Ecological Costs Research Articles

Evidence to inform spatiotemporal management of a western Pacific Ocean tuna purse seine fishery.

Fisheries can profoundly impact co-occurring species exposed to incidental capture. Spatiotemporal fisheries management holds substantial potential to balance socioeconomic benefits with ecological costs to threatened bycatch species. This study estimated the effect of the spatial and temporal distribution of effort by a western Pacific Ocean tuna purse seine fishery on catch rates of target and at-risk species by fitting spatially explicit generalized additive multilevel regression models within a Bayesian inference framework to observer data. Mean field prediction surfaces defined catch rate hotspots for tunas, silky sharks, rays, and whale sharks, informing the design of candidate area-based management strategies. Due to limited sample sizes, odontocete and marine turtle catch rate geospatial patterns were summarized using simple 2D hexagonal binning. Effort could be focused in two areas within core fishing grounds to reduce overlap with hotspots for silky sharks, rays, and whale sharks without affecting target catch. Effort could be shifted outside of core fishing areas to zones with higher target tuna catch rates to reduce overlap with hotspots for at-risk species. Sparse and small marine turtle and whale shark hotspots occurred across the fishing grounds. Results did not identify opportunities for temporally dynamic spatial management to balance target and at-risk catch rates. Research on the economic and operational viability of alternative spatial management strategies is a priority. A small subset of sets had disproportionately large odontocete captures. Real-time fleet communication, move-on rules, and avoiding sets on dolphin schools might reduce odontocete catch rates. Managing set association type and mesh size present additional opportunities to balance catch rates of at-risk and target species. Employing output controls that effectively constrain the fishery would alter the spatial management strategy to focus fishing within zones with the lowest ratio of at-risk bycatch to target tuna catch. Findings inform the design of alternative spatial management strategies to avoid catch rate hotspots of at-risk species without compromising the catch of principal market species.

Inadvertent climate refugia

AbstractFor centuries, humans have intentionally moved species around the world, and such actions have rarely been laudable from conservation perspectives. The notion that introduced populations of cold‐adapted species hold conservation value despite their non‐native status remains controversial. Many such populations exist as a legacy of humans moving wildlife to novel environments with little true consideration of species conservation. Herein, we identify cases in which individuals from inadvertent climate refugia (ICR) are returned to formerly occupied ranges or used to augment declining native populations. While conservation benefits have been infrequently realized, the global distribution of ICR offers a potentially untapped resource. Lessening biodiversity loss under increasing climate challenges will likely require assisted migration of many species and necessitate novel valuation of extant introduced populations—such as those within ICR. While ecological costs of translocated species are widely known, we highlight how species moved generations ago to ICR offer a reservoir for reintroductions and a buffer against rapidly changing climates.

Best Practice for Publishing Environmental DNA (eDNA) Data According to FAIR Principles

Reversing global biodiversity loss will require transformational human actions and robust measurements of their effectiveness. Diversity assessment using environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a cutting-edge technique with the potential to address the challenges of measuring biodiversity. Vast amounts of eDNA sequences and eDNA-based species detections are generated in scientific studies. These datasets are typically stored in a variety of different repositories in multiple formats, hindering their reuse (Berry et al. 2020). Ensuring the publication of eDNA data following the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles (Wilkinson et al. 2016) would revolutionise environmental assessment, including monitoring of biodiversity, individual species, and interactions across extensive spatial and temporal scales, and generate critical knowledge for evidence-based management. Archiving FAIR eDNA data requires standardising data formats and vocabularies, cyberinfrastructures, guidelines, data sharing policy, and collaboration among scientists and institutions. Some of these requirements are addressed by existing data standards and infrastructures, including Darwin Core (DwC) (Wieczorek et al. 2012), Minimum Information about any (x) Sequence (MIxS) (Yilmaz et al. 2011), the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) network, and International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC) partners (Arita et al. 2020). However, multiple challenges remain and FAIR data practices have yet to be established among the eDNA community. This is partly because critical attributes unique to eDNA data are not adequately accommodated by existing standards. For example, monitoring contamination and excluding non-target taxa, and the parameters used for quality filtering and species detection vary greatly between studies, depending on the study scopes and the associated financial and ecological costs of incorrectly inferring presence or absence. Making such information FAIR is needed for future studies reusing data and requiring high confidence levels in species detection and taxonomic assignment. Furthermore, the procedures of targeted-taxon detection approach (e.g., interpretations of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results in detecting the presence of DNA from individual taxa) have not yet been fully captured by existing standards. Increasing efforts have been made to establish minimum reporting requirements to validate eDNA study methods and data (Klymus et al. 2020, Thalinger et al. 2021). These requirements need further development to be translated into data standards and formats to enhance machine readability and reusability, and to support and guide the eDNA community, so that they are effectively utilised. In this talk, we share our best practice guide for formatting and publishing eDNA data, developed by an international multidisciplinary working-group comprising eDNA researchers, journal editors, and biodiversity and omics data scientists. We identified required data types, formats and metadata checklists through reviewing and integrating existing data standards, devising subject-specific vocabularies, and introducing additional terms to accommodate the distinctive properties of eDNA data. Implementing the FAIR eDNA data best practice guide, offers a pivotal step towards standardising and enhancing the publication and re-use of eDNA data.

