Biodiversity Conservation Strategies Research Articles

Exploring the driving factors of bird diversity in mangrove natural protected areas in Guangdong Province, China

IntroductionUnder the impacts of high intensity human activities, mangrove natural protected areas are pivotal strategies for biodiversity conservation and play a significant role in preserving bird diversity. Mangrove natural protected areas in Guangdong Province, China, lie along the migratory path of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, serving as breeding, feeding, and resting grounds for birds. Variations in bird responses to environmental factors are significant.MethodsTo comprehensively understand these variances, redundancy analysis was employed, focusing on bird diversity surveys conducted from March 2022 to February 2023 in natural protected areas of Guangdong to examine how driving factors such as mangrove habitat landscape, community structure, water quality, and soil sedimentation affected the diversity of avian species.ResultsThe findings were as follows: (1) A total of 193 bird species spanning 17 orders and 53 families were documented, including 74 songbirds, 60 wading birds, 27 swimming birds, 17 climbing birds, 10 raptors, and 5 terrestrial birds. (2) Regarding the impact of simple effects on all bird species, aquaculture pond area, mangrove extent, and mudflat area emerged as significant factors driving bird diversity, with explanatory rates of 31.0%, 28.9%, and 20.3%, respectively. Notably, the aquaculture pond area was the main driver of bird diversity, with an explanatory rate of 31.0%. (3) Mangrove extent has emerged as a pivotal factor shaping the songbird diversity, climbing birds, raptors, and terrestrial birds, whereas the aquaculture pond area was pivotal for wading birds, swimming birds, and others.DiscussionTo enhance mangrove bird diversity protection, management agencies overseeing natural mangrove protected areas should adopt science-based approaches when managing mangrove, mudflats, and aquaculture pond areas in mangrove forest protection and restoration plans. This would prevent extensive mangrove planting, which encroaches on non-mangrove habitats. Additionally, the scientific management of aquaculture ponds should accommodate diverse bird habitats through measures, such as water level adjustments.

Environmental and Topographical Factors Influencing Moss Distribution in Semi-Arid Regions: A Study of Çankırı-Eldivan Mountain

This research investigates the environmental and topographical variables influencing the distribution of moss, utilizing data from 455 sampling locations in the Çankırı-Eldivan Mountain region. The logistic regression analysis results indicated that the primary determinants of moss presence were elevation, mean temperature, and slope. Elevation positively influences moss presence, whereas mean temperature negatively impacts it. Slope, conversely, positively influenced moss habitats by enhancing water retention and soil stability. Despite the limited impact of aspect, surfaces oriented towards the north and east were more advantageous. Total precipitation positively influenced moss presence; however, this effect was eclipsed by elevation. These findings significantly enhance the comprehension of mosses' ecological tolerance and their reliance on environmental variables. The research underscores critical environmental variables influencing moss distribution and establishes a foundation for natural resource management, biodiversity conservation strategies, and evaluating climate change impacts. Future research should investigate anthropogenic influences on moss distribution more comprehensively and employ molecular ecology techniques.

Contrasting pollution responses of native and non-native fish communities in anthropogenically disturbed estuaries unveiled by eDNA metabarcoding

Understanding the influence of environmental pollutants on the assembly mechanisms of estuarine fish communities is vital for addressing conservation challenges in these biodiverse ecosystems. Although significant research has explored the toxic impacts of pollutants such as petroleum, heavy metals, and eutrophication on individual species and populations, their effects on community assembly processes and the differential responses of native versus non-native fish at the meta-community level remain inadequately understood. This study utilized environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to analyze fish community diversity across 28 subtropical estuaries in China, assessing how these pollutants affect community composition and assembly mechanisms. Results indicated that eDNA was 2.54 times more effective than traditional methods in species identification, while also enabling the detection of a higher number of non-native fish species and more diverse functional guilds within estuarine ecosystems. A significant distance decay pattern (p < 0.05) was observed among native fish, whereas non-native species exhibited non-significant patterns. Neutral and null models showed that non-native species had significantly higher migration rates (0.005939 vs 0.001757) and a greater contribution of stochastic processes (82.38% vs 70.59%) compared to native species. Additionally, distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA), variance partitioning analysis (VPA), and correlation analyses revealed that native species were strongly constrained by environmental factors, particularly oil, Hg, Zn, Pb, Cr6+, and NH4+, while non-native species displayed notable resilience to these pollutants. These findings highlight the potential for non-native species to disproportionately influence community dynamics and assembly through unrestricted random dispersal amid environmental disturbances. This research clarifies the contrasting ecological responses of native and non-native fish communities to anthropogenic pressures in estuarine environments, offering essential insights into ecosystem resilience and informing biodiversity conservation strategies in rapidly changing coastal ecosystems.

