scholarly journals Biodiversity loss in a Mediterranean ecosystem due to an extreme warming event unveils the role of an engineering gorgonian species

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Verdura ◽  
Cristina Linares ◽  
Enric Ballesteros ◽  
Rafel Coma ◽  
María J. Uriz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem ◽  
Gorgonian Species

scholarly journals Above- and belowground biodiversity jointly tighten the P cycle in agricultural grasslands

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Oelmann ◽  
Markus Lange ◽  
Sophia Leimer ◽  
Christiane Roscher ◽  
Felipe Aburto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Management Intensity ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Grassland Productivity ◽  
Global Biodiversity ◽  
Diverse Plant ◽  
Management Effects ◽  
P Cycle

AbstractExperiments showed that biodiversity increases grassland productivity and nutrient exploitation, potentially reducing fertiliser needs. Enhancing biodiversity could improve P-use efficiency of grasslands, which is beneficial given that rock-derived P fertilisers are expected to become scarce in the future. Here, we show in a biodiversity experiment that more diverse plant communities were able to exploit P resources more completely than less diverse ones. In the agricultural grasslands that we studied, management effects either overruled or modified the driving role of plant diversity observed in the biodiversity experiment. Nevertheless, we show that greater above- (plants) and belowground (mycorrhizal fungi) biodiversity contributed to tightening the P cycle in agricultural grasslands, as reduced management intensity and the associated increased biodiversity fostered the exploitation of P resources. Our results demonstrate that promoting a high above- and belowground biodiversity has ecological (biodiversity protection) and economical (fertiliser savings) benefits. Such win-win situations for farmers and biodiversity are crucial to convince farmers of the benefits of biodiversity and thus counteract global biodiversity loss.

Towards a mechanistic understanding of competence: a missing link in diversity–disease research

Parasitology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 147 (11) ◽  
pp. 1159-1170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara E. Stewart Merrill ◽  
Pieter T. J. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Community Ecology ◽  
Dilution Effect ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Disease Research ◽  
Mechanistic Understanding

AbstractBiodiversity loss may increase the risk of infectious disease in a phenomenon known as the dilution effect. Circumstances that increase the likelihood of disease dilution are: (i) when hosts vary in their competence, and (ii) when communities disassemble predictably, such that the least competent hosts are the most likely to go extinct. Despite the central role of competence in diversity–disease theory, we lack a clear understanding of the factors underlying competence, as well as the drivers and extent of its variation. Our perspective piece encourages a mechanistic understanding of competence and a deeper consideration of its role in diversity–disease relationships. We outline current evidence, emerging questions and future directions regarding the basis of competence, its definition and measurement, the roots of its variation and its role in the community ecology of infectious disease.

Biodiversity–ecosystem function

2021 ◽  
pp. 137-146
Author(s):  
Simon F. Thrush ◽  
Judi E. Hewitt ◽  
Conrad A. Pilditch ◽  
Alf Norkko
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Functional Performance ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Soft Sediment ◽  
Multiple Functions ◽  
Service Relationships ◽  
Biodiversity And Ecosystem Function ◽  
Up Scaling

This chapter looks at the links between biodiversity and ecosystem function in soft sediments to help understand the implications of biodiversity loss on ecosystem services. The chapter contains a focus on the challenges in developing real-world tests of biodiversity–ecosystem function (BEF) relationships. The various forms of BEF relationships, their implications and the different elements of biodiversity that link to function are described. Given the multiple functions that occur in soft-sediment ecosystems, this has important implications for the assessment and implications of BEF relationships and functional performance in the up-scaling of BEF relationships. The role of BEF in underpinning many ecosystem services and the interconnections in biodiversity and ecosystem service relationships close out the chapter.

scholarly journals Biodiversity and conservation of terricolous lichens and bryophytes in continental lowlands of northern Italy: the role of different dry habitat types

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (13) ◽  
pp. 3533-3550
Author(s):  
Gabriele Gheza ◽  
Silvia Assini ◽  
Chiara Lelli ◽  
Lorenzo Marini ◽  
Helmut Mayrhofer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Vegetation Dynamics ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Dry Grasslands ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Terricolous Lichens ◽  
Landscape Scales

Abstract In dry habitats of European lowlands terricolous lichens and bryophytes are almost neglected in conservation practises, even if they may strongly contribute to biodiversity. This study aims at (a) testing the role of heathlands, acidic and calcareous dry grasslands for lichen and bryophyte diversity and conservation in lowland areas of northern Italy characterized by high human impact and habitat fragmentation; (b) detecting the effect of environmental drivers and vegetation dynamics on species richness and composition. Lichens, bryophytes, vascular plants, and environmental variables were recorded in 287 circular plots for 75 sites. Our results indicate that heathlands, acidic and calcareous dry grasslands host peculiar terricolous lichen and bryophyte communities that include several species of conservation concern. Thus, each habitat provides a complementary contribution to lichen and bryophyte diversity in continental lowland landscapes. Furthermore, in each habitat different factors drive species richness and composition with contrasting patterns between lichens and bryophytes. In terms of conservation, our results indicate that management of lowland dry habitats should act at both local and landscape scales. At local scale, vegetation dynamics should be controlled in order to avoid biodiversity loss due to vegetation dynamics and wood encroachment. At the landscape scale, patches of all the three habitats should be maintained to maximize regional diversity.

