Ecological Characterization Research Articles

Phylogenetic exploration, codon usage bias, and genomic divergence in Hydrocotyle: a comparative plastome study across different geographical locations.

Hydrocotyle himalaica from Bhutan, a perennial herb that thrives from 1500 to 2600m, possesses both ecological importance and medicinal properties. The plastome analysis revealed a length of 153,383bp, showing variation from conspecific taxa in China. Its standard structure comprises two IR regions (18,336bp IRa and 18,336bp IRb), an LSC region of 97,944bp, and an SSC region of 18,767bp, with a GC content of 37.63%. Non-coding regions showed higher mutation susceptibility, with Pi values from 0.006 to 0.107. An AT-rich codon bias was consistent across all 18 Hydrocotyle species. Nucleotide composition and GC% in coding sequences differed among the species. The codon preference in Hydrocotyle is shaped by multiple factors, with natural selection being the primary influence, as indicated by the ENC-plot, PR2-plot, and Neutrality-plot. Codon usage patterns varied, with RSCU values from 0 to 2.23. Codons ending in A or U had RSCU > 1, while those ending in C or G had RSCU < 1. GC2 content surpassed GC3 and GC1 in most genes. The phylogenetic analysis placed H. himalaica, sourced from Kanglung, Bhutan, within the monophyly of the Hydrocotyloideae subfamily. However, the species showed weaker bootstrap support (BS < 50) with H. javanica and H. hookeri subsp., a deviation from a prior report on the same species from Jiangkou, Guizhou, China. This analysis highlighted the genomic characteristics and evolutionary relationships of H. himalaica from Bhutan, underscoring the need for a comprehensive phylogenetic, ecological, and botanical characterization to confirm intra-specific variation within Hydrocotyle species.

Phylogeny, morphology, and behavior of the new ciliate species Stentor stipatus.

The study of evolution at the cellular level traditionally has focused on the evolution of metabolic pathways, endomembrane systems, and genomes, but there has been increasing interest in evolution of more complex cellular structures and behaviors, particularly in the eukaryotes. Ciliates have major advantages for such studies due to their easily visible surface patterning and their dramatic and complex behaviors that can be easily analyzed. Among the ciliates, the genus Stentor epitomizes the features that are useful for studying evolution: they are widespread in freshwater environments, easy to visualize because of their large size, and capable of complex behaviors such as learning, decision-making, and phototaxis. Here, we introduce the discovery of a new species within this genus: Stentor stipatus, so named for their distinctive dark brown aggregates. We present morphological, phylogenetic, ecological, and behavioral characterizations of these cells. The S. stipatus clade has a bootstrap value of 93 and is phylogenetically distinct from S. amethystinus, the closest related species which shares a sequence similarity of 98.9%. S. stipatus is capable of phototaxis and can also habituate more quickly than S. coeruleus, the Stentor species in which most habituation studies have previously been conducted. These findings expand our understanding of Stentor species diversity, natural history, and demonstrate common principles of complex behavior that are present in single-celled organisms.

Wild Edible Plant Species in the ‘King’s Lagoon’ Coastal Wetland: Survey, Collection, Mapping and Ecological Characterization

Wild edible plants, botanically defined as phytoalimurgical species, have historically been a useful source of food to cope with recurrent famines and poor farming conditions. If properly identified, harvested, transformed and promoted, alimurgical plants could further enhance the wellbeing of rural and urban communities and the multifunctional productivity of agriculture. The research aimed to survey alimurgical species in a wetland, map their location, detect their spatial richness, and develop a monitoring plan for ongoing vegetation succession. The study area is the King’s Lagoon, a wetland that has recently undergone a radical restoration of its natural layout. A satellite image was used to create a land cover map and interpret the relationship between plant species and land cover. The survey provided a snapshot of the wetland’s current ecosystem status and used botanical analysis and ecological indices to investigate biodiversity levels. The alpha, beta and gamma levels of biodiversity were explored and interpreted through the statistical processing of a comprehensive dataset of species occurrence and abundance, together with the calculation of Shannon’s, Simpson’s and Jaccard’s indices. It was observed that biodiversity in the wetland is developing gradually following restoration and is expected to increase over time as successional stages take hold. Biodiversity is more pronounced along the banks of the canals and watercourses connecting the basins and open ponds, while it is less pronounced in areas where the soil has been disturbed by previous excavations. Salicornia spp., Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima and Suaeda vera were identified as the most common and interesting species found in the study area. The potential for cultivation of some of the halophyte species that were monitored was also highlighted, with particular reference to the selection of the most commercially interesting species, the best species associations and intercropping practices in a wetland context, which must always prioritize the conservation of wild biodiversity. The spring surveys should be repeated in the coming years in order to accurately trace the dynamics of the ecological succession of this particular ecosystem, once it has returned to its natural development.

