Ecovoltaic principles for a more sustainable, ecologically informed solar energy future

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 7(11), С. 1746 - 1749

Опубликована: Авг. 10, 2023

Язык: Английский

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The effect of result‐based agri‐environmental payments on biodiversity: Evidence from Switzerland

American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 28, 2025

Abstract We estimate the effects of result‐based agri‐environmental payments on biodiversity using a unique dataset containing information about plant vegetation. The data include surveyed species for large number randomly selected plots followed over period 20 years in Switzerland. In our estimation, we utilize difference‐in‐discontinuities approach based exogenous variation triggered by (i) policy reform Switzerland that led to considerable increase was uncertain prior implementation and (ii) an administrative threshold defines eligibility payment depending botanical quality. find were almost eligible before but not already satisfied criteria. Our findings have important implications design payments.

Язык: Английский

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Scale-dependent changes in ecosystem temporal stability over six decades of succession

Science Advances, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 9(40)

Опубликована: Окт. 6, 2023

A widely assumed, but largely untested, tenet in ecology is that ecosystem stability tends to increase over succession. We rigorously test this idea using 60-year continuous data of old field succession across 480 plots nested within 10 fields. found temporal increased at the larger scale (γ stability) not local plot (α stability). Increased spatial asynchrony among fields γ stability, while increases species and decreases offset each other, resulting no α scale. Furthermore, we a notable positive diversity-stability relationship scale, with associated increasing functional diversity later Our results emphasize importance assessing time how it relates biodiversity.

Язык: Английский

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Traffic intensity and vegetation management affect flower‐visiting insects and their response to resources in road verges

Journal of Applied Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 61(8), С. 1955 - 1967

Опубликована: Май 26, 2024

Abstract Road verges can support high densities of flowers and could therefore provide new opportunities for the conservation flower‐visiting insects. One way optimizing road vascular plant diversity is to adjust mowing regimes, but date it unclear how this affects Furthermore, mobile organisms like wild bees butterflies, there a risk that benefit increased habitat quality in limited by proximity traffic, poorly studied. In crossed study design, we separated time frequency (early summer autumn, or only late summer) from verge classification (valuable biodiversity according transport authority, regular). We did so along gradient traffic intensity, investigate if regime designed enhance also limits potential verges. were mown had higher flower densities, was positive relationship between density bee abundance species richness. Butterfly richness benefitted valuable not regular Traffic intensity substantial negative impact on butterflies. Higher intensities butterfly observed at lower intensities. Increasing width buffered effects as well abundances, Synthesis applications . play role need consider both resource availability when implementing management strategies. To diversity, recommend actions availability, focus these efforts roads with low wide

Язык: Английский

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The role of seed rain, seed bank, and clonal growth in plant colonization of ancient and restored grasslands

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(6)

Опубликована: Июнь 1, 2024

Abstract Understanding the establishment of plant species is important to inform management restored grasslands and preserve biodiversity in ancient grasslands. In grassland communities, can establish from seeds arriving via spatial dispersal, soil seed bank or through vegetative spread nearby source individuals. However, this colonization potential likelihood vary with different land‐use history. We investigated relative importance local recruitment sources, such as dispersal space time presence adjacent grasslands, determining eight history (paired continuously managed pasture vs. on former forest). At each grassland, we established plots (0.25 m 2 ) monitor seedling emergence bank, recorded clonal growth over two growing periods. found that was highest rain, present pool were more able germinate both type Species contributed a lesser extent establishment, but represented greater proportion recolonization regeneration These results demonstrate surrounding serve for colonizing key process plants. imply recovery depends heavily upon links especially Therefore, plans should incorporate rotational livestock grazing larger networks restoration efforts, which will enable desirable persist

Язык: Английский

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Assembling a late‐successional lichen community by long‐distance dispersal: Lessons for restoration

Journal of Applied Ecology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 15, 2025

