Optimizing efforts to restore aquatic ecosystem connectivity requires thinking beyond large dams

Infrastructure-induced fragmentation of riverine ecosystems has prompted the need for more effective aquatic restoration efforts globally. Fragmentation assessments have been extensively undertaken to inform connectivity restoration efforts for fish and other aquatic biota, but they have potentially underestimated the extent of fragmentation by fixating on large dams and overlooking the contribution of other barriers like road crossings and small irrigation structures. The current study addresses this limitation in Mekong region countries (MReCs) of Southeast Asia, by assessing the fragmentation impacts of road crossings and small irrigation structures together with large dams. Our analysis indicates that the basin-scale fragmentation impact of road crossings is similar to that of large dams in MReCs, while small irrigation structures have a far greater impact. These findings raise concerns about the real global extent of aquatic fragmentation, and highlight the need for decision-makers to think beyond dams when attempting to restore connectivity for aquatic biota.

Diverse recruitment to a taxonomically structured global atmospheric microbiota

Atmospheric transport is critical to dispersal of microorganisms between habitats and this underpins resilience in terrestrial and marine ecosystems globally. A key unresolved question is whether microorganisms assemble to form a taxonomically distinct, geographically variable, and functionally adapted atmospheric microbiota. Here we characterised inter-continental patterns of microbial taxonomic and functional diversity in air within and above the atmospheric boundary layer and in underlying soils for 596 globally sourced samples. Bacterial and fungal assemblages in air were taxonomically structured and deviated significantly from purely stochastic assembly. Patterns differed with location and reflected underlying surface cover and environmental filtering. Source-tracking indicated a complex recruitment process involving local soils plus globally distributed inputs from drylands and the phyllosphere. Assemblages displayed stress-response and metabolic traits relevant to survival in air, and taxonomic and functional diversity were correlated with macroclimate and atmospheric variables. Our findings highlight complexity in the atmospheric microbiota that is key to understanding regional and global ecosystem connectivity.

Diverse recruitment to a globally structured atmospheric microbiome

Atmospheric transport is critical to dispersal of microorganisms between habitats and this underpins resilience in terrestrial and marine ecosystems globally. A key unresolved question is whether microorganisms assemble to form a taxonomically distinct, geographically variable, and functionally adapted atmospheric microbiome. Here we characterised globalscale patterns of microbial taxonomic and functional diversity in air within and above the atmospheric boundary layer and in underlying soils. Bacterial and fungal assemblages in air were taxonomically structured and deviated significantly from purely stochastic assembly. Patterns differed with location and reflected underlying surface cover and environmental filtering. Source-tracking indicated a complex recruitment process involving local soils plus globally distributed inputs from drylands and the phyllosphere. Assemblages displayed stressresponse and metabolic traits relevant to survival in air, and taxonomic and functional diversity were correlated with macroclimate and atmospheric variables. Our findings highlight complexity in the atmospheric microbiome that is key to understanding regional and global ecosystem connectivity.

Diverse recruitment to a globally structured atmospheric microbiome

Atmospheric transport is critical to dispersal of microorganisms between habitats and this underpins resilience in terrestrial and marine ecosystems globally 1,2. Conventional dogma that this is a neutral process involving ubiquitous distribution in air has been challenged by recent advances 3–5. However, the lack of standardized methods and analytical frameworks have impeded synthesis and global perspective. A key unresolved question is whether microorganisms assemble to form a taxonomically distinct, geographically variable and functionally adapted atmospheric microbiome. Here we characterized global-scale patterns of microbial taxonomic and functional diversity in air within and above the atmospheric boundary layer and in underlying soils. Bacterial and fungal assemblages in air were taxonomically structured and deviated significantly from purely stochastic assembly processes. Fungi dominated above tropical, temperate and continental biomes whilst bacteria did so above oceans and drylands. At high altitudes bacterial diversity declined but fungal diversity was greatest. Source-tracking indicated a complex recruitment process involving local soils plus globally distributed inputs from drylands and the phyllosphere. Assemblages displayed stress-response and metabolic traits relevant to survival in air, and taxonomic and functional diversity were correlated with macroclimate and atmospheric variables. Our findings highlight a structured global atmospheric microbiome that is central to understanding regional and global ecosystem connectivity.

