Landscape Context Research Articles

Genosoil and phenosoil mapping in continental Australia is essential for soil security

The intensification of human pressures on soil can reduce pedodiversity and decrease soil multifunctionality impacting soil security. Mapping genosoils (least modified soils within a soil class or soil map unit by contemporary drivers of soil change) and phenosoils (variants resulting from land use history and management) can be a preliminary step for quantifying soil security dimensions and prioritising areas for soil preservation and regeneration. Genosoil properties can be used as a baseline for assessing the effects of management on soil condition for a particular pedological, climatic and landscape context. In this study, we stratified Australia into 1370 pedogenons (i.e., groups with relatively homogeneous environmental covariates, proxies of soil-forming factors) that represent soil classes prior to the European settlement from 1788 onwards. We overlayed the maps of global Human Modification and the Habitat Condition Assessment System for Australia for identifying areas with minimum human influence on terrestrial ecosystems and soils. Areas with very low human influence were defined as genosoils at the continental level. The percentage of land mapped as genosoils accounted for 56% of the continent and had a median area of 2550 km2. There were 32 pedogenon classes that did not have any remaining genosoils while 218 pedogenon classes had less than 5% of their area as genosoils. The proportion of genosoils protected in conservation areas or managed resource protection varied widely, although almost 25% of the genosoils had at least half of their area under conservation. In addition to soil multifunctionality, the criteria for prioritising soil conservation areas could consider: 1) endangered genosoils and 2) genosoils closest (in the scorpan feature space) to the phenosoils without an existing reference soil.

Kabonga Besar mangrove ecosystem health status, Donggala, Indonesia – an analysis of viability versus threats

Mangrove ecosystem functions mainly to provide habitat for thousands of marine species, prevent erosion and stabilize shore-line. Based on that, this research aims to determine the health status of the mangrove ecosystem located at Kabonga Besar, Donggala, Indonesia, by assessing its viability and threat level. This research was critically important as the mangrove ecosystem is being designated by the Government of Indonesia as a site for recreational use. The method used was qualitative research applying a series of focus group discussions involving interviews and observation. Data collection processes involved observing the ecosystem condition, interviewing key stakeholders, and studying relevant documents. The obtained data, i.e., Key Ecological Attribute covering the aspect of Landscape Context, Condition, and Size, and Threat data were analyzed using The Conservancy’s Framework for Viability and Threats. Viability and Threats were analyzed using the Software Application of CAP v6b. The results show that the viability of the mangrove ecosystem was good, but the threat level was high. To improve the ecosystem, as part of the coastal management, the health status of the site should be enhanced by increasing its viability or decreasing its threat level.

Performance, effectiveness and computational efficiency of powerline extraction methods for quantifying ecosystem structure from light detection and ranging

ABSTRACT National and regional data products of the ecosystem structure derived from airborne laser scanning (ALS) surveys with Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) technology are essential for ecology, biodiversity, and ecosystem monitoring. However, noises like powerlines often remain, hindering the accurate measurement of 3D ecosystem structures from LiDAR. Currently, there is a lack of studies assessing powerline noise removal in the context of generating data products of ecosystem structures from ALS point clouds. Here, we assessed the (1) performance and accuracy, (2) effectiveness, and (3) time efficiency and execution time of three powerline extraction methods (i.e. two point-based methods based on deep learning and eigenvalue decomposition, respectively, and one hybrid method) for removing powerline noise when quantifying 3D ecosystem structures in landscapes with varying canopy heights and vegetation openness. Twenty-five LiDAR metrics representing three key dimensions of the ecosystem structure (i.e. vegetation height, cover, and vertical variability) across 10 study areas in the Netherlands were used for our assessment. The deep learning method had the best performance and showed the highest accuracy of powerline removal across various landscape types (average F 1 score = 96%), closely followed by the hybrid method (average F 1 score = 95%). In contrast, the accuracy of the eigenvalue decomposition method was lower (average F 1 score = 82%) and depended on landscape context and vegetation composition (e.g. the F 1 score decreased from 96% to 63% when the average canopy height increased across landscapes). Powerline noise removal had the highest effectiveness (i.e. generating LiDAR metrics closest to those derived from manually labeled ground truth data) for LiDAR metrics capturing height and cover of low- and high-vegetation layers. Time efficiency (processed points per second) was highest for the eigenvalue decomposition method, yet the hybrid method reduced the execution time by > 50% compared to the deep learning method (ranging from 20% to 89% in study areas with different landscape composition). Based on our findings, we recommend the hybrid method for upscaling powerline removal on multi-terabyte ALS datasets to a regional or national extent because of its high accuracy and computational efficiency. Remaining misclassifications in LiDAR metrics could be further minimized by improving the training dataset for deep learning models (e.g. including various shapes of transmission towers from different datasets). Our findings provide novel insights into the performance of different powerline extraction methods, how their effectiveness varies for improving vegetation metrics and mapping the 3D ecosystem structure from LiDAR, and their computational efficiency for upscaling powerline removal in multi-terabyte ALS datasets to a national extent.

