Search Results (2,459)

The ongoing decade of UN restoration matches with the European goal of bringing nature back into our lives, including in urban systems, and Nature Restoration Regulation. Within such a framework, this work is aimed at highlighting the ecological rationale and strategic value of an NRRP measure devoted to forest restoration in Italian Metropolitan Cities, and at assessing respective preliminary results. Therefore, the measure’s overarching goal (not to create urban parks or gardens, but activate forest recovery), geographic extent and scope (over 4000 ha and more than 4 million planted trees and shrubs across the country), plantation model (mandatory use of native species consistent with local potential vegetation, density of 1000 seedlings per ha, use of at least four tree and four shrub species in each project, with a minimum proportion of 70% for trees, certified provenance for reproductive material), and compulsory management activities (maintenance and replacement of any dead plants for at least five years), are herein shown and explained under an ecological perspective. Current implementation outcomes were thus assessed in terms of coherence and expected biodiversity benefits, especially with respect to ecological and biogeographic consistency of planted forests, representativity in relation to national and European plant diversity, biogeographic interest and conservation concern of adopted plants, and potential contribution to the EU Habitats Directive. Compliance with international strategic goals and normative rules, along with recognizable advantages of the measure and limitations to be solved, are finally discussed. In conclusion, the forestation model proposed for the Italian Metropolitan Cities proved to be fully applicable in its ecological rationale, with expected benefits in terms of biodiversity support plainly met, and even exceeded, at the current stage of implementation, especially in terms of the contribution to protected habitats. These promising preliminary results allow the model to be recognized at the international level as a good practice that may help achieve protection targets and sustainable development goals within and beyond urban systems. Full article

Effective building operation requires a careful balance between energy conservation and indoor environmental comfort. Although numerous methods have been developed to reduce energy consumption during the operational phase, their objectives and applications vary widely. However, the complexity of building energy management makes it challenging to identify the most suitable methods that simultaneously achieve both comfort and efficiency goals. Existing studies often lack a systematic framework that supports integrated decision-making under comfort constraints. This research aims to address this gap by proposing a decision-making tree for selecting energy conservation methods during building operation with an explicit consideration of indoor environmental comfort. A comprehensive literature review is conducted to identify four main energy-consuming components during building operation: the building envelope, HVAC systems, lighting systems, and plug loads and appliances. Three key comfort indicators—thermal comfort, lighting comfort, and air quality comfort—are defined, and energy conservation methods are categorized into three strategic groups: passive strategies, control optimization strategies, and behavioural intervention strategies. Each method is assessed using a defined set of evaluation criteria. Subsequently, a questionnaire survey is administered for the calibration of the decision tree, incorporating stakeholder preferences and expert judgement. The findings contribute to the advancement of understanding regarding the co-optimization of energy conservation and occupant comfort in building operations. Full article

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is one of the world’s most prominent biodiversity hotspots. Understanding the spatial patterns of ecological uniqueness in its plant communities is essential for uncovering the mechanisms of community assembly and informing effective conservation strategies. In this study, we analyzed data from 758 plots across 338 sites on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. For each plot, the vegetation type was classified, and all plant species present, along with their respective abundance or coverage, were recorded in the database. To assess overall compositional variation, community β-diversity was quantified, while a plot-level approach was applied to determine the influence of local environmental conditions and community characteristics on ecological uniqueness. We used stepwise multiple regressions, variation partitioning, and structural equation modeling to identify the key drivers of spatial variation in ecological uniqueness. Our results show that (1) local contributions to β-diversity (LCBD) exhibit significant geographic variation—increasing with longitude, decreasing with latitude, and showing a unimodal trend along the elevational gradient; (2) shrubs and trees contribute more to β-diversity than herbaceous species, and LCBD is strongly linked to the proportion of rare species; and (3) community characteristics, including species richness and vegetation coverage, are the main direct drivers of ecological uniqueness, explaining 36.9% of the variance, whereas climate and soil properties exert indirect effects through their interactions. Structural equation modeling further reveals a coordinated influence of soil, climate, and community attributes on LCBD, primarily mediated through soil nutrient availability. These findings provide a theoretical basis for adaptive biodiversity management on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and underscore the conservation value of regions with high ecological uniqueness. Full article

