Systematic Monitoring Program Research Articles

Effect of quality control program on surgical management in advanced ovarian cancer.

We investigated the effect of our quality control (QC) program on the management strategy, completeness of the surgery, and clinical outcomes in advanced ovarian cancer. A retrospective review of medical records from January 2005 to December 2019 identified 129 patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Cases were categorized into group 1 (2005-2013) and group 2 (2014-2019) before and after implementation of the QC program. Comparisons included clinicopathological variables, operative details, recurrence and survival outcomes. In Group 2 (n=44), after QC program implementation, primary debulking surgery (PDS) decreased (87.1% vs. 63.6%) and interval debulking surgery (IDS) increased (12.9% vs. 36.4%), indicating a shift in surgical strategy. Optimal resection rates improved significantly for PDS in group 2 (50.0% to 75.0%, p=0.007) and remained high for IDS in both groups (81.8% vs. 81.3%, p>0.999). Post-QC, advanced debulking procedures and co-operation with other departments increased in the IDS (p<0.05). Intra/post-operative complication rates were statistically comparable (p>0.05), whereas postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in group 2 (17 days vs. 22 days, p=0.001). Median recurrence-free survival increased after QC, although not statistically significant (19.18 months vs. 25.38 months, p=0.855). With QC program, treatment strategies and clinical outcomes were significantly improved in advanced ovarian cancer. Systematic QC monitoring program should be considered as routine surveillance for better surgical outcomes.

River plastic transport and storage budget

Rivers are one of the main conduits that deliver plastic from land into the sea, and also act as reservoirs for plastic retention. Yet, our understanding of the extent of river exposure to plastic pollution remains limited. In particular, there has been no comprehensive quantification of the contributions from different river compartments, such as the water surface, water column, riverbank and floodplain to the overall river plastic transport and storage. This study aims to provide an initial quantification of these contributions. We first identified the main relevant transport processes for each river compartment considered. We then estimated the transport and storage terms, by harmonizing available observations on surface, suspended and floodplain plastic. We applied our approach to two river sections in The Netherlands, with a focus on macroplastics (≥2.5 cm). Our analysis revealed that for the studied river sections, suspended plastics account for over 96% of item transport within the river channel, while their relative contribution to mass transport is only 30%–37% (depending on the river section considered). Surface plastics predominantly consisted of heavier items (mean mass: 7.1 g/#), whereas suspended plastics were dominated by lighter fragments (mean mass: 0.1 g/#). Additionally, the majority (98%) of plastic mass was stored within the floodplains, with the river channel accounting for only 2% of the total storage. Our study developed a harmonized approach for quantifying plastic transport and storage across different river compartments, providing a replicable methodology applicable to different regions. Our findings emphasize the importance of systematic monitoring programs across river compartments for comprehensive insights into riverine plastic pollution.

Systematic hydroxychloroquine retinopathy monitoring programme: cost benefit comparing to a hospital-based system.

Systematic hydroxychloroquine retinopathy monitoring programme: cost benefit comparing to a hospital-based system.

Community-based monitoring reveals low anthropogenic pressure on a game vertebrate population in a sustainable-use Amazonian protected area

SummaryBiodiversity systematic monitoring programmes have been expanding across the globe, especially in protected areas (PAs). Amongst sustainable-use PAs, medium- to large-sized mammals and birds comprise crucial groups to monitor, given their importance to forest functionality and subsistence for local residents. Here, we used 6 years of community-based monitoring data from a sustainable-use PA in the Brazilian Amazonia (Tapajós–Arapiuns Extractive Reserve) to examine the influence of anthropogenic stressors and time on the density and biomass of forest mammal and bird game species. We further assessed trends in population density of target groups over the period. A total of 1915 km of line-transect surveys were completed by trained local monitors along eight established transects, providing data from 12 medium-sized and five large-sized game genera. Generalized linear mixed models of all medium-sized species, all large species and four individual taxa (Tinamidae, Dasyproctidae, primates and Cervidae) showed that some species (e.g., Dasyprocta croconota) exhibited great density, whereas others (e.g., Tapirus terrestris and Tayassu pecari) were rarely detected. Anthropogenic variables did not affect the density and biomass of the overall medium-sized and large vertebrates. Dasyproctidae, Tinamidae and primates were the only taxa influenced by anthropogenic stressors, with negative influence occurring only for Tinamidae. Moreover, density of groups and taxa remained stable throughout the period in the Reserve, although the frequency of some species may indicate past population losses. Continuation of this monitoring programme is required to improve understanding of population fluctuations, but over the 6 years studied, game population density and biomass were not linked to anthropogenic stressors.