Adapting a multiscale approach to assess the compositional diversity of landscapes

ContextThe role of landscape diversity and structure is crucial for maintaining biodiversity. Both landscape diversity and structure have often been analysed on one thematic layer, focusing on Shannon diversity. The application of compositional diversity, however, has received little attention yet.ObjectivesOur main goal was to introduce a novel framework to assess both landscape compositional diversity and structure in one coherent framework. Moreover, we intended to demonstrate the significance of the use of a neutral model for landscape assessments.MethodsBoth entire Hungary and nine of its regions were used as study areas. Juhász-Nagy’s information theory-based functions, i.e. “compositional diversity” and “associatum”, were introduced and applied in landscape context. Potential and actual landscape characteristics were compared by analysing a probabilistic representation of potential natural vegetation (multiple PNV, MPNV) and actual vegetation (AV), treating MPNV as a neutral model.ResultsA significant difference was found between the MPNV- and AV-based, maximal compositional diversity estimates. MPNV-based maximal compositional diversity was higher and the maximum appeared at a finer spatial scale. The differences were more prominent in human-modified regions. Associatum implied the spatial aggregation of both MPNV and AV. Fragmentation of AV was indicated by larger units carrying maximal compositional diversity and maximal associatum values.ConclusionsApplying the multiscale Juhász-Nagy’s functions to landscape composition allowed more precise characterization of the landscape state than traditional Shannon diversity. Our results underline, that increasingly transformed landscapes host decreasing complexity of vegetation type combinations and increasing grain that carries the richest information on landscape vegetation patterns.

The secret life of wild animals revealed by accelerometer data: how landscape diversity and seasonality influence the behavioural types of European hares

ContextLandscape composition and configuration, as well as seasonal landscape dynamics shape the behaviour, movement and energy expenditure of animals, i.e. foraging, hiding or fleeing, and ultimately survival. Especially in highly modified agricultural systems, it is crucial to understand how animal behaviour is influenced by landscape context to develop sustainable land management concepts.ObjectivesWe show how landscape composition and configuration, together with seasonal dynamics affect animal behavioural types, accounting for the different life-history events in both sexes.MethodsWe investigated 34 European hares in two contrasting agricultural landscapes (a simple and a complex landscape) by using tri-axial accelerometer data to classify the animals’ behaviour into five categories: resting, foraging, moving, grooming and standing upright (i.e. vigilance behaviour). We tested whether the amount of behaviours per category changed with landscape composition and configuration, season and sex.ResultsDuring peak breeding, hares in areas of high habitat diversity rested more, moved less and spent less time searching for resources. During winter, hares moved more and rested less. Females rested less and foraged more in areas with large agricultural fields.ConclusionsA complex landscape is particularly important during the breeding season, allowing animals to allocate enough energy into reproduction. In winter, hares in areas of low habitat diversity may not find enough thermal and anti-predator shelter to move as much as they would need to meet their requirements. Hence, high habitat diversity and small field sizes guarantee species persistence in human-altered agricultural areas throughout the year.

