Rich Habitats Research Articles

Environmental decision support system development for natural distribution prediction ofFestuca ovinain restoration of degraded lands

AbstractAnthropogenic activities, species invasions, and ecological factors are driving rapid changes in rangeland ecosystems. For ensuring the richness and sustainability of plant species habitats, there is a pressing need for a reliable prediction model that can accurately forecast and map species distribution under varying ecological conditions. We aimed to compare the performance of three widely used machine learning methods: Multilayer perceptron (MLP), radial basis function (RBF), and support vector machine (SVM) in predicting the distribution ofFestuca ovinain mountainous protected rangelands. We conducted our investigation by analyzing the distribution ofF. ovinain 305 randomly selected plant sample plots. In each plot, we recorded 10 ecological variables. Three machine learning models were developed to predict the likelihood ofF. ovinadistribution. Our results demonstrated that the RBF model had a higher number of misclassifications (11 samples) compared to MLP and SVM models (10 samples), indicating that MLP and SVM models were more accurate for distribution modeling. Additionally, MLP showed a higher R‐squared value (0.87) compared to SVM (0.85), suggesting that MLP was the most accurate model for restoring degraded lands. Hence, we developed theFestuca ovinaDistribution Model (FODM) using the MLP model. Sensitivity analyses revealed that soil texture, soil depth, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and vegetation density significantly influencedF. ovinadistribution, with respective sensitivity coefficients of 0.48, 0.47, 0.45, 0.41, and 0.41. Based on the finalized FODM, we designed an Environmental Decision Support System (EDSS) tool to assist rangeland managers in mappingF. ovinadistribution. By applying the EDSS tool, we demonstrated its practicality in using the FODM for effective decision‐making and land management. The EDSS tool serves as a valuable resource for rangeland managers, enabling them to make informed decisions regardingF. ovinarestoration and effectively use the predictive capabilities of the FODM in real‐world applications.

DETEKSI AREA KERUSAKAN PADA CITRA TERUMBU KARANG AKIBAT CORAL BLEACHING BERBASIS PENGOLAHAN CITRA DIGITAL

Coral reefs have a very large role in marine ecosystems, because they provide rich habitats and support biodiversity. Segmentation on images of coral reefs experiencing coral bleaching is also very important. Coral bleaching is a phenomenon in which coral reefs lose their symbiotic algae pigments, resulting in bleaching and possibly death of coral reefs. By segmenting coral reef images that experience coral bleaching, we can separate areas affected by bleaching from areas that are still healthy. This study aims to detect areas of damage that occur in underwater images of coral reefs that have experienced coral bleaching. By using techniques in digital image processing and segmentation based on colour intensity, satisfactory results are obtained. The test results show that the RAE and ME values are quite low, namely 0.051 and 0.035 respectively with an average processing time of 0.2 seconds. This research is expected to assist in further analysis and modelling related to coral bleaching to understand the causative factors and develop appropriate protection strategies.

Cadmium Tolerance and Uptake Potential of Agricultural Sites Filamentous Fungi and A Brief Review of Its Application in Bioremediation Processes

Cadmium (Cd) is a metal widely known to cause toxic effects on the environment and human health. Soil represents a rich habitat for fungi, which have certain characteristics in their cell wall that made them a powerful tool for biosorption of toxic metals. Therefore, it was sought to identify potential filamentous fungi for different methods of remediation of contaminated areas. The identification of fungi from agricultural cultivation areas that can tolerate Cd and help in cadmium remediation processes occurred through the isolation and culture of several microorganisms submitted to screening experiments and tolerance evaluation. Four strains of the genera Fusarium sp., Penicillium sp., and Aspergillus sp. were isolated. Those strains showed abilities to tolerate the stress caused by Cd, presenting a tolerance index (Ti) of 13.79 − 107.30%. Analyses of FTIR demonstrated the existence of different functional groups in the cell wall that can be involved in the coordination of Cd2+ ions, as C = O stretches of carboxyl and amide-I. Results showed a Cd uptake range of 0.88 − 3.61 mg Cd g−1 of dry biomass. The results indicated that Fusarium sp. and Penicillium sp. isolated from agricultural sites are highly tolerant to Cd and are promising fungi for implementation in remediation processes.

