Diversity In Natural Ecosystems Research Articles

Macrofaunal diversity patterns in coastal marine sediments: re-examining common metrics and methods

Complex biodiversity patterns arise in marine systems due to overlapping ecological processes, including organism interactions, resource distribution, and environmental conditions. Despite the importance of documenting these patterns, describing diversity in natural ecosystems remains challenging. Here, we investigate 3 nearshore sub-Arctic sites to describe benthic macroinfaunal taxa and biological traits, with the ultimate aim of determining whether common diversity metrics and typical sampling efforts adequately capture community composition in these systems. First, we assess how diversity relates to sediment depth and examine relationships among commonly used taxonomic and functional diversity indices. Second, using a power analysis, we explore how sampling effort influences the interpretation of diversity patterns in coastal systems. We report significant variation in community composition among sites, even across small spatial scales of km, and find that taxonomically diverse communities do not necessarily correspond to high functional diversity. We further find that although environmental factors such as sediment depth consistently affect macroinfaunal diversity, the direction and magnitude of these relationships are site-dependent. Finally, we demonstrate that typical sampling effort for coastal benthic studies (for example, <5 push cores of ~7 cm diameter) may not capture macroinfaunal community composition adequately, potentially obscuring hotspots in common diversity metrics such as taxonomic or functional richness. However, indices such as Simpson’s diversity may be well-suited to resource-limited studies with restricted sampling capacity. Our results highlight the importance of adopting multi-pronged approaches to biodiversity assessment and determining optimal sample sizes for marine benthic systems, particularly in the context of biodiversity monitoring for conservation purposes.

The relationship between financial stability and transparency in social-environmental policies

PurposeThis work analyzes, through social-environmental reports, whether banks with higher transparency in social-environmental policies better safeguard financial stability in Brazil.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is carried out through a panel database analysis of the 42 largest Brazilian banks, representing 98% of the Brazilian financial system. Seeking to avoid spurious results, we followed rigorous methodological standards. Hence, we conducted an empirical analysis using a dynamic panel data model, we used the difference generalized method of moments (D-GMM) and the system generalized method of moments (S-GMM).FindingsThe results show that the higher the transparency of social-environmental policies, the lower the chance of possible stress on the financial stability of Brazilian banks. In sum, this study builds evidence that disclosing risks related to policies about sustainability can enhance financial stability. It is essential to highlight that social-environmental transparency does not have as direct objective financial stability.Originality/valueThe manuscript submitted represents an original work that analyzes whether banks with higher transparency in social-environmental policies better safeguard financial stability. Some countries, such as Brazil, have their potential for sustainable policies spotlighted due to their green territory and diverse natural ecosystems. Besides having green potential, Brazil is a developing country with a well-developed financial system. These characteristics make Brazil one of the best laboratories for studying the relationship between transparency in social-environmental policies and financial stability.

Using oxygen isotopes in phosphate to assess biological phosphorus cycling in a small and shallow freshwater lake system

AbstractReducing excess phosphorus (P) loads that cause eutrophication in aquatic systems is essential for meeting water quality standards. The oxygen isotopic composition of phosphate (δ18Op) is a powerful tool for tracking P sources and cycling in diverse natural ecosystems. Here, we use δ18Op distribution in a small freshwater body (a lagoon–lake system) with high biological activity. We report δ18Op values seasonally along the water flow path in lagoon–lake system adjacent to Lake Biwa, Japan. The δ18Op values of inflowing water originating as agricultural runoff were constant throughout the study period at +16.3‰ ± 0.2‰. The δ18Op values in the system were generally offset from temperature‐dependent isotopic equilibrium with the surrounding water, ranging from +11.1‰ to +17.8‰. The δ18Op values of the lake water approached equilibrium values in July and October, when dissolved inorganic P (DIP) retention rates were high, consistent with extensive biologically mediated phosphate cycling. A δ18Op two end‐member mixing model, involving inflowing P and biologically recycled P, suggests that P turnover rates in the lagoon–lake system were high during the productive seasons. In contrast, the longer lake water residence time in the non‐irrigation season (winter) allowed δ18Op values to deviate toward lower values relative to both equilibrium and agricultural source δ18Op values, suggesting that P metabolism was dominated by extracellular/ecto‐enzymatic hydrolysis of dissolved organic P under low DIP concentrations. This work highlighted the utility of δ18Op for understanding P dynamics in shallow lake ecosystems.

