Search Results (45)

Pinus clausa var. clausa (Chapm. ex Engelm.) Vasey ex Sarg., sand pine, is the dominant tree of biorich but ecologically compromised Southeast Florida scrub. Scrub habitats and P. clausa have dwindled due to habitat reduction and fragmentation, regional development, and fire suppression. The purpose of the present article was to seek correlates of P. clausa establishment under present unnatural development-impacted conditions using 428 field measurements at four sites to determine spatial positioning preferences relative to vegetation edges, then adding 120 measurements at a single site aimed at evaluating several potential predictors of P. clausa establishment. Potential establishment predictors were adjacency to other woody plants, depth to hard sand horizon, seed tree distance and direction, light-intensity, soil-core color, soil pH and soil surface firmness. Comparing frequency distributions of juvenile P. clausa locations with frequency distributions of random spots within the same perimeters, juvenile pines tended toward adjacency to other woody plants (chi² p < 0.0001), toward shallow hard horizons (Kolmogorov–Smirnov p = 0.0006), toward soft soil surfaces (K–S p = 0.007), and toward proximity to seed trees (K–S p = 0.004). Additionally, juvenile P. clausa were often clustered under groves of Quercus geminata Small with comparatively thin canopies. Bayesian logistic regression showed adjacency to woody plants as a strong predictor of P. clausa establishment. When alongside other plants, P. clausa establishment was mostly on the north or east side of neighboring plant edges. Overall conclusions were that juvenile Pinus clausa in SE Florida scrub fragments is sensitive to positioning relative to other woody plants, and is associated with soil surface softness, soil depth to hard horizon, and light levels, except as seedlings. Full article

Woody encroachment (WE) refers to the expansion of woody vegetation, particularly scrubs, into grasslands, altering ecosystem structure, function, and vegetation phenology. WE is especially pronounced in arid and semi-arid regions, where climate variability, land use, and ecological resilience interact strongly. Even though long-term monitoring of these dynamics in protected areas is essential to understanding landscape change and guiding conservation strategies, a few studies address this. The Flora and Fauna Protection Area (FFPA) Bavispe, a sky island in northwestern Mexico, provides an ideal setting to examine WE. Using remote sensing, we analyzed 30 years of land cover change (Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI) in two reserve zones, Los Ajos and La Madera, and their 5 km buffer areas. Additionally, NDVI-based regressions (MODIS MOD13Q1) were applied to assess phenological responses across vegetation types. Classifications showed high accuracy (Kappa > 0.75) and revealed notable woody expansion: 960 ha of oak forest and 1322 ha of scrubland gained in Los Ajos, and 1420 ha of scrubland in La Madera. Grasslands declined by 2234 ha in Los Ajos and 1486 ha in La Madera, with stronger trends in surrounding buffers. Phenologically, the onset of the growing season was delayed by ~2 days per year in Los Ajos and ~3 days in La Madera. A generalized increment of woody vegetation in the region and the observed change in phenophases in selected land cover types indicated a shift in regional drivers (human or other ecological state factor) related to land cover distribution. Full article

The Mediterranean ecosystem is characterized by marked seasonality; it is composed of species such as shrublands that are subjected to high levels of water and thermal stress, making these species an important source of secondary metabolites of significant chemical and ecological interest. In this work, 21 plants were selected from the Mediterranean scrub. These abundant and characteristic representations of the ecosystem produce a total of 197 terpenes. The majority of these are monoterpenes (46.70%), followed by sesquiterpenes (38.07%), with a minority of diterpenes (5.53%) and triterpenes (10.15%). Tetraterpenes accounted for only 0.5% of the total compounds in the species studied, corresponding to only 1%. The major terpenes include 1,8-cineole, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, borneol, camphor, γ-terpinene, limonene, linalool, o-cymene, α-tujene, α-pinene, β-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, β-phellandrene, and β-caryopylene. Species such as Pistacea terebinthus, Rosmarinus officinalis, Cistus ladanifer, Myrtus communis, Lavandula stoecha, and Thymus mastichina contain the most terpenic compounds in their chemical composition. Furthermore, these metabolites are involved in various biological functions, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, neuroprotective, antibacterial, cardiovascular, analgesic, antitumor, and insecticidal activities, among others. Various terpenes present in Mediterranean scrub species, such as 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, limonene, borneol, and terpinen-4-ol, have demonstrated synergistic effects that enhance their antimicrobial, insecticidal, and neuroprotective properties. These interactions between compounds make the natural extracts more effective than they would be individually, increasing their therapeutic and biotechnological value. The synergism among terpenes suggests a promising approach for developing more effective and sustainable phytotherapeutic products. Full article