Distribution and ecology of shallow-water black corals across a depth gradient on Galápagos rocky reefs

AbstractAntipathes galapagensis is a prevalent habitat-forming black coral in subtidal ecosystems of the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR). Despite their ecological importance and status as a CITES-regulated order, little is known about their depth distribution, population structure and ecology in the GMR. Surveys were conducted in 2021 and 2022 at 9 sites in the central Galápagos Archipelago to investigate how black coral densities, occupancy, size, habitat utilization, and epizoan overgrowth varied between 2.0 and 20.0 m depth. The shallowest black corals occurred at 3.4 m depth, one of the shallowest occurrences of an Antipathes spp. in the world. Coral density increased with depth, with a maximum density of 5.2 colonies per m2 observed across the depth range surveyed. Occupancy modeling also yielded curves with increasing probabilities of black coral presence with depth at all sites. Colony height increased with depth at 8 out of 9 sites and was positively correlated with coral density at 6 of 9 sites. Overall, 47% of colonies surveyed occupied cryptic habitats and 53% were attached to exposed substrate, but black coral habitat usage patterns varied with depth at 5 of 9 sites. At these sites, colonies on shallower transects (5.0, 10.0 m depth) more frequently displayed cryptic habitat usage while colonies along the deeper transects (15.0, 20.0 m) were more often exposed. In general, coral density, probability of occupancy, height, and exposed habitat utilization increased with depth, while the average degree of overgrowth and number of epibiont taxa were unrelated to depth. Five hypotheses regarding factors potentially limiting the shallow (upper) depth distribution of A. galapagensis—ranging from negative impacts of the physical environment to high predation on exposed substrates—are presented for future testing. These results provide a comprehensive ecological characterization of Galápagos black coral populations that can be used to assess the impact of future environmental change and applied to management decisions for this key marine foundation species in the GMR.

Molecular and cytogenetic analyses in Geranium macrorrhizum L. wild Italian plants.

Geranium macrorrhizum L. is a herbaceous species native to southern Europe and was introduced in central Europe and North America. It is also widely distributed in Italy. In this study, molecular and cytogenetic analyses were carried out on 22 wild plants, collected in central and southern Italy, compared with five cultivated plants, with the main purpose to identify those living near the Marmore waterfalls in central Italy, recently described as the new species Geranium lucarinii. Four barcoding markers (rbcL, matK, trnH-psbA intergenic spacer and internal transcribed spacer region) were sequenced and their variability among the plants was evaluated. Chromosome numbers were determined and 45S rDNA was physically mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Moreover, genomic affinity between wild and cultivated plants was evaluated by genomic in situ hybridization. The results of this study supported that all the plants belong to G. macrorrhizum, including the Marmore population. Barcoding analyses showed a close similarity among the wild plants, and a differentiation, although not significant, between the wild plants on one hand and the cultivated plants on the other. Integrated studies focusing on morphological, genetic and ecological characterization of a larger number of wild populations would allow us to know the extent of the variability within the species.

Regulation of nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation bacteria by available phosphorus and microbial communities in lake sediments of cold and arid regions