Wild and partially synanthropic bird yeast diversity, in vitro virulence, and antifungal susceptibility of Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis strains isolated from feces.

Yeast complexes in the fecal samples of wild (Dendrocopos major, Picus viridis) and partially synanthropic (Bombycilla garrulus, Garrulus glandarius, Pica pica, and Pyrrhula pyrrhula) birds were studied in a forest ecosystem during winter. A total of 18 yeast species were identified: 16 ascomycetes and two basidiomycetes belonging to five subphyla of fungi: Saccharomycotina (15), Pezizomycotina (1), Agaricomycotina (1), and Pucciniomycotina (1). Most yeast species were found in the fecal samples of P. pyrrhula (Candida parapsilosis, C. zeylanoides, Debaryomyces hansenii, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, Meyerozyma carpophila, M. guilliermondii, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa); the lowest number of yeast species was observed in the feces of B. garrulus (C. parapsilosis, C. zeylanoides, Met. pulcherrima, and Rh. mucilaginosa). The opportunistic species of the genus Candida were found only in feces of partially synanthropic birds: C. parapsilosis was observed in the feces of B. garrulus, G. glandarius, P. pica, and P. pyrrhula; its relative abundance was 69.3%, 49.1%, 10.5%, and 1.1%, respectively; C. tropicalis was observed in the feces of P. pica and G. glandarius; its relative abundance was 54.6% and 7.1%, respectively. Strains of C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis isolated from the feces of partially synanthropic birds were evaluated for their susceptibility to conventional antifungal agents (fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B) and hydrolytic activity. A total of 160 strains were studied. Resistance to fluconazole was detected in 86.8% of C. parapsilosis strains and in 87% of C. tropicalis strains; resistance to voriconazole was detected in 71.7% of C. parapsilosis and in 66.7% of C. tropicalis strains, and the lowest percentage of resistant strains was detected to amphotericin B, 2.8% and 3.7% in C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis strains, respectively. Multiresistance was detected in one strain of C. parapsilosis isolated from P. pica feces and in one strain of C. tropicalis isolated from G. glandarius feces. Phospholipase and hemolysin activities in the strains of C. parapsilosis were low (mean Pz values of 0.93 and 0.91, respectively); protease activity was moderate (mean Pz value of 0.53). The ability to produce hydrolytic enzymes was higher in the isolated strains of C. tropicalis. The mean Pz values of phospholipase and hemolysin activities were moderate (mean Pz values of 0.63 and 0.60, respectively), whereas protease activity was high (mean Pz value of 0.32). Thus, wild and partially synanthropic birds play an important role in disseminating of various yeast species. These yeasts can enter the topsoil via feces and contribute to the formation of allochthonous and uneven soil yeast diversity in natural ecosystems. In addition, partially synanthropic birds can be vectors of virulent strains of opportunistic Candida species from urban environments to natural biotopes.

