Levels Of Biodiversity Research Articles

Heterogeneous conservation corridors of remnant vegetation protect biodiversity in South African timber mosaics

AbstractIt is urgent now to place greater emphasis on harmonising conservation of indigenous biodiversity with food and fibre production. This is especially important in countries like South Africa which support high levels of irreplaceable biodiversity. The local timber industry has responded to this challenge by retaining large-scale networks of conservation corridors of historic ecosystems in the forestry landscape. The corridors consist mostly of grassland, with patches of indigenous forest, thickets, wetlands, ponds, and rivers. The motivation is to future proof compositional and functional biodiversity for ecological resilience in these production environments in a rapidly changing world. We synthesise here the substantial evidentiary research on the effectiveness of conservation corridors in plantation forestry-dominated landscapes in the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot. We focus on six emergent themes: 1. corridor dimensions, orientation, and connectivity, 2. heterogeneity at different spatial scales, 3. maintaining aquatic and terrestrial habitat quality in the conservation corridors, 4. biodiversity value of conservation corridors relative to protected areas, 5. the plantation matrix, and 6. assessment of corridor network performance. Results show the importance of prioritising large, high quality conservation corridors, especially those with a high number of natural features and variety of environmental conditions, both terrestrial and aquatic. Alien clearing, grazing control, and appropriate fire regimes should be prioritised in these corridors. Where possible we need to retain, restore, or replicate the natural ecological regimes. Overall, this conservation approach in commercial forestry landscapes helps to conserve indigenous biodiversity and ecosystem integrity, improves connectivity across afforested landscapes while also having sustainable timber production, thereby safeguarding the resilience of these working landscapes well into the future.

The Potential Ecological Impact of Oil Palm Agroforestry as Term of Improvement for Restoring Harapan Rainforest

Around 20.000 ha of forestland in the Harapan Rainforest, Jambi Province, Indonesia, is currently under encroachment by local communities. Local communities encroach on forest land converted into oil palm plantations. Expanding oil palm plantations into forest areas led to biodiversity loss and massive carbon emissions. The annual net carbon emissions of oil palm transformation from the forest in Indonesia is around 12.41–25.83 ton-1 ha-1 year-1. Oil palm agroforestry is considered to be able to increase carbon sequestration and the biodiversity level. CRC-990/EFForTS has established an oil palm agroforestry experimental plot in Jambi Province, Indonesia, namely B11 plot. This study compares the carbon sequestration and biodiversity level between oil palm monoculture and agroforestry. The data collected in this study was obtained from the CRC-990 experimental plots. We collected data on the CRC-990 oil palm agroforestry plot in 6 plots of 40 m × 40 m and 6 plots of 20 m × 20 m. We chose the location and theme of this research because, until now, no research has been conducted yet to calculate the potential carbon absorption capacity and biodiversity level of oil palm agroforestry patterns in B11 plot. This study uses an allometric equation and IPCC guidelines to estimate biomass and carbon sequestration. SNI 8014 is used to evaluate the biodiversity level. This study found that oil palm agroforestry has more significant carbon sequestration. Increasing intercropping in oil palm agroforestry will increase the amount of carbon sequestration. This study also found that oil palm agroforestry has a higher biodiversity level. The species diversity of oil palm agroforestry is moderate, while oil palm monoculture is low. These potential ecological impacts can be considered an initial step in restoring the Harapan Rainforest. It is important to choose appropriate intercrops and proper management to increase the successful implementation of oil palm agroforestry.