Counting the costs of expensive tissues: mating system, brain size, and IGF-1 affect the ecological costs of transport in mammals

Counting the costs of expensive tissues: mating system, brain size, and IGF-1 affect the ecological costs of transport in mammals

Efficiency Assessment of the Production of Alternative Fuels of High Usable Quality within the Circular Economy: An Example from the Cement Sector

This article aims to present the mechanisms regulating the waste management system of one of the European countries that affect the cement industry. This publication analyses the possibility of using selected fractions of municipal and industrial waste as alternative fuels, including an analysis of ecological costs and benefits. The methodology includes the analysis of production data and the calculation of savings resulting from the use of alternative fuels. On this basis, ecological aspects were also indicated that should be taken into account when analyzing the profitability of the investment. Production data from an example Polish cement plant were used to analyze the research problem. Based on the guidelines of environmental standards and technical specifications, the parameters that PASr alternative fuels should meet were calculated in the company laboratory. This fuel type was then calculated in terms of emission intensity and production efficiency. The research results obtained in this paper study emphasize that the change in cement clinker production technology toward the use of waste raw materials and secondary fuels does not lead to an increase in heavy metal emissions to the extent that would justify qualifying cement as a material requiring systematic control of its harmful impacts on humans and the natural environment. The conclusions show that the use of alternative fuels reduces CO2 emissions and production costs, without negatively affecting the efficiency and production volume. The average energy requirement for the production of 1 ton of cement is approximately 3.3 GJ, which corresponds to 120 kg of coal with a calorific value of 27.5 MJ per kg. Energy costs account for 30–40% of the total cement production costs. Replacing alternative fuels with fossil fuels will help reduce energy costs, providing a competitive advantage for cement plants that use it as an energy source. The presented considerations can provide an answer to all interested parties, including representatives of the executive and legislative authorities, on what path the sector should follow to fit into the idea of sustainable building materials and the circular economy.

Evaluating the sustainability of microwave pre-cured high-volume slag concrete: Mechanical properties, environmental impact and cost-benefit analysis

Microwave pre-curing, a novel method, offers numerous advantages including energy and time efficiency. The mechanical performance and durability of high-volume slag concrete (HVSC) subjected to microwave curing were experimentally investigated in this study. Additionally, the environmental impact and cost-effectiveness of microwave-cured HVSC were studied, and the ecological efficiency and cost efficiency were analyzed in conjunction with compressive strength and durability. Experimental results indicate that microwave curing significantly enhances the early-stage hydration reaction rate of concrete, increasing the yield of hydration products, especially AFm. Consequently, the early-stage porosity decreases, and the early compressive strength and electrical resistivity of the mortar increase significantly. Furthermore, microwave curing significantly improves the early-stage ecological efficiency and cost efficiency of HVSC. Although the ecological efficiency and cost efficiency of later-stage strength decrease slightly, the durability ecological efficiency and cost efficiency have increased by 12.41–24.6 % and 13.79–26.89 %, respectively, compared to the control group. Time-saving analysis indicates that microwave curing can significantly reduce the curing time for samples by quickly enhancing the early mechanical properties of the materials. Specifically, microwave curing can shorten the curing time by 2.09 days when the compressive strength requirement reaches 20 MPa, and by 2.62 days when the requirement is 30 MPa.

