Developing Comprehensive Field Studies to Identify Subchronic and Chronic Effects of Chemicals on Terrestrial Ecosystems: Ecosystem Health — VI

1990 ◽  
pp. 109-118
Author(s):  
Edward W. Novak ◽  
David J. Schaeffer
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Chronic Effects

Biological invasions: are they dependent on disturbance?

1997 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
J D Lozon ◽  
H J MacIsaac
Keyword(s):  
Exotic Species ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Exotic Animals ◽  
Introduced Plants ◽  
Disturbed Habitats

We utilize literature surveys to examine the relationship between establishment of exotic species and human or natural disturbances of ecosystems. Of the 133 papers published in 10 ecological journals between 1993 and 1995, 63 reported on field studies involving 299 and 103 successful, nonredundant plant and animal introductions, respectively. Invasions of terrestrial ecosystems dominated (>>97%) the surveyed literature. Disturbance was associated with establishment of exotic species in 56% of these studies, though its importance differed among papers describing plants (68%) and animals (28%). Plants species (86%) were significantly more dependent on disturbance for establishment than were animals (12%). However, animals and plants that were dependent on disturbance for establishment were almost equally dependent (58 versus 68%) on it for range expansion. In a second survey, 402 plant and 103 animal taxa were identified that explicitly linked establishment of exotic species to disturbance. Human activities were attributed with establishment of species in 97 and 57% of these cases, respectively. Common mechanisms associated with establishment of exotic animals included ballast water discharge, intentional releases, and residential development. Establishment of exotic plants was associated with animal activities (e.g., grazing, seed introduction), soil disturbance, forestry, fire, agriculture, and human activities. In contrast to invasions theory, our survey indicates that the association between establishment and spread of exotic species and disturbance ought not be assumed a priori. Some animals repeatedly invade new habitats once geographic barriers are circumvented, indicating that communities may be more receptive to exotic species than previously acknowledged. By contrast, introduced plants established most often in disturbed habitats.

Hygienic assessment of potential ecotoxicological risk of the use of new insecticide spiromesifen in agriculture of Ukraine

2021 ◽  
pp. 62-67
Author(s):  
I.V. Tkachenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Climatic Zones ◽  
Ecotoxicological Risk ◽  
Environmental Objects ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Consumption Rates ◽  
Agricultural Use

Objective: The aim of our work was to study the potential ecotoxicological hazard of a new chemical from the class of tetramic and tetronic acid derivatives - the insecticide spiromesifen, taking into account its physico-chemical properties and impact on the environmental objects. Materials and methods: An assessment of the potential danger of spiromesifen use for ecosystems was carried out on the basis of the calculation of the ecotoxicological hazard (ecotox) by N.N. Melnikov’s method. The field studies were carried out in different agro-climatic zones of Ukraine. The treatment of vineyards and apple trees was carried out at the maximum consumption rates of spiromesifen. Results: According to the literary data and our research, it was found that in the soil-and-climatic conditions of Ukraine, the ecotoxicological risk, when using the new insecticide spiromesifen, is 10,000 times and 7,000 times low than the analogous characteristics of DDT. Ecotox abamectin is 154 times low than ecotox DDT. This makes preparations, based on these substances, more promising and competitive among other pesticides in agricultural use. We can conclude that spiromesifen does not pose a threat to terrestrial ecosystems and health of the population.

scholarly journals Extracts from Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim. Roots: A New Hope Against Honeybee Death Caused by Nosemosis

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (19) ◽  
pp. 4452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneta A. Ptaszyńska ◽  
Daniel Załuski
Keyword(s):  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Root Extract ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Ecological Benefits ◽  
Garcinia Cambogia ◽  
Eleutherococcus Senticosus ◽  
Eleutheroside B ◽  
First Time

Pollinators, the cornerstones of our terrestrial ecosystem, have been at the very core of our anxiety. This is because we can nowadays observe a dangerous decline in the number of insects. With the numbers of pollinators dramatically declining worldwide, the scientific community has been growing more and more concerned about the future of insects as fundamental elements of most terrestrial ecosystems. Trying to address this issue, we looked for substances that might increase bee resistance. To this end, we checked the effects of plant-based adaptogens on honeybees in laboratory tests and during field studies on 30 honeybee colonies during two seasons. In this study, we have tested extracts obtained from: Eleutherococcus senticosus, Garcinia cambogia, Panax ginseng, Ginkgo biloba, Schisandra chinensis, and Camellia sinensis. The 75% ethanol E. senticosus root extract proved to be the most effective, both as a cure and in the prophylaxis of nosemosis. Therefore, Eleutherococcus senticosus, and its active compounds, eleutherosides, are considered the most powerful adaptogens, in the pool of all extracts that were selected for screening, for supporting immunity and improving resistance of honeybees. The optimum effective concentration of 0.4 mg/mL E. senticosus extract responded to c.a. 5.76, 2.56 and 0.07 µg/mL of eleutheroside B, eleutheroside E and naringenin, respectively. The effect of E. senticosus extracts on honeybees involved a similar adaptogenic response as on other animals, including humans. In this research, we show for the first time such an adaptogenic impact on invertebrates, i.e., the effect on honeybees stressed by nosemosis. We additionally hypothesised that these adaptogenic properties were connected with eleutherosides—secondary metabolites found exclusively in the Eleutherococcus genus and undetected in other studied extracts. As was indicated in this study, eleutherosides are very stable chemically and can be found in extracts in similar amounts even after two years from extraction. Considering the role bees play in nature, we may conclude that demonstrating the adaptogenic properties which plant extracts have in insects is the most significant finding resulting from this research. This knowledge might bring to fruition numerous economic and ecological benefits.

