Diversity Of Local Communities Research Articles

Species pool and soil properties in mangrove habitats influence the species-immigration process of diazotrophic communities across southern China.

Microbial immigration is an ecological process in natural environments; however, the ecological trade-off mechanisms that govern the balance between species extinction and migration are still lacking. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the migration of diazotrophic communities from soil to leaves across six natural mangrove habitats in southern China. The results showed that the diazotrophic alpha and beta diversity exhibited significant regional and locational variations. The diazotrophic species pool gradually increased from the leaves to nonrhizosphere soil at each site, exhibiting a vertical distribution pattern. Mantel test analyses suggested that climate factors, particularly mean annual temperature, significantly influenced the structure of the diazotrophic community. The diazotrophic community assembly was mainly governed by dispersal limitation in soil and root samples, whereas dispersal limitation and ecological drift were dominant in leaves. Partial least squares path modeling revealed that the species pool and soil properties, particularly the oxidation-reduction potential and pH, were closely linked to the species-immigration ratio of diazotrophic communities. Our study provides novel insights for understanding the ecological trait diversity patterns and spread pathways of functional microbial communities between below- and aboveground habitats in natural ecosystems.IMPORTANCEEnvironmental selection plays key roles in microbial transmission. In this study, we have provided a comprehensive framework to elucidate the driving patterns of the ecological trade-offs in diazotrophic communities across large-scale mangrove habitats. Our research revealed that Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Marinobacterium lutimaris, and Agrobacterium tumefaciens were more abundant in root-associated soil than in leaves by internal and external pathways. The nonrhizospheric and rhizospheric soil samples harbored the most core amplicon sequence variants, indicating that these dominant diazotrophs could adapt to broader ecological niches. Correlation analysis indicated that the diversities of the diazotrophic community were regulated by biotic and abiotic factors. Furthermore, this study found a lower species immigration ratio in the soil than in the leaves. Both species pool and soil properties regulate the species-immigration mechanisms of the diazotrophic community. These results suggest that substantial species immigration is a widespread ecological process, leading to alterations in local community diversity across diverse host environments.

Ecological trends in moth communities (Geometridae, Lepidoptera) along a complete rainforest elevation gradient in Papua New Guinea

Abstract The tropical rainforest elevation gradients, extending from lowlands to treeline, often represent global maxima of biodiversity and are models for community studies. We surveyed geometrid moths along a complete rainforest gradient from 200 to 3700 m asl. in Papua New Guinea. The 16,424 moths collected with light traps represented 1102 species, a high diversity for such system. We demonstrated the importance of molecular data for taxonomy as COI sequences (DNA barcodes) changed the definition of 19% of morphological species. The abundance of geometrids did not change with elevation while their species richness peaked at 1200 m asl. The mid‐elevation diversity peak is a common, but poorly understood, pattern for geometrids. It was best explained by the species richness of the vegetation. At the same time, the community was exposed to opposing trends in abiotic favourability (decreasing temperature) and biotic favourability (decreasing predation by ants, birds and bats) with elevation, potentially contributing to such unimodal trends in species richness. Beta diversity of communities separated by 500 m elevation increased with increasing elevation, reflecting decreasing mean elevational range of species—a pattern opposite to that expected under the Rapoport's rule. The total number of species along the elevation gradient corresponded to 280% of the highest local community diversity. This enrichment of species underscores the key role of long elevational gradients in maintaining high regional diversity and makes them a conservation priority, especially as they also allow for redistribution of species in response to climate change.

Unveiling the transition from niche to dispersal assembly in ecology

A central goal in ecology is to understand what maintains species diversity in local communities. Classic ecological theory1,2 posits that niches dictate the maximum number of species that can coexist in a community and that the richness of observed species will be below this maximum only where immigration is very low. A new alternative theory3,4 is that niches, instead, dictate the minimum number of coexisting species and that the richness of observed species will usually be well above this because of ongoing immigration. We conducted an experimental test to discriminate between these two unified theories using a manipulative field experiment with tropical intertidal communities. We found, consistent with the new theory, that the relationship of species richness to immigration rate stabilized at a low value at low immigration rates and did not saturate at high immigration rates. Our results suggest that tropical intertidal communities have low niche diversity and are typically in a dispersal-assembled regime where immigration is high enough to overfill the niches. Observational data from other studies3,5 suggest that these conclusions may generalize to other ecological systems. Our new experimental approach can be adapted for other systems and be used as a ‘niche detector’ and a tool for assessing when communities are niche versus dispersal assembled.

