Levels Of Biodiversity Research Articles

Interrelationships and Trade-Offs between Urban Natural Space Use and Biodiversity.

Urban natural spaces provide important ecosystem services and a wide range of health- and well-being-related benefits for their visitors. They are also essential spaces for biodiversity protection and promotion in a world of rising urbanisation rates and worsening impacts of climate change. However, these spaces are often underutilised by urban residents. When they are utilised, this usage often leads to some level of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Hence, understanding how to promote both use and biodiversity levels in urban natural spaces is critical. While various reports have studied the broad factors associated with urban natural space use, the specific relationship between biodiversity and use remains to be explored. This paper uses a Systems Thinking approach to unpack the complex relationship between urban natural space use and biodiversity and to help guide the design and management of these spaces in a way that promotes both use and biodiversity. With data collected from a systematic literature review, a causal loop diagram (CLD) was constructed and analysed. The CLD construction and analysis highlighted various key factors that play an important role in relating urban natural space use and biodiversity. Among these is the role of individual and social perceptions and values in determining how biodiversity levels will affect usage, and vice versa. The results were applied to a case study: the Thamesmead regeneration project undertaken by the social housing association Peabody. We made recommendations regarding Peabody's biodiversity and green infrastructure plans for Thamesmead, presenting new design and maintenance techniques and assessing various existing techniques mentioned in the documents. Through the CLD analysis, we uncovered various unintended consequences from common design and maintenance techniques and discuss these trade-offs and relationships.

Neotropics as a Cradle for Adaptive Radiations.

Neotropical ecosystems are renowned for numerous examples of adaptive radiation in both plants and animals resulting in high levels of biodiversity and endemism. However, we still lack a comprehensive review of the abiotic and biotic factors that contribute to these adaptive radiations. To fill this gap, we delve into the geological history of the region, including the role of tectonic events such as the Andean uplift, the formation of the Isthmus of Panama, and the emergence of the Guiana and Brazilian Shields. We also explore the role of ecological opportunities created by the emergence of new habitats, as well as the role of key innovations, such as novel feeding strategies or reproductive mechanisms. We discuss different examples of adaptive radiation, including classic ones like Darwin's finches and Anolis lizards, and more recent ones like bromeliads and lupines. Finally, we propose new examples of adaptive radiations mediated by ecological interactions in their geological context. By doing so, we provide insights into the complex interplay of factors that contributed to the remarkable diversity of life in the Neotropics and highlight the importance of this region in understanding the origins of biodiversity.

The southernmost Errina antarctica hydrocoral savannah in Patagonian waters

Marine animal forest (MAF) are animal-dominated megabenthic communities that support high biodiversity levels and play key roles in ecosystem functioning. However, there is limited data available in Patagonian waters related to the presence of these vulnerable benthic communities. We report a monospecific MAF of Errina antartica in Angostura Tomms, which represents the southernmost known living MAF of this species. With coverages reaching up to 28.5% of the substrate from 1.23 m to, at least, 33 m depth is the shallowest stylasterid assemblage described worldwide to date. The size of the colonies ranged from 0.14 to 15.8 cm, with small colonies (< 10 cm) being the most abundant (99%). We hypothesize that this MAF might correspond to a recent colonization of a space, extending its distribution range towards shallower areas or it could be an assemblage formed at the limit of the species’ distribution in which the environmental conditions are not optimal for the major development of the colonies. Additionally, results showed that habitats structured by three-dimensional sessile invertebrate such as E. antarctica showed higher values of species richness and alpha diversity than non-biogenic habitats. Analyses were based on 297 photos taken at 22 different sites in the western Strait of Magellan, along vertical transects from 5 to 25 m depth. Our study highlights the importance of the benthic communities existing in Patagonian waters, evidencing the need to act actively to ensure their maintenance.

