Climate Adaptation for Tropical Island Land Stewardship: Adapting a Workshop Planning Process to Hawai‘i

Tropical island ecosystems are highly vulnerable to the multiple threats of climate change (Nurse et al. 2014; Bonan 2008). In response, agencies and organizations are tasked with developing land-management strategies to help ecosystems adapt to changing environmental conditions (Swanston et al. 2016). Research has shown that proactive planning can reduce climate change impacts by facilitating more efficient and rapid responses (Bierbaum et al. 2013). Complex socio-ecological conditions, environmental change related stressors (e.g., wildfire, pests, disease, and drought), a lack of resources, and shifting public policy and agency mandates (Nagel et al. 2017) can all hinder response effectiveness (Crausbay et al. 2020). Despite these challenges, considerable progress has been made in assessing climate vulnerabilities of forest ecosystems and in developing adaptation options for land managers (Swanston and Janowiak 2012; Janowiak et al. 2014; Swanston et al. 2016; Halofsky et al. 2018; Schmitt et al. 2021). Adaptation planning in response to significant anticipated changes is becoming increasingly sophisticated, especially with respect to anticipated changes in forest wildfire regimes, species invasion, species composition, ecosystem health, and hydrological functioning due to climate change. Here we describe our conversion of a highly successful adaptation workshop process (Schmitt et al. 2021) to a virtual environment in response to COVID-19. We effectively delivered content to managers and created an experiential learning environment in which they developed adaptation tactics for their management projects, integrating Indigenous science and knowledge into the workshop format and content. This workshop was additionally novel because it used an adaptation process (Janowiak et al. 2014, Ontl et al. 2018) that has been applied many times in the continental U.S. within primarily temperate and sub-boreal systems (https://forestadaptation.org/), and applied it for the first time to a tropical island system.

SPECIES COMPOSITION AND RELATIVE POPULATION SIZE OF FISHES IN THE OSTER RIVER (THE DESNA RIVER BASIN): 50 YEARS ANALYSIS

Inroduction. Changes in the species composition and population size of freshwater fihes are determined by deformations of the habitat in Ukraine and are characterized by a pronounced negative dynamics. Deformation of ichthyofauna is caused by extinction of a number of aboriginal fihes and emergence of alien species.Aim. To establish the current species composition and relative population size of fih species in the Oster River and the dynamics of these characteristics over a 50-yearlong period in the context of negative transformations of the ichthyofauna of the rivers of Ukraine.Results. Comparative study of the species composition and relative population size of fih species in the fih catches by small-river fihing gear in the Oster river was conducted during the period since 1971-72 till 2019. During this time considerable changes in species composition took place. The following species disappeared from the catches: Leuciscus leuciscus, Leuciscus idus, Chondrostoma nasus, Carassius carassius, Blicca bojerkna and Neogobius flviatilis, they were replaced by three invasion species (Percottus glenni, Pseudorasbora parva, Proterorhinus marmoratus). The changes in the dominant species took place, thus, in the Oster ichthyocene the species with the short life cycle started to prevail, the share of invasion species increased from 1.4 to 37%, and the share of initial marine fih among them is very low. The comparison with the river systems of the Stugna and the Lower Dnipro represents the fact that the mentioned negative tendencies are common for the whole Dnipro system, however the situation in the Lower Dnipro must be considered less critical than in the Oster and the Stugna rivers. The fact that the catches of industrial fih decreased more than 10 times in the Desna river during this period of time gives the reason to consider that the dramatic reduction of the absolute number of their populations occurred in the Oster river as well. That is why even relatively safe species (Abramis brama, Rutilus ritilus, Scardinius erythrophthalmus, Esox lucius, Perca flviatilis, Alburnus alburnus, Squalius cephalus) are in critical situation in this transformed river system.Сonclusions. In the ichthyocene of the Oster River over a 50-year period there have been signifiant changes in species composition, relative and absolute population numbers associated with the extinction and reduction of population sizes of rheophilic species and fih that are adapted to life in the flodplain. The modern Oster River is dominated by invasive and short-cycle species. The obtained tendencies in the dynamics of the ichthyofauna of the Oster River are similar to the nature of changes in other river systems of Ukraine, although they occur at a faster pace, which is characteristic of the smallest plain rivers.

Invázna ekológia

Invasion ecology was established as a science of invasion of animals and plants in the beginning of the second half of the 20th century by English ecologist Charles Sutherland Elton (1900-1991). Rapid development of the field of ecology is evident since the end of last century and following decades of 21st century. The paper deals with current development, diversity of concepts and hypotheses, including critiques of invasion terminology, invasion species concepts, introduced species as bad species and xenophobe appeared related to aliens as invaders. Invasion biology was an attempt to integrate alien animals and plants research into one science. In last decade new science of invasions is developed, characterised by multi- and interdisicplinarity, supported by social and economy sciences. To facilitate generalisations, and to improve the link between science, policy, and management, numerous frameworks have been developed in an attempt to unify different concepts and definitions.

Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) – expansion to the north: first records of invasion species in Yaroslavl and Novgorod Regions

The paper gives information on the invasion of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) into the north of the European part of Russia. The Asian ladybird is recorded for the first time from the Novgorod and Yaroslavl Regions. All records of this alien species from European Russia and the Northern Caucasus are listed.

