Impact Of Anthropogenic Disturbance Research Articles

The impact of anthropogenic disturbance and climate change on the distribution of Dekay’s brown snake (Storeria dekayi)

Abstract Human activities in the Anthropocene contribute to natural resource and climatic pattern shifts, which in turn affect the distributions of organisms. Currently, research efforts to understand organismal distribution patterns mainly focus on rare species, leaving common taxa to receive less attention. We constructed ecological niche models using MaxEnt to evaluate the distributions of a common urban reptile, Dekay’s brown snake (Storeria dekayi). We investigate the importance of human disturbance for the current S. dekayi distribution, the niche differentiation of the two genetic lineages of S. dekayi separated by the Mississippi River, and the potential future range shift of S. dekayi. We found no significant effect of human disturbance on current S. dekayi distribution. There was no significant evidence of niche differentiation between two lineages (eastern and western), which can possibly be attributed to their shallow genetic divergence. We also predicted a range expansion for S. dekayi in the future with anthropogenic climate change. Understanding the distribution patterns of common species is important because of the pivotal role they play in ecosystem functioning and services. We encourage more work to be conducted in the future on common and urban-dwelling species’ distributions to conserve and promote urban biodiversity and biodiversity overall.

Impact of anthropogenic disturbance on nesting Chimney Swift (<i>Chaetura pelagica</i>) including best practices for conservation

The effect of anthropogenic disturbance on nesting Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) is poorly described. We review five case studies of anthropogenic disturbance around Chimney Swift nest sites caused by building construction, demolition, and maintenance activities in St. Adolphe, Manitoba. Chimney Swift behaviour and nest site activity did not appear to be overtly influenced by building demolition and construction conducted on adjacent buildings or lots within 13–30 m of nest chimneys. In contrast, Chimney Swift behaviour and breeding success appeared to be negatively affected by loud interior renovations and rooftop work conducted in or on the same building as the nest chimneys. The presence of humans on the roof of the nest building prevented Chimney Swifts from entering the nest site and reduced the overall rate of feeding young. Based on these observations, we provide conservation best practices for building construction and maintenance projects conducted within or on the same building as nest chimneys to help ensure protection of Chimney Swifts and their nesting habitat during the breeding season.

Editorial: Impact of anthropogenic disturbances on agroforestry ecosystems

Editorial: Impact of anthropogenic disturbances on agroforestry ecosystems

Impact of Anthropogenic Disturbances on Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India

This study revealed that the Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus population was threatened by anthropogenic disturbances in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. The Red Junglefowl density in the undisturbed habitat was higher (69 individuals/km 2 ) than in the disturbed habitat (36 individuals/km 2 ). The mean group size was marginally higher in disturbed habitat (3 individuals/km 2 ) than in undisturbed habitat (2 individuals/km 2 ). The estimated sex ratio showed no major variation among disturbed and undisturbed habitats. The present study also revealed that Red Junglefowl avoided disturbed habitats, and the results provide further evidence that protection from human activities is urgently required. Unsustainable harvesting practices need to be regulated as a large number of villagers continue to exploit resources for generating income to partially support themselves. They also collect medicinal plants and other Non-Timber Forest Products in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary round the year

Impact of Anthropogenic Disturbances on Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India

This study revealed that the Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus population was threatened by anthropogenic disturbances in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. The Red Junglefowl density in the undisturbed habitat was higher (69 individuals/km 2 ) than in the disturbed habitat (36 individuals/km 2 ). The mean group size was marginally higher in disturbed habitat (3 individuals/km 2 ) than in undisturbed habitat (2 individuals/km 2 ). The estimated sex ratio showed no major variation among disturbed and undisturbed habitats. The present study also revealed that Red Junglefowl avoided disturbed habitats, and the results provide further evidence that protection from human activities is urgently required. Unsustainable harvesting practices need to be regulated as a large number of villagers continue to exploit resources for generating income to partially support themselves. They also collect medicinal plants and other Non-Timber Forest Products in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary round the year

The Impact of Anthropogenic Disturbance to the Canopy Microclimate of Tropical Forests in the Southern Western Ghats, India

Anthropogenic disturbances are a pressing driver of forest degradation and are known to affect the microclimate within forests. Most organisms experience the microclimate and hence, associated changes may drive species communities in rainforests. However, such knowledge remains limited in the case of forest canopies, especially in south Asia. We aimed to identify differences in the temperature and light intensity, and beetles and vascular epiphytes in the canopy between old-growth and secondary forests. Using sensors, we recorded two key microclimatic variables, the air temperature, and light intensity, in the crowns of 36 Cullenia exarillata A. Robyns trees. We sampled beetles (morphospecies) and vascular epiphytes (genera) in the crowns. We provide evidence that canopies of secondary forest stands (intensively logged 60 years ago) (1) continue to show higher canopy air temperatures and light intensity, and (2) have higher beetle abundance (individuals), richness (morphospecies), and diversity but lower vascular epiphyte abundance (individuals), richness (genera), and diversity as compared to primary forest stands. We also show that the beetle communities differ (with greater beta diversity in the primary forest), but the vascular epiphyte communities were similar between the two forest types. We hope that this information begins to bridge the gap in understanding the role of microclimate in driving species communities and the ecology of human-modified forests.