Genomic Data Characterize Reproductive Ecology Patterns in Michigan Invasive Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).

The establishment and spread of invasive species are directly related to intersexual interactions as dispersal and reproductive success are related to distribution, effective population size, and population growth. Accordingly, populations established by r-selected species are particularly difficult to suppress or eradicate. One such species, the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is established globally at considerable ecological and financial costs to natural and human communities. Here, we develop a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci panel for P. clarkii using restriction-associated DNA-sequencing data. We use the SNP panel to successfully genotype 1800 individuals at 930 SNPs in southeastern Michigan, USA. Genotypic data were used to reconstruct pedigrees, which enabled the characterization of P. clarkii's mating system and statistical tests for associations among environmental, demographic, and phenotypic predictors and adult reproductive success estimates. We identified juvenile cohorts using genotype-based pedigrees, body size, and sampling timing, which elucidated the breeding phenology of multiple introduced populations. We report a high prevalence of multiple paternity in each surveyed waterbody, indicating polyandry in this species. We highlight the use of newly developed rapid genomic assessment tools for monitoring population reproductive responses, effective population sizes, and dispersal during ongoing control efforts.

Optimizing Fertilization Strategies to Promote Leaf-Use Ginkgo Productivity and Ecosystem Economic Benefits: An Integrated Evaluation of a Field Trial in Southern China

Field experiments were conducted on a four-year-old leaf-use ginkgo plantation in southern China to assess the impact of nine different fertilization strategies with varying N-P2O5-K2O rates at three growth phases (FBD: March for bud development; FLG: May for leaf growth; FLS: July for leaf strengthening) on leaf-use ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) leaf productivity and ecological economic benefits (EEBs). The results indicated that regardless of timing and rate, fertilizer application led to an increase in leaf area and thickness, resulting in higher ginkgo leaf yield. The highest fresh (215.14 g tree−1) and dry (78.83 g tree−1) yields were observed with 3 g N + 2.5 g P2O5 + 1.5 g K2O tree−1 in FLG. FLS was found to mitigate the decline in SPAD values of leaves during late summer. Furthermore, fertilized ginkgo trees exhibited higher flavonoid concentrations in leaves, enhancing profitability. However, higher fertilizer rates were associated with elevated greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen losses and ecological costs. Despite these drawbacks, all fertilization treatments resulted in increased net economic income. Specifically, compared to no fertilization, FBD, FLG and FLS treatments boosted net income by 3.5~26.6%, 11.6~60.5% and 5.8~35.4%, respectively. Using the entropy weight TOPSIS method, it was concluded that optimizing the N, P and K fertilization rate and timing (applying 3–2.5–1.5 g tree−1 of N-P2O5-K2O in May) is a beneficial approach to maximize EEBs and industrial benefits in leaf-use ginkgo plantations in southern China. This study provides valuable insights into suitable fertilization patterns and management for leaf-use ginkgo plantations in southern China.

Green GDP -- Research on the development of green GDP and ecological environment cost based on regression model

Green GDP -- Research on the development of green GDP and ecological environment cost based on regression model

Coordination of interests between upstream and downstream governments in water source areas

