Warning on nine pollutants and their effects on avian communities

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 32, P. e01898 - e01898

Published: Oct. 29, 2021

Anthropogenic pollution is increasingly pervasive throughout all ecosystems worldwide. In recent years, negative consequences on many taxa, such as birds, have been observed. We reviewed the impacts of some most common anthropogenic pollutants including light, noise, polluted air, heavy metals, radioactive compounds, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, oil, and plastic pollution. conducted a bibliometric analysis scientific publications between 2000 2020. found 1872 for nine categories pollutants. described wide range impacts, from direct mortality to sublethal effects, fitness reduction. Interactions these exist, they can exceed effects by themselves. Despite this, interactions are still understudied require more targeted research efforts. Threats avian species anthropic increasing over time, making mitigation measures high priority preservation species. This review be used baseline conservationists decision-makers understand various scopes threats that bird facing.

Language: Английский

---

Are street trees friendly to biodiversity?

Landscape and Urban Planning, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 218, P. 104304 - 104304

Published: Nov. 8, 2021

Language: Английский

---

Drivers of arthropod biodiversity in an urban ecosystem

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Jan. 3, 2024

Our world is becoming increasingly urbanized with a growing human population concentrated around cities. The expansion of urban areas has important consequences for biodiversity, yet the abiotic drivers biodiversity in ecosystems have not been well characterized most diverse group animals on planet, arthropods. Given their great diversity, comparatively small home ranges, and ability to disperse, arthropods make an excellent model studying which factors can accurately predict biodiversity. We assessed effects (i) topography (distance natural ocean) (ii) (mean annual temperature diurnal range), (iii) anthropogenic (land value amount impervious surface) occurrence six arthropod groups represented Malaise trap collections run by BioSCAN project across Greater Los Angeles Area. found striking heterogeneity responses all both within between taxonomic groups. Diurnal range had consistently negative effect occupancy but this was only significant Phoridae. Anthropogenic mixed though mostly insignificant effects, as some species were highly areas, while other showed suppressed diversity. Only Phoridae significantly affected land value, where more likely occur lower value. support high regional spatial community composition dependent group.

Language: Английский

---

Promoting urban ecological resilience through the lens of avian biodiversity

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: March 14, 2024

The significance of urban landscapes in safeguarding biodiversity is often disregarded, even though a considerable amount conservation focus directed toward hotspots where land conversion happening at the fastest pace. Maintaining areas not only benefits environment, but along with social, economic, and technological factors can increase stability systems to disturbance, concept known as “urban resilience”. In this synthesis paper, we explore ecological dimension resilience specifically on avian because birds are easy observe, relatively abundant, serve an indicator overall health environments. We first examine discuss role environmental stressors associated urbanization ongoing crisis. then provide overview characteristics environment that may promote birds, associations between social economic resilience. Finally, recommendations future research regarding strategies improve thus, whole, intersections ecology, ecosystem justice, planning. Since 68% world’s population projected live by 2050, it imperative scientists, planners, civil engineers, architects, others consider both cities natural anthropogenic stressors.

Language: Английский

---

Tree-cover dynamics in a rapidly urbanising tropical mega-city – are trees of greater biodiversity and ecosystem service value less likely to be lost?

Urban forestry & urban greening, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 128669 - 128669

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Biodiversity Change in Cultural Landscapes—The Rural Hotspot Hypothesis

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT A dramatic decrease of biodiversity is currently questioning human‐environment interactions that have shaped ecosystems over thousands years. In old cultural landscapes Central and East European (CEE) countries, a vast species decline has been reported for various taxa although intensive land cultivation reduced in favor agroecological transformation, nature conservation sustainable management the past 30 Thus, recent history, agricultural intensification cannot solely be discussed as major driver controlling biodiversity. landscapes, we state drivers pressures mainly emerge from backyards rural settlements act interconnected hotspots therefore form an ecological metapopulation which small‐scale backyard habitats are capable preserving exchanging pools historical landscape. We further argue shifting sociocultural norms significantly affecting survival source populations drastically limit their dispersal pathways, triggers degradation times. Pressures shift, landscape decoupling, structural homogenization, use technology agrochemicals identified negatively preservation, particularly surrounding Spatiotemporal dimensions involving material fluxes, exchange retention, alternation site conditions, local genetic adaptation delineated different features, including building structures, gardens, lawns, paved grounds. Finally, propose future research agenda to quantify effects trends followed patterns altered dynamics. give example on satellite time series remotely map reveal significant spatiotemporal induced by human behavior may lead new socioecological perception stimulate actions shape dynamics emerging settlements.