Diverse type I and type II methanotrophs cultivated from an Indian freshwater wetland habitat.

Wetlands are the main natural sources of methane emissions, which make up a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions. Such wetland patches serve as rich habitats for aerobic methanotrophs. Limited knowledge of methanotrophs from tropical wetlands widens the scope of study from these habitats. In the present study, a freshwater wetland in a tropical region in India was sampled and serially diluted to obtain methanotrophs in culture. This was followed by the isolation of methanotrophs on agarose-containing plates, incubated under methane: air atmosphere. Methanotrophs are difficult to cultivate, and very few cultures of methanotrophs are available from tropical wetlands. Our current study reports the cultivation of a diverse community of methanotrophs from six genera, namely, Methylomonas, Methylococcus, Methylomagnum, Methylocucumis (type I methanotrophs) along with Methylocystis, Methylosinus (type II methanotrophs). A high abundance of methanotrophs (106-1010 methanotrophs/g fresh weight) was observed in the samples. A Methylococcus strain could represent a putative novel species that was also isolated. Cultures of Methylomagnum and Methylocucumis, two newly described type I methanotrophs exclusively found in rice fields, were obtained. A large number of Methylomonas koyamae strains were cultured. Our study is pioneering in the documentation of culturable methanotrophs from a typical tropical wetland patch. The isolated methanotrophs can act as models for studying methanotroph-based methane mitigation from wetland habitats and can be used for various mitigation and valorization applications.

Unveiling the influence of specialists and generalists on Macroinvertebrate assemblage heterogeneity in lake Taihu

The loss of biodiversity in the era of fast environmental change is often revealed as biotic homogenization. In the large and nutrient-rich Lake Taihu located in eastern China, we evaluated the degree of specialization among organisms and the impact of environmental factors on macroinvertebrate assemblages. First, we measured the niche widths of macroinvertebrate species in respect to environmental conditions and utilized the Outlying Mean Index (OMI) analysis to categorize them into specialists and generalists. The effects of environmental factors on assemblages of macroinvertebrate taxa identified by varying niche widths were then investigated using the lake dataset. Within our study lake, habitats display considerable environmental gradients, resulting in habitat heterogeneity linked to several habitats, and have no barriers to species migration. Generalist macroinvertebrate taxa dominated the macroinvertebrate assemblages in our study lake, but some differences were evident among the different habitat types of the lake. The macrophyte-dominated habitat (MDH) displayed the highest species richness for both generalists (11 species) and specialists (8 species), while the algal-dominated habitat (ADH) had lower richness but higher overall abundances. Generalist species showed the largest abundances, exhibiting considerable spatial heterogeneity among the sampled sites. Our results showed that generalists shape macroinvertebrate assemblages through their abundance and richness variation in large shallow lakes. Furthermore, strong environmental gradients and a high degree of habitat connectivity within large lakes allow specialist and intermediate species to maintain high richness in resource-rich habitats, in addition to generalist species also maintaining high abundance in such lakes.

TEMPORAL DYNAMICS IN PANTANAL HUMMINGBIRD ASSEMBLAGES IS TRIGGERED BY FLOOD PULSE

Abstract ∙ Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) are highly specialized New World birds that depend on nectar as their major food source. In response to seasonal food limitations, many trochilids develop dispersal and long-distance migration patterns, but these patterns are understudied for many continental South American species. In this study, conducted in the Brazilian Pantanal, we investigated the movement patterns of hummingbirds in a highly variable environment, where an annual flood pulse leads to four distinctive seasonal periods (high water, receding water, dry period, and rising water). Our objective was to verify how these four periods affected the hummingbird community according to habitat occupation in savannas or forests. This study was conducted in the northeastern Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil (16° 39'S, 56°47'W, 119–131 m a.s.l.), covering two annual inundation periods (2014–2016). Data were collected using mist net sampling. Two migrant and seven resident species were identified. The results indicated significant differences in hummingbird species richness and abundance between habitats; savanna habitats were the richest habitats during rainy seasons (rising and high water). Higher hummingbird abundance in these seasonal periods was seemingly related to higher food availability since these seasons corresponded to the main flowering period of ornithophilous plants and other angiosperms.

