Dynamic Mosaic Research Articles

Research on Postproduction of Film and Television Based on Computer Multimedia Technology

In the postproduction of film and television, the fast movement of objects or camera shake will lead to an excessive selection of key frames, resulting in information redundancy and affecting the stability of postproduction videos and video-editing effects. Aiming at this problem, this paper proposes a method of film and television postproduction based on digital media technology. Firstly, the film and video shots are segmented to find out the changing scenes; secondly, the bottom feature vector of each image is formed according to the color space entropy, motion vector, and motion region, and the video key frame is extracted based on digital media technology; finally, the pixel label information is established in the key frame, and the feature points located in the foreground are removed, while the time feature matching points and spatial feature matching points in the background are left, so as to achieve dynamic video mosaic. The experimental results show that the film and television postproduction method based on digital media technology has strong advantages compared with other methods, which can improve the stability score of video and reduce the average stitching error.

Urban net primary production: Concepts, field methods, and Baltimore, Maryland, USA case study.

Given the large and increasing amount of urban, suburban, and exurban land use on Earth, there is a need to accurately assess net primary productivity (NPP) of urban ecosystems. However, the heterogeneous and dynamic urban mosaic presents challenges to the measurement of NPP, creating landscapes that may appear more similar to a savanna than to the native landscape replaced. Studies of urban biomass have tended to focus on one type of vegetation (e.g., lawns or trees). Yet a focus on the ecology of the city should include the entire urban ecosystem rather than the separate investigation of its parts. Furthermore, few studies have attempted to measure urban aboveground NPP (ANPP) using field-based methods. Most studies project growth rates from measurements of tree diameter to estimate annual ANPP or use remote sensing approaches. In addition, field-based methods for measuring NPP do not address any special considerations for adapting such field methods to urban landscapes. Frequent planting and partial or complete removal of herbaceous and woody plants can make it difficult to accurately quantify increments and losses of plant biomass throughout an urban landscape. In this study, we review how ANPP of urban landscapes can be estimated based on field measurements, highlighting the challenges specific to urban areas. We then estimated ANPP of woody and herbaceous vegetation over a 15-year period for Baltimore, MD, USA using a combination of plot-based field data and published values from the literature. Baltimore's citywide ANPP was estimated to be 355.8g m-2 , a result that we then put into context through comparison with other North American Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites and mean annual precipitation. We found our estimate of Baltimore citywide ANPP to be only approximately half as much (or less) than ANPP at forested LTER sites of the eastern United States, and more comparable to grassland, oldfield, desert, or boreal forest ANPP. We also found that Baltimore had low productivity for its level of precipitation. We conclude with a discussion of the significance of accurate assessment of primary productivity of urban ecosystems and critical future research needs.

Effects of Epiphytes on the Seagrass Phyllosphere

The seagrass phyllosphere consists of a dynamic mosaic of physico-chemical microgradients that modulate light harvesting, gas and nutrient exchange between the photosynthetic leaves and the surrounding water-column. The phyllosphere is thus of vital importance for seagrass growth and fitness. However, unfavorable environmental conditions such as water-column hypoxia, increasing temperature and high nutrient inputs that are predicted to increase in frequency and severity in the Anthropocene, can render the leaf microenvironment into a hostile microhabitat that is challenging or even harmful for the plants—especially if leaves are covered by epiphytic biofilms. Here we summarize effects of epiphytic biofilms on seagrass leaves and discuss how they change and affect the biogeochemical processes and chemical conditions in the seagrass phyllosphere. During night-time, water-column hypoxia can lead to anoxic conditions at the leaf/epiphyte interface, reducing diffusive O2supply and thus O2availability for plant respiration and transport to below-ground tissues. Furthermore, anoxia in epiphytic biofilms can also enable anaerobic microbial processes that can lead to harmful nitric oxide productionviadenitrification. Such microenvironmental stress conditions at night-time are exacerbated by increasing temperatures. In the light, the leaf epiphytic biofilm community often results in lower leaf photosynthetic activity and efficiency due to epiphyte-induced shading and a combination of O2build-up and CO2reduction in the phyllosphere owing to thicker total diffusional pathways, phyllosphere basification and epiphytic carbon fixation. Furthermore, absorbed light energy in the epiphytic biofilm can also drive an increase in the leaf surface temperature relative to the surrounding seawater potentially aggravating heating events in the surrounding seawater. In combination, all these above-mentioned diurnal effects of epiphytes result in higher compensation photon irradiance of epiphyte-covered leaves and thus higher light requirements of seagrasses.