Effectiveness of Seed Traps for Assessing Seed Rain in Periurban Grasslands

Landscape context plays an important role in plant community structuring, with selection pressure affecting dispersal ability. This is particularly true in cities, where land use heterogeneity and habitat fragmentation can affect plant dispersal patterns. Seed rain surveys are often used to study dispersal but involve a wide variety of methods and trap types and rarely address the urban context. This study aimed to (1) compare seed rain, especially of anemochorous seeds, in different spatial contexts in a periurban area in Angers (western France); and (2) compare seed rain captured using different trap types (funnel traps/sticky traps), trap heights, and shapes. Seven sites, each equipped with five replicates of funnel traps, were selected in a periurban area in the western part of Angers. Within one of these sites, ten types of traps (differing in trapping method, height, shape, degree of tilt, and area) were employed and their performance compared. The results show that trap height rather than trap type is responsible for differences in seed density and composition. Furthermore, the composition of collected seeds appears to be associated with surrounding land cover, in particular built areas, which has implications for urban ecology in terms of understanding the influence of landscape factors on plant dispersal.

From the source to the sea − A regional study of Bronze Age depositions from eastern Funen, Denmark

Abstract Depositions from the South Scandinavian Bronze Age are traditionally associated with a landscape context that is restricted to division into field and bog finds. This obscures the important role of water as a location factor for depositions and the variation in the choice of deposition sites is not immediately clear. The starting point of the article is a period V multi-type deposition from Hedegyden near Nyborg, where an excavation has demonstrated that the deposition was placed at a spring. Together with more than 300 other Bronze Age depositions from the East Funen region in Denmark, relationships between the period’s depositions and the locations where they were placed in the landscape are examined chronologically and geographically, as well as within three partially overlapping water themes: in relation to springs – or places where water flows out, along watercourses and on the coast. In this study, especially the finds from springs should be highlighted, as a previously under-illuminated element of the Bronze Age wetland tradition.

Farmland biodiversity benefits from small woody features

Although positive effects on biodiversity of woody features in agricultural landscapes are widely recognized, questions remain as to which landscape context to prioritize their implementation and in what proportion. To investigate the response of farmland biodiversity to small woody features (SWF) density in different landscape compositions (cropland, grassland, mixed), we analyzed fine-resolution data from standardized monitoring schemes on 111 birds, 22 bats, and 25 bush cricket's species, at national scale (relying on 3772, 834 and 727 monitoring points) over the period 2015–2019, in metropolitan France. We used Generalized Additive Mixed Models to analyze population and community responses, through different metrics (abundance, species diversity, and functional composition). We found a positive response exhibited by the three taxa to SWF, more especially in cropland where the SWF density is the lowest relative to grassland and mixed landscapes. Also, our results suggested a non-linear response common to the three taxa, with an increased benefit up to at least 6 % of SWF density in cropland, and beyond for most of the metrics but to a lesser extent (e.g., maximum abundance reached at 7–12 % SWF). We note, however, that some species among farmland bird specialists are negatively impacted by SWF. Overall, we emphasize the benefits to promote woody features in agricultural landscapes, notably in cropland, to support biodiversity and its associated ecosystem functions. Our study provides crucial empirical evidence to the recommendations from previous studies and the relevance of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 to dedicate at least 10 % of farmland to high-diversity landscape features.

A Strategic Interpretation of Landscape through Interaction between Natural, Built and Virtual Environments: The Case Study of Piazzola sul Brenta

The need to digitize data as an analysis tool is increasingly a topical issue, also because it is a tool of common interest for several disciplines. This new research merges with the iNEST project (Interconnected Nord-Est Innovation Ecosystem), referring in particular to Spoke 4: city, architecture and sustainable design, which aims at extending the beneficial effects of digitalization to the areas of “Nord-Est” Italy. The project started in August 2022 and will end in August 2025. Knowing that the trend of urbanization, metropolis living, and climate change is related to psychologically stressful situations as a result of environmental stressors, this research aims to analyze if living in a place surrounded by natural and valuable artificial elements (i.e., historical architecture, art) is crucial in generating health and psychophysical well-being. This paper presents the case study of Piazzola sul Brenta, a small town in the Veneto region on which a territorial analysis was carried out to understand the existing dynamics between the natural and artificial environment, using the literature and historical maps. Since this research began recently, with only preliminary and partial results so far, this paper focuses on the interdisciplinary discussion developed around this topic, showing the first part of a research that aims to create models of urban and landscape contexts that enable in-depth analysis and the prefiguration of strategies for regeneration.