Regulation of aminopeptidases by the renin - angiotensin system: monitoring seasonal variations in red deer and fallow deer from a Mediterranean ecosystem

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 761
Author(s):  
A. Galán-Ocaña ◽  
M. J. Ramírez-Expósito ◽  
J. M. Martínez-Martos ◽  
S. Tellado ◽  
C. Azorit
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Renin Angiotensin System ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Fallow Deer ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem ◽  
Angiotensin System ◽  
Renin Angiotensin

The circulating renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is well known for its systemic role in the regulation of blood pressure, renal hemodynamics and fluid homeostasis. However, in mammals several organs also contain a local RAS, including male and female reproductive tissues. In the present study we analysed serum from a free-living population of red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) and fallow deer (Dama dama) to determine the activity of four RAS-regulating aminopeptidases (aminopeptidase A, aspartyl aminopeptidase, aminopeptidase N and aminopeptidase B) as part of a study of annual cycles of growth and condition. Our aim was to detect seasonal variations in the activities of these aminopeptidases and their relationship to the reproductive behaviour of both species in a Mediterranean environment. In both males and females there was a maximum peak of activity in autumn. A second peak was detected in spring for males while in females activity was also higher in summer. These changes may be related to a different endocrine status according to their seasonal cycle, the decreased photoperiod in autumn and the normal timing of the seasonal growth cycle. Thus, changes in the activity of RAS-regulating aminopeptidases could reflect the functional role of angiotensins through the annual cycle of both species, also suggesting an important role of these peptide hormones in the regulation of these biological processes.

A Score-based Method for Assessing the Importance of Urban Forest and its Ecosystem Services

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (01) ◽  
pp. 35-46
Author(s):  
Shalini Dhyani ◽  
Pooja S. Fulwadhani ◽  
Nihal Gujre ◽  
Satish R. Wate
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Engineering Research ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

Urban scape constitutes the manifestation of various natural and anthropic elements entangled in a specific form. However, arbitrary land-use changes during the last few decades have witnessed a significant biodiversity loss in urban areas. Over 50% of the earth’s human population lives in the urban settlement, which accounts for less than 3% of the earth’s urbanized area. Urban green spaces act as biodiversity refuge in urban areas. In such crucial circumstances, an urban forest can play a critical role in biodiversity conservation and management through academic green spaces. To understand and evaluate the role of the urban forest, the present study carried out on the campus of [CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)], Nagpur. Furthermore, an innovative and multifaceted index named total importance value (TIV) index was developed, which used to analyze the importance of the trees present on the campus. Results revealed the presence of more than 200 plant species belonging to both native and exotic groups and their contributions to improve the urban environment in terms of the TIV index. The study also advocates the usages of TIV as a framework for the development and planning of climate-smart green cities, which is resilience to climate change.

scholarly journals International funding agencies: potential leaders of impact evaluation in protected areas?

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1681) ◽  
pp. 20140283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian D. Craigie ◽  
Megan D. Barnes ◽  
Jonas Geldmann ◽  
Stephen Woodley
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Impact Evaluation ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Evaluation Methods ◽  
Protected Area Management ◽  
International Funding ◽  
Funding Agencies ◽  
Potential Benefits

Globally, protected areas are the most commonly used tools to halt biodiversity loss. Yet, some are failing to adequately conserve the biodiversity they contain. There is an urgent need for knowledge on how to make them function more effectively. Impact evaluation methods provide a set of tools that could yield this knowledge. However, rigorous outcome-focused impact evaluation is not yet used as extensively as it could be in protected area management. We examine the role of international protected area funding agencies in facilitating the use of impact evaluation. These agencies are influential stakeholders as they allocate hundreds of millions of dollars annually to support protected areas, creating a unique opportunity to shape how the conservation funds are spent globally. We identify key barriers to the use of impact evaluation, detail how large funders are uniquely placed to overcome many of these, and highlight the potential benefits if impact evaluation is used more extensively.

Prominent role of invasive species in avian biodiversity loss

2009 ◽  
Vol 142 (10) ◽  
pp. 2043-2049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Clavero ◽  
Lluís Brotons ◽  
Pere Pons ◽  
Daniel Sol
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Avian Biodiversity

scholarly journals Technological Innovations Tackling Biodiversity Loss: Solutions or Misdirection?

2019 ◽  
pp. 100-128
Author(s):  
Kate Wilkinson Cross
Keyword(s):  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Original Data ◽  
Technological Innovations ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Economic Growth And Development ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
Ecological Modernisation

Using original data derived from the thematic analysis of three international agreements and the 2016 Conference of the Parties (COP) and Meeting of the Parties (MOP) Decisions, this article examines the incorporation of technology and technological innovation in the biological diversity regime. It finds that that the biodiversity regime incorporates discourses of ecological modernisation and prioritises technological innovation for biodiversity loss, particularly in the 2016 COP and MOP Decisions.The empirical analysis indicates that themes regarding progress, 'improving' the environment and the role of technology in mediating economic growth and development are embedded in references to technology and technological innovation. Drawing on an ecofeminist perspective, this article examines how these themes highlight the prioritisation of technological innovation to prevent biodiversity loss. The author concludes that this prioritisation inhibits opportunities to fully engage with developing alternative approaches towards resolving environmental problems as these approaches require a re-evaluation of the societal institutions and practices that exploit and destroy the non-human environment.

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