Biodiversity Features Research Articles

Ability of new protected areas to counteract losses from downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement.

Protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) is a common occurrence. Although PADDD is expected to weaken biodiversity protection, PADDD offsets and new unrelated protected areas (PAs) could help restore representation of biodiversity features to the reserve network affected by PADDD. Globally, we analyzed 16 territories with terrestrial PADDD and 4 territories with marine PADDD from 2011 to 2020. Our objective was to evaluate whether PADDD offsets and new PAs could restore the PAs, key biodiversity areas (KBAs), ecoregions, and threatened amphibian, mammal, bird, and reptile species ranges where PADDD had occurred. In our studied territories, offsets of PADDD were rare (enacted in 3 [19%] terrestrial territories and one [25%] marine territory). One territory had PADDD losses that were compensated fully by PADDD offsets in terms of area coverage and ecoregions represented. All other territories failed to achieve compensation goals. In territories affected by PADDD, PADDD offsets and new PAs partially restored area representation (63%) and KBA coverage (57%). However, only 38% of ecoregion representation and 20%, 33%, 31%, and 21% of threatened amphibian, mammal, bird, and reptile representation, respectively, were restored. Overall, we found a large shortfall in PADDD offsets, even when unrelated PAs were included in the calculus. There is an urgent need to expand PADDD offsets and PAs to advance biodiversity conservation and achieve the Global Biodiversity Framework's 30×30 target. Future planning of newly enacted conservation areas needs to prioritize biodiversity conservation and consider the purpose of restoring reserve networks affected by PADDD, rather than solely focusing on areal targets.

Multidimensional aspects of riverine biodiversity can vary in response to nutrient pollution and environmental dynamics across climatic watersheds

The concurrent impact of anthropogenic and bioclimatic factors on biodiversity is a key focus in macroecological and biogeographical considerations in conservation programs within riverine ecosystems. However, there is still a lack of understanding about how multidimensional alpha and beta diversity measures respond to anthropogenic and bioclimatic drivers. Here, we assess the variations in taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional alpha and beta diversity of riverine macroinvertebrate communities across different watersheds in China. Our results show significant declines in most facets of alpha diversity across watersheds with low environmental heterogeneity, reflecting the loss of species with unique traits and evolutionary legacies. Both functional and phylogenetic beta-diversity values reveal a decreasing pattern along low heterogeneity environments, whereas taxonomic beta-diversity shows a contrasting pattern, which highlights the influence of microhabitat variation. Moreover, our findings identify nutrient levels, organic matter, water quality indicators, climatic variation, and geographic and habitat characteristics as key determinants of diversity patterns that are indicative of broader water pollution challenges. These factors jointly influence functional and phylogenetic alpha diversity and contribute to spatial homogenization, which is reflected in decreased functional and phylogenetic beta diversity. These trends highlight the complex interactions of chemical and physical factors in shaping biodiversity characteristics across watersheds. Based on the null model, macroinvertebrate communities primarily show random patterns, whereas clustering and overdispersion were sporadically observed in specific communities. We propose that conservation and restoration efforts should be aimed at enhancing aquatic biomes by managing extreme environmental conditions and amplifying spatial spillover, thereby supporting the intrinsic dynamics within natural metasystems and thus preserving the multidimensional aspects of biodiversity.

Lateral connectivity maintains higher freshwater mussel biodiversity

Abstract The loss of lateral hydrological connectivity (LLHC) in freshwater ecosystems is increasingly threatening biodiversity; however, studies reporting this situation are limited, especially those assessing multi‐measure biodiversity features at large spatial scales. Here, and using one the most threatened taxonomic groups in freshwater ecosystems, we examined the possible influence of LLHC on the species diversity, density, and biomass of mussel assemblages and the genetic diversity and structure of Nodularia douglasiae (a common and widespread native species) in the Yangtze River floodplain. Results showed that the species diversity of freshwater mussels (α and β diversity) significantly differed between the connected and the disconnected areas, with higher α diversity and lower β diversity in the connected areas. At the same time, relative abundance, density, biomass, and genetic diversity of freshwater mussels were higher in the connected areas. High genetic differentiation and low gene flow were found among the 18 analysed N. douglasiae populations, indicating that LLHC is affecting genetic structure of this particular freshwater mussel species. Overall, results indicated that river–lake connectivity is affecting freshwater mussel biodiversity. In addition, this study highlights that multi‐measure biodiversity features provide distinct information about biodiversity dynamics, and are essential to evaluate the effects of floodplain disconnection. We advocate that an integrative approach to floodplain management embracing species and genetic diversity is needed for effective biodiversity conservation in large river ecosystems.