Constructing cropland ecological stability assessment method based on disturbance-resistance-response processes and classifying cropland ecological types

The cropland ecosystem stability (CES) has received increasing attention, especially in ecologically fragile areas, because of its impact on cropland quality, agricultural production and its ability to resist external disturbances. In this study, we first introduced the concepts of resilience and resistance, proposed the ecosystem disturbance-resistance-response process, and established a framework for evaluating the spatial and temporal dynamics of the CES based on RS data, and innovatively combined the RS assessment results of CES with soil field samples data to further classify cropland ecological types (CET) in a key agricultural areas of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, which can effectively identify those croplands in need of priority ecological protection. Results indicate that the combined interactions of disturbance, resistance and response systems affect CES, forming a complex process with significant fluctuations and spatial variations. We also conclude that the disturbance system is positively influenced by topography and precipitation, while slope negatively affects resistance system. Hydrothermal conditions positively influence resistance system, while the response system is influenced by environmental factors at a lower intensity in six periods. It was interesting to note that soil α-biodiversity indicators are significantly and positively correlated with CES at the end of the study period. Therefore, based on the CES assessment results, we further combined the soil α-biodiversity indicators to classify the type of spatial pattern of CET and found that the eastern and northern areas have better quality, which implied an increase in the CES and a higher level of soil biodiversity, which was ideal for cropland expansion. On the contrary, we concluded that the ecosystem maintenance of the Huangshui headwaters and the northern mountainous areas needs to be strengthened in order to reverse the ecological fragility here and safeguard the cropland productive capacity.

A Biodiversity Monitoring Case Study in Viticulture: Manual and Digitalized Collaborative Methodology to Pursue the European Commission’s Sustainable Challenges

The European Commission (EC) promotes policies addressing the needs of a growing human population while adhering to ecological principles that ensure ecosystem sustainability. Viticulture, one of the most widespread cultivations in the world, is, at the same time, one of the most environmentally impactful cultivations. Many studies have been conducted worldwide to identify more sustainable practices because vine monoculture, when repeated for long periods in the same territory, combined with low attention to the agronomic balance of vineyards, is causing biodiversity loss. The study aims to implement analytics for the accounting of biodiversity supported by digital tools like smart applications and digital platforms. Two farms were analyzed in a vacated area for red wine production in the center of Tuscany (Italy). A conventional biodiversity assessment protocol was used to evaluate the magnitude of biodiversity. Smartphone applications and a digital database creation platform supported this. The results highlighted an overall low level of biodiversity from a biodiversity perspective, while the use of smart applications and digital platforms represents an efficient tool for mitigating recognition errors in flora and fauna assessments and a powerful instrument for monitoring and tracking farm biodiversity. The study provides an overview of biodiversity status in a wine production area and a methodology to make its assessment easier and more reliable.

Temporal and spatial drivers of the structure of macroinvertebrate assemblages associated with Laminaria hyperborea detritus in the northeast Atlantic

Kelp forests occur on more than a quarter of the world's coastlines, serving as foundation species supporting high levels of biodiversity. They are also a major source of organic matter in coastal ecosystems, with the majority of primary production released and exported as detritus. Kelp detritus also provides food and shelter for macroinvertebrates, which comprise important components of inshore food-webs. Hitherto, research on kelp detritus-associated macroinvertebrate assemblages remains relatively limited. We quantified spatiotemporal variability in the structure of detritus-associated macroinvertebrate assemblages within Laminaria hyperborea forests and evaluated the influence of putative drivers of the observed variability in assemblages across eight study sites within four regions of the United Kingdom in May and September 2015. We documented 5167 individuals from 106 taxa with Malacostraca, Gastropoda, Isopoda and Bivalvia the most abundant groups sampled. Assemblage structure varied across months, sites, and regions, with highest richness in September compared to May. Many taxa were unique to individual regions, with few documented in all regions. Finally, key drivers of assemblage structure included detritus tissue nitrogen content, depth, sea surface temperature, light intensity, as well as L. hyperborea canopy density and canopy biomass. Despite their dynamic composition and transient existence, accumulations of L. hyperborea detritus represent valuable repositories of biodiversity and represent an additional kelp forest component which influences secondary productivity, and potentially kelp forest food-web dynamics.