Assessment of the environmental sustainability of the Tödürge Lake sensitive area to be strictly protected in Sivas province, Turkey

Lakes are important stagnant water bodies that protect the ecological integrity of any region, and they have an effective role in maintaining the ecosystem. Tödürge Lake, which is karstic, is located in Sivas Province of Turkey. The average depth of Tödürge Lake, which is the largest natural lake of Sivas Province, is around 4 m. The lake has a very rich habitat in terms of flora and fauna. Tödürge Lake and its surroundings are an area that should be protected with both natural environment characteristics and cultural resource values. This study is about the environmental sustainability of Tödürge Lake, which was registered and announced on 26 June 2021 as a sensitive area to be strictly protected in Sivas Province of Turkey. A total area of 1378.94 hectares in and around Tödürge Lake has been determined as a sensitive area to be strictly protected. This is a very positive step and is of great importance for the future of Tödürge Lake. The Lake has gained an important status with its registration and announcement as a sensitive area to be strictly protected. With this status, the sensitive area of Tödürge Lake, which must be strictly protected, will now remain cleaner and be used in a more controlled manner. In order to leave a sustainable Tödürge Lake not only for the present but also for future generations, environmental impacts must be well managed individually and institutionally.

The utility of transcriptomics in the conservation of sensitive and economically important species

The utility of transcriptomics in the conservation of sensitive and economically important species

Diversity of arboreal ants in several types of land use in the Harapan Forest Landscape, Jambi

The forest area in Jambi remains at 17.25%, while the area of rubber and oil palm plantations reaches 35.54% of Jambi’s total area. Habitat transformation can reduce insect diversity and their ecosystem services. This study aims to analyze the effect of deforestation on the diversity and abundance of arboreal ants in the Harapan Forest landscape. Sampling was carried out from June to August 2017 using the fogging method. The identification was carried out at the Laboratory of Biological Control, Department of Plant Protection, IPB University, from October 2021 to August 2022. Data analysis using R studio vegan and ggplot2 packages. The results showed that the highest abundance of arboreal ants was found in the forest, with an abundance of 3106 individuals. The lowest was in the rubber plantation, with an abundance of 229 individuals. The highest arboreal ant richness was found in the riparian forest with 33 genera, and the lowest arboreal ant richness was found in rubber plantations with 16 genera. It was concluded that deforestation caused a decrease in the abundance and richness of arboreal ants, for riparian and non-riparian habitats for each land use had no significant effect on the abundance and richness of arboreal ants.

Patrolling the border: Billfish exploit the hypoxic boundary created by the world's largest oxygen minimum zone.

Pelagic predators must contend with low prey densities that are irregularly distributed and dynamic in space and time. Based on satellite imagery and telemetry data, many pelagic predators will concentrate horizontal movements on ephemeral surface fronts-gradients between water masses-because of enhanced local productivity and increased forage fish densities. Vertical fronts (e.g. thermoclines, oxyclines) can be spatially and temporally persistent, and aggregate lower trophic level and diel vertically migrating organisms due to sharp changes in temperature, water density or available oxygen. Thus, vertical fronts represent a stable and potentially energy rich habitat feature for diving pelagic predators but remain little explored in their capacity to enhance foraging opportunities. Here, we use a novel suite of high-resolution biologging data, including in situ derived oxygen saturation and video, to document how two top predators in the pelagic ecosystem exploit the vertical fronts created by the oxygen minimum zone of the eastern tropical Pacific. Prey search behaviour was dependent on dive shape, and significantly increased near the thermocline and hypoxic boundary for blue marlin Makaira nigricans and sailfish Istiophorus platypterus, respectively. Further, we identify a behaviour not yet reported for pelagic predators, whereby the predator repeatedly dives below the thermocline and hypoxic boundary (and by extension, below the prey). We hypothesize this behaviour is used to ambush prey concentrated at the boundaries from below. We describe how habitat fronts created by low oxygen environments can influence pelagic ecosystems, which will become increasingly important to understand in the context of global change and expanding oxygen minimum zones. We anticipate that our findings are shared among many pelagic predators where strong vertical fronts occur, and additional high-resolution tagging is warranted to confirm this.