Understanding the reproductive ecology of birds and the factors influencing nest predation is essential for developing scientifically sound and effective bird conservation strategies. Certain pheasant species sensitive to environmental changes are vulnerable to threats and face survival pressures such as habitat destruction and human activities. However, research related to their reproductive ecology is lacking. Here for the first time we reported information on breeding biology of the Chinese francolin (Francolinus pintadeanus). This study was conducted during the breeding seasons of the Chinese francolin in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025, combining traditional survey and infrared camera technology to monitor its reproductive ecology and nest predators in the Datian and Bangxi Reserves and to identify its potential predators through artificial nest experiments. All nests were open-ground nests located at the roots of dwarf shrubs and grasses. Our findings revealed that the breeding season of the Chinese francolin was mainly in March–September, peaking in May; its clutch size was 4.09 ± 1.27 (N = 22), reproductive success was 27.27%, and 16 nests were failed; and all failed nests were predated, with abandoned nests accounting for 93.75% of the failed nests. In artificial nest experiments, the predation rates of Datian Reserve and Bangxi Reserve were 70.91% (N = 55) and 60.00% (N = 30), respectively, with no significant difference in predation rates between the fully covered and exposed groups (Datian: χ² = 0.258, p = 0.612; Bangxi: p = 0.710). Natural nest monitoring and artificial nest experiments on the Chinese francolin identified snakes and the small Indian civet (Viverricula indica) as the main predators in Datian Reserve, as well as the greater coucal (Centropus sinensis) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) as potential predators. In contrast, the main predators in Bangxi Reserve were snakes and rodents. These findings indicate differences in nest predator taxa between the two reserves. We recommend prioritizing the restoration of dwarf scrub vegetation and optimizing the habitat management strategy in these reserves to better protect the breeding habitats of pheasants while promoting long-term stability and continuation of their populations. Full article

Amidst global shifts in land use patterns due to urbanization, this study focuses on the rapid land use and land cover (LULC) changes in Midnapore City during the periods 2003–2014 and 2014–2024. The study employs Landsat 5 and 8 imagery with 30 m spatial resolution which were processed through Maximum Likelihood Classifier (MLC) algorithms. The results were attained through ArcGIS 10.2.2 and ERDAS IMAGINE 2014 software, with ground-truth validation using data from 117, 111, and 116 points for 2024, 2014, and 2003, respectively. For the validation, the kappa coefficient was calculated and achieved 87.3%, 88.1%, and 81.7% for 2024, 2014, and 2003, indicating substantial accuracy. Using statistical measures such as change matrix union, binary logistic regression, and correlation matrix analysis applied to classified LULC outputs and spatial drivers, the research highlights significant transformations in the region. The study reveals significant transformations, notably the conversion of 77% of forest areas and 5% of fallow land to built-up land. The increased rate of agricultural land conversion to built-up areas is evident after 2014, indicating rapid urban growth. These factors led to the reduction of LULC classes possessing substantial ecological value like forests and scrub lands which are becoming more accessible due to the increasing population. The results point out the drastic alteration of these developments and recommend a planning approach responsive to environmental needs for safeguarded ecological impacts. The research highlights the importance of reforestation, preservation of water bodies, and socio-economic surveillance in fostering urban management and sustainable development in Midnapore City. Full article