Urochloa brizantha (Brizantha) is cultivated under varying altitudinal and management conditions. Twelve full-sun (monoculture) plots and twelve shaded (silvopastoral) plots were established, proportionally distributed at 170, 503, 661, and 1110 masl. Evaluations were conducted 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 days after establishment. The conservation and integration of trees in silvopastoral systems reflected a clear anthropogenic influence, evidenced by the preference for species of the Fabaceae family, likely due to their multipurpose nature. Although the altitudinal gradient did not show direct effects on soil properties, intermediate altitudes revealed a significant role of CaCO₃ in enhancing soil fertility. These edaphic conditions at mid-altitudes favored the leaf area development of Brizantha, particularly during the early growth stages, as indicated by significantly larger values (p < 0.05). However, at the harvest stage, no significant differences were observed in physiological or productive traits, nor in foliar chemical components, underscoring the species’ high hardiness and broad adaptation to both soil and altitude conditions. In Brizantha, a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in stomatal size and density was observed under shade in silvopastoral areas, where solar radiation and air temperature decreased, while relative humidity increased. Nonetheless, these microclimatic variations did not lead to significant changes in foliar chemistry, growth variables, or biomass production, suggesting a high degree of adaptive plasticity to microclimatic fluctuations. Foliar ash content exhibited an increasing trend with altitude, indicating greater efficiency of Brizantha in absorbing calcium, phosphorus, and potassium at higher altitudes, possibly linked to more favorable edaphoclimatic conditions for nutrient uptake. Finally, forage quality declined with plant age, as evidenced by reductions in protein, ash, and In Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility (IVDMD), alongside increases in fiber, Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF). These findings support the recommendation of cutting intervals between 30 and 45 days, during which Brizantha displays a more favorable nutritional profile, higher digestibility, and consequently, greater value for animal feeding. Full article

Beech forests in the Italian peninsula are actively managed and they also support a high level of biodiversity. Hence, biodiversity conservation can be synergistic with timber production and carbon sequestration, enhancing the overall economic benefits of forest management. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of forest management regimes on bird communities in the Italian Peninsula during 2022 through audio recordings. We studied the structure, composition, and specialization of the breeding bird community in four managed beech stands (three even-aged beech stands aged 20, 60, and 100 years old, managed by a uniform shelterwood system; one uneven-aged stand, managed by a single-tree selection system) and one uneven-aged, unmanaged beech stand in the northern Apennines (Tuscany region, Italy). Between April and June 2022, data were collected through four 1-hour audio recording sessions per site, analyzing 5 min sequences. The unmanaged stand hosted a richer (a higher number of species, p < 0.001) and more specialized (a higher number of cavity-nesting species, p < 0.001; higher Woodland Bird Community Index (WBCI) values, p < 0.001; and eight characteristic species, including at least four highly specialized ones) bird community, compared to all the managed forests; moreover, the latter were homogeneous (similar to each other). Our study suggests that the unmanaged beech forests should be a priority option for conservation, while in terms of the managed beech forests, greater attention should be paid to defining the thresholds for snags, deadwood, and large trees to be retained to enhance their biodiversity value. Studies in additional sites, conducted over more years and including multi-taxon communities, are recommended for a deeper understanding and generalizable results. Full article

We investigated the dispersal ability of Euphydryas aurinia provincialis in a local-scale analysis within a single habitat patch of the Colfiorito highlands metapopulation. Our findings indicate that inside a single node, the organization of nesting patches can be conceptualized as a metapopulation itself, where reproductive sites, despite their spatial proximity, can act as either source or sink habitats depending on environmental conditions. We conducted fieldwork in six nesting patches inside a single node, capturing, marking, and recapturing individuals to assess their spatial distribution and movement tendencies at a large landscape scale. We found a high degree of site fidelity among individuals, with many recaptures occurring within the original marking site, but also a sex-based difference in movement patterns; females dispersed farther than males, likely driven by reproductive strategies, while males remained more localized, prioritizing mate-searching. Our findings suggest a complex dynamic in habitat connectivity: pastures and abandoned fields, despite being open, seem to act like sink areas, while breeding sites with shrub and tree cover act as source habitats, offering optimal conditions for reproduction. Individuals, especially females, from these source areas were later compelled to disperse into open habitats, highlighting a nuanced interaction between landscape structure and population dynamics. These results highlight the importance of maintaining habitat corridors to support metapopulation dynamics and prevent genetic isolation; the abandonment of traditional grazing practices is leading to the rapid closure of these source habitats, posing a severe risk of local extinction. Conservation efforts should prioritize the preservation of these source habitats to ensure the long-term viability of E. a. provincialis populations in fragmented landscapes. Full article