Voltage-dependent anion channel proteins associate with dynamic Bamboo mosaic virus-induced complexes.

Infection cycles of viruses are highly dependent on membrane-associated host factors. To uncover the infection cycle of Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) in detail, we purified the membrane-associated viral complexes from infected Nicotiana benthamiana plants and analyzed the involved host factors. Four isoforms of voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) proteins on the outer membrane of mitochondria were identified due to their upregulated expression in the BaMV complex-enriched membranous fraction. Results from loss- and gain-of-function experiments indicated that NbVDAC2, -3, and -4 are essential for efficient BaMV accumulation. During BaMV infection, all NbVDACs concentrated into larger aggregates, which overlapped and trafficked with BaMV virions to the structure designated as the "dynamic BaMV-induced complex." Besides the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, BaMV replicase and double-stranded RNAs were also found in this complex, suggesting the dynamic BaMV-induced complex is a replication complex. Yeast two-hybrid and pull-down assays confirmed that BaMV triple gene block protein 1 (TGBp1) could interact with NbVDACs. Confocal microscopy revealed that TGBp1 is sufficient to induce NbVDAC aggregates, which suggests that TGBp1 may play a pivotal role in the NbVDAC-virion complex. Collectively, these findings indicate that NbVDACs may associate with the dynamic BaMV-induced complex via TGBp1 and NbVDAC2, -3, or -4 and can promote BaMV accumulation. This study reveals the involvement of mitochondrial proteins in a viral complex and virus infection.

Towards reconstructing rural landscapes: A case study of Italian Mongardino

This paper intends to propose an integrated methodology for reconstructing the rural landscape of Mongardino, a municipality in the cross-border area of the UNESCO Buffer Zone of the ‘Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato’. A multi-source approach was established to detect land use changes that occurred in its dynamic agricultural mosaic from the 17th century to date and intuiting future land-use variations. Qualitative comparisons have combined literature, historical maps from archives, repeated photo- and postcard-based research, statistical dataset interpretations and WebGIS surveys. This research has delineated the significance of historical studies to detect and interpret current matrices of change and build an enhanced comprehension of the evolutionary trajectories of a wine-growing landscape over time. Findings reveal that changes do not follow administrative boundaries but rather linear, non-linear, external and internal dynamics that are local and context-dependent. On the one hand, no asymmetries or prevailing trends have been found between the areas encompassed or not in the UNESCO Buffer Zone. On the other hand, land-use and historical permanencies are detected as indicators of integrity and qualifying landscape elements upon which to build rural strategies and policies for local-based landscape planning and management.

Plant Diversity in the Dynamic Mosaic Landscape of an Agricultural Heritage System: The Minabe-Tanabe Ume System

The Minabe-Tanabe Ume System in central Japan is defined as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. This study examined relationships between parcel-level plant diversity and land use, management, and development in traditional sloped Ume (Japanese apricot; Prunus mume) orchards and adjoining level orchards recently developed through large-scale cut-fill land development. We constructed and overlaid past (1974) and present (2015) digital land-use maps to assess land use and topography. We conducted field vegetation surveys in land parcels with different development and management histories. Although 249 ha (4.6% of the total 2015 area) were developed using cut-fill methods, 5148 ha remain a traditional orchard surrounded by coppice forests. Vegetation surveys and a two-way indicator species analysis revealed that traditional orchards had more native species and a higher plant diversity index. Cut-fill orchards contained a higher proportion of alien species; however, the degree depended on parcel history and management. Overall, this area remains a dynamic mosaic landscape containing a core of long-standing Ume orchards. We suggest that biodiversity conservation in this area should focus on conservation measures such as indirect land-use regulations, including some acceptable landform transformations, to promote continued farming of this ecologically important area.

