scholarly journals Contested novel ecosystems: Socio-ecological processes and evidence from Italy

2021 ◽  
pp. 100658
Author(s):  
Giovanni Trentanovi ◽  
Andrea Zinzani ◽  
Roberta Bartoletti ◽  
Federico Montanari
Keyword(s):  
Novel Ecosystems ◽  
Ecological Processes

scholarly journals Island Biodiversity in the Anthropocene

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
James C. Russell ◽  
Christoph Kueffer
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Novel Ecosystems ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Habitat Transformation ◽  
Human Contact ◽  
Island Biodiversity ◽  
New Strategies

Biodiversity on marine islands is characterized by unique biogeographic, phylogenetic and functional characteristics. Islands hold a disproportionate amount of the world's biodiversity, and they have also experienced a disproportionate loss of it. Following human contact, island biodiversity has sustained negative human impacts increasing in rate and magnitude as islands transitioned from primary through secondary to tertiary economies. On islands, habitat transformation and invasive non-native species have historically been the major threats to biodiversity, and although these threats will continue in new forms, new impacts such as human-induced climate change and sea-level rise are emerging. Island biodiversity is changing with some species going extinct, others changing in abundance, non-native species becoming a part of many ecosystems, and humans shaping many ecological processes. Islands thus are microcosms for the emerging biodiversity and socioecological landscapes of the Anthropocene. Islands will require new strategies for the protection and restoration of their biodiversity, including maintaining biological and cultural heritage through regenerative practices, mainstreaming biodiversity in cultural and production landscapes, and engaging with the reality of novel ecosystems.

Spontaneous dynamics and wild design in green roofs

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy T. Lundholm
Keyword(s):  
Green Roofs ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Novel Ecosystems ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Human Control ◽  
Ecological Understanding ◽  
Structure Changes ◽  
Constructed Ecosystems ◽  
Spontaneous Dynamics

Green roofs and other constructed environments represent novel ecosystems, yet have potential to contribute to biodiversity conservation goals. Constructed ecosystems are intentionally managed to produce specific services, and thus could be viewed as highly artificial or controlled. Yet all constructed ecosystems exhibit spontaneous dynamics, as community structure changes due to internal or external ecological processes. While all green roofs have some element of design and human control over ecological trajectories, the level of ongoing management can vary greatly. I discuss “wildness” as a characteristic of green roofs in response to their spontaneous dynamics after initial setup, and their potential to provide ecosystem services related to human psychological well-being, aesthetics and habitat for biodiversity. This approach suggests new design possibilities in interaction with spontaneous ecosystem dynamics and highlights a need for greater ecological understanding of green roof systems.

Adoption Decision and Sustainable Utilization of Soil Conservation Technologies: Empirical Evidence from North West Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 1853-1863
Author(s):  
Kassaye Gurebiyaw Legese ◽  
Taye Melese ◽  
Tadie Mire ◽  
Abebe Birara ◽  
Kefale Eniyew
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Severe Problem ◽  
North West ◽  
Household Heads ◽  
North Gondar Zone

Soil is a crucial and precious natural resource that govern numerous ecological processes. However, in Ethiopia particularly in north Gondar zone, soil erosion is a severe problem and a major cause of the decline of agricultural productivity. The adoption and diffusion of soil and water conservation practices (SWC), as a way to tackle this challenge, has become an important issue in the development policy agenda in the zone. Therefore, this study was to identify factors affecting Soil conservation investments in the North Gondar zone. Data was collected through interviewed schedule, filed observation and focus group discussion. The multistage sampling technique was employed to select 206 sample households.  Both descriptive and econometrics model was used to analyze the collected data. A multivariate profit (MPV) model was used to analyze the effect of demographic, socioeconomic, market, institutional and biophysical related factors on the interdependent investment decisions of SWC practices using household survey. The MPV model analysis indicates that farmers invest a combination of practices at parcel level by considering substitution and complementarity effects of the practices. The results also revealed that age of household heads, literacy status of household heads, off-farm activity, distance of farmlands from homesteads, tropical livestock unit, and access to training were influence farmers’ investments in SWC practices. The overall results indicate that the identified physical, socioeconomic, and institutional factors influence promote or hinder investments in SWC practice so, policymakers should take into consideration these various factors in designing and implementing SWC policies and Programmers.