Untangling the morphological and genetic variation of two endemic lizards from the coastal sand dunes of Northeastern Brazil

Abstract Studies in the Neotropical region consistently highlight high levels of endemism and biodiversity. However, challenges persist, particularly in uncovering the cryptic diversity among species. Various approaches are needed to address this, including morphological, genetic, and environmental data. This study focused on genetic and morphological variation in three endemic, sympatric lizard species: Tropidurus hygomi, Glaucomastix abaetensis, and Glaucomastix itabaianensis in the coastal sand dunes of Northeastern Brazil. These lizards are confined to sandy Pleistocene-formed environments with limited distribution. While earlier research revealed substantial genetic diversity, gaps remained in distribution sampling, morphological data, and understanding the correlation between this variation and environmental factors. We aimed to identify genetic clusters to assess the alignment of phenotypic differences with these clusters and explore potential relationships between climatic and geographical factors and morphometric variations. We utilized mtDNA data to assess population clusters. Geometric and linear morphometrics were employed to analyze morphological data, which was then correlated with climatic information. Results unveiled genetic and morphological variations signifying the presence of cryptic diversity. Our analyses also highlighted the influence of geography and climate on morphometric variations. These findings underscore hidden diversity and a complex evolutionary history within the confined Pleistocene sand dunes. Further genomic analyses could contribute to comprehending these patterns and enhancing the conservation strategies for these endangered species.

Diversity patterns of herpetofauna communities along a habitat alteration gradient in an Afrotropical large wetland – a test of the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

Abstract Whilst wetlands are vital ecosystems supporting natural cycles and biodiversity, intensive agricultural practices and land use have led to widespread degradation, particularly in tropical Africa. In Uganda’s ‘cattle corridor’, an agro-pastoral landscape stretching across 84 000 km2, natural wetlands have been largely destroyed, and their degradation exacerbated by climate change. The Rufuuha wetland, located in southwestern Uganda, provides a study model to examine biodiversity across different habitat sectors: (i) intact, (ii) degraded, and (iii) restored areas. We studied the amphibian and reptile communities in Rufuuha wetland, which had been heavily degraded due to local community activities, such as agriculture and cattle grazing, before restoration efforts began in 2015. We found significant differences in species richness and diversity between the three areas. While species richness was similar across the areas, diversity and evenness were highest in the intact sector, followed by the restored and degraded areas. There was no support for the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, whereas evenness clearly detected changes in the community structure of herpetofauna along the habitat gradient that species richness did not. Amphibians were well-represented in the survey, showing clear patterns related to habitat quality, while reptile sampling was less comprehensive. Our study demonstrates that restoration efforts can positively impact biodiversity in Afrotropical wetlands. However, it is not yet clear whether the same biodiversity levels as in the intact areas can be reached also in the restored areas. Further studies, particularly on reptiles, are needed to better understand the full ecological impacts of habitat restoration in this region.

Identification of biodiversity priority conservation areas in China by integrating genetic, species and ecosystem diversity

Genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity are the three fundamental levels of biodiversity, each crucial for identifying priority conservation areas (PCAs). Globally or regionally, the areas with the highest genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity are not necessarily the same. To comprehensively represent biodiversity, this study fully considers these three fundamental levels from the foundational concept of biodiversity. We applied systematic conservation planning theory to develop an integrated framework for identifying PCAs for key protected species in China. We used species richness (SR), weighted endemism (WE), phylogenetic diversity (PD), evolutionary distinctiveness (ED), phylogenetic endemism (PE), and ecosystem service value (ESV) as conservation indicators and built different scenarios in Zonation. The results show that the total area of PCAs is approximately 3.29 million km2, accounting for about 34.29 % of China's total land area. More than half (approximately 52.21 %) of existing protected areas (PAs) overlap with the PCAs, indicating that current PAs are somewhat effective in biodiversity protection. However, there are still some PCAs that are not located within PAs, suggesting a significant potential for expanding the PAs network. Additionally, the distribution of newly established national park pilot areas aligns well with that of the PCAs, demonstrating the effectiveness of national park policies in protecting biodiversity. This study bridges traditional ecological theory with practical conservation planning, offering new insights into the theoretical methods and practical applications for identifying PCAs. It also provides valuable guidance for the selection and adjustment of PCAs in other regions globally.