scholarly journals Small Things Matter: The Value of Rapid Biodiversity Surveys to Understanding Local Bird Diversity Patterns in Southcentral Mindanao, Philippines

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 194008291986948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krizler Cejuela Tanalgo ◽  
Marion John Michael M. Achondo ◽  
Alice C. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Ecological Indicators ◽  
Bird Diversity ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Diversity Patterns ◽  
Small Things ◽  
Regional Conservation

Rapid assessment biodiversity surveys are usually employed when resources or time is limited. In terrestrial ecosystems, birds are important ecological indicators of ecosystem health. Our study used rapid inventories to show that species differ across habitat types; species richness and rarity were higher in pristine habitats (native and restored areas) while nonprotected habitats (e.g., plantations and orchards) mainly had common and nonendemic species. Our findings demonstrate the importance of collective local biodiversity studies in elucidating species diversity patterns, though is equally important to bolster regional conservation prioritization. We hope that our findings will benefit future decision-making for sustainable development and conservation planning.

scholarly journals Removal of Ozone Air Pollution by Terrestrial Ecosystems

Eos ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia Clifton
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems

Tropospheric ozone is removed at Earth’s surface through uptake by plant stomata and other nonstomatal deposition pathways, with impacts on air pollution, ecosystem health, and climate.

scholarly journals Managing biodiversity rich hay meadows in the EU: a comparison of Swedish and Romanian grasslands

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANNA DAHLSTRÖM ◽  
ANA-MARIA IUGA ◽  
TOMMY LENNARTSSON
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Grassland Management ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Current Management ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Hay Meadows ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Grassland Plants ◽  
The Eu

SUMMARYSemi-natural hay meadows are among the most biodiversity-rich terrestrial ecosystems, and are managed for conservation purposes in most of Europe, including Sweden. Romania has some of Europe's largest areas of grasslands still managed with traditional methods. Through interviews and field studies, current management practices were investigated in two Romanian villages, and compared with CAP-generated grassland management in Swedish hay meadows and historical Swedish management of grasslands. The study evaluated the effect of the eligibility criteria within both countries’ National Rural Development Programmes (NRDPs) on different ecologically important components of hay meadow management. The success of Swedish management was measured by assessing population trends for 25 grassland plant species. Current management proved to be considerably more diverse in Romania than in Sweden, but historical Swedish management was similar to management in Romania. Both countries’ NRDPs provide support for some management components, but create barriers against other components. The Romanian NRDP contained more barriers than the Swedish NRDP, yet Swedish management showed little success in preserving grassland plants. NRDPs should nourish the use of local and traditional knowledge in order to preserve biodiversity in semi-natural grasslands. There are major limitations in both countries’ NRDPs.

scholarly journals Dung beetle–mammal associations: methods, research trends and future directions

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1897) ◽  
pp. 20182002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth H. Raine ◽  
Eleanor M. Slade
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

Dung beetles are increasingly used as a study taxon—both as bioindicators of environmental change, and as a model system for exploring ecosystem functioning. The advantages of this focal taxon approach are many; dung beetles are abundant in a wide range of terrestrial ecosystems, speciose, straightforward to sample, respond to environmental gradients and can be easily manipulated to explore species-functioning relationships. However, there remain large gaps in our understanding of the relationship between dung beetles and the mammals they rely on for dung. Here we review the literature, showing that despite an increase in the study of dung beetles linked to ecosystem functioning and to habitat and land use change, there has been little research into their associations with mammals. We summarize the methods and findings from dung beetle–mammal association studies to date, revealing that although empirical field studies of dung beetles rarely include mammal data, those that do, indicate mammal species presence and composition has a large impact on dung beetle species richness and abundance. We then review the methods used to carry out diet preference and ecosystem functioning studies, finding that despite the assumption that dung beetles are generalist feeders, there are few quantitative studies that directly address this. Together this suggests that conclusions about the effects of habitat change on dung beetles are based on incomplete knowledge. We provide recommendations for future work to identify the importance of considering mammal data for dung beetle distributions, composition and their contributions to ecosystem functioning; a critical step if dung beetles are to be used as a reliable bioindicator taxon.

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