Scrub typhus is an acute febrile vector-borne infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi (O. tsutsugamushi) and transmitted through the bite of infected chigger mite larvae. Transmission involves complex ecological interactions among vectors, hosts, and environmental factors. Accumulating evidence indicates complex interactions between the scrub typhus incidence and multilevel environmental determinants, encompassing meteorological factors (e.g., temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed, sunshine duration, and atmospheric pressure), geographical conditions (e.g., topography, elevation, and landcover), and socioeconomic factors (e.g., economic level, cultural practices, residential conditions, and human behaviors). However, significant discrepancies persist among studies regarding the effect sizes and temporal associations, and the precise mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. This review synthesizes the evidence on environment–disease relationships, clarifies the methodological inconsistencies, analyzes the potential sources of heterogeneity, and highlights the critical knowledge gaps to inform targeted prevention and control strategies and guide future research priorities. Full article

Geothermally heated ecosystems experience extreme temperatures and play important ecological, cultural, and socio-economic roles in many environments. They support a diversity of plants that are often used by local communities. This study focused on five hot springs with varying geochemical traits in the northeast of Mexico. The diversity surrounding each hot spring was analyzed along with the impact of climatic factors. In total, we observed 2022 individual plants across 155 species and 55 families. Shrub strata dominated the rosetophyll scrub and low thorn forest, while tree strata were more common in the tropical dry forest; the herbaceous stratum exhibited the least diversity across all sites. A decrease in species richness was observed at higher elevations, while species abundance showed an inverse trend, being highest in the rosetophyll scrub. The plant communities exhibited clear differentiation in species composition with 30 indicator species identified across the five hot springs. Notably, only Helietta parvifolia was found in three sites. The variation in plant abundance was linked to elevation and evaporation. Each type of vegetation surrounding the hot springs demonstrates unique characteristics based on plant composition, suggesting that plant diversity may offer significant benefits to the surrounding communities in the northeast of Mexico. Full article

Introduction: This study focuses on the central mountain region of the Peruvian Andes, particularly its western slopes, high-altitude areas, and inter-Andean valleys situated above 3000 m.a.s.l. Despite its ecological importance, the region remains understudied, resulting in significant information gaps. Objective: To identify flora species along an altitudinal gradient in the Cajatambo district. Methods: Sampling was carried out at five distinct altitudinal levels using a combination of sampling techniques. Taxonomic identification was performed, and statistical analyses including ANOVA, the Mantel test, and NMDS were applied. Results: 424 plant species were identified, revealing the dominance of Asteraceae. The approach used allowed for the identification of floristic and structural patterns in various habitats, ranging from arid montane scrub to puna grassland. Surprisingly, Asteraceae richness had a significant impact on species diversity, while altitude did not. Additionally, floristic similarity between nearby altitudinal levels was not related to geographical distance. The analysis of ecosystems has shown that certain families are adaptable. Additionally, floristic diversity has been affected by human activity near the district capital. The distribution of medicinal species has been limited due to selective extraction. Conclusions: The shrubland and thorny scrub was the most diverse ecosystem and had the widest distribution across the altitudinal gradient. Full article