As global anthropogenic nitrogen inputs continue to rise, nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (N-DAMO) plays an increasingly significant role in CH4 consumption in lake sediments. However, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the effects of anthropogenic activities on N-DAMO bacteria in lakes in the cold and arid regions. Sediment samples were collected from five sampling areas in Lake Ulansuhai at varying depth ranges (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm). The ecological characterization and niche differentiation of N-DAMO bacteria were investigated using bioinformatics and molecular biology techniques. Quantitative PCR confirmed the presence of N-DAMO bacteria in Lake Ulansuhai sediments, with 16S rRNA gene abundances ranging from 1.72 × 104 to 5.75 × 105 copies·g−1 dry sediment. The highest abundance was observed at the farmland drainage outlet with high available phosphorus (AP). Anthropogenic disturbances led to a significant increase in the abundance of N-DAMO bacteria, though their diversity remained unaffected. The heterogeneous community of N-DAMO bacteria was affected by interactions among various environmental characteristics, with AP and oxidation-reduction potential identified as the key drivers in this study. The Mantel test indicated that the N-DAMO bacterial abundance was more readily influenced by the presence of the denitrification genes (nirS and nirK). Network analysis revealed that the community structure of N-DAMO bacteria generated numerous links (especially positive links) with microbial taxa involved in carbon and nitrogen cycles, such as methanogens and nitrifying bacteria. In summary, N-DAMO bacteria exhibited sensitivity to both environmental and microbial factors under various human disturbances. This study provides valuable insights into the distribution patterns of N-DAMO bacteria and their roles in nitrogen and carbon cycling within lake ecosystems.

Taxonomic and ecological characterization of three symmetric biraphid diatom species from streams in Cyprus

Taxonomic and ecological characterization of three symmetric biraphid diatom species from streams in Cyprus

Great Salt Lake wetland vegetation and what it tells us about environmental gradients, drought, and disturbance

Great Salt Lake (GSL) wetlands support more than 300 species of migratory birds and provide many ecosystem functions, including flood and drought attenuation, dust mitigation, and water quality improvement. Wetland vegetation is a key factor in providing those services and can also tell us about how healthy a wetland is. From 2103 to 2022, 135 GSL wetlands were surveyed to develop a multi-metric index of GSL wetland condition. That wetland condition data, along with environmental variables like soil and water chemistry and physical disturbance, are summarized here as 1) an ecological characterization of the three main types of GSL wetlands, 2) a description of how the plant community differs across environmental and anthropogenic disturbance gradients, and 3) assessment of the major risks to GSL wetland health. GSL wetland plant species are generally resistant to environmental disturbance because of the anatomical and physical adaptations that allow them to survive in dynamic wetland environments. However, land use conversion and the rapid expansion of invasive species, the major threats to GSL wetland health, have seriously degraded wetland condition around GSL. In addition to being useful in wetland monitoring and assessment, the results presented here can also identify wetlands in need of enhanced protection or those with restoration potential as well as setting realistic wetland restoration goals for the region.

Mapping and ecological characterization of thorny plant formations of the Eburnean basement in Togo

La présente étude, réalisée dans le paysage du socle éburnéen au Togo, vise à contribuer à une meilleure conservation des habitats naturels résilients aux effets néfastes du changement climatique. De déterminer la répartition des formations à épineux sur le socle éburnéen ; Caractériser l’écologie des formations à épineux du socle éburnéen. L’approche méthodologique basée sur l’analyse multicritère couplée aux évaluations physiques sur, a confirmé l’importance des outils SIG-télédétection dans la cartographie des habitats des formations à épineux. Elle a permis de visualiser les habitats potentiels des formations végétales à épineux. Les analyses des données révèlent que 13349,147 ha (10,54%), 67461,744 ha (53,28%), et 45805,298 ha (36,17%) correspondent respectivement aux habitats très favorables, favorables et peu favorables à la conservation et à la restauration écologique des écosystèmes à dominance épineux. La corrélation R2 (0,69) entre données d’observations spatiales et données de vérifications sur site est supérieure à 0,5. Un total de 49 espèces ligneuses réparties en 41 genres et 21 familles sont recensées suivant les trois habitats suite à un échantillonnage aléatoire dans 35 relevés de 1 ha par relevé. La gestion des formations à épineux peut être étendue par la promotion de l’agroforesterie qui constitue un bon compromis entre l’agriculture et le terroir dans un contexte de nécessité de la gestion efficace des formations et des sols.