Phytochemical drivers of insect herbivory: a functional toolbox to support agroecological diversification.

Plant metabolism is a key feature of biodiversity that remains underexploited in functional frameworks used in agroecology. Here, we study how phytochemical diversity considered at three organizational levels can promote pest control. In a factorial field experiment, we manipulated plant diversity in three monocultures and three mixed crops of oilseed rape to explore how intra- and interspecific phytochemical diversity affects pest infestation. We combined recent progress in metabolomics with classic metrics used in ecology to test a box of hypotheses grounded in plant defence theory. According to the hypothesis of 'phytochemically mediated coevolution', our study stresses the relationships between herbivore infestation and particular classes of specialized metabolites like glucosinolates. Among 178 significant relationships between metabolites and herbivory rates, only 20% were negative. At the plant level, phytochemical abundance and richness had poor predictive power on pest regulation. This challenges the hypothesis of 'synergistic effects'. At the crop cover level, in line with the hypothesis of 'associational resistance', the phytochemical dissimilarity between neighbouring plants limited pest infestation. We discuss the intricate links between associational resistance and bottom-up pest control. Bridging different levels of organization in agroecosystems helps to dissect the multi-scale relationships between phytochemistry and insect herbivory.

Structure and composition of a canopy-beetle community (Coleoptera) in a Neotropical lowland rainforest in southern Venezuela.

Species richness, community structure and taxonomic composition are important characteristics of biodiversity. Beetle communities show distinct diversity patterns according to habitat attributes. Tropical rainforest canopies, which are well known for their richness in Coleoptera, represent such a conspicuous life zone. Here, I describe a canopy-inhabiting beetle community associated with 23 tree species in a Neotropical lowland rainforest. Adult beetles were sampled manually and in aerial traps using a large tower crane for a cumulative year. The sample revealed 6738 adult beetles, which were assigned to 862 (morpho-)species in 45 families. The most species-rich beetle families were Curculionidae (n = 246), Chrysomelidae (n = 121) and Cerambycidae (n = 89). The most abundant families were Curculionidae (n = 2746) and Chrysomelidae (n = 1409). Dominant beetle families were found in most assemblages. The beetle community consisted of 400 singletons (46.4%). A similar proportion was evident for assemblages of single tree species. I found that 74.5% of all beetle species were restricted in their occurrence on host trees to the phenological season and time of the day. This daily and seasonal migration causes patterns similar to mass effects and therefore accounts for the high proportion of singletons.

Designing compact, connected and gap-free reserves with systematic reserve site selection models

Protected areas play a crucial role in current global policies to mitigate the erosion of biodiversity and systematic reserve site selection models are increasingly involved in their design. These models address the optimisation problem that seeks to cover spaces hosting biodiversity features with nature reserves at a minimum cost for human activities. To increase the likelihood of a successful implementation, reserves need to be spatially consistent. Widely used decision support tools such as Marxan and PrioritizR commonly enforce compactness indirectly by penalising the reserve perimeter in the objective function. Few other optimisation models explicitly consider spatial properties such as limited fragmentation, connectivity of selected sites, and buffer zones around them, etc. So far, no reserve site selection model can guarantee the production of a connected, compact, and gap-free reserve all at once. The impossibility of designing reserve solutions with desirable spatial properties using existing models makes it difficult to implement such solutions in the real world. Therefore, we propose a mixed-integer linear program to build a reserve that is connected, compact, and gap-free. To enforce these spatial attributes within a reserve site selection model, we used a multicommodity flow approach. We tested the computational feasibility of our model on generated instances and the real instance of Fernando de Noronha. The results indicate that a single model can be used to enforce compactness, connectivity, and the absence of gaps. Using this optimisation model, conservation practitioners can design reserve solutions with desirable spatial properties, thereby increasing the likelihood of a successful implementation.