Potential of Bintangur (Calophyllum spp.) Diversity in West Kalimantan as a Biology Learning Resource in Senior High School

Indonesia is one of the countries with a very high level of biodiversity. West Kalimantan is one of the provinces with the highest level of biodiversity in Indonesia. One form of biodiversity found in West Kalimantan's forests is bintangur (Calophyllum spp.). The very high diversity of bintangur species is fascinating to be utilized as a source of learning biology, especially in the material of biodiversity and their interactions and roles. This study aimed to analyze the potential of bintangur diversity in West Kalimantan as a biology learning resource on the material of biodiversity and their interactions and roles in senior high school. This research uses the qualitative method. This research consists of two stages. The first stage is a literature review to find information related to bintangur species in West Kalimantan. In contrast, the second stage is an analysis of learning resource requirements based on the results of the literature review that has been carried out. The results of the literature review stage show that there are 27 species of bintangur in West Kalimantan, as well as their classification, main characteristics, habitats, and values to the environment and other organisms. The literature review stage results are then continued to the learning resources analysis. Six requirements must be met for learning resources: clarity of the potential availability of objects and problems raised, suitability for learning objectives, clarity of targets and their designation, clarity of information disclosed, clarity of exploration guidelines, and clarity of the results to be achieved. The analysis of learning resource requirements that have been carried out shows that the diversity of bintangur species in West Kalimantan meets the requirements of learning resources so that it can be utilized as a biology learning resource on the material of biodiversity and their interactions and roles in senior high school.

Impact of Nature Conservation Resources of Agroecology: Insights from Hungarian Farmers and Consumer Perspectives

This study investigated the implementation of agroecological principles on three organic farms in Hungary, focusing on four resource-focused, nature conservation-related agroecological basic elements identified by the FAO: biodiversity, interactions, recycling, and resilience. This research employed a mixed-methods approach, utilising in-depth interviews as a technique to explore farmers’ practices and a questionnaire survey as a tool to assess consumer perspectives (with 63 respondents). The interviews facilitated a qualitative exploration of how agroecological practices are applied on farms, providing rich insights into the farmers’ experiences. Meanwhile, the questionnaire survey served as a structured instrument to measure consumer awareness and motivations concerning environmentally friendly farming methods. NVivo 12 software was employed for qualitative data analysis, assisting in coding and organizing responses to better understand recurring themes and patterns. The researchers found that all farms exhibited high biodiversity levels, facilitated through practices such as companion planting, crop rotation, and maintaining natural habitat patches. Agroecological farmers focus on practices suited to the landscape, fostering beneficial organisms and enhancing interactions between nature and agriculture. Integrating farm components (e.g., crops, livestock, water) promotes synergies that improve productivity and reduce reliance on external inputs. Recycling resources (like organic waste) within the farm increases efficiency, while resilience is strengthened through biodiversity, allowing farms to better withstand environmental stress. Direct marketing builds connections between producers and consumers, raising awareness of conservation practices. Consumer awareness regarding environmentally friendly agricultural practices was notably high, with findings indicating that health and ecological conservation motivations drive their purchasing decisions. This study highlights the context-dependent nature of agroecological practices, revealing that while implementation is robust, economic sustainability constraints may limit the extent to which all elements can be effectively applied. Since this research has certain limitations due to the limited sample size, expanding the study to include more farms would strengthen the findings. Nonetheless, these findings underscore the importance of integrating agroecological principles in organic farming to enhance biodiversity and foster sustainable agricultural practices.