Interactions between bivalve filter feeding and oceanographic forcing drive the fluxes of organic matter and nutrients at an estuarine-coastal interface

Fluxes of nutrients and organic matter between estuaries and the open coast comprise an important component of ecosystem connectivity. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about how oceanographic processes, for example onshore retention of water in the coastal boundary layer, interact with major sinks for particulate organic matter such as bivalve filter feeding within inlets and estuaries. To investigate this interaction, total fluxes of water, nutrients (NH4, NOx and PO4) and chlorophyll a between Waitati Inlet on the wave-exposed coast of the South Island, New Zealand, and the coastal ocean were quantified over 40 tidal cycles. We found declines in total flux of phytoplankton and increases in flux of NH4 between flood and ebb tides. Net declines in phytoplankton biomass followed a Type II functional response curve, consistent with consumption by the large biomass of filter feeding bivalves within the inlet; however, an asymptote was not reached for the highest concentrations, indicating that feeding was likely limited by exposure time rather than concentration of food relative to biomass. An information-theoretic framework was then used to infer the most likely combination of environmental conditions influencing total fluxes of phytoplankton into the inlet. Onshore wind stress, wave transport and salinity explained 90% of the variation in flux of phytoplankton entering the inlet on flood tides. These results highlight the importance of the interaction between oceanographic forcing and bivalve filter feeding in modulating material dynamics and connectivity between estuaries and the coastal ocean.

EXAMINING DIGITAL CAPABILITIES AND THEIR ROLE IN THE DIGITAL BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

The digital economy has advanced from the growing investment in digital technologies by organizations in their digital transformation process. Furthermore, digital technologies are reshaping traditional business strategy for performance gains. However, there is still no in-depth discussion regarding the skills and capabilities that can help organizations improve their performance. Thus, the purpose of our research is to examine the role of digital capabilities in digital business performance. We adopted a qualitative research method to explore digital capabilities. To do so, we conducted interviews with 31 executives that work in digital businesses. The research makes several contributions through the conceptualization of digital capabilities, providing some initial results revealed in the previous conceptual framework, based on the literature review, composed of digital capabilities (sensing, responsiveness, process scanning, and ecosystem connectivity) related to digital business performance, and empirically analyzed by interviews with executives. The practical value of this research rests on the relationship between digital capabilities and the digital business performance. As a result, we present four digital capabilities that enhance operational excellence, revenue growth and relationships with customers and stakeholders.

Hidroituango: How to Reach Adaptive Management to Recover Part of the Ecosystem Connectivity in the Cauca River Basin in Colombia

With the worldwide rapid population increase seen in the past century, the electric energy demand increased also dramatically. In Colombia this led to a boom in the construction of hydroelectric plants in the late 60ies. Today, some accidents while the construction of the biggest plant in the country, Hidroituango, revealed a series of errors made through all those years and opened up a discussion on how to address management focused on the environmental protection of riverine systems in this and similar projects in the Country. Adaptive management has proven to be an effective alternative when giving solutions to this kind of problems. Successful implementation cases have been found in the Colorado and Columbia rivers (In the U.S.A) among others. Similar adaptive management processes can be applied in Colombia. However, there must be considered many local variables as well as political, social, economic and some others interests and complications.

Hidroituango: How to Reach Adaptive Management to Recover Part of the Ecosystem Connectivity in the Cauca River Basin in Colombia

With the worldwide rapid population increase seen in the past century, the electric energy demand increased also dramatically. In Colombia this led to a boom in the construction of hydroelectric plants in the late 60ies. Today, some accidents while the construction of the biggest plant in the country, Hidroituango, revealed a series of errors made through all those years and opened up a discussion on how to address management focused on the environmental protection of riverine systems in this and similar projects in the Country. Adaptive management has proven to be an effective alternative when giving solutions to this kind of problems. Successful implementation cases have been found in the Colorado and Columbia rivers (In the U.S.A) among others. Similar adaptive management processes can be applied in Colombia. However, there must be considered many local variables as well as political, social, economic and some others interests and complications.