shape the structure of trait-based metacommunities.



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mozzamil Mohammed ◽  
Bernd Blasius ◽  
Alexey Ryabov

Abstract The dynamics of trait-based metacommunities have attracted much attention, but not much is known about how dispersal and spatial environmental variability mutually interact with each other to drive coexistence patterns and diversity. Here, we present a spatially-explicit model of resource competition in a metacommunity on a one- dimensional environmental gradient. We find that both the strength of dispersal and the range of spatial environmental variability affect coexistence patterns, spatial structure, trait distribution and local and regional diversity. Without dispersal, species are sorted according to their optimal growth conditions on the gradient. With the onset of dispersal source-sink effects are initiated, which increases the effects of environmental filtering and interspecific competition and generates trait lumping, so that only a few species from an environment-defined trait range can survive. Interestingly, for very large dispersal rates the system becomes spatially homogeneous, but nevertheless two species at the extreme ends of the trait-off curve can coexist for large environmental variability. Local species richness follows a classic hump-shaped dependence on dispersal rate, while local and regional diversity exhibit a pronounced peak for intermediate values of the environmental variability. Our findings provide important insights into the factors that shape the structure of trait-based metacommunities.



PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren M. Woods ◽  
Elizabeth G. Biro ◽  
Muxi Yang ◽  
Kevin G. Smith

The effects of disturbance on local species diversity have been well documented, but less recognized is the possibility that disturbances can alter diversity at regional spatial scales. Since regional diversity can dictate which species are available for recolonization of degraded sites, the loss of diversity at regional scales may impede the recovery of biodiversity following a disturbance. To examine this we used a chemical disturbance of rotenone, a piscicide commonly used for fish removal in aquatic habitats, on small fishless freshwater ponds. We focused on the non-target effects of rotenone on aquatic invertebrates with the goal of assessing biodiversity loss and recovery at both local (within-pond) and regional (across ponds) spatial scales. We found that rotenone caused significant, large, but short-term losses of species at both local and regional spatial scales. Using a null model of random extinction, we determined that species were selectively removed from communities relative to what would be expected if species loss occurred randomly. Despite this selective loss of biodiversity, species diversity at both local and regional spatial scales recovered to reference levels one year after the addition of rotenone. The rapid recovery of local and regional diversity in this study was surprising considering the large loss of regional species diversity, however many aquatic invertebrates disperse readily or have resting stages that may persist through disturbances. We emphasize the importance of considering spatial scale when quantifying the impacts of a disturbance on an ecosystem, as well as considering how regional species loss can influence recovery from disturbance.



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynette Morgan

Abstract Horticultural biosecurity is a term used to describe regulations and processes set in place to protect countries, regions or individual production properties against the introduction and spread of new pests and diseases. A further objective of biosecurity measures is to effectively identify and prevent the spread (preferably eliminate) of any outbreak of alien pests and diseases before they become widely established in a new environment. Effective biosecurity aims to protect the economy, environment and community from the negative impacts of inadvertent or deliberate introductions of new plant pests and diseases. FAO has determined that biosecurity is a term that encompasses policy and regulation to protect agriculture, food and the environment from biological risk (FAO, 2003). Plant pests are organisms that can cause considerable damage to horticultural crops, reduce yields and quality, affect trade and market access and significantly increase production costs. Biosecurity has become an increasingly important topic at both a grower and at a national and international level. As globalisation and world trade has rapidly increased, fresh produce is routinely shipped from the production site large distances to distant markets. Furthermore, new pest and pathogens may be spread through natural dispersal (such as wind or water), or through everyday activities including travel and tourism, imports and exports of non-horticultural goods, mail and freight systems, on machinery, as seed contaminants, and via many other forms of introduction. This opens numerous avenues for the transfer of crop pests and pathogens to new regions and into new environments where native and other local species as well as horticultural plants can be negatively affected.



2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 335-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Abdo Al-Shami ◽  
Che Salmah Md Rawi ◽  
Abu Hassan Ahmad ◽  
Madziatul Rosemahanie Madrus ◽  
Khalid AL Mutairi

Abstract:We used aquatic macro-invertebrates as a model to investigate the relationship between the regional species richness (RSR) and local species richness (LSR) in Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 38 streams (local scale) in seven catchments (regional scale), were sampled for aquatic macro-invertebrates. Eleven environmental variables (i.e. pH, DO, velocity, temperature, width, depth, TSS, BOD, COD, ammonia and canopy cover) were measured to assess their importance for local species richness. The average species richness was 34.9 species per region and the average abundance was 1380 individual per region. The highest number of species was 41, while the lowest species richness was 31. We applied local-regional richness regression models to explore the nature of the RSR–LSR relationship and then used variation partitioning to determine the relative importance of RSR and environmental conditions on LSR. We found a linear RSR–LSR relationship, which indicates unsaturated communities for macro-invertebrates in Malaysian streams and absence of local control with strong effects of regional processes. Variation in LSR explained by RSR was 43%, while the variation fraction in LSR explained by environmental conditions was low (2%) and not significant. We conclude that the variation in LSR is mainly controlled by the regional diversity pool (i.e. RSR) for aquatic macro-invertebrates in Peninsular Malaysia. However, weak effects of environmental conditions may reflect relatively low variability in the habitat among investigated streams. Further studies at larger scales, and involving different regions in this area, will be useful to draw comprehensive conclusions about determinants of local species diversity for stream invertebrates.