Existing levels of biodiversity and river location may determine changes from small hydropower developments

Global ecosystems are facing anthropogenic threats that affect their ecological functions and biodiversity. However, we still lack an understanding of how biodiversity can mediate the responses of ecosystems or communities to human disturbance across spatial gradients. Here, we examined how existing, spatial patterns of biodiversity influence the ecological effects of small hydropower plants (SHPs) on macroinvertebrates in river ecosystems. This study found that levels of biodiversity (e.g., number of species) can influence the degrees of its alterations by SHPs occurring along elevational gradients. The results of the study reveal that the construction of SHPs has various effects on biodiversity. For example, low-altitude areas with low biodiversity (species richness less than 12) showed a small increase in biodiversity compared to high-altitude areas (species richness more than 12) under SHP disturbances. The increases in the effective habitat area of the river segment could be a driver of the enhanced biodiversity in response to SHP effects. Changes in the numerically dominant species contributed to the overall level of community variation from disturbances. Location-specific strategies may mitigate the effects of SHPs and perhaps other disturbances.

Towards the development of a standardized method to monitor lakeshore hydromorphological restoration measures

Abstract Lakes host a high level of biodiversity, especially in their littoral zone, and provide various ecological and socio‐economic services. Lake ecosystems are impacted by a combination of pressures from different human activities (industry, hydroelectricity, agriculture, recreational activities, domestic and urban uses). Anthropic pressures can lead to alterations and dysfunctions in lakes, particularly in the littoral zone. The 2000 EU Water Framework Directive led to considerable efforts to improve the ecological status of European water bodies. However, in France, measures implemented by lake managers to counteract, limit or suppress anthropogenic impacts are still poorly identified. Moreover, their effects on hydromorphology, physico‐chemistry and biotic communities are often only partially reported (the monitoring being incomplete or heterogeneous, if not missing). This paper proposes a framework to harmonize the monitoring of habitat improvement actions conducted in the littoral zone of lakes. The monitoring method is presented as well as the sampling protocols and techniques set out to survey both the restored and control zones at the European French territory scale. Long‐term monitoring of hydromorphological, biological and physicochemical features is expected to improve our understanding of recolonization mechanisms following restoration. The proposed approach will therefore guide practitioners to identify the best restoration options and ultimately contribute to the conservation of recipient populations and communities.

The incidence of bird sounds, and other categories of non-focal sounds, confound the relationships between acoustic indices and bird species richness in southern China

The analysis of audio recordings through acoustic indices has been proposed as an efficient way to measure and monitor biodiversity, given the assumption that higher levels of biodiversity produce more rapidly-changing and complex sound. However, in previous work in south China, we have found only moderate correlations between the acoustic indices and bird species richness, when analyzing recordings that were made at the same time as conducting point counts of birds. Here, we extended that work in three study regions in Guangxi Province, making observations both inside relatively undisturbed forest reserves and in the surrounding agricultural lands. We found that of 42 correlations between bird species richness and the acoustic indices (seven commonly used acoustic indices [ACI, ADI, AEI, AR, BIO, H, NDSI] each calculated in six habitat/region combinations) only seven had even a moderate relationship (i.e., |r| ≥ 0.20). To understand this paucity of relationships, we listened to a subsample of the recordings, scoring them for various kinds of biophony (incidence of bird and insect sounds), anthropophony (incidence of observer-produced sounds, sounds made by other humans, and sounds made by machines) and geophony (primarily wind, occasionally water). These analyses found that insects were positively related to the acoustic indices, especially in forests. Moreover, anthropophony and geophony, were, in general, negatively correlated to the indices. The incidence of bird vocalizations also had consistent and strong correlations to the residuals of the models relating the acoustic indices to bird species richness, demonstrating that the indices are clearly sensitive to the amount of bird sounds, but that is not necessarily strongly correlated to bird diversity. Multivariate models confirmed that the amounts of different sound categories were more influential on the acoustic indices than bird species richness. Our results demonstrate how competing noises, in both relatively undisturbed environments and heavily modified ones, can confound relationships between the acoustic indices and biodiversity. We discuss possible remedial steps for using acoustic indices in noisy soundscapes, including tailoring the selection of indices and frequency bands for the objectives of the project, or, alternatively, using a big-data approach that combines multiple indices.