Differences in mammal communities between forest fragments and restoration areas in the Atlantic Forest

AbstractThe persistence of larger mammals in fragmented forest landscapes depends not only on the protection of remaining habitats but also on ecological restoration sites. It is known that the landscape context is an important predictor of species persistence, abundance and distribution. Here we evaluate how landscape characteristics influence the recovery of larger mammals in ecological restoration sites. We assess the richness and composition of mammals in forest fragments and restoration sites using landscape metrics such as forest cover and connectivity. Forest fragments and restoration sites present the same richness (n = 26), but differ in species composition. Some seed‐dispersing mammals were absent in restoration areas, such as Alouatta guariba (brown howler monkey) and Coendou spinosus (paraguayan hairy dwarf porcupine). The percentage of forest cover in the landscape was responsible for 29.09% of the variation in species composition between the evaluated forest formations, exerting a positive or negative influence depending on the species requirements. The results demonstrate the importance of considering not only landscape metrics in an ecological restoration plan, but also the historical landscape context, such as the fauna composition before the disturbance and how these species respond to environmental changes, thus improving the success of future ecological restoration measurements and policies.

Local and landscape context affects bee communities in mixed fruit orchards in Southern Thailand

Abstract Bees play an important role by contributing to the pollination of a diverse range of crops and wild plants. However, bees are threatened by deforestation and habitat degradation caused by urbanization and agricultural intensification, which reduce floral and nesting resources. In this study, the effects of local (orchard size, flowering plant abundance and richness and floral abundance) and landscape factors (surrounding agricultural, forest and urban cover) on bee richness and abundance in mixed fruit orchards were determined from 28 mature orchards interspersed along a gradient of landscape complexity. Bees were observed for 15 min in 2 × 2 m plots. We categorized all bees into one of the three groups: (a) honey bees, (b) solitary bees and (c) stingless bees. Several local and landscape factors were found to influence bee richness and abundance. Honey bee abundance was positively affected by orchard size, whereas honey bee richness was not. Stingless bee richness and abundance were positively correlated with floral abundance. Forest cover within a 3‐km radius positively affected solitary bee richness. Solitary bee abundance was positively affected by forest cover within a 3‐km radius and negatively impacted by urban cover within a 1.5‐km radius. In our study area, small forest patches are found in abundance; thus, the high proportion of forest edge, relative to the forest interior, greatly supports solitary bee abundance and richness in this landscape. Moreover, most solitary bees are soil‐nesting species that may be excluded from environments that are converted from natural to anthropogenically developed areas. Recommendations to protect pollinators included conserving existing forest patches, especially forest margins; restoring forest patches within farmland landscapes; maintaining a diversity of herbs and grasses within mixed fruit orchards; establishing live fences composed of diverse plant species and retaining dead trees within farmland. For urban areas, augmenting floral resources in green spaces is suggested.

Limited top–down effects of feral cats on rodent dynamics in a seabird colony

Control of invasive predators is a priority to protect island biodiversity. Understanding the responses of other species in multi-species invaded food webs is important to avoid unintended consequences. We use an intensive 2-year cat-trapping program in the vicinity of seabird colonies on Bruny Island, Tasmania, to investigate its effectiveness in reducing feral cat density and whether cat control influenced the behaviour and abundance of native and invasive mammal species. Cat density before control was extremely high around this seasonally rich food resource, much higher than on mainlands. Cat density was reduced 5.4-fold by control showing that trapping is effective in reducing cat density in this focussed landscape context. We found no direct effect of cat reduction on the abundance or behaviour of native or invasive mammalian prey species. Recruitment of invasive black rats and native swamp rats increased on the seabird colonies after the shearwater breeding season, and cats responded by increasing their presence on the colonies relative to surrounding areas. This suggests cascading bottom-up effects from a lagged productivity pulse provided by breeding seabirds which would require nutrient sampling to confirm. Our results highlight the complexity of subsequent effects of an invasive predator control on the broader ecosystem.

