Rich Habitats Research Articles

Novel Insights into Agar Metabolism in Marine Heterotrophic Bacteria

Agar is a key structural polysaccharide of red macroalgae which provides a rich habitat for marine heterotrophic bacteria in marine ecosystems. Marine agarolytic bacteria, that can use agar as the sole carbon source, are distributed in diverse marine environments from open coastal waters to the gut of marine herbivores. Agarolytic bacteria employ a combination of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) for the depolymerization of agar. Extensive studies on the genomic architecture of the agarolytic bacteria suggested that genes encoding these CAZymes are arranged in polysaccharide utilization loci (PUL). Agar hydrolyzing enzymes (agarases) are categorized into; β-agarase (GH16, GH50, GH86, and GH118), α-agarase (GH96), neoagarooligosaccharide hydrolase (GH117), and agarolytic β-galactosidase (GH2). The molecular functionality, structural elements, and catalytic mechanisms of agarases belonging to different GH families show unique characteristics. L-AHG, one of the main constituents in agar, is a rare monosaccharide and its metabolic pathway is exclusively found in marine agarolytic bacteria. Recent trends in the agarolytic systems are mostly focused on the sequence data to visualize the universal agarolytic enzyme repertoire and the evolution of the agarolytic pathway in marine heterotrophic bacteria. In addition, increasing attention is paid to understanding the oligosaccharide transport mechanisms and transcriptional regulation of genes in PUL. In this review, we will cover a comprehensive overview of genomic architecture, structural and functional analysis of agar hydrolyzing enzymes, and agar metabolism in marine heterotrophic bacteria.

Spatial and seasonal dynamics of amphibians from shallows and forests in urban and Peri-urban areas of Daloa (Ivory Coast, West Africa)

The disappearance of forests and biodiversity in Côte d'Ivoire is also due to the expansion of urban areas. This expansion was carried out without any concern for the preservation or restoration of the natural resources. The Daloa area, in addition to the forest relics, contains shallows, important for agriculture. These shallows were mostly landing sites for drainage water from various horizons. To assess the conservation status of these environments, amphibians, due to their high sensitivity to changes in environmental conditions, were used to assess the biotic integrity of the ecosystems. Thus, daytime and night-time sampling were carried out in urban, peri-urban shallows and peri-urban forests. These acoustic, visual and capture samplings lasted 12 months and revealed the presence of 20 amphibian species. Nineteen species were found in urban shallows, peri-urban forests and 17 species in peri-urban shallows respectively. There was no significant difference between the species richness of the different habitats (Kruskal-Wallis test, p > 0.05). Furthermore, in the rainy season, amphibian diversity was higher in peri-urban forests than in shallows. In addition, over the whole study area, Amphibian abundance was higher in the rainy season than in the dry season. Also, the most frequent species in this area was Ptychadena mascareniensis. Finally, in the rainy season, the distribution of Amphibians in peri-urban forests was more equitable than that of dry season and in other sites.

Invasion history and distribution of the aquatic alien Elodea canadensis (Hydrocharitaceae) in Turkey

Submerged macrophyte Elodea canadensis Michx. is a non-native species to Turkey where it was first recorded in 1982. In this study, we aim to provide the current distribution of E. canadensis in Turkey with notes on its invasion history and ecology. We performed field studies to measure the physical and chemical parameters of the invaded lakes. Our study is based on new field works, herbarium specimen examination and literature survey. As a result of our findings, E. canadensis has invaded 15 wetlands in eight water basins of Turkey. Eleven of the invaded wetlands, including the largest freshwater lake of Turkey have protection forms ranging from national parks, nature parks to nationally/locally protected areas. Type of the wetlands are also diverse, like drainage canals, ancient pools, karstic, crater, tectonic and alluvial set lakes with trophic status from oligotrophic to eutrophic. Physico-chemical parameters measured in seven invaded wetlands are as follow: Water temperature between 15.5 and 22.3 °C, pH between 7.1 and 8.6, dissolved oxygen as 3.7–8,8 mg l-1, electrical conductivity as 230–610 µS cm-1, salinity between 0.1 and 0.29 ppt, and ammonium as 0.25–0.74 mg l-1. The altitude range of the colonized wetlands is between sea level and 2100 m a.s.l. Elodea canadensis forms single species stands in many sites, but we could totally record 22 accompanying macrophyte taxa in species rich habitats. Here we present the most comprehensive distribution and ecology data for E. canadensis in Turkey which could be used for further research and management to understand its future spread and effect on native vegetation.