The ACCOBAMS survey initiative: the first synoptic assessment of cetacean abundance in the Mediterranean Sea through aerial surveys

The “ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative” (ASI) is a pilot programme aimed at establishing an integrated and coordinated monitoring system for cetaceans across the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic (hereafter “ACCOBAMS”) area. Conducted in coordination with Mediterranean coastal countries, it supports the implementation of European and regional policies, in particular the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Ecosystem Approach process. In summer 2018, a synoptic survey was conducted across the Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area, combining visual monitoring from aircrafts with visual and passive acoustic monitoring from vessels. Species density and abundance were estimated through design-based approach in a line-transect sampling framework. Based on data arising from the aerial survey only, uncorrected design-based abundance was obtained for striped (N=426,744, CV=0.13), common (N=65,359, CV=0.4), bottlenose (N=63,333, CV=0.17), and Risso´s dolphins (N=26,006, CV=0.3), Cuvier’s beaked whales (N=2,929, CV=0.4) and long-finned pilot whales (N=5,540 CV=0.4). A merged category of either striped or common dolphins resulted in 212,828 individuals (CV=0.26). Fin whales abundance of 1,749 animals (CV=0.3) was corrected for both availability and perception biases and resulted in 3,282 (CV=0.31). The ASI survey offers an overall picture of the distribution and abundance of cetaceans throughout the Mediterranean basin, providing robust estimates to be considered as a baseline for future regional systematic monitoring programmes. The ASI survey is the first step towards establishing a long-term monitoring program across the entire ACCOBAMS area, and, as such, it sets the basis for further future basin-wide monitoring efforts using systematic, shared, coordinated and comparable methods. The information gathered will further enhance knowledge on cetacean status, facilitating the development of informed conservation and mitigation measures, as well as supporting the implementation of international obligations. Furthermore, the outcomes of this survey will support both place- and threat-based conservation efforts in the ACCOBAMS area, through the identification of Important Marine Mammal Areas and Cetacean Critical Habitats. Here the results of the ASI survey are presented and discussed alongside proposed management and conservation actions aimed at ensuring the persistence of cetacean populations in the region.

Assessing radioactivity in soil in the vicinity of steel production industries: a pioneering investigation in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT The steel production process results in the emission of naturally occurring radioactive and toxic heavy metals, which are inherent in the raw materials employed as the initial components. To assess the public exposure through atmospheric dispersions of such radiotoxic metals originating from the production plants and the disposal of associated wastes in nearby landfills, a pioneering study was conducted to assess the radioactivity in forty-four soil samples collected from the environs of sixteen different steel mills in the megacity of Dhaka, Bangladesh, using high-purity germanium (HPGe) γ-ray spectrometry. The results indicated activity ranges of 6 ± 1 to 37 ± 3 Bq/kg, 6 ± 1 to 45 ± 4 Bq/kg, and 101 ± 9 to 470 ± 45 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, respectively, in the soil samples. Radiological hazard parameters were assessed, and none surpassed the recommended limits set by various international organisations. These results underscore that soil samples obtained from the vicinity of the steel mills do not present an immediate and significant risk to the local community in terms of radiation hazards. Nevertheless, given the observed physical alterations in the soil samples, likely resulting from chemical reactions with pollutants released from the steel mills, it is advisable to refrain from using the examined soil samples for agricultural or construction purposes. This study aims to establish a foundational dataset, serving as a crucial reference for the upcoming commissioning of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in the fiscal year 2024–25. This study advocates for the adoption of a systematic and regular monitoring programme to assess radiation levels in the vicinity of steel production industries across the country.