Large-scale spatial patterns of small-mammal communities in the Mediterranean region revealed by Barn owl diet

Due to mainly opportunistic hunting behaviour of Barn owl can be its diet composition used for assessing local structure of small-mammal community. We evaluated the structure of small-mammal communities in the Mediterranean region by analysing Barn owl diet using own pellets and literature data (85 localities comprising 182,343 prey individuals). Contrary to widely accepted macroecological theory, we found a latitudinal increase of small-mammal alpha diversity, a less distinct west–east increase and lower diversity on islands. The mean prey weight decreased with increasing latitude, while on islands it decreased with increasing island area. The mean prey weight on islands was further negatively affected by mean land modification by human and positively affected by its range. The diet diversity on islands was not affected either by island area or its distance from the mainland. Its composition largely conformed to the main pattern pronounced over whole the region: an unexpected homogeneity of small-mammal community structure. Despite high beta diversity and large between-sample variation in species composition, Crocidura (+ Suncus etruscus) and murids (Apodemus, Mus, Rattus, in marginal regions partly replaced by gerbillids, Meriones or Microtus) composed more than 90% of owl prey in 92% of samples. Peak abundances of these widespread species are associated with a dynamic mosaic of dense patches of sparse herb vegetation and evergreen sclerophyllous shrublands interspersing areas of human activity, the dominant habitat of the inner Mediterranean and richest food resource for foraging Barn owls. The respective small-mammal species can be looked upon as invasive elements accompanying large scale human colonization of the region since the Neolithic and replacing original island biota. Our study documented that desertification of the Mediterranean played an important role in shaping inverse latitudinal gradient in diversity of small-mammals that contradicts to widely accepted mecroecological theory.

The stele - a developmental perspective on the diversity and evolution of primary vascular architecture.

The stele concept is one of the oldest enduring concepts in plant biology. Here, I review the history of the concept and build an argument for an updated view of steles and their evolution. Studies of stelar organization have generated a widely ranging array of definitions that determine the way we classify steles and construct scenarios about the evolution of stelar architecture. Because at the organismal level biological evolution proceeds by changes in development, concepts of structure need to be grounded in development to be relevant in an evolutionary perspective. For the stele, most traditional definitions that incorporate development have viewed it as the totality of tissues that either originate from procambium - currently the prevailing view - or are bordered by a boundary layer (e.g. endodermis). Consensus between these two perspectives can be reached by recasting the stele as a structural entity of dual nature. Following a brief review of the history of the stele concept, basic terminology related to stelar organization, and traditional classifications of the steles, I revisit boundary layers from the perspective of histogenesis as a dynamic mosaic of developmental domains. I review anatomical and molecular data to explore and reaffirm the importance of boundary layers for stelar organization. Drawing on information from comparative anatomy, developmental regulation, and the fossil record, I propose a stele concept that integrates both the boundary layer and the procambial perspectives, consistent with a dual nature of the stele. This dual stele model posits that stelar architecture is determined at the apical meristem by two major cell fate specification events: a first one that specifies a provascular domain and its boundaries, and a second event that specifies a procambial domain (which will mature into conducting tissues) from cell subpopulations of the provascular domain. If the position and extent of the developmental domains defined by the two events are determined by different concentrations of the same morphogen (most likely auxin), then the distribution of this organizer factor in the shoot apical meristem, as modulated by changes in axis size and the effect of lateral organs, can explain the different stelar configurations documented among tracheophytes. This model provides working hypotheses that incorporate assumptions and generate implications that can be tested empirically. The model also offers criteria for an updated classification of steles in line with current understanding of plant development. In this classification, steles fall into two major categories determined by the configuration of boundary layers: boundary protosteles and boundary siphonosteles, each with subtypes defined by the architecture of the vascular tissues. Validation of the dual stele model and, more generally, in-depth understanding of the regulation of stelar architecture, will necessitate targeted efforts in two areas: (i) the regulation of procambium, vascular tissue, and boundary layer specification in all extant vascular plants, considering that most of the diversity in stelar architecture is hosted by seed-free plants, which are the least explored in terms of developmental regulation; (ii) the configuration of vascular tissues and, especially, boundary layers, in as many extinct lineages as possible.