Ecological indication metrics on dung beetles metacommunities in native forests and Pinus monocultures

Beetles of the subfamily Scarabaeinae are commonly used as ecological indicators in studies about the effects of environmental changes. We analyzed the influence of the type of habitat, vegetation, mammals (as food resource), and temperature on dung beetle metacommunities in subtropical native forests and Pinus monocultures to evaluate the factors driving these assemblages. In the summer of 2018/2019, we sampled 12 areas in Southern Brazil, six Pinus monocultures and six native forests. We performed a dispersal test, applying a marking-recapture method. Some recaptures occurred in different habitats, showing low dispersal between habitats. We recorded behavioral activities confirming the use of both native forest and Pinus areas. The metrics did not reflect the difference in the environmental quality of the areas regarding species richness and diversity in different habitats. This shows that these metrics are not the best when using dung beetle assemblages as ecological indicators of biodiversity loss resulting from land-use changes, requiring complementing the analysis with composition analysis methods. When we partitioned beta diversity between habitats, we observed a dissimilarity between Pinus monocultures and native forest assemblages due to species substitution, with many species contributing to the dissimilarity between habitats. In our structural equation models, the influence of environmental factors on metacommunities showed no predictor related to dung beetle richness, but several variables influenced their abundance.

Mapping marine habitats in the Gulf of Guinea: A contribution to the future establishment of Marine Protected Areas in Principe Island

Accurate mapping of marine benthic habitats, using acoustic technologies such as Side-Scan Sonar (SSS), is a useful tool for marine conservation and management, as well as to support zoning processes of maritime activities in the coastal environment. Georeferenced habitat maps can improve management of isolated tropical coastal and marine ecosystems, where rapid unsustainable anthropogenic coastal development often occurs. In this study, SSS was employed to map subtidal marine habitats of Principe Island (Gulf of Guinea, West Africa) to determine areas of especial interest for biodiversity or marine resource conservation. The SSS methodology was applied, during the BIO-Príncipe Scientific Expedition (2016), in four target areas, both inside and outside its UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, covering 675 ha between 3 and 30 m depth, also combining SCUBA diving and video transects. These areas were chosen based on their geographical location and habitat information, provided by the local stakeholders. Over the total surface mapped, five main habitats were recorded: sandy seabeds (flat sandbanks and rippled sandbanks), rhodolith seabeds (rhodoliths interspersed with scleractinian coral colonies and macroalgae), biogenic (mud/sedimentary) seabeds, and rocky seabed (bedrock and rocky reefs). In the northern, eastern, and southern areas of the island, sandy bottoms with ripples, interspersed with small biogenic sedimentary beds and rhodolith bottoms predominated. The southwestern area, Baía das Agulhas, concentrated the greatest variability and richness of habitats, including the largest rhodolith seascape. This study provided a consistent and detailed dataset to support the creation and design of future MPAs, already planned by the Principe’s government, adding including essential information on areas containing key habitats (e.g. rhodoliths) not detected in previous reports.