Floral strips adjacent to Manitoba crop fields attract beneficial insects shortly after establishment regardless of management type or landscape context

Abstract Insects provide valuable ecosystem services to agriculture, but their populations are often lower in these areas. We established floral strips on the edges of eight organic and seven conventional crop fields in southern Manitoba. We then compared the capture rates of ground beetles, syrphid flies and bees in floral strips; control (unmodified) field edges; nearby semi‐natural sites; and within the strip and control fields at six distances away from field borders (5–150 m). The effects of farm management and landscape context on insect abundance, diversity and associated species traits were investigated. Capture rates of bees and beetles were significantly higher within the floral strips than the control treatment. However, capture rates of syrphids were significantly higher in the control. Beetles and bees responded positively to blooming forb cover and edge density (0.5 km), whereas syrphids responded positively to non‐rewarding agriculture and negatively to the semi‐natural areas (1 km). We found no significant difference in insect abundance or diversity between organic and conventional management types, and no differences in insect abundances within the fields were detected. No significant associations between insect traits and landscape variables were identified. These results show that floral strips are effective at attracting ground beetles and bees shortly after establishment, but these communities are functionally similar to those present in control fields. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether populations continue to increase over time and become more functionally diverse in fields with floral strips.

Dispersal of blackbird flocks from sunflower fields: efficacy influenced by flock and field size but not drone platform

AbstractCrop depredation by blackbirds (Icteridae) results in substantial economic losses to the United States sunflower industry, and a solution to effectively reduce damage remains elusive. We evaluated the utility of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, as hazing tools to deter foraging blackbirds from commercial sunflower (Helianthus annuus) fields in North Dakota, USA, between September and October 2017. We compared the efficacy of 3 drones: a fixed‐wing predator model mimicking the form of an aerial raptor, a fixed‐wing airplane of similar size, and a multirotor drone. Multirotor drones are relatively easy to fly and are a multifunctional tool for agricultural use; however, they may not be an effective avian deterrent due to a lack of similarity in appearance with natural predators. Free‐ranging blackbird flocks (n = 58) reacted to every drone approach by initiating flight and took flight 1.6 times sooner for the fixed‐wing predator model (flight initiation distance [FID] = 90 m) and 1.8 times sooner for the fixed‐wing airplane (FID = 98 m) compared to the multirotor drone (FID = 55 m). However, the probability of a blackbird flock (n = 53) abandoning a field was greater with smaller field and flock sizes, rather than the specific drone deployed. In an applied setting, the performance of drones as avian hazing devices will likely depend on a combination of factors including platform selection, drone trajectory, duration of use, season, landscape context, and natural history of the pest species.

Hedgerows are more multifunctional in preserved bocage landscapes

Hedgerows are key wildlife habitats in agricultural landscapes, with presumably high multifunctionality – that is the capacity to provide multiple ecological, agronomic or cultural functions. However, knowledge gaps remain regarding the drivers of hedgerow multifunctionality and potential synergies and trade-offs between functions. In particular, it is unknown in which landscapes hedgerows best support a range of taxa and associated functions. We assessed the effects of hedgerow features, adjoining farming systems, landscape context, and their interactions on hedgerow multifunctionality based on four ecological functions – biodiversity conservation, potential pollination, potential predation, and pest colonization. We estimated these functions by the abundance and diversity of plant and arthropod taxa in 40 hedgerows, in Brittany (France). Results support previous studies showing the beneficial effects of flower cover, margin width, adjacent organic farming, and other variables related to hedgerow structural complexity on individual taxa or proxies of functions. Most importantly, our study reveals that hedgerows are more multifunctional in landscapes with dense hedgerow networks (so-called ‘bocage’ landscapes), which is likely the result of greater habitat amount, connectivity, and environmental heterogeneity. In addition, we find weak correlations between proxies of functions, and more synergies than trade-offs in response to the explanatory variables, indicating that there is considerable scope for improving the ecological value of hedgerows. We draw attention to the fact that ongoing destruction of hedgerow networks, including wide and structurally complex hedgerows, might lead to long-term or irretrievable loss of associated species and ecological functions, jeopardizing restoration and replanting efforts.

