scholarly journals Global relationships between tree-cavity excavators and forest bird richness

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 192177
Author(s):  
Yntze van der Hoek ◽  
Gabriel V. Gaona ◽  
Michał Ciach ◽  
Kathy Martin
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Generalized Least Squares ◽  
Forest Birds ◽  
Ecosystem Change ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Bird Richness ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Tree Cavity ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Effective Use

Global monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem change can be aided by the effective use of indicators. Tree-cavity excavators, the majority of which are woodpeckers (Picidae), are known to be useful indicators of the health or naturalness of forest ecosystems and the diversity of forest birds. They are indicators of the latter due to shared associations with particular forest elements and because of their role in facilitating the occurrence of other species through the provision of nesting cavities. Here, we investigated whether these positive correlations between excavators and other forest birds are also found at broad geographical scales. We used global distribution maps to extract richness estimates of tree-cavity nesting and forest-associated birds, which we grouped by zoogeographic regions. We then created generalized least-squares models to assess the relationships between these groups of birds. We show that richness of tree-cavity excavating birds correlates positively with that of secondary cavity nesters and other forest birds (generalists and specialists) at global scales, but with variation across zoogeographic regions. As many excavators are relatively easy to detect, play keystone roles at local scales and are effective management targets, we propose that excavators are useful for biodiversity monitoring across multiple spatial scales and geographical regions, especially in the tropics.

scholarly journals Biogeography of acoustic biodiversity of NW Mediterranean coralligenous reefs

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Di Iorio ◽  
Manon Audax ◽  
Julie Deter ◽  
Florian Holon ◽  
Julie Lossent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
The North ◽  
Mediterranean Habitats ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Nw Mediterranean

AbstractMonitoring the biodiversity of key habitats and understanding the drivers across spatial scales is essential for preserving ecosystem functions and associated services. Coralligenous reefs are threatened marine biodiversity hotspots that are challenging to monitor. As fish sounds reflect biodiversity in other habitats, we unveiled the biogeography of coralligenous reef sounds across the north-western Mediterranean using data from 27 sites covering 2000 km and 3 regions over a 3-year period. We assessed how acoustic biodiversity is related to habitat parameters and environmental status. We identified 28 putative fish sound types, which is up to four times as many as recorded in other Mediterranean habitats. 40% of these sounds are not found in other coastal habitats, thus strongly related to coralligenous reefs. Acoustic diversity differed between geographical regions. Ubiquitous sound types were identified, including sounds from top-predator species and others that were more specifically related to the presence of ecosystem engineers (red coral, gorgonians), which are key players in maintaining habitat function. The main determinants of acoustic community composition were depth and percentage coverage of coralligenous outcrops, suggesting that fish-related acoustic communities exhibit bathymetric stratification and are related to benthic reef assemblages. Multivariate analysis also revealed that acoustic communities can reflect different environmental states. This study presents the first large-scale map of acoustic fish biodiversity providing insights into the ichthyofauna that is otherwise difficult to assess because of reduced diving times. It also highlights the potential of passive acoustics in providing new aspects of the correlates of biogeographical patterns of this emblematic habitat relevant for monitoring and conservation.

Spatial covariation in survival rates of Northeast Pacific pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)

2001 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1501-1515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J Pyper ◽  
Franz J Mueter ◽  
Randall M Peterman ◽  
David J Blackbourn ◽  
Chris C Wood
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Pink Salmon ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Ocean Basin ◽  
Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Basin Scale ◽  
Stock Recruitment ◽  
Best Fit

We examined spatial patterns of covariation in indices of survival rate (residuals from the best-fit stock- recruitment curve) across four decades among 43 wild pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) stocks from 14 geographical regions in Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. We found strong evidence of positive covariation among stocks within each region and between certain adjacent regions (e.g., correlations from 0.3 to 0.7) but no evidence of covariation between stocks of distant regions (e.g., separated by 1000 km or more). This suggests that important environmental processes affecting temporal variation in survival rates of pink salmon from spawners to recruits operate at regional spatial scales rather than at the larger ocean basin scale. Based on limited fry abundance data, we found that this covariation in spawner-to-recruit survival rates may be strongly influenced by marine processes.

scholarly journals Forest birds respond to the spatial pattern of exurban development in the Mid-Atlantic region, USA