2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (10) ◽  
pp. 109-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Oates ◽  
Georgia Dacakis

Because of the increasing number of transgender people requesting speech-language pathology services, because having gender-incongruent voice and communication has major negative impacts on an individual's social participation and well-being, and because voice and communication training is supported by an improving evidence-base, it is becoming more common for universities to include transgender-specific theoretical and clinical components in their speech-language pathology programs. This paper describes the theoretical and clinical education provided to speech-language pathology students at La Trobe University in Australia, with a particular focus on the voice and communication training program offered by the La Trobe Communication Clinic. Further research is required to determine the outcomes of the clinic's training program in terms of student confidence and competence as well as the effectiveness of training for transgender clients.



1970 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 01
Author(s):  
Didit Damayanti ◽  
Pria Wahyu R.G ◽  
Muhanni’ah Muhanni’ah

Introduction: Disaster management is a dynamic, continual, and integrated process as to increase the qualities of the actions which are relevant to the process of observation and analysis of disaster as well as minimalizing the negative impacts, mitigation, readiness, early warning, immediate emergency, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The aim of this research is to analyse theconnection between disaster management and the prevention of community breakdown in order to face a volcanic eruption for every head of household. Method: The design of this research is correlational research with a cross sectional approach. The demographic group that is used for this research is the head of households in Rt 06/Rw 01 dusun Puncu desa Puncu, by using the purposive sampling technique which has been collected from the sampling of the 33 heads of households. Independent variable is the knowledge of disaster management, and the dependent variable is the prevention of community breakdown in the handling of the disaster. The data has been received by using the questionnaire, and the results have been analysed by using spearman rho test. Result:  As according to the statistics test, it is found that p-value= 0,000 on the significant level (α) = 0,05 and r = 0,752. It is concluded that there is a connection between knowledge and the prevention of community breakdown in handling of the volcanic eruption in Rt 06/Rw 01. This research shows that the level of knowledge within the community about disaster management and prevention in handling volcanic eruption has been increasing. Conclution: This is shown by the capability of the community in mitigating the effects of the disaster. It is hoped that the community will further engage in training education and simulation to reduce the negative impacts of a disaster. The location where the participants resideis Kelud Volcano, and it is therefore hoped that the communities are willing to participate in better handling of any disaster by joining the education training and simulation; Kata kunci : Pengetahuan, Manajemen bencana, Prevention.



2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jimmy Jimmy ◽  
Diah Indriani Widiputri ◽  
Paulus Gunawan

Eichhornia crassipes is well-known as water hyacinth. Water hyacinth grows rapidly in the nutrient-rich water and high light intensity places. The uncontrollable growth of water hyacinth has caused many negative impacts to the environment. For instance, interrupted water transport and decreased population of aquatic lives. The capacity of utilising water hyacinth is slower than water hyacinth growth and water hyacinth is still considered as a threat to theecosystem. This work was focused on the study of the pharmacological activity and heavy metal content of water hyacinth in Lake Cipondoh, Tangerang. Fresh water hyacinth was pre-treated through oven-drying and milling process. After that, each part of the plant was macerated by using multiple extraction method with 96% ethanol/water and three variations of sample-to-solvent ratios (1:30, 1:50, and 1:75 w/v). The result of the experiment showed thatwater hyacinth leaves produced an extract with lowest IC 50 (55.76 ± 6.73 ppm) compared toother parts. The most optimum solvent used to achieve this result was 96% ethanol/water (1:1 v/v). In order to obtain the lowest antioxidant activity, the sample to solvent ratio used was 1:50 and the heavy metal in the extract was very low. With this result, it was concluded that there is a promising opportunity to apply the water hyacinth growing in Lake Cipondoh, Tangerang as herbal medicine ingredient. Through this utilization, the overall number of water hyacinth in Indonesia can be reduced or at the least be controlled, so that the environmental problem caused by this plant can be minimized.



2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil McHugh ◽  
Morag Gillespie ◽  
Jana Loew ◽  
Cam Donaldson

While lending for small businesses and business start-up is a long-standing feature of economic policy in the UK and Scotland, little is known about the support available for those taking the first steps into self-employment, particularly people from poorer communities. This paper presents the results of a project that aimed to address this gap. It mapped provision of support for enterprise, including microcredit (small loans for enterprise of £5,000 or less) and grants available to people in deprived communities. It found more programmes offering grants than loans. Grants programmes, although more likely to be time limited and often linked to European funding, were generally better targeted to poor communities than loan programmes that were more financially sustainable. The introduction of the Grameen Bank to Scotland will increase access to microcredit, but this paper argues that there is a place – and a need – for both loans and grants to support enterprise development across Scotland. A Scottish economic strategy should take account of all levels of enterprise development and, in striving towards a fairer Scotland, should ensure that the poorest people and communities are not excluded from self-employment because of the lack of small amounts of support necessary to take the first steps.



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