Ecology

Article Ecology

A hybrid electricity-economy model to assess the aggregate impacts of low-carbon transition: An application to France

Darius Corbier, Frederic Gonand

Summary: The article investigates the macroeconomic channels of transmission of the low-carbon transition in two official scenarios for the French power system under different oil price scenarios. The results show that technical progress and substitution mechanisms can drive the decarbonization of the economy and growth, with energy demand and durable goods demand being the main transmission channels.

ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS (2024)

Article Ecology

Encouraging sustainable food consumption through nudges: An experiment with menu labels

Arianna Buratto, Lorenzo Lotti

Summary: Finding ways to steer consumers towards vegetarian and plant-based meals is important for reducing the environmental impact of diets. In this study, we investigated the use of nudges in restaurants to increase sales of vegetarian and plant-based dishes. We found that removing symbols for these dishes increased sales, while adding a low emissions symbol had no effect. However, when the nudge was made transparent through a statement, sales significantly increased. These findings support the use of nudges as cost-effective interventions to address unsustainable food consumption in the hospitality sector.

ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS (2024)

Article Ecology

Applying production-possibility frontier based ecosystem services trade-off to identify optimal scenarios of Grain-for-Green Program

Jian Peng, Xiaoyu Wang, Huining Zheng, Zihan Xu

Summary: This study developed an index system to evaluate the trade-off between grain production service and water purification service in the Dongting Lake Basin. The results showed that converting cropland with high nitrogen output into forest land can minimize this trade-off.

LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING (2024)

Article Ecology

First measurements of electric field variability during fog events in the United Arab Emirates

Narendra Nelli, Diana Francis, Ricardo Fonseca, Olivier Masson, Mamadou Sow, Emmanuel Bosc

Summary: This study investigates the changes in the atmospheric electric field (Ez) during foggy conditions in the hyperarid region of the United Arab Emirates. The results show that as fog persists, Ez becomes more variable due to the absorption and redistribution of charges by the fog, which alters the ion balance and affects electrical conductivity in the atmosphere.

JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS (2024)

Article Biology

Genomic signatures of eusocial evolution in insects

Alina A. Mikhailova, Sarah Rinke, Mark C. Harrison

Summary: The genomes of eusocial insects allow the production and regulation of highly distinct phenotypes, largely independent of genotype. Eusociality has evolved convergently in at least three insect orders, but eusocial phenotypes show remarkable similarity. Increased regulatory complexity and the adaptive evolution of chemical communication are common genomic signatures of eusociality. Colony life itself can shape genomes of divergent taxa in a similar manner.

CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE (2024)

Article Ecology

Global Street Experiment: A Geospatial Database of Pandemic-induced Street Transitions

Jianting Zhao, Guibo Sun, Chris Webster

Summary: This study developed a geospatial database to document the locations and urban environments of pandemic-induced street experiments on a global scale, and conducted quantitative analysis based on spatial and temporal visualizations. The study aims to enhance comparability of built environment indicators between cities and provide a robust foundation for future research on tactical urbanism.

LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING (2024)

Article Ecology

The shirker's dilemma and the prospect of cooperation in large groups

Jorge Pena, Aviad Heifetz, Georg Noldeke

Summary: Cooperation usually becomes harder to sustain as groups become larger, but in some cases, increasing group size can increase the probability of cooperation. The expected payoff and the probability of provision of the public good vary with the cost of cooperation.

THEORETICAL POPULATION BIOLOGY (2024)

Article Ecology

The role of fuel treatments in mitigating wildfire risk

Xuezheng Zong, Xiaorui Tian, Xianli Wang

Summary: Climate change has caused longer fire seasons and more intense wildfires worldwide, leading to significant economic and environmental impacts. A study conducted in Southwest China evaluated the effectiveness of different fuel treatment designs in mitigating wildfire risk under varying fire severity conditions. The results showed that fuel treatments were effective in reducing risk under low and normal fire severity scenarios, but their effectiveness was limited under high fire severity conditions.

LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING (2024)

Article Biology

An insect's energy bar: the potential role of plant guttation on biological control

Pablo Urbaneja-Bernat, Alejandro Tena, Joel Gonzalez-Cabrera, Cesar Rodriguez-Saona

Summary: This article reviews the potential role of plant guttation as a food source for natural enemies, discussing its nutritional value, effects on insect communities, and potential use in conservation biological control.

CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE (2024)

Article Ecology

Is the digital economy an effective tool for decreasing energy vulnerability? A global case

Kangyin Dong, Yang Liu, Jianda Wang, Xiucheng Dong

Summary: This study uses the generalized method of moments (GMM) model to explore the relationship between the digital economy and energy vulnerability in 110 economies. The findings suggest that the digital economy effectively reduces energy vulnerability, with digital infrastructure and social impact being the main contributors. Furthermore, the digital economy helps upgrade the industrial structure and financial development level, thereby reducing energy vulnerability. Additionally, the negative impact of the digital economy on energy vulnerability is more significant in regions with higher income levels.

ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS (2024)

Article Ecology

Association between greenspace morphology and prevalence of non-communicable diseases mediated by air pollution and physical activity

Huaqing Wang, Louis G. Tassinary

Summary: This study investigated the influence of urban greenspace spatial morphology on non-communicable diseases and found that neighborhoods with more connected, aggregated, coherent, and complex-shaped greenspace had a lower prevalence of these diseases. Such associations were mediated by air pollution and physical inactivity. The results suggest that the spatial morphology of designed urban greenspace plays a significant role in neighborhood health.

LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING (2024)

Article Ecology

Rethinking cost-share programs in consideration of economic equity: A case study of wildfire risk mitigation assistance for private landowners

James R. Meldrum, Patricia A. Champ, Hannah Brenkert-Smith, Christopher M. Barth, Abby E. McConnell, Carolyn Wagner, Colleen Donovan

Summary: This study reassessed a previous study using a richer dataset and found that individuals with lower incomes are less likely to participate in cost-sharing programs, and even if they do participate, they contribute a lower share. This indicates potential economic equity concerns.

ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS (2024)

Article Ecology

Neo-taphonomy of striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) in Israel

Ezra Hadad, Amir Balaban, Jakub Z. Kosicki, Reuven Yosef

Summary: This study investigated whether the prey of striped hyenas has adapted to the change in the natural environment caused by human activities, particularly artificial light at night (ALAN). The results showed that ALAN had no impact on the diet or den distribution of the hyenas in central Israel. The study also found that domestic animals were the most common prey, and there were also some vegetative species in their diet. Overall, the feeding behavior of striped hyenas is influenced by geographical region, habitat, and human activities.

JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS (2024)

Article Ecology

Evaluation of sense of safety and privacy in parks in relation to the topography, the presence of dense vegetation and other people in the area

Aleksandra Lis, Karolina Zalewska, Pawel Iwankowski, Katarzyna Betkier, Paulina Bilska, Viktoriia Dudar, Aleksandra L. Lagiewka

Summary: Appleton's prospect-refuge theory suggests that the presence of dense vegetation, topography, and people in a park can influence the safety and privacy felt by visitors in different ways. This study aimed to understand the relationship between observation point height, vegetation location, presence of other people, and perceived privacy and safety. The results showed that flat or lower ground without the presence of others was considered the safest, while landscapes higher up with dense vegetation and no other people were rated highest in terms of privacy. The findings have practical implications in terms of providing privacy without compromising safety.

LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING (2024)

Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Chemical constituents with chemotaxonomic value from Asparagus lycopodineus (Baker) Wang et Tang

Ruidang Yang, Bijian He, Shengqi Zhang, Ruifeng Mei, Jiaqi Liu, Tianpeng Yin, Le Cai

Summary: In this study, the phytochemical analysis of Asparagus lycopodineus was conducted for the first time, leading to the isolation of 14 compounds. Among them, five compounds have never been found in the Asparagus genus before. Additionally, the results highlight the close evolutionary relationship among A. lycopodineus, A. cochinchinensis, and A. filicinus.

BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMATICS AND ECOLOGY (2024)

Article Ecology

Can competing demands affect pro-environmental behaviour: a study of the impact of exposure to partly related sequential experiments

Gloria Amaris, Stepan Vesely, Stephane Hess, Christian A. Klockner

Summary: The study of human behavior is crucial for the development of policies for sustainability. It is important to consider the possibility of spillover effects in mathematical models, as exposure to related choices can influence subsequent behavior. Our study demonstrates the existence of these spillover effects and showcases the effectiveness of discrete choice models.

ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS (2024)

Article Ecology

Hyphal exploration strategies and habitat modification of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus in microengineered soil chips

Edith C. Hammer, Carlos Arellano-Caicedo, Paola Micaela Mafla-Endara, E. Toby Kiers, Tom Shimizu, Pelle Ohlsson, Kristin Aleklett

Summary: This study used microfluidic chips to investigate foraging strategies and habitat modification of Rhizophagus irregularis symbiotically associated with carrot roots. The researchers found that AMF hyphae can forage over long distances, prefer straight passages, and show branching induction when encountering obstacles. They also observed bi-directional transport of cellular content inside the hyphae and strategic allocation of biomass within the mycelium. Additionally, the AMF hyphae modified the pore-spaces in the chips by clogging them with irregularly shaped spores. These findings have important implications for understanding the impact of AMF on water retention in soils.

FUNGAL ECOLOGY (2024)

Article Ecology

Animal welfare as a public good

Romain Espinosa, Nicolas Treich

Summary: This study examines a simple model of consumption of animals with altruistic behavior towards animals. The model reveals a public good issue, where the market equilibrium leads to low quality and excessive quantity of animal lives when they are not worth living. The implications of the findings and the significance of the modeling choices for future economic research on animal welfare are discussed.

ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS (2024)

Correction Ecology

Trends in household demand and greenhouse gas footprints in Germany: Evidence from microdata of the last 20 years ( vol 208, 1077575 , 2023 )

Anke Jacksohn, Miguel Angel Tovar Reanos, Frank Pothen, Katrin Rehdanz

ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS (2024)

Article Ecology

Do Farmers Participating in Short Food Supply Chains Use Less Pesticides? Evidence from France

Pierre Chiaverina, Sophie Drogue, Florence Jacquet

Summary: This study investigates the impact of farmers' participation in different short food supply chains (SFSCs) on synthetic pesticide use and crop yields. The findings show that farmers who sell part of their crops through direct-to-consumer channels use significantly fewer synthetic pesticides compared to those who sell through long food supply chains. However, there is no evidence that farmers involved in direct-to-retailer channels use significantly fewer synthetic pesticides. Additionally, there is no indication that SFSC participation affects crop yields.

ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS (2024)