Neighboring fauna of sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) in collectors on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos

Isostichopus fuscus is an invertebrate species distributed from Baja California to the Galapagos Islands. I. fuscus holds significant economic value in international markets; however, overfishing has led to its classification as an endangered species. Additionally, the surrounding fauna of I. fuscus remains unknown; such information would be valuable for establishing sea cucumber production sites, which rely on the biodiversity surrounding the larvae of this species. This study aimed to determine the accompanying fauna found in Isostichopus fuscus collectors and identify the most representative marine inhabitants to understand their ecological roles. Multiple collectors were installed to simulate the marine habitat where sea cucumbers develop. Associated fauna was collected from two different sites on Santa Cruz Island: La Fe and Las Palmas. The presence or absence of species was compared using diversity indices. Las Palmas exhibited a low level of biodiversity (Shannon = 1.792) and low evenness (Simpson = 0.253). La Fe showed higher biodiversity (Shannon = 2.088) and greater evenness (Simpson = 0.459). Dominant species recorded included: Polyonyx nitidus, Megabalanus vinaceus, and polychaetes. Both sites have a rich influx of fauna, which is beneficial for the conservation of I. fuscus.

Biodiversity of urban green spaces and human health: a systematic review of recent research

Although recent studies have explored links between landscape biodiversity and human health, the exact effects of specific types of biodiversity—such as the variety of species or genera—on health outcomes are still uncertain. In this review, we evaluate our current knowledge of how landscape biodiversity influences human health in different cultural contexts. We systematically assessed peer-reviewed literature to: 1) summarize the links between biodiversity variability and human health outcomes; 2) describe the pathways used to examine these links; 3) compare subjective perceptions of biodiversity with objective measures; and 4) describe any known connections between perceived biodiversity and health outcomes. We analyzed 41 studies published between 2018 and 2023, covering research from 15 countries on five continents. A key finding was the lack of significant links between biodiversity variability, like species richness, and health outcomes; only one-third of studies reported positive health effects. We identified two main pathways: restoring health capacities (mental health) and building health capacities (physical health). The public could identify different biodiversity levels, with perceived biodiversity correlating with health. Future research should explore varied mechanisms, physical health outcomes, causal relationships, and effects across diverse populations and regions.

Geographical distribution and driving force of microbial communities in the sediments of Diamantina and Kermadec trenches.

The distinctive geological characteristics of hadal trenches are recognized to affect the construction and ecological role of microbial communities; however, information on their population dynamics and assembly processes remains limited. In this study, bacteria and micro-eukaryotes in the sediments of the Diamantina and Kermadec trenches were explored utilizing high-throughput sequencing. Compared to the Diamantina Trench, significantly lower levels of bacterial and micro-eukaryotic biodiversity (p < 0.01), bacterial gene copy number (p < 0.05), and heterotrophic/parasitic micro-eukaryotic proportions (p < 0.05) were detected in the Kermadec Trench, which also exhibited a low community complexity based on the network analysis. Within each trench, no obvious population shifts were observed along the trench axis. Microbial communities in both trenches showed clear distance-decay distributions, mainly driven by stochastic processes. This study provided fresh perspectives on the microbial community assembly mechanism in deep-sea trenches. Studies of community complexity and diversified trophic states of microbes would contribute to an improved understanding of ecological functions and diversification in this extreme biosphere.

Seaweed-Associated Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) in Dokdo of South Korea: I. Subphyla Melosirophytina, Coscinodiscophytina, and Class Mediophyceae

Dokdo is an island located in the easternmost part of Korea, which has high levels of biodiversity of birds and fish, especially marine invertebrates. However, the biodiversity of microalgae, especially diatoms (Bacillariophyta), is relatively unknown, despite their ecological importance as primary producers of the marine food web and bioindicators of environmental conditions associated with climate change. To understand the biodiversity of seaweed-associated diatoms from Dokdo, we collected macroalgae present at a depth 5–15 m by SCUBA diving on 17 October 2017. There were a large number of diatoms (over 130 species), even though it was a one-time survey. As it includes too many taxa to cover at once, voucher flora for other taxonomic groups will be provided through the continuous serial papers. This is the first series of seaweed-associated diatoms, with 26 species belonging to the subphyla Melosirophytina and Coscinodisophytina, and the class Mediophyceae. Among these, seven species including one new taxon were reported for the first time in Korea, which, along with the geopolitical characteristics of the survey area, proved that there is no domestic interest in seaweed-related diatoms. In particular, the appearance of species that have been reported in subtropical waters, such as the order Ardissoneales, requires continuous monitoring of marine seaweed-associated diatoms to confirm whether their colonization in Dokdo waters was due to climate change or species-specific water temperature tolerance.