Insights into variations of seasonal and daily soil temperatures under the effect of biocrusts in central-western Argentina

Background and Aims: Biocrusts play an essential role on the earth’s surface and have a direct influence on soil parameters. Their effects on soil temperature are considered one of the most important because they affect ecological and hydrological processes, as well as the diversity of natural ecosystems. Although there are several studies concerning biocrust effects on the soil surface, investigations about the effect of the biocrust on soil temperature are still scarce. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of biocrusts on soil temperature conditions in drylands of central-western Argentina. Methods: Temperature values were recorded in the Monte phytogeographic region in the central-western part of Argentina, in three sites, during the dry and wet seasons in 2017-2018. We collected samples from a total of 30 randomly selected plots. We recorded daily temperatures values in two paired plots with crusted and uncrusted zones using a calibrated data logger Ibutton. The sampling took 18 days in total, three days on each site.Key results: Our results indicate that biocrusts produce a change in micro-soil temperatures. Areas in which biocrusts are present show a temperature reduction both in the wet and dry seasons. This effect is observed in the three studied sites. Temperature reduction varies according to the time of the day, study site and season. The morning, noon, and afternoon recorded the highest mean temperatures.Conclusions: The presence of biocrusts reduces soil temperatures in drylands of central-western Argentina. Large differences in mean temperature values between crusted and uncrusted zones were observed. The thermal reduction was more notorious in the hyper-arid site. How they affect their surrounding environment can be related to multiple factors, such as the composition of the microphytic community, the local climate and environmental conditions.

Spatio-Temporal Variation Characteristics of North Africa’s Climate Potential Productivity

Africa is becoming one of the most sensitive and vulnerable regions of the global ecosystem due to its variable climate, complex topography, and diversity of natural ecosystems. In the context of global warming, climate change not only alters the spatial distribution of temperature and precipitation in North Africa, but also affects the spatial distribution of vegetation as well as the structure and function of ecosystems, causing changes in the North African ecosystem and inducing a series of food security problems. In this regard, this paper analyzed the spatio-temporal distribution of climate change, climate production potential (CPP), and influencing factors in Africa based on meteorological data for 1901–2019, using the Thornthwaite Memorial model, Mann–Kendall mutation test, and Pearson correlation model. The results indicated that from 1901 to 2019, the CPP in North Africa decreased by 4.9%, while the region’s precipitation experienced a decline of 5.2%. The phased trend in CPP was consistent with the change in precipitation. Temperature and precipitation were the main limiting factors for CPP in North Africa, with precipitation being more limiting. In general, North Africa’s CPP was more sensitive to precipitation, and a continued ‘warm and dry’ climate in the future could lead to an increasing downward trend.

Rarity of microalgae in macro, meso, and microhabitats

ABSTRACT Climate change and human-induced habitat degradations result in loss of species diversity in natural ecosystems. While the extinction of macroscopic organisms has been well documented in the scientific literature and public media, we have only limited knowledge on the loss of microscopic elements of the ecosystems. Because rarity coincides with the increased risk of extinction, we investigated the commonness and rarity of microalgae in the Pannonian ecoregion. We reviewed the published literature of microalgal research in Hungary over the last 140 years and created a species-by-site matrix containing 2489 algae species and 1145 localities. Analysing this dataset, we found that although the core-satellite hypothesis suggests a bimodal site occupancy distribution, microalgae displayed a unimodal pattern with a high number of rarely occurring species. We also demonstrated that the well-known negative relationship between body size of organisms and number of occupied habitats holds for microalgae. Rarity values of taxa have a phylogenetic signal indicating that in terms of rarity, closely related species (desmids, dinoflagellates, euglenophytes) show considerable similarities. The various habitat types showed differences in the number of rare taxa. Small- and medium-sized habitats (bog lakes, streams, oxbows) hosted the majority of rare species. These results highlight the conservation importance of small habitats in preserving microbial diversity.