Exploration of establishing a robust intergovernmental benefit compensation mechanism for water source areas holds significant importance in promoting regional coordinated development. Taking the Guanting Reservoir basin, a water source area in Beijing, China, as an example, we established an ecological location model with urban water sources as the core by drawing on the concept of spatial circle structure in traditional location theory. Based on this, we proposed the theory of ecological cost of water source land level difference and analyzed the basic composition of ecological cost of water source land. Finally, the differential ecological costs method was used to estimate the ideal horizontal eco-compensation funds between the downstream city of the water source (Beijing) and the upstream city (Zhangjiakou). The results are as follows: (1) the closer to the water source reservoir area and the higher the protection zone level, the greater the contribution of the ecological product value realization and the ecological protection costs to the protection of water resources in the reservoir area. (2) The compensation funds for water source areas are jointly composed of the increment of ecological product value and protection costs. (3) In 2021, the value addition of ecological products in the upstream region was 3.075 billion yuan, and the protection cost was 6.702 billion yuan. After multiplying by the differential adjustment coefficient, the horizontal eco-compensation amount that the upstream cities should receive in 2021 is 4.194 billion yuan. This study theoretically addresses the shortcomings of traditional ecological compensation, which overlooked differences in resource and environmental costs due to variations in ecological functional location. It provides a new perspective for further exploring the role of location theory in addressing inter-governmental interest coordination issues in cross-border water source areas.

Building landscape ecological network with multi-scenario connectivity based on network fault tolerance index and networking technology in graph theory

Existing methods for constructing Landscape Ecological Networks (LEN) either focus on functional attributes or structural attributes and also do not address the dynamic impact of urban development on ecological spaces. To address these limitations, this paper proposed evaluating the maximum connectivity (k) of potential LEN, composed of existing ecological spaces, using a network fault tolerance index. We then used graph-based networking technology to construct the optimal LEN structure based on this index. Specifically speaking, first, we identified the existing LEN with the highest ecosystem service capacity and lowest ecological cost in the study area. Using four landscape pattern metrics, we comprehensively evaluated the fault tolerance index as the maximum connectivity k of potential LEN and determined that k = 7. We then modeled the existing LEN as a weighted graph and transformed the network optimization problem into a k-edge addition problem. This calculation yielded seven LEN schemes, each corresponding to different priority orders of new ecological corridors based on k value. This index captures changes in ecological space patterns and offers diverse LEN optimization solutions. It provides practitioners with flexible spatial strategies to address the dynamic impacts of urbanization.

Fictitious Commodities, Social Costs, and Institutional Contradictions. Karl Polanyi’s Critique of Commodification

The articles reconstruct Karl Polanyi’s idea of fictitious commodities with the help of Karl William Kapp’s theory of social costs. According to the proposed argument labour land, and money are social spheres, where major social and ecological costs of a functioning market economy tend to accumulate. Hence, commodity fiction concerning land, labour, and money is crucial for understanding ideological and redistributive conflicts characteristic of contemporary capitalism.

Three Ecological Models to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Trichoderma spp. for Suppressing Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.

Chemical pesticides help reduce crop loss during production and storage. However, the carbon footprints and ecological costs associated with this strategy are unsustainable. Here, we used three in vitro models to characterize how different Trichoderma species interact with two aflatoxin producers, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, to help develop a climate-resilient biological control strategy against aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species. The growth rate of Trichoderma species is a critical factor in suppressing aflatoxigenic strains via physical interactions. The dual plate assay suggests that Trichoderma mainly suppresses A. flavus via antibiosis, whereas the suppression of A. parasiticus occurs through mycoparasitism. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by Trichoderma inhibited the growth of A. parasiticus (34.6 ± 3.3%) and A. flavus (20.9 ± 1.6%). The VOCs released by T. asperellum BTU and T. harzianum OSK-34 were most effective in suppressing A. flavus growth. Metabolites secreted by T. asperellum OSK-38, T. asperellum BTU, T. virens OSK-13, and T. virens OSK-36 reduced the growth of both aflatoxigenic species. Overall, T. asperellum BTU was the most effective at suppressing the growth and aflatoxin B1 production of both species across all models. This work will guide efforts to screen for effective biological control agents to mitigate aflatoxin accumulation.