Impact of anthropogenic disturbance on tree species diversity, vegetation structure and carbon storage potential in an upland evergreen forest of Ghana, West Africa

The impact of anthropogenic disturbance on tree species diversity, vegetation structure and carbon storage potential was assessed in an upland evergreen forest on a disturbance gradient (highly stressed, moderately stressed and non-stressed vegetation) in the Atewa Range Forest Reserve. Five spatially separated plots with sizes 50 × 50 m were demarcated in each gradient and sampled for vegetation and soil attributes. Specifically, we sampled tree species diversity, vegetation structure and carbon storage potentials in each gradient. A total of 193 tree species belonging to 44 families and 131 genera were recorded. Tree species composition and diversity differed across the gradient. Significantly higher species diversity was recorded in the non-stressed vegetation gradient than in the stressed vegetation gradients. Similarly, the gradients differed in terms of basal area, the density of stands, the height of trees and carbon stock with significantly higher attributes in the non-stressed than the stressed vegetation gradients. Only the basal area and height of stands correlated significantly with tree carbon stock. Anthropogenic disturbances (illegal logging, farming, mining) contributed to the reduced tree species diversity, density of stands and removal of mature trees, which translated into a reduction in the forest's ability to store carbon

Impacts of Anthropogenic Disturbances on Diatom Diversity in a Shallow Spring-Fed Pool

Human impacts cause significant problems for shallow lakes in the karst regions of South China. In recent years, the ecological issues related to managing and restoring these critical aquatic ecosystems have come to the fore. Lingshui Pool (LSP) is one of the most-studied spring-fed lake ecosystems in south China, and it has well-preserved chronological profiles. The LSP was a very shallow lake before dam construction in 1962. Due to the dam’s construction, rapid development and urbanization, this important freshwater ecosystem has suffered severe eutrophication and environmental degradation. In order to determine the environmental effects of recent anthropogenic disturbances and establish conservation recommendations for this lake ecosystem, we analyzed diatoms and weak-acid leachable elements from a well-dated sediment core from LSP to reconstruct the changes in aquatic conditions and diatom diversity during the period AD 1960–2013. This revealed shifts in diatom assemblages, diversity, and geochemistry that were strongly linked to the construction of a dam in 1962 and rapid eutrophication after 1990. Diatom diversity was stable and relatively high when submerged macrophytes were present between 1962 and 1990. Thus, the reintroduction of endemic macrophytes could benefit the ecological stability and diversity of this shallow lake.

Impact of anthropogenic disturbances on carbon cycle changes in terrestrial‐aquatic‐estuarine continuum by using an advanced process‐based model

AbstractRecent research has shown that inland water—including rivers, lakes, and groundwater—may play some role in carbon cycling, although the extent of its contribution has remained uncertain due to the limited amount of reliable data available. To evaluate global changes in the carbon cycle due to anthropogenic factors, such as application of fertilizer and manure, in major rivers including 130 tidal estuaries over an 18‐year period (1998–2015), the present study used an advanced process‐based model derived by coupling a process‐based national integrated catchment‐based eco‐hydrology (NICE) model with various biogeochemical cycle models (NICE‐BGC). Generally, total nitrogen and phosphorus transports in overland flow were found to increase. In contrast, total suspended sediment in overland flow decreased in some regions because the vegetation was able to expand to cover the ground, resulting in less erosion. NICE‐BGC simulated the difference in carbon budget in major rivers with and without nutrient application. Generally, CO2 degassing across the water‐air interface decreased and particulate organic carbon (POC) increased in most rivers through variations in carbon budget, where excess nutrients might stimulate gross primary production of carbon‐rich algal biomass. The simulated result also showed that the estuarine carbon cycle was sensitive to intense anthropogenic disturbances reflected by nutrient load, seawater temperature, increases in sea level, and ocean acidification. Extension of previous studies only by categorizing MARgins and CATchments Segmentation (MARCATS) segment numbers showed that the estimated total CO2 flux from the world's estuaries was 0.14 Pg C/year. Generally, the simulation showed that incorporation of the nutrient cycle into the terrestrial‐aquatic‐estuarine continuum improved estimates of net land flux and carbon budget in inland waters, thus emphasizing that the effect of estuarine inland water should be explicitly included in the global carbon model to minimize the range of uncertainty.