The Cape Canaveral Barrier Island, home to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Kennedy Space Center and the United States (U.S.) Space Force’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, is situated in a unique ecological transition zone that supports diverse wildlife. This study evaluates the recent changes in vegetation cover (2016–2023) and dune elevation (2007–2017) within the Cape Canaveral Barrier Island using high-resolution optical satellite and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. The study period was chosen to depict the time period of a recent increase in rocket launches. The study objectives include assessing changes in vegetation communities, identifying detectable impacts of liquid propellant launches on nearby vegetation, and evaluating dune elevation and tide level shifts near launchpads. The results indicate vegetation cover changes, including mangrove expansion in wetland areas and the conversion of coastal strands to denser scrubs and hardwood forests, which were likely influenced by mild winters and fire management. While detectable impacts of rocket launches on nearby vegetation were observed, they were less severe than those caused by solid rocket motors. Compounding challenges, such as rising tide levels, beach erosion, and wetland loss, potentially threaten the resilience of launch operations and the surrounding habitats. The volume and scale of launches continue to increase, and a balance between space exploration and ecological conservation is required in this biodiverse region. This study focuses on the assessment of barrier islands’ shorelines. Full article

Chiggers (chigger mites) are a group of tiny arthropods, and they are the exclusive vector of Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot), the causative agent of scrub typhus (tsutsugamushi disease). Dehong Prefecture in Yunnan Province of southwest China is located on the China–Myanmar border and is an important focus of scrub typhus. Based on the field surveys in Dehong between 2008 and 2022, the present paper reports the infestation and ecological distribution of chiggers on the body surface of rodents and other sympatric small mammals (shrews, tree shrews, etc.) in the region for the first time. The constituent ratio (C_r), prevalence (P_M), mean abundance (MA), and mean intensity (MI) were routinely calculated to reflect the infestation of small-mammal hosts with chiggers. Additionally, the species richness (S), Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H), Simpson dominance index (D), and Pielou’s evenness index (E) were calculated to illustrate the chigger community structure. Preston’s log-normal model was used to fit the theoretical curve of species abundance distribution, and the Chao 1 formula was used to roughly estimate the expected total species. The “corrplot” package in R software (Version 4.3.1) was used to analyze interspecific relationships, and the online drawing software was used to create a chord diagram to visualize the host–chigger associations. From 1760 small-mammal hosts, a total of 9309 chiggers were identified as belonging to 1 family, 16 genera, and 117 species, with high species diversity. The dominant chigger species were Leptotrombidium deliense, Walchia ewingi, and Gahrliepia longipedalis, with a total C_r = 47.65% (4436/9309), among which L. deliense is the most important vector of Ot in China. The overall infestation indexes (P_M, MA, and MI) and community parameters (S, H, and E) of chiggers in the mountainous areas and outdoors were higher than those in the flatland areas and indoors, with an obvious environmental heterogeneity. Leptotrombidium deliense was the dominant species in the flatland and indoors, while G. longipedalis was the prevalent species in the mountainous and outdoor areas. The species abundance distribution of the chigger community conformed to log-normal distribution with the theoretical curve equation: ${S\left(R\right)}^{\prime }=28e^{{-[0.23(R-0)]}^2}$, indicating the existence of many rare species and only a few dominant species in the community. The expected total number of chigger species was roughly estimated to be 147 species, 30 more than the 117 species actually collected, suggesting that some uncommon species may have been missed in the sampling survey. The host–parasite association analysis revealed that one host species can harbor different chigger species, and one chigger species can parasitize different host species with low host specificity. A positive or negative correlation existed among different chigger species, indicating a cooperative or competitive interspecific relationship. The species diversity of chiggers is high in Dehong on the China–Myanmar border, and a large host sample is recommended to find more uncommon species. There is an obvious environmental heterogeneity of the chigger community, with different species diversity and dominant species in different environments. The low host specificity of chiggers and the occurrence of a large number of L. deliense in Dehong, especially in flatland areas and indoors, would increase the risk of persistent transmission of scrub typhus in the region. Full article

