Herbivory limits success of vegetation restoration globally

Science, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 382(6670), С. 589 - 594

Опубликована: Ноя. 2, 2023

Restoring vegetation in degraded ecosystems is an increasingly common practice for promoting biodiversity and ecological function, but successful implementation hampered by incomplete understanding of the processes that limit restoration success. By synthesizing terrestrial aquatic studies globally (2594 experimental tests from 610 articles), we reveal substantial herbivore control under restoration. Herbivores at sites reduced abundance more strongly (by 89%, on average) than those relatively undegraded suppressed, rather fostered, plant diversity. These effects were particularly pronounced regions with higher temperatures lower precipitation. Excluding targeted herbivores temporarily or introducing their predators improved magnitudes similar to greater achieved managing competition facilitation. Thus, herbivory a promising strategy enhancing efforts.

Язык: Английский

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Integrating functional traits into trophic rewilding science

Journal of Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 112(5), С. 936 - 953

Опубликована: Апрель 6, 2024

Abstract Trophic rewilding is gaining rapid momentum as a means of restoration across the world. Advances in research are elucidating wide‐ranging effects trophic and megafauna re‐establishment on ecosystem properties processes including resilience, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, productivity plant richness. A substantial gap remains how affects frequency expression functional traits, key hypothesised avenue by which can affect biodiversity processes. Yet, there extensive literature examining mammal herbivory exclusion traits from we may infer potential reintroductions. Here, synthesise to show multifaceted ways that composition responds mammalian explore these responses modulated density identity herbivores well resource availability, historical contingency. We further interactions quantitative analysis European species. In addition, link broad patterns between invasions predict be able reduce invasive dominance, ecosystems around world transitioning towards novel states, occupied mix native introduced Expanding current herbivore (and their implications for rewilding) beyond species richness measurable help assess quantify were not previously possible. Trait approaches test mechanistic hypotheses top‐down impacts large communities reveal links properties. Synthesis . Given rapid, much‐needed expansion activities world, trait‐based ecology offers pathway generalisable predictions rewilding, particularly context both unique landscape associated with (e.g. scale spatiotemporal variability, dispersal) widely emerging ecosystems.

Язык: Английский

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Harnessing ecological theory to enhance ecosystem restoration

Current Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 34(9), С. R418 - R434

Опубликована: Май 1, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Frugivores enhance potential carbon recovery in fragmented landscapes

Nature Climate Change, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(6), С. 636 - 643

Опубликована: Апрель 15, 2024

Abstract Forest restoration is fundamental to overcoming biodiversity crises and climate change. In tropical forests, animals can improve forest recovery as they disperse >70% of tree species. However, representing in change policies remains challenging because a quantitative assessment their contribution carbon lacking. Here we used individual-based models assess frugivore-mediated seed rain open areas along fragmentation gradient. Movements large birds were limited landscapes with <40% cover, although small continued seeds. Large seeds late-successional species higher storage potential. Their restricted movement therefore reduced potential biomass future forests by 38%. Maintaining cover >40% essential optimizing animals’ success. Active (for example, planting trees) required more fragmented achieve targets.

Язык: Английский

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Higher levels of protection do not consistently improve habitat quality: Insights from Mediterranean and Alpine shrublands

Biological Conservation, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 293, С. 110571 - 110571

Опубликована: Апрель 17, 2024

Protected areas are recognized as a crucial tool to mitigate ongoing trends of biodiversity loss. The effect different levels protection and their subsequent conservation efficiency remains, however, largely unexplored. To fill this gap, we present here an integrated approach that combines taxonomic analysis based on typical species evaluate habitat quality functional plant traits define structure functions. We focused shrubland habitats across in two biogeographical areas. found does not change linearly with protection. Furthermore, the increase is characterized by homogenization functions, mostly driven species. Our study suggests level afforded protected necessarily indicative quality. A combined can offer thorough appraisal

Язык: Английский

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Restoring functional integrity of the global production ecosystem through biological control

Journal of Environmental Management, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 370, С. 122446 - 122446

Опубликована: Сен. 13, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Shorebirds-driven trophic cascade helps restore coastal wetland multifunctionality

Nature Communications, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14(1)

Опубликована: Дек. 6, 2023

Abstract Ecosystem restoration has traditionally focused on re-establishing vegetation and other foundation species at basal trophic levels, with mixed outcomes. Here, we show that threatened shorebirds could be important to restoring coastal wetland multifunctionality. We carried out surveys manipulative field experiments in a region along the Yellow Sea affected by invasive cordgrass Spartina alterniflora . found planting native plants alone failed restore multifunctionality experiment. Shorebird exclusion weakened multifunctionality, whereas mimicking higher predation before shorebird population declines excluding their key prey – crab grazers enhanced The mechanism underlying these effects is simple cascade, whereby control otherwise suppress recovery destabilize sediments (via bioturbation). Our findings suggest harnessing top-down of through habitat conservation, rewilding, or temporary simulation consumptive non-consumptive should explored as nature-based solution degraded wetlands.

