Stability metrics behave predictably across data qualities but are sensitive to community size

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 307, P. 111191 - 111191

Published: April 24, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Forest Biodiversity Declines and Extinctions Linked with Forest Degradation: A Case Study from Australian Tall, Wet Forests

Land, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12(3), P. 528 - 528

Published: Feb. 22, 2023

Tens of thousands species are at risk extinction globally. In many ecosystems, declines associated with deforestation. However, forest degradation also can profoundly affect biodiversity. I present a detailed case study in southeastern Australia’s montane ash (Eucalyptus spp.) forests. The is based on ~40 years long-term monitoring focused (and potential trajectories) arboreal marsupials and birds, particular emphasis key drivers, especially logging, wildfire, habitat loss, climate change, interactions among these drivers. discuss policy failures contributing to declines, including ongoing logging high-conservation-value forests, poor regulation management, inadequate design reserves. conclude general lessons for better conservation management efforts aimed reducing loss ecosystem integrity. contend that already highly degraded forests inconsistent the Australian government’s commitment Glasgow COP26 meeting 2021 halting degradation. Similarly, Government has committed preventing further extinctions Australia, yet its current support through federal–state legislation will likely promote some species. inherent conflicts contradictions between policies need be addressed.

Language: Английский

---

EWSmethods: an R package to forecast tipping points at the community level using early warning signals, resilience measures, and machine learning models

Ecography, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2023(10)

Published: July 10, 2023

Early warning signals (EWSs) represent a potentially universal tool for identifying whether system is approaching tipping point, and have been applied in fields including ecology, epidemiology, economics, physics. This potential universality has led to the development of suite computational approaches aimed at improving reliability these methods. Classic methods based on univariate data long history use, but recent theoretical advances expanded EWSs multivariate datasets, particularly relevant given advancements remote sensing. More recently, novel machine learning developed not made accessible R ( www.r‐project.org ) environment. Here, we present EWSmethods – an package that provides unified syntax interpretation most popular cutting edge applicable both time series. two primary functions systems respectively, with forms calculation available each: classical rolling window series analysis, more robust expanding window. It also interface Python model EWSNet which predicts probability sudden point or smooth transition, first its form users. note details rationale this open‐source delivers introduction functionality assessing resilience. We provided vignettes external website act as further tutorials FAQs.

Language: Английский

---

Non-linearity and temporal variability are overlooked components of global population dynamics

Published: Jan. 22, 2024

Aim. Population dynamics are usually assessed through linear trend analysis, quantifying their general direction. However, trends may hide substantial variations in population that could reconcile apparent discrepancies when the extent of biodiversity crisis. We seek to determine whether use non-linear methods and quantification temporal variability can add value approach by offering a more complete representation global changes. In addition, we how these components distributed among biogeographical regions taxonomic groups. Location.Global.Methods.We analysed 6,437 time series from 1,257 species Living Planet Database over period 1950-2020. modeled populations second order polynomials classified trajectories according direction acceleration. same using common analysis. quantified three metrics, coefficient variation, mean squared error consecutive disparity index. then used chi-squared tests mixed-effects models test potential sources heterogeneity variability.Results.Non-linear were better fit for 44.8 % analyzed series, was higher as linear. Linear missed meaningful information misclassifying recent declines or recovery signals. Marine highly variable, all groups IUCN categories exhibited degree non-linearity variability.Main conclusions.Non-linearity reveal overlooked dramatic signals dynamics. Thus, moving beyond linearity help reduce risk misleading conclusions inform conservation decisions. particular, « stable » informative variable changes integrate advanced assessment.

Language: Английский

---

The importance of locally sourced data in identifying population trends: Insights from Iberian vertebrates

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 298, P. 110755 - 110755

Published: Aug. 19, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Declining pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) population productivity caused by woody encroachment and oil and gas development

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 50, P. e02848 - e02848

Published: Feb. 15, 2024

Conservation is increasingly focused on preventing losses in species' populations before they occur. Tracking changes demographic parameters that can impact a population's resilience response to drivers of global change support early conservation efforts. We assessed trends population productivity (late summer juveniles per 100 females) relative 40 pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) herds across sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) steppe Wyoming. Pronghorn are an iconic rangeland species have been exposed increasing levels anthropogenic, climatic, and land-use change. Using data collected the state Wyoming, we (1) long-term productivity, (2) identified patterns large-scale (i.e., climate, land cover change) habitat, (3) determined relationship between over 35-year (1984-2019) period. While Wyoming hosts some most abundant North America largely stable recent years, found many experiencing declines productivity. Long-term were associated with increases oil gas development woody encroachment. Although almost all herd units, vegetation remains at low levels, suggesting pre-emptive management may help prevent populations.