A step to disentangle diversity patterns in Uruguayan grasslands: Climatic seasonality, novel land‐uses, and landscape context drive diversity of ground flora

AbstractSouth American grasslands contain extraordinary biodiversity and play a central role in the subsistence of regional agroecosystems. In recent decades, afforestation, followed by the soybean planting boom, have led to drastic land‐use changes at the expense of grasslands. Impacts on local biodiversity have remained understudied. We explored the taxonomic richness and ß‐diversity of plants of ground layer (excluding trees and shrubs) at different land uses, its interplay at regional scale with environmental heterogeneity, and at local scale with novel land cover types and landscape configurations. We conducted correlation, principal component, NDMS, and SDR analysis to explore variation of taxonomic richness, richness difference, replacement, and similarity of ground flora as response to environmental filters and land use change across Uruguay. We surveyed 160 plots distributed in 10 land cover types, that is, closed and open native forests, different grasslands, crops, orchards, and timber plantations. We observed overlaying regional patterns driven by seasonality of temperature and precipitation, and land cover shaping taxonomic richness at local scale. Landscape configuration affects diversity patterns of native ground flora, which seems to be sustained mainly by the “old growth grassland” species pool. Taxonomic richness of native species decreases with an increase of distance to grassland. Crops and grasslands harbor a higher number of native species in the ground flora than native forests and timber plantations. The introduction of exotics is driven mostly by crops or highly modified pastures. Diversity patterns only partially reflect the ecoregion concept. Expanding the perspective from conservation in purely natural ecosystems to measures conserving species richness in human‐modified landscapes is a powerful tool against species loss in the Anthropocene.

Dry grasslands adjacent to organic fields have higher plant diversity − Even far into their interior

Dry semi-natural grasslands are highly species-rich, and therefore often protected in cultural landscapes of Central Europe. However, reserves are typically small and may be subjected to edge effects. Here, we ask how grassland biodiversity changes from edges neighbouring arable fields into grassland interior. We compared plant diversity of protected grasslands adjacent to organically versus conventionally managed arable fields. We surveyed the vegetation along 50 m transects from the arable field border into the grasslands, and compared site characteristics via Ellenberg indicator values and measured soil parameters. Averaged linear mixed-effects models showed an increase of diversity with increasing distance from the adjacent field, from a mean observed richness of 25 species per 4 m²-plot at the border to more than 30 species in the interior. For organic sites, models consistently showed 13 species more per plot than for conventional sites. Diversity for the two land use types remained different over the entire transect length. Thus, the effect of adjacent field farming extends far into the interior of the protected grasslands, yet overall organic farming is less detrimental. We assume that this is related to a combination of differences in local farm management, such as pesticide application, and the wider landscape context associated with the farm type. Buffer zones with at least organic-like management could improve the conservation value of nature reserves.

Disentangling the effects of management, field characteristics of fallows, and surrounding landscape to promote steppe bird conservation