The forgotten forests: Incorporating temperate peat‐forming wet woodlands as nature‐based solutions into policy and practice

Abstract Peat‐forming wet woodlands (forested wetlands) are naturally occurring carbon‐dense ecosystems that have considerable potential to form an important part of net zero woodland establishment and peatland strategies, as well as provide crucial co‐benefits to restore biodiversity and regulate hydrological systems. Despite their potential, temperate peat‐forming wet woodlands have been widely lost, are critically understudied and are being overlooked in land‐use strategies. Unlike temperate ‘dry’ woodlands, some wet woodlands are peat forming and can store large amounts of carbon below‐ground in peat in addition to the carbon in the tree biomass. The complex structure of these peat‐forming wet woodlands creates high abiotic heterogeneity, resulting in a wide variety of microhabitats to support high levels of biodiversity, and this structural complexity can also increase water storage in the landscape and slow flood flows, providing natural flood protection. Co‐written by experts in academia and UK Government, we highlight critical knowledge gaps in our understanding of peat‐forming wet woodlands that, once addressed, could form the basis for radical changes to their inclusion in net zero and land‐use policies. Policy and practice implications: The significant role that peatland restoration has to play in reaching net zero presents an immediate policy opportunity to consider the full range of ecosystems to achieve net zero targets, while protecting and enhancing socio‐ecological sustainability. In co‐writing this paper, our aim is to stimulate discussion and sharing of knowledge between those involved in research, policy and practice in order to strengthen the evidence base for peat‐forming wet woodland re‐establishment and future management. We call on researchers, policymakers and land managers to take temperate wet woodlands from understudied and overlooked, to integrated ecosystems that hold great promise in the contributions they can make as nature‐based solutions.

Synergies of management actions between species and community focused approaches to protecting threatened biodiversity

AbstractConservation efforts have focused largely on species, yet ecosystem management is suggested to be a more efficient strategy for biodiversity management. With increasing numbers of threatened species, ecosystems and ecological communities, and limited resources, an approach that delivers the best conservation outcomes across multiple levels of biodiversity is crucial. In this study, we compared a species approach and a community approach to management by evaluating the number of threatened species benefiting from actions targeted at threatened ecological communities (TECs), and vice versa. We ran three analyses: one theoretical, and two spatially‐explicit analyses accounting for co‐occurrence in distributions and site‐based actions. We found that of 124 actions, 61 were common to species and TECs. Yet, the overlap of actions was lower when considering species and TEC co‐occurrences across the distributions, and was mostly lost at the site‐scale. In all analyses, focusing on species management resulted in a greater percentage of actions considered, thus potentially benefiting more species and TECs. We suggest that when there is limited capacity to perform formal prioritization analyses, our process could identify actions addressing widespread and common threats impacting both species and communities. Further, simultaneously managing both species and TECs would potentially deliver a more effective solution.

On the palm oil-biodiversity trade-off: Environmental performance of smallholder producers

Oil palm remains an important source of rural income in South East Asia. At the same time, Indonesia has become a hotspot for large-scale species extinction and a loss of biodiversity in favor of agricultural production. The present study sets out to assess the environmental performance of smallholder oil palm production with respect to biodiversity. Using a panel dataset that combines conventional farm data together with an account of plant diversity, we estimate a restricted hyperbolic environmental distance function. We integrate loss of biodiversity as an undesirable output into the production model which allows explaining shortfalls in environmental performance and the derivation of shadow prices of biodiversity conservation. We find a substantial environmental inefficiency, which is partly explained by both chemical and manual weeding practices, highlighting the potential for improvements in both the environmental and the economic dimension. Moreover, the value for conserving one species of the average biodiversity on a farmers plantation was 325 USD in 2018. Payments for ecosystem services schemes could be a viable policy response to conserve meaningful levels of biodiversity while simultaneously allowing smallholders to increase palm oil output. In general, addressing drivers of environmental performance in PES designs amplifies its effect without reducing output.