Parrotia subaequalis is a rare and endangered deciduous tree native to China, valued for its vibrant autumn foliage and ornamental appeal. Its leaves exhibit striking coloration, ranging from red to yellow and purple, yet the physiological and molecular mechanisms behind this variation remain poorly understood. Here, we combined transcriptomic, metabolomic, and physiological analyses to investigate pigment changes within the yellow leaf phenotype of P. subaequalis. Our findings revealed significant differences in gene expression and metabolic profiles between yellow and green leaves, particularly in starch and sucrose metabolism, photosynthesis, and carbon metabolism. Yellow leaves exhibited reduced photosynthetic capacity and carotenoid levels, alongside increased D-glucose concentration. These findings suggest that visible color transitions are likely driven by coordinated changes in carbohydrate metabolism, photosynthetic function, and organic compound accumulation. This study provides novel insights into the molecular and physiological mechanisms governing leaf pigmentation in an endangered tree, with useful information relevant to their conservation and sustainable utilization. Full article

Phosphorus (P) availability is a major constraint on plant growth in many forest ecosystems, yet the strategies by which different tree species acquire and utilize various forms of soil phosphorus remain poorly understood. This study investigated how coexisting tree species with contrasting mycorrhizal types, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations, respond to different phosphorus forms under field conditions. An in situ root bag experiment was conducted using four phosphorus treatments (control, inorganic, organic, and mixed phosphorus) across four subtropical tree species. A comprehensive set of fine root traits, including morphological, physiological, and mycorrhizal characteristics, was measured to evaluate species-specific phosphorus foraging strategies. The results showed that AM species were more responsive to phosphorus form variation than ECM species, particularly under inorganic and mixed phosphorus treatments. Significant changes in root diameter (RD), root tissue density (RTD), and acid phosphatase activity (RAP) were observed in AM species, often accompanied by higher phosphorus accumulation in fine roots. For example, RD in AM species significantly decreased under the Na₃PO₄ treatment (0.94 mm) compared to the control (1.18 mm), while ECM species showed no significant changes in RD across treatments (1.12–1.18 mm, p > 0.05). RTD in AM species significantly increased under Na₃PO₄ (0.030 g/cm³) and Mixture (0.021 g/cm³) compared to the control (0.012 g/cm³, p < 0.05), whereas ECM species exhibited consistently low RTD values across treatments (0.017–0.020 g/cm³, p > 0.05). RAP in AM species increased significantly under Na₃PO₄ (1812 nmol/g/h) and Mixture (1596 nmol/g/h) relative to the control (1348 nmol/g/h), while ECM species showed limited variation (1286–1550 nmol/g/h, p > 0.05). In contrast, ECM species displayed limited trait variation across treatments, reflecting a more conservative acquisition strategy. In addition, trait correlation analysis revealed stronger coordination among root traits in AM species. And AM species exhibited high variability across treatments, while ECM species maintained consistent trait distributions with limited plasticity. These findings suggest that AM and ECM species adopt fundamentally different phosphorus acquisition strategies. AM species rely on integrated morphological and physiological responses to variable phosphorus conditions, while ECM species maintain stable trait configurations, potentially supported by fungal symbiosis. Such divergence may contribute to functional complementarity and species coexistence in phosphorus-limited subtropical forests. Full article