Ecological Costs of A Microbrewery in The Brazilian Northeast

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the environmental and economic impacts of craft beer production in the Brazilian Northeast, to evidence the main hotspots and propose mitigation alternatives. Theoretical Framework: Life Cycle Thinking proposes a way of thinking that aggregates systems and preserves their interrelationships, to understand the whole of production systems and identify critical points in their subsystems, processes and flows. Here, environmental analysis was carried out through Life Cycle Assessment and economic analysis through Life Cycle Cost Assessment and Ecological Costs. Method: The methodology adopted for this research includes the use of Life Cycle Assessment to quantify environmental emissions, and Life Cycle Cost Assessment and Ecological Costs to quantify economic impacts in a microbrewery located in the Northeast of Brazil. Data was collected through interviews and questionnaires with those responsible for specific sectors of the brewery. Results and Discussion: The results showed that the main environmental hotspot was the local and regional distribution of beer using a gasoline-powered light commercial vehicle. In terms of economics, beer packaged in stainless steel kegs had the lowest cost and beer in aluminum cans had the highest manufacturing cost. When environmental costs were taken into account, beer packaged in a PET growler obtained the best result and beer packaged in a stainless-steel keg obtained the worst economic result. With the implementation of electric vehicle distribution, in addition to the environmental benefits, there were also economic benefits, especially in terms of environmental costs (ecocosts). Research Implications: The practical implications of this research have shown that the use of electric vehicles to distribute the final product (beer) can mitigate environmental emissions, bringing environmental and economic benefits to the company studied. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by being the first Brazilian study to quantify the environmental and economic impacts of craft beer production and distribution. The relevance and value of this research is evidenced by the fact that it proposes tangible solutions to the hotspots identified.

Ultimate Pit Limit Optimization Method with Integrated Consideration of Ecological Cost, Slope Safety and Benefits: A Case Study of Heishan Open Pit Coal Mine

The ecological impacts of mining and the instability of slopes are the key factors restricting the safe, efficient, and low-carbon production of open-pit mines. This study focused on the ultimate pit limit (UPL) optimization under the concept of sustainability by integrating consideration of the economic benefit, ecological impact, and slope geometry. The integrated UPL optimization model based on the floating cone method was proposed by establishing a quantitative model for ecological impacts arising from open-pit coal mining in arid or semi-arid weak ecological land and a cost calculation model of slope reinforcement based on the Monte Carlo method. The case study revealed that steepening the slope angle of given regions resulted in random variations in the quantity of ore rock and the limit morphology. There was an average economic profit rise of USD 9.54M with every 1° increase in slope angle, but the probability of slope instability and the reinforcement cost grows exponentially. In the arid or semi-arid weak ecological land, the ecological costs exceeded 20% of the mines’ average pure economic gains. The proposed optimization method contributes to obtaining an integrated optimal UPL, improving the benefits and the ore recovery rate.

Trade-offs between grain supply and soil conservation in the Grain for Green Program under changing climate: A case study in the Three Gorges Reservoir region

Understanding the trade-offs between ecological benefits and cost of grain supply caused by ecosystem restoration is essential for decision-making. Nevertheless, due to climate change, the benefits of ecosystem restoration and cost of grain supply change across various spatial locations, thereby complicating the trade-offs. Taking one of China's largest scale ecosystem restorations, the Grain for Green Program (GGP), as an example, this study used the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) region as the case study area and combined the crop environment resource synthesis (CERES)-Crop model, future land-use simulation (FLUS), and the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) to simulate future grain supply and soil erosion during 2021–2050 under three climate change and socioeconomic development scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5) in the TGR region. The results showed that: (1) Until 2050, the implementation of GGP would bring a large soil conservation benefit by reducing soil erosion of 2.47–5.68 million tons, at the cost of 130,277–660,279 tons decrease in grain production in the TGR region. (2) Under SSP5-8.5 climate change scenario with the highest rainfall in the future, the GGP would maintain the greatest soil conservation benefits, resulting in a total amount of soil erosion decrease by 2.55 to 5.68 million tons. (3) Trade-offs between benefit of reducing soil erosion and cost of grain supply vary considerably across income. Specifically, GGP benefits are greater under low-income and higher-emission scenarios, with significant gains in soil erosion control and less impact on grain supply. In contrast, in high-income and low-emission scenarios, the GGP results in less soil erosion control and greater impact on grain supply.