Abstract The results of nature restoration efforts have been characterized as notoriously unpredictable. Many variables impact the trajectory species communities towards recovery, and ecological theory that takes traits, habitat configuration scale into account, can improve models. However, most important questions regarding predictability community may be related to stochasticity. We investigated assembly a cyanolichen in chronosequence consisting 88 new forest patches (30–140+ years old) comprising today 0.4% 170 km 2 former treeless heathland area south‐western Norway. Two complete inventories were carried out 12 apart, we (1) tested inferences on colonization status recovery time based first inventory only; (2) lichen by changes richness, density composition at three different spatial scales; (3) discussed how dispersal capacity stochasticity affect general. Colonization sites exceeded extinctions young but not old sites, second inventory, richness weighed occurrences no longer differed significantly between landscape scale. differences depended method measurement. In accordance with only extinction dynamics indicated our study system will take 90–120 scale, whereas was difficult determine due idiosyncratic development among sites. Synthesis applications . Using template for evaluation systems high degree stochastic is problematic, particularly finer scales. Ideally, comparisons reference should therefore large enough cancel major effects Furthermore, suggest numbers needed an indicator success if measurements indicate are en route recovery.

Язык: Английский

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Scale‐Dependent Effects of Plant Diversity Drivers Across Different Grassland Habitats in Ukraine

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 15(2)

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Understanding the factors governing grassland biodiversity across different spatial scales is crucial for effective conservation and management. However, most studies focus on single grain sizes, leaving scale‐dependent mechanisms of drivers unclear. We investigated how climate, soil properties, abiotic disturbance, land use influence plant diversity two fine in various types Ukraine. Using spatially explicit data species presence their cover, collected at smaller (10 m 2 ) larger (100 we assessed β ‐diversity—the variability between scales. analyzed whether effects ecological ‐diversity are mediated by changes evenness, density (total cover), intraspecific aggregation community. In our study, influential local both sizes were climate variables, followed humus content, litter pH. Soil primarily driven response locally rare species, while grazing common species. The strength these varied scales, affecting ‐diversity. properties influenced through total community operated via evenness aggregation. Our findings highlight that responses to factors, depend size sampled area reveal role driving fine‐scale grasslands habitat types.

Язык: Английский

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Systematic nature positive markets

Conservation Biology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 38(3)

Опубликована: Ноя. 8, 2023

Abstract Environmental markets are a rapidly emerging tool to mobilize private funding incentivize landholders undertake more sustainable land management. How units of biodiversity in these measured and subsequently traded creates key challenges ecologically economically because it determines whether environmental can deliver net gains efficiently lower the costs conservation. We developed tested metric for such based on well‐established principle irreplaceability from systematic conservation planning. Irreplaceability as avoids limitations like‐for‐like trading allows one capture multidimensional nature ecosystems (e.g., habitats, species, ecosystem functioning) simultaneously achieve cost‐effective, land‐manager‐led investments Using an integrated ecological modeling approach, we using is beneficial than simpler offset metrics typically used gain no‐net‐loss policies. ensured no loss, or even gain, depending targets chosen. Other did not provide same assurances and, flexibility with which be achieved, how they overlap development pressure, were less efficient. reduced offsetting developers restoration society. Integrating economic data planning approaches would therefore assure managers being fairly rewarded opportunity transparently most efficient recovery.

Язык: Английский

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Core taxa underpin soil microbial community turnover during secondary succession

Environmental Microbiology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 26(1)

Опубликована: Дек. 26, 2023

Abstract Understanding the processes that underpin community assembly of bacteria is a key challenge in microbial ecology. We studied soil bacterial communities across large‐scale successional gradient managed and abandoned grasslands paired with mature forest sites to disentangle drivers turnover assembly. Diversity partitioning phylogenetic null‐modelling showed remain compositionally stable following abandonment secondary succession but they differ markedly from fully afforested sites. Zeta diversity analyses revealed persistence core taxa both reflected differed whole‐scale patterns. Differences pH C:N were main between grassland variability within stages was factor related relative dominance deterministic processes. Our results indicate microbiomes could be resilient major changes forests occur fairly late when trees have established as dominant vegetation. also show may contrasting responses management grasslands.

Язык: Английский

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Unveiling vegetation recovery dynamics in Andean grasslands along a trans-Andean natural gas pipeline

Ecological Indicators, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 170, С. 112884 - 112884

Опубликована: Дек. 28, 2024

Язык: Английский

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