Butterfly community composition within a tropical urban landscape is influenced by habitat type and temperature

Abstract The specific factors that influence spatial community or population dynamics are often elusive, and even less known is the impact of tropical urban landscapes on diverse species community assemblages. To address this knowledge gap, we used a survey data set with 510 fruit‐feeding butterflies comprising 20 species across two heterogeneous habitats within a city in Nigeria. Next, we constructed generalised linear mixed models to understand the differential responses of the butterfly community to changes in environmental conditions across habitats. Butterfly species community assemblages significantly differed between the two urban habitats, with butterfly species significantly higher in the savannah woodland compared with the gallery forest due to the optimal daily temperatures of the savannah woodland. However, butterfly richness was lower in the gallery forest due to extreme environmental conditions. This study highlights that butterfly community changes in tropical urban landscapes are possibly responding to local microclimates and spatial heterogeneity across habitats. For evidence‐based conservation management of tropical butterfly biodiversity, there would be need for a long‐term, extensive and systematic insect monitoring programme for butterflies across disturbed and undisturbed fragmented habitats harbouring diverse insect species.

Automated Messaging Program to Facilitate Systematic Home Blood Pressure Monitoring: Qualitative Analysis of Provider Interviews.

Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular and kidney disease in the United States, yet blood pressure (BP) control at a population level is poor and worsening. Systematic home BP monitoring (HBPM) programs can lower BP, but programs supporting HBPM are not routinely used. The MyBP program deploys automated bidirectional text messaging for HBPM and disease self-management support. We aim to produce a qualitative analysis of input from providers and staff regarding implementation of an innovative HBPM program in primary care practices. Semistructured interviews (average length 31 minutes) were conducted with physicians (n=11), nurses, and medical assistants (n=6) from primary care settings. The interview assessed multiple constructs in the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains of intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, and characteristics of individuals. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive coding to organize meaningful excerpts and identify salient themes, followed by mapping to the updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research constructs. Health care providers reported that MyBP has good ease of use and was likely to engage patients in managing their high BP. They also felt that it would directly support systematic BP monitoring and habit formation in the convenience of the patient's home. This could increase health literacy and generate concrete feedback to raise the day-to-day salience of BP control. Providers expressed concern that the cost of BP devices remains an encumbrance. Some patients were felt to have overriding social or emotional barriers, or lack the needed technical skills to interact with the program, use good measurement technique, and input readings accurately. With respect to effects on their medical practice, providers felt MyBP would improve the accuracy and frequency of HBPM data, and thereby improve diagnosis and treatment management. The program may positively affect the patient-provider relationship by increasing rapport and bidirectional accountability. Providers appreciated receiving aggregated HBPM data to increase their own efficiency but also expressed concern about timely routing of incoming HBPM reports, lack of true integration with the electronic health record, and the need for a dedicated and trained staff member. In this qualitative analysis, health care providers perceived strong relative advantages of using MyBP to support patients. The identified barriers suggest the need for corrective implementation strategies to support providers in adopting the program into routine primary care practice, such as integration into the workflow and provider education. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03650166; https://tinyurl.com/bduwn6r4.