EROSÃO COSTEIRA NO MUNICÍPIO DE BARRA DE SANTO ANTÔNIO, LITORAL NORTE DE ALAGOAS

Os ambientes costeiros configuram mosaicos bastante dinâmicos em constante transformação, com equilíbrio muito tênue em relação a modificações. De um modo geral, a ocupação do pós-praia e a retirada da vegetação rasteira acarretam mudanças na morfodinâmica, processos que foram identificados no município de Barra de Santo Antônio, no litoral norte de Alagoas. Para analisar esses processos foram utilizados geoindicadores, identificados em campo, o que possibilitou a caracterização e setorização dos processos mapeados. Foram delimitados oito setores, classificados segundo a tendência erosiva e/ouintensidade de processos já iniciados. A metodologia mostrou-se promissora, fornecendo dados que poderão ser refinados em estudos futuros. Dessa forma, o presente estudo visou à oferta de dados que possam auxiliar os gestores e órgãos competentes na tomada de decisão, bem como chamar a atenção para esse tema no município, estimulando ações e discussões sobre o planejamento territorial no processo de ocupação e uso das terras
 Palavras-chave: linha de costa, Barra de Santo Antônio, dinâmica costeira, morfodinâmica praial.

Study on Dynamic Intelligent Update Mosaic Considering the Mosaic Line Generation of Ground Features

Study on Dynamic Intelligent Update Mosaic Considering the Mosaic Line Generation of Ground Features

Elasmobranch Use of Nearshore Estuarine Habitats Responds to Fine-Scale, Intra-Seasonal Environmental Variation: Observing Coastal Shark Density in a Temperate Estuary Utilizing Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Many coastal shark species are known to use estuaries of the coastal southeastern United States for essential purposes like foraging, reproducing, and protection from predation. Temperate estuarine landscapes, such as the Rachel Carson Reserve (RCR) in Beaufort, NC, are dynamic habitat mosaics that experience fluctuations in physical and chemical oceanographic properties on various temporal and spatial scales. These patterns in abiotic conditions play an important role in determining species movement. The goal of this study was to understand the impact of environmental conditions around the RCR on shark density within the high-abundance summer season. Unoccupied Aircraft System (UAS) surveys of coastal habitats within the reserve were used to quantify shark density across varying environmental conditions. A combination of correlation analyses and Generalized Linear Modelling (GLM) revealed that density differs substantially across study sites and increases with rising water temperatures, conclusions that are supported by previous work in similar habitats. Additionally, density appears to increase moving towards dawn and dusk, potentially supporting crepuscular activity in coastal estuarine areas. By describing shark density dynamics in the RCR, this study provides new information on this population and presents a novel framework for studying elasmobranchs in temperate estuaries.