Impact of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Vegetation Structure of El-Maktala Coastal Land, Egypt

Impact of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Vegetation Structure of El-Maktala Coastal Land, Egypt

Overall dynamic body acceleration measures activity differently on large versus small aquatic animals

Abstract Acceleration‐based proxies for activity and energy expenditure are widely used in bio‐logging studies of animal movement and locomotion to explore biomechanical strategies, energetic costs of behaviour, habitat use and the impact of anthropogenic disturbance. The foremost such proxy is overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) along with variants VeDBA and PDBA. This technique, which involves summing the magnitude of high‐pass‐filtered acceleration signals (the so‐called dynamic acceleration) over a reference interval, has been applied to animals as diverse as shags, lobsters, humans and whales. The relationship between ODBA and energy use has been tested empirically on animals small enough to house in laboratory facilities and arguments have been offered for why the method should be generally applicable; however, validations on larger animals are scant. Here, we examine how body size impacts ODBA and its variants under steady locomotion in large aquatic animals, using cetaceans as model species. To do this, we first develop a simplified mathematical model for the acceleration signals that would be measured by a tag on a swimming animal. We then test this model with empirical data gathered using bio‐logging tags on whale species spanning 1.3 m harbour porpoises to 12‐m sperm whales. We show that the motions measured by ODBA can be fundamentally different in small versus large aquatic animals. Whereas dynamic acceleration in small animals is predominantly due to specific acceleration (i.e. actual accelerative motions generated by muscle action), in larger aquatic animals, body rotations (i.e. cyclical angular displacements associated with swimming) can dominate the measured acceleration. As body rotations do not necessarily increase in magnitude as swimming speed increases, ODBA may underestimate the relative cost of behaviours or responses to disturbance in large aquatic animals. This does not lessen the value of ODBA for small animals, but it raises a caution against uncritical use on larger animals. For large aquatic animals, activity proxies that specifically remove body rotations using gyroscopes or magnetometers may provide more consistent estimates of energy use although these methods are yet to be validated.

Urbanization Constrains Skin Bacterial Phylogenetic Diversity in Wild Fish Populations and Correlates with the Proliferation of Aeromonads.

Changes in the state of rivers resulting from the activity and expansion of urban areas are likely to affect aquatic populations by increasing stress and disease, with the microbiota playing a potentially important intermediary role. Unraveling the dynamics of microbial flora is therefore essential to better apprehend the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on the health of host populations and the ecological integrity of hydrosystems. In this context, the present study simultaneously examined changes in the microbial communities associated with mucosal skin and gut tissues of eight fish species along an urbanization gradient in the Orge River (France). 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding revealed that the structure and composition of the skin microbiota varied substantially along the disturbance gradient and to a lesser extent according to fish taxonomy. Sequences affiliated with the Gammaproteobacteria, in particular the genus Aeromonas, prevailed on fish caught in the most urbanized areas, whereas they were nearly absent upstream. This rise of opportunistic taxa was concomitant with a decline in phylogenetic diversity, suggesting more constraining environmental pressures. In comparison, fish gut microbiota varied much more moderately with the degree of urbanization, possibly because this niche might be less directly exposed to environmental stressors. Co-occurrence networks further identified pairs of associated bacterial taxa, co-existing more or less often than expected at random. Few correlations could be identified between skin and gut bacterial taxa, supporting the assumption that these two microbial niches are disconnected and do not suffer from the same vulnerability to anthropic pressures.

Impacts of anthropogenic disturbances on microbial community of coastal waters in Shenzhen, South China.

During the urbanization, human activities have brought great changes to marine biodiversity and microbial communities of coastal water. Shenzhen is a coastal city that has developed rapidly over the past four decades, but the microbial communities and metabolic potential in offshore water are still not well characterized. Here, 16S rRNA gene V4-V5 sequencing was conducted to determine the microbial components from coastal waters in twenty selected areas of Shenzhen. The results showed a significant difference on the microbial composition between the western and eastern waters. Samples from western coast had more abundant Burkholderiaceae, Sporichthyaceae, Aeromonadaceae, and Methylophilaceae compared to eastern coast, and at the genus level, Candidatus Aquiluna, Aeromonas, Arcobacter, Ottowia and Acidibacter were significantly higher in western waters. There was also a notable difference within the western sample group, suggesting the taxa-compositional heterogeneity. Moreover, analysis of environmental factors and water quality revealed that salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen were relatively decreased in western samples, while total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chemical oxygen demand, and harmful marine vibrio were significantly increased compared to eastern waters. The results suggest the coastal waters pollution is more serious in western Shenzhen than eastern Shenzhen and the microbial communities are altered, which can be associated with anthropogenic disturbances.