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Suarez-Rubio ◽  
Todd R. Lookingbill
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Pattern ◽  
Spatial Scale ◽  
Forest Fragmentation ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
The United States ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Forest Birds ◽  
Bird Diversity ◽  
Forest Loss ◽  
Exurban Development

Housing development beyond the urban fringe (i.e., exurban development) is one of the fastest growing forms of land-use change in the United States. Exurban development’s attraction to natural and recreational amenities has raised concerns for conservation and represents a potential threat to wildlife. Although forest-dependent species have been found particularly sensitive to low housing densities, it is unclear how the spatial distribution of houses affects forest birds. The aim of this study was to assess forest bird responses to changes in the spatial pattern of exurban development and also to examine species responses when forest loss and forest fragmentation were considered. We evaluated landscape composition around North American Breeding Bird Survey stops between 1986 and 2009 by developing a compactness index to assess changes in the spatial pattern of exurban development over time. Compactness was defined as a measure of how clustered exurban development was in the area surrounding each survey stop at each time period considered. We used Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis to detect the response of forest and forest-edge species in terms of occurrence and relative abundance along the compactness gradient at two spatial scales (400-m and 1-km radius buffer). Our results showed that most forest birds and some forest-edge species were positively associated with high levels of compactness at the larger spatial scale; the proportion of forest in the surrounding landscape also had a significant effect when forest loss and forest fragmentation were accounted for. In contrast, the spatial configuration of exurban development was an important predictor of occurrence and abundance for only a few species at the smaller spatial scale. The positive response of forest birds to compactness at the larger scale could represent a systematic trajectory of decline and could be highly detrimental to bird diversity if exurban growth continues and creates more compacted development.

scholarly journals Fractional snow-covered area: scale-independent peak of winter parameterization

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 615-632
Author(s):  
Nora Helbig ◽  
Yves Bühler ◽  
Lucie Eberhard ◽  
César Deschamps-Berger ◽  
Simon Gascoin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Snow Depth ◽  
Hydrological Modeling ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Empirical Relationship ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Snow Covered Area ◽  
Covered Area ◽  
Geographical Regions

Abstract. The spatial distribution of snow in the mountains is significantly influenced through interactions of topography with wind, precipitation, shortwave and longwave radiation, and avalanches that may relocate the accumulated snow. One of the most crucial model parameters for various applications such as weather forecasts, climate predictions and hydrological modeling is the fraction of the ground surface that is covered by snow, also called fractional snow-covered area (fSCA). While previous subgrid parameterizations for the spatial snow depth distribution and fSCA work well, performances were scale-dependent. Here, we were able to confirm a previously established empirical relationship of peak of winter parameterization for the standard deviation of snow depth σHS by evaluating it with 11 spatial snow depth data sets from 7 different geographic regions and snow climates with resolutions ranging from 0.1 to 3 m. An enhanced performance (mean percentage errors, MPE, decreased by 25 %) across all spatial scales ≥ 200 m was achieved by recalibrating and introducing a scale-dependency in the dominant scaling variables. Scale-dependent MPEs vary between −7 % and 3 % for σHS and between 0 % and 1 % for fSCA. We performed a scale- and region-dependent evaluation of the parameterizations to assess the potential performances with independent data sets. This evaluation revealed that for the majority of the regions, the MPEs mostly lie between ±10 % for σHS and between −1 % and 1.5 % for fSCA. This suggests that the new parameterizations perform similarly well in most geographical regions.

scholarly journals A century of high elevation ecosystem change in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Trant ◽  
Eric Higgs ◽  
Brian M. Starzomski
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Growth Form ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Tree Density ◽  
Ecosystem Change ◽  
Past Century ◽  
Ecological Change ◽  
Canadian Rocky Mountains ◽  
Mountain Habitats ◽  
Image Pairs

Abstract Mountain ecosystems serve as sentinels of change, and those in the Canadian Rocky Mountains have undergone a pronounced shift over the past century. We present quantitative analyses of 81 high-resolution image pairs of systematic historic surveys and repeat photographs of Canadian Rocky Mountain habitats, measuring treeline advance, changes in tree density, and shifts in growth form from krummholz to trees. With a time-lapse of 68 to 125 years (mean 93.5 years) between image pairs, these photographs contain novel information about long-term ecological change across broad spatial scales. In the 197 linear km of mountain habitat over 5 degrees of latitude examined, we found evidence of treeline advance at 90/104 sites, increases in tree density at 93/104 sites, and many sites (79/95) showing detectable changes in the growth form of trees from krummholz to erect tree form. Using generalized linear mixed models, we found that treeline at higher altitudes and further north had a greater probability of advancing while regional climate factors in our model did not significantly explain our results. Historic references, such as those documented here, are invaluable for providing conservation targets and for contextualizing disturbance and broad scale ecosystem change.