Adaptive patterns of anti-predator escape behavior in a globally introduced bird species

Introduced species can represent quasi-experimental, anthropogenic case studies of both ecological and evolutionary principles. When these species are firmly established, competitive interactions between native and introduced species interactions, including foraging, spacing, and breeding competition, may be among the ecological costs incurred from such species invasions. In turn, genetic and/or plasticity-driven changes in behavior and morphology could also take place in the invading species with increasing introduction lag (time since the onset of introduction). Critically, however, introduction lag is difficult to study in any single non-native population without long-term observations, and, instead, it requires geographically repeated measures of the focal response variables across invasive populations that were introduced at different times. Here we tested a priori predictors of predator-avoidance behaviors through the flight initiation distance (FID) assay of a widely distributed invasive bird species, the common myna Acridotheres tristis. The species was extensively and consistently sampled throughout most of its independently introduced ranges across all hemispheres. Critically, FID increased with greater introduction lag. We also detected additional functional patterns in that FID increased towards the rural range within a continuous metric of urban-rural gradient and also at shorter distances from the Equator. Any robust study of FID must also include proximate predictors as well and, accordingly, we found that FID increased with greater starting distance, with lower immediate human density, with flighted over walking escape responses, and at lower heights of a bird’s perch above ground but was unrelated to myna group size. Respectively, these factors are informative about the sensory cues triggering anti-predator behaviors in invasive mynas and imply an adaptive set of patterns of anti-predator responses in the introduced ranges of this species. Control measures of invasive common myna populations should take into account their extensive behavioral and cognitive flexibilities and adjust the planned management methods accordingly.

Zygomorphic flowers last longer: the evolution of floral symmetry and floral longevity.

Floral longevity, the length of time a flower remains open and functional, is a phylogenetically conserved trait that balances floral costs against the rate at which flowers are pollinated. Floral symmetry has long been considered a key trait in floral evolution. Although zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetric) flowers typically receive fewer floral visitors than actinomorphic (radially symmetric) flowers, it is yet to be determined whether this could be associated with longer floral longevity. Using newly collected field data combined with data from the literature on 1452 species in 168 families, we assess whether floral longevity covaries with floral symmetry in a phylogenetic framework. We find that zygomorphic flowers last on average 1.1 days longer than actinomorphic flowers, a 26.5% increase in longevity, with considerable variation across both groups. Our results provide a basis to discuss the ecological and evolutionary costs of zygomorphy for plants. Despite these costs, zygomorphy has evolved numerous times throughout angiosperm history, and we discuss which rewards may outweigh the costs of slower pollination in zygomorphic flowers.

Education Beyond Green Growth

Despite the continued popularity of education for sustainable development (ESD) and expanded calls for educators to inspire hope in the face of the climate and nature emergency, scholars from varied disciplines and knowledge systems have pointed to the disavowed social and ecological costs of the promise that we can continue pursuing infinite economic growth on a finite planet. In this article, we offer an alternative approach to education grounded in a regenerative inquiry methodology. Regenerative inquiry can prepare people to honestly confront the limits and harms of “green growth” and support them to “grow up” by expanding their capacity to navigate complexity and uncertainty and activating a sense of intergenerational responsibility. We also offer an example of how this methodology was mobilized in the context of a year-long transdisciplinary program focused on the climate and nature emergency.

No evidence that Mycoplasma infection causes cognitive impairment during foraging in Allenby’s gerbil (Gerbillus andersoni allenbyi)

Abstract Pathogens can impose substantial ecological costs on infected individuals, including reduced cognition, foraging ability, and predator avoidance. In a prior experiment, gerbils infected with Mycoplasma haemomuris-like bacteria had higher giving up densities, despite spending more time foraging, and were more likely to be killed by predators. One hypothesis to explain this is that infected gerbils suffer from cognitive impairment that reduces their ability to forage efficiently, causing them to spend more time foraging and placing themselves at higher risk of predation. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the ability of gerbils uninfected, acutely infected, or chronically infected with Mycoplasma to equalize giving up densities (GUDs) in seed patches with different initial abundances and detect micropatches within seed patches in a semi-natural vivarium enclosure. We predicted that uninfected gerbils would equalize GUDs and detect micropatches better than infected gerbils. Contrary to our predictions, infected gerbils performed equally well as uninfected gerbils on both tasks. These experiments did not support the hypothesis that cognitive impairment explains past results regarding Mycoplasma and gerbil foraging.