The impact of anthropogenic disturbances on the genetic diversity of terrestrial species: A global meta-analysis.

Human activities are primarily responsible for habitat loss and changes in natural environments around the world. It has been suggested that populations inhabiting human-modified landscapes experience reduced gene flow, inbreeding depression, and loss of alleles due to genetic drift. However, empirical evidence shows the contrasting effects of anthropogenic disturbances on the genetic diversity of species. We performed a meta-analysis of 61 studies that compared the genetic diversity of plant and/or animal populations in disturbed and more preserved areas (316 paired comparisons) to investigate the genetic responses to different disturbance types. There is a negative effect (effect size: -0.45; 95% confidence interval: -0.61, -0.29) of disturbances on genetic diversity, in which the most detrimental effects are caused by the loss of connectivity and forest cover. The methodological approach can explain part of the heterogeneity among the genetic responses detected by primary studies: (a) studies using the number of effective alleles did not detect genetic erosion, while all other indices revealed negative responses to disturbances; and (b) only studies performed with transferred or a combination of transferred and specific microsatellites detected negative responses. The effects on animal populations are more detrimental than in plant populations. Only plant species with a shrub life form, self-incompatible reproductive systems, and biotic pollination and seed dispersal showed negative responses to disturbances. Despite heterogeneity among studies, there is an overall negative effect of disturbances on genetic diversity, which indicates that remaining populations inhabiting human-modified landscapes have reduced evolutionary potential and are prone to local extinction.

Impact of anthropogenic disturbance and vegetation composition on ecophysiology and activity of Uromastyx aegyptia (Forskål, 1775)

Anthropogenic disturbances, particularly in deserts where resources and biodiversity are limited, may affect the delicate balance that enables an organism to exist in its environment. In this study, we investigated the impacts of human disturbance and the resulting changes in vegetation composition on activity, thermal biology, and body condition index of the Egyptian spiny-tailed burrowing lizard, Uromastyx aegyptia. Thirty-six adult U. aegyptia, were radio-tracked twice per week inside and outside protected habitats in the Kuwaiti desert. Vegetation composition, richness, abundance and density were surveyed in 115 plots randomly selected close to the active burrows and in the interspace areas. The high percentage of browsing on certain species such as Cyperus conglomeratus, Moltkiopsis ciliata, Rhanterium epapposum, and Convolvulus oxyphyllus may indicate that these species are characterized by high palatability and nutritional values for livestock and wild animals including dhubs. Dhub burrows were closer to each other inside the protected sites than outside of the protected sites. While habitat protection provided more vegetation and refuge to the dhubs and greater body mass at the beginning of the active season, it had little effect on seasonal changes in body mass and surface activity times of dhubs.

Quantitative analysis of land transformation in a Holocene delta: An example from the Tama River lowland, central Japan

Human activities, such as the expansion of agricultural and urban land use on subaerial deltas and landfilling of subaqueous deltas have large impacts on Holocene deltas. Here, we quantified the volume of the Holocene deltaic deposits in the Tama River lowland located in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area by analyzing 3872 existing borehole sections using GIS and evaluated artificial land transformation. The total volume of deltaic deposits accumulated during the past 9000 years was estimated to be 3925 × 106 m3, of which artificially deformed near-surface material (AD) (676 × 106 m3) occupies approximately 17%. This ratio is much larger than that in the Nobi Plain (4.6%) in the Nagoya metropolitan area, suggesting that the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on the delta has been greater in Tokyo than in the Nagoya metropolitan area. Approximately 71% of AD is distributed in the seaward area, where landfills were created mainly after the Taisho period (1912–1926); the source of the AD is considered to be dredged soil, construction waste soil, and mountain sand. The remaining 29% of AD occurred in the landward area (floodplain and delta plain) and likely originates from the in situ disturbed sediments of the delta plain and floodplain in addition to earth fill. The seaward AD deposits (including redeposition by dredging within the delta) accumulated at a rate of 4.79 × 106 m3/year, which is much higher than that of the accumulation of natural deltaic deposits during the Holocene (0.36 × 106 m3/year). This clearly shows that anthropogenic forcing has become a strong influence on geomorphological and sedimentological processes within the delta.