Biodiversity conservation in private forests: Preferences of Latvian forest owners in the context of involuntary conservation

Private forests play an important role in biodiversity conservation. Countries utilize various mechanisms for integrating private forests into biodiversity conservation strategies. While voluntary private forest conservation of biodiversity dominates in Nordic Europe countries, in Latvia the involuntary approach remains the main biodiversity conservation path. We aimed to explore the attitude of Latvian forest owners towards existing forest biodiversity conservation mechanisms, and preferences regarding potential motivating mechanisms. Our survey (analysis of 599 responses) was targeted on forest owners who had experienced biodiversity conservation related restrictions under involuntary conservation and who owned forest properties with significant biodiversity values. Our results suggested that owners of small forest properties under 5 ha, who are less financially dependent on forestry income and lack forestry education, as well as female forest owners, are more positive towards biodiversity conservation measures. Our results showed that most forest owners were not ready to accept substantial forestry restrictions. However, they would be ready to accept minor forestry restrictions such as no felling during bird breeding season and obligation of retention of a greater number of ecologically important trees and deadwood. Most forest owners considered the existing compensation system (annual payments) to be unfair. However, our results did not reveal larger acceptance for a voluntary conservation approach, as opposed to the existing system. Provision of information regarding biodiversity conservation in forest management remains a crucial task, however it primarily should be addressed through the forestry education system and forestry institution information channels.

Ecological Security Pattern Construction in Typical Oasis Area Based on Ant Colony Optimization: A Case Study in Yili River Valley, China

Establishing Ecological Security Pattern (ESP) is crucial for the harmonious development of society and the environment. Currently, the principal challenges in ecological planning include large contiguous ecological source areas and the accurate determination of ecological corridor widths. This study utilized the InVEST-MSPA-Conefor model, circuit theory, MATLAB, and the ArcGIS platform to analyze the Yili River Valley’s ESP, assess habitat quality, and identify habitat patch types. Results indicate that: (1) Habitat quality is higher in the southern and eastern parts of the river valley. The core area, vital for ecological connectivity, constituted 50.69 % of the study area. (2) Increased ecological resistance was predominantly observed in valley hills and near major transportation routes. (3) Seventy ecological corridors were identified, covering 3671.68 km2 of major and 6968.31 km2 of potential corridors, thus expanding the analysis from “source-line-point” to “source-line-point-plane” and strengthening ecological protection and management strategies. (4) The study proposes an optimization and management strategy of “Three Belts, Two Axes, and One Cluster” grounded in ESP results and local policies. The study advances the understanding of the Yili River Valley’s ecosystem structure, provides strategies for biodiversity conservation and ecological service optimization, and emphasizes the value of integrated, multi-dimensional modeling in ecological planning.

Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of the First Complete Chloroplast Genome of Shizhenia pinguicula (Orchidaceae: Orchideae).

Genomic analysis is crucial for better understanding the evolutionary history of species and for their conservation. Shizhenia pinguicula is a rare medicinal plant endemic to China. However, the complete chloroplast genome of this species has not been reported to date. Insufficient genomic research on S. pinguicula has hindered effective conservation efforts for this valuable plant. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the first complete chloroplast genome of S. pinguicula using Illumina sequencing technology. We conducted a comparative analysis of its chloroplast genome with related species and reconstructed phylogenetic relationships. The chloroplast genome of S. pinguicula exhibited a typical quadripartite structure with a length of 158,658 bp. A total of 123 genes, 118 simple sequence repeats, and 51 dispersed repetitive sequences were identified. The inverted repeat boundaries were significantly expanded, along with the pseudogenization and loss of multiple NDH genes. Codon usage bias is primarily influenced by natural selection and other factors, with the ycf3 gene under positive selection. Additionally, 10 hypervariable regions were detected for species identification and evolutionary studies. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Ponerorchis gracilis and Hemipilia yajiangensis form a clade, with S. pinguicula as their sister species, located at the basal position of the Ponerorchis-Hemipilia alliance. The chloroplast genome structure and gene content of S. pinguicula exhibit certain degrees of variation compared to other species within the Orchidinae subtribe. This genome should be useful for further investigations into the biology of Shizhenia and the development of biodiversity conservation strategies.