Optimizing Spectral Libraries from Landsat Imagery for the Analysis of Habitat Richness Using MESMA

Spectral mixture analysis of satellite images, such as MESMA (multiple endmember spectral mixtures analysis), can be used to obtain fraction images in which the abundance of each land occupation class is represented at the pixel level, which is crucial for the analysis of heterogeneous landscapes in which types of habitats vary at fine spatial scales. The objective of this work is to analyze the influence of spectral libraries of various characteristics on the performance of MESMA. To this end, eight spectral libraries from Landsat satellite images were elaborated with different characteristics in terms of size, composition, and temporality. The spectral libraries were optimized using the iterative selection of endmembers (IES) method with the MESMA technique to obtain the fraction images considering five habitat classes (forest, shrubland, grassland, water, and rock and bare soil). The application of MESMA resulted in the classification of more than 95% of pixels in all cases with a root mean square error (RMSE) less than or equal to 0.025. Validation of the fraction images through linear regressions resulted in an RMSE ≥ 0.35 for the shrubland and grassland classes, with a lower RMSE for the remaining classes. A significant influence of library size was observed, as well as a significant effect of temporality, with the best results obtained for the largest monotemporal libraries.

Greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) mortality patterns in Nepal

Nepal’s lowland regions provide a rich habitat for greater one-horned rhino ( Rhinoceros unicornis ) populations. However, rhinos are facing human-caused and natural threats such as habitat loss and several other forms of anthropogenic pressure that cause mortality of greater one-horned rhinos (hereafter rhino) in Nepal. Understanding these patterns of mortality can provide important information for rhino conservation. In this study, we answered three important questions to aid in rhino conservation in Nepal:1)what was the pattern of rhino mortality (increased, decreased, or no change) during 2008–2018 in Nepal? 2) Does the pattern of rhino mortality vary by season, age, and gender? And, 3) what are the major causes of rhino mortality in Nepal? We collected rhino mortality data along with age, gender, and cause of death in the period between 2008 and 2018 in Nepal from secondary sources. We found that a total of 232 cases of rhino mortalities were observed during the 11-year period. Mortality of the rhino was associated with age and cause but not with gender and season. Among the nine categories of the causes of mortality, self-fighting, natural, tiger attacks, and poaching contributed about 80 % of total mortality. Mortality due to poaching of rhinos has decreased in recent years, while mortality due to self-fighting and tiger attacks have increased. We concluded that mortality causes associated with limited space and food, and tiger population growth are increasing in recent years. Therefore, habitat expansion, translocation to new suitable habitats, and multispecies conservation policy would contribute to long-term rhino conservation in Nepal.

Juliana Lake: A Wetland in an Urban Environment1

Of all the remaining natural habitats of Benghazi’s urban area (NE Libya), perhaps the most threatened are its karst lakes and coastal salt marshes (locally known as Sebkha). Juliana Lake stands out as one example of a fragile ecosystem that is steadily shrinking and exposed to dredging, infilling and, consequently, possible damage to its aquatic organisms, and the inevitable loss of its renowned biodiversity. Several 19th & 20th–century traveller’s sketches and maps, soil maps, photographs and satellite images provide the bases for change in the size and magnitude of the lake and its adjacent areas over time. Assessment of the sediment composition and texture of material accumulating at the bottom of the lake reveals mixtures of Sebkha sediments such as salty clay, silt, and clayey sand, while sediments at the surface and around the lake are represented by quite soft whitish to yellowish and scattered patchy limestones of unknown affinity. Terra-rossa and Quaternary caliche are present also, but calcarenites cover considerable part of the studied area. The bio-micro components of these sediments are described and a number of small-sized benthic foraminifera have been identified. Macrofauna, which are primarily presented by recent benthic seashells belonging to phylum mollusca, have also been investigated and several species have been identified to the species level wherever possible. Other calcareous biotic components are predominantly shell fragments of molluscs, echinoderms and calcareous coralline red algae. It is concluded that the distribution, diversity and abundance of the total benthic organisms recovered in this survey reflect the habitat's richness in nutrients and consequently providing important food source for fish, birds, and mammals. It is argued that environmentally based planning strategies can preserve the fragile landscapes of Benghazi and, furthermore, ensure a more sustainable form of future urban development. In this context, urban planners should review routine urban planning practices affecting Juliana wetland and other natural landscapes of Benghazi, and adjust them to integrate nature into the urban scene of current and future development plans.