Analytical Hierarchy Method for Evaluating the Environmental Sustainability in the Context of Ecosystem Services Enhancing: A Case Study of the Biosphere Reserve, Ukraine

Abstract The ability of natural systems to provide services is critical to the sustainability of the environment. The increasing environmental pressures necessitate the creation of conditions conducive to the preservation and sustainability of natural ecosystems. A review of similar studies reveals that when evaluating ecosystem services, more consideration should be given to evaluating ecosystem stability. The Ukrainian Biosphere Reserve was chosen as the study polygon due to its importance as a conservation area and the diversity of natural ecosystems. The Analytical Hierarchy Method, in this case, provides a very straightforward way to analyze such complicated systems. The first step is to identify and value the services offered by the Biosphere Reserve’s wetland, forest, and aquatic ecosystems. Then, four criteria (C1–C4) and impacts (P1–Pn) that directly affect the ecological sustainability of a certain ecosystem within each criterion were identified. The overall weight of each impact on specific ecosystem sustainability was computed and estimated to reach the main goal (G). The integrated ecological stability evaluation index (CEI) was then calculated using the overall weight values. Wetland and forest ecosystem indices were calculated to be 0.63 and 0.64, indicating that these systems are moderately stable. The stability index for aquatic ecosystems is 0.75, indicating that the system is ecologically stable. As a result, it is critical to focus on reducing negative factors affecting wetlands and forest ecosystems, such as sylvatization and/or recreational activities, to strengthen ecosystem stability and the ability to provide services.

Impact of environmental factors on the ammonia-oxidizing and denitrifying microbial community and functional genes along soil profiles from different ecologically degraded areas in the Siding mine

Ammonia oxidizers (ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB amoA) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA amoA)) and denitrifiers (encoded by nirS, nirK and nosZ) in the soil nitrogen cycle exist in a variety of natural ecosystems. However, little is known about the contribution of these five N-related functional genes to nitrification and denitrification in the soil profile in severely ecologically degraded areas. Therefore, in the present study, the abundance, diversity and community composition of AOA, AOB, nirS, nirK and nosZ were investigated in the soil profiles of different ecologically degraded areas in the Siding mine. The results indicated that, at the phylum level, the dominant archaea were Crenarchaeota and Thaumarchaeota and the dominant bacteria were Proteobacteria. Heavy metal contents had a great impact on AOA amoA, nirS and nirK gene abundances. AOA amoA contributed more during the ammonia oxidation process and was better adapted for survival in heavy metal-contaminated environments. In addition to heavy metals, the soil organic matter (SOM) content and C/N ratio had strong effects on the AOA and AOB community diversity and structure. In addition, variations in the net ammonification and nitrification rates were proportional to AOA amoA abundance along the soil profile. The soil C/N ratio, soil available phosphorus content and soil moisture influenced the denitrification process. Both soil available phosphorus and moisture were more strongly related to nosZ than to nirS and nirK. In addition, nosZ presented a higher correlation with the nosZ/(nirS + nirK) ratio. Moreover, nosZ/(nirS + nirK) was the key functional gene group that drove the major processes for NH4+-N and NO3−-N transformation. This study demonstrated the role and importance of soil property impacts on N-related microbes in the soil profile and provided a better understanding of the role and importance of N-related functional genes and their contribution to soil nitrification and denitrification processes in highly degraded areas in the Siding mine.

Tidal range electricity generation: A comparison between estuarine barrages and coastal lagoons

The potential power from coastal tidal range is becoming better appreciated due to the need to mitigate global warming. Great Britain (GB) is ideally situated to exploit tidal power but currently has no operational systems. Historically, estuaries have been proposed as sites for barrages, but more recently coastal lagoons are favoured due to a lower environment impact. To contrast the differences between barrages and lagoons two potential schemes are analysed using the Lancaster 0-D Tidal Range Model. Both schemes were analysed with a range of turbine numbers and generator ratings. The schemes are compared in terms of energy generation, flood protection, navigation, and selected environmental impacts.The analysis indicates that the schemes are not categorically different, characterised by the shape and alignment of the impoundment. Barrages impoundments across estuaries are generally shorter than lagoons impounding similar volumes, with lower civil engineering costs. Whilst estuaries tend to have slightly higher tidal ranges, they also create unique ecological conditions with diverse natural ecosystems that are increasingly valued. The analysis shows that 2-way generation and pumping can match the full tidal range and help preserve inter-tidal areas.

