Ecologies

The authors would like to make the following corrections to the published paper [...]

Knowledge of weed community structure in agricultural systems is important for sustainable management, especially for evaluating the effects of different herbicides on soybean–corn succession crops. This study evaluated, over two crop seasons, weed community structure in response to chemical weed management strategies for soybean–corn succession in Brazil’s Triângulo Mineiro region. Phytosociological surveys of the weed community were conducted during harvest periods throughout the experimental phase, with referenced data for generating spatial distribution maps of biomass and density of the main present species. The survey identified 33 weed species, predominantly from the Poaceae and Asteraceae families. Regardless of the management system, the total weed biomass was lower in corn crops compared to soybean crops. In management systems using six different herbicides, the IVI of Commelina benghalensis was the lowest due to greater diversification of herbicide mechanisms of action. The results demonstrate that chemical weed management strategies strongly influence weed community structure, with significant effects on weed community structure and evenness in intensive agricultural regions. These changes also have implications for resistance management.

Coastal lagoons are highly vulnerable to human and climatic pressures, yet long-term ecological changes remain poorly quantified. We analyzed four decades (1980–2020) of data from fisheries from six lagoons in the Amvrakikos Gulf, Greece, using ecological indicators to assess trophic structure, exploitation status, and ecosystem responses. Cluster analysis of species level fishery production revealed a distinct temporal regime shift in the late 1990s–early 2000s, reflecting a major reorganization of species contributions to total yield. Mean total yield (Y), showed a consistent declining trend across lagoons, ranging from 2.7 ± 2.0 to 7.2 ± 5.0 t km⁻². Primary Production Required (PPR) declined (0.8–1.5 × 10¹⁰g C km⁻² yr⁻¹), while Mean Temperature of the Catch (MTC) increased in five lagoons (19.0–21.4 °C) and remained stable in one (20.0 ± 0.9 °C). Pelagic to demersal (P/D) ratios generally decreased (0.09–1.26), and Q-90 values were variable (0.8–2.2), highlighting site specific ecological dynamics. Short term yield predictions for 2021–2025 ranged from 0.78 to 6.75 t km⁻², remaining comparable to recent historical levels, while the estimated carrying capacities varied from 1.79 to 9.11 t km⁻², reflecting contrasting exploitation states among lagoons. These results demonstrate that multi-indicator, fishery-based analyses provide a robust framework for quantifying ecological change and guiding adaptive management in lagoon ecosystems.