Influence of landscape composition on wild bee communities: Effects of functional landscape heterogeneity

Landscapes dominated by conventional agriculture reduce and simplify natural habitats, with negative consequences for ecosystem regulating services. We examined differences in structure and composition of bee communities across biotic and abiotic gradients to investigate how these communities respond to land-use changes associated with agriculture. Studies like ours which evaluates the relative effect of different components of spatial heterogeneity remain uncommon and are important to conserve pollinator fauna. The diversity of floral resources and habitat richness including the configuration and composition of landscape heterogeneity have been shown to influence the diversity of wild bees on a landscape scale. In this study, we examined how wild bee communities respond to landscape heterogeneity in a semi-arid productive region of Entre Ríos Argentina. We modeled the effect of landscape heterogeneity on wild bee community abundance, species richness, and Chao-1 diversity. We sampled bees using pan traps in four common land-uses in the region (forest plantations, pasture/croplands, mixed use areas and native espinal savanna) for five months in the spring-summer of 2014–2015. We identified 96 bee species among 3407 bees collected in the four habitat types. Pasture/croplands along with native espinal savanna supported the highest abundance, richness, and diversity of bees. Species composition of wild bee communities differed between land uses, with numerous species unique to each land use. Across all land use types, diversity of flower resources consistently supported more abundant and diverse wild bee communities. The richness of habitats along with the diversity of floral resources acted synergistically over wild bee communities. Our findings further clarify the relationship between land-use and wild bee communities, which provide valuable pollination services to crops and native plants. Continued expansion of large-scale monoculture forest plantations will likely come at the expense of the native floral resources, which are a key component to support regional bee species richness. Promoting landscapes with a diversity of crops and flower resources are important for the conservation of pollinators that are key for the functioning of ecosystems.

Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Diversity and Community Structure in Doi Inthanon National Park, Northern Thailand.

Simple SummaryMosquitoes are small flies, some of which are known as principal vectors of the pathogens that cause dengue, malaria, filariasis, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, and Zika in many countries of the world. However, the majority of the species are important components of ecosystems. We evaluated the diversity and community structure of mosquitoes in Doi Inthanon National Park, named for the highest mountain in Thailand. The park mainly consists of natural forest, but it hosts a number of human activities. A total of 140 mosquito species were identified among 3,795 specimens. The most dominant genera were Culex (34.3%), Aedes (19.3%), Anopheles (13.6%), Uranotaenia (10.7%), and Armigeres (5.8%). The five most abundant species were Ae. albopictus, Ae. vittatus, Cx. bitaeniorhynchus, Cx. mimulus, and Tripteroides aranoides. Species richness was higher in the rainy season than in the cold and hot seasons. Natural phytotelm habitats for immature stages had a higher diversity than artificial container habitats. A greater number of species were found in forest areas than in agricultural areas and villages. Ground pools, stream pools, rock pools, bamboo stumps, bamboo internodes, and rice fields were the most preferred natural habitats. Ground pools, rock pools, and stream margins, which had a high diversity index, were the most important habitats for mosquitoes in the park.Urbanization and human activities create new suitable aquatic habitats for the immature stages of mosquitoes in many countries. This also applies to Doi Inthanon National Park in northern Thailand, which is named for the highest mountain in the country. Despite its popularity, there is no information regarding mosquito diversity and community structure in the different ecosystems of the park. Monthly collections of immature stages from various habitats were conducted from August 2004 to December 2005 using dipping and sucking methods. The specimens collected from each habitat were reared to adults and identified based on their morphology. Diversity parameters and community structure were statistically analyzed. A total of 140 species (3795 specimens) belonging to 15 genera were identified. Among these, four genera (Culex, Aedes, Anopheles, and Uranotaenia) had high species richness, each represented by 48, 27, 19, and 15 species, respectively. Aedes albopictus was the most relatively abundant species, representing 6.7% of the total number of captured specimens, followed by Tripteroides aranoides (5.6%) and Cx. mimulus (5%). Species richness in natural habitats was significantly higher than in artificial containers. Species richness and abundance were highest in the rainy season. In comparison to agricultural areas and villages, mosquito diversity was found to be higher in forest areas. Ground pools, stream pools, rock pools, bamboo stumps, bamboo internode, and rice fields were the most preferred natural habitats. The results indicate that Doi Inthanon National Park has a high mosquito diversity. Each species exhibits differences in abundance and distribution in different habitats, which is useful information for planning conservation measures and vector control in the park.