Enrichment of DNRA bacteria: Shift of microbial community and its combination with anammox to promote TN removal

Both anammox and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) are important processes of nitrogen metabolism, coexisting in a variety of natural ecosystems. However, the combined nitrogen removal of DNRA bacteria and anammox bacteria has not been achieved under laboratory conditions. Here, an anammox coupled DNRA system was constructed, in which DNRA bacteria convert nitrate generated from anammox process to ammonia for anammox metabolism again. DNRA bacteria were enriched form 2.11 * 105 to 3.02 * 107 copies/ng DNA in a non-woven fabric membrane bioreactor under a high C/N ratio environment. After 137 days’ operation, ammonia production efficiency from nitrate reached 60.65%. By nrfA gene sequencing analysis, Geobacter, some strains of Desulfovibrio and Desulfobulbus and a strain of traditional denitrifying bacteria Thauera sp. MZIT exhibiting DNRA function accounted for 20% of all bacteria. Small amount of anammox bacteria were detected from the system through qPCR tests, indicating that this system can mimic the natural habitats where anammox and DNRA together contributed to enhancement of total nitrogen removal rates. This study illustrated that DNRA bacteria could be enriched at high C/N ratio and natural processes are reproducible through engineering precise control.

The role of phytochemical diversity in the management of agroecosystems

Biodiversity in ecosystems is crucial in providing ecosystem services and their stability and resilience. However, most studies supporting the benefits of biodiversity in crop health were studied at the cultivar scale, generally without specifying the resistance mechanisms involved in the resistance of crops to pests. Thus, it is unclear if phytochemical diversity is one of those resistance mechanisms and whether the ecosystem patterns and processes in which phytochemical diversity is involved can be replicated or adapted to the management of sustainable agroecosystems. Here, I review the roles of phytochemical diversity in natural ecosystems and determine if they can be helpful in the management of agroecosystems. I briefly review (a) the spatial and temporal structure of phytochemical diversity in ecosystems and its effect on plant consumers; (b) how that diversity is generated and maintained; and (c) the current or potential role of phytochemical diversity in agroecosystems. The α-, β-, and γ-phytochemical diversities are very high in ecosystems and landscapes; phytochemical diversity gets displayed in dynamic mosaics of mixtures of secondary metabolites that vary in their concentration and composition within and among individuals, populations, or species. Phytochemical diversity is fostered by evolutionary or coevolutionary processes, mainly under an arms-race scenario. The patterns and processes of phytochemical diversity are idiosyncratic depending on the identity of the interacting species and the local biotic and abiotic environment; thus, to copy them to industrial agroecosystems is hardly viable. However, five recommendations in which phytochemical diversity could be helpful in agroecosystem management are made.

The effects of natural enemies on herb diversity in a temperate forest depend on species traits and neighbouring tree composition

Abstract There is mounting evidence that top‐down control by natural enemies helps maintain plant diversity in natural ecosystems. Previous work has concentrated on either forest trees or grassland herbs. Our knowledge of how natural enemies affect herb diversity in forests is limited. We used fungicides and insecticide to experimentally examine the effects of fungi and insects on herb abundance and diversity at the community‐wide scale and within groups of species with certain traits. We also assessed how the effects of fungi and insects on herb assemblages were modified by neighbouring tree diversity and composition in an old‐growth temperate forest. We found that fungicides increased overall herb abundance by 7% while decreasing herb diversity by 5%. This effect of fungicides on both herb abundance and diversity weakened with the increase of neighbouring tree diversity. Insecticide did not affect either herb abundance or diversity noticeably, except in areas dominated by deciduous trees where insecticide application reduced herb diversity. Fungicides and insecticide decreased the diversity of relatively less defended species (i.e. thin‐leaved and non‐clonal) but had no effect on the diversity of herbs with stronger defensive traits (i.e. thick‐leaved and clonal). Fungicides increased the abundance of non‐mycorrhizal (NM) species but not arbuscular‐mycorrhizal (AM) species, although the effect of fungicides on herb diversity was unrelated to species' mycorrhizal association. Insecticide had stronger effects on the abundance and diversity of NM species than AM species. Synthesis. We conclude that fungi and insect herbivores are critical to regulating herb abundance and diversity in this temperate forest, with their effects dependent on species' traits and neighbouring tree diversity and composition. Our results highlight the importance of top‐down control of understory herb communities by natural enemies in temperate forests, advancing our understanding of the processes shaping plant diversity in natural ecosystems.