Язык: Английский

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Response of Vegetation and Soil Property Changes by Photovoltaic Established Stations Based on a Comprehensive Meta-Analysis

Land, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 13(4), С. 478 - 478

Опубликована: Апрель 8, 2024

Since the commencement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), renewable energy has faced many challenges in reaching target SDGs, while potential ecological impact on environment cannot be ignored. The expansion photovoltaic (PV) networks is raising concerns regarding large-scale PV power stations local ecosystems. However, a comprehensive understanding specific responses vegetation and soil factors to con-struction across different study locations still lacking. To address this knowledge gap, we con-ducted meta-analysis 28 studies internationally representing 31 observational points that evaluated 432 factor installation stations. We used piecewiseSEM explore predictors/factors eco-logical environment. This investigated geographical environmental conditions associated with construction their factors, considering advantages disadvantages station results indicate (1) response ecosystems increased by 58.89%. Among these, most significant improvement desert, which accounts for 77.26%. Im-provement temperate regions 59.62%, there decrease 19.78% boreal regions. Improvement arid 84.45%, humid 9.84%. (2) promotes SWC, diversity, coverage, biomass, significantly enhancing productivity. (3) ecosystems, effects were deserts, showing negative impacts croplands. (4) Compared below-panel treatments, between-panel treatments more effective improving conditions. contributes mitigating adverse site development, offering insights into selection planning solar advancement sector.

Язык: Английский

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Ungulates mitigate the effects of drought and shrub encroachment on the fire hazard of Mediterranean oak woodlands

Ecological Applications, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 34(4)

Опубликована: Апрель 5, 2024

Abstract Climate change is increasing the frequency of droughts and risk severe wildfires, which can interact with shrub encroachment browsing by wild ungulates. Wild ungulate populations are expanding due, among other factors, to favorable habitat changes resulting from land abandonment or land‐use changes. Understanding how interacts drought affect woody plant mortality, flammability, fire hazard especially relevant in context climate wildfires. The aim this study explore combined effects cumulative drought, encroachment, on Mediterranean oak woodlands Portugal. In a long‐term (18 years) fencing exclusion experiment that simulated management neglect, we investigated population dynamics native Cistus ladanifer , naturally dominates understory browsed ungulates, comparing areas (no fencing) without (fencing) browsing. We also modeled behavior unbrowsed plots considering nondrought scenarios. Specifically, estimated C. density, biomass, fuel load characteristics, were used model Overall, increased proportion dead individuals, was higher plots. Drought decreased ratio live material, total loading, stand parameters, is, rate surface spread, fireline intensity, flame length. However, lower than plots, both Browsing density living shrubs, halting encroachment. Our provides experimental evidence showing role ungulates mitigating shrub‐encroached woodlands. results emphasize drivers, affecting wildfire hazard. This particularly given incidence abandonment.

Язык: Английский

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Planning for the future: Grasslands, herbivores, and nature‐based solutions

Journal of Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 112(11), С. 2442 - 2450

Опубликована: Май 15, 2024

Abstract Global interest and investment in nature‐based solutions (NbS) are rapidly increasing because of the potential this approach to concurrently counter biodiversity loss, provide cost‐effective measures for climate change adaptations, maintain natural processes that underpin human health wellbeing. Recognition is growing grasslands many regions will protect carbon stores more effectively than forests warmer, drier, fire‐prone conditions future while also serving as hotspots biodiversity. Yet have received less attention their NbS potential. Despite wide‐ranging goals approach, investments focused narrowly on using plants meet pledges, often without considering plant interactions with herbivores abiotic environment jointly control ecosystem functioning success solutions. Here, we review roles large small vertebrate invertebrate play ability world's solutions, a focus wild herbivore impacts storage. Synthesis . Planning holistic, ecologically informed view includes role interaction allow likely achieve successful, sustainable outcomes.

Язык: Английский

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