Collecting eco‐evolutionary data in the dark: Impediments to subterranean research and how to overcome them

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 11(11), С. 5911 - 5926

Опубликована: Май 1, 2021

Caves and other subterranean habitats fulfill the requirements of experimental model systems to address general questions in ecology evolution. Yet, harsh working conditions these environments uniqueness organisms have challenged most attempts pursuit standardized research.Two main obstacles synergistically hampered previous attempts. First, there is a

Язык: Английский

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Towards evidence‐based conservation of subterranean ecosystems

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 97(4), С. 1476 - 1510

Опубликована: Март 21, 2022

ABSTRACT Subterranean ecosystems are among the most widespread environments on Earth, yet we still have poor knowledge of their biodiversity. To raise awareness subterranean ecosystems, essential services they provide, and unique conservation challenges, 2021 2022 were designated International Years Caves Karst. As these traditionally been overlooked in global agendas multilateral agreements, a quantitative assessment solution‐based approaches to safeguard biota associated habitats is timely. This allows researchers practitioners understand progress made research needs ecology management. We conducted systematic review peer‐reviewed grey literature focused globally (terrestrial, freshwater, saltwater systems), quantify available evidence‐base for effectiveness interventions. selected 708 publications from years 1964 that discussed, recommended, or implemented 1,954 interventions ecosystems. noted steep increase number studies 2000s while, surprisingly, proportion quantifying impact has steadily significantly decreased recent years. The 31% tested statistically. further highlight 64% reported occurred Palearctic Nearctic biogeographic regions. Assessments heavily biased towards indirect measures (monitoring risk assessment), limited sample organisms (mostly arthropods bats), more accessible systems (terrestrial caves). Our results indicate science field biology does not apply rigorous approach, resulting sparse evidence raises important question how make efforts feasible implement, cost‐effective, long‐lasting. Although there no single remedy, propose suite potential solutions focus our better increasing statistical testing stress importance standardising study reporting facilitate meta‐analytical exercises. also provide database summarising literature, which will help build about likely yield greatest impacts depending upon species interest. view this as starting point shift away tendency recommending based anecdotal expert‐based information rather than scientific evidence, without quantitatively effectiveness.

Язык: Английский

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eDNA in subterranean ecosystems: Applications, technical aspects, and future prospects

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 820, С. 153223 - 153223

Опубликована: Янв. 19, 2022

Monitoring of biota is pivotal for the assessment and conservation ecosystems. Environments worldwide are being continuously increasingly exposed to multiple adverse impacts, accuracy reliability biomonitoring tools that can be employed shape not only present, but more importantly, future entire habitats. The analysis environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding data provides a quick, affordable, reliable molecular approach biodiversity assessments. However, while extensively in aquatic terrestrial surface environments, eDNA-based studies targeting subterranean ecosystems still uncommon due lack accessibility cryptic nature these environments their species. Recent advances genetic genomic analyses have established promising framework shedding new light on ecology. To address current knowledge use eDNA methods groundwaters caves, this review explores conceptual technical aspects application its potential systems. We briefly introduce describe most used traditional sampling techniques. Next, characteristics, application, limitations subsurface environment outlined. Last, we provide suggestions how overcome caveats delineate some research avenues will likely field near future. advocate analyses, when carefully conducted ideally combined with conventional techniques, substantially increase understanding enable crucial expansion community characterisation. Given importance groundwater cave humans, bring essential insights, such as study ecosystem assemblages rare species detection, which critical preservation life below, well above, ground.

Язык: Английский

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A Global Perspective on Sustainable Show Cave Tourism

Geoheritage, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 14(3)

Опубликована: Июнь 28, 2022

Abstract Caves are among the most visited geological features in world, attracting over 70 million people every year more than 1,200 caves worldwide, and amounting up to 800 Euros entrance fees alone. The global business of show employs roughly 25,000 directly (management, guides), at least 100 times if we consider connected tourist activities (souvenir shops, local transport, travel agencies, restaurants, bars). It is estimated that whole cave has a commercial value 2 billion Euros, number increasing constantly. Show generally fragile ecosystems, care should be taken their management safeguard for future generations. international scientific (speleological) community issued guidelines sustainable development eight years ago, but application still far from being applied globally, especially developing developed countries. Cave tourism expected increase, countries where abundant not yet considered as attractions, economic political instability slow down tourism. There lot possibilities opening new caves, with low Gross Domestic Income (GDI), needs sustainable, so become means sustaining economies, educating on these geo- protecting contemporarily cultural heritage

