Crop Diversification for Ensuring Sustainable Agriculture, Risk Management and Food Security

Global Challenges, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 9(2)

Опубликована: Янв. 12, 2025

Agriculture faces growing challenges from climate change, pest pressures, and market instability. Crop diversification offers a sustainable strategy to enhance resilience reduce the risks of monoculture. This review examines crop as response these challenges, with focus on its applications in agriculture, risk management, food security. Strategies such spatial, temporal, genetic, intercropping soil health, improve boost variability. The highlights key principles, including ecological resilience, distribution, resource optimization. By adopting diverse crops, farmers can mitigate degradation, outbreaks, stabilize incomes. Successful case studies various regions, integrated rice-fish farming agroforestry, demonstrate how productivity sustainability. However, remain, knowledge gaps, access issues, policy limitations. concludes recommendations for future research interventions, stressing need tailored strategies, better support systems, further exploration innovative practices. overview underscores potential build resilient, agricultural systems while addressing global security concerns.

Язык: Английский

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Extent, intensity and drivers of mammal defaunation: a continental-scale analysis across the Neotropics

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 10(1)

Опубликована: Сен. 15, 2020

Neotropical mammal diversity is currently threatened by several chronic human-induced pressures. We compiled 1,029 contemporary assemblages surveyed across the Neotropics to quantify continental-scale extent and intensity of defaunation understand their determinants based on environmental covariates. calculated a local index for all assemblages-adjusted false-absence ratio-which was examined using structural equation models. propose hunting socioenvironmental co-variables that either intensify or inhibit hunting, which we used as an additional predictor defaunation. Mammal average erased 56.5% source fauna, with ungulates comprising most ubiquitous losses. The widespread, but more incipient in hitherto relatively intact major biomes are rapidly succumbing encroaching deforestation frontiers. Assemblage-wide body mass distribution greatly reduced from historical 95th-percentile ~ 14 kg only 4 modern assemblages. Defaunation depletion large-bodied species were primarily driven pressure remaining habitat area. Our findings can inform guidelines design transnational conservation policies safeguard native vertebrates, ensure "empty ecosystem" syndrome will be deterred reaching much New World tropics.

Язык: Английский

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How dryland mammals will respond to climate change: the effects of body size, heat load and a lack of food and water

Journal of Experimental Biology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 224(Suppl_1)

Опубликована: Фев. 15, 2021

Mammals in drylands are facing not only increasing heat loads but also reduced water and food availability as a result of climate change. Insufficient results suppression evaporative cooling therefore increases body core temperature on hot days, while lack reduces the capacity to maintain cold nights. Both shortage will narrow prescriptive zone, ambient range over which is held relatively constant, lead increased risk physiological malfunction death. Behavioural modifications, such shifting activity between night day or seeking thermally buffered microclimates, may allow individuals remain within can incur costs, foraging competition predation, with consequences for fitness. Body size play major role predicting response patterns, identifying all factors that contribute how well dryland mammals cope requires better understanding sensitivities responses exposed direct indirect effects

Язык: Английский

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The Critical Importance of Old World Fruit Bats for Healthy Ecosystems and Economies

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 9

Опубликована: Апрель 6, 2021

Despite extensive documentation of the ecological and economic importance Old World fruit bats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) many threats they face from humans, negative attitudes towards pteropodids have persisted, fuelled by perceptions as being pests undesirable neighbours. Such long-term negativity is now further exacerbated more recent disease-related concerns, particularly associated with current COVID-19 pandemic. There remains an urgent need to investigate highlight positive beneficial aspects across World. While previous reviews summarised these extensively, numerous new studies conducted over last 36 years provided valuable data insights which warrant updated review. Here we synthesise research on pteropodid-plant interactions, comprising diet, roles, ecosystem services, during 1985-2020. We uncovered a total 311 covering 75 out known 201 pteropodid species (37%), in 47 countries. The majority documented diet (52% all studies; 67 species), followed foraging movement (49%; 50 fewer directly investigating roles played seed dispersal (24%; 41 pollination (14%; 19 conflict growers (12%; 11 species). Pteropodids were recorded feeding 1072 plant 493 genera 148 families, fruits parts consumed, flowers/nectar/pollen, leaves, other miscellaneous parts. Sixteen been confirmed act pollinators for 21 species, 29 dispersers species. Anthropogenic disrupting bat-plant interactions include hunting, direct persecution, habitat loss/disturbance, invasive climate change, leading ecosystem-level repercussions. identify notable gaps important priorities support conservation action pteropodids.

Язык: Английский

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Arboviruses in Mammals in the Neotropics: A Systematic Review to Strengthen Epidemiological Monitoring Strategies and Conservation Medicine

Viruses, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 15(2), С. 417 - 417

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2023

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are a diverse group of ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses, with the exception African swine fever virus, that transmitted by hematophagous arthropods to vertebrate host. They important cause many diseases due their ability spread in different environments and diversity vectors. Currently, there is no information on geographical distribution because routes transmission mammals (wild or domestic) act as potential hosts poorly documented unknown. We conducted systematic review from 1967 2021 identify arboviruses, areas, taxonomic groups have been monitored, prevalence positive records, associated risk factors. identified forty-three arboviruses nine mammalian orders distributed eleven countries. In Brazil, order primates harbor highest number arbovirus records. The three most recorded were Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Saint Louis encephalitis West Nile virus. Serum used sample obtain Deforestation main factor for between species (an odds ratio 1.46 95% confidence interval: 1.34–1.59). results show an increase sampling effort over years neotropical region. Despite importance public health, little known about interaction hosts, vectors, some countries not yet monitored. Long-term constant monitoring allows focusing research analysis interrelationships characteristics each component animal, human, environment understand dynamics guide epidemiological surveillance vector control programs. biodiversity Neotropics should be considered support strategies.