Species diversity, relative abundance, and distribution of avifauna in different habitats within Lewi Mountain, Awi zone, Ethiopia

Almost all habitats on the planet are home to birds, from the lowest deserts to the highest mountains. Birds have proved to be excellent indicators of biodiversity or productivity as they are easily observed and are relatively well known compared to other animals. Although bird species are distributed across the globe, habitat destruction, fragmentation, and loss have adversely affected their survival and distribution. Therefore, this study is an attempt to prepare a baseline data on avifaunal diversity with their relative abundance and species richness in different habitats within Lewi Mountain Awi zone, Ethiopia from December 2018 to October 2020, including both the wet and dry seasons. The sampling sites were stratified based on land cover features, and transect count techniques were employed. The data were summarized per season and habitat type in the excel spreadsheet throughout the study period. In this study, one-way ANOVA was used to determine the effect of habitat type on species diversity and abundance. T-tests are also use to analyze bird populations among seasons. A total of 1591 individuals, 56 bird species belonging to 29 families and 12 orders were identified during the two seasons. The Wetland habitat had the highest species diversity index (H’ = 3) with high evenness index (J = 0.88) during the dry season followed by the open shrubs habitat (H’ = 2.97) with the highest evenness index (J = 0.95). The settlement had the lowest species diversity (H' = 2.17) and the lowest evenness index (J = 0.8) in the same season. During the wet season, disturbed forests recorded the highest Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H’ = 3.2) with the highest evenness (J = 0.92) followed by Wetland habitat (H’ = 2.97) with high evenness index (J = 0.87). During dry and wet seasons, the abundance of birds' species in different habitat types did not differ significantly (F = 1.91, p = 0.193, dƒ = 3) and (F = 1.579, p = 0.199, dƒ = 3), respectively. From all studied habitats, the overall mean abundance of bird species between dry and wet seasons was significantly different (F = 3642, P ≤ 0.001, dƒ = 1). In conclusion, settlement had the lowest species diversity and the lowest evenness index in the research area for the entire season. The habitats are important to the conservation of birds, so good habitat management is required, such as minimizing agricultural expansion and overgrazing, demarcating the forest habitats for wild species only, and creating awareness among local communities.

Community dynamics of bumblebee across elevation gradients and habitat mosaics in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal

The species composition of bumblebees (Bombus species) across the elevation gradients in Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape (CHAL) was studied from April to November 2019. We performed opportunistic surveys to collect the bumblebee specimens. The walking transects were followed in the accessible places along the Kaligandaki, Marshyandi, and Budhigandaki river basins in different habitats (e.g., agricultural, forest, grassland and home garden). We identified 16 Bombus species from the sampling areas. The highest relative abundance was of B. haemorrhoidalis (20%), followed by B. festivus (20%) and B. eximius (19%). The least abundant species were B. branickii, B. miniatus, B. novus, and B. pressus with 1% relative abundance of each. We examined the effects of elevation on bumblebee richness and found a significant relationship. The Highest species richness was detected in the mid-elevation. Likewise, the highest species richness and diversity were found in the forest habitat in Gorkha site (n = 12, Shannon index H’ = 2.18) followed by the grassland habitat of the Mustang site (n = 11, Shannon index H’ = 2.10). Whereas, comparatively, species diversity was higher in habitats of the Gorkha site comparing Manang and Mustang. The elevation gradients create immense variations in microclimatic conditions and vegetation dynamics, which influence bumblebee abundance, species richness and diversities in different habitats in the study area. The mid-elevation range (2000–3000 m asl) of CHAL exhibited the highest species richness probably due to the higher availability of pollinator-dependent flowering plants in this range. The landcover composition and anthropogenic activities along the elevation gradient is the governing factor for the species composition, distribution and diversity of bumblebees in CHAL. We recommend to decision-makers for formulating their conservation strategies under a socio-ecological framework.