The Impact of a Forest Fire Event on Moth Assemblages in Western Bohemia, Czech Republic

Fire has major impact on species diversity in natural ecosystems around the world. The consequences of fires for invertebrates can be immediate, and recovery of species assemblages may be a long-term process. We recorded moth communities from May to November 2019 in a pine forest in Western Bohemia, Czech Republic, where a local fire occurred in April of that year. We used UV light traps at one burned site and two neighboring unburned sites with a similar character as the burned site before the fire event. We analyzed moth assemblages using several species diversity indices – index of dominance, Shannon-Wiener index and Shannon-Wiener evenness, Simpson index, and Chao1 nonparametric estimation. We detected 67 species at the burned site, and 97 and 106 at the unburned sites. The three most frequently trapped species at all sites were Macaria liturata, Buphalus piniaria and Thera obeliscata, representing common forest geometrid moths. We observed a decline in species number and abundance at the burned site compared to the unburned sites, probably due to the direct mortality of larvae. On the contrary, the burned site was more diverse according to the diversity indices. The fire disrupted the original character of the coniferous forest, which was proved by a decline of species feeding on conifers and Vaccinium spp. The burned site attracted species associated with dry habitats such as Eublemma purpurina, Charissa obscurata and Scopula rubiginata. Even though wildfires are viewed negatively in general, they might temporarily enhance diversity in a homogeneous landscape.

Distribution, Diversity, and Abundance of Nitrite Oxidizing Bacteria in the Subterranean Estuary of the Daya Bay

The oxidation of nitrite to nitrate as the second step of nitrification is vital for the global nitrogen cycle, and the genus Nitrospira is the most widespread nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) in diverse natural ecosystems. However, our understanding of Nitrospira distribution and their response to dynamic environmental parameters is still limited in the subterranean estuary (STE), a special environment of the mixed zone between land and sea. In this study, Nitrospira communities were collected within 5–10 cm depth intervals of sediments with the physiochemical gradients along the transections of the Daya Bay (DYB) from the landward member to the seaward member. The abundance, community structure of Nitrospira, and their potentially influencing environmental factors were investigated using Q-PCR, the high throughput sequencing targeting Nitrospira nxrB gene, and biostatistics analyses. The abundance of Nitrospira showed uniform distribution along the transections, but significantly decreasing variations were observed from the surface (<20 cm) to the bottom (>20 cm) of sediments. The community diversity and structure of Nitrospira also displayed a remarkable vertical distribution in the DYB (STE), although no significant differences were observed along the transections of STE. Nitrospira marina (N. marina) predominated in the sediments, Candidatus Nitrospira bockiana (Ca. N. bockiana), and Candidatus Nitrospira defluvii (Ca. N. defluvii) were the main Nitrospira species, and Candidatus Nitrospira lenta (Ca. N. lenta) and Nitrospira japonica (N. japonica) also existed with relatively low abundance in the DYB (STE). These findings revealed that Nitrospira species (Ca. N. defluvii, Ca. N. lenta, and N. japonica) derived from activated sludge was also widespread in natural habitats and deduced that the STE may be affected by the pollution derived from terrigenous human activities. The statistical analysis combined with the STE dynamic variation indicated that dissolved organic carbon (DOC), salinity, and ammonium along the sediment depths attributed to the vertical community distribution of the Nitrospira species. In summary, the vertical distribution of Nitrospira and their response to the dynamic physicochemical parameters imply their important role in the nitrite oxidation of the STE and provide insights into the niche differentiation and diversely physiologic metabolism of NOB.