A landscape-based ecological hazard evaluation and characterization of influencing factors in Laos

The study of the spatiotemporal evolution of landscape ecological hazard and human and natural influences is essential for conservative management and regional sustainable development. This study applied a landscape pattern analysis method and geodetector to multi-source data for 2000, 2010, and 2020 to analyze changes in and drivers of landscape ecological hazard in Laos. The results indicated that: (1) There were more prominent changes in landscape types in Laos. Forest area decreased, whereas the areas of other landscape types increased. There was an overall steady change in the landscape patterns of Laos. Besides for significant changes in the artificial surface landscape index, landscape indices remained stable; (2) The cumulative high and extreme ecological hazard areas increased by 1,947.81 km2, whereas the cumulative areas of low and minimal ecological hazard decreased by 8,461.8 km2. Areas of low and moderate ecological hazard accounted for &amp;gt; 85% of the total area. Areas of low ecological hazard were mainly in the northwest and southeast. The area of high ecological hazard was concentrated in the central and northeastern regions. The distributions of different landscape ecological hazards in Laos during the study period were similar, with general patterns of decreasing hazard from north to south; (3) A positive Moran’s I of landscape ecological hazard in Laos was obtained. While the agglomeration effect was pronounced, it decreased over time, resulting in a weakening in spatial autocorrelation. A significant positive autocorrelation was observed in the spatial distribution of landscape ecological hazard in the study area. Agglomerated areas of high and low ecological hazard were mainly concentrated in the northeast and southeast, respectively; (4) The spatiotemporal evolution of landscape ecological hazard in Laos over the last 20 years could be attributed to interactions between natural and anthropogenic influences. Natural influences were a significant driver of changes to landscape ecological hazard in Laos, with annual precipitation and average temperature being the most significant. Anthropogenic influences, including socioeconomic factors and regional accessibility, significantly impacted local ecological deterioration in Laos.

Ecological and genomic characterization of a remarkable natural heritage: a mesophotic ‘giant’ Paramuricea clavata forest

Paramuricea clavata is an ecosystem engineer, structuring hard bottom communities in the Mediterranean Sea, from 10 to 200 m depth. For more than 2 decades, shallow populations of P. clavata have been impacted by marine heatwaves, resulting in massive mortality events. Recently, a new dense population characterized by the tallest colonies ever recorded (up to 1.80 m) in the Mediterranean Sea was discovered between 50 and 60 m depth. Here, we analyzed the size and genetic structure of this ‘deep giant population’ and conducted a reciprocal transplant experiment with a shallow population inhabiting the same area to test for local adaptation. The experiment showed no significant difference in the survival rate despite the high temperatures registered in the shallow area. Nevertheless, we observed a significant differentiation by depth in this area, with low estimates of gene flow. The particular local oceanographic conditions could lead to a relative isolation of the population. In conclusion, the reduced connectivity of this newly discovered giant population with shallower ones questions its potential role as a climate refuge. Additionally, this population constitutes a unique natural heritage site that should be effectively protected from physical impacts and other direct consequences of anthropogenic activities.

Ecological Characterization of a Lacustrine Environment of Community Interest: Case of Lake Kossou (Ivory Coast)

Ecological Characterization of a Lacustrine Environment of Community Interest: Case of Lake Kossou (Ivory Coast)

The Zambia Rift Valley research project: Exploring human evolution at the crossroads of Africa

Key evolutionary events in hominin evolution occurred between 3.5 and 2.4 Ma, including the origins of flaked tool technology and the first appearance of the genera Homo and Paranthropus. This period remains poorly understood, however, because deposits of this age are rarely exposed across Africa. The Luangwa River Valley of eastern Zambia is part of the southernmost extension of the East African Rift System; a fossil femur from South Luangwa, identified as Theropithecus cf.darti, hints at the presence of fossiliferous beds of this age in the Luangwa Valley. Additionally, Middle Pleistocene fossils and Early and Middle Stone Age artifacts have also been recovered in sediments adjacent to the Luangwa River. Fossils from these deposits could contribute data on the diversification of hominins and mammals that occurred during the Plio-Pleistocene. The Luangwa River also supports a rich modern mammalian community that represents a critical analogue for reconstructing hominin paleoenvironments. However, no systematic ecological characterizations of living or past mammalian communities of the Luangwa River Valley have been completed. The newly initiated Zambia Rift Valley Research Project (ZRVRP) will analyze the ecology of modern and fossil Luangwa River mammalian and human communities using dental microwear, enamel and collagen isotopic composition, the distribution of bones, fossils, and vegetation on the landscape, and archaeological materials. Patterns of paleoenvironmental change, climatic seasonality, and hominin landscape use over time will provide important comparative context for other Plio-Pleistocene sites. Here, we describe the goals, methods, and community engagement of the ZRVRP, and some challenges involved in launching new paleoanthropological field research.

