scholarly journals Static Vs Dynamic Connectivity: How Landscape Changes Affect Connectivity Predictions in the Iberian Peninsula

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Goicolea ◽  
María Cruz Mateo-Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Multiple Time ◽  
Landscape Changes ◽  
Habitat Patches ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Dynamic Connectivity

Abstract Context Climate and land-use changes affect species ranges and movements. However, these changes are normally overlooked in connectivity studies, and this could have adverse consequences in the definition of effective management measures.Objectives We evaluated two ways to incorporate this dynamism: (i) by acknowledging that connectivity is a fluctuating phenomenon (i.e., time-varying connectivity) and therefore, procuring long-term conservation measures; and (ii) by enhancing species movements to their future ranges (i.e., spatio-temporal connectivity). We further compared these dynamic approaches with traditional static connectivity methods.Methods We compared the overall connectivity values and the prioritization of critical habitat patches according to the dynamic and static approaches. This comparison research was conducted for species associated with broadleaf forests of the different ecoregions of the Iberian Peninsula. We considered species habitat preferences for moving and a wide range of dispersal abilities to assess functional connectivity without focusing on a single species.Results Static approaches generated varying overall connectivity values and priority patches depending on the time snapshot considered and different from those generated by dynamic approaches. The two dynamic connectivity approaches resulted in very similar priority conservation patches, indicating their potential to guide endurable conservation measures that enhance connectivity between contemporaneous habitat patches at multiple time snapshots but also species range shifts in time.Conclusions Connectivity is affected by landscape changes, and only dynamic approaches can overcome the issues associated with these changes and provide valuable information to guide improved and endurable measures in changing landscapes.

Key directions and methodological features of modern studies of land use changes

2019 ◽  
pp. 62-68
Author(s):  
Pavlo Kazmir ◽  
Lyubomyr Kazmir
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Scientific Discipline ◽  
Shared Responsibility ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Land Change Science ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Land Relations ◽  
Future Policy ◽  
Planning Methodology

Interest in land-use changes (LUC) research has been growing rapidly in recent years. This topic has already become the subject of a separate scientific discipline – land use science (or land change science). In order to formulate relevant future policy and develop appropriate land-use management tools, it is crucial to know how the LUC шьзфсе the environment and society condition. For Ukraine, where the structure of land use and the system of land resources management have significantly changed during the years of post-socialist transformation of land relations, the study of the LUC on a modern methodological basis is especially actual. The paper, based on a critical analysis of publications in leading international journals over the last thirty years, identifies key directions of LUC studies and analyzes their methodological features. There is a significant increase of the number of works based on the results of meta-studies and the use of a wide range of methods for modeling the LUC processes, their causes and possible consequences. The great "synergistic potential" of integration of the selected directions is noted, which makes it possible to accelerate the development of the general theory of land use and increase its use efficiency in substantiation of management decisions in the sphere of land use and modernization of the mechanisms of state land, spatial and ecological policies with consideration of existing and potential globalizing challenges. In this context, the key role of the land use integrated planning methodology at regional and local levels is emphasized. This methodology would require close cooperation between government, business and the public in developing a common vision for the implementation of specific land use plans and projects based on the principles of subsidiarity, participativity and shared responsibility.

scholarly journals Sequence data from isolated lichen-associated melanized fungi enhance delimitation of two new lineages within Chaetothyriomycetidae

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 911-927
Author(s):  
Lucia Muggia ◽  
Yu Quan ◽  
Cécile Gueidan ◽  
Abdullah M. S. Al-Hatmi ◽  
Martin Grube ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Data ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Asexual Propagation ◽  
Dna Sequence Data ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Family ◽  
Rock Inhabiting Fungi ◽  
Stable Habitat

AbstractLichen thalli provide a long-lived and stable habitat for colonization by a wide range of microorganisms. Increased interest in these lichen-associated microbial communities has revealed an impressive diversity of fungi, including several novel lineages which still await formal taxonomic recognition. Among these, members of the Eurotiomycetes and Dothideomycetes usually occur asymptomatically in the lichen thalli, even if they share ancestry with fungi that may be parasitic on their host. Mycelia of the isolates are characterized by melanized cell walls and the fungi display exclusively asexual propagation. Their taxonomic placement requires, therefore, the use of DNA sequence data. Here, we consider recently published sequence data from lichen-associated fungi and characterize and formally describe two new, individually monophyletic lineages at family, genus, and species levels. The Pleostigmataceae fam. nov. and Melanina gen. nov. both comprise rock-inhabiting fungi that associate with epilithic, crust-forming lichens in subalpine habitats. The phylogenetic placement and the monophyly of Pleostigmataceae lack statistical support, but the family was resolved as sister to the order Verrucariales. This family comprises the species Pleostigma alpinum sp. nov., P. frigidum sp. nov., P. jungermannicola, and P. lichenophilum sp. nov. The placement of the genus Melanina is supported as a lineage within the Chaetothyriales. To date, this genus comprises the single species M. gunde-cimermaniae sp. nov. and forms a sister group to a large lineage including Herpotrichiellaceae, Chaetothyriaceae, Cyphellophoraceae, and Trichomeriaceae. The new phylogenetic analysis of the subclass Chaetothyiomycetidae provides new insight into genus and family level delimitation and classification of this ecologically diverse group of fungi.