Impacts of livestock grazing on blue‐eared pheasants (Crossoptilon auritum) survival in subalpine forests of Southwest China

AbstractThe degradation and fragmentation of natural habitats, driven largely by anthropogenic activities such as grazing, represent growing concerns in environmental conservation. We examined the impact of grazing activities on the survival of the blue‐eared pheasant Crossoptilon auritum, a ground‐nesting bird endemic to subalpine forests. Using camera‐trapping and artificial nest experiments, we compared two sites in Sichuan, China: Wanglang (high grazing intensity) and Jiuzhaigou (no grazing) national nature reserves. The study, conducted from 2017 to 2021, evaluated habitat suitability changes for these pheasants and examined the impact of grazing on nesting success by conducting a nest predation experiment. The results of our study showed that (1) since the significant increase of free‐ranging livestock post‐2014, the area of most suitable and moderately suitable habitats for blue‐eared pheasants in Wanglang decreased by 14.28% (net loss 15.12 km2); (2) predominant natural predators of the pheasant, such as yellow‐throated martens (Martes flavigula) and leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis), were mostly observed to be spatially distant from livestock; (3) the pheasant's nesting failure rate was 2.18 times higher in Wanglang than in Jiuzhaigou; (4) high‐intensity livestock disturbance correlated with decreased food resources for pheasants, yet resulted in an increased abundance of Coleopteran insects. These results illustrate a complex dynamic: Although forest pheasants, such as the blue‐eared pheasant, may initially benefit from the presence of livestock through increased predator refuge and access to specific food resources, they ultimately face greater risks. These include a significant increase in nest failure rates and remarkable habitat loss and degradation. In light of these results, we advocate for strict control and management of grazing activities inside reserves. Additionally, we recommend the implementation of a systematic monitoring program that focuses on the population dynamics and habitat use of endangered pheasants in Southwest China.

Modelling the current status of Lake Malawi fish stocks, an inland lake in East Africa

Abstract Inland rift valley lake systems have been sustaining humanity for a long time. Only recently have commercial fisheries entered these systems and for Lake Malawi, this occurred in the mid-1970s upon successful experimental trawl fishing. Lake Malawi with the highest diversity of freshwater fishes in the world has had fisheries for centuries. Previous assessment of the impact of commercial trawl fisheries revealed significant changes in stock composition and overall biomass. The study evaluates the state of fisheries resources using novel techniques developed using integrated assessment methods amenable to data poor fisheries. Data from biomass assessment surveys and landed catch from 2016 to 2019 were examined to determine the status of selected fish stocks over time. Stock Synthesis for Data Limited tools in R environment were used to run the models. The Surplus Production Models and Statistical catch-at-age models that were used to examine alternative hypotheses on life history parameters on the key stocks exploited primarily by the commercial trawl fishery and evaluate long-term trends on these populations. The study results revealed that Mcheni (Rhamphochromis spp.), Ndunduma (Diplotaxodon limnothrissa) and Utaka (Copadichromis virginalis) stocks are within the sustainable limits, while Chambo (Oreochromis karongae), Chisawasawa (Lethrinops gossei), Mlamba (Bathyclarias nyasensis) and Kampango (Bagrus meridionalis) appear to be overfished in recent years, though Kampango may have recovered recently. Given, the large uncertainties with productivity of most tropical fishes with climate change, as well as large uncertainties due to inaccurate and untimely data submissions, it is recommended that a systematic monitoring and evaluation program, like the one being conducted in Lake Malawi should be developed for other inland lake systems. If stocks are facing overfishing by both the small-scale and commercial trawl fisheries, limits to overall catch and size should be implemented possibly through output controls such that the fisheries remain sustainable for the long term.

Human health risk assessment of trace elements in PM10 for industrial areas in Gujarat

