Beyond the closed-forest paradigm: Cross-scale vegetation structure in temperate Europe before the late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions

Earth history and biodiversity., Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 100022 - 100022

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Can large herbivores enhance ecosystem carbon persistence?

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 37(2), P. 117 - 128

Published: Nov. 17, 2021

Language: Английский

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Transforming forest management through rewilding: Enhancing biodiversity, resilience, and biosphere sustainability under global change

One Earth, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 8(3), P. 101195 - 101195

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Temperate forest plants are associated with heterogeneous semi-open canopy conditions shaped by large herbivores

Nature Plants, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 14, 2025

Language: Английский

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Widespread habitat for Europe's largest herbivores, but poor connectivity limits recolonization

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(3), P. 423 - 437

Published: Jan. 11, 2023

Abstract Aim Several large‐mammal species in Europe have recovered and recolonized parts of their historical ranges. Knowing where suitable habitat exists, thus range expansions are possible, is important for proactively promoting coexistence between people large mammals shared landscapes. We aimed to assess the opportunities limitations Europe's two largest herbivores, European bison ( Bison bonasus ) moose Alces alces ). Location Central Europe. Methods used occurrence datasets from multiple populations distribution models map environmentally habitats across Europe, human pressure inside potential habitat. then circuit theory modeling identify recolonization corridors. Results found widespread both (>120,000 km 2 (>244,000 ), suggesting substantial expansions. However, much was associated with high (37% 43% moose, respectively), particularly west identified a strong east–west gradient decreasing connectivity, major barriers likely limiting natural many areas. Main conclusions restoring herbivores functional roles we also highlight considerable challenges conservation planning wildlife management, including areas leads human–wildlife conflict movement prevent expansion. Conservation measures broad‐scale connectivity needed order allow recolonize Finally, our analyses maps indicate but isolated patches that unlikely be colonized candidate locations reintroductions establish reservoir populations. More generally, work emphasizes transboundary cooperation ecological roles, foster

Language: Английский

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Climate warming has compounded plant responses to habitat conversion in northern Europe

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Dec. 19, 2022

Abstract Serious concerns exist about potentially reinforcing negative effects of climate change and land conversion on biodiversity. Here, we investigate the tandem interacting roles warming land-use as predictors shifts in regional distributions 1701 plant species Sweden over 60 years. We show that associated with warmer climates have increased, while grassland specialists declined. Our results also support hypothesis vegetation densification through grazing abandonment synergistic distribution change. Local extinctions were related to high levels but reduced by retention. In contrast, colonisations occurred more often areas experiencing both Strong temperature increases experienced across their ranges, indicating time lags expected warming-related local extinctions. highlight conservation threatened relies greenhouse gas emissions retention restoration valuable habitat.

Language: Английский

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Latest Trends in Modelling Forest Ecosystems: New Approaches or Just New Methods?

Current Forestry Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(4), P. 219 - 229

Published: June 15, 2023

Abstract Purpose of Review Forest models are becoming essential tools in forest research, management, and policymaking but currently under deep transformation. In this review the most recent literature (2018–2022), we aim to provide an updated general view main topics attracting efforts modelers, trends already place, some current future challenges that field will face. Recent Findings Four major on modelling efforts: data acquisition, productivity estimation, ecological pattern predictions, management related ecosystem services. Although may seem different, they all converging towards integrated approaches by pressure climate change as coalescent force, pushing research into mechanistic, cross-scale simulations functioning structure. Summary We conclude is experiencing exciting challenging time, due combination new methods easily acquire massive amounts data, techniques statistically process such refinements mechanistic incorporating higher levels complexity breaking traditional barriers spatial temporal scales. However, available also creating challenges. any case, increasingly acknowledged a community interdisciplinary effort. As such, ways deliver simplified versions or easy entry points should be encouraged integrate non-modelers stakeholders since its inception. This considered particularly academic modelers increasing mathematical models.

Language: Английский

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Divergent roles of herbivory in eutrophying forests

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Dec. 22, 2022

Abstract Ungulate populations are increasing across Europe with important implications for forest plant communities. Concurrently, atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition continues to eutrophicate forests, threatening many rare, often more nutrient-efficient, species. These pressures may critically interact shape biodiversity as in grassland and tundra systems, yet any potential interactions forests remain poorly understood. Here, we combined vegetation resurveys from 52 sites 13 European countries test how changes ungulate herbivory eutrophication drive long-term understorey Increases were associated elevated temporal species turnover, however, identities of winner loser depended on N levels. Under low levels N-deposition, favored threatened small-ranged while reducing the proportion non-native nutrient-demanding Yet all these trends reversed under high N-deposition. Herbivores also reduced shrub cover, likely exacerbating effects by light understorey. Eutrophication therefore determine whether acts a catalyst “N time bomb” or conservation tool temperate forests.

Language: Английский

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Contrasting seasonal patterns in diet and dung‐associated invertebrates of feral cattle and horses in a rewilding area

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(8), P. 2071 - 2091

Published: Feb. 6, 2023

Abstract Trophic rewilding is increasingly applied in restoration efforts, with the aim of reintroducing ecological functions provided by large‐bodied mammals and thereby promote self‐regulating, biodiverse ecosystems. However, empirical evidence for effects megafauna introductions on abundance richness other organisms such as plants invertebrates, mechanisms involved still need strengthening. In this study, we use environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding dung from co‐existing feral cattle horses to assess seasonal variation plant diet dung‐associated arthropods nematodes. We found consistently high horses, low variability, while generally lower dietary diversity increased substantially during summer. Intriguingly, season‐specific diets differed, a greater proportion trees horses' winter, where relied more shrubs. Graminoids were predominantly but underrepresented compared previous studies, possibly due prevalence forbs study area. Dung‐associated arthropod was higher cattle, largely flies Several species primarily one two herbivores, our data confirmed known patterns activity. Nematode constantly nematode communities markedly different between species. Our results demonstrate complementary through differences invertebrate communities, enhancing understanding large herbivore vegetation associated biodiversity. These are directly applicable decision‐making projects, suggesting biodiversity‐benefits inclusion functionally herbivores.

Language: Английский

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Tree cover and its heterogeneity in natural ecosystems is linked to large herbivore biomass globally

One Earth, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6(12), P. 1759 - 1770

Published: Nov. 1, 2023

Addressing intertwined crises of climate change and biodiversity loss is a pressing global challenge, with trees playing pivotal roles in promoting carbon sequestration habitat diversity. However, there distinct knowledge gap concerning the drivers shaping tree cover its heterogeneity, particularly relative importance large herbivores fire compared to climatic topo-edaphic conditions. Here, we deploy satellite observations strictly protected areas worldwide reveal that regions where vegetation may be disequilibrium climate, high biomass herbivores, especially browsers, inversely related but positively associated spatial heterogeneity. Conversely, reduces both These results suggest top-down megafauna effects on landscape-scale openness heterogeneity manifest worldwide. Our finding supports need consider megafauna, ecosystem mitigation conservation restoration efforts through trophic rewilding.

Language: Английский

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