Natural reforestation of Kuzbass dumps

We study the restoration of coal mining dumps through reforestation in the forest-steppe zone of Kuzbass. 3 main forest-forming species (Betula pendula, Pinus sylvestris and Populus tremula) and 11 accompanying tree species were involved in the formation of forest stands. The main forest-forming species was Betula pendula. The amount of renewal was found to be 10.7, 3.1 and 1.0 thousand pcs/ha in sites with favourable, moderate favourable and unfavourable environmental conditions, respectively. The level of natural reforestation on dumps in the southern forest-steppe zone can be described as weak. The renewal of the Acer negundo invasion species was determined by a continuous drift of seeds on the dumps; however, its seedlings and young undergrowth did not reach a generative age.

Allelopathic activity of Acer negundo L. leaf litter as a vector of invasion species into plant communities

The article shows the results of the influence of different concentrations of allelochemicals of Acer negundo L. leaf litter, germination energy, absolute germination of seeds and plant growth. The seeds of Raphanus sativus L. and Avena sativa L. were used as model objects. Active substances contained in leaf litter A. negundo, have a selective inhibitory effect on the germination of seeds and the growth of seedlings of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. The allelopathic effect of the fall is not a limiting factor for the germination of seeds of herbaceous plants of the above-ground cover of the studied plantation.

Biological and structural assessment of ash-leaved maple populations (Acer negundo L.) in the Barnaul stripe pine forest

The role of Acer negundo L. in plant communities of the Barnaul stripe pine forest is characterized. It wasestablished that in the vicinity of Barnaul the studied communities with maple are represented at all stages of successionassociated with the invasion species penetration. The presence of young individuals of maple and seedlings in the southern part of the Barnaul stripe indicates a further expansion of ash-leaved maple to the south along the Barnaul stripe pineforest.

Variability of morphological signs of populations Solidago Canadensis L. and Solidago Gigantea Ait. in different ecological conditions

The anthropophytisation processes pose a real threat to the phytodiversity on the territory of Ukraine. To study the interpopulation variability and to analyze the factors leading to the excessive increase in quantity of the adventive species individuals in the conditions of anthropogenic transformation, we took as a model the invasion species on the territory of Ukraine: Solidago canadensis L. and Solidago gigantean Ait. According to the study of the morphological signs variability in local populations S. canadensis and S. gigantea in different ecological conditions, we have revealed that the morphometric signs (length of the ramet, number of leaves, length of inflorescences, number of flowers in the inflorescences) of the S. canadensis ramets are characterized by medium and high intrapopulations variability (V = 11.46-68.67 %), and S. gigantea ramets are characterized by insignificant and high levels of intrapopulation variability (V = 7.01-90.04 %), which correlates with unfavourable conditions of anthropogenically transformed habitats. According to the study results, we have discovered that the depressive vitality type, and, correspondingly, the low vitality level is common for the local populations of S. canadensis for ruderal biotopes of anthropogenic herb stands, ruderal biotopes of fallows on sand, highly artificial broadleaved deciduous forestry plantations and fruit and nut tree orchards. Such a vitality type of S. canadensis populations is probably explained by the high level of digression of the above-mentioned biotopes. The local population of the ruderalized thickets of bushes is characterized by the comparatively high value of the vitality index, which is due to the favorable edaphic conditions. On the other hand, the local populations of S. gigantea of ruderal biotopes of anthropogenic herb stands, ruderal biotopes of fallows on sand, highly artificial broadleaved deciduous forestry plantations, fruit and nut tree orchards and ruderalized thickets of bushes are characterized by a prosperous vitality type and, accordingly, a high level of vitality.

The study on seasonal dynamics and development of larval stages of causative agents of cattle hypodermatosis in the Chechen Republic

Objective of research: to study the regional epizootology, species composition and bioecological features of development of causative agents of cattle hypodermatosis and elaboration of struggle measures against it in the Chechen Republic. Materials and methods: Data on extensity and intensity of invasion, species composition of causative agents of cattle hypodermatosis, seasonal dynamics, larval approach to the surface of animal back (gadfly larvae deposited in animals’ skin), time of the larval-pupal transformation (stages of larval development), treatment and prevention measures are provided in this article. Results and discussion: This research has found that in the Chechen Republic the extensity of gadfly invasion was in the range 24,4% — 62,1%; the intensity of invasion was 9,8 — 24,0 larv./animal. Two gadfly species Hypoderma bovis De Geer and Hypoderma lineatum De Villers are causative agents of animal hypodermatosis. H. bovis is spread everywhere, H. lineatum — mainly in plain and piedmont of the republic. Gadfly flight in different natural-climatic zones of the republic is registered from the end of April until the middle of October. Treatment and prevention measures continuously conducted for the whole livestock ( in spring against larvae of the 1st stage and in autumn — against larvae of the 2nd and 3rd development stages), taking into account ecological, phenological and epizootological situation in the region, may contribute to the full elimination of causative agents of hypodermatosis or their significant minimizing, reduction of economic damage to livestock of the republic. Based on experimental data, the economically reasonable schedule of treatment and prevention measures has been created.