Язык: Английский

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Aliens in caves: the global dimension of biological invasions in subterranean ecosystems

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 98(3), С. 849 - 867

Опубликована: Янв. 20, 2023

Alien species are a significant threat to natural ecosystems and human economies. Despite global efforts address this challenge, the documented number of alien is rapidly increasing worldwide. However, magnitude impact may vary significantly across habitats. For example, some habitats naturally less prone biological invasions due stringent abiotic biotic characteristics, selecting for limited introduced possessing traits closely related native organisms. Subterranean quintessential examples with strong environmental filters (e.g. lack light scarcity food), driving convergent adaptations in that have successfully adapted life darkness. these constraints, records subterranean has increased recent decades, but relevant literature remains largely fragmented mostly anecdotal. Therefore, even though caves generally considered very fragile ecosystems, their susceptibility impacts by untested other than specific cases. We provide first systematic survey synthesise available knowledge on globally. This review supported database summarising literature, aiming identify gaps distribution spread invertebrate habitats, laying foundations future management practices interventions. First, we quantitatively assessed current shed broader questions about taxonomic biases, geographical patterns, modes dispersal, pathways introductions potential impacts. Secondly, collected species-specific each recorded tested whether act as ecological establishment, favouring organisms pre-adaptive suitable life. found information presence 246 belonging 18 different classes. The dominant were invertebrates, especially insects arachnids. Most reported terrestrial from all continents except Antarctica. Palaearctic Nearctic biogeographic regions represented main source species. routes into recipient country linked commercial activities (84.3% cases which there was available). Negative been small case studies (22.7%), competition (6.1%), strategies effectiveness interventions rarely quantified. Accordingly, costs limited. Approximately half our can be established According results, grants access filter posed environments, facilitating establishment new habitat. recommend deepen understanding invasiveness raising public scientific community awareness preserving ecosystems.

Язык: Английский

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A new troglobitic species of the genus Troglocoelotes Zhao & S. Li, 2019 (Araneae, Agelenidae, Coelotinae) from Guizhou, China

Biodiversity Data Journal, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 11

Опубликована: Июль 14, 2023

Troglocoelotes Zhao & S. Li, 2019 is the only known genus of Coelotinae which all species have deep morphological adaptations to subterranean environment, such as depigmentation body, degenerated or absent eyes and, frequently, with attenuated bodies and/or appendages. Four been reported from Guizhou Province, China. A new funnel-web spider described and illustrated on basis a single female specimen Tongren City, Guizhou: sinanensis sp. nov. Additionally, photos collection site distribution map are also provided.

Язык: Английский

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Fundamental questions in meiofauna research highlight how small but ubiquitous animals can improve our understanding of Nature

Communications Biology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 8(1)

Опубликована: Март 17, 2025

This paper identifies the top-50 priority questions for meiofaunal research, highlighting their critical roles in biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity. It calls a balanced research agenda, international cooperation, advances technology to overcome current challenges unlock meiofauna's full potential.

Язык: Английский

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A conservation roadmap for the subterranean biome

Conservation Letters, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 14(5)

Опубликована: Авг. 13, 2021

Abstract The 15th UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (COP15) will be held in Kunming, China October 2021. Historically, CBDs and other multilateral treaties have either alluded to or entirely overlooked the subterranean biome. A effort robustly examine, monitor, incorporate biome into future conservation targets enable CBD further improve ecological effectiveness of protected areas by including groundwater resources, ecosystem services, profoundly endemic subsurface biodiversity. To this end, we proffer a roadmap that embodies five conceptual areas: (1) science gaps data management needs; (2) anthropogenic stressors; (3) socioeconomic analysis conflict resolution; (4) environmental education; (5) national policies agreements.

Язык: Английский

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Specialized terminology reduces the number of citations of scientific papers

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 288(1948)

Опубликована: Апрель 7, 2021

Words are the building blocks of communicating science. As our understanding world progresses, scientific disciplines naturally enrich their specialized vocabulary (jargon). However, in era interdisciplinarity, use jargon may hinder effective communication among scientists that do not share a common background. The question how limits transmission knowledge has long been debated but rarely addressed quantitatively. We explored relationship between and citations, using 21 486 articles focusing on cave research, multidisciplinary field particularly prone to terminological specialization, where linguistic disagreement peers is frequent. demonstrate significant negative proportion words title abstract number citations paper receives. Given these elements hook readers, we urge restrict sections its unavoidable.

Язык: Английский

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Groundwater ecology and evolution: an introduction

Elsevier eBooks, Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown, С. xvii - xxix

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2023

Язык: Английский

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