Ecology of meadow steppe in northeast China

2008 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 247 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Wang ◽  
L. Ba
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Grassland Management ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Meadow Steppe ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Plant Adaptation ◽  
North East ◽  
Vegetation Production ◽  
Plant Animal Interactions

Native grassland in China is mostly meadow, typical or desert steppe and comprises 400 million hectares, ~40% of the land area. We review past research on the meadow steppe of north-east China. Our foci are plant adaptation to climate, edaphic-related and defoliation stresses, vegetation production, grassland management, herbivore foraging behaviour, safe stocking rates, plant-animal interactions, ecosystem functioning, conservation of biodiversity and the influence of climate change on grassland function. Recent studies have provided some insights into ecological processes and functioning of meadow steppe, and have enabled better identification of research opportunities. Key areas identified for future research include plant adaptation, grassland function and value, monitoring of range health, ecological consequences of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem function.

Carbon response to changing winter conditions in northern regions: current understanding and emerging research needs

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 545-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Campbell ◽  
Hjalmar Laudon
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Winter Climate ◽  
Climate Change Research ◽  
Northern Regions ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Carry Over

Winter is an important period for ecological processes in northern regions; however, compared to other seasons, the impacts of winter climate on ecosystems are poorly understood. In this review we evaluate the influence of winter climate on carbon dynamics based on the current state of knowledge and highlight emerging topics and future research challenges. Studies that have addressed this topic include plot-scale snow cover manipulation experiments that alter soil temperatures, empirical investigations along natural climatic gradients, laboratory temperature incubation experiments aimed at isolating influential factors in controlled environments, and time series of climate and carbon data that evaluate long-term natural variation and trends. Combined, these studies have demonstrated how winter climate can influence carbon in complex ways that in some cases are consistent across studies and in other cases are difficult to predict. Despite advances in our understanding, there is a great need for studies that further explore: (i) carry-over effects from one season to another, (ii) ecosystem processes in the fall–winter and winter–spring shoulder seasons, (iii) the impacts of extreme events, (iv) novel experimental approaches, and (v) improvements to models to include ecological effects of winter climate. We also call for the establishment of an international winter climate change research network that enhances collaboration and coordination among studies, which could provide a more thorough understanding of how the snow-covered period influences carbon cycling, thereby improving our ability to predict future responses to climate change.

scholarly journals Coral Reef Resilience through Biodiversity

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline S. Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Coral Reef Resilience ◽  
Global Action ◽  
Coral Reef Degradation

Irrefutable evidence of coral reef degradation worldwide and increasing pressure from rising seawater temperatures and ocean acidification associated with climate change have led to a focus on reef resilience and a call to “manage” coral reefs for resilience. Ideally, global action to reduce emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will be accompanied by local action. Effective management requires reduction of local stressors, identification of the characteristics of resilient reefs, and design of marine protected area networks that include potentially resilient reefs. Future research is needed on how stressors interact, on how climate change will affect corals, fish, and other reef organisms as well as overall biodiversity, and on basic ecological processes such as connectivity. Not all reef species and reefs will respond similarly to local and global stressors. Because reef-building corals and other organisms have some potential to adapt to environmental changes, coral reefs will likely persist in spite of the unprecedented combination of stressors currently affecting them. The biodiversity of coral reefs is the basis for their remarkable beauty and for the benefits they provide to society. The extraordinary complexity of these ecosystems makes it both more difficult to predict their future and more likely they will have a future.

scholarly journals Shifts between cooperation and antagonism driven by individual variation: A systematic synthesis review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Patrick Moran ◽  
Barbara Caspers ◽  
Nayden Chakarov ◽  
Uli Ernst ◽  
Claudia Fricke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Variation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Synthesis Methods ◽  
Ecological Interactions ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Intraspecific Trait Variation ◽  
Plant Animal Interactions ◽  
Aggressive Personality