Intellectual property protection for traditional medical knowledge in China's context: a round peg in a square hole?

This article is an examination of the extent to which traditional medical knowledge in China can be protected by intellectual property laws. The analysis begins by providing a global picture with regard to the historic origin of intellectual property, exploring the reasons why China does not have indigenous counterparts to the western system of intellectual property rights protecting its traditional knowledge (including traditional medical knowledge) and stating the problems of transplanting western intellectual property standards in China. A discussion follows on how China, under foreign pressure, has made efforts to comply with the changing standards mandated by various international, regional, and bilateral arrangements related to intellectual property, with examples of the development of China's patent law. China's approach towards the protection of traditional medical knowledge in various international fora related to intellectual property is explored. Finally, there is a specific examination of the compatibilities between the western system of intellectual property rights and traditional medical knowledge in China, at the national and community levels. This article argues that the system of intellectual property rights does not easily fit with China's traditional medical knowledge because of China's unique cultural traits, distinctive historical context and wide ethnic, religious, and local community diversity.

Increasing human environmental footprint does not lead to biotic homogenization of forest bird communities in northern USA

Studies have shown negative impacts of increased human pressures on biodiversity at local (alpha-diversity) and regional (gamma-diversity) scales. However, the diversity between local sites (beta-diversity) has received less attention. This is an important shortcoming since beta-diversity acts as a linkage between the local and regional scales. Decreased beta-diversity means that local sites lose their distinctiveness, becoming more similar to each other. This process is known as biotic homogenization. However, the mechanisms causing biotic homogenization have not been fully studied nor its impacts on different facets of biodiversity. We examined if land-use change due to human actions causes biotic homogenization of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity in bird communities of forested habitats in the state of Minnesota, USA. We address if forest loss and increased human domination in a region were associated with decreased beta-diversity. Our results showed that elevated human pressure was not related to increased biotic homogenization in this study region. Effects of landscape change were incongruent among taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity. At all spatial scales, taxonomic diversity was unrelated to forest loss or human domination. Interestingly, increased human domination appeared to increase the functional beta-diversity of bird communities. This association was driven by a decrease in local diversity. Forest habitat loss was associated with decreasing functional and phylogenetic diversity in local communities (alpha-diversity) and in regional species pool (gamma-diversity), but not in beta-diversity. We highlight the importance of considering multiple facets of biodiversity as their responses to human land-use is varied. Conservation significance of beta-diversity hinges on local and regional diversity responses to human land-use intensification, and organization of biodiversity should therefore be analyzed at multiple spatial scales.

Elevated alpha diversity in disturbed sites obscures regional decline and homogenization of amphibian taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity

Loss of natural habitat due to land-use change is one of the major threats to biodiversity worldwide. It not only affects the diversity of local species communities (alpha diversity) but can also lead to large-scale homogenization of community composition (reduced beta diversity) and loss of regional diversity (gamma diversity), but these effects are still rarely investigated. We assessed the impact of land-use change on taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity of amphibians in Rwanda, both on the local (community-level) and regional scale (country-wide). Alpha diversity in local communities was higher in farmland than in natural habitats; however, species turnover among farmland sites was much lower than among natural sites, resulting in highly homogenized communities and reduced taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic gamma diversity in farmland across Rwanda. Amphibians found in farmland were mostly disturbance-tolerant species that are widespread in eastern Africa and beyond. In contrast, most of the regionally endemic frog species that make this region a continent-wide hotspot of amphibian diversity were found only in the natural habitats. Ongoing habitat conversion might result in further homogenization of amphibian communities across sub-Saharan Africa and the loss of regional endemism, unique evolutionary lineages, and multifunctionality.

