Editorial Material
Ecology
Giulio Formenti, Kathrin Theissinger, Carlos Fernandes, Iliana Bista, Aureliano Bombarely, Christoph Bleidorn, Claudio Ciofi, Angelica Crottini, Jose A. Godoy, Jacob Hoglund, Joanna Malukiewicz, Alice Mouton, Rebekah A. Oomen, Sadye Paez, Per J. Palsboll, Christophe Pampoulie, Maria J. Ruiz-Lopez, Hannes Svardal, Constantina Theofanopoulou, Jan de Vries, Ann-Marie Waldvogel, Guojie Zhang, Camila J. Mazzoni, Erich D. Jarvis, Miklos Balint
Summary: Progress in genome sequencing has enabled the generation of large-scale reference genomes, representing global biodiversity. These genomes provide unique insights into genomic diversity and architecture, allowing comprehensive analyses in population and functional genomics, and are expected to revolutionize conservation genomics.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Shan Gao, Eryuan Liang, Ruishun Liu, Flurin Babst, J. Julio Camarero, Yongshuo H. Fl, Shilong Piao, Sergio Rossi, Miaogen Shen, Tao Wang, Josep Penuelas
Summary: The study demonstrates that an earlier onset of the thermal growing season significantly affects tree growth in regions outside the temperate zone, especially in cold humid areas. While previous research has explored the connection between temperature and leaf phenology, the impact of phenological changes on tree growth remains less understood. The findings suggest that climate-driven changes in wood phenology may have implications for the carbon sequestration capacity of temperate forest ecosystems.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lichao Wu, Tomiwa Sunday Adebayo, Xiao-Guang Yue, Alican Umut
Summary: The Nordic nations have yet to make significant contributions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 and 13, mainly due to financialization concerns and implementation issues in renewable energy generation. The study reveals that both financial development and renewable energy can reduce CO2 emissions, highlighting the need for policy shifts to align with the SDGs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND WORLD ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Zihan Xu, Jian Peng, Jianquan Dong, Yanxu Liu, Qianyuan Liu, Danna Lyu, Ruilin Qiao, Zimo Zhang
Summary: This study quantitatively analyzed the spatiotemporal changes in ecosystem services (ES) supply and demand in Guangdong Province from 2000 to 2015. The results showed spatial heterogeneity in the changes, with ES supply being significantly affected by ES demand. Different zones also exhibited spatial correlation in ES supply and demand changes.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Camille Magneville, Nicolas Loiseau, Camille Albouy, Nicolas Casajus, Thomas Claverie, Arthur Escalas, Fabien Leprieur, Eva Maire, David Mouillot, Sebastien Villeger
Summary: Functional diversity, an important concept in ecology and conservation, has been increasingly studied over the past two decades. The mFD package is a comprehensive tool that utilizes species trait data and assemblage matrices to calculate various FD indices and visualize species distribution in functional spaces. With functions for data summarization, distance calculation, clustering analysis, and graphical representation, mFD provides a user-friendly framework for assessing and understanding functional diversity.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Julie A. Lee-Yaw, Jenny L. McCune, Samuel Pironon, Seema N. Sheth
Summary: Species distribution models (SDMs) are widely used in ecology to infer habitat suitability for species of interest; however, studies show a decline in predictive performance from occurrence to genetic diversity, with higher success rates in single species evaluations. The limited accuracy of SDMs reported may reflect the best-case scenario, emphasizing the need for independent data validation when using these models in conservation decisions.
Review
Ecology
William D. Hintz, Laura Fay, Rick A. Relyea
Summary: In the US, 70% of the population lives in snowy and icy regions where road deicing salts are heavily used to reduce vehicular accidents, leading to increased freshwater salinity. There is an urgent need to reassess protection thresholds for freshwater biota and drinking water supplies, and to adopt best management practices to curb salinization caused by deicing salts.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Anna Gunina, Yakov Kuzyakov
Summary: In this paper, a new perspective on the formation of soil organic matter (SOM) is proposed, suggesting that microorganisms primarily use organic matter as energy rather than as a source of carbon. SOM accumulates as a by-product of microbial decomposition, where the energy investment in decomposition exceeds the energy gain. The energy stored in SOM is less available compared to litter, explaining why SOM is not fully mineralized. The energy from litter activates decomposers to extract nutrients from SOM, as the nutrient content in SOM is higher than in litter. Therefore, the energy captured by photosynthesis is the main reason why microorganisms utilize organic matter, with SOM acting as a residual by-product of nutrient storage and energy flux mediation.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Damien Beillouin, Remi Cardinael, David Berre, Annie Boyer, Marc Corbeels, Abigail Fallot, Frederic Feder, Julien Demenois
Summary: Despite the increasing number of studies, there is limited geographical coverage in some regions; research on land management practices is also limited, and meta-analyses show relatively low quality and transparency.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lei Zhang, Pengsen Sun, Falk Huettmann, Shirong Liu
Summary: As a nature-based and cost-effective solution, forestation plays a crucial role in combating global warming, biodiversity collapse, environmental degradation, and global well-being. China, as a global leader in forestation, has achieved significant overall success in environmental improvements through large-scale forestation programs. However, negative effects have also emerged at local scales due to the planting of maladapted tree species. To better achieve carbon neutrality and ecological civilization, China has committed to further increasing forestation. However, the exact locations for forestation lands and efforts are not well understood yet, especially in the face of rapid climate change.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Reagan C. Reed, Kent J. Bradford, Imtiyaz Khanday
Summary: Maintaining a steady food supply for the increasing world population will require high-yielding crop plants that can thrive under changing conditions. Seed vigor plays a crucial role in the successful establishment of plants, and climate change, including warming trends and temperature variability, can affect seed germination and growth.