Language: Английский

---

Radio‐tracking urban breeding birds: The importance of native vegetation

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 35(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract As urban areas continue to expand globally, a deeper understanding of the functioning green spaces is crucial for maintaining habitats that effectively support wildlife within our cities. Cities typically harbor wide variety nonnative vegetation, providing limited insect populations. The resulting scarcity arthropods has been increasingly linked adverse effects at higher trophic levels, such as reduced reproductive success insectivorous birds in environments. However, responses by which breeding cope with challenges food limitation remain largely unexplored. To address this knowledge gap, Central European city, we employed radiotelemetry tracking and real‐time observations on urban‐breeding female great tits' habitat use, combined detailed plant surveys video recordings nestlings' diet. This integrated approach enabled us establish direct links between foraging behavior, vegetation preferences, nestling We found besides tree canopies, tits also frequently foraged ground availability bird feeders notably affected birds' use. Foraging generally avoided plants, particularly broadleaved species. When searching food, were most time‐efficient conifers, albeit these trees provided low amounts caterpillars (a preferred prey type). Great more likely forage deliver from large native less collected fewer items abundant Our results underscore importance several factors may help improve quality birds, preserving increasing diverse being key elements endeavor.

Language: Английский

---

Local‐ and landscape‐scale variables shape insect diversity in an urban biodiversity hot spot

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 30(4)

Published: Feb. 4, 2020

Abstract Local community structure is shaped by processes acting at local and landscape scales. The relative importance of drivers operating across different spatial scales difficult to test without observations regional or latitudinal gradients. Cities exhibit strong but predictable environmental gradients overlaying a mosaic highly variable repeated habitat types within constrained area. Thus, cities present unique opportunity explore how both factors influence biotic communities. We used insect communities examine the interactions among variables (such as temperature humidity), characteristics plant composition), broad‐scale patterns urbanization (including biophysical, human‐built, socioeconomic variables) on abundance, species richness, composition in Los Angeles, hot, dry, near‐desert city. After accounting for seasonal trends, richness abundance were highest drier hotter sites, magnitude effects varied with degree urbanization. In contrast, was best predicted more native occurring less urbanized sites cosmopolitan insects sites. However, >30% higher similar that hosted either drought‐tolerant plants, regardless These results demonstrate urban biodiversity product interacting mechanisms working local‐scale changes habitats, such cultivating plants are adapted natural environment nearest city, can positively impact location.

Language: Английский

---

Flower power in the city: Replacing roadside shrubs by wildflower meadows increases insect numbers and reduces maintenance costs

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 15(6), P. e0234327 - e0234327

Published: June 9, 2020

Massive declines in insect biodiversity and biomass are reported from many regions habitats. In urban areas, creation of native wildflower meadows is one option to support insects reduce maintenance costs green spaces. However, benefits for conservation may depend on previous land use, the size location new meadows. We show effects conversion roadside plantings-from exotic shrubs into meadows-on (1) abundance 13 arthropod taxa-Opiliones, Araneae, Isopoda, Collembola, Orthoptera, Aphidoidea, Auchenorrhyncha, Heteroptera, Coleoptera, Nematocera, Brachycera, Apocrita, Formicidae-and (2) changes costs. assessed influence vegetation type (meadow vs. woody), meadow age, size, (distance city boundary), mowing regime. found many, but not all, taxa profiting terms activity pitfall traps density standardized suction samples. Arthropod number was 212% higher 260% samples compared woody vegetation. The increased independent isolation spaces most taxa. regime strongly affected several taxa, with an increase 63% total unmown mown spots. Costs space were fivefold lower than Our study shows that different occur replacement by can significantly abundance, especially if management permits temporarily (3) be considerably reduced converting plantings Considering groups arthropods, our provides insights possible measures arthropods environments.

Language: Английский

---

Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: Nov. 13, 2020

Abstract Functional food webs are essential for the successful conservation of ecological communities, and in terrestrial systems, built on a foundation coevolved interactions between plants their consumers. Here, we collate published data host plant ranges associated plant-Lepidoptera from across contiguous United States demonstrate that among ecosystems, distributions plant-herbivore consistently skewed, with small percentage genera supporting majority Lepidoptera. Plant identities critical retaining interaction diversity similar independent geography. Given importance Lepidoptera to ecosystem function, efficient effective restoration degraded landscapes depends inclusion such ‘keystone’ plants.

Language: Английский

---