scholarly journals Tracking late Pleistocene Neandertals on the Iberian coast

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Mayoral ◽  
Ignacio Díaz-Martínez ◽  
Jéremy Duveau ◽  
Ana Santos ◽  
Antonio Rodríguez Ramírez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Social Group ◽  
Microbial Mats ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Upper Pleistocene ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The World ◽  
Flooded Area

AbstractHere, we report the recent discovery of 87 Neandertal footprints on the Southwest of the Iberian Peninsula (Doñana shoreline, Spain) located on an upper Pleistocene aeolian littoral setting (about 106 ± 19 kyr). Morphometric comparisons, high resolution digital photogrammetric 3D models and detailed sedimentary analysis have been provided to characterized the footprints and the palaeoenvironment. The footprints were impressed in the shoreline of a hypersaline swamped area related to benthic microbial mats, close to the coastline. They have a rounded heel, a longitudinal arch, relatively short toes, and adducted hallux, and represent the oldest upper Pleistocene record of Neandertal footprints in the world. Among these 87 footprints, 31 are longitudinally complete and measure from 14 to 29 cm. The calculated statures range from 104 to 188 cm, with half of the data between 130 and 150 cm. The wide range of sizes of the footprints suggests the existence of a social group integrated by individuals of different age classes but dominated, however, by non-adult individuals. The footprints, which are outside the flooded area are oriented perpendicular to the shoreline. These 87 footprints reinforce the ecological scenario of Neandertal groups established in coastal areas.

A review of the Afrotropical sand tampan, Ornithodoros savignyi: a complex species.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (036) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxanne Albertha Charles
Keyword(s):  
Species Complex ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Biological Molecules ◽  
Soft Tick ◽  
Complex Species ◽  
Lake Chad ◽  
Ornithodoros Savignyi ◽  
Morphological Studies ◽  
Biological Studies ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract The sand tampan, Ornithodoros savignyi (Audouin, 1827), is an economically important soft tick of the Afrotropics parasitising a wide range of livestock and humans. These ticks are known to inflict painful bites which may be fatal in susceptible hosts. Historically thought to be a single species, Ornithodoros savignyi is now considered to be a complex of four tick subspecies based on molecular and morphological studies. They include Ornithodoros (Ornithodoros) kalahariensis, O. (O.) pavimentosus, O. (O.) noorsveldensis and O. (O.) savignyi. As such there may be significant implications for previous biological studies conducted on this tick. Therefore, for the purposes of this review, sand tampan toxicosis and potentially useful biological molecules have been discussed for O. (O.) savignyi sensu lato since most reported work was based on ticks collected from the Kalahari and Lake Chad region. An overview of the host range and vector biology for the O. (O.) savignyi species complex will also be examined.

scholarly journals Earthen architecture in the Iberian Peninsula: a portrait of vulnerability, sustainability and conservation

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Mileto ◽  
Fernando Vegas López-Manzanares ◽  
Valentina Cristini ◽  
Lidía García Soriano
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
The Other ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Rammed Earth ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Monumental Architecture ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Earthen Architecture ◽  
Earthen Buildings

AbstractFor more than a decade, a wide range of Spanish case studies, relating especially to rural inner or abandoned sites and areas, have been analysed by the authors as part of different research projects linked with traditional and monumental architecture, conservation strategies and earthen buildings. On one hand the studies have been undertaken in the framework of a project concerning the conservation of rammed earth in the Iberian Peninsula, including criteria, techniques, results and perspectives and, on the other, by a project about the conservation and rehabilitation of traditional earthen architecture in the Iberian Peninsula, providing guidelines and tools for its sustainable intervention. In all cases the researchers’ efforts focused on enhancing new perspectives and opportunities for rural earthen buildings, analysing landscapes, contexts, constructive features, decay and problems. The final common aim of this research is to stress these crucial topics to improve tangible or intangible opportunities for conservation strategies.

scholarly journals Morphology and sexual dimorphism of living mature adults of Amphiduros fuscescens (Marenzeller, 1875) (Annelida, Hesionidae, Amphidurine), first reported for the Iberian Peninsula

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Martin ◽  
Chiara Romano
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Single Species ◽  
First Record ◽  
The Body ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Mature Adults ◽  
Nw Mediterranean ◽  
Cryptic Species Complex