Abstract B022: Adaption of a cancer prevention wellness program for Hispanic community members

Abstract Background. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Wisconsin with higher mortality rates observed for Black/African American (B/AA) and Hispanic/Latino (H/L) communities. However, programs tailored to the interests of communities most impacted by cancer AND made available to the general population are lacking. In this project, we adapted the Moving Forward program for African American cancer survivors which included a program workbook, in-person education/supervised exercise classes and text messaging. We targeted two adaptations to inform a cancer prevention program available to the public through a public recreation system: 1) tailoring to include non-cancer affected individuals and 2) extending to meet the needs of the H/L community. Methods. This project was facilitated through partnerships between an academic cancer center, the Milwaukee public recreation system (MKE Rec) and the WI Department of Health and Human Services. We also engaged a community advisory board (CAB). Our approach comprised focus groups, surveys collected at community events, and an After-Action Review of a 4-week program pilot (2 groups, English or Spanish language). Translation was conducted using a forward/back translation process with workbook review by individuals from different Spanish language backgrounds. Our CAB contributed to the development and review of all study procedures and materials. Results: 42 H/L community members participated through two focus groups (1 English language, [N=4]), 1 Spanish language (N=6)], 16 surveys, and 16 pilot participants (N=9 Spanish language, N=7 English language). Adaptations targeted program content and materials, as well as program implementation/sustainability within MKE Rec. Program adaptations included: 1) integrating information on basic cancer biology; 2) explaining associations between cancer, lifestyle and other risk factors; 3) adding cancer screening information; 4) including cooking demonstrations and recipes with culturally relevant tips; 5) updating workbook images and content to reflect the diversity of local communities; and 6) addressing comorbidity risk. Key adaptations related to conducting and sustaining within a public recreation system included: 1) creating a standardized instructor training and manual; 2) dividing the program into two 8-week sessions to meet the public recreation system program calendar; 3) eliminating the text message component; 4) providing the program workbook and classes in English and Spanish; and 5) integrating different exercise approaches to meet needs/interests of different age groups, genders, and different fitness levels. The adapted program, Total Wellness/Bienestar Total, is now offered as the first ever Spanish language wellness class within MKE Rec. Conclusions: Community-academic partnerships and ongoing community engagement led to meaningful adaptations to a cancer prevention and lifestyle program. These efforts leverage a public resource and can impact disparities by making widely available cancer prevention and lifestyle support. Citation Format: Jamila Kwarteng, Laura Pinsoneault, Anakaren Manriquez Prado, Sophia Aboagye, Alexis Visotcky, Erica Wasserman, Derek Donlevy, Patricia Sheenan, Margaret Tovar, Kathleen Jensik, Regina Vidaver, Melinda Stolley, Sandra Contreras. Adaption of a cancer prevention wellness program for Hispanic community members [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B022.

Who Represents the Domestic Voice? Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Citizen Diplomacy

Summary At its core, diplomacy is about representation. Including the domestic voice in diplomatic work pushes us to reflect critically on who represents our local communities to international constituents. To what extent is the diversity of local communities reflected in such diplomatic initiatives as, for example, state-supported citizen diplomacy programmes? This article argues for the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work at the local level to the policy goals that citizen diplomacy programmes support. The article draws on the concept of ‘subaltern counterpublics’ to emphasise the importance of DEI efforts at the local level for more inclusive and authentic diplomacy globally. The article also discusses some of the current practices of intentionally incorporating DEI initiatives into citizen diplomacy work among civil society actors.