Anomalous latitudinal gradients in parasitoid wasp diversity-Hotspots in regions with larger temperature range.

Knowledge of global patterns of genetic diversity is essential for biodiversity conservation as this parameter describes the ability of a species to respond to environmental changes. Ichneumonoids parasitoid wasps are among the few taxa showing an anomalous latitudinal diversity gradient. Using the largest georeferenced molecular dataset for this group, we used a macrogenetics approach to examine latitudinal patterns and predictors of intraspecific genetic diversity. We calculated the mean nucleotide diversity of mitochondrial DNA barcode sequences at three geographic levels: grid cells, latitudinal bands and climatic zones. Nucleotide diversity values were consistently higher at northern temperate latitudes, peaking at 50°. We found a positive but weak relationship between intraspecific diversity and the latitude, between intra- and interspecific diversity, and a positive effect of the temperature range. Examining the spatial relationship between different levels of biodiversity and its drivers is particularly relevant considering climate change and its impact on species distribution. Yet, in insects, it has been challenging to integrate ecological, evolutionary and geographical components when analysing the processes leading to species richness gradients.

The evolving three-dimensional landscape of human adaptation.

Over the past 3 million years, humans have expanded their ecological niche and adapted to more diverse environments. The temporal evolution and underlying drivers behind this niche expansion remain largely unknown. By combining archeological findings with landscape topographic data and model simulations of the climate and biomes, we show that human sites clustered in areas with increased terrain roughness, corresponding to higher levels of biodiversity. We find a gradual increase in human habitat preferences toward rough terrains until about 1.1 million years ago (Ma), followed by a 300 thousand-year-long contraction of the ecological niche. This period coincided with the Mid-Pleistocene Transition and previously hypothesized ancestral population bottlenecks. Our statistical analysis further reveals that from 0.8 Ma onward, the human niche expanded again, with human species (e.g., H. heidelbergensis, H. neanderthalensis, and H. sapiens) adapting to rougher terrain, colder and drier conditions, and toward regions of higher ecological diversity.

Unveiling the Wing Shape Variation in Northern Altiplano Ecosystems: The Example of the Butterfly Phulia nymphula Using Geometric Morphometrics

The Andean Altiplano, characterized by its extreme climatic conditions and high levels of biodiversity, provides a unique environment for studying ecological and evolutionary adaptations in insect morphology. Butterflies, due their large wing surface compared to body surface, and wide distribution among a geographical area given the flight capabilities provided by their wings, constitute a good biological model to study morphological adaptations following extreme weathers. This study focuses on Phulia nymphula, a butterfly species widely distributed in the Andes, to evaluate wing shape variation across six localities in the Northern Chilean Altiplano. The geometric morphometrics analysis of 77 specimens from six locations from the Chilean Altiplano (Caquena, Sorapata Lake, Chungará, Casiri Macho Lake, Surire Salt Flat, and Visviri) revealed significant differences in wing shape among populations. According to the presented results, variations are likely influenced by local environmental conditions and selective pressures, suggesting specific adaptations to the microhabitats of the Altiplano. The first three principal components represented 60.92% of the total wing shape variation. The detected morphological differences indicate adaptive divergence among populations, reflecting evolutionary responses to the extreme and fragmented conditions of the Altiplano. This study gives insights into the understanding of how high-altitude species can diversify and adapt through morphological variation, providing evidence of ecological and evolutionary processes shaping biodiversity in extreme environments.