Biodiversity Characteristics and Carbon Sequestration Potential of Successional Woody Plants Versus Tree Plantation under Different Reclamation Treatments on Hard-Coal Mine Heaps––A Case Study from Upper Silesia

In the discussion about sustainable forestry, a key role is played by the development of ecosystem services, including ecological, social, and economic ones, in which biodiversity and carbon (C) sequestration are among the most important. Afforestation of disturbed and post-mining sites is one of the ways to minimize the negative impact of civilization on the environment. Optimizing C sequestration strategies at post-mining sites plays a crucial role in promoting ecosystem recovery, supporting climate change mitigation, and enabling C offsetting. In this study, we compared the C storage in the soil and plant biomass of forest ecosystems developed on coal-mine heaps for different scenarios of reclamation and succession. We tested combinations of sites (i.e., non-reclaimed sites on bare carboniferous rock [BR] and sites reclaimed by applying topsoil [TS]) and successional woodland and tree plantation. The estimated potential for total C storage (in the soil + biomass) for TS sites ranged from 68.13 to 121.08 Mg ha−1, of which 52.20–102.89 Mg ha−1 was stored in the soil and 12.09–20.15 Mg ha−1 in the biomass. In the non-reclaimed sites on BR, the total C storage was much higher, amounting to 523.14 Mg ha−1 (507.66 Mg ha−1 being in the soil), which was due to the geogenic coal content in the BR. However, the C storage in the biomass (15.48 Mg ha−1) and litter (5.91 Mg ha−1) was similar to the amounts obtained from the reclaimed sites. The number of species did not differ statistically significantly between the analyzed variants. On average, 14 species were recorded in the plots. The average Shannon–Wiener index (H’) value was higher for sites with BR (1.99) than TS variants on reclaimed plots (1.71). The lowest H’ value was for those plots with Robinia pseudacacia in the stand. One of the main implications of the obtained results for sustainable forestry is the perspective of using succession in the recovery of a disturbed ecosystem. We noted that woodlands from succession on BR are highly biodiverse, have high C sequestration potential, and do not require time-consuming reclamation treatments.

High-latitude ocean habitats are a crucible of fish body shape diversification.

A decline in diversity from the equator to the poles is a common feature of Earth's biodiversity. Here, we examine body shape diversity in marine fishes across latitudes and explore the role of time and evolutionary rate in explaining the diversity gradient. Marine fishes' occupation of upper latitude environments has increased substantially over the last 80 million years. Fishes in the highest latitudes exhibit twice the rate of body shape evolution and one and a third times the disparity compared to equatorial latitudes. The faster evolution of body shape may be a response to increased ecological opportunity in polar and subpolar oceans due to (1) the evolution of antifreeze proteins allowing certain lineages to invade regions of cold water, (2) environmental disturbances driven by cyclical warming and cooling in high latitudes, and (3) rapid transitions across depth gradients. Our results add to growing evidence that evolutionary rates are often faster at temperate, not tropical, latitudes.

Identifying protected areas in biodiversity hotspots at risk from climate and human-induced compound events for conserving threatened species

Anthropogenic pressure in areas of biodiversity importance erodes the integrity of the ecosystems they harbour, making features of biodiversity less buffered against extreme climatic events. We define the combination of these disturbances as compound events. We assessed compound event risk in protected areas (PAs) applying a spatial framework guided by criteria and quantitative thresholds associated with exposure to cyclones, drought, and intense human pressure. This assessment was used in a relational matrix to classify PAs with different risk of compound event occurrence. We identified PAs of higher conservation concern by quantifying the extent of human pressure in their surrounding landscape while harbouring large numbers of threatened vertebrate species. Of the 39,694 PAs assessed, very high risk of compound events was determined for 6965 PAs (17.5 %) related to cyclones and human pressure (mainly island hotspots), 6367 PAs (16 %) related to droughts and human pressure (island and continental hotspots), and 2031 PAs (5 %) to cyclones, drought and human pressure (mainly in island hotspots). From the subset of 2031 PAs assessed at very high risk, we identified 239 PAs of higher conservation concern distributed predominantly in the Caribbean Islands, Japan, North America Coastal Plain, Philippines, and Southwest Australia. Our work highlights PAs in the biodiversity hotspots where high risk of compound event occurrence poses a greater threat to species. We encourage researchers to adapt and apply this framework across other globally significant sites for conserving biodiversity to identify high risk-prone areas, and prevent further biodiversity decline.