Introduction: The present study examines human exposure to Particulate Matter (PM10) and analyses potential health concerns in the industrial zones of Ankleshwar and Vapi in Gujarat.&#x0D; Materials and methods: For Ankleshwar and Vapi, 120 samples were collected, and characterisation was carried out to determine the concentration of NO3, SO4, NH3, K-S, Na, EC, OC, Al, Si, Fe, K, Ti, Ni, Br, Ca, Cl, Mn, Pb, Cr, Zn, S, V, and Cu in PM10 mass. The health risk from exposure to different trace elements, including both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic, is evaluated for three distinct paths of ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact.&#x0D; Results: The Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) values for Cr and Pb for the ingestion pathway and the carcinogenic risks for Cr, Ni, and Pb for the inhalation pathway are both found to be higher than the minimal permissible threshold (1×10−6) for both children and adults for Ankleshwar and Vapi. However, for Ankleshwar and Vapi, the carcinogenic risks from dermal exposure to Cr and Pb are found to be lower than the permissible limit for both adults and children. It is observed that non-carcinogenic Hazard Index (HI) values for the skin contact and ingestion routes are less than 1 for both children and adults for Ankleshwar and Vapi. While the HI value for the inhalation pathway is found to be larger than the tolerable limit of 1 for both adults and children.&#x0D; Conclusion: For the purpose of creating sustainable cities and improving the health of the urban population, this study will provide a fundamental basis and help the governing authorities design mandatory pollution prevention and control methods, restoration plans, and systematic monitoring programmes.

Video-Monitoring Tools for Assessing Beach Morphodynamics in Tidal Beaches

Beach behaviour and evolution are controlled by a large number of factors, being susceptible to human-derived pressures and the impacts of climate change. In order to understand beach behaviour at different scales, systematic monitoring programs that assess shoreline and volumetric changes are required. Video-monitoring systems are widely used in this regard, as they are cost-effective and acquire data automatically and continuously, even in bad weather conditions. This work presents a methodology to use the basic products of low-cost IP video cameras to identify both the cross-shore and long-shore variability of tidal beaches. Shorelines were automatically obtained, digital elevation models (DEMs) were generated and validated with real data, and the outputs were combined to analyse beach behaviour from a morphodynamic perspective. The proposed methodology was applied to La Victoria Beach (SW Spain) for the analysis of beach variations over a 5-year period. The combination of shoreline position analysis and data from DEMs facilitates understanding and provides a complete overview of beach behaviour, revealing alongshore differences in an apparently homogeneous beach. Furthermore, the methods used allowed us to inter-relate the different processes occurring on the beach, which is difficult to achieve with other types of techniques.

Long‐term dynamics of wild primate populations across forests with contrasting protection in Tanzania

AbstractAnthropogenic activities driving tropical forests' loss imperil global biodiversity and provision of ecosystem services. In this context, systematic monitoring programs evaluating wildlife trends are essential. Non‐human primates are relevant conservation targets since they represent vital components of tropical forests by serving as pollinators and seed dispersers. Here, we present primate group counts data collected over 19 years in a primate hotspot in Tanzania. We analyzed data with a hierarchical dynamic model accounting for imperfect detection that estimates local group abundance and temporal rates of change, to assess whether habitat protection explained trends of the arboreal and diurnal Peters' Angola colobus (Colobus angolensis palliatus), Udzungwa red colobus (Piliocolobus gordonorum), and Tanzania Sykes' monkey (Cercopithecus mitis subsp. moloneyi). We targeted populations occurring in two forest blocks with contrasting protection regimes, with one block impacted by targeted poaching of the two Colobus species. We found that these latter species were much less abundant in the more human impacted forest, underwent a rapid decline, and subsequently remained at low abundance and without signs of recovery once this forest was granted greater protection. Instead, Sykes' abundance did not differ between forests, and improved protection was associated with a slight increase in abundance. Age class composition for social groups of both Colobus species differed between forests, indicating altered births and survivorship rates in the impacted forest. Results suggest that targeted hunting can prevent recovery for several years and even after increased habitat protection. Our approach appears valuable to monitor population dynamics over the long term, highlighting species‐specific variations in both vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbance and recovery patterns in primate populations.