Functional Traits Mediate the Natural Enemy Response to Land Use at the Local Scale

Arthropods are key nodes for the provision of ecosystem services such as pest control, but their response to land-use change is highly variable depending on the scale of analysis and the natural enemies’ life histories. We evaluate the effects of landscape- and local-scale variables of natural enemies’ communities on small-scale agriculture. We consider functional response traits to attain a mechanistic understanding of the effect of land-use changes on the biodiversity and resilience of natural enemies’ communities. Predator and parasitoid arthropods were collected from thirteen raspberry farms to estimate functional diversity, complementarity, and redundancy indices. We found no effects of landscape heterogeneity, local habitat, or management practices on natural enemies’ functional diversity. Regarding resilience, complementarity was high at most of the sites and was not affected by the landscape or local variables. However, redundancy was affected by two management practices. Weed control decreased natural enemies’ abundance as well as the abundance of walker generalist predators and flying specialist parasitoids, while habitat richness decreased flying generalist predators. These results highlight the importance of management when the landscape matrix is heterogeneous. We conclude that small-scale agriculture in a heterogeneous landscape supports a functionally diverse enemy community, potentially promoting the resilience of pest control to land-use change.

Metabarcoding inventory of an arctic tundra soil ecosystem reveals highly heterogeneous communities at a small scale

Biodiversity surveys of Arctic soil ecosystems are limited. Here, we provide a sequence-based inventory of soil fauna from an Arctic tundra ecosystem near the Canadian High Arctic Research Station in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Invertebrate communities were extracted at a vegetated and non-vegetated site in three replicates and inventoried using 18S metabarcode sequencing. A total of 361 amplicon sequence variants (ASV) were identified and assigned to the closest matching taxonomic orders, most of which belonged to the Nematoda and Arthropoda. Vegetated soils showed no significantly higher ASV richness relative to non-vegetated soils although they contained a significantly higher diversity of arthropod taxa including insects, mites, and springtails. Most taxa were found only at a single location and even samples from the same site displayed distinct communities, suggesting that belowground species richness in Arctic tundra habitats is highly heterogeneous. Preserving soil biodiversity in a changing Arctic is essential for Inuit communities who rely on intact tundra ecosystems for their health and wellbeing.

Influence of habitat alteration on the structure of helminth communities in small mammals: a systematic review and critical appraisal of theory and current evidence.

Despite the extensive information on the effects of habitat alteration on the structure of helminth communities in small mammals, the evidence is still inconclusive. A systematic review was carried out using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guideline to compile and synthesize available literature on the influence of habitat alteration on the structure of helminth communities in small mammals. The aim of this review was to describe the variation in infection rates of helminth species associated with habitat alteration and to discuss the theoretical framework that may explain such changes in relation to parasite, host, and environmental features. Twenty-three scientific articles published between 2005 and 2022 were reviewed, 22 of which investigated parasite prevalence, 10 parasite burden, and 14 parasite richness in both altered and natural habitats. Information in assessed articles suggests that the structure of helminth communities in small mammals can be impacted by anthropogenic habitat alteration in various ways. Infection rates of monoxenous and heteroxenous helminths may increase or decrease in small mammals depending on whether their hosts (definitive and intermediate) are available, and environmental and host conditions modify the survival and transmission of parasitic forms. Also, given that habitat alteration may favor inter-species contacts, transmission rates of low host-specific helminths could be increased due to exposure to new reservoir hosts. In a continually changing world, it is essential to assess the spatio-temporal variations of helminth communities in wildlife inhabiting altered and natural habitats to determine potential impacts on wildlife conservation and public health.

Acanthopagrus latus migration patterns and habitat use in Wanshan Islands, Pearl River Estuary, determined using otolith microchemical analysis