The effectiveness of intercropping and agri-environmental schemes on ecosystem service of biological pest control: a meta-analysis

Plant diversification contributes to the ecological intensification of agroecosystems through pest biocontrol services provision. However, the existing evidence for the effectiveness of plant diversification in enhancing pest biocontrol services is highly uncertain across features of plant diversity and biodiversity characteristics. We undertook a comparative meta-analysis focusing on three essential crops (wheat, maize, and soybean) to investigate how diversification schemes in-field (intercropping) and Agri-environmental scheme (AES) around the field (flower strip, hedgerow and field margin) affect arthropod abundance. A random effects analysis was used to determine the role of 10 key factors underlying the effectiveness of plant diversification including biodiversity level and habitat, main and companion plant species, intercropping arrangement, the growth stage of the main crops, type of AES planting scheme, AES planting width, distance from AES plantings and geographical latitude. The overall results revealed that intercropping reduced herbivore and boosted predators and parasitoids abundance significantly, while AES successfully increased predators but not herbivores. Maize intercropping with legume and non-legume plants and row intercropping allowed for effective pest management. The abundance of predators increased in wheat fields immediately adjacent to planting around the field (AES), but this effect declined beyond 5 m from the flower strips. Our results suggest that the response of arthropod abundance to plant diversification is a compromise between spatial management scale, ecological characteristics of arthropod and plant diversification features. These results offer promising pathways for optimizing plant diversification schemes that include functional farm biodiversity across spatial and temporal scales and designing multi-functional landscapes.

Species and ecological communities as management surrogates for threatened biodiversity

In the face of the ongoing biodiversity crisis and limited conservation funding, surrogate approaches have become a valuable tool to represent biodiversity. Management surrogates are those that indirectly benefit an ecological system or species by representing the management requirements of co-occurring biodiversity. Recent findings highlight the cost-effective potential of surrogate species in managing threatened species, however, evaluating higher levels of biodiversity as management surrogates remains unexplored. Here, we sought to maximize conservation outcomes for threatened species and threatened ecological communities (TECs) by prioritizing management based on overlapping distributions, threats, and costs. We describe a prioritization framework for identifying TECs that could serve as cost-effective surrogates, and compare it with prioritizing threatened species only or both species and TECs. We show that when the objective is to maximize benefits for threatened species, a community approach performs poorly due to limited geographic overlap and high costs, while prioritizing species returned 7.5 times more benefits delivered to species under the same budget. Yet, if the objective is to maximize benefits across species and TECs simultaneously, a combined approach including both as surrogates delivers the greatest benefit for the same costs as a species-only approach. Range sizes and taxonomic groups significantly influenced the priority list, with threatened invertebrates and TECs of smaller ranges more likely to be selected as surrogates. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of incorporating accurate data on factors such as threats and costs for identifying effective management surrogates, and highlights the potential benefits of prioritizing across multiple biodiversity features.

Symbiotic microbial communities in various locations of the lung cancer respiratory tract along with potential host immunological processes affected.

Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate among all cancers worldwide. The 5-year overall survival rate for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is estimated at around 26%, whereas for small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the survival rate is only approximately 7%. This disease places a significant financial and psychological burden on individuals worldwide. The symbiotic microbiota in the human body has been significantly associated with the occurrence, progression, and prognosis of various diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis. Studies have demonstrated that respiratory symbiotic microorganisms and their metabolites play a crucial role in modulating immune function and contributing to the pathophysiology of lung cancer through their interactions with the host. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the microbial characteristics associated with lung cancer, with a focus on the respiratory tract microbiota from different locations, including saliva, sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), bronchial brush samples, and tissue. We describe the respiratory tract microbiota's biodiversity characteristics by anatomical region, elucidating distinct pathological features, staging, metastasis, host chromosomal mutations, immune therapies, and the differentiated symbiotic microbiota under the influence of environmental factors. Our exploration investigates the intrinsic mechanisms linking the microbiota and its host. Furthermore, we have also provided a comprehensive review of the immune mechanisms by which microbiota are implicated in the development of lung cancer. Dysbiosis of the respiratory microbiota can promote or inhibit tumor progression through various mechanisms, including DNA damage and genomic instability, activation and regulation of the innate and adaptive immune systems, and stimulation of epithelial cells leading to the upregulation of carcinogenesis-related pathways.

The role of plasticity and stochasticity in coexistence.

Species coexistence in ecological communities is a central feature of biodiversity. Different concepts, i.e., contemporary niche theory, modern coexistence theory, and the unified neutral theory, have identified many building blocks of such ecological assemblies. However, other factors, such as phenotypic plasticity and stochastic inter-individual variation, have received little attention, in particular in animals. For example, how resource polyphenisms resulting in predator-prey interactions affect coexistence is currently unknown. Here, we present an integrative theoretical-experimental framework using the nematode plasticity model Pristionchus pacificus with its well-studied mouth-form dimorphism resulting in cannibalism. We develop an individual-based model that relies upon synthetic data based on our empirical measurements of fecundity and polyphenism to preserve demographic heterogeneity. We demonstrate how the interplay between plasticity and individual stochasticity result in all-or-nothing outcomes at the local level. Coexistence is made possible when spatial structure is introduced.

Plant community differentiation of desertification region in northwest Liaoning Province, China

Understanding plant communities in desertification area is the scientific basis of evaluating the local eco-environmental quality and carrying out desertification control. According to longitude, we divided the desertification area in northwest Liaoning Province into three regions: the eastern region (122°50'37″ -123°49'40″ E), the middle region (121°16'41″-122°35'00″ E), and the western region (119°20'03″ -120°02'41″ E), and investigated the plant communities in each region. The results showed that the proportion of forest and canopy density of tree layer increased from the west to the east. Ass. Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica and Ass. Populus sp. in the eastern, Ass. Pinus tabuliformis and Ass. Populus sp. in the middle, as well as Ass. P. tabuliformis and Ass. Prunus sibirica in the western were dominant communities, respectively. The proportion of brush community in the eastern, middle and western was 0, 22.2%, and 28.0%, respectively. Grasslands formed mainly by human disturbance in the eas-tern and middle regions. The total species numbers were 110 in the middle, 88 in the western and 75 in the eastern, respectively. Therophytes were dominant in the eastern and middle with proportions of 68.2% and 66.7%, respectively. Hemicryptophytes were the dominant type (36.3%) in the western region. The proportion of microphanerophyt, nanophanerophyte, chamaephyte, and geophyte increased from the eastern to the western. The species number, Shannon index, and Simpson diversity index of the middle were the highest among the three regions. Pielou evenness index increased gradually from the eastern to the western. Community similarity between the eastern and the western was the lowest, as shown by the β-biodiversity, and the similarity between the middle and the western was the highest. The community type, species number, characteristics of species composition and species biodiversity of the middle region had the characteristics of ecological transition zone. In general, vegetation status in the desertification area of northwest Liaoning Province was in good condition. There were still some problems including the monotonous vertical structure of forest and tree species as well as the serious human interference.

Explaining extreme differences in species richness among co-occurring palm clades in Madagascar