Study of land subsidence by radar interferometry and hot spot analysis techniques in the Peshawar Basin, Pakistan

Land subsidence caused by anthropogenic activities is frequently reported in many megacities worldwide, affecting over 500 million residents. For the first time, this work is reporting substantial ground subsidence in the fifth largest city of Pakistan. Observation of surface deformation using the Small Baseline Subset (SBAS), Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technique on Sentinel-1A datasets from 2015 to 2019 show subsidence up to 3.23 cm. Geologically, this region is going through active deformation associated with Himalayan orogeny. From August 1973 till December 2018, around ten thousand low- to moderate-magnitude earthquakes are reported.We used the emerging hot spot analysis on InSAR and earthquake data to assess the role of seismicity on subsidence. Four variables were analyzed; ground displacement measured by InSAR, earthquake count, earthquake depth, and earthquake magnitude. Analysis of InSAR data indicates that the vast majority of the area is subsiding. This investigation also reveals that earthquake activity near Peshawar is decreasing. In contrast, the earthquake activity is unstable but high in the direction of Tarbela Dam, which is the world's largest earth-filled dam.No systematic groundwater monitoring program has been implemented, and limited published data suggest that the water demand quadrupled in the last decade. A decline in the water table is also reported. Optimized hot spot analysis of water pumping data for 2017 shows a few isolated mild hot spots in the urban center. Excessive groundwater demand and Land-use change from agriculture to urban may have played a significant role in land subsidence in this region.

Applying a versatile, comprehensive, attribute-based waterhole classification scheme to ecosystem-based management challenges

Context Understanding habitat suitability for feral animals across a landscape is important for conservation planning because the spatial and temporal availability of water provides critical limits to native biodiversity and the processes that threaten it. Previous attempts to support management actions on feral pig populations through predictions of population abundance, distribution and seasonal resource constraints have been confounded by a lack of knowledge, classification and mapping of waterholes – which are critical to their survival. Aims In this paper, we aimed to apply a waterhole classification scheme for feral pig management to address gaps in our understanding of water and food availability through space and time, at scales relevant to feral animal movement and resource use. Methods We utilise an attribute-based waterhole classification scheme for ecosystem-based management by defining a waterhole typology of feral pig habitat suitability and applying it spatially. Key results Five attributes (water permanence, predictability of inundation, oceanic influence, dominant vegetation and shading) reflect many of the critical requirements for feral pig habitat in northern Australia. The attributes directly relate to the environmental constraints that exert population and behavioural pressure on feral pigs. These attributes were applied spatially in a specific hierarchy to group waterholes into 21 types. Conclusions A waterhole typology that characterises within the context of their suitability for feral pig populations is foundational for systematic adaptive management and monitoring programs that aim to reduce the impact of threatening processes on freshwater ecosystems. Implications Refining the mapping of important feral pig habitat variables (water and food) will greatly improve modelling approaches that aim to support data-driven management approaches, such as connectivity analysis and estimating population dynamics to inform culling programs. Here we demonstrate a significant increase in overlap with known feral pig distributions using a much smaller mapped effective management area when compared with previous best available spatial products.

A 16th century artificial reservoir under human pressure: water quality variability assessment in Laguna de Yuriria, central Mexico

This study assesses the variability of physicochemical and biochemical parameters, identifies principal pollutant sources, and characterizes water quality in Yuriria reservoir using water quality indexes in combination with multivariate statistical techniques. In situ parameters were measured in 55 reservoir sites including surface and deep points and in 7 associated channels. Moreover, major compounds and biochemical data were determined. Yuriria reservoir had alkaline, bicarbonate-mixed waters, with total dissolved solids (TDS) of 393.83 ± 3.43mg L-1. Water quality index (WQI) indicated a good class for agricultural irrigation but very poor and poor classes for preservation of aquatic life. The nutrient inputs and the internal nitrogen recycling triggered a hypereutrophic status in the reservoir. The decomposition of residual biomass from aquatic macrophytes contributed to reduce dissolved oxygen (DO) in the hypolimnetic waters (mean DO = 3.86mg L-1). Statistical analysis revealed that the study area is highly exposed to anthropogenic stress and in a lesser extent to natural processes. Urban and agriculture runoff enhanced the salinization and the generation of solid particles which deteriorated water quality. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and NO3--N presented a common anthropogenic origin by external (point and diffuse) and internal pollution sources, while a diffuse source (agricultural activities) was reveled for phosphorus. This study is important to be used in systematic monitoring and sustainable co-management programs and for formulating the necessary strategies to remediate the Yuriria reservoir water quality and extrapolate to other reservoirs worldwide.