Vegetation structure define mite assemblage on plants: a case study in Cerrado biome

We compared abundance and richness of mites on Miconia albicans (Sw.) Steud. (Melastomataceae) found in Cerrado grassland (CGR) and in Cerrado sensu stricto (CSS), in order to evaluate the effect of plant physiognomy on mite assemblage structure, in the Parque Nacional das Emas, Goiás State, Brazil, a biological reserve of Cerrado biome. In total, 453 mites of 45 species belonging to 14 families were collected. Stigmaeidae was the most abundant predatory mite family, represented by a single unidentified Agistemus species. Among phytophagous mites, species of Lorryia (Tydeidae) were the most common. Lorryia turrialbensis Baker, 1968 is reported for the first time on a Cerrado plant species. We concluded that the Cerrado phytophysiognomy can determine the organization of mite assemblages since CSS sheltered higher species richness and abundance of mites on M. albicans due to has more habitat complexity, species richness and abundance of plants than CGR. Therefore, CSS can provide more food resources, microhabitats for shelter and oviposition favoring the occurrence and populational development of plant mites.

Observing and modeling long-term persistence of P. noctiluca in coupled complementary marine systems (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea and Messina Strait)

In the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Messina (MS) is a very peculiar area, connecting highly different regions and representing a privileged observatory for an early comprehension and assessment of ecosystems shifts. It is hypothesized that the outbreaks observed near the coast of many sites in the Mediterranean Sea may be the result of transport of permanent populations of P. noctiluca in pelagic waters to the coast, caused by specific hydrodynamic conditions. By both visual observations and numerical experiments our objective is twofold: (A) to help clarify whether the basin of the Aeolian Islands Archipelago (AIA), in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea (STS), may be the site from which large populations of P. noctiluca are transported to the MS, and (B) to evaluate whether the upwelling turbulent system of the MS can be an energetic opportunity for this species. It should offer a rich habitat without jeopardizing the overall survival of the population, that is subject to stranding due to strong currents. Although very different, the two involved ecosystems (AIA and MS ) are complementary for the success of Pelagia noctiluca life cycle. Outputs obtained by coupling the 3D hydrodynamic model (SHYFEM) with a Lagrangian particle tracking model support the hypothesis of a connectivity between these two ecosystems, particularly in the first half of the year, indicating the coastal areas around the AIA as potential optimal source location for Pelagia larval stages. We support the very attractive hypothesis that two connected systems exist, the former one favours Pelagia's reproduction and acts as a nursery and the latter favours its growth due to higher productivity. We speculate that the reproductive population of the AIA is not permanent, but is renewed every year by individuals who have fed and quickly grown in the MS and who are passively transported by downwelling along canyon "corridors".

Disentangling the interrelated abiotic and biotic pathways linking landscape composition and crop production