Abstract Imbalance in species richness among related clades is a pervasive, yet incompletely understood feature of biodiversity. Comparison of species-poor and species-rich clades that have evolved within the same region can shed light on the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. The long-isolated island of Madagascar is an ideal place for doing this. Madagascar harbours at least ten clades of palms (Arecaceae) that have colonized the island independently and diversified to widely differing degrees, ranging from one to 180 known species. We estimated colonization times and diversification rates for these clades based on an extensive phylogenomic dataset and tested the degree to which clades that arrived in Madagascar earlier have more species (time-for-speciation effect), finding a moderate effect. For context, we tested for time-for-speciation effects in other plant and animal lineages, finding variable but qualitatively similar results. Our findings suggest that variation in diversification rate (i.e. speciation and/or extinction rate) is a major driver of species richness imbalance among Malagasy clades, both in palms and elsewhere. We demonstrate that in palms, differences in diversification rates originated long before colonization of the island, suggesting a minor role of classical ‘island radiation’ and a stronger role of heritable traits driving diversification rate. Ability to colonize new climates also appears to play a role. Future work should address the interplay between the dynamic environment of Madagascar and the inherited traits of colonizing lineages to fully explain the island’s intriguing mix of species-poor and species-rich clades.

A study on the characteristics of Songyang Duanwu tea, a classic traditional knowledge of Southwest Zhejiang, China

Duanwu Tea is a popular and ancient biodiversity-related traditional knowledge in Songyang, China. It has the remarkable function of dispelling dampness and relieving summer heat. However, systematic research on Duanwu Tea has been limited, and its biodiversity characteristics remain relatively unknown beyond the borders of Songyang. This study aims to investigate the bio-resources involved in making Duanwu Tea and its correlation with local geography and social conditions. To achieve this, semi-structured interviews were conducted and 23 formulations of Duanwu Tea were collected from the northern, central, and southern regions of Songyang. The results indicated that: (1) A total of 49 species of bio-resources belonging to 37 families and 46 genera were involved in the formulations. (2) There were no significant differences in the amounts of bio-resources in formulations between various regions. However, there were significant differences in the diversity indices of richness, Shannon-Weiner diversity, and Simpson with the diversity indices descending in the order of southern, central, and northern regions. (3) In terms of the processing of stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits as medicinal ingredients, there were significant differences between the regions. We concluded that the biodiversity characteristics of Duanwu Tea formula are related to the geographical environment, which provides a reference for further study and an opportunity for sustainable utilization. Through this study, we hope more people will pay attention to this valuable traditional knowledge and give it adequate protection and inheritance in the future.

Genetic and Morphological Variability of the Small Wood Muse (<i>Apodemus </i>(<i>Sylvaemus</i>) <i>uralensis</i>, Rodentia) in the North Caucasus

The genetic and morphological variability of the southern form of the European chromosomal race of the small wood mouse Apodemus (Sylvaemus) uralensis (Pallas, 1811) in the North Caucasus was studied. The results of the sequence analysis of the cytochrome b gene fragment from 9 geographical samples from the western, central and eastern parts of the North Caucasus indicate a low degree of their genetic isolation with a relatively high diversity of haplotypes. Analysis of morphological variability revealed high variety: three morphological groups were identified. Representatives of all three or two groups were found in the same geographical samples, but their distribution did not conform to the hypothesis of random occurrence. Based on indirect evidence, hypotheses about possible causes of the observed features of regional small forest mouse biodiversity are formulated, which require verification in the course of future studies. In particular, we hypothesised that in the Late Pleistocene (130–11.7 thousand cal yr BP) there were several isolated populations in the region that could have been sources of species diversity in the Holocene.

Physicochemical characteristics of larval habitats and biodiversity of mosquitoes in one of the most important metropolises of southern Iran

The present study aimed to investigate the roles of the physicochemical characteristics of larval habitats in biodiversity and other bionomic factors of mosquitoes in Shiraz.The physical parameters of all habitats were recorded separately. The collected mosquito larvae were identified based on morphological characters. The water samples of larval habitats were analyzed for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD, mg/L), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD, mg/L), pH, alkalinity, turbidity, total hardness (mg/L), Electrical Conductivity (EC, μS/cm), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS, mg/L), Cl2 (mg/L), and water temperature (°C). In addition, three main indices were used for surveying biodiversity.A total of 1229 larvae were collected from April to September 2018 and May to August 2019. Seven medically important mosquito species were identified morphologically. Culex quinquefasciatus and Cx. laticinctus had the highest distribution and abundance. Ecological results showed that the richness and diversity of species were higher and more stable in natural sites than in manmade places. The optimum BOD, COD, alkalinity, TDS, EC, pH, and temperature of water for mosquitoes of the studied areas were 140 mg/L, 360 mg/L, 160 mg/L, 420 mg/L, 840 μS/cm, 8.3, and 24 °C, respectively. Most mosquitoes tended to live in manmade, temporary, and sunny larval habitats with turbid water.The results provided a better understanding of the biology and ecology of mosquitoes as the most important group of disease vectors to humans and animals. Hence, they could be used to apply some safer and more environmentally friendly methods for mosquito control.