Niche Theory and Species Range Limits Along Elevational Gradients: Perspectives and Future Directions

Despite two centuries of research, the mechanisms underlying the formation of species’ elevational range limits remain poorly understood. The climatic variability hypothesis highlights the role of climatic conditions in shaping species’ thermal tolerance and distribution ranges, while the species interactions–abiotic stress hypothesis underscores the relative importance of biotic factors and abiotic stress along environmental gradients. We emphasize Darwin's perspective on the ubiquity of interspecific competition across climatic gradients and the importance of understanding how climate modulates biotic interactions to shape species distributions. Niche theory provides a comprehensive framework, combined with empirical research, to explore how environmental gradients influence species traits, leading to context-dependent species interactions that constrain distributions. In particular, the application of the concept of environmentally weighted performance can further elucidate these complex ecological mechanisms. Future research should integrate multiple approaches, including field and laboratory manipulative experiments, theoretical modeling, and interdisciplinary collaboration, to improve our understanding of species distributions in mountain regions and to inform biodiversity conservation strategies in the face of rapid environmental change.

Soil Properties Regulate Soil Microbial Communities During Forest Succession in a Karst Region of Southwest China.

Natural vegetation restoration has emerged as an effective and rapid approach for ecological restoration in fragile areas. However, the response of soil microorganisms to natural succession remains unclear. To address this, we utilized high-throughput sequencing methods to assess the dynamics of soil bacterial and fungal communities during forest succession (shrubland, secondary forest, and primary forest) in a karst region of Southwest China. Our study revealed that bacterial α-diversity was significantly higher in secondary forest compared to both shrubland and primary forest. Intriguingly, the soil bacterial community in primary forest exhibited a closer resemblance to that in shrubland yet diverged from the community in secondary forest. Conversely, the soil fungal community underwent notable variations across the different forest stages. Furthermore, analysis of the microbial co-occurrence network revealed that, within these karst forests, the relationships among soil fungi were characterized by fewer but stronger interactions compared to those among bacteria. Additionally, soil properties (including pH, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, moisture, and available potassium), soil microbial biomass (specifically phosphorus and nitrogen), and plant diversity were the drivers of soil bacterial community dynamics. Notably, soil pH accounted for the majority of the variations observed in the soil fungal community during karst forest succession. Our findings provide valuable insights that can inform the formulation of strategies for ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation in karst regions, particularly from a microbial perspective.

Phenological trends and associated climate drivers of a tree community in lowland dipterocarp forest, Western Ghats, India.

Understanding phenological responses of tropical forest plant communities is crucial for identifying climate-induced changes in ecosystem dynamics. Monitoring phenology across diverse species in natural habitats provides cost-effective insights for conserving both species and forests. We studied tree phenology in a lowland evergreen dipterocarp forest in the Western Ghats, India. About 719 tree individuals representing 95 species were monitored for their vegetative and reproductive phenology from April 2021 to September 2023. Circular statistics detected seasonality in phenological events and Generalized Linear Mixed Modelling (GLMM) identified influence of climate variables on the phenological responses of the tree community. We also assessed how the activity and intensity of phenophases vary over the study period. Our results showed that leaf flushing and flowering peaked during the dry season, with mass flowering observed in two dominant dipterocarps. Fruit production peaked before the monsoon. We also observed diversity in vegetative and reproductive phenodynamics across species groups (forest strata, sexual system, and seed size). Leaf flushing was positively correlated with maximum relative humidity and negatively correlated with maximum temperature and the number of rainy days. Flowering had negative correlations with maximum relative humidity, rainfall days, and maximum temperature but showed a positive correlation with minimum temperature. Fruiting was positively correlated with maximum temperature and negatively correlated with rainy days. This detailed phenological information provides critical knowledge on resource availability and insights into how climate and seasonal changes affect plant growth cycles thereby aiding reforestation and biodiversity conservation strategies in vulnerable forest areas.