Abstract Landscape composition and its related functional agrobiodiversity (FAB) was severely simplified during the last decades. As landscape composition is expected to influence the interrelated microclimate and arthropod community at different scales, this simplification might have led to a decline in multiple agro‐ecosystem services, with potential impacts for the growth of crops with different demands from the environment. To study landscape‐scale effects on multicrop yield and herbivory in combination with its potential drivers, including functional arthropod community and microclimate, we used standardised 1 m2 mini‐gardens planted with ten different vegetable crops as phytometers. The gardens were installed at locations varying in surrounding landscape composition and the vegetables were selected to have contrasting requirements in terms of growing conditions, pollination services and susceptibility to pests. Monitoring of the mini‐gardens was performed in 2018 and 2019 in Flanders (Belgium). We found no relationship between landscape composition in a 500 m radius and crop yield. Considering possible mechanisms, we found that an increasing share of woody vegetation (>3 m high) in the surrounding landscape is important to buffer the temperature and soil moisture variation in the mini‐gardens. The share of agricultural land use and urban green (<3 m high) is, respectively, positively and negatively related with the activity‐density of natural enemies and pollinators. The growth of different crops responded differently to higher temperature ranges and we found no relation between natural enemies and herbivory. In conclusion, these abiotic and biotic pathways did not cause an overall relationship between landscape composition and yield. Synthesis and applications. These outcomes indicate that woody vegetation in the rural landscape buffers soil moisture and temperature variation, which will become even more important due to climate change. Furthermore, pollinators and natural enemies were most active in rural environments and less active in areas with residential green and built‐up surfaces. Local, flower rich habitat, such as road sides, can further support natural enemies and buffer soil moisture variation. Yet, high arthropod activity is no assurance for arthropod mediated ecosystem service delivery nor is microclimate buffering an assurance for higher crop yields.

Diversity and composition of ant species in different urban areas in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Harahap IS, Asnan TAW, Widayanti S, Widhiastuti H. 2022. Diversity and composition of ant species in different urban areas in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 4090-4096. Land use change, from natural to urban areas, is a threat to biodiversity because the disturbance created by human can destroy the habitat and decrease species richness. Ant is one of the most abundant animals in tropical habitats and most intrusive in an urban area. This research aims to determine the types of ants commonly found in various urban ecosystems in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. Ant observation and sampling were carried out in Bogor City Areas at four different urban ecosystems, i.e., office area, shopping mall, housing area, and bus station. At each sampling location, ten observation plots were taken under different environmental conditions. Sampling was carried out for 6 months, from April to October 2021 with the direct collection and trapping method. The sample was then carried out to the laboratory for identification and data analysis process. The results of the species inventory obtained 7532 individuals and 28 species from 4 subfamilies, namely Dolichoderinae, Formicinae, Myrmicinae, and Ponerinae. The diversity of ant species at each location showed that the ant species in the bus station were not significantly different from the mall area. However, the diversity of ant species in three locations, namely bus stations, malls, and housing estates, showed significant differences with the diversity of ant species in office habitats. Anoplolepis gracilipes which is an invasive tramp species, is one type of ant found in all sampling locations with a relatively high abundance.

River edge feeding: Howler monkey feeding ecology in a fragmented riparian forest

Abstract Rivers are important components of animal habitats worldwide. The area near riparian edge (⩽100 m from the river) has different abiotic characteristics and vegetation than both forest interior and areas bordering human development, which may lead to differences in animal feeding behaviour. To better contextualize the impact of human-caused habitat destruction on animal feeding ecology, it is important to study both natural riparian and anthropogenic forest edges within the same habitat. We compared howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) feeding behaviour and tree use across four forest zones (riparian edge, anthropogenic edge, forest interior, and combined riparian and anthropogenic edge) in a fragmented riparian rainforest in Costa Rica, La Suerte Biological Research Station (LSBRS). We predicted that monkey feeding behaviour and tree use would differ across forest zones, and especially between riparian and anthropogenic edges due to higher vegetation quality near the river. We observed individual focal monkeys for 30-minute periods, collecting data on monkey feeding behaviour and tree use every 2 minutes. We recorded plant parts eaten and feeding tree taxonomy, and measured feeding trees. Monkeys ate more leaves in riparian edge than in other forest zones, and fed from fewer tree families in riparian edge and forest interior compared to anthropogenic edge. Monkeys also fed from trees with smaller DBH in riparian edge compared to other forest zones, but trees of similar height to forest interior and taller than anthropogenic edge. Our results indicate that riparian zones are rich habitats for howler monkeys and conservation efforts should prioritize their preservation.