Language: Английский

---

Survival and behavior of Mojave desert tortoises head‐started with and without outdoor rearing

Journal of Wildlife Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 88(4)

Published: Feb. 20, 2024

Abstract Mojave desert tortoise ( Gopherus agassizii ) populations in some regions have declined by >50% since 2004, prompting the need for more research on ways to recover populations. One possible recovery tool is head‐starting (i.e., act of protecting and raising juvenile tortoises sizes that increase survival upon release); however, can high start‐up maintenance costs limit its feasibility. Strategies reduce cost rearing duration may foster broader effective use. We released radio‐tracked 60 National Preserve California, USA, had been reared under 2 treatments: those 1 year indoors after hatching, then outdoors (combo) just (indoor‐only). tested whether indoor‐only alone could be a efficient means producing robust head‐started tortoises. examined behavior, movement, release into wild from 2020 2021 determine these outcomes differed between husbandry treatments. Combo tended perform settling behaviors (mean ± SE days building first burrow = 6.7 0.8, entering dormancy 23.3 2.1, emerging 189.6 4.4) earlier than (7.4 0.9, 31.5 2.6, 193.9 5.9, respectively), but this difference was not significant, suggesting method did greatly alter behavior. Indoor‐only dispersed at least twice as far their site (156.2 26.3 m compared with 77.3 20.6 combo tortoises), larger mean use areas (3.7 0.1 ha 2.8 0.3 95% Brownian bridge movement model estimates), greater variability movements (daily average step length post‐emergence: 4.3 0.2 tortoises). Despite differences movements, similar rates over study, 51% versus 42%, respectively, during period extreme drought 2021. The similarity groups gives practitioners freedom methods. group lower fidelity, which should considered when an undesirable trait

Language: Английский

---

Conservation priorities for functionally unique and specialized terrestrial vertebrates threatened by biological invasions

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 17, 2024

Abstract Invasive non‐native species (INS) continue to pose a significant threat biodiversity, including native population declines, which can ultimately disrupt ecosystem processes. Although there is growing evidence of the impacts INS on functional diversity, most existing approaches prioritization for conservation still focus taxonomic neglecting ecological role species. We developed functionally unique, specialized, and endangered by invasive (FUSE INS) score fill this gap combining irreplaceability (i.e., uniqueness specialization) with their extinction risk due INS. calculated 3642 terrestrial vertebrates exposed assessing how affected them based IUCN Red List evaluating specialization in multidimensional space. Thirty‐eight percent were both at high because unique making priority impact mitigation. Priority amphibians concentrated Central America Madagascar lizards Caribbean islands, northern Australia, New Zealand, Caledonia. bird mammal more widespread (birds, mostly coastal areas, Pacific India Zealand; mammals, southwestern Europe, Africa, East Southern Southeast Asia, eastern Australia). Seventy‐eight also highly irreplaceable but not yet threatened INS, suggesting that preventive measures may help protect these For 50 birds highest priority, 64% required actions mitigate threat. The FUSE be used prioritize indigenous representing large amounts diversity. Incorporating diversity into associated areas key accurately reducing mitigating biodiversity.

Language: Английский

---

Shortened food chain length in a fished versus unfished coral reef

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(5)

Published: June 5, 2024

Direct exploitation through fishing is driving dramatic declines of wildlife populations in ocean environments, particularly for predatory and large-bodied taxa. Despite wide recognition this pattern well-established consequences such trophic downgrading on ecosystem function, there have been few empirical studies examining the effects whole system architecture. Understanding these kinds structural impacts especially important coral reef ecosystems-often heavily fished facing multiple stressors. Given often high dietary flexibility numerous functional redundancies diverse ecosystems as reefs, it to establish whether web architecture strongly impacted by pressure or might be resilient, at least moderate-intensity pressure. To examine question, we used a combination bulk compound-specific stable isotope analyses measured across range low-trophic-level consumers between two that differed with respect but otherwise remained largely similar. We found even high-diversity relatively modest pressure, were strong reductions position (TP) three highest TP examined no lower-level consumers. saw evidence shortening affected food webs was being driven changes basal resource consumption, example, spatial location foraging Instead, likely reflected internal architecture, suggesting systems human harvest causes significant compressions chain length. This observed may many emergent ecological functioning hunting. Such shifts widespread unnoticed traditional surveys. insight also useful applied managers grappling choices about relative importance protection remote pristine areas value strict no-take protect not just raw constituents hunting health functionality systems.

Language: Английский

---

Mediterranean octocoral populations exposed to marine heatwaves are less resilient to disturbances

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 14, 2024

The effects of climate change are now more pervasive than ever. Marine ecosystems have been particularly impacted by change, with marine heatwaves (MHWs) being a strong driver mass mortality events. Even in the most optimistic greenhouse gas emission scenarios, MHWs will continue to increase frequency, intensity and duration. For this reason, understanding resilience species is crucial predicting their viability under future climatic conditions. In study, we explored consequences on (the ability population resist recover after disturbance) Mediterranean key octocoral species, Paramuricea clavata, further disturbances structure. To quantify P. clavata's capacity from disturbances, used demographic information collected 1999 2022, two different sites NW Sea calculate transient dynamics populations. Our results showed that differences populations exposed those not were driven mostly mean survivorship growth. We also clavata had lower resistance slower rates recovery MHWs. Populations elasticity processes compared unexposed contrast, only process showing some when comparing speed values between was stasis. Finally, scenarios increasing frequency MHWs, extinction accelerate be hampered. Overall, these findings confirm conditions make even vulnerable disturbances. These highlight importance limiting local impacts dampen change.

Language: Английский

---