Contemporary community composition, spatial distribution patterns, and biodiversity characteristics of zooplankton in large alpine Lake Sevan, Armenia

We studied the quantitative composition, spatial distribution, and temporal dynamics of the zooplankton community of the alpine Lake Sevan, Armenia, the largest surface water in the Caucasus region. This article is providing a long-term information and fills the research gap of multiyear data on zooplankton, as the previous research on zooplankton provided only snapshots of the community, and a consistent assessment over multiple years was missing. However, an initial mini-review of historical studies indicated that zooplankton biomass and fish abundance were undergoing large fluctuations, indicating the importance of top-down control. We analysed 239 samples from the period 2016-2019 from 32 sampling sites in Lake Sevan and recorded 37 species of meso- and macrozooplankton (Rotifers, Copepods, Cladocera). Biomass fluctuations were high with peaking biomasses in 2016 and lowest biomasses in 2018, yearly averaged biomass varied about one order of magnitude. Variability over time was hence much higher than spatial variability. The pelagic habitat at the deepest part of the lake showed the highest diversity and biomasses but contrasts between sampling sites remained smaller than changes from year to year or seasonally. Many samples were dominated by a single species, and these key species explain observed biomass dynamics to a wide extent. We applied hierarchical clustering in order to identify phenological groups that appear to show similar patterns of occurrence. This clustering resulted in 6 groups where of 5 groups just consisting of one single species and these 5 key species were the Cladocerans Daphnia magna, Daphnia hyalina, Diaphanosoma sp. as well as the calanoids Arctodiaptomus bacillifer and Acanthodiaptomus denticornis. The most important species in Lake Sevan’s zooplankton during the observation period was D. magna, which reached high biomasses in 2016 and 2017 but then suddenly almost disappeared in 2018 and 2019. When there were more D. magna present, the water became clearer, which was measured using Secchi depth. This shows that these large water fleas effectively controlled the amount of phytoplankton in the water. Daphnia magna, in turn, managed to dominate zooplankton community only during times of extremely low fish biomass indicating strong top-down control of this large Cladoceran by fish. Both observations together imply a strong trophic linkage between fish, zooplankton, and phytoplankton and provide evidence for trophic cascades in Lake Sevan. Besides the novel insights into zooplankton community dynamics of this unique lake of high socio-economical, cultural, and ecological importance, our study also points to potential management opportunities for eutrophication control by biomanipulation, as well as our investigation allows us to conclude that probably biotic factors were more important than abiotic factors in explaining the observed changes and dynamics within the plankton community.

Effectiveness of UK Legislation and Management in Producing Nature Conservation Outcomes

National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are a form of nature conservation management using protected areas to improve specific site features of wider biodiversity. This study focuses on the Purbeck Heath NNR management aims to restore the natural habitat and increase overall biodiversity through landscape-scale management. This study investigated whether landscape-scale management used within the protected areas will benefit overall biodiversity and fulfil legislation. Sites observations were used to assess public compliance in accordance with the legislation and management measures of the specific site, whilst personal communications were carried out to gain representations of what key ecological measures are currently used on site. Bayesian Belief Networks were used to evaluate how different designated features within NNRs will continue to perform under current management methods. Results showed that protected designated features within the reserve would improve under the landscape-scale management of the Purbeck Heath NNR with ecosystem services, biodiversity, protected target species, and protected target habitat likely to increase despite climate change likely to increase. Discussions showed that the main conservation outcome is to increase landscape connectivity, climate resilience and overall biodiversity by placing nature first. Overall, the Purbeck Heath NNR and other super NNRs have the potential to fulfil the legislation aims set out under the various designations of Special Protected Areas, Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and Ramsar sites.