Pollinator-mediated connectivity in fragmented urban green spaces—tracking pollen grain movements in the city center

Cities are expanding rapidly and emerging as complex ecosystems. This expansion of urbanized areas has resulted in the alteration and fragmentation of several natural habitats. Recent studies have shown that cities support a significant level of biodiversity. This unexpected role of cities holds promise for advancing knowledge of urban ecosystems and promoting their conservation. In particular, the connectivity of plant populations through pollen transfer is crucial for the long-term persistence of insect-pollinated plant species. In this study, we tracked pollen movement areas in four isolated patches of urban greenery in urbanized area using quantum dots. We studied Fritillaria imperialis (spring) and Hemerocallis sp. (mid-summer). Our research revealed frequent pollen transfer between small, isolated flowering patches, even when these locations were not connected by green corridors. Common elements found in urban ecosystems, such as streets, trails, and pavements, do not stop the dispersion of pollen grains. Moreover, the migration pathways of pollen grains vary for each species according to different factors. For F. imperialis, we identified the proportion of green areas in proximity to the study location as a key factor in shaping pollen transfer. For Hemerocallis, we discovered that the proportion of green areas, the distance between study sites, and the frequency of pollinator visits are influential factors. Our study demonstrates that small isolated plant populations exchange pollen due to pollinator movement, indicating that these small populations may serve as stepping stones for pollinators among larger populations.

Trophic niche overlap of deep-sea fish species revealed by the combined approach of stomach contents and stable isotopes analysis in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea

Understanding the trophic ecology of marine ecosystems is a key challenge given that they are subject to anthropogenic pressures that can alter the integrity of the food web. The bathyal zone of the Central Tyrrhenian Sea is characterized by an high level of community biodiversity, heavy anthropogenic pressure and thus represents a fundamental environment for the study of trophic relationships between demersal fish species which live in sympatry, but this basin still remains data deficient. To fill this information gap, we investigated the trophic niche overlap of four deep-sea fish species, Galeus melastomus, Helicolenus dactylopterus, Lepidorhombus boscii, and Trisopterus capelanus, in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea using an integrated approach of stomach content and stable isotopes analysis (δ13C and δ15N). Our analysis revealed that the blackmouth catshark G. melastomus displays a wide trophic niche with considerable overlap with other fish species, as it consumed diverse prey including fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods, thus proving a generalist and opportunistic feeding behavior. The blackbelly rosefish H. dactylopterus exhibits a narrower isotopic trophic niche comprising mainly benthic crustaceans and so suggesting a marked specialism in feeding strategy. The diet of the four-spotted megrim L. boscii showed a marked overlap with that H. dactylopterus, as these species shared a similar benthic habit and relied upon a similar pool of resource. The poor cod T. capelanus showed a diverse diet comprising both prey captured close to the bottom, especially decapod and mysid crustaceans, and bathypelagic prey, mainly Osteichthyes, Myctophidae, and amphipod Hyperiidae, with an intermediate partially segregated isotopic niche width. The combination of stomach content analysis and stable isotopes analysis provided the first characterization of the trophic relationships, shedding light on the trophic niche overlap of these four ecologically important deep sea fish species. The diets of the four investigated species showed similarities in the composition of prey, but also differences which allows them to partially reduce competition. This information may be of crucial relevance for the development of effective management and conservation strategies for the bathyal Mediterranean environment.