Species co-occurrence and environmental factors and their effect on the distribution of forest birds in mature forests

2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. 568-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikel Xabier Andradas ◽  
Juan Arizaga ◽  
Javier Rodríguez-Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Relative Effect ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Forest Birds ◽  
Southern Europe ◽  
Passerine Species ◽  
Northern Iberian Peninsula

Abstract Measures of species co-occurrence, as a proxy of biotic interactions, may be as important as environmental factors when explaining the distribution of many species. We assessed the relative effect of both species co-occurrence and environmental factors in predicting the occurrence (presence/absence) of woodpeckers and passerines in mature forests of the Northern Iberian Peninsula. We hypothesized that woodpecker occurrence would affect the occurrence of passerines. We calculated the occurrence of woodpecker species using models that included environmental factors aggregated at three spatial scales (200, 500 and 1,000-m2). The occurrence of passerine species was then modelled by using either species co-occurrence (including the occurrence of woodpecker species) or environmental factors at the 200-m2 cell scale. The occurrence of five out of nine passerine species was best explained by the co-occurrence of woodpeckers alone, whereas the occurrence of the remaining passerines was best explained using a combination of species co-occurrence (i.e. woodpeckers and/or other passerines) and environmental factors. In Southern Europe, woodpeckers are expanding their distribution in line with forest maturation, and this could increase the diversity of bird communities in forest systems.

scholarly journals Spatial-Temporal Changes of Methane Content in the Atmosphere for Selected Countries and Regions with High Methane Emission from Rice Cultivation

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1382
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Kozicka ◽  
Dariusz Gozdowski ◽  
Elżbieta Wójcik-Gront
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Temporal Changes ◽  
Rice Cultivation ◽  
Visual Evaluation ◽  
Ch4 Emissions ◽  
Satellite Sensors ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Almost All

Irrigated and flooded rice is associated with methane (CH4) emissions. CH4 is one of the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. Nowadays, mapping CH4 content at a global scale is possible using satellite sensors. Sample of such a sensor is TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) placed on the Sentinel-5 Precursor (Sentinel-5P) satellite board. In this study, the evaluation of spatial-temporal changes in CH4 content in the atmosphere for selected countries and regions with high CH4 emissions from rice cultivation in 2019–2021 was performed. Visual evaluation of the spatial variability on CH4 content for the total study period indicates higher CH4 content for almost all areas with high rice concentration. This was confirmed by positive correlations between CH4 content in the atmosphere and estimated GHG emissions from croplands analyzed separately for each studied country/region. In addition, seasonal changes in CH4 content in the atmosphere were observed. The lowest CH4 content was observed at the beginning of the year (for the first quarter of the year) and the highest for the third quarter of the year. Moreover, a long-term increase in CH4 was noticed. Regression analysis revealed that the mean increase in CH4 content in most of the studied regions/countries was about 15 ppb per year. CH4 content evaluated with the use of satellite data from Sentinel-5P is a reliable data source and can be used for the analysis of temporal changes at various spatial scales, including regions and countries.

Bioclimatic Model of the Spined Soldier Bug (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) Using CLIMEX: Testing Model Predictions at Two Spatial Scales

2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesusa Crisostomo Legaspi ◽  
Benjamin C. Legaspi
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Potential Distribution ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Growth Index ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pheromone Trap ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Bioclimatic Model ◽  
Heteroptera Pentatomidae

A bioclimatic model of the polyphagous predator, Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), was developed using CLIMEX software (Hearne Scientific Software, Melbourne, Australia). Calibration distribution was fitted using known distribution records for the United States and Canada, after which the model was used to generate a potential distribution map for the entire world. As expected, potential distribution maps agreed with known distribution records for North America. However, apparent mismatches were found for distributions in Europe, South America, midAfrica, and Southeast Asia. Using historical weather data, CLIMEX “growth indices” (measures of climate suitability for insect development) were compared against multiyear pheromone trap counts in the northern (Indiana) and southern (Florida) United States. Growth index curves did not appear to match pheromone trap data in either location when examined separately by year, location and insect sex. However, a weak relationship was found between trap counts and growth index when data were pooled across years, locations and sex.