Perspectives of febrile convulsions among parents: a local cross-sectional study

BackgroundGlobally, febrile convulsions (FC) constitute a respected prevalence scale among pediatric population. This usually induces a high parental anxiety.AimTo investigate the local community diversity of perception as regards FC.MethodA cross-sectional anonymous Arabic questionnaire-based study took place targeting the Saudi community. The study included parents with at least a child who underwent FC. Excluded, were those who have children with convulsions due to other causes rather than FC.ResultsEight hundred participants have fulfilled the study inclusion criteria. Majority of them (84%) were mothers. While 10.9% had only one child diagnosed with FC. Participants believed that FC may induce brain damage (41.4%). Others expressed FC attacks to be life-threatening events (52.9%). They were convinced that FC is not related to epilepsy (40.2%). However, a respected percentage of participants denoted the importance of using oral protective devices during the attacks (41.4%). Overall, most study population (84%) had poor perception of the different aspects of FC.ConclusionSocial perception of FC problems may be significantly related to the educational level and profession of the parents. The majority of the study subjects have poor perception as regards FC. Therefore, holistic socially oriented educational programs are needed to orient the population about the problem. They may be implemented via various approaches.

History predicts contemporary community diversity within a biogeographic province of freshwater fish

AbstractAimHistorical biogeography and community ecology both seek to uncover the patterns and processes governing the structure and composition of communities, though typically at different temporal and spatial scales. Recent work has called to integrate these two fields; however, it is typically assumed that history plays little role in assembling contemporary, local communities. We incorporated phylogeographic data into traditional metacommunity analyses of freshwater fish communities to analyse if history can shape local community structure.LocationStreams in the Nicaraguan Depression in north‐eastern Costa Rica.TaxonFreshwater fish communities.MethodsWe sampled community composition in 14 streams of the San Juan River Basin during the dry season of 2019 and evaluated variability in community composition in response to local and landscape‐scale environmental variability, spatial distance and historic processes using redundancy analyses. We measured environmental and spatial variables using typical methods utilized in metacommunity studies and approximated the effects of history with samova genetic groupings of three livebearing fishes native to the area. We also used PERMANOVAs to test if community composition exhibits similar spatial structure as seen in the genetic data of the three livebearing fishes used as historical proxies.ResultsLarge‐scale patterns of genetic diversity predicted the patterns of local community diversity with community composition showing similar spatial structuring. Additionally, history variables were the only variables that significantly explained community composition and accounted for 20.6% of the total variability.Main ConclusionsSpecies‐specific incidence patterns within Costa Rican freshwater fish communities vary according to biogeographic history, indicating that history can impact local community assembly. These observed patterns are likely due to colonization history following eustatic sea level change. Phylogeography can bridge the gap between classical biogeography and community ecology by enhancing inferences regarding community assembly through time and space, therefore studies should incorporate both genetic and local community data when assessing community assembly.

Introduction: Heritage and Diversity in Local Communities under Demographic Decline

Introduction: Heritage and Diversity in Local Communities under Demographic Decline

Proposals and Future Perspectives: Heritage and Diversity in Local Communities under Demographic Decline

Proposals and Future Perspectives: Heritage and Diversity in Local Communities under Demographic Decline

Panel Discussion: Heritage and Diversity in Local Communities under Demographic Decline

Panel Discussion: Heritage and Diversity in Local Communities under Demographic Decline

A Participatory Approach for “Circular” Adaptive Reuse of Cultural Heritage. Building a Heritage Community in Salerno, Italy

Cultural heritage is recognized as a key element for local sustainable development, contributing to the identity of territories and cultural diversity of local communities. The concept of “heritage community”, as expressed by the Faro Convention, can be enhanced in decision-making processes for the adaptive reuse and valorization of cultural heritage to build shared and sustainable development scenarios. Communities represent fundamental actors able to drive active reflection and implement the exercise of civic responsibility and (inter)cultural policies. This paper explores how local communities can have an active and effective role in the adaptive reuse and valorization of cultural heritage, through a field experimentation conducted within the Horizon 2020 project “CLIC—Circular models Leveraging Investments in Cultural heritage adaptive reuse” in the area of Rufoli, Salerno (Italy), in the perspective of the circular economy/circular city model. Starting from heritage mapping and key stakeholder’s engagement, a local working group was built, and processes of knowledge building, envisioning, and community engagement were activated. The results showed that building a heritage community can be an effective starting point for “circular” adaptive reuse of cultural heritage, stimulating not only its recovery but also community bonds, civic responsibility, and potential entrepreneurial activities for longer-term sustainable development.