Impact of disturbance on vegetation, biomass and carbon stock in tropical forests of Tripura, Northeast India

In this study, the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on vegetation, soil characteristics, biomass and carbon stock was studied in tropical mixed deciduous forests of Tripura, North-east India. The forests stands were selected based on the presumed disturbance index and categorized in three distinct categories viz. Least Disturbed Forests (LDF), Moderately Disturbed Forests (MDF) and Highly Disturbed Forests (HDF). The study revealed that species diversity is much higher in LDF followed by MDF and HDF sites. Few species like Anogeissus accuminata, Lannea coromandelica, Schima wallichii, and Syzygium cumini are common in all the three categories of forests. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index ranged from 1.32 to 2.51 in all the stands. The phytosociological parameters varied along the disturbance gradient in different stands. The maximum tree density was 198.57 trees ha−1 in LDF, 176.67 trees ha−1 in MDF and least in HDF (111.67 trees ha−1). Soil Organic Carbon (SOC %) recorded maximum in LDF (1.41–1.67%) and minimum in HDF (0.91–1.36%). Tree biomass showed a significant relation with soil organic carbon stock (r = 0.998, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the present study suggests the need for quantification of forest disturbance and biomass which will improve carbon budget estimates and lead to better parameterization of forest carbon cycle models.

Impact of anthropogenic disturbance on Anurans habitat and species richness in Silago, Southern Leyte, Philippines

Impact of anthropogenic disturbance on Anurans habitat and species richness in Silago, Southern Leyte, Philippines

Impact of anthropogenic disturbance on species diversity and vegetation structure of a lowland tropical rainforest of eastern Himalaya, India

Impact of anthropogenic disturbance on species diversity and vegetation structure of a lowland tropical rainforest was studied in the foothills of Eastern Himalaya, India. Tree species richness, density, basal area and the diversity indices were found significantly (P 100 cm dbh class in all three sites. Density of the matured trees decreased with increasing DBH whereas, tree basal area tended to increase with increasing DBH in all three sites. Tree species richness was highest in the lower DBH classes. 62.07% of the total tree species regenerated in the largely undisturbed site followed by 50% in the mildly disturbed and 26.32% in the highly disturbed site. The overall regeneration condition was found to be good in the largely undisturbed site. Mildly disturbed site exhibited fair regeneration and so was in the highly disturbed site. Discernable variations in species composition, diversity, regeneration and tree population structure revealed the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on rainforest vegetation dynamics. Higher degree of disturbance was furtherly found not only affecting species diversity but also promoting the growth of invasive weed species. Dominance of Hydnocarpus kurzii and Crypteronia paniculata in the highly disturbed site also indicated that these less-valued timber species may benefit from the vegetation mosaic produced by the disturbance; so differences in abundance of these species may be useful for bio-indication. Furthermore, present study suggests the need of adequate biodiversity conservation measures and adaptation of sustainable forest management approaches in disturbed areas of lowland tropical rainforest in the foothills of eastern Himalaya, India.

The Impact of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Bacterioplankton Communities During the Construction of Donghu Tunnel (Wuhan, China).

Bacterioplankton are both primary producers and primary consumers in aquatic ecosystems, which were commonly investigated to reflect environmental changes, evaluate primary productivity, and assess biogeochemical cycles. However, there is relatively less understanding of their responses to anthropogenic disturbances such as constructions of dams/tunnels/roads that may significantly affect the aquatic ecosystem. To fill such gap, this study focused on the bacterioplankton communities' diversity and turnover during a tunnel construction across an urban lake (Lake Donghu, Wuhan, China), and five batches of samples were collected within 2months according to the tunnel construction progress. Results indicated that both resources and predator factors contributed significant to the variations of bacterioplankton communities, but the closed area and open areas showed different diversity patterns due to the impacts of tunnel construction. Briefly, the phytoplankton, TN, and TP in water were still significantly correlated with the bacterioplankton composition and diversity like that in normal conditions. Additionally, the organic matter, TN, and NH4-N in sediments also showed clear effects on the bacterioplankton. However, the predator effects on the bacterioplankton in the closed-off construction area mainly derived from large zooplankton (i.e., cladocerans), while small zooplankton such as protozoa and rotifers are only responsible for weak predator effects on the bacterioplankton in the open areas. Further analysis about the ecological driving forces indicated that the bacterioplankton communities' turnover during the tunnel construction was mainly governed by the homogeneous selection due to similar environments within the closed area or the open areas at two different stages. This finding suggests that bacterioplankton communities can quickly adapt to the environmental modifications resulting from tunnel construction activities. This study can also give references to enhance our understanding on bacterioplankton communities' response to ecological and environmental changes due to intensification of construction and urbanization in and around lake ecosystems.