Potential of Agroforestry Practices on Woody Species Diversity and Composition: Implication for Conservation of Indigenous Trees in Selected Districts of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Human activities such as expanding farmland, producing charcoal, and harvesting construction materials and fuel wood are major contributors to forest degradation and biodiversity loss in Northern Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess woody species' diversity, composition, and threat levels in different agroforestry practices to prioritize their conservation. As the result three potential Agroforestry practices were purposively identified and selected for the study. A total of 45 sample plots, 15 plots from each agroforestry practices such as Woodlot agroforestry (WLAF) (10m x 10m), Homegarden Agroforestry (HGAF) (20m x 10m), and Parkland agroforestry (PLAF) (50m x 100m). Data on woody species were analyzed using Past version 2.17c and SPSS version 20. The results identified 36, 26, and 21 woody plant species from 31, 23, and 19 genera, as well aswell as 22, 16, and 15 families in HGAF, PLAF, and WLAF, respectively. Significant differences (p &lt; 0.001) were found among the agroforestry practices in terms of tree density, species richness, species abundance, and Shannon diversity, though species evenness did not vary. The Importance Value Index (IVI) highlighted the top species in HGAF as A. etbaica (75.2), F. albida (33.1), and A. seyal (30.6). Species with low IVI values, such as B. polystachya (1.56), R. vulgaris (1.57), G. ferruginea (1.62), and C. aurantiifolia (0.90), require significant conservation efforts. In PLAF, the key species were F. albida (131.03), A. seyal (59.33), and C. africana (26.21). In WLAF, E. globulus (61.8), A. seyal (8.83), and C. edulis (31.4) were the most abundant, frequent, and dominant. Trees and shrubs in HGAF and WLAF had smaller stem diameters compared to those in PLAF. However, WLAF had greater tree height and basal area (BA, m²) than both HGAF and PLAF, with HGAF also showing a higher BA than PLAF (p ≤ 0.05). The study concluded that HGAF and PLAF are vital for sustaining local livelihoods, providing food, and conserving biodiversity. These agroforestry systems enhance natural forests and help prevent the extinction of woody species. Therefore, developing and enhancing HGAF, and PLAF in densely populated landscapes should be integral to biodiversity conservation strategies.

Habitat quality outweighs the human footprint in driving spatial patterns of Cetartiodactyla in the Kunlun-Pamir Plateau

The Human Footprint (HFP) and Habitat Quality (HQ) are critical factors influencing the species' distribution, yet their relation to biodiversity, particularly in mountainous regions, still remains inadequately understood. This study aims to identify the primary factor that affects the biodiversity by comparing the impact of the HFP and HQ on the species’ richness of Cetartiodactyla in the Kunlun-Pamir Plateau and four protected areas: The Pamir Plateau Wetland Nature Reserve, Taxkorgan Wildlife Nature Reserve, Middle Kunlun Nature Reserve and Arjinshan Nature Reserve through multi-source satellite remote sensing product data. By integrating satellite data with the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST)HQ model and utilizing residual and linear regression analysis, we found that: (1) The Wildness Area (WA) predominantly underwent a transition to a Highly Modified Area (HMA) and Intact Area (IA), with a notable 12.02% rise in stable regions, while 58.51% rather experienced a negligible decrease. (2) From 1985 to 2020, the Kunlun-Pamir Plateau has seen increases in the forestland, water, cropland and shrubland, alongside declines in bare land and grassland, denoting considerable land cover changes. (3) The HQ degradation was significant, with 79.81% of the area showing degradation compared to a 10.65% improvement, varying across the nature reserves. (4) The species richness of Cetartiodactyla was better explained by HQ than by HFP on the Kunlun-Pamir Plateau (52.99% vs. 47.01%), as well as in the Arjinshan Nature Reserve (81.57%) and Middle Kunlun Nature Reserve (56.41%). In contrast, HFP was more explanatory in the Pamir Plateau Wetland Nature Reserve (88.89%) and the Taxkorgan Wildlife Nature Reserve (54.55%). Prioritizing the restoration of degraded habitats areas of the Kunlun Pamir Plateau could enhance Cetartiodactyla species richness. These findings provide valuable insights for the biodiversity management and conservation strategies in the mountainous regions.

Megabenthic Diversity Patterns on a Seamount in the Philippine Sea: Implications for Conservation Planning on the Kyushu-Palau Ridge.