Article
Ecology
Yang Chen, Liang Cheng, Chien-Chiang Lee
Summary: This research explores the relationship between the use of industrial robots (UIR) and ecological footprint. The findings suggest that UIR can reduce the ecological footprint, and this reduction is more significant in countries with higher levels of economic development and human capital. The study recommends governments to actively develop industrial robots and invest in human capital and energy sectors.
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Man-Young Jung, Christopher J. Sedlacek, K. Dimitri Kits, Anna J. Mueller, Sung-Keun Rhee, Linda Hink, Graeme W. Nicol, Barbara Bayer, Laura Lehtovirta-Morley, Chloe Wright, Jose R. de la Torre, Craig W. Herbold, Petra Pjevac, Holger Daims, Michael Wagner
Summary: This study characterized the ammonia oxidation kinetic properties of 12 AOA, finding that Nitrosocosmicus species have the lowest affinity for ammonia and total ammonium among all characterized AOA. The substrate affinity of ammonia oxidizers is correlated with their cell surface area to volume ratios, and ammonia-not ammonium-is the substrate for the ammonia monooxygenase enzyme of AOA and comammox, which is similar to AOB.
Review
Ecology
David Cunillera-Montcusi, Meryem Beklioglu, Miguel Canedo-Arguelles, Erik Jeppesen, Robert Ptacnik, Cihelio A. Amorim, Shelley E. Arnott, Stella A. Berger, Sandra Brucet, Hilary A. Dugan, Miriam Gerhard, Zsofia Horvath, Silke Langenheder, Jens C. Nejstgaard, Marko Reinikainen, Maren Striebel, Pablo Urrutia-Cordero, Csaba F. Vad, Egor Zadereev, Miguel Matias
Summary: The salinisation of freshwater ecosystems is a significant threat, affecting biodiversity and human societies. Understanding its ecological and evolutionary consequences is still a challenge, with various research gaps identified. Focusing on global- and landscape-scale processes, functional approaches, genetic and molecular levels, and ecoevolutionary dynamics can help predict the impacts of freshwater salinisation.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jiguang Feng, Keyi He, Qiufang Zhang, Mengguang Han, Biao Zhu
Summary: Global changes can alter plant inputs and affect soil carbon and microbial communities in forests. A meta-analysis of 166 experiments worldwide revealed that alterations in aboveground litter and/or root inputs had profound effects on soil carbon and microbial communities. Litter addition stimulated soil organic carbon (SOC) pools and microbial biomass, whereas removal of litter, roots or both (no inputs) decreased them. The responses to litter alterations positively correlated with litter input rate and total litter input.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Craig R. See, Adrienne B. Keller, Sarah E. Hobbie, Peter G. Kennedy, Peter K. Weber, Jennifer Pett-Ridge
Summary: This article questions the assumption that microbial redistribution of carbon into non-rhizosphere soils is minimal, arguing that fungal redistribution plays a significant role. The analysis demonstrates that the omission of the hyphosphere overlooks key mechanisms for mineral-associated organic matter formation in bulk soils.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Xiaoyi Wang, Tao Wang, Jinfeng Xu, Zehao Shen, Yongping Yang, Anping Chen, Shaopeng Wang, Eryuan Liang, Shilong Piao
Summary: The realized range limit of trees in the Himalaya varies due to temperature and anthropogenic factors. While trees have reached their thermal treeline in the eastern region, they are absent in the western and central regions. Predictions indicate that trees will migrate upslope by the end of the twenty-first century, leading to a loss of habitats for the endemic flora.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Sana Romdhane, Ayme Spor, Julie Aubert, David Bru, Marie-Christine Breuil, Sara Hallin, Arnaud Mounier, Sarah Ouadah, Myrto Tsiknia, Laurent Philippot
Summary: This study utilized a top-down manipulation approach to investigate the role of biotic interactions in shaping soil microbial communities, revealing the importance of such interactions and identifying microbial community assembly rules. Modified biotic interactions had a greater impact on activities related to nitrogen cycling than carbon cycling, providing insights into microbial interactions in complex ecosystems and their relationship with ecosystem function.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xiaoshi Zhou, Wanglin Ma
Summary: This study estimates the impacts of different mechanized farming strategies on land productivity and finds that both semi-mechanized and full-mechanized farming have positive effects. Female-headed households achieve higher land productivity through mechanization adoption compared to their male-headed counterparts, and the relationship between farm size and land productivity varies for different types of mechanized farming adopters.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND WORLD ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Nussaibah B. Raja, Emma M. Dunne, Aviwe Matiwane, Tasnuva Ming Khan, Paulina S. Naetscher, Aline M. Ghilardi, Devapriya Chattopadhyay
Summary: The biases in fossil sampling records not only reflect geological and spatial aspects, but are also influenced by the historical legacy of colonialism and socio-economic factors. Researchers in high- or upper-middle-income countries hold a monopoly over paleontological knowledge production by contributing to 97% of fossil data, leading to biased spatial sampling across the globe and disenfranchisement of researchers in lower-income countries.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