Novel coexisting mangrove-coral habitats: Extensive coral communities located deep within mangrove canopies of Panama, a global classification system and predicted distributions.

Marine ecosystems are structured by coexisting species occurring in adjacent or nested assemblages. Mangroves and corals are typically observed in adjacent assemblages (i.e., mangrove forests and coral reefs) but are increasingly reported in nested mangrove-coral assemblages with corals living within mangrove habitats. Here we define these nested assemblages as “coexisting mangrove-coral” (CMC) habitats and review the scientific literature to date to formalize a baseline understanding of these ecosystems and create a foundation for future studies. We identify 130 species of corals living within mangrove habitats across 12 locations spanning the Caribbean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and South Pacific. We then provide the first description, to our knowledge, of a canopy CMC habitat type located in Bocas del Toro, Panama. This canopy CMC habitat is one of the most coral rich CMC habitats reported in the world, with 34 species of corals growing on and/or among submerged red mangrove aerial roots. Based on our literature review and field data, we identify biotic and abiotic characteristics common to CMC systems to create a classification framework of CMC habitat categories: (1) Lagoon, (2) Inlet, (3) Edge, and (4) Canopy. We then use the compiled data to create a GIS model to suggest where additional CMC habitats may occur globally. In a time where many ecosystems are at risk of disappearing, discovery and description of alternative habitats for species of critical concern are of utmost importance for their conservation and management.

Biodiversity Conservation of National Parks and Nature-Protected Areas in West Africa: The Case of Kainji National Park, Nigeria

Due to rising global warming and climate change, biodiversity protection has become a critical ecological concern. Rich biodiversity zones are under threat and are deteriorating, necessitating national, regional, and provincial efforts to safeguard these natural areas. The effective conservation of national parks and nature-protected areas help to improve biodiversity conservation, forest, and urban air quality. The continuous encroachment and abuse of these protected areas have degraded the ecosystem over time. While exploring the geophysical ecology and biodiversity conservation of these areas in West Africa, Kainji National Park was selected for this study because of its notable location, naturalness, rich habitat diversity, topographic uniqueness, and landmass. The conservation of national parks and nature-protected areas is a cornerstone of biodiversity conservation globally. This study is aimed at the target United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 13, 2030—Climate Action targeted at taking urgent action towards combating climate change and its impacts. The study captures both flora and fauna that are dominant in the study area. The 15 identified tree species were selected from over 30 species with 563,500,000 (an average of 3,700,000 in each sample frame) trees for every tree species/type with a total of 63% tree green canopy cover. The study areas divided into three zones were randomly sampled within a stratum of 25 × 25 km frames divided into 150 sample frames for proper analyses using the i-Tree Eco v6.0.25. It is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service peer-reviewed application (software) designed which includes tools for urban and rural forestry study and benefits evaluations. The following microclimatic data were captured and analyzed photosynthetically active radiation, rain/precipitation, temperature, transpiration, evaporation, water intercepted by trees, runoff avoided by trees, potential evaporation by trees, and isoprene and monoterpene by trees. This study also further discusses the tree benefits of a green, low carbon, and sustainable environment within the context of biodiversity conservation, considering carbon storage, carbon sequestration, hydrology effects, pollution removal, oxygen production, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). There is a quick need for remotely-sensed information about the national parks, protected areas and nature reserves at regular intervals, and government policies must be strict against illegal poaching, logging activities, and other hazardous human impacts.