This study examines the impact of vegetation structure on bird species richness and diversity across four urban parks in Chaoyang District, Beijing. Throughout the year, using the Point Count Method (PCM), a total of 68 bird species and 4279 individual observations were recorded, with surveys conducted across all four seasons to capture seasonal variations. The parks with more complex vegetation, such as those with a higher tree canopy cover of species like poplars, ginkgo, and Chinese pines, exhibited higher bird species richness. For example, Olympic Forest Park, with its dense vegetation structure, hosted 42 species, whereas parks with less diverse vegetation supported fewer species. An analysis using PERMANOVA revealed that bird communities in the four parks were significantly different from each other (F = 2.76, p = 0.04075), and every comparison between parks showed significant differences as well (p < 0.001). Variations in the arrangement and level of disturbance within different plant communities likely cause such differences. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified tree canopy cover and shrub density as key drivers of bird diversity. These findings underscore the importance of preserving urban green spaces, particularly those with a diverse range of native tree species, to conserve biodiversity and mitigate the adverse effects of urbanisation. Effective vegetation management strategies can enhance avian habitats and provide ecological and cultural benefits in urban environments. Full article

The accurate monitoring of waterbird abundance and their habitat preferences is essential for effective ecological management and conservation planning in aquatic ecosystems. This study explores the efficacy of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based high-resolution orthomosaics for waterbird monitoring and mapping along the Lieve Canal, Belgium. We systematically classified habitats into residential, industrial, riparian tree, and herbaceous vegetation zones, examining their influence on the spatial distribution of three focal waterbird species: Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), and wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos). Herbaceous vegetation zones consistently supported the highest waterbird densities, attributed to abundant nesting substrates and minimal human disturbance. UAV-based waterbird counts correlated strongly with ground-based surveys (R² = 0.668), though species-specific detectability varied significantly due to morphological visibility and ecological behaviors. Detection accuracy was highest for coots, intermediate for ducks, and lowest for moorhens, highlighting the crucial role of image resolution ground sampling distance (GSD) in aerial monitoring. Operational challenges, including image occlusion and habitat complexity, underline the need for tailored survey protocols and advanced sensing techniques. Our findings demonstrate that UAV imagery provides a reliable and scalable method for monitoring waterbird habitats, offering critical insights for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management practices in aquatic landscapes. Full article

This study investigates the genetic diversity and population structure of Castanopsis tribuloides, a vital tree species in Asian forest ecosystems. Understanding the genetic patterns of keystone forest species provides critical insights into forest resilience and ecosystem function and informs conservation strategies. We analyzed population samples collected from three distinct locations within Doi Suthep Mountain in northern Thailand using Short Tandem Repeat (STR) markers to assess both intra- and inter-population genetic relationships. DNA was extracted from leaf samples and analyzed using a panel of polymorphic microsatellite loci specifically optimized for Castanopsis species. Statistical analyses included the assessment of forensic parameters (number of alleles, observed and expected heterozygosity, gene diversity, polymorphic information content), population differentiation metrics (G_ST), inbreeding coefficients (F_IS), and gene flow estimates (N_m). We further examined population history through bottleneck analysis using three models (IAM, SMM, and TPM) and visualized genetic relationships through principal coordinate analysis and cluster analysis. Our results revealed significant patterns of genetic structuring across the sampled populations, with genetic distance metrics showing statistically significant differentiation between certain population pairs. The PCA and cluster analyses confirmed distinct population groupings that correspond to geographic distribution patterns. These findings provide the first comprehensive assessment of C. tribuloides population genetics in this region, establishing baseline data for monitoring genetic diversity and informing conservation strategies. This research contributes to our understanding of how landscape features and ecological factors shape genetic diversity patterns in essential forest tree species, with implications for managing forest genetic resources in the face of environmental change. Full article

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is recognised as threatened across two thirds of its distribution and identified as particularly susceptible to climate change. The aim of this study was to assess the spatio-temporal variation in microclimate across koala home ranges and determine any tendency for koalas to exploit this variability. Temperature data loggers were set out in a grid pattern across the study site on St Bees Island, Queensland. Resident koalas were collared with GPS units recording location at night or during the day. Our results revealed that temperature variation across the landscape was greatest on the hottest days (~10 °C). During the day, koalas were found in areas of the landscape that recorded lower daytime temperatures, and during the night, they were found in areas that recorded the highest daytime temperatures. We postulate that koalas avoided the hottest areas of their range during summer days and were more likely to use cooler non-fodder trees but utilised them at night because these areas corresponded with the location of fodder trees. From our results, we suggest that the microclimate of non-fodder trees both (a) explains their selection by koalas during the day and (b) highlights their importance to koala persistence, in addition to the known fodder species. Full article