New hard tick (Acari: Ixodidae) reports and detection of Rickettsia in ticks from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM), located in northern Colombia, is considered a geographical island with high levels of biodiversity and endemism. However, little is known about tick species and their associated microorganisms at the SNSM. In this study we sampled host-seeking ticks in areas of the town of Minca within the SNSM. We collected 47 ticks identified as Amblyomma pacae, Amblyomma longirostre, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma mixtum, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, Ixodes sp. cf. Ixodesaffinis and Ixodes sp. Of these ticks, we tested for Rickettsia spp. by amplifying the gltA, SCA1, and 16S rRNA genes via PCR. Rickettsia amblyommatis was detected in one pool of 3 larvae and in a female of A. pacae. Additonally, we isolated Rickettsia sp. belonging to the group of spotted fevers in larvae of A. longirostre. This study reports new findings of six species of ticks and two species of Rickettsia within the SNSM.

Urban park qualities driving visitors mental well-being and wildlife conservation in a Neotropical megacity

Green infrastructure has been widely recognized for the benefits to human health and biodiversity conservation. However, knowledge of the qualities and requirements of such spaces and structures for the effective delivery of the range of ecosystem services expected is still limited, as well as the identification of trade-offs between services. In this study, we apply the One Health approach in the context of green spaces to investigate how urban park characteristics affect human mental health and wildlife support outcomes and identify synergies and trade-offs between these dimensions. Here we show that perceived restorativeness of park users varies significantly across sites and is mainly affected by safety and naturalness perceptions. In turn, these perceptions are driven by objective indicators of quality, such as maintenance of facilities and vegetation structure, and subjective estimations of biodiversity levels. The presence of water bodies benefited both mental health and wildlife. However, high tree canopy coverage provided greater restoration potential whereas a certain level of habitat heterogeneity was important to support a wider range of bird species requirements. To reconcile human and wildlife needs in green spaces, cities should strategically implement a heterogeneous green infrastructure network that considers trade-offs and maximizes synergies between these dimensions.

Ecological and Biogeographical Imprints in a Beech Glacial Refugium

The distribution of vascular plant species and assemblages existing in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests was compared with the distribution of beech chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) haplotypes, aiming to identify possible interpretable trends of co-occurrence, on a small geographical scale, and to infer the relevant historical factors. Vegetation and genetic (cpSSR) data were collected from 60 plots on Mt. Menikio (northeastern Greece). Classification and ordination analyses were applied on the vegetation data, while on the cpSSR data, diversity measures and genetic structure analyses were employed. A probabilistic co-occurrence analysis was performed on haplotypes and taxa. The results show that a plant biogeographical border exists on Mt. Menikio which, in addition, has acted both as a refugium and as a meeting point of lineages for more than one glacial cycle. Significant associations of co-occurrence between haplotypes and vascular taxa were found but no common distribution patterns between the former and species assemblages were identified. The combined consideration of the distribution profiles of species assemblages, plant species and cpDNA haplotypes (corresponding to the three levels of biodiversity) provides concrete information on historical events, leading to a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary and biogeographical processes that have shaped specific spatial patterns of biodiversity.

СОВРЕМЕННОЕ СОСТОЯНИЕ РАСТИТЕЛЬНЫХ СООБЩЕСТВ ТЕРРИТОРИИ ОЗЕРА БОЛЬШОЕ ВАВАЙСКОЕ

This article analyzes the current state of plant communities on the territory of Lake Bolshoye Vavayskoye. The study covers the abundance, distribution and ecological relationships of the plant world.&#x0D; The article presents the results of field research conducted in different seasons of the year. The composition and structure of plant communities, as well as their functional characteristics, are described. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the impact of anthropogenic activities on the state of plant communities and their biodiversity.&#x0D; The study found that the plant communities of Lake Bolshoye Vavayskoye are characterized by a high level of biodiversity. In the studied phytocenoses (shrub larch with dwarf cedar, cedar dwarf lingonberry-ledum, lingonberry-lichen larch, fir-spruce moss, fir-spruce shrub, meadow, etc.) grow 283 species of vascular plants, which represent 18.03% of the total number of vascular plants o. Sakhalin, 5 rare plant species listed in the Red Books of the Russian Federation and the Sakhalin Region were also identified, such as Picea glehnii, Taxus cuspidata, Nuphar pumila, Nymphaea tetragona, Arália cordata. However, the study also showed that anthropogenic impact on the lake has a negative impact on the state of plant communities. In particular, signs of water pollution and deforestation have been identified, which leads to a decrease in biodiversity and deterioration of the environmental situation.&#x0D; The authors of the article draw attention to the importance of preserving this natural resource and its environmental sustainability, since in recent decades the territory has undergone anthropogenic impact. The study also highlights the importance of long-term monitoring and environmental control of the area to ensure the conservation of the lake's biodiversity and ecosystems for future generations. The results of the study may be useful for organizing nature conservation and developing an environmentally sustainable approach to the use of resources in the region.