The effect of coppicing on insect biodiversity. Small-scale mosaics of successional stages drive community turnover

Most European temperate woodlands are managed as high forests by clear-cutting or selective cutting. Such forests are shady environments, providing limited opportunities for light-demanding woodland associated organisms. Coppicing has been identified as a suitable tool for biodiversity conservation, because it leads to a spatially and temporally dynamic mosaic of open and closed-canopy successional stages. However, the number of studies on insects is still limited in this respect, and cross-taxon comparisons are needed.We analysed the effect of the successional stage of coppice (time since last felling of coppice layer) on butterflies, moths, and saproxylic beetles, in floodplain coppice-with-standards woods dominated by oak (Quercus robur) and ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) in Lower Austria. We compared species richness, community composition, and life-history traits of the target groups among four stages of coppice: (i) Freshly cut: stands in the first season after felling; (ii) Young coppice: stands 3–7 years after felling; (iii) Mid-aged: advanced stage in 10–15 years after felling with dense undergrowth and high canopy closure; and (iv) Mature: latest stage of coppice, 30–40 years old.We found differences in species richness of butterflies and moths among the stages. Butterfly richness peaked in young coppice and was lowest in dense mid-aged stage. Moth richness was higher in late stages (mid-aged and mature) than in early ones (freshly cut and young). There was no effect on richness of saproxylic beetles. Species compositions of moths and beetles, however, differed among the stages, with the most pronounced difference between early and late stages. The successional stage affected composition of life-history traits of all study groups, showing that the particular stages are exploited by species with different functional/ecological associations to their habitat or by different trophic guilds.The results show that the diversity of all three target groups profited from coppicing. The small-scale mosaic of successional stages created by coppicing supports the existence of diversified communities of insects with both light-demanding and shade-tolerant species. Conservation managers may set variable rotation lengths in order to support threatened species associated with particular stages. In order to further support diversity of saproxylic beetles, conservation management should prioritize maintaining coppice-with-standards woods over simple coppices, some of the standards should be retained to become potential veteran trees in the future, coppice stools should be kept relatively high, and some of the felled trees or larger branches may be left in place on the ground for decay.

Assessing the habitat suitability of paddy fields for avian indicators based on hydropedological parameters of the wet agricultural soil along the Cauvery delta basin, India

Paddy fields provide a broad range of habitats to wintering waterbirds as natural wetlands have declined worldwide. However, the intensification of farming practices has altered the microclimates of the wet agricultural soil, the composition of soil invertebrates, thus indirectly affecting the avifauna. This study evaluated the importance of paddy fields as wintering grounds for two avian indicators Asian openbill stork (Anastomus oscitans), and the Black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) along the Cauvery delta basin, widely known as the granary of Tamil Nadu, South India. Several stretches of this agricultural belt have recorded a drastic reduction in crop cover thereby threatening the species that forage these mosaics. This entire delta region is under threat and is increasingly shrinking due to indiscriminate sand mining activities causing irreparable damage to soil, fauna, and agriculture. The erratic monsoons have forced wading species to initiate long migrations in response to climatic adaptations, thus impairing the existing population. The present study focused on the abundance patterns of two wading birds and their association with the hydropedological parameters of the flooded soil along the deltaic dynamic mosaic. The relative abundance of the avifauna was documented for 24 months using unlimited radius point counts. The hydropedological parameters recorded were pH, electrical conductivity, total alkalinity, calcium carbonate, organic matter, total organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, chloride, sodium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, moisture, the particle size distribution of sand, silt and clay, water holding capacity, and bulk density. The results indicate that paddy fields are excellent habitat for A. oscitans and T. melanocephalus and are strongly influenced by landscape characteristics, availability of feeding grounds, and hydropedological parameters of the wet soil. Among the hydropedological parameters, organic matter and nitrogen exhibited a negative correlation and the percent silt content showed a positive correlation to A. oscitans. Similarly, T. melanocephalus showed a negative correlation to chloride and sodium, and a positive correlation to nitrogen. The contrasting effects of hydropedological parameters could be explained by differential thermal tolerance levels and metabolic requirements of the species or may be mediated by changes in the macrofaunal composition. The wet agricultural soil exhibited fewer differences across salinity classes, particle size distribution especially silt and clay, organic matter, total organic carbon, pH and bulk density, and greater differences among calcium content, water holding capacity, the particle size distribution of sand, and electrical conductivity across delta zones. Our study highlights the need to consider hydropedological factors of the wet paddy soil when selecting conservation sites on agro-landscapes for migratory wetland birds. Agricultural policies should aim at considering these cultural landscapes along the delta region as high nature value avian farmlands under the protected agricultural Cauvery zone network to sustain biodiversity and vital ecosystem services of birds in the paddy fields.