Durum wheat, the world’s second most cultivated wheat species, is a staple crop, critical for global food security, including in Ethiopia where it serves as a center of diversity. However, climate change and genetic erosion threaten its genetic resources, necessitating genomic studies to support conservation and breeding efforts. This study characterized genome-wide diversity, population structure (STRUCTURE, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), neighbor-joining trees, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA)), and selection signatures (F_ST, Hardy–Weinberg deviations) in Ethiopian durum wheat by analyzing 376 genotypes (148 accessions) using an Illumina Infinium 25K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. A set of 7842 high-quality SNPs enabled the assessments, comparing landraces with cultivars and breeding populations. Results revealed moderate genetic diversity (mean polymorphism information content (PIC) = 0.17; gene diversity = 0.20) and identified 26 loci under selection, associated with key traits like grain yield, stress tolerance, and disease resistance. AMOVA revealed 80.1% variation among accessions, with no significant differentiation by altitude, region, or spike density. Landraces formed distinct clusters, harboring unique alleles, while admixture suggested gene flow via informal seed exchange. The findings highlight Ethiopia’s rich durum wheat diversity, emphasizing landraces as reservoirs of adaptive alleles for breeding. This study provides genomic insights to guide conservation and the development of climate-resilient cultivars, supporting sustainable wheat production globally. Full article

Tree diseases affecting Camellia japonica have emerged as a significant threat to the health and longevity of this ornamental tree, particularly in countries where this tree species is widely distributed and cultivated. Among these, Pestalotiopsis spp. have been frequently reported and are considered one of the most impactful fungal pathogens, causing leaf blight or leaf spot, in multiple countries. Understanding the etiology and distribution of these diseases is essential for effective management and conservation of C. japonica populations. The traditional methods based on pathogen isolation and pure culture cultivation for diagnosis of tree diseases are labor intensive and time-consuming. In addition, the frequent coexistence of the major pathogens with other endophytes within a single C. japonica tree, coupled with inconsistent symptom expression and the occurrence of pathogens in asymptomatic hosts, further complicates disease diagnosis. These challenges highlight the urgent need to develop more rapid, accurate, and efficient diagnostic or monitoring tools to improve disease monitoring and management on trees, including C. japonica. To address these challenges, we applied a metagenomic approach to screen fungal communities within C. japonica trees. This method enabled comprehensive detection and characterization of fungal taxa present in symptomatic and asymptomatic tissues. By analyzing the correlation between fungal dominance and symptom expression, we identified key pathogenic taxa associated with disease manifestation. To validate the metagenomic approach, we employed a combined strategy integrating metagenomic screening and traditional fungal isolation to monitor foliar diseases in C. japonica. The correlation between dominant taxa and symptom expression was confirmed. Simultaneously, traditional isolation enabled the identification of a novel species, Pestalotiopsis, as the causal agent of leaf spot disease on C. japonica. In addition to confirming previously known pathogens, our study led to the discovery and preliminary characterization of a novel fungal taxon with pathogenic potential. Our findings provide critical insights into the fungal community of C. japonica and lay the groundwork for developing improved, rapid diagnostic tools for effective disease monitoring and management of tree diseases. Full article

Climate change and landscape fragmentation have made fires the primary drivers of forest degradation in Southern Amazonia. Understanding their impacts is crucial for informing public conservation policies. In this study, we assessed the effects of repeated fires on trees with a diameter ≥10 cm across three distinct vegetation types in this threatened region: Amazonian successional forest (SF), transitional forest (TF), and ombrophilous forest (OF). Two anthropogenic fires affected all three vegetation types in consecutive years. We hypothesized that SF would be the least impacted due to its more open structure and the presence of fire-adapted savanna (Cerrado) species. As expected, SF experienced the lowest tree mortality rate (9.1%). However, both TF and OF were heavily affected, with mortality rates of 28.0% and 29.7%, respectively. Despite SF’s apparent fire resilience, all vegetation types experienced a significant net loss of species and individuals. These results indicate a fire-induced degradation stage in both TF and OF, characterized by reduced species diversity and structural integrity. Our findings suggest that recurrent fires may trigger irreversible vegetation shifts and broader ecosystem tipping points across the Amazonian frontier. Full article