scholarly journals Representative boreal forest habitats in northern Europe, and a revised model for ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation

AMBIO ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Håkan Berglund ◽  
Timo Kuuluvainen

AbstractThe natural range of variation of ecosystems provides reference conditions for sustainable management and biodiversity conservation. We review how the understanding of natural reference conditions of boreal forests in northern Europe has changed from earlier perceptions of even-aged dynamics driven by stand-replacing disturbances towards current understanding highlighting the role of non-stand-replacing disturbances and the resultant complex forest dynamics and structures. We show how earlier views and conceptual models of forest disturbance dynamics, including the influential ASIO model, provide estimates of reference conditions that are outside the natural range of variation. Based on a research synthesis, we present a revised forest reference model incorporating the observed complexity of ecosystem dynamics and the prevalence of old forests. Finally, we outline a management model and demonstrate its use in forest ecosystem management and show how regional conservation area needs can be estimated. We conclude that attaining favourable conservation status in northern Europe’s boreal forests requires increasing emphasis on ecosystem management and conservation for old forest characteristics.

Author(s):  
Neil O. M. Ravenscroft

AbstractThe marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia is declining across Europe and is of high conservation interest. Its ecology has been defined and its conservation status assessed primarily from the affinities and populations of young caterpillars in the autumn, before hibernation and high winter mortality. The possibility that caterpillars of E. aurinia can overwinter more than once was investigated on the Isle of Islay, Scotland after caterpillars were found to occur at some locations in the spring despite a pre-hibernation absence. Closely-related species in North America and Northern Europe can prolong larval development by diapausing for a year as does E. aurinia in Scandinavia. Measurements of development and manipulations of distribution confirmed that some caterpillars do extend the life-cycle in Scotland and may occur in areas devoid of larvae in their first year. Caterpillars attempting this life-cycle develop slowly in spring, attain the normal penultimate spring instar and then enter diapause while other caterpillars are pupating. They moult just before diapause, construct highly cryptic webs and on emergence the following spring are 5–6 times heavier than larvae emerging in their first spring, or the equivalent of a month or so ahead. They attain a final, extra instar as larvae in their first spring reach the penultimate instar. Knowledge of this life-cycle is confined in the UK to Islay but its occurrence in this mild climate implies that it is more widespread.Implications for insect conservation Conditions that permit long diapause are probably precise and may not be reflected in recognised qualities of habitat. The species may also be present despite a perceived absence in autumn, the standard period for monitoring. Assessments of the prevalence of the life-cycle and its contribution to the persistence of E. aurinia are required. Populations of E. aurinia are known to fluctuate greatly and do occur below the observation threshold for long periods.


2008 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren Anker Pedersen ◽  
Heino Fock ◽  
Jochen Krause ◽  
Christian Pusch ◽  
Anne L. Sell ◽  
...  

Abstract Pedersen, S. A., Fock, H., Krause, J., Pusch, C., Sell, A. L., Böttcher, U., Rogers, S. I., Sköld, M., Skov, H., Podolska, M., Piet, G. J., and Rice, J. C. 2009. Natura 2000 sites and fisheries in German offshore waters.–ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 155–169. The principal objective of sites selected as part of Natura 2000 is to achieve or maintain a favourable conservation status of habitats and species named in the EU Birds and Habitats directives. In the German exclusive economic zone, the habitat types protected by this legislation are sandbanks and reefs; protected species include marine mammals, seabirds, and specific migratory fish species. The ICES project Environmentally Sound Fishery Management in Protected Areas (EMPAS) aims to answer two questions: (i) To what extent do specific fishing activities significantly threaten attainment of the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 sites? (ii) What management measures would reduce these conflicts and how effective would they be at helping to ensure the favourable condition of these sites? Assessments of fishing impacts on Natura 2000 sites require basic data on the conservation status of individual habitats and species, as well as data for fine-scale distributions of ongoing fishing activities. This paper describes and discusses the process used by the EMPAS project in developing fishery-management plans for each Natura 2000 site in German offshore waters.


2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1890-1901 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANNETTE BAATTRUP-PEDERSEN ◽  
GUNTA SPRINGE ◽  
TENNA RIIS ◽  
SØREN E. LARSEN ◽  
KAJ SAND-JENSEN ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Murdoch ◽  
MD Fairchild

The colour rendition characteristics of light sources are quantified with measures based on CIE standard observers, which are reasonable representations of population averages. However, even among people with normal colour vision, the natural range of variation in colour sensitivity means any individual may see something different than the standard observer. Modelling results quantify the effects of these inter-observer differences on colour rendition measures defined by IES TM-30-15. In general, inter-observer differences tend to be smaller for light sources with high colour fidelity values, and they are affected by spectral characteristics of different lighting technologies. The magnitude of variation in colour rendition measures, up to 5–10 units in IES TM-30-15 ( Rf, Rg), measures is compared with other sources of variability and ambiguity.


1999 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Harvey

The Lake Duparquet Research and Teaching Forest is situated in northwestern Quebec in the Boreal Shield Ecozone. Managed by two constituents of the Université du Québec, in collaboration with two forest companies, Norbord and Tembec, the Lake Duparquet Forest has a strong research program focussed on natural forest ecosystem dynamics that provides the scientific basis for management and silvicultural trials recently begun in the Forest. A bibliographical review of research activities is presented. Keywords: boreal, mixedwood, natural dynamics, fire, disturbance, ecosystem management, silviculture


Author(s):  
Juvenal Enrique Batista Guerra ◽  
Orlando O. Ortiz

Background and Aims: Gustavia sessilis is a neotropical tree, belonging to the Lecythidaceae family, until now known from the Colombian Chocó region only. In this paper, we report G. sessilis for the first time for Central America. Methods: Central American specimens of G. sessilis were collected in 2019 from the Darién Province (eastern Panama). Plant identifications were confirmed by comparing collected specimens with those identified earlier and housed in the MO, PMA, SCZ and UCH herbaria. Type specimens were examined by consulting the JSTOR Global Plants database. The estimations of the conservation status were made based on the criteria of the IUCN.Key results: The record of G. sessilis for Central America is presented, based on a collection made from eastern Panama (Darién Province). Photographs, taxonomic comments, and conservation notes are provided. Additionally, a key for the Central American Gustavia species is included.Conclusions: The distribution of G. sessilis now ranges from Bahía Piñas, Darién Province, Panama to the Condoto river, Chocó region, Colombia, highlighting the importance of the Chocó Panama-Colombia region for the conservation of biodiversity, since it could act as a natural corridor for species. Taking into account the small number of records and the restricted natural range of this species, we recommend considering G. sessilis as an endangered species.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadinè J Galle ◽  
Sophie A Nitoslawski ◽  
Francesco Pilla

Many of our cities are going digital. From self-driving cars to smart grids to intelligent traffic signals, these smart cities put data and digital technology to work to drive efficiency and improve the quality of life for citizens. Yet, the natural capital upon which cities rely risks being left behind by the digital revolution. Bringing nature online is the next frontier in ecosystem management and will change our relationship with the natural world in the urban age. In this article, we introduce the ‘Internet of Nature’ to bridge the gap between greener and smarter cities and to explore the future of urban ecosystem management in an age of rapid urbanisation and digitisation. The creation of an Internet of Nature, along with the ecosystem intelligence it provides, is an opportunity to elicit and understand urban ecosystem dynamics, promote self-sufficiency and resilience in ecosystem management and enhance connections between urban social and ecological systems.


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