Swahili coastal forests, spanning the Kenyan and Tanzanian coastlines and the Zanzibar Archipelago, are integral to the biodiverse Eastern Arc and Coastal Forest region. These forest ecosystems face considerable anthropogenic threats. This study contributes to the available knowledge on the floral composition and plant community assemblages of Mnemba Island, a small sandy cay in the Zanzibar Archipelago, which helps to establish baseline data for conservation purposes. Two main coastal forest plant communities were identified: (1) the Casuarina cunninghamiana–Suriana maritima open to closed sandy dry coastal forest, and (2) the Eugenia capensis–Mimusops obtusifolia coastal forest. A total of 91 different plant species belonging to 54 plant families were identified for the island. Community 2, an indigenous forest, supports diverse bird breeding colonies and is a crucial habitat for the threatened Aders’ duiker. Understory development is limited due to the historical Suni antelope overpopulation. Environmental factors like salt spray, allelochemicals, herbivore browsing, and climate fluctuations influence the vegetation abundance and composition. The study underscores differences in species diversity and composition between the planted Casuarina community and the natural atoll vegetation. The natural vegetation shows affinities with the Zanzibar–Inhambane edaphic coral-rag scrub forest and the transitional rainforest. Several species characteristic of Indian Ocean atolls were identified, providing insights into invasion ecology and conservation strategies. The study contributes conceptually to our understanding of vegetation dynamics in island ecosystems by highlighting the interplay between plant communities, environmental processes, and human activities. The fragile yet resilient nature of Mnemba’s unique ecosystem is emphasised, offering insights for conservation management, long-term monitoring, and adaptive approaches tailored to island environments. Full article

This study evaluated vegetation management (VM) strategies under electricity distribution lines (EDLs) through ecosystem service (ES) criteria. Deforestation, worsened by insufficient VM practices, poses a threat to ecosystem stability. Using a hybrid FAHP (Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process) and TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) approach, ten VM strategies were assessed based on 15 ES criteria. The FAHP results identified biodiversity, timber resources, and erosion control as the most crucial criteria due to their significant weights. The TOPSIS analysis determined that VM6 (creation and restoration of scrub edges) was the most effective strategy, achieving a value of 0.744 for reducing deforestation and enhancing energy security. VM6 helps preserve forest cover and protect infrastructure by creating a “V”-shaped structures within the EDLs corridor. This study underscores the importance of ES-oriented VM strategies for sustainable vegetation management and deforestation mitigation. It also highlights the need for incorporating scientific, ES-based decision support mechanisms into VM strategy development. Future research should expand stakeholder perspectives and conduct a comprehensive assessment of ESs to ensure that VM strategies align with ecological and socio-economic sustainability. This study provides a framework for improving VM practices and offers directions for future sustainable energy management research. This study focuses exclusively on ecological criteria for evaluating VM strategies, neglecting other dimensions. Future research should use methods like ANP and fuzzy cognitive maps to explore inter-dimension relationships and their strengths. Additionally, employing SWARA, PIPRECIA, ELECTRE, and PROMETHEE for ranking VM strategies is recommended. Full article

Single individuals of the Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga), Indian Spotted Eagle (Clanga hastata), Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax), Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), and two Pallid Harriers (Circus macrourus) were deployed with satellite transmitters in 2021 to study their home ranges, habitat associations, movement, and migration patterns. Data were collected for a combined number of 2291 days, providing 84,544 locations. Home ranges were calculated as kernel utilization distributions and expressed as 95% KDE and core areas as 50% KDE. Overall, eagles had larger home ranges (mean ± SD) of 942.70 ± 937.83 km² compared to harriers, 43.84 ± 35.55 km². Among eagles, the Greater Spotted Eagle had the largest home-range size of 2147.03 km² calculated in Kazakhstan, while the female Pallid Harrier had the smallest home range of 5.74 km² in Russia. Daily and monthly distances varied among eagles and harriers. The female Pallid Harrier covered the longest average monthly distance of 8585.43 ± 11,943.39 km, while the shortest monthly distance of 1338.22 ± 716.38 km was traveled by the Indian Spotted Eagle. All tagged birds migrated toward higher latitudes in the Northern hemisphere, except the Indian Spotted Eagle, which migrated to Pakistan. The male Western Marsh Harrier covered the longest migration distance in a shorter span of time, while the female Pallid Harrier took the longest to cover its migration distance. Overall, the daily distance covered during migration varied from 115.09 km traveled by the Indian Spotted Eagle to an overwhelming distance of 2035.85 km covered by the male Western Marsh Harrier. Scrubs, water bodies, croplands, and settlements were important habitat features associated with eagles, while croplands, open scrub, and built-up areas were associated with the female Pallid Harrier. The male Western Marsh Harrier was found to be primarily associated with saltpans and salt-affected areas having emergent vegetation. This study presents new insights into the movement and spatial ecology of long-distance migrant raptors that winter in Western India. We provide preliminary support for the use of the Western Circum–Himalayan Corridor as one of the important corridors of the Central Asian Flyway that warrants much appreciation among the current set of flyway corridors. Full article