Metabolism in eco-holonic manufacturing systems based on the living systems theory

The industrial metabolism has been conceived on the basis of analogies about the set of biochemical reactions (anabolism and catabolism) that occur in a living being and their flows of matter, energy and substances in natural ecosystems. This conception determines forms of appropriation and consumption of substances, materials and energy, from the natural environment (natursphere) and the technical environment (technosphere) for their transformation and subsequent elimination, under the articulation of criteria of cyclicity, toxicity and efficiency. The last aim of Industrial Ecology (IE), is materialized when the variety of industrial ecosystems is eco-compatible with the variety of natural ecosystems. The naturalisation of manufacturing systems is an effort to conceive them with variety similar to natural systems in order to achieve their eco-compatibility. In addition to bionic models from natural ecosystems in the field of industrial metabolism, several attempts have been made to design technical systems using bionic models from the Living Systems Theory (LST). The formulation of manufacturing systems based on living systems can be considered as a set of dynamic systems from Bertalanffy’s perspective. In this paper is postulated an Eco-Holonic Reference Architecture for its projection in the design of manufacturing systems metabolism with an adaptive, self-regulating and required variety structure and with a potential toolbox in the core knowledge of the holon throughout its life cycle.

UAV reveals substantial but heterogeneous effects of herbivores on Arctic vegetation

Understanding how herbivores shape plant biomass and distribution is a core challenge in ecology. Yet, the lack of suitable remote sensing technology limits our knowledge of temporal and spatial impacts of mammal herbivores in the Earth system. The regular interannual density fluctuations of voles and lemmings are exceptional with their large reduction of plant biomass in Arctic landscapes during peak years (12–24%) as previously shown at large spatial scales using satellites. This provides evidence that herbivores are important drivers of observed global changes in vegetation productivity. Here, we use a novel approach with repeated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights, to map vegetation impact by rodents, indicating that many important aspects of vegetation dynamics otherwise hidden by the coarse resolution of satellite images, including plant–herbivore interactions, can be revealed using UAVs. We quantify areas impacted by rodents at four complex Arctic landscapes with very high spatial resolution UAV imagery to get a new perspective on how herbivores shape Arctic ecosystems. The area impacted by voles and lemmings is indeed substantial, larger at higher altitude tundra environments, varies between habitats depending on local snow cover and plant community composition, and is heterogeneous even within habitats at submeter scales. Coupling this with spectral reflectance of vegetation (NDVI), we can show that the impact on central ecosystem properties like GPP and biomass is stronger than currently accounted for in Arctic ecosystems. As an emerging technology, UAVs will allow us to better disentangle important information on how herbivores maintain spatial heterogeneity, function and diversity in natural ecosystems.

Fungal Pathogens in Grasslands.

Grasslands are major primary producers and function as major components of important watersheds. Although a concise definition of grasslands cannot be given using a physiognomic or structural approach, grasslands can be described as vegetation communities experiencing periodical droughts and with canopies dominated by grasses and grass-like plants. Grasslands have a cosmopolitan distribution except for the Antarctic region. Fungal interactions with grasses can be pathogenic or symbiotic. Herbivorous mammals, insects, other grassland animals, and fungal pathogens are known to play important roles in maintaining the biomass and biodiversity of grasslands. Although most pathogenicity studies on the members of Poaceae have been focused on economically important crops, the plant-fungal pathogenic interactions involved can extend to the full range of ecological circumstances that exist in nature. Hence, it is important to delineate the fungal pathogen communities and their interactions in man-made monoculture systems and highly diverse natural ecosystems. A better understanding of the key fungal players can be achieved by combining modern techniques such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) together with studies involving classic phytopathology, taxonomy, and phylogeny. It is of utmost importance to develop experimental designs that account for the ecological complexity of the relationships between grasses and fungi, both above and below ground. In grasslands, loss in species diversity increases interactions such as herbivory, mutualism, predation or infectious disease transmission. Host species density and the presence of heterospecific host species, also affect the disease dynamics in grasslands. Many studies have shown that lower species diversity increases the severity as well as the transmission rate of fungal diseases. Moreover, communities that were once highly diverse but have experienced decreased species richness and dominancy have also shown higher pathogenicity load due to the relaxed competition, although this effect is lower in natural communities. This review addresses the taxonomy, phylogeny, and ecology of grassland fungal pathogens and their interactions in grassland ecosystems.