To date, the genus Amphiduros (Annelida: Hesionidae: Amphidurine) is considered as monotypic. Its single species, Amphiduros fuscescens (Marenzeller, 1875), is well characterised by lacking proboscideal papillae and emerging acicular chaetae, as well as by having three antennae, eight pairs of tentacular cirri and inflated dorsal cirri with characteristic alternating length and colour (transparent, with median orange band and white tips) in live animals. Three specimens, one male and two females, were found below boulders at 5–7 m depth in Punta Santa Anna, Blanes and Cala Maset, Sant Feliu de Guixols (Catalan Sea, NW Mediterranean, Iberian Peninsula). Our finding allowed us to describe different, unreported morphological traits and lead us to support the existence of sexual dimorphism (in terms of colouring, cirri morphology and distribution of sexual products along the body). Despite A. fuscescens having been previously reported from the Atlantic and the Mediterranean (particularly in SE French coasts), the specimens from Blanes represent the first record of the species from the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, our molecular results strongly support that Amphiduros pacificus Hartman, 1961 from California (currently synonymised with A. fuscescens) requires to be re-described and reinstalled as a valid species. In turn, our morphological observations support suggesting all other non-Mediterranean reports of A. fuscescens, including the species still under synonymy (i.e. Amphidrornus izukai Hessle, 1925 and Amphidromus setosus Hessle, 1925) as likely being a cryptic species complex whose the taxonomic status requires further assessment.

scholarly journals Effects of land use changes and conservation measures on land degradation under a Mediterranean climate

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Mohawesh ◽  
A. Taimeh ◽  
F. Ziadat
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Stone Walls ◽  
Effects Of Land Use ◽  
Soil Conservation Measures

Abstract. Land degradation resulting from improper land use and management is a major cause of declined productivity in the arid environment. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of a sequence of land use changes, soil conservation measures, and the time since their implementation on the degradation of selected soil properties. The climate for the selected 105 km2 watershed varies from semi-arid sub-tropical to Mediterranean sub-humid. Land use changes were detected using aerial photographs acquired in 1953, 1978, and 2008. A total of 218 samples were collected from 40 sites in three different rainfall zones to represent different land use changes and different lengths of time since the construction of stone walls. Analyses of variance were used to test the differences between the sequences of land use changes (interchangeable sequences of forest, orchards, field crops, and range), the time since the implementation of soil conservation measures, and rainfall on the thickness of the A-horizon, soil organic carbon content, and texture. Soil organic carbon reacts actively with different combinations and sequences of land use changes. The time since stone walls were constructed showed significant impacts on soil organic carbon and the thickness of the surface horizon. The effects of changing the land use and whether the changes were associated with the construction of stone walls, varied according to the annual rainfall. The results help in understanding the effects of land use changes on land degradation processes and carbon sequestration potential and in formulating sound soil conservation plans.

Occurrence and Significance of Toxic Cyanobacteria in Southern Africa

1991 ◽  
Vol 23 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 175-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. Scott
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Toxic Species ◽  
Toxic Cyanobacteria ◽  
Cyanobacterial Species ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Toxic Blooms ◽  
Different Parts

A comprehensive list is provided of more than forty cyanobacterial species and genera reported to have toxic properties. In South Africa the majority of animal poisonings since 1927 have been caused by a single species Microcystis aeruginosa. Although other toxic species also occur in southern Africa, to date they have been of little practical significance. The widespread distribution of M. aeruginosa throughout southern Africa indicates a tremendous potential for toxic blooms to develop with increasing eutrophication. Using HPLC techniques up to six different toxin variants have been quantified in natural blooms of M. aeruginosa collected in different parts of South Africa. The amounts and proportions of the different toxins in the different samples varied over a wide range. Several additional unidentified toxins were detected.

Putting the Tree Back into the Landscape

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Beresford-Jones
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
South Coast ◽  
Desert Ecosystem ◽  
Landscape Changes ◽  
The South

This book began with the archaeology of the Ullujaya and Samaca basins of the lower Ica Valley on the south coast of Peru. The archaeological investigations described here were undertaken to answer the following questions. Were these basins ever significantly more productive and vegetated landscapes? If so, when and how did change take place, and why? And how did these ecological and landscape changes correlate with cultural ones? The second part of the book conducted a thorough review of the botanical and agroforestry literature, together with the researchers' own observations, on the ecological keystone species of the region, the huarango — a tree of the genus Prosopis — to show how important a role this genus plays in the desert ecosystem of the south coast of Peru. This concluding chapter seeks to achieve a synthesis between these two parts to offer answers to those aforementioned questions posed by today's austere landscape of the lower Ica Valley. In so doing, it proposes a model for geomorphological, ecological, and land-use changes through time for the basins of the lower Ica Valley. It also aims to relate this model to cultural trajectories.

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