Prominence of environmental and anthropogenic agents on the occurrence of coral reef bleaching syndrome and coral diseases

2024 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 6139-2024
Author(s):  
MICHAŁ SCHULZ ◽  
ALEKSANDRA ŁOŚ ◽  
PATRYCJA SKOWRONEK ◽  
ANETA STRACHECKA
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Coral Diseases ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Anthropogenic Threats ◽  
Negative Factors ◽  
Main Relationship

Coral reefs are the most productive ecosystems on Earth. They ensure the conservation of biodiversity and are a live habitat for 25% of all marine organisms. The main relationship on the coral reef is the symbiosis between corals and algae from the genus Symbiodinium (commonly called zooxanthellae). The authors of this publication have characterized and described the factors limiting the occurrence of coral reefs, including: water temperature, salinity, access to sunlight, contamination, physicochemical and hydromechanical parameters of water. Moreover anthropogenic threats to coral reefs have been specified, including diving tourism, ecological disasters (e.g. oil spills) and the development of marine aquaristics. Rapid changes in the basic living conditions are dangerous for corals and their symbionts and may cause the unsuitability of the new environment resulting in diseases such as coral bleaching. Corals bleaching is a disease associated with the break of the coral and algae relationship which results in a coral reef death on a global scale. Awareness of these negative factors, often related to human activity, may allow us to better understand the ecological processes that are the basis of reef functioning and might enable us to prevent and oppose to the changes and ecological recessions of coral reefs.

The lake ecosystem simulation program

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 367-370
Author(s):  
J. Heringa ◽  
H. Hylkema ◽  
M. Kroes ◽  
E. Ludden ◽  
P. G. van Schaick Zillesen
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Computer Program ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Lake Ecosystem ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Lake Ecology ◽  
Ecosystem Simulation

The computer program LAKE simulates a shallow lake ecosystem. The program is based on a mathematical model. In the model the most important aspects of several models for water resources management are integrated (Collins and Wlosinski, 1988; Jørgensen, 1976; Jørgensen et al., 1978; Scheffer, 1988). Furthermore, the model describes several ecological processes that have not yet been described by lake-ecosystem models so far. In the computer program, the mathematical model and an advanced, object oriented, user interface are combined. Following this approach the use of the original research models was extended to a use for the purpose of teaching lake ecology. We suggest that the same approach may be followed to open research models to other groups concerned with water resources management, such as management authorities, industry, agricultural extension, nature conservation and recreation.

Towards evolutionary agroecology

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (14) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin L. Mercer
Keyword(s):  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Genetic Analyses ◽  
Holistic Perspective ◽  
Evolutionary Study ◽  
Quantitative Genetic ◽  
Field Evolution

Agroecology derives much of its strength from interactions between disciplines that produce a holistic perspective on agricultural systems and issues.  Although ongoing integration of social dynamics into agroecology has strengthened the field, evolution and genetics have not been embraced to the same degree, despite the fact that they have been are discussed in some common agroecology texts.  I argue that the field of agroecology could extend its reach and depth by embracing the evolutionary study of agroecosystems.  Areas of evolutionary inquiry with relevance to agriculture focus on long or short term processes, encompass a range of scales, incorporate molecular or quantitative genetic analyses, and explore ecological processes to differing degrees.

Kalahari Cheetahs

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gus Mills ◽  
Margaret Mills
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Arid Ecosystems ◽  
Foraging Success ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Demographic Groups ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Hunting Behaviour ◽  
The Impact

This book demonstrates how cheetahs are adapted to arid savannahs like the southern Kalahari, and makes comparisons with other areas, especially the Serengeti. Topics dealt with are: demography and genetic status; feeding ecology, i.e. methods used for studying diet, diets of different demographic groups, individual diet specializations of females, prey selection, the impact of cheetah predation on prey populations, activity regimes and distances travelled per day, hunting behaviour, foraging success and energetics; interspecific competition; spatial ecology; reproductive success and the mating system; and conservation. The major findings show that cheetahs are well adapted to arid ecosystems and are water independent. Cheetah density in the study area was stable at 0.7/100 km2 and the population was genetically diverse. Important prey were steenbok and springbok for females with cubs, gemsbok, and adult ostrich for coalition males, and steenbok, springhares, and hares for single animals. Cheetahs had a density-dependent regulatory effect on steenbok and springbok populations. Females with large cubs had the highest overall food intake. Cheetahs, especially males, were often active at night, and competition with other large carnivores, both by exploitation and interference, was slight. Although predation on small cubs was severe, cub survival to adolescence was six times higher than in the Serengeti. There was no difference in reproductive success between single and coalition males. The conservation priority for cheetahs should be to maintain protected areas over a spectrum of landscapes to allow ecological processes, of which the cheetah is an integral part, to proceed unhindered.

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