scholarly journals Ecological impacts of an invasive mesopredator do not differ from those of a native mesopredator: lionfish in Caribbean Panama

Coral Reefs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jameal F. Samhouri ◽  
Adrian C. Stier
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Caribbean Sea ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Invasive Lionfish

AbstractThe impacts of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) on native coral reef populations in the Western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea can be enormous. However, how much lionfish differ from native predators and whether their effects outweigh the abundant mesopredators that occupy many reefs invite continued examination. Here, we present empirical evidence from Caribbean Panama and beyond suggesting that lionfish are less abundant than native mesopredators. Furthermore, we show that their direct impacts on survivorship and size distributions of one native prey species are similar to those of a native mesopredator. These results support calls for lionfish management that considers evolving local ecological and social dynamics, including prey community composition, the roles of native mesopredators, and regional goals for conservation and fisheries. Recognition of regional context creates the potential for synergies between conservation actions aimed both at the invasion and other consequential problems such as overexploitation and climate change.

scholarly journals Restaurant decision-maker perceptions of barriers and opportunities for invasive lionfish consumption

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Burgess ◽  
Nathan Smith ◽  
Jennifer N. Solomon ◽  
Kaylin Clements ◽  
Joanne Burgess ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Marine Ecosystems ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Pterois Miles ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystems ◽  
Invasive Lionfish ◽  
Barriers And Opportunities

Lionfish (Pterois volitans, Pterois miles), invasive coral reef fishes in the western Atlantic, cause extensive negative impacts to marine ecosystems. Following their introduction in Florida in the 1980’s, lionfish colonized numerous coral reef ecosystems and have been documented at depths ranging from 1-300m. In addition to depleting native reef fish biomass and threatening macroalgae induced phase shifts on shallow reefs, the invasion of lionfish has caused severe economic damage in the form of reduced native fish yields for local fisher people and high costs of management. While few examples exist of successful management of marine invasive species, studies have shown that lionfish removal can decrease their density and increase prey species biomass. A critical component and challenge for any effective lionfish removal effort is to maintain consistently high levels of lionfish harvesting so as to reduce lionfish abundance to levels that mitigate their negative ecological impacts. One popular market-based option that may achieve this is increasing the demand for the consumption of lionfish. This management solution offers potential benefits to both human livelihoods and marine ecosystems. Our study focuses on Florida’s consumptive lionfish market and fills a gap in understanding the lionfish supply chain for Florida’s restaurant industry. Although lionfish are commercially available in Florida, they are not currently widely consumed with consistency. We conducted interviews with twenty restaurant decision-makers in FL to understand their perceptions of barriers and opportunities for increasing their use of invasive lionfish. The most commonly identified barriers were: price and consistency of supply, while the most prominent opportunities were: improved awareness and culinary potential to increase the demand for lionfish. Conservation managers and policymakers should leverage these findings to facilitate opportunities, address barriers, and promote public education about invasive lionfish and their impacts.

scholarly journals Mangrove forests mitigate coral bleaching under thermal stress from climate change

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Johnson ◽  
Jaimie Dick ◽  
Daniel Pincheira-Donoso
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Reef Corals ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystems

Anthropogenic marine heatwaves are progressively degrading coral reef ecosystems worldwide via the process of coral bleaching (the expulsion of photosynthetic endosymbionts which reveals the coral skeleton). Corals from mangrove lagoons are hypothesised to increase resistance and resilience to coral bleaching, highlighting these areas as potential natural refuges for corals. Our study, the first conducted at a global-scale, reveals that coral reefs associated with mangrove forests are less likely to bleach under thermal stress, and thus, under scenarios of climate warming. The onset of severe bleaching occurred after 3.6 Degree Heating Weeks (DHW) in mangrove-associated reefs, compared to 2.23 DHW for non-mangrove associated reefs. These findings highlight the critical role of mangrove forests for coral reef persistence under climate change. Accordingly, conservation actions targeting the protection of mangroves are expected to contribute to the resilience and resistance of reef corals from bleaching as marine heatwaves continue to become more common.

scholarly journals Breathing space: deoxygenation of aquatic environments can drive differential ecological impacts across biological invasion stages