IntroductionThe waters surrounding the Wanshan Islands are important traditional fishing grounds in China, with rich habitat types. Acanthopagrus latus is an economically important species in this area; however, the distribution of its spawning grounds and habitat use patterns remain unknown.MethodsThus 100 otolith samples of A. latus were collected from three geographic areas (MW: Qi’ao Island Mangrove Water Habitat; OW: Yamen Estuary Oyster Farm Water Habitat; RW: Dong’ao-Guishan Island Reef Water Habitat), and the concentrations of Sr and Ca along the shortest axis of the vertical otolith annual or lunar rings were measured to span the entire life cycle of A. latus, with the core and edge areas corresponding to environmental characteristics at birth and capture, respectively.Results and discussionAnalysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that the ratios of Sr/Ca in otolith edges of RW samples are significantly higher than those of OW and MW samples; however, both the values of Sr/Ca ratio in otolith cores collected from OW and MW are comparable with those of RW samples. Cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) indicated that at the juvenile stage, RW and MW individuals in the two main clusters belonged to the same cluster. There was no significant difference between the cores of the RW samples and the edges of the MW and OW samples. Therefore, the spawning area of A. latus in the Wanshan Islands is thought to have originated from low to medium-salinity waters with mangroves and oyster farm habitats in the Pearl River Estuary. A. latus from RW was found to have three distinct habitat-use patterns: 1) Marine Resident (7.2% of sampled fish) fish that remain in marine habitats for life; 2) Marine Migrant (16.4% of sampled fish) juveniles inhabit low to moderate salinity habitats and migrate to marine habitats as they grow; 3) Estuarine Visitor (76.4% of sampled fish) repeated migration between low to moderate salinity and marine habitats. This suggests widespread migration between estuarine and marine habitats throughout the ontogeny. The plasticity of this habitat use and the protection of spawning grounds should be considered in future fisheries management because A. Latus in this area has been the victim of the overexploitation of resources.

Effectiveness of flowers strips on insect’s restoration in intensive grassland

Intensification of grassland management causes a decrease in insect diversity. However, the mowing also causes substantial damage to insects if too homogeneously applied, especially for insect species with specialized needs. The overarching goal of the study was to investigate the restorative effect of flower strips on adjoining intensive grasslands to preserve and restore native grassland insect diversity. In 2020–2021, we analyzed how flower strips enhance Heteroptera, syrphids and butterflies diversity in adjoining intensive grassland compared to separated intensive (control) and extensive grasslands within the Austrian alpine range. Heteroptera and syrphid species richness and syrphid abundance were significantly higher in flower strips compared to other studied grasslands. However, butterfly abundance and species richness were significantly higher in extensive grasslands compared to flower strips. Heteroptera species assemblages in extensive grasslands were significantly different between flower strips, intensive and control grasslands. Further, Heteroptera abundance and species richness increased with an increase in flower cover and vegetation height. Similarly, syrphid abundance and species richness significantly increased with flower cover but decreased with vegetation structure. Butterfly abundance increased with plant species, however, species richness decreased with vegetation height. Altogether, 39.4% Heteroptera, 39.7% syrphid and 51.2% butterfly species were similar between flower strips and adjoining intensive grasslands. Restoring biodiversity in intensive grasslands represents a real conservation challenge. Flower strips seem most effective to enhance syrphid abundance that showed potential spill-over effect to intensive grasslands. Beside this, flower strips restorative effect is taxa specific. Overall, restoration of insect diversity is a relatively slow process, in which colonization by each insect group is not only limited by local vegetation conditions but is also affected by the presence, distance, and connection to source populations. However, maybe after more than two years intensive grassland is more promoted by adjoining flower strips. The results of the present study could be used to push for more active implementation of flower rich habitats as supplement areas as well as for the conservation of extensively managed grasslands. This will allow both, productive agricultural land use while maintaining and promoting insect habitats, and increase in species diversity within a heterogeneous landscape.

EVI and NDVI as proxies for multifaceted avian diversity in urban areas.