Ecological characterisation of the mycotoxin Alternariol in the green mass of spring wheat and white mustard under the conditions of the Moscow region

The article presents the results of the study of the influence of agro-ecological factors on the content of mycotoxins in the green mass of white mustard (Sinapis alba) and the spring wheat variety Lyubava (Triticum aestivum L.). The study was conducted at the experimental field «Yuzhnoe» of the Ecological Station of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy using chemical and microbiological methods. Agro-ecological factors were evaluated by the following parameters: humus content, soil acidity, phosphorus, potassium and lead content. The immunoenzyme method was used to determine the content of mycotoxins in the vegetative mass of white mustard and spring wheat (according to development stages). As a result, the highest levels of mycotoxin contamination were found in the mid-ripe stage of the crops, exceeding the average level of contamination by 8‑11 times in wheat and 4‑5 times in white mustard. The highest inverse correlation was found between the Alternariol content in the studied crops and the soil temperature of the upper layer of the humus horizon of 0‑5 cm. This fact justifies a more detailed study of the effect of this environmental factor.

Ecolo-zip: A global, rich and granular characterization of biogeophysical ecology for 1.5 million postal codes

The inescapable fact that human life is perpetually embedded in a tangible biogeophysical environment – and the consequences that this has for individuals and societies – have long fascinated scholars of all backgrounds. Technological progress and the advent of big data have spurred ever-more precise attempts to quantify our biogeophysical environments. However, many such datasets lack spatial granularity, global coverage, content depth, or accessibility. Here, we introduce ecolo-zip, a novel geospatial dataset that provides a granular-yet-global, parsimonious-yet-rich ecological characterization of over 1.5 million postal codes across 94 countries and regions. Combining two large-scale satellite image resources (ASTER; SRTM, ICC = 0.999) and a customized geospatial sampling model, we provide high-resolution indicators of physical topography (elevation, mountainousness, distance to sea), vegetation (normalized difference vegetation index), and climate (surface temperature). With this resource – featuring methodological details, visualizations, and application suggestions – we hope to contribute towards understanding the multi-faceted interactions between humans and their environments.

Ecological characterization of 175 low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses isolated from wild birds in Mongolia, 2009-2013 and 2016-2018.

Since 2005, highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 viruses have spread from Asia worldwide, infecting poultry, humans and wild birds. Subsequently, global interest in avian influenza (AI) surveillance increased. Mongolia presents an opportunity to study viruses in wild birds because the country has very low densities of domestic poultry and supports large concentrations of migratory water birds. We conducted AI surveillance in Mongolia over two time periods, 2009-2013 and 2016-2018, utilizing environmental fecal sampling. Fresh fecal samples were collected from water bird congregation sites. Hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) subtypes of positive samples were identified through viral isolation or molecular assays, with pathogenicity determined by HA subtype or sequencing the HA cleavage site. A total of 10,222 samples were collected. Of these, 7,025 fecal samples were collected from 2009 to 2013, and 3,197 fecal samples were collected from 2016 to 2018. Testing revealed 175 (1.7%) positive samples for low-pathogenicity influenza A, including 118 samples from 2009 to 2013 (1.7%) and 57 samples from 2016 to 2018 (1.8%). HA and NA subtyping of all positives identified 11 subtypes of HA and nine subtypes of NA in 29 different combinations. Within periods, viruses were detected more frequently during the fall season than in the early summer. Mongolia's critical wild bird habitat is positioned as a crossroad of multiple migratory flyways. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of using an affordable environmental fecal sampling approach for AI surveillance and contributes to understanding the prevalence and ecology of low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in this important location, where birds from multiple flyways mix.

Pest Status, Bio-Ecology, and Area-Wide Management of Mirids in East Asia.

Mirids (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) feed upon a wide variety of cultivated and wild plants and can be economically important crop pests. They have traditionally been perceived as innocuous herbivores in East Asia; however, population levels of various mirid species have dramatically increased over the past decades. High-profile pests such as Apolygus spp., Adelphocoris spp., and Lygus spp. are now widely distributed across the region, and their infestation pressure is associated with climate, agroecological conditions, and farming practices. This review outlines how an in-depth understanding of pest biology, a systems-level characterization of pest ecology, and a comprehensive evaluation of integrated pest management tactics have enabled sustainable management of mirids across crop boundaries and harvest cycles. This work underscores how more holistic, integrative research approaches can accelerate the implementation of area-wide management of generalist pests, effectively prevent pest population build-up and yield impact, and shrink the environmental footprint of agriculture. In addition to highlighting the merits of interdisciplinary systems approaches, we discuss prospects and challenges for the sustainable management of polyphagous mirid pests in landscape matrices.