Analysis of Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves in the Indian Ocean MJO

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 1342-1359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul E. Roundy
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Equatorial Indian Ocean ◽  
Longwave Radiation ◽  
Kelvin Waves ◽  
Synoptic Scale ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
The Waves

Abstract The active convective phase of the Madden–Julian oscillation (hereafter active MJO) comprises enhanced moist deep convection on its own temporal and spatial scales as well as increased variance in convection associated with higher-frequency modes. Synoptic-scale cloud superclusters apparently associated with convectively coupled Kelvin waves occur within the active convective envelopes of most MJO events. These convectively coupled Kelvin waves also occur during the suppressed convective phase of the MJO (hereafter suppressed MJO). This observational study presents an analysis of outgoing longwave radiation and reanalysis data to determine how these waves behave differently as they propagate through the active and suppressed MJO. Time indices of the MJO and Kelvin waves are derived for over the equatorial Indian Ocean. Dates of local extrema in these indices are used to composite data to discern how the waves and associated circulations behave on average; then, further composites are made based on subsets of this list of dates that are consistent with the two MJO phases. Results show that the MJO phase modulates the intensity of moist deep convection associated with the Kelvin waves, the evolution of the vertical structure of cloudiness linked to Kelvin waves, and patterns of upper-level outflow from convection coupled to Kelvin waves. Composites reveal that synoptic-scale circulations associated with the release of latent heat in convection coupled to Kelvin waves amplify and are left behind the waves in preferred geographical regions. The MJO modulates the amplitudes of these circulations and the locations where they get left behind the waves. Previous results have suggested a sharp distinction between the phase speeds of the MJO (4–8 m s−1) and of convectively coupled Kelvin waves (specifically 17 m s−1). In contrast, the present work suggests that convectively coupled Kelvin waves have a broad range of characteristic phase speeds, extending from 10 to 17 m s−1, depending on both the region of the world and the phase of the MJO through which they propagate.

scholarly journals Microbial Quality of Tropical Inland Waters and Effects of Rainfall Events

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (15) ◽  
pp. 5160-5169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasha M. Santiago-Rodriguez ◽  
Raymond L. Tremblay ◽  
Carlos Toledo-Hernandez ◽  
Joel E. Gonzalez-Nieves ◽  
Hodon Ryu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fecal Pollution ◽  
Microbial Quality ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Inland Lake ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Thermotolerant Coliforms ◽  
Positive Correlations

ABSTRACTNovel markers of fecal pollution in tropical waters are needed since conventional methods recommended for other geographical regions may not apply. To address this, the prevalence of thermotolerant coliforms, enterococci, coliphages, and enterophages was determined by culture methods across a watershed. Additionally, human-, chicken-, and cattle-specific PCR assays were used to identify potential fecal pollution sources in this watershed. An enterococcus quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was tested and correlated with culture methods at three sites since water quality guidelines could incorporate this technique as a rapid detection method. Various rainfall events reported before sample collection at three sites were considered in the data analyses. Thermotolerant coliforms, enterococci, coliphages, and enterophages were detected across the watershed. Human-specificBacteroidesbacteria, unlike the cattle- and chicken-specific bacteria, were detected mostly at sites with the corresponding fecal impact. Enterococci were detected by qPCR as well, but positive correlations with the culture method were noted at two sites, suggesting that either technique could be used. However, no positive correlations were noted for an inland lake tested, suggesting that qPCR may not be suitable for all water bodies. Concentrations of thermotolerant coliforms and bacteriophages were consistently lower after rainfall events, pointing to a possible dilution effect. Rainfall positively correlated with enterococci detected by culturing and qPCR, but this was not the case for the inland lake. The toolbox of methods and correlations presented here could be potentially applied to assess the microbial quality of various water types.

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