Beaver-induced spatiotemporal patch dynamics affect landscape-level environmental heterogeneity

Beavers (Castor sp.) are ecosystem engineers that cause significant changes to their physical environment and alter the availability of resources to other species. We studied flood dynamics created by American beaver (C. canadensis K.) in a southern boreal landscape in Finland in 1970–2018. We present for the first time, to our knowledge, a temporally continuous long-term study of beaver-induced flood disturbances starting from the appearance of beaver in the area. During the 49 years, the emergence of new sites flooded by beaver and repeated floods (61% of the sites) formed a dynamic mosaic characterized by clustered patterns of beaver sites. As beaver dispersal proceeded, connectivity of beaver sites increased significantly. The mean flood duration was approximately three years, which highlights the importance of datasets with high-temporal resolution in detecting beaver-induced disturbances. An individual site was often part of the active flood mosaic over several decades, although the duration and the number of repeated floods at different sites varied considerably. Variation of flood-inundated and post-flood phases at individual sites resulted in a cumulative number of unique patches that contribute to environmental heterogeneity in space and time. A disturbance mosaic consisting of patches differing by successional age and flood history is likely to support species richness and abundance of different taxa and facilitate whole species communities. Beavers are thus a suitable means to be used in restoration of riparian habitat due to their strong and dynamic influence on abiotic environment and its biotic consequences.

A small‐tiled geographic mosaic of coevolution between Eurosta solidaginis and its natural enemies and host plant

AbstractWe identified a geographic mosaic of Eurosta solidaginis fly traits produced by coevolution of the stem gall‐forming fly with both its natural enemies and its host plants at small geographic scales in the presence of gene flow. These tritrophic interactions between the fly with its natural enemies and with its host‐plant Solidago altissima produced what has been termed a small‐tiled geographic mosaic of coevolution. Selection on gall diameter and length varies between prairie and forest habitats due to differences in host plants and natural‐enemy communities. At the prairie–forest ecotone where prairie and forest habitats are intermixed, we found that geographic selection mosaics on gall diameter and length varied on a scale of a few kilometers. Gall diameter variation among sites correlated with selection on gall diameters, indicating local adaptation. In contrast, gall lengths did not correlate with selection, indicating that gene flow may have prevented local adaptation of this trait. Eastern (forest) and western (prairie) subspecies of E. solidaginis have been proposed based on fly wing patterns, and these had intermediate forms in the ecotone indicating gene flow between these subspecies. Variation in wing patterns correlated with gall diameter, indicating that gene flow between prairie and forest fly populations may influence the distribution of gall traits. The ratio of forest to prairie vegetation increases with latitude, but there was no indication of latitudinal clines in gall or wing traits. Our results indicate that selection for differentiation in coevolved traits is strong enough to overcome gene flow in small tiles of habitat. The result is that ecological forces produce a dynamic mosaic of genetically differentiated locally adapted populations. It also indicates that prairie and forest host races of E. solidaginis form a mosaic hybrid zone in this region.