Ecological, morpho-agronomical, and bromatological assessment of sorghum ecotypes in Northern Morocco

Sorghum Bicolor is a cereal used for grains as feed and food, mainly cultivated in dry areas. To study the possibilities of increasing its cultivation for feed purposes, ecological, morpho-agronomical, and bromatological characterization of some local ecotypes was conducted as the first steps toward selecting better cultivars. Indeed, twenty-one ecotypes were collected from farms in Northern Morocco in 2018. The edapho-climatic parameters of the collection sites were evaluated. The ecotypes were cultivated in 2019 in an experimental field with a randomized complete block design with three replicates. At the maturity stage, plants were evaluated for agro-morphological parameters, and grains and straw (leaves and stems) were harvested and analyzed. The results indicated significant variations between ecotypes for almost all parameters and an interesting grain yield of 3.5 T/ha with a 176% yield variation. The nutritive value of grains was interesting compared to straw, especially for mean protein contents (10.5% DM) and organic matter digestibility (81.4%). The calculated genetic parameters emphasized the possibility of selecting highly productive and nutritive cultivars. Multivariate analysis clustered the ecotypes into five groups based on agro-morphological, bromatological, and antioxidant activity parameters; the third group was characterized by high grain-yielding ecotypes, and the fifth one by high nutritive ecotypes. The E21 ecotype, belonging to this last group, was a promising selection candidate as it combines both. No significant correlation link between agro-morphological and bromatological traits of grains and geographical distances was discerned. Sorghum bicolor could thus be improved only according to the researched agro-morphological and bromatological traits.

Characterization of microbial ecology, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella sp. on equipment and utensil surfaces in Brazilian poultry, pork, and dairy industries

This study aimed to evaluate the level of counting by indicator microorganisms, identify the microbial ecology, detect Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella sp., and determine the presence of virulence genes and biofilm formation. A total of 480 samples were collected from the surfaces of the equipment and utensils using sterile swabs for the detection of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella sp. and counting mesophilic aerobes, Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas sp. The microbial ecology was evaluated by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Genes for virulence and biofilm formation were analyzed and adhesion capacity was evaluated for L. monocytogenes and Salmonella sp. The mesophilic aerobe count was the highest in the dairy processing facility, followed by the pork and poultry slaughterhouses. L. monocytogenes was detected in all facilities, with the highest detection in the pork slaughterhouse, followed by the poultry and dairy facilities. Salmonella sp. was only detected in the dairy. Isolates of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella sp. showed poor adhesion to polystyrene surfaces, virulence genes, and biofilm formation. The frequent contaminants in the slaughterhouses were Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Aeromonas in poultry, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Brevundimonas in pork, and Pseudomonas, Kocuria, and Staphylococcus in dairy. Our results provide useful information to understand the microbiological risks associated with contamination.

Methods for a composite ecological suitability measure to inform cumulative restoration assessments in Gulf of Mexico estuaries

Ecosystem management requires a systematic, holistic approach that considers ecological and social outcomes. Effective restoration practices promote a balance of ecological and social goals by addressing ecological integrity, efficiently maximizing benefits while minimizing investment, and encompassing collaborative stakeholder engagement. Socio-ecological assessments can inform adaptive management and be utilized to prioritize restoration activities and monitor restoration effectiveness. In estuarine systems, socio-ecological assessments should evaluate the ability of habitats to support both ecologically and locally important species. The composite measure presented utilizes a combination of ecological and social measures to characterize ecological suitability for individual and multiple Gulf of Mexico estuarine species. The ecological suitability value (ES) for a given spatial unit is based on a suite of biophysical measures of the quality and extent of suitable habitat for each species, the species’ trophic importance in a food web context, and the importance of each species in relation to stakeholder values and benefits. ES values for individual spatial units can be aggregated to estimate the distribution of ecological suitability at the estuarine scale. The ES values are calculated using examples for each step in the process. The information provided by ecological suitability characterizations can support restoration prioritization decisions for Gulf of Mexico estuaries and can provide a baseline measure to gauge restoration effectiveness over time to inform cumulative restoration assessments.