The oligotrophic tropical western Pacific region is characterized by a high density of seamounts, with the Kyushu-Palau Ridge (KPR) being the longest seamount chain here. Effective spatial management plans for seamount ecosystems necessitate an understanding of distribution patterns and key environmental factors influencing benthic communities. However, knowledge regarding deep-sea biodiversity patterns over intricate topography remains limited. In this study, we investigated a seamount with a water depth of 522 m at the summit located in the southern section of KPR. Survey transects were conducted from 522 m to 4059 m. By analyzing video-recorded data obtained by a human-occupied vehicle (HOV) during dives and environmental variables derived from bathymetry, distinct assemblages were identified through noise clustering. α- and β-diversity patterns within the seamount megabenthic community were analyzed across the depth gradient, along with investigation of their environmental drivers. A total of 10,596 megafauna individuals were documented, categorized into 88 morphospecies and statistically separated into six distinct community clusters using noise clustering analysis. Species abundance and richness were highest within the 700-800 m water depth range, declining notably beyond 2100 m, indicating a critical threshold for habitat classification in this region. The β-diversity of megabenthic communities was high (0.836). Although β-diversity patterns along the depth gradient were mostly dominated by differences in species richness, the contribution of species replacement increased with depth, becoming dominant at depths greater than 3000 m. Depth emerged as the primary driver of spatial variation in community structure, while near-bottom current velocity, topographic parameters (bathymetric position index, slope), and substrate type also influenced the formation of microhabitats. The study highlights the depth gradients, thresholds, and other intricate environmental factors shaping the spatial heterogeneity of these communities. It provides valuable insights for the future development of effective survey and conservation strategies for benthic biodiversity on the KPR.

Temporal dynamics of leaf area index and land surface temperature correlation using Sentinel-2 and Landsat OLI data

BackgroundUnderstanding the complex relationship between vegetation dynamics and land surface temperature (LST) is crucial for comprehending ecosystem functioning, climate change impacts, and sustainable land management. Hence, this study conducts a temporal analysis of leaf area index (LAI) and LST data derived from Sentinel-2 and Landsat Operational Land Imagery (OLI) in the Mille River Basin, a tropical region in Ethiopia. LAI data were generated using Sentinel-2 imagery processed with the Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP) toolbox, an open-access earth observation analysis tool, while Landsat OLI collection 2 level 2 data were utilized for precise LST retrieval. The Mann–Kendall test was used to detect trends in the time series data.ResultsThe trends in the mean LAI were statistically significant at P values of 0.05 and 0.10 for the annual and seasonal trends, respectively. The mean LST trends were insignificant throughout the study period except for the summer season, for which the P value was 0.07. The correlation between the LAI and LST was weak (R2 = 0.36) during the crop-growing seasons (summer and spring) but moderate in winter (R2 = 0.46) and autumn (R2 = 0.41).ConclusionThe findings of this research clarify the complex relationships between variations in surface temperature and vegetation growth patterns, providing insight into the environmental mechanisms driving the dynamics of localized ecosystems. The study underscores the implications of these findings for informed decision-making in sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation strategies.

Habitat Suitability Assessment for Two Burrowing Rodents on the Island of Lesvos: A Niche-Based Approach.

We conducted a habitat suitability assessment for two burrowing rodents, Anatolian or Nehring's blind mole rat (Nannospalax xanthodon) and Harting's vole (Microtus hartingi), on the island of Lesvos using a niche-based approach. We collected data on the presence of the two species across the island and selected several environmental variables, including land cover, geology, and habitat topography, to assess their influence on habitat suitability. We used the Maxent species distribution modelling algorithm to predict suitable habitats. The results showed that both species preferred habitats with low slopes and specific geological substrates, i.e., alluvial deposits and volcanic rocks. M. hartingi showed a preference for open habitats such as saltmarshes and non-irrigated arable land, while N. xanthodon preferred non-irrigated arable land, pastures, and discontinuous urban fabric. The model predicted a wider area of suitable habitats for Microtus hartingi compared to N. xanthodon. Interestingly, the two species are absent from the southeastern part of the island despite our model predicting high suitability; this indicates that a natural barrier of hilly terrain, extensive pine forests, and limestone rock formations may exist that impedes dispersal. Our study provides valuable insights into the habitat preferences of these two burrowing rodents on the island of Lesvos, which can inform biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management strategies.