Conceptualizing alternate regimes in a large floodplain-river ecosystem: Water clarity, invasive fish, and floodplain vegetation

Regime shifts - persistent changes in the structure and function of an ecosystem - are well-documented for some ecosystems and have informed research and management of these ecosystems. In floodplain-river ecosystems, there is growing interest from restoration practitioners in ecological resilience, yet regime shifts remain poorly understood in these ecosystems. To understand how regime shifts may apply to floodplain-river ecosystems, we synthesize our understanding of ecosystem dynamics using an alternate regimes conceptual framework. We present three plausible sets of alternate regimes relevant to natural resource management interests within the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois River. These alternate regimes include: 1) a clear water and abundant vegetation regime vs. a turbid water and sparse vegetation regime in lentic, off-channel areas, 2) a diverse native fish community regime vs. an invasive-dominated fish community regime, and 3) a regime characterized by a diverse and dynamic mosaic of floodplain vegetation types vs. one characterized as a persistent invasive wet meadow monoculture. For each set of potential alternate regimes, we review available literature to synthesize known or hypothesized feedback mechanisms that reinforce regimes, controlling variables that drive regime transitions, and current restoration pathways. Our conceptual models provide preliminary support for the existence of alternate regimes in floodplain-river ecosystems. Quantitatively testing hypotheses contained within the conceptual model are important next steps in evaluating the model. Ultimately, the synthesis and evaluation of alternate regimes can inform the utility of resilience concepts in restoration and management on the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois River and improve our understanding of ecosystem dynamics in other large, heavily managed floodplain-river ecosystems.

Species traits, patch turnover and successional dynamics: when does intermediate disturbance favour metapopulation occupancy?

BackgroundIn fragmented landscapes, natural and anthropogenic disturbances coupled with successional processes result in the destruction and creation of habitat patches. Disturbances are expected to reduce metapopulation occupancy for species associated with stable habitats, but they may benefit species adapted to transitory habitats by maintaining a dynamic mosaic of successional stages. However, while early-successional species may be favoured by very frequent disturbances resetting successional dynamics, metapopulation occupancy may be highest at intermediate disturbance levels for species with mid-successional habitat preferences, though this may be conditional on species traits and patch network characteristics. Here we test this ‘intermediate disturbance hypothesis’ applied to metapopulations (MIDH), using stochastic patch occupancy simulation modelling to assess when does intermediate disturbance favour metapopulation occupancy. We focused on 54 virtual species varying in their habitat preferences, dispersal abilities and local extinction and colonization rates. Long-term metapopulation dynamics was estimated in landscapes with different habitat amounts and patch turnover rates (i.e. disturbance frequency).ResultsEquilibrium metapopulation occupancy by late-successional species strongly declined with increasing disturbance frequency, while occupancy by early-successional species increased with disturbance frequency at low disturbance levels and tended to level-off thereafter. Occupancy by mid-successional species tended to increase along with disturbance frequency at low disturbance levels and declining thereafter. Irrespective of habitat preferences, occupancy increased with the amount of habitat, and with species dispersal ability and colonisation efficiency.ConclusionsOur study suggests that MIDH is verified only for species associated with mid-successional habitats. These species may be particularly sensitive to land use changes causing either increases or decreases in disturbance frequency. This may be the case, for instance, of species associated with traditional agricultural and pastoral mosaic landscapes, where many species disappear either through intensification or abandonment processes that change disturbance frequency.

Atypical Amygdala-Neocortex Interaction During Dynamic Facial Expression Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Atypical reciprocal social interactions involving emotional facial expressions are a core clinical feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have demonstrated that some social brain regions, including subcortical (e.g., amygdala) and neocortical regions (e.g., fusiform gyrus, FG) are less activated during the processing of facial expression stimuli in individuals with ASD. However, the functional networking patterns between the subcortical and cortical regions in processing emotional facial expressions remain unclear. We investigated this issue in ASD (n = 31) and typically developing (TD; n = 31) individuals using fMRI. Participants viewed dynamic facial expressions of anger and happiness and their corresponding mosaic images. Regional brain activity analysis revealed reduced activation of several social brain regions, including the amygdala, in the ASD group compared with the TD group in response to dynamic facial expressions vs. dynamic mosaics (p < 0.05, = 0.19). Dynamic causal modeling (DCM) analyses were then used to compare models with forward, backward, and bi-directional effective connectivity between the amygdala and neocortical networks. The results revealed that: (1) the model with effective connectivity from the amygdala to the neocortex best fit the data of both groups; and (2) the same model best accounted for group differences. Coupling parameter (i.e., effective connectivity) analyses showed that the modulatory effects of dynamic facial processing were substantially weaker in the ASD group than in the TD group. These findings suggest that atypical modulation from the amygdala to the neocortex underlies impairment in social interaction involving dynamic facial expressions in individuals with ASD.