Temporal analysis of GBIF data reveals the restructuring of communities following climate change.

Multiple studies revealed an effect of climate change on biodiversity by investigating long-term changes in species distributions and community composition. However, many taxa do not benefit from systematic long-term monitoring programmes, leaving gaps in our current knowledge of climate-induced community turnover. We used data extracted from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to characterize community reorganization under climate change for nine animal taxonomic groups (ants, bats, bees, birds, butterflies, earthworms, frogs, rodents and salamanders), which, for most of them, had never been studied before in this regard. Using a presence-only community temperature index (CTI), reflecting the relative proportion of warm- and cold-adapted species, we tested whether and how species' assemblages were affected by climate change over the last 30 years. Across Europe and North America, we observed an average increase in CTI, consistent with a gradual species turnover driven by climate change. At the local scale, we could observe that the composition of most species assemblages changed according to temperature variations. However, this change in composition always occurred with a lag compared to climate change, suggesting that communities are experiencing a climatic debt. Results suggest that anthropization may play a role in the decoupling between the change in CTI and the change in local temperature. The results of our study highlight an overall thermophilization of assemblages as a response of temperature warming. We demonstrated that this response may exist for a large range of understudied terrestrial animals, and we introduced a framework that can be used in a broader context, opening new opportunities for global change research.

Biodiversity monitoring informs forest management in south-west Western Australia: Ten-year findings of Forestcheck

Long-term monitoring is an important element of ecologically sustainable forest management and provides the foundation for adaptive management under conditions of uncertainty and change. Management of the jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest in south-west Western Australia is supported by an integrated monitoring program (Forestcheck) established to inform forest managers about trends in key elements of biodiversity associated with management activities. Forty-eight monitoring grids were established across four jarrah forest ecosystems following timber harvesting and silvicultural treatment, as well as in nearby forest that was unharvested or harvested >40 years previously. Biota monitored includes terrestrial vertebrates (mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians), vascular plants, epigeous macrofungi, cryptogams (lichens, mosses, and liverworts) and macro-invertebrates. Initial findings from a first round of monitoring between 2001 and 2006 were published previously. Here we report on a second round of monitoring undertaken between 2007 and 2012 and compare findings with the previous round for taxonomic richness, community structure, and response to silvicultural treatment and time since fire. We tested two hypotheses for each of the groups studied: (1) that silvicultural treatment or (2) time since fire had no effect on (a) richness or (b) assemblage composition.A total of 3787 taxa were recorded. Dominant factors influencing total species richness and composition were forest ecosystem type, time of monitoring, time since harvesting and time since fire. Silvicultural treatment had no significant effect on mean richness of invertebrates, macrofungi, vascular plants and birds for either monitoring period but cryptogam richness was higher in unharvested forest and species richness of terrestrial vertebrate fauna was higher in harvested forest. Time since harvest had a significant influence on all species assemblages except terrestrial vertebrates but over time effects were ameliorated other than for cryptogams and birds. Time since fire had no effect on taxonomic richness for any of the groups examined, but significant differences in assemblage composition were detected between three categories of time since fire for all the groups except terrestrial vertebrates.Knowledge of the distribution of individual organisms and the composition of taxon assemblages in jarrah forest has been significantly improved as a result of monitoring, particularly for invertebrates, macrofungi and cryptogams. Some taxa across all groups were only recorded in forest subject to specific management including unharvested reference forest and forest subject to different intensities of timber harvesting, demonstrating that disturbance associated with timber harvesting and post-harvest burning can create conditions favourable for some organisms that are otherwise encountered rarely in mature forest.These results demonstrate the critical role of well-designed, systematic and multi-taxon ecological monitoring programs for evaluating biological responses to often contentious forest management practices.