Язык: Английский

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Co‐declining mammal–dung beetle faunas throughout the Atlantic Forest biome of South America

Ecography, Год журнала: 2019, Номер 42(11), С. 1803 - 1818

Опубликована: Июль 25, 2019

The millennial–scale evolutionary relationships between mammals and dung beetles have been eroded due to several drivers of contemporary biodiversity loss. Although some evidence co‐decline has shown for at Neotropical sites, a biome‐scale analysis the entire Atlantic Forest South America would strengthen our understanding how relictual sets mammal species can affect beetle co‐occurrences co‐declines. We therefore collated hundreds assemblages both medium‐ large‐bodied throughout world's longest tropical forest latitudinal gradient examine what extent may exert positive influence on composition functional assembly, whether this relationship is scale dependent. also climatic other environmental variables degree which they shape mammal–dung relationships. local faunas were examined using regression models, variation partitioning, dissimilarity indices ecological networks. found clear richness across biome, indicating an ongoing process niche‐mediated co‐decline. strong taxa, in apparently track changes mammalian dissimilarity, typically 80% all cases. Co‐variables such as phytomass influenced patterns along Forest. conclude that diversity community assembly are shaped by remaining co‐occurring their traits, groups governed features. emphasize ecosystem‐wide effects population declines remain poorly understood quantitatively qualitatively, curbing large vertebrate defaunation will ensure persistence co‐dependent species.

Язык: Английский

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Marked decline in forest-dependent small mammals following habitat loss and fragmentation in an Amazonian deforestation frontier

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 15(3), С. e0230209 - e0230209

Опубликована: Март 11, 2020

Agricultural frontier expansion into the Amazon over last four decades has created million hectares of fragmented forests. While many species undergo local extinctions within remaining forest patches, this may be compensated by native from neighbouring open-habitat areas potentially invading these particularly as habitats become increasingly degraded. Here, we examine effects habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation on small mammal assemblages in a southern Amazonian deforestation frontier, while accounting for species-specific degree forest-dependency. We surveyed mammals at three continuous sites 19 patches different sizes degrees isolation. further sampled matrix adjacent to which allowed us classify each according forest-dependency generate community-averaged index site. Based 21,568 trap-nights, recorded 970 representing 20 species: 12 forest-dependents, 5 matrix-tolerants 3 specialists. Across gradient patch size, failed show typical species-area relationship, but relationship held true when either abundance or composition was considered. Species mediated forest-dependency, so that smaller were occupied lower proportion forest-dependent rodents marsupials. Both richness increased less isolated fragments surrounded structurally simplified (e.g. active abandoned cattle pastures). shorter distances between favour abundances, area complexity dictated could persist their Small frontiers are therefore likely offset incursion species. To preclude dominance those species, consequent losses associated ecosystem functions, management actions should limit reduce dedicated pasture, additionally maintaining more complex across landscapes.

Язык: Английский

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Assessing mammal species richness and occupancy in a Northeast Asian temperate forest shared by cattle

Diversity and Distributions, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 27(5), С. 857 - 872

Опубликована: Янв. 31, 2021

Abstract Aim Asian forests are becoming increasingly degraded and fragmented by the extensive intensification of anthropogenic activities; these activities threaten wildlife ecosystem sustainability. Facing a defaunation crisis, managers need more information on species assemblages to guide conservation efforts. We tested relative influence natural factors mammalian richness occupancy in temperate Northeast Asia. Location China. Methods Camera‐trapping data multispecies models were used estimate terrestrial mammal community working landscape assess community‐, group‐, species‐specific responses features while accounting for imperfect detection. Species grouped based body size, diet activity pattern. Results deployed 138 cameras photographed 21 over 22,976 trap days across China–Russia border. Both correlates varied their importance predicting presence different animals. Vegetation cover cattle found have significantly positive negative influences community‐level occupancy, respectively. The relationship with vegetation was most evident large or diurnal species; wild ungulate species. Large also negatively associated human settlements. predicted each station from 5 14 unique species, had mean probability 0.45 (95% credible interval = 0.09–0.86). generally lowest livestock grazing areas close Human is important than environmental variables. Main conclusions Our results highlight that primary disturbance impact richness. Multispecies helped identify drivers biodiversity declines will inform strategies human‐dominated landscapes forests. suggest planning seeks maximize forest protection services such as carbon storage.

Язык: Английский

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Effects of mammal defaunation on natural ecosystem services and human well being throughout the entire Neotropical realm

Ecosystem Services, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 45, С. 101173 - 101173

Опубликована: Авг. 20, 2020

Язык: Английский

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Warfare-induced mammal population declines in Southwestern Africa are mediated by species life history, habitat type and hunter preferences

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 10(1)

Опубликована: Сен. 17, 2020

Abstract Civil wars often coincide with global biodiversity hotspots and have plagued the everyday reality of many countries throughout human history. However, how do civil affect wildlife populations? Are these impacts same in savannah forest environments? How persistent are post-war consequences on populations within outside conflict zones? Long-term monitoring programs war zones, which could answer questions, virtually nonexistent, not least due to risks researchers exposed to. In this context, only a few methodologies can provide data wild during conflicts. We used local ecological knowledge assess main prolonged (1975–2002) Southwestern Africa mammals. The abundance 20 26 (77%) mammal species considered study was lower open compared closed-canopy environments, some experiencing decline up 80% their pre-war baseline abundance. Large-bodied mammals were preferred targets had been overhunted, but as became increasingly depleted, size structure prey gradually shifted towards smaller-bodied species. Finally, we present general flow diagram low-governance both positive negative native at different scales space time.

Язык: Английский

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