Managing nutrition-biodiversity trade-offs on coral reefs

Coral reefs support an incredible abundance and diversity of fish species, with reef-associated fisheries providing important sources of income, food, and dietary micronutrients to millions of people across the tropics. However, the rapid degradation of the world's coral reefs and the decline in their biodiversity may limit their capacity to supply nutritious and affordable seafood while meeting conservation goals for sustainability. Here, we conduct a global-scale analysis of how the nutritional quality of reef fish assemblages (nutritional contribution to the recommended daily intake of calcium, iron, and zinc contained in an average 100g fish on the reef) relates to key environmental, socioeconomic, and ecological conditions, including two key metrics of fish biodiversity. Our global analysis of more than 1,600 tropical reefs reveals that fish trophic composition is a more important driver of micronutrient concentrations than socioeconomic and environmental conditions. Specifically, micronutrient density increases as the relative biomass of herbivores and detritivores increases at lower overall biomass or under high human pressure. This suggests that the provision of essential micronutrients can be maintained or even increase where fish biomass decreases, reinforcing the need for policies that ensure sustainable fishing, and that these micronutrients are retained locally for nutrition. Furthermore, we found a negative association between micronutrient density and two metrics of fish biodiversity, revealing an important nutrition-biodiversity trade-off. Protecting reefs with high levels of biodiversity maintains key ecosystem functions, whereas sustainable fisheries management in locations with high micronutrient density could sustain the essential supply of micronutrients to coastal human communities.

The abundance of snail hosts mediates the effects of antagonist interactions between trematodes on the transmission of human schistosomes

BackgroundCombating infectious diseases and halting biodiversity loss are intertwined challenges crucial to ensure global health. Biodiversity can constrain the spread of vector-borne pathogens circulation, necessitating a deeper understanding of ecological mechanisms underlying this pattern. Our study evaluates the relative importance of biodiversity and the abundance of Bulinus truncatus, a major intermediate host for the trematode Schistosoma haematobium on the circulation of this human pathogen at aquatic transmission sites.MethodsWe combined mathematical modelling and a molecular based empirical study to specifically assess the effect of co-infections between S. haematobium and other trematodes within their B. truncatus snail hosts; and B. truncatus abundance at transmission sites, on the production of S. haematobium infective cercariae stages released into the aquatic environment.ResultsOur modelling approach shows that more competitive trematode species exploiting B. truncatus as an intermediate host at the transmission site level leads to higher co-infection rates within snail hosts, subsequently reducing the production of S. haematobium cercariae. Conversely, an increase in B. truncatus abundance results in lower co-infection rates, and a higher proportion of S. haematobium cercariae released into the environment. Our empirical data from the field support these findings, indicating a significant negative effect of local trematode species richness (P-value = 0.029; AIC = 14.9) and co-infection rates (P-value = 0.02, AIC = 17.4) on the dominance of S. haematobium based on our GLMM models, while B. truncatus abundance positively influences S. haematobium dominance (P-value = 0.047, AIC = 20.1).ConclusionsOur study highlights the importance of biodiversity in influencing the transmission of S. haematobium through the effect of antagonistic interactions between trematodes within bulinid snail hosts. This effect intensifies when B. truncatus populations are low, promoting co-infections within snails. In line with the One Health concept, our results suggest that maintaining high level of freshwater biodiversity to sustain global trematode diversity at transmission sites can help reducing the circulation of Schistosoma species locally.Graphical

Dynamic analysis and optimal control of a mosquito-borne infectious disease model under the influence of biodiversity dilution effect

In this paper, biodiversity and a saturation treatment rate are introduced into a type of mosquito-borne infectious disease model with an incubation time delay. Through the dynamical analysis of the model, conditions for the existence and stability of disease-free and endemic equilibria are determined. The basic reproduction number of the model is calculated, and the condition for the existence of backward bifurcation is outlined. The study finds that under the dual influence of biodiversity and saturation treatment, the threshold characteristic of the basic reproduction number becomes invalidated. When R0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$R_{0}$\\end{document} is less than 1, the model may exhibit four equilibrium states, with both the disease-free equilibrium and the endemic equilibrium being locally stable. In this scenario, whether the virus will become extinct depends on the initial conditions. The study also finds that when the basic reproduction number R0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$R_{0}$\\end{document} is greater than 1, the stability of the model is influenced by the time delay, with Hopf bifurcation occurring at a specific time delay. In addition, another novel contribution of this paper is the formulation of an optimal control problem that takes into account the minimization of damage caused by humans to biodiversity. Based on the Pontryagin’s maximum principle, the specific characteristics of the optimal control measures are given, and the optimal strategy is derived by comparing five groups of control strategies. The optimal control results highlight the synergistic effect of multiple control measures with biodiversity. Under optimal control, a significant complementary effect between medical inputs and the dilution effect of biodiversity is evident. The findings imply that maintaining high biodiversity levels can decrease the demand for medical resources in mosquito-borne disease control efforts.