Flow intermittence in river networks: understanding the ecohydrological diversity of aquatic–terrestrial ecosystems

Temporary streams comprise dynamic mosaics of lotic, lentic and terrestrial habitats and dominate global river networks, occurring across regions with contrasting climate types. Recent advances in our ecohydrological understanding of temporary streams have focused on systems in arid, semi-arid and mediterranean climates. In this special issue, we present new temporary stream research from underrepresented regions, primarily cool, wet temperate climates but also continental central Europe and the mediterranean-climate region of South Africa. We bring together observational case studies, laboratory experiments, and field surveys spanning surface water and groundwater habitats. Papers within the special issue explore ecological responses to flow intermittence; examine biodiversity patterns of rare and endemic species at broad spatial scales; characterize diverse responses to drying events within and among populations; demonstrate the value of long-term observational data in understanding the hydrological drivers that underpin biotic responses; and present opportunities to improve temporary stream monitoring and management. Collectively, these contributions complement dryland research to advance global understanding of temporary stream ecohydrology. However, the terrestrial communities that inhabit dry channels remain a notable research gap, which we address in a review of global literature. As global change causes an increase in their extent across climate regions, we urge researchers and stakeholders to collaborate to implement recommendations that address the challenges associated with the effective management of temporary streams as aquatic–terrestrial ecosystems.

Farm and land system dynamics in the Mediterranean: Integrating different spatial-temporal scales and management approaches

The Mediterranean (macro-)region is characterized by its unique bio-physical, socio-political, and cultural conditions when considered at the global scale. Nonetheless, at the same time this is an extremely heterogeneous and diverse region, as is reflected in the heterogeneous and dynamic mosaic of farm and land systems developed along a long history throughout which they have tightly adapted to the frequent scarcity and irregularity of natural resources. Such long-scale trajectory of adaptation has resulted in a wide range of traditional rural and peri-urban landscapes hosting a rich biodiversity and bearing multiple social and cultural values. Throughout recent history, and especially over the past two decades, Mediterranean farm and land use systems have been undergoing multiple transition processes, resulting in many current landscapes gradually becoming more homogeneous and intensified, whilst others are being abandoned. It has now become self-evident that both trajectories of change are evolving at unequal rates and scales across the region. This process too frequently leads to the degradation of the valuable cultural, social, territorial and natural capital of the region. This demands urgent and innovative initiatives, either private, public or mixed, that are effective to reverse current trends of degradation, and move towards higher degrees of sustainability and resilience.The aim of this Special Issue is to synthesize and critically review key elements current research on farm and land system dynamics in the Mediterranean region, and to discuss land use management and governance frameworks in place at multiple spatial-temporal scales and institutional levels to foster increased sustainability and resilience. Papers in this SI address historic and envisaged future changes in the region, focusing on the complexity of interactions at the farm and landscape levels. Furthermore, papers in the SI also address the role and interactions with non-farming-related land uses (i.e. urban and/or conservation). The SI covers key contexts, conceptual frameworks, challenges, approaches, methods and alternatives in place to provide with a picture of the current situation and, more importantly, of likely potential pathways for the future improvements. The need for further integration across scales, methods and approaches is finally acknowledged.