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. E. Dickey ◽  
Neil E. Coughlan ◽  
Jaimie T. A. Dick ◽  
Vincent Médoc ◽  
Monica McCard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Oxygen Saturation ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Relative Impact ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Prey Populations

AbstractThe influence of climate change on the ecological impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) remains understudied, with deoxygenation of aquatic environments often-overlooked as a consequence of climate change. Here, we therefore assessed how oxygen saturation affects the ecological impact of a predatory invasive fish, the Ponto-Caspian round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), relative to a co-occurring endangered European native analogue, the bullhead (Cottus gobio) experiencing decline in the presence of the IAS. In individual trials and mesocosms, we assessed the effect of high, medium and low (90%, 60% and 30%) oxygen saturation on: (1) functional responses (FRs) of the IAS and native, i.e. per capita feeding rates; (2) the impact on prey populations exerted; and (3) how combined impacts of both fishes change over invasion stages (Pre-invasion, Arrival, Replacement, Proliferation). Both species showed Type II potentially destabilising FRs, but at low oxygen saturation, the invader had a significantly higher feeding rate than the native. Relative Impact Potential, combining fish per capita effects and population abundances, revealed that low oxygen saturation exacerbates the high relative impact of the invader. The Relative Total Impact Potential (RTIP), modelling both consumer species’ impacts on prey populations in a system, was consistently higher at low oxygen saturation and especially high during invader Proliferation. In the mesocosm experiment, low oxygen lowered RTIP where both species were present, but again the IAS retained high relative impact during Replacement and Proliferation stages at low oxygen. We also found evidence of multiple predator effects, principally antagonism. We highlight the threat posed to native communities by IAS alongside climate-related stressors, but note that solutions may be available to remedy hypoxia and potentially mitigate impacts across invasion stages.

scholarly journals Turbid Coral Reefs: Past, Present and Future—A Review

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 251
Author(s):  
Adi Zweifler (Zvifler) ◽  
Michael O’Leary ◽  
Kyle Morgan ◽  
Nicola K. Browne
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Reef Complex ◽  
Sediment Input

Increasing evidence suggests that coral reefs exposed to elevated turbidity may be more resilient to climate change impacts and serve as an important conservation hotspot. However, logistical difficulties in studying turbid environments have led to poor representation of these reef types within the scientific literature, with studies using different methods and definitions to characterize turbid reefs. Here we review the geological origins and growth histories of turbid reefs from the Holocene (past), their current ecological and environmental states (present), and their potential responses and resilience to increasing local and global pressures (future). We classify turbid reefs using new descriptors based on their turbidity regime (persistent, fluctuating, transitional) and sources of sediment input (natural versus anthropogenic). Further, by comparing the composition, function and resilience of two of the most studied turbid reefs, Paluma Shoals Reef Complex, Australia (natural turbidity) and Singapore reefs (anthropogenic turbidity), we found them to be two distinct types of turbid reefs with different conservation status. As the geographic range of turbid reefs is expected to increase due to local and global stressors, improving our understanding of their responses to environmental change will be central to global coral reef conservation efforts.

scholarly journals R–R–T (resistance–resilience–transformation) typology reveals differential conservation approaches across ecosystems and time

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Peterson St-Laurent ◽  
Lauren E. Oakes ◽  
Molly Cross ◽  
Shannon Hagerman
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Empirical Assessment ◽  
Transformative Action ◽  
Conservation Actions

AbstractConservation practices during the first decade of the millennium predominantly focused on resisting changes and maintaining historical or current conditions, but ever-increasing impacts from climate change have highlighted the need for transformative action. However, little empirical evidence exists on what kinds of conservation actions aimed specifically at climate change adaptation are being implemented in practice, let alone how transformative these actions are. In response, we propose and trial a novel typology—the R–R–T scale, which improves on existing concepts of Resistance, Resilience, and Transformation—that enables the practical application of contested terms and the empirical assessment of whether and to what extent a shift toward transformative action is occurring. When applying the R–R–T scale to a case study of 104 adaptation projects funded since 2011, we find a trend towards transformation that varies across ecosystems. Our results reveal that perceptions about the acceptance of novel interventions in principle are beginning to be expressed in practice.