Impact of Short‐Term Hydrological Components on Landscape Pattern of Waterbird Habitat in Floodplain Wetlands

AbstractPeriodic flooding in floodplain wetlands dominates the landscape pattern, creating rich and diverse habitats for waterbirds. However, most studies on floodplain wetland landscape are conducted at interannual scale, while few researches investigate the effect of short‐term changes of hydrological components, such as maximum continuous flooding day, average flooding depth, maximum continuous drought day, and distance from water body. This study developed an effective approach by integrating a two‐dimensional hydrodynamic model and a geographic detector model to investigate the single and interactive effects of short‐term hydrological components on the landscape pattern of waterbird habitat in floodplain wetlands. The developed approach was demonstrated in the Poyang Lake in Jiangxi province of China, an important conservation floodplain wetland in the Ramsar Convention. We found the short‐term hydrological components could impose a significant impact on the landscape pattern of waterbird habitat. Particularly, the interactive effects of multiple hydrological components were stronger than that of a single component, showing nonlinear enhancement. The developed approach could provide a viable way to study the ecological impacts of short‐term hydrological components on the landscape pattern of waterbird habitat in floodplain wetlands, thus offer scientific references for waterbird habitat management in floodplain wetlands.

Assessing the link between farming systems and biodiversity in agricultural landscapes: Insights from Galicia (Spain)

Agriculture is a major driver of change with manifold impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. As social-ecological systems, agricultural landscapes result from the intertwined interaction between farmers and nature, and contribute to several ecosystem services key to human well-being. The social-ecological outcomes of farmlands ultimately reflect the management practices of the dominant farming systems (FS) at the landscape level. However, data-driven research linking agricultural management and biodiversity is still scarce, a knowledge gap limiting our understanding on the impacts of different farming systems on biodiversity at the landscape level.This research contributes to fill this knowledge gap, by being among the few explicitly exploring the relationship between FS and patterns of biodiversity at the landscape level, using as illustrative case the region of Galicia, northwest Spain. Using data from agricultural policies paying agencies, and protected species and habitats data, the following research questions were pursued: (1) Can farm-level data be used to map and characterize different FS at the landscape-level? and, (2) Is the occurrence of specific FS linked with higher levels of biodiversity?Results allowed the identification and characterization of seven different FS distributed across Galicia, which dominance allowed to identify seven landscape types. Moreover, besides depicting the dominance of cattle-based farming systems in Galicia, results showed a gradient of management from the most intensive located in coastal lowlands (west) towards less intensive mountain areas (east). Such gradient of decreasing management intensity matched a gradient of increasing nature value of farmlands, reflected as higher habitat diversity and richness for some of the targeted taxonomic groups.To our knowledge, this research is among the few explicitly addressing the relationship between FS and biodiversity at the landscape level. By highlighting potential links (positive or negative) between specific landscape types and habitats and/or species richness across targeted taxonomic groups, these results constitute a preliminary assessment of the agricultural practices promoting species and habitat richness. Further scrutinizing this assessment can support the identification of farm-level indicators that can be then translated into the design of policies (biodiversity or agriculture-related) fostering biodiversity at several scales of decision making.

Identification and Characterization of Small Regulatory RNA in Streptococcus

The human gut is a rich habitat for a diverse population of bacteria. These bacteria play a vital role in a multitude of functions by interacting with each‐other and the human host. They can play roles in immune responses, metabolism, and even neurological activities. Some inhabitants of the gut biome include the lactic acid bacteria: Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. These bacteria are essential members of the flora and are non‐pathogenic, however, some of their relatives like Streptococcus pyogenes cause severe diseases like toxic shock syndrome and flesh‐eating disease. The metabolic functions of these bacteria are mediated by small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), which are noncoding RNA sequences that fold into complex stem‐loop structures. The goal of this project was to identify and characterize the small regulatory RNAs that mediate bacterial metabolism and host interactions in non‐pathogenic, lactic acid bacteria. A small regulatory RNA that is conserved among different streptococcal species was identified. In S. pyogenes, this conserved sRNA, named MarS, is associated with virulence, however, the function of its ortholog found in non‐pathogenic bacteria, AsdS sRNA, has not been well‐characterized. Computational methods were used to elucidate the function of this sRNA as well as predict its 2D and 3D structures. The gene containing the target sRNA was isolated and RNA constructs were designed to characterize regions that are part of it. Future work will be focused on structure determination and characterizing interactions to target sRNA through biophysical and biochemical methods.