Evidence of a twofold ecological trap driven by agricultural change causing a priority farmland bird population crash

AbstractExtensive farmland in Europe hosts high biodiversity levels but is threatened by land use changes associated with market and agricultural policy drivers. We show that a nationwide replacement of rainfed cereals in favor of beef production in Portugal has coincided with a nearly 80% decline in the population of a ground‐nesting raptor, the Montagu's harrier Circus pygargus, since 2002. Reduced cereal crop cover led to nesting attempts occurring mostly in fodder crops, the predominant habitat with suitable sward structure at the onset of breeding. This results in a twofold ecological trap: early hay harvesting destroys first nesting attempts, whereas late cereal harvesting destroys replacement clutches. This double phenological mismatch prevents any breeding success and likely explains the country's observed population decline of Montagu's harriers and other key farmland birds. Reforming current agroenvironmental schemes to promote practices compatible with wild population phenology is paramount to revert these changes.

Quantitative impacts of hydroelectric dams on the trans‐Amazonian migrations of goliath catfish

AbstractHydropower expansion is increasingly responsible for connectivity and biodiversity loss in freshwater ecosystems. The Amazon basin, which supports the highest level of freshwater biodiversity globally, faces such unplanned expansion. Here, we demonstrate and quantify the impacts of two major hydroelectric dams on the Madeira River on the trans‐Amazonian movements of one apex predatory catfish (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii) performing the longest migration known in freshwaters. Using otolith microchemistry, we show that above the dams, the former basin‐wide homing migration between the breeding grounds in the upper Madeira and the nursery in the Amazon estuary has now been replaced by residency. We found evidence suggesting downstream migration of juvenile fish past dams into the Amazon estuary and that some of them home back to the Madeira. However, we did not find evidence that the fish homing back from the estuary can access their breeding grounds in the upper Madeira; they remain blocked below the dams. Our results provide undisputable evidence that the conservation of the species primarily requires the reestablishment of connectivity with the construction of efficient fishways.

Fire drives major Holocene vegetation shifts between subtropical and Mediterranean‐type ecosystems: a case study from a biodiversity hotspot in South Africa

Fire plays a pivotal role in driving ecological shifts between Mediterranean‐type vegetation and subtropical ecosystems in South Africa. This study investigates long‐term environmental dynamics and ecological regime changes at the Mediterranean‐type vegetation /subtropical boundary using a 6000‐year palaeoecological sequence from the Baviaanskloof – a region of South Africa characterized by high levels of biodiversity and climate dynamism. Combining fossil pollen and microcharcoal data from a rock hyrax Procavia capensis midden, we analyse vegetation responses to environmental changes. Our findings reveal that Mediterranean‐type vegetation resilience prevailed until ca 2800 cal year BP when a major fire event triggered a transition to a subtropical thicket‐dominated environment. This abrupt ecological turnover underscores the significance of fire as a major driver of vegetation change at the Mediterranean‐type vegetation /subtropical boundary. Our study emphasizes the vulnerability of Mediterranean‐type vegetation ecosystems to global environmental change, suggesting potential implications for similar biome boundaries worldwide. By integrating multi‐proxy palaeoecological evidence, we gain insights into the resilience and vulnerability of these ecosystems, aiding in understanding future responses to climate change scenarios.