On the Ethics of International Religious/Spiritual Gatherings and Academic Conferencing in the Era of Global Warming: A Case Study of the Parliament of The World’s Religions Melbourne 2009 - Part 1

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-195
Author(s):  
Almut Beringer ◽  
Steven Douglas
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Peak Oil ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Academic Events ◽  
Special Responsibility

Global climate change and its impacts have ethical dimensions, for instance carbon footprint equity concerns. World issues, including the state of the ecosphere and biodiver­sity, regularly see political leaders, NGOs, business representatives, religious/spiritual orga­nizations, academics, and others engage in international aviation-dependent meetings to address critical challenges facing humanity and the planet. Yet, climate scientists and advocates call for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 to cap the increase in global temperatures to 2ºC. Aviation emissions resulting from international meetings raise questions that are not silenced by GHG emissions offsetting. The era of climate change and ‘peak oil’ poses ethical challenges for holding international in-person religious and academic events, especially when the events propound an environmentalist concern and when aviation use is assumed. This paper raises ques­tions regarding the ecological impacts of large international events and focuses the ‘inconvenient truths’ associated with international aviation in the era of global warming. The Parliament of the World’s Religions, the largest multifaith gathering in the world, serves as a case study. The paper emphasizes the view that faith-based/faith-inspired organizations have a special responsibility for leadership in policy and praxis on the moral imperatives of sustainability, sustainable development and climate justice.

A rangewide distribution model for the Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul): identifying potential new survey regions for an understudied small cat

Mammalia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan Greenspan ◽  
Anthony J. Giordano
Keyword(s):  
Prey Species ◽  
Distribution Model ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Potential Habitat ◽  
Kunlun Mountains ◽  
Presence Data ◽  
Pamir Mountains ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Regional Conservation ◽  
Occurrence Records

Abstract Knowledge about the current distribution of threatened and/or understudied species is a fundamental component of conservation biology. Mapping species distributions based on recent known occurrences is particularly important for those that are rare or declining. Too often, cryptic species go undetected throughout parts of their range, whereas others just receive less research attention. We used contemporary presence data for the Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul), a small cryptic felid, to characterize potential rangewide and regional habitat for the species and identify those abiotic and biotic variables most influencing its distribution. Several regions lacking contemporary occurrence records contain potential habitat for Pallas’s cats, including the Koh-i-Baba Mountains of Afghanistan, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, steppes of Inner Mongolia, Kunlun Mountains of China, and Tian Shan and Pamir Mountains of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and China. Some of these areas have not been included in prior rangewide distribution assessments. The distribution of pikas (Ochotona spp.), small mammals that likely represent a critical prey species everywhere they are sympatric, was the most important factor affecting the Pallas’s cat’s distribution. This suggests Pallas’s cats may be prey specialists, and that pika presence and habitat are critical considerations for future Pallas’s cat surveys and in the development of regional conservation actions.

scholarly journals Over the horizon: Exploring the conditions of a post-growth world

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 117-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Crownshaw ◽  
Caitlin Morgan ◽  
Alison Adams ◽  
Martin Sers ◽  
Natália Britto dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Paradigm Change ◽  
Limits To Growth ◽  
Economic Discourse ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Steady Growth ◽  
Economic Paradigm

Maintaining steady growth remains the central goal of economic policy in most nations. However, as evidenced by the advent of the Anthropocene, the global economy has expanded to a point where limits to growth are appearing. Facing the end of growth requires a careful re-examination of plausible future conditions. We draw on a diverse literature to present an interdisciplinary exploration of post-growth conditions in the areas of climate change, ecological impacts, governance, and education, finding that such conditions may invalidate many prevalent assumptions regarding the future. The post-growth world, while subject to significant uncertainty and heterogeneity, will be characterized by profound hazards and discontinuities for both human and natural systems. Furthermore, we argue that an economic paradigm change will be predicated on an involuntary and unplanned cessation of growth. This implies a necessary strategic expansion of the heterodox economic discourse to formulate appropriate responses in view of likely post-growth realities.

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