Large mammalian herbivores contribute to conspecific negative density dependence in a temperate forest

Abstract The Janzen–Connell Hypothesis (JCH) predicts that density‐responsive and host‐specific natural enemies limit the population sizes of abundant species. Importantly, these interactions help to maintain local community diversity through time. While ample evidence exists for the demographic predictions of the JCH, it remains unclear which natural enemies drive these dynamics across different plant communities. While large mammalian herbivores are often assumed to lack the specialized diet needed to drive Janzen–Connell effects, they do show a degree of host‐preference that could drive density‐dependent plant demography. However, the potential role of large mammalian herbivores in Janzen–Connell interactions has only rarely been investigated. Using 204 seedling transects (1 m × 10 m) at 51 sites across a 900‐ha forested reserve in southwestern Pennsylvania (USA), we examined the role that large mammals play in driving conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD) in temperate tree seedlings. Individual fences were erected around half of the transects (n = 102) to exclude large mammals, and were paired with adjacent unfenced transects. Within transects, a total of ~15,000 individual seedlings were monitored over three growing seasons. Demographic neighbourhood models were constructed to examine the influence of neighbourhood composition and density on seedling survival and growth. An interaction term between conspecific neighbour density and fencing treatment was included to test the hypothesis that large herbivores cause CNDD. We found that seedling survival was influenced by both conspecific neighbour density and fencing. CNDD was strongest when large mammals were allowed access to seedlings, and these results were driven by two abundant taxa (Prunus serotina and Fraxinus spp). Despite evidence that large mammals mediate CNDD, we found no effect of fencing on rarified species richness or evenness in seedling transects during the study. Synthesis. Understanding the specific natural enemies driving conspecific negative density dependence remains vital for understanding the maintenance of forest diversity across the globe. Our results indicate that large mammalian herbivores are capable of driving CNDD in temperate tree species. These results suggest that large mammals may be an important and generally overlooked agent contributing to Janzen–Connell interactions in forest communities. We expect that further research examining large mammals in other systems will be important in the future.

The great get together as an experiment in convivial politics

The Great Get Together was first held in the United Kingdom in June 2017, to commemorate the death of Labour Party MP, Jo Cox, murdered by a far-right extremist a year earlier, and to celebrate diversity in local communities. I argue that the Great Get Together offers an illuminating experiment in convivial politics; a concept discussed and developed further in the article. Drawing upon scholarship about events and media events, the article traces the mediated formations and flows of the Great Get Together as it is promoted by mainstream media and by citizens sharing affinities and experiences on social media. By examining the aesthetics and styling of convivial politics promoted by those involved in the tapestry of Great Get Together events, drawing upon Robin Wagner-Pacifici's framework of ‘political semiosis’, I critically assess its capacity for building solidarity across political divides, alongside the limitations.

“Meeting them where they’re at”: Implementation of community psychology values into city policy and the case of the Honest Elections Initiative

ABSTRACT Seattle, Washington, has recently experienced significant economic growth, but, this boom has not been felt by all city residents. Many residents have increasingly felt disenfranchised from Seattle’s social, economic, and political institutions. To address some of these issues, Seattle residents passed the “Honest Elections” Initiative 122 (I-122) in 2017, the goals of which were to shift the power of city-level political contributions toward lower-propensity donors. To implement I-122 upon its passing, a coalition, Honest Elections Seattle (HES), developed strategies that mirrored many of the values of community psychology. The purpose of this paper is to use the Honest Elections Initiative as a case study to highlight the ways that community psychology values can be applied in urban politics. Specifically, I found that HES: promoted social justice by creating a culture of powerful engagement, adopting a long-term strategy, and holding elected officials accountable; built upon an existing sense of community by embedding in organizational and community structures; fostered civic engagement by building grassroots leadership and reducing barriers to participation; valued collaboration and community strengths by constructing a representative coalition and making local leaders the face of the initiative; and respected the diversity of local communities and residents. I conclude by providing insights to researchers and urban practitioners.