Most ecological studies use remote sensing to analyze broad-scale biodiversity patterns, focusing mainly on taxonomic diversity in natural landscapes. One of the most important effects of high levels of urbanization is species loss (i.e., biotic homogenization). Therefore, cost-effective and more efficient methods to monitor biological communities' distribution are essential. This study explores whether the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) can predict multifaceted avian diversity, urban tolerance, and specialization in urban landscapes. We sampled bird communities among 15 European cities and extracted Landsat 30-meter resolution EVI and NDVI values of the pixels within a 50-m buffer of bird sample points using Google Earth Engine (32-day Landsat 8 Collection Tier 1). Mixed models were used to find the best associations of EVI and NDVI, predicting multiple avian diversity facets: Taxonomic diversity, functional diversity, phylogenetic diversity, specialization levels, and urban tolerance. A total of 113 bird species across 15 cities from 10 different European countries were detected. EVI mean was the best predictor for foraging substrate specialization. NDVI mean was the best predictor for most avian diversity facets: taxonomic diversity, functional richness and evenness, phylogenetic diversity, phylogenetic species variability, community evolutionary distinctiveness, urban tolerance, diet foraging behavior, and habitat richness specialists. Finally, EVI and NDVI standard deviation were not the best predictors for any avian diversity facets studied. Our findings expand previous knowledge about EVI and NDVI as surrogates of avian diversity at a continental scale. Considering the European Commission's proposal for a Nature Restoration Law calling for expanding green urban space areas by 2050, we propose NDVI as a proxy of multiple facets of avian diversity to efficiently monitor bird community responses to land use changes in the cities.

Review: The Accidental Ecosystem: People and Wildlife in American Cities, by Peter S. Alagona

Book Review| February 01 2023 Review: The Accidental Ecosystem: People and Wildlife in American Cities, by Peter S. Alagona Peter S. Alagona. The Accidental Ecosystem: People and Wildlife in American Cities. Oakland: University of California Press, 2022. 296 pp. Illustrations. Hardcover $26.95. Emily Wakild Emily Wakild EMILY WAKILD is the Cecil D. Andrus Endowed Chair for the Environment and Public Lands at Boise State University. She is the author of Revolutionary Parks: Conservation, Social Justice, and Mexico’s National Parks (2011) and coauthor, with Michelle K. Berry, of A Primer for Teaching Environmental History (2017). Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar California History (2023) 100 (1): 111–113. https://doi.org/10.1525/ch.2023.100.1.111 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Emily Wakild; Review: The Accidental Ecosystem: People and Wildlife in American Cities, by Peter S. Alagona. California History 1 February 2023; 100 (1): 111–113. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/ch.2023.100.1.111 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentCalifornia History Search Peter Alagona’s Accidental Ecosystem provides a marvelous history of the present, with key episodes from the past for context. Arguing that urban spaces became “rich wildlife habitat” (2) while we were mostly not paying attention, Alagona masterfully brings debates about rewilding into conversation with the habitat where most people and many animals already live: cities. Instead of treating wildlife populations and large vertebrate habitat as something out there, the author shows with countless vivid and compelling examples that nature’s return is already happening in here. The book’s style, pace, and evidence convincingly argue that the choices we make today about compassionate management will “affect wildlife and shape ecosystems—in cities and beyond—for generations to come” (7). This book has the potential not just to reshape the field, but to reshape the way humans approach the benefits and challenges of living with animals. Over the course of fourteen chapters, Alagona... You do not currently have access to this content.

Habitat use, richness, and abundance of native mice in the highlands of the Talamanca mountain range, Costa Rica

The Costa Rican highlands are considered hotspots of diversity and endemism, but studies on rodents are scarce. We compared the richness and abundance of mice between the montane forest and the paramo at the summit of the Talamanca mountain range. We selected two study sites within the Talamanca mountain range: the Cerro de la Muerte Biological Station and the paramo. The former is a montane forest dominated by oaks, and the latter is dominated by an herbaceous layer, and some scattered bushy patches. We captured mice in two different microhabitats within each montane forest and paramo, so we had four different sampling microhabitats: (1) paramo–bush, (2) paramo–Chusquea, (3) montane forest–bush, and (4) montane forest–Chusquea. Mice were marked to identify recaptures. We captured four mouse species and their abundance varied largely between habitats and among microhabitats (Table 1). The most abundant species, representing 85 % of all mouse captures, was Peromyscus nudipes. Mice were more abundant in the montane forest than in the paramo. Within the montane forest, mice were more abundant in the microhabitat containing bushes. The montane forest has a more complex vegetation structure with more diversity of food resources and shelters than the paramo. As well as at the habitat level, we argue that differences in abundance among microhabitats are directly related with the structure of vegetation. A more complex habitat structure may provide rodents with better conditions.