In recent years, the northward migration of elephant herds in China’s Yunnan Province has attracted unprecedented public attention to the conservation of Asian elephants, with habitat fragmentation and human disturbance thought to be key factors. In this study, we used Jiangcheng, a new distribution site for Asian elephants in southwest China, as an example, combined the available remote sensing and monitoring data with the MaxEnt3.4.1 model, to analyze the factors affecting the activities of Asian elephants under the conditions of human disturbance and habitat degradation. The Least Cumulative Resistance model was utilized to construct the potential ecological dispersal corridors, and the key corridors were identified through the gravity model to explore the ecological security pattern of the habitat of Asian elephants in Jiangcheng County. The results show that the habitat of Asian elephants in Jiangcheng County is fragmented, showing a north–south strip distribution, never moving to the northeast. The existing suitable habitat is located in the low-elevation area (<1500 m), which is close to water sources and roads, and there is no nature reserve in this area. The land is mainly occupied by scrub or grassland near mountainous forests, but part of it is also under cultivation, which leads to conflicts between humans and elephants occur frequently. There are 14 ecological source areas, which are mainly distributed in the two regions of Zhengdong and Kangping, and there are 92 ecological corridors, of which 3 are important corridors and 89 are general corridors. This study comprehensively analyzes the current status and connectivity of Asian elephant habitat in Jiangcheng County at the regional scale, which helps to optimize the pattern of suitable habitat, promotes the dispersal of Asian elephants and habitat connectivity, and provides realistic guidance and basic information for the conservation planning of isolated populations of this species and their habitats. Full article

As a plant kingdom and a biodiversity hotspot, Yunnan is a key region for our understanding of modern and past global changes in biodiversity and environment. As proxies of vegetation and climate, phytoliths have become increasingly important in ecological and paleoecological studies. In this study, phytolith analysis was carried out on samples of surface sediments from 70 lakes in western Yunnan, southwest China. These lakes are surrounded by modern vegetation types including broadleaved and coniferous forests, scrubs, grasslands, meadows, and alpine vegetation. The results of this study show that modern lacustrine phytoliths in western Yunnan are dominated by herbaceous phytoliths, among which Poaceae types are the most abundant. The 70 phytolith samples used can be divided into 4 groups, reflecting the major vegetation types from which samples were collected. The principal component analysis (PCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) of the phytolith and climatic data of the 70 lacustrine phytolith samples showed that temperature and precipitation are the climatic parameters controlling the spatial distribution of phytolith assemblages in western Yunnan. Phytolith–MAT (mean annual temperature) and phytolith–MAP (mean annual precipitation) transfer functions were developed using weighted averaging partial least squares (WA-PLS), and both the MAT and MAP functions showed good performances (MAT: R² = 0.67, RMSEP = 0.96 °C, MAP: R² = 0.64, RMSEP = 140.4 mm). Our results also reveal that phytolith analysis is a useful technique offering reliable vegetation interpretation and climate reconstruction; thus, this study provides a basis for the vegetational and climatic interpretation of fossil lacustrine phytolith records in western Yunnan. Full article