The outcomes of ecological interactions fall along a continuum from cooperative (mutually beneficial) to antagonistic (detrimental to one or both parties). This applies at both interspecific (e.g. plant-animal interactions) and intraspecific levels (e.g. male-female interactions). Phenotypic variation among individuals is increasingly being recognised as an important factor in ecological processes, and trait variation in either interacting party may determine the outcome of the interaction, such as whether a symbiont provides net costs or benefits to their host, or whether two conspecifics decide to cooperatively forage or to compete over food. This systematic review investigates the role of intraspecific trait variation (‘ITV’) in determining the cooperative-antagonistic outcome of ecological interactions. Based on a literature collection of 95 empirical and theoretical publications meeting our inclusion criteria, we give an overview of the various mechanisms that can lead to shifts between antagonism and cooperation within or between species. We describe two broad classes of interrelated mechanisms that may drive shifts in outcomes. First, trait frequency effects occur when processes influencing a population’s composition of traits linked to cooperation or antagonism (e.g. aggressive personality types, cheater/exploiter phenotypes etc.) lead to net shifts in interaction outcome. Second, systemic variance effects occur when changes in the amount of ITV in the population (as opposed to the mean phenotype) is the factor driving shifts. Both heritable genetic differences among individuals and phenotypic plasticity are important sources of phenotypic variation. The specific mix of heritable vs. plastic ITV may determine whether a change from cooperative to antagonistic, or vice versa, is likely to be short-term (i.e. context-dependent) or lead to more persistent shifts (e.g. mutualism breakdown). To guide future research on this topic we describe knowledge gaps and divergences between empirical and theoretical literature, further highlighting the value of applying research synthesis methods in ecology and evolution.

scholarly journals Benthic estuarine communities in Brazil: moving forward to long term studies to assess climate change impacts

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (spe2) ◽  
pp. 81-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelo Fraga Bernardino ◽  
Paulo Roberto Pagliosa ◽  
Ronaldo Adriano Christofoletti ◽  
Francisco Barros ◽  
Sergio A. Netto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Estuarine Ecosystems

Abstract Estuaries are unique coastal ecosystems that sustain and provide essential ecological services for mankind. Estuarine ecosystems include a variety of habitats with their own sediment-fauna dynamics, all of them globally undergoing alteration or threatened by human activities. Mangrove forests, saltmarshes, tidal flats and other confined estuarine systems are under increasing stress due to human activities leading to habitat and species loss. Combined changes in estuarine hydromorphology and in climate pose severe threats to estuarine ecosystems on a global scale. The ReBentos network is the first integrated attempt in Brazil to monitor estuarine changes in the long term to detect and assess the effects of global warming. This paper is an initial effort of ReBentos to review current knowledge on benthic estuarine ecology in Brazil. We herein present and synthesize all published work on Brazilian estuaries that has focused on the description of benthic communities and related ecological processes. We then use current data on Brazilian estuaries and present recommendations for future studies to address climate change effects, suggesting trends for possible future research and stressing the need for long-term datasets and international partnerships.

Collaborative Remembering in Dementia: A Focus on Joint Activities

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars-Christer Hydén ◽  
Mattias Forsblad
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
Joint Activities ◽  
Do So ◽  
Dementia Diseases

In this chapter we consider collaborative remembering and joint activates in everyday life in the case of people living with dementia. First, we review past research of practices that scaffolds the participation of persons with dementia in everyday chores under different stages of dementia diseases. We do so by suggesting three analytical types of scaffolding: when the scaffolding practices (i) frame the activity, (ii) guide actions, or (iii) are part of repair activities. Second, we review two aspects of collaborative remembering that are especially important in the case of dementia: training of scaffolding practices, and the sustaining and presentation of identities through collaborative storytelling. Finally, theoretical and methodological tendencies of the research field are summarized and future research needs are formulated.

Dating Violence, Protection Orders, and Gender Inequality: A Cross-state Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110283
Author(s):  
Katherine Brandt ◽  
Michelle Johnson-Motoyama
Keyword(s):  
Dating Violence ◽  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Teen Dating Violence ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Teen Dating

Teen dating violence (TDV) is a public health crisis that organizations and individuals in several fields are working to prevent and address. State lawmakers are a group with substantial power to address TDV and intimate partner violence (IPV) through policies including Civil Protection Order (CPO) statutes. Understanding the factors that influence how state legislators craft TDV and IPV policies and how those policies are implemented can lead to policy processes that better serve survivors. Past research suggests the level of gender inequality in a state may be an important influence on TDV policies. This study used a case study approach to compare the processes of adding individuals in dating relationships to CPO statutes in a subset of states ( n = 3) with high, middle, and low levels of gender inequality. Results did not suggest that gender inequality was related to variation between states but rather that it was a larger factor that creates the need for TDV policies at all. Relationships between the state IPV coalitions and lawmakers and the historical moment that laws were considered emerged as important factors in interstate variation. Future research can build on these results by further exploring the role of gender inequality in policy processes with additional states or policies and by examining the factors identified here in greater depth. Implications for practice are also discussed.