Traditional knowledge of wild food plants of Thai Karen and Lawa (Thailand)

Gathering of wild food plants represent original practices of indigenous people. The uses of wild food plant species are not only important in traditional dishes but also for the people’s health based on the medicinal properties of the plants. This study was aimed to examine the diversity patterns and similarity of wild food plants in the Karen and Lawa communities, and to identify the effects of socio-demographic factors on the traditional knowledge related to the wild food plants. The Karen and Lawa in four villages in Chiang Mai, Thailand, used 124 species of wild food plants. Most species were used as vegetables followed by species used as fruits, seasoning, and beverage. One-third of the wild food plant species had medicinal properties in addition to their uses as food. The Lawa and Karen used slightly different numbers [114 and 121, respectively] of wild food plants, but with a very large overlap of species. Socio-demographic factors such as age influenced the use patterns, whereas no significant relationship was found between gender and level of education on one side and the use of wild food plants on the other side. Knowledge of wild food plants is diverse and important in the Karen and Lawa communities which, in addition to their mostly agricultural livelihoods, maintain important elements of their original hunter-gatherer culture. We noted that the great diversity of species contributes to the dietary diversity in local communities. These findings may have implications for human food supply with potential to be substitute foods combatting food insecurity.

Landscape connectivity explains interaction network patterns at multiple scales.

Under a metacommunity framework, the spatial configuration of habitat fragments could determine local community structure. Yet, quantifying fragment connectivity is challenging, as it depends on multiple variables at several geographical scales. We assessed the extent to which fragment connectivity and area explain patterns in interaction structure among four herbivore guilds and their host plants in a metacommunity. We propose an integrative connectivity metric including geographic distance, neighboring fragment area and similarity in resource composition as an extension of Hanski's classic metric. We then used nonlinear models to assess whether fragment connectivity and area predicted link richness and similarity in link composition. We found that link richness was always negatively related to connectivity but at different geographic scales depending on the herbivore guild. In contrast, while link composition was also related to connectivity, the direction and strength of this relationship varied among herbivore guilds and type of link composition (qualitative or quantitative). Furthermore, focal fragment area was not an important determinant of interaction diversity in local communities. Our findings emphasize resource similarity as a novel dimension of fragment connectivity relevant in explaining interaction diversity patterns in natural trophic networks.

Nitrogen alters effects of disturbance on annual grassland community diversity: Implications for restoration

Abstract In an era of anthropogenically altered disturbance regimes and increased nutrient loads, understanding how communities respond to these perturbations is essential for successful habitat restoration. Disturbance and resource supply can affect community diversity by altering community assembly processes, such as recruitment, mortality or competitive inequalities. The mechanisms behind community responses to these drivers will differentially affect multiple facets of diversity. Here we examine how factorial manipulations of disturbance (raking to remove above‐ground vegetation) and nitrogen supply affect taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of predominantly annual California grassland communities spanning a 500‐km latitudinal and twofold rainfall gradient. The disturbance caused density‐independent biomass removal and increased access to resources such as space and light, thus mimicking demographic effects of disturbance as considered in ecological models and broadly applicable to empirical systems. We used paired metrics of richness, evenness and community composition to compare evidence from taxonomy and phylogeny. Disturbance increased species and phylogenetic diversity (richness and evenness metrics). However, nitrogen addition interacted with disturbance to reduce species richness and phylogenetic diversity. Undisturbed communities were more strongly clustered phylogenetically, but disturbance eroded this clustering such that communities became more random (i.e. indistinguishable from a null model of assembly). Species composition differed between disturbed and undisturbed communities, and many species were observed in only one community type. Disturbance interacted with nitrogen supply to alter phylogenetic composition of communities, and recently disturbed communities were more spatially variable in phylogenetic composition than undisturbed communities. Phylogenetic composition of communities also differed among nitrogen treatments. Synthesis. Our results suggest that disturbing these grassland communities by removing above‐ground vegetation increased community diversity by increasing recruitment. Seed addition following this type of disturbance is thus likely to be an effective restoration technique. However, we have shown that disturbance combined with nitrogen enrichment reduces community diversity. The mechanism for this enrichment effect does not appear to be linked to increased productivity leading to light limitation. This work suggests restoration efforts employing biomass removal must take nutrient availability into account to maximize local community diversity.