Environmental DNA metabarcoding primers for freshwater fish detection and quantification: In silico and in tanks.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques refer to utilizing the organisms’ DNA extracted from environment samples to genetically identify target species without capturing actual organisms. eDNA metabarcoding via high‐throughput sequencing can simultaneously detect multiple fish species from a single water sample, which is a powerful tool for the qualitative detection and quantitative estimates of multiple fish species. However, sequence counts obtained from eDNA metabarcoding may be influenced by many factors, of which primer bias is one of the foremost causes of methodological error. The performance of 18 primer pairs for COI, cytb, 12S rRNA, and 16S rRNA mitochondrial genes, which are all frequently used in fish eDNA metabarcoding, were evaluated in the current study. The ribosomal gene markers performed better than the protein‐coding gene markers during in silico screening, resulting in higher taxonomic coverage and appropriate barcode lengths. Four primer pairs—AcMDB07, MiFish‐U, Ve16S1, and Ve16S3—designed for various regions of the 12S and 16S rRNA genes were screened for tank metabarcoding in a case study targeting six freshwater fish species. The four primer pairs were able to accurately detect all six species in different tanks, while only MiFish‐U, Ve16S1, and Ve16S3 revealed a significant positive relationship between species biomass and read count for the pooled tank data. The positive relationship could not be found in all species within the tanks. Additionally, primer efficiency differed depending on the species while primer preferential species varied in different fish assemblages. This case study supports the potential for eDNA metabarcoding to assess species diversity in natural ecosystems and provides an alternative strategy to evaluate the performance of candidate primers before application of eDNA metabarcoding in natural ecosystems.

РОЛЬ ПРИРОДОЗНАВЧОЇ ОСВІТИ У ФОРМУВАННІ ЕКОЛОГІЧНОЇ КУЛЬТУРИ ОСОБИСТОСТІ

One of the main reasons for the priority of science education is the change of priorities in relation to person with his environment, the transition from anthropocentric to ecocentric environmental consciousness. Construction of the content of ecological education, formation of ecological culture is determined on the basis of a set of principles: philosophical and methodological, methodical and didactic and organizational and pedagogical. The new paradigm of higher education is organizationally embodied in multilevel and diversification. The semantic and technological components of the restoration of education have not yet been fully worked out, and therefore require in-depth study and psychological and pedagogical justification, without which new initiatives risk remaining more or less successful empirical inclusions in the traditional education system. The basic principles of innovative education can and should be the basis for the analysis of new functions and new content of science education. Within the new paradigm, science education can and should become a socially and personally significant factor, thanks to the huge content, cognitive, ideological and methodological potential of its foundations. The new paradigm of science education, based on its conceptually new principles, should, at the same time, contributes to reaching a qualitatively new level of the most important characteristic of modern education – its integrity. Preservation of the integrity and diversity of natural ecosystems is a condition for maintaining the spiritual and physical health of man, its biological existence. Therefore, there is a need to create a stable balance between human economic interests, on the one hand, and the preservation of its environment – on the other. A person must change himself to eliminate the existing priorities of the economy over the environment. To do this, it is necessary to fill the education system with new content, to form a knowledge base through which the individual and society as a whole could come to balance. The supra-subject and integrative nature of ecology and economy in many aspects determines their system-forming role in the educational process.