The interface between research funding and environmental policies in an emergent economy using neural topic modeling: Proposals for a research agenda

AbstractResearchers have been calling for further analysis of the relationships between academia and policy making. Since several studies are conducted with resources from public funding agencies, it is essential to assess whether governments have been supporting research that can contribute to future environmental policies and whether research has been supporting the elaboration of public policies. To fill these gaps, the objective of this study was to evaluate the similarities and gaps between research and environmental policies. A bibliometric analysis of studies funded by Chilean agencies and text analytics techniques were employed to analyze research and environmental policies. We used BERTopic, a topic modeling technique that generates coherent topic representations. Then, topics obtained from the two sets of documents (research and policies) were compared. This study found that sustainability, life‐cycle assessment, climate change, and ecosystem services are central research themes in the country. The topic modeling analysis showed that research has been concentrated on the areas of “Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Management” and “Sustainable Bioenergy Production and Chemical Processes.” The topics most frequently present in the environmental policies were “Environmental Education for Children: Awareness and Care,” “Bird Conservation and Habitat Importance in Chile,” and “National Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Strategy.” The greatest gaps are observed in the clusters of “Sustainable Bioenergy Production and Chemical Processes” and “Copper Mining and Mineral Processing Techniques” (prevalent in research) and in “Anatomy and Physiology of Aquatic and Terrestrial Organisms” and “Biogeography and Taxonomy of Southern Hemisphere Insects” (prevalent in policy).

Multiple habitat graphs: how connectivity brings forth landscape ecological processes

PurposeHabitat connectivity is integral to current biodiversity science and conservation strategies. Originally, the connectivity concept stressed the role of individual movements for landscape-scale processes. Connectivity determines whether populations can survive in sub-optimal patches (i.e., source-sink effects), complete life cycles relying on different habitat types (i.e., landscape complementation), and benefit from supplementary resources distributed over the landscape (i.e., landscape supplementation). Although the past decades have witnessed major improvements in habitat connectivity modeling, most approaches have yet to consider the multiplicity of habitat types that a species can benefit from. Without doing so, connectivity analyses potentially fail to meet one of their fundamental purposes: revealing how complex individual movements lead to landscape-scale ecological processes.MethodsTo bridge this conceptual and methodological gap, we propose to include multiple habitat types in spatial graph models of habitat connectivity, where nodes traditionally represent a single habitat type. Multiple habitat graphs will improve how we model connectivity and related landscape ecological processes, and how they are impacted by land cover changes.ResultsIn three case studies, we use these graphs to model (i) source-sink effects, (ii) landscape supplementation, and (iii) complementation processes, in urban ecosystems, agricultural landscapes, and amphibian habitat networks, respectively. A new version of the Graphab open-source software implements the proposed approach.ConclusionMultiple habitat graphs help address crucial conservation challenges (e.g., urban sprawl, biological control, climate change) by representing more accurately the dynamics of populations, communities, and their interactions. Our approach thereby extends the ecologist’s toolbox and aims at fostering the alignment between landscape ecology theory and practice.

Weed Role for Pollinator in the Agroecosystem: Plant-Insect Interactions and Agronomic Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation.

The growing interest in safeguarding agroecosystem biodiversity has led to interest in studying ecological interactions among the various organisms present within the agroecosystem. Indeed, mutualisms between weeds and pollinators are of crucial importance as they influence the respective survival dynamics. In this review, the mutualistic role of flower visitors and the possible (often predominant) abiotic alternatives to insect pollination (self- and wind-pollination) are investigated. Mutualistic relations are discussed in terms of reward (pollen and/or nectar) and attractiveness (color, shape, scent, nectar quality and quantity), analyzing whether and to what extent typical weeds are linked to pollinators by rigid (specialization) or flexible (generalization) mutualistic relations. The entomofauna involved is composed mainly of solitary and social bees, bumblebees, Diptera, and Lepidoptera. While some of these pollinators are polylectic, others are oligolectic, depending on the shape of their mouthparts, which can be suited to explore the flower corollas as function of their depths. Consequently, the persistence dynamics of weed species show more successful survival in plants that are basically (occasional insect pollination) or totally (self and/or wind pollination) unspecialized in mutualistic relations. However, even weed species with typical abiotic pollination are at times visited during periods such as late summer, in which plants with more abundant rewards are insufficiently present or completely absent. Many typically insect-pollinated weeds can represent a valid indicator of the ecological sustainability of crop management techniques, as their survival dynamics are closely dependent on the biodiversity of the surrounding entomofauna. In particular, the presence of plant communities of species pollinated above all by butterflies (e.g., several Caryophyllaceae) gives evidence to the ecological compatibility of the previous agronomic management, in the sense that butterflies require certain weed species for oviposition and subsequent larva rearing and, therefore, provide further evidence of plant biodiversity in the environment.