Coastal sharks and rays in the Northeastern Atlantic: From an urgent call to collect more data to the declaration of a marine corridor

Globally, elasmobranchs have suffered severe population declines and are, therefore, under an urgent necessity of protection, particularly along the Northeastern Atlantic realm. However, a lack of ecological (e.g., abundance) knowledge across this realm limits the implementation of adequate conservation and management actions. Here, we collected 4873 fish visual census count data (sightings at 403 sites, from 37 published studies) of sharks, rays, and skates, from coastal areas (< 40 m depth) throughout the Northeastern Atlantic, covering a latitudinal extent of ca. 60° and 9 ecoregions. We recorded a total of 14 elasmobranch species, from a total of 341 sightings, and only 4 % of the counts reported any sighting. There is a severe lack of ecological data (e.g. abundance) from most ecoregions, particularly those in the nearshore continental northern Atlantic and tropical ecoregions. Nevertheless, our results showed that species richness and total abundance of elasmobranchs was higher in the eastern Atlantic oceanic archipelagos, such as Azores, Webbnesia (Madeira, Selvagens, and the Canary Islands) and Cabo Verde, compared to the other ecoregions. Our study calls for prioritising conservation efforts in these areas, a stronghold for these vulnerable taxa, in addition to the establishment of systematic monitoring programs. Refining Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), including declaration of local 'Sharks Sanctuaries', along a marine corridor encompassing these archipelagos, seem pertinent in this sense. This proposal is backed by the evident diversity and abundance patterns in nearshore waters, strong social and economic support, and political willingness to align science and marine policy, under international (EU) governance schemes.

Impact of extreme events on the transformation of hydrological characteristics of Asia's largest brackish water system, Chilika Lake.

The earth is experiencing the impact of climate change due to global warming. Lake ecosystems are no exception and are expected to cope with the consequences of extreme climatic events (hereafter ECE), such as storms, floods, and droughts. These events have significant potential to alter the hydrological characteristics (HC) influencing the physical, chemical, and biological behavior of lake ecosystems. Considering such ecosystem's high-value services and benefits, it is the need of the hour to monitor and evaluate the impact of ECE on lake ecosystems. The second-largest brackish water system in the world, Chilika Lake, situated at the shore of the Bay of Bengal (BoB), has encountered a total of 1306 tropical cyclonic storms in the last 131years. Since most tropical cyclones lead to heavy floods, this could be devastating for the ecosystem and its services. Hence, in order to bridge the knowledge gap, the present study was carried out to understand its impact, based on the available field data of more than two decades (1999 to 2020) and historical records of ECE and HC since 1840 and 1915 respectively from the literature. The study revealed that the ECE attributed to short-term changes in HC which were reflected through an immediate change in trophic state index (TSI, indicator of lake health) and trophic switchover (net autotrophic to heterotrophic) between net sink and source of carbon dioxide (CO2) in specific regions. This study showed that both the ECE as well as a human intervention (opening of the new mouth) had an integrated role in the maintenance of HC within the lake as indicated by the variability of salinity level which is the lifeblood of the Chilika. Major ECE factors which controlled the salinity in Chilika were freshwater input through cyclone-induced flash flooding and seawater exchange through varying mouth conditions, i.e., opening of the new mouth, shifting, and widening of existing mouths due to cyclone impacts. The impact of the cyclone-induced flash flood was sustained for a couple of months to years depending on the magnitudes. As evidenced from the historical data available for ECEs, respective mouth variability, and salinity regime, ECE was found to maintain the salinity regime of the lake in the long run. Since the hydrological characteristics are found to be maintained through ECE as well as human intervention, the Chilika Lake recorded a substantial increase in fishery, seagrasses, Irrawaddy dolphins, migratory birds, and reduction in weed infestation. This study highlights the importance of historical data collection through a continuous systematic lake monitoring program which would enable understanding the ecosystem functioning and behavior with ECE-induced changing environmental conditions which is also a key component for formulating a sustainable management action plan for lake ecosystems around the globe.