The steep decrease of fallow area in the last years has been directly related to steppe bird population declines in Europe, as fallow lands are a crucial habitat for shelter, food, and nesting resources. However, the potential of fallows to foster steppe bird populations may vary greatly depending on factors at both the landscape and field scale, which may also interact differently depending on the species. This study uses data from more than 3000 ha of fallow land in north-eastern Spain specifically managed for steppe bird conservation to explore which are the characteristics that maximize their conservation value for steppe bird species. We used variance partitioning methods to separate the effects of fallow management (e.g., vegetation height or fallow age) from field characteristics (e.g., field size) and landscape context (e.g., amount of surrounding shrubland area) on the occurrence and abundance of target steppe bird species. Even if fallow management was optimized to meet the requirements of steppe birds, field characteristics and landscape context had important effects (i.e., explained high part of the variance) in maximizing occurrence and abundance. All studied species consistently preferred bigger and dominant fallows (i.e., those at a higher relative elevation). Conservation measures promoting fallows for the conservation of steppe birds should consider mechanisms to optimize the selection of fields. Integrating optimal field selection might be too specific and challenging for agri-environment-climate measures (AECM), however it could be a cost-effective measure when implemented in local or targeted conservation plans, such as those applied within priority areas, protected areas, or compensatory measures.

Local influence of floral resource attributes on urban bumble bee foraging activity

IntroductionUrbanization diminishes the extent of uncompacted, exposed soil and the coverage of wild plant species, yet still supports diverse pollinator communities when their habitat is maintained within the built environment. Floral abundance and richness are known to influence bee foraging behavior, and these factors vary across the landscape, especially across heterogeneous urban extents. This study assesses how floral resources are distributed across the city of Madison, WI and how these factors influence the distribution of foraging bumble bees.MethodsWe conducted a systematic walking transect survey of bumble bees across Madison, WI. The resulting point location data associated with more than 5,000 non-lethally surveyed bumble bees were analyzed with regard to floral resource explanatory variables as well as underlying land use zoning on more than 700 transects. We used Moran's I correlograms to investigate spatial autocorrelation in floral resource variables and bumble bee counts, then we fitted a generalized linear model predicting transect bee counts based on floral cover, density, species richness and wild plant species richness on the distribution of foraging bees. We employed a geographically-weighted regression model to explore non-stationarity in the effects of floral resource explanatory variables across the study extent.ResultsWe found significant positive influence of flower cover, species richness, and weakly significant positive influence of wildflower species richness on foraging bee counts within the model as well as a significant positive influence of the land use zoning categorical variable. The effects of floral resource predictors on foraging bumble bees varies based on landscape context across the city.DiscussionThe results of this study show that landscapes with high cover as well as floral diversity maximize bumble bee foraging, and the positive effect of wildflower species richness stands out where floral cover and overall richness are also present. Given that urban landscapes are not homogeneous and that floral resources are not consistently distributed across the cityscape, valuable pollinator habitat should be protected, and supplemented where gaps persist.

RECONHECENDO TOCAS FÓSSEIS DA ESTIVAÇÃO DE PEIXES PULMONADOS (SARCOPTERYGII, DIPNOI): ICNOTAXONOMIA E PALEOAMBIENTE

Recognizing lungfish (Sarcopterygii, Dipnoi) estivation burrows: ichnotaxonomy and paleoenvironment. Lungfishes first appeared on Earth around 350 million years ago in freshwater environments from Gondwana, since when they suffered harsh adaptations through the geological time, among which, the aestivation capability. Such a behavior keeps preserved in the geological record along the eras and the fossil burrows own a high potential for environmental inferences. From so much we developed this work aiming to (i) gather the records once published on this theme, (ii) to discuss the adopted standard by the authors for interpreting the burrows and their burrowers, and (iii) to discuss the paleoenvironmental significance of the lungfish burrows presenting a model of its probable occurrence in the landscape context. For such a purpose, we made the literature review searching for terms related to the theme, in different basis and pages of scientific journals. We have found 35 articles reporting new occurrences of lungfish burrows, besides uncertain or refuted records, according to ichnotaxonomical parameters. A large proportion of the papers inform about sedimentary facies and paleoenvironmental conditions. Essentially, the records occur in areas of shallow rivers and lakes of a semiarid to subtropical climate, with seasonal humidity variations, but also in coastal environments. Still, from the presented publications, we consider lungfish aestivation burrows to be safe paleoenvironmental indicators. Keywords: lungfish; aestivation; ichnofossils; ichnotaxonomy; floodplains; semiarid.