Growing gardens into neighborhoods through transdisciplinary research

The increasing densification of urban spaces can negatively impact biodiversity in the city, but the diversity of green spaces also offers new opportunities to implement biodiversity conservation interventions. Urban community gardens are social-ecological systems that support biodiversity, ecosystem services, and positive human-nature interactions. In turn, community gardens can provide ideal “real-world labs” to co-create, test, and collectively implement biodiversity conservation strategies with gardeners that can be transferred to and mainstreamed across other urban ecosystems. This is important because the impact of biodiversity-friendly gardening strategies is not yet systematically researched, nor how this knowledge can be transferred to other urban ecosystems. In our transdisciplinary research, we are developing, implementing, and testing biodiversity conservation interventions focused on promoting insect diversity with gardeners and neighborhood residents from Berlin and Munich, Germany. Our aim is to engage with and support city residents in biodiversity-based urban greening. To do so, we work at the nexus between civil society (gardeners, neighborhood residents, ecologically oriented organizations) and relevant city actors (city council, district committees, city administration) to anchor the participation of civil society in the ecological transformation of the city. In this communication article, we present our transdisciplinary research concept, participatory methods, and experience thus far in translating research to practice, and supporting the role of city residents to implement biodiversity interventions in their gardens and in their neighborhoods.

SOIL CONSERVATION STRATEGIES FOR THE REDUCTION OF BIODIVERSITY IN MOUNTAIN SOILS: EXAMPLE OF ULUDAĞ NATIONAL PARK

Uludag National Park in Turkey is famous for its rich biodiversity. The park serves as an essential habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna and contributes significantly to the conservation of various species. This study examines biodiversity conservation strategies in Uludağ National Park. Soil samples were taken from 17 locations near the summit where endangered endemic plants grow. Analyses of the soil samples reveal the relationships between elevation and soil texture components. According to the soil analysis results, there was a weak positive correlation between elevation and silt content (r = 0.414) and a weak negative correlation between elevation and sand content (r = -0.375). These findings indicate that silt content tends to increase and sand content tends to decrease with increasing elevation. The geomorphological features and soil structure of Uludağ National Park were also an essential part of the research. The region's metamorphic mica schists, granites and marbles affect the soil's physical properties. For example, soils are generally sandy and permeable in areas where granite parent material is present. In contrast, areas where mica-schist parent material is distributed are less resistant and more susceptible to erosion. As a result, effective soil conservation strategies must be implemented to protect biodiversity in Uludağ National Park. These strategies are essential to reduce soil erosion, increase organic matter accumulation and minimise the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, community participation and adaptive management strategies must be adopted for sustainable development and resource management. This study provides essential information for biodiversity conservation in the Uludağ region and contributes to developing conservation strategies.

An evaluation of ‘pollinator-friendly’ wildflower seed mixes in Italy: are they potential vectors of alien plant species?

Wildflower areas are increasingly used in both urban and rural settings to enhance landscape aesthetics and help the conservation of pollinators, whose dramatic decline threatens both ecosystem functioning and agricultural production. Consequently, today many ‘pollinator-friendly’ wildflower seed mixes can be found on the market. Criteria for the design of these mixes are focused on the ability of the plants to attract pollinators, whereas the identity of the plants themselves in terms of their alien or native status is often not adequately considered. Moreover, seed mixes often lack sufficient floral resources in the early spring and late-season months, which are important to sustain pollinators throughout their whole life cycle. In this study, we analyzed 36 ‘pollinator-friendly’ wildflower seed mixes commercially available in Italy in terms of (1) the abundance of native and alien species, (2) the occurrence of locally alien species with reference to three Italian geographic areas (northern, peninsular, and insular Italy), and (3) the flowering period of native and alien species. Most (83%) of the analyzed seed mixes contain species alien to Italy, with three of them also including invasive alien species. Among native species, many (41%) are locally alien to at least one of the geographic areas. Overall, native species provide earlier blooms than alien species and around 35% of the seed mixes lack blooms in early-spring (March) or prolonged throughout autumn (September-November). These findings highlight the widespread use of alien plant species in ‘pollinator-friendly’ wildflower mixes, which poses serious risks for biodiversity and habitat conservation, especially when sown in agricultural areas. We suggest a more careful design and use of such wildflower mixes, promoting a wider adoption of native seeds of local origin and a greater attention to the blooming period. If properly designed, wildflower mixes can represent an effective strategy for biodiversity conservation in both urban and rural areas.