The effectiveness of intercropping and agri-environmental schemes on ecosystem service of biological pest control: a meta-analysis

Plant diversification contributes to the ecological intensification of agroecosystems through pest biocontrol services provision. However, the existing evidence for the effectiveness of plant diversification in enhancing pest biocontrol services is highly uncertain across features of plant diversity and biodiversity characteristics. We undertook a comparative meta-analysis focusing on three essential crops (wheat, maize, and soybean) to investigate how diversification schemes in-field (intercropping) and Agri-environmental scheme (AES) around the field (flower strip, hedgerow and field margin) affect arthropod abundance. A random effects analysis was used to determine the role of 10 key factors underlying the effectiveness of plant diversification including biodiversity level and habitat, main and companion plant species, intercropping arrangement, the growth stage of the main crops, type of AES planting scheme, AES planting width, distance from AES plantings and geographical latitude. The overall results revealed that intercropping reduced herbivore and boosted predators and parasitoids abundance significantly, while AES successfully increased predators but not herbivores. Maize intercropping with legume and non-legume plants and row intercropping allowed for effective pest management. The abundance of predators increased in wheat fields immediately adjacent to planting around the field (AES), but this effect declined beyond 5 m from the flower strips. Our results suggest that the response of arthropod abundance to plant diversification is a compromise between spatial management scale, ecological characteristics of arthropod and plant diversification features. These results offer promising pathways for optimizing plant diversification schemes that include functional farm biodiversity across spatial and temporal scales and designing multi-functional landscapes.

Bio‐ORACLE v3.0. Pushing marine data layers to the CMIP6 Earth System Models of climate change research

AbstractMotivationImpacts of climate change on marine biodiversity are often projected with species distribution modelling using standardized data layers representing physical, chemical and biological conditions of the global ocean. Yet, the available data layers (1) have not been updated to incorporate data of the Sixth Phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6), which comprise the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios; (2) consider a limited number of Earth System Models (ESMs), and (3) miss important variables expected to influence future biodiversity distributions. These limitations might undermine biodiversity impact assessments, by failing to integrate them within the context of the most up‐to‐date climate change projections, raising the uncertainty in estimates and misinterpreting the exposure of biodiversity to extreme conditions. Here, we provide a significant update of Bio‐ORACLE, extending biologically relevant data layers from present‐day conditions to the end of the 21st century Shared Socioeconomic Pathway scenarios based on a multi‐model ensemble with data from CMIP6. Alongside, we provide R and Python packages for seamless integration in modelling workflows. The data layers aim to enhance the understanding of the potential impacts of climate change on biodiversity and to support well‐informed research, conservation and management.Main Types of Variable ContainedSurface and benthic layers for, chlorophyll‐a, diffuse attenuation coefficient, dissolved iron, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, ocean temperature, pH, phosphate, photosynthetic active radiation, total phytoplankton, total cloud fraction, salinity, silicate, sea‐water direction, sea‐water velocity, topographic slope, topographic aspect, terrain ruggedness index, topographic position index and bathymetry, and surface layers for air temperature, mixed layer depth, sea‐ice cover and sea‐ice thickness.Spatial Location and GrainGlobal at 0.05° resolution.Time Period and GrainDecadal from present‐day to the end of the 21st century (2000–2100).Major Taxa and Level of MeasurementMarine biodiversity associated with surface and epibenthic habitats.Software FormatA package of functions developed for Python and R software.