Twitter Users’ Displays of Affect in the Global Warming Debate

2021 ◽  
pp. 004728162110078
Author(s):  
Shanna Cameron ◽  
Alexandra Russell ◽  
Luke Brake ◽  
Katherine Fredlund ◽  
Angela Morris
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Technical Communication ◽  
Research Team ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Climate Change Research ◽  
Quantitative Content ◽  
Twitter Users

This article engages with recent discussions in the field of technical communication that call for climate change research that moves beyond the believer/denier dichotomy. For this study, our research team coded 900 tweets about climate change and global warming for different emotions in order to understand how Twitter users rely on affect rhetorically. Our findings use quantitative content analysis to challenge current assumptions about writing and affect on social media, and our results indicate a number of arenas for future research on affect, global warming, and rhetoric.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and future pandemics: a global systems approach and relevance to SDGs

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tharanga Thoradeniya ◽  
Saroj Jayasinghe
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Governance ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Systems Science ◽  
World Population ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Physical Environments ◽  
Corporate Interests

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic is adversely impacting modern human civilization. A global view using a systems science approach is necessary to recognize the close interactions between health of animals, humans and the environment. Discussion A model is developed initially by describing five sequential or parallel steps on how a RNA virus emerged from animals and became a pandemic: 1. Origins in the animal kingdom; 2. Transmission to domesticated animals; 3. Inter-species transmission to humans; 4. Local epidemics; 5. Global spread towards a pandemic. The next stage identifies global level determinants from the physical environments, the biosphere and social environment that influence these steps to derive a generic conceptual model. It identifies that future pandemics are likely to emerge from ecological processes (climate change, loss of biodiversity), anthropogenic social processes (i.e. corporate interests, culture and globalization) and world population growth. Intervention would therefore require modifications or dampening these generators and prevent future periodic pandemics that would reverse human development. Addressing issues such as poorly planned urbanization, climate change and deforestation coincide with SDGs such as sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11), climate action (Goal 13) and preserving forests and other ecosystems (Goal 15). This will be an added justification to address them as global priorities. Some determinants in the model are poorly addressed by SDGs such as the case of population pressures, cultural factors, corporate interests and globalization. The overarching process of globalization will require modifications to the structures, processes and mechanisms of global governance. The defects in global governance are arguably due to historical reasons and the neo-liberal capitalist order. This became evident especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 when the vaccination roll-out led to violations of universal values of equity and right to life by some of the powerful and affluent nations. Summary A systems approach leads us to a model that shows the need to tackle several factors, some of which are not adequately addressed by SDGs and require restructuring of global governance and political economy.

scholarly journals Collective efficacy and disorder through the eyes of neighbourhood inhabitants and key informants

2021 ◽  
pp. 147737082110006
Author(s):  
Wim Hardyns ◽  
Thom Snaphaan ◽  
Sara Willems ◽  
Lieven J. R. Pauwels
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Social Trust ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ecological Stability ◽  
Organizational Processes ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Key Informants ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Key Informant

This study examines the ecological reliability, convergent validity and ecological stability of neighbourhood (dis)organizational processes measured by means of two methods: inhabitant surveys and the so-called key informant analysis technique. Considering that ecological processes play a major role in many contemporary criminological theories and research, it is vital to take into account methodological challenges and to question the reliability, validity and stability of the measures reflecting these underlying processes. (Dis)organizational processes are predominantly measured by means of questionnaires surveying neighbourhood inhabitants. To yield ecologically reliable and valid measures this approach requires large numbers of respondents. In this study we analyse the relationships between ecological measures of neighbourhood processes based on surveys of inhabitants versus key informants. The findings suggest that key informants can provide reliable, valid and stable measures of (dis)organizational neighbourhood processes. Therefore, the key informant analysis technique is an essential complementary, or even substitutive, method in the measurement of neighbourhood processes; shared survey-method variance is eliminated and it is possible to survey fewer key informants than inhabitants to obtain reliable and valid information on social trust and disorder. Nevertheless, this method is not suitable for measuring all neighbourhood processes, such as informal social control. Therefore, outstanding challenges and avenues for future research are discussed as well.

scholarly journals Climate Change Sustainability: From Bargaining to Cooperative Balanced Approach

Games ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Tiziana Ciano ◽  
Massimiliano Ferrara ◽  
Mariangela Gangemi ◽  
Domenica Stefania Merenda ◽  
Bruno Antonio Pansera
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Cooperative Game Theory ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Open Problems ◽  
Cooperative Approach ◽  
Change Dynamics ◽  
Bargaining Solutions ◽  
Balanced Approach ◽  
Competitive Bargaining

This work aims to provide different perspectives on the relationships between cooperative game theory and the research field concerning climate change dynamics. New results are obtained in the framework of competitive bargaining solutions and related issues, moving from a cooperative approach to a competitive one. Furthermore, the dynamics of balanced and super-balanced games are exposed, with particular reference to coalitions. Some open problems are presented to aid future research in this area.

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