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... biodiversity indicators and assessment methods that could be applied to livestock production. The objective of this group was to develop Principles for the assessment of livestock impacts on biodiversity (LEAP biodiversity principles, LEAP, in prep.). This document went indeed beyond its initiatial ...
... biodiversity indicators and assessment methods that could be applied to livestock production. The objective of this group was to develop Principles for the assessment of livestock impacts on biodiversity (LEAP biodiversity principles, LEAP, in prep.). This document went indeed beyond its initiatial ...
SoE 2016 Biodiversity report (PDF - 10.3 MB)
... particularly feral animals, are unequivocally increasing the pressure they exert on Australia’s biodiversity, and habitat fragmentation and degradation continue in many areas. The impacts of climate change are increasing. Key reports on the state and trends of mammals in 2014 and birds in 2015, supp ...
... particularly feral animals, are unequivocally increasing the pressure they exert on Australia’s biodiversity, and habitat fragmentation and degradation continue in many areas. The impacts of climate change are increasing. Key reports on the state and trends of mammals in 2014 and birds in 2015, supp ...
Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents: Canada`s First Marine Protected Area.
... sulphide or elemental iron to obtain energy from chemical reactions. Most are bacteria or archaea that live in hostile environments such as deep sea vents and are the primary producers in such ecosystems. 6. community – a group of organisms or a social group interacting in a specific region under si ...
... sulphide or elemental iron to obtain energy from chemical reactions. Most are bacteria or archaea that live in hostile environments such as deep sea vents and are the primary producers in such ecosystems. 6. community – a group of organisms or a social group interacting in a specific region under si ...
Lecture 4: Wilderness Ecosystems
... Sensitive management of human use to minimise disturbance of natural ecosystems – e.g. limiting use within carry capacities Understanding of basic ecology is essential “The ecosystem is the basic fundamental unit in ecology, because it includes both organisms... and abiotic environments, each in ...
... Sensitive management of human use to minimise disturbance of natural ecosystems – e.g. limiting use within carry capacities Understanding of basic ecology is essential “The ecosystem is the basic fundamental unit in ecology, because it includes both organisms... and abiotic environments, each in ...
Protists have divergent effects on bacterial diversity along a
... unaltered. Specialist predators simply allow predatorresistant taxa to proliferate resulting in a relatively flat relationship. This suggests a trade-off between predator resistance and competitive ability. The experiment is similar to a recent study that constructed microcosm communities with three ...
... unaltered. Specialist predators simply allow predatorresistant taxa to proliferate resulting in a relatively flat relationship. This suggests a trade-off between predator resistance and competitive ability. The experiment is similar to a recent study that constructed microcosm communities with three ...
The spatial and temporal components of functional connectivity in
... Structural connectivity Pure structural connectivity is a general measure of connectivity related to the physical characteristics of the landscape, without any consideration of the attributes of any potential organisms of interest (Tischendorf and Fahrig 2000). This can be measured in several ways ( ...
... Structural connectivity Pure structural connectivity is a general measure of connectivity related to the physical characteristics of the landscape, without any consideration of the attributes of any potential organisms of interest (Tischendorf and Fahrig 2000). This can be measured in several ways ( ...
Research paper: Biotic Homogenisation
... Mounting evidence suggests that biotic homogenisation of plant communities might be widespread. Smart et al. (2006) used botanical data for higher plants in Great Britain to test the hypothesis that plant communities have become taxonomically and functionally more similar over the past 20 years in h ...
... Mounting evidence suggests that biotic homogenisation of plant communities might be widespread. Smart et al. (2006) used botanical data for higher plants in Great Britain to test the hypothesis that plant communities have become taxonomically and functionally more similar over the past 20 years in h ...
Legal Limits and Adaptive Management of Wildlife
... founds that the legal instruments mainly are concerned with the rational use or protection of a certain species rather than dealing with inter-relations and the sustainability of ecosystems. E.g. the motive for legal protection is based on a definition of a sustainable population which is determined ...
... founds that the legal instruments mainly are concerned with the rational use or protection of a certain species rather than dealing with inter-relations and the sustainability of ecosystems. E.g. the motive for legal protection is based on a definition of a sustainable population which is determined ...
Priorities for biodiversity adaptation to climate change
... Indian Ocean Dipole (DECCW 2010). However these phenomena are still active areas for research and much uncertainty remains about their future patterns and influence. Long-term changes in climate have driven processes such as evolution and extinction, with the species and ecosystems that survive toda ...
... Indian Ocean Dipole (DECCW 2010). However these phenomena are still active areas for research and much uncertainty remains about their future patterns and influence. Long-term changes in climate have driven processes such as evolution and extinction, with the species and ecosystems that survive toda ...
consumer species richness and autotrophic biomass
... autotrophic biomass and consumer species richness. Consumers were added as small initial populations (10–25 cells) of each consumer species after algal densities had stabilized (.14 d). The small size of this inoculum (a negligible biomass for a 50-mL system) was assumed to have no significant impac ...
... autotrophic biomass and consumer species richness. Consumers were added as small initial populations (10–25 cells) of each consumer species after algal densities had stabilized (.14 d). The small size of this inoculum (a negligible biomass for a 50-mL system) was assumed to have no significant impac ...
Marine Ecology Progress Series 273:251
... ABSTRACT: Latitudinal declines of species richness from the tropics to the poles represent a general spatial pattern of diversity on land. For the marine realm, the generality of this pattern has frequently been questioned. Here, I use a database with nearly 600 published gradients (198 of which wer ...
... ABSTRACT: Latitudinal declines of species richness from the tropics to the poles represent a general spatial pattern of diversity on land. For the marine realm, the generality of this pattern has frequently been questioned. Here, I use a database with nearly 600 published gradients (198 of which wer ...
Herbivore and predator diversity interactively affect ecosystem
... which affect abundance and biomass across whole trophic levels, are rare in diverse systems, implying an interaction between effects of changing vertical and horizontal diversity (Strong 1992; Polis 1999; but see Bruno & O!Connor 2005; Borer et al. 2006). Although a growing number of BEF studies hav ...
... which affect abundance and biomass across whole trophic levels, are rare in diverse systems, implying an interaction between effects of changing vertical and horizontal diversity (Strong 1992; Polis 1999; but see Bruno & O!Connor 2005; Borer et al. 2006). Although a growing number of BEF studies hav ...
The Millennium Development Goals and Conservation
... environments in which they live. People will not do what is necessary to protect the global environment until they begin to understand the risks that disruptions to physical, chemical, and biological systems present to themselves and to their children. There is no more effective way to help them ach ...
... environments in which they live. People will not do what is necessary to protect the global environment until they begin to understand the risks that disruptions to physical, chemical, and biological systems present to themselves and to their children. There is no more effective way to help them ach ...
amphibian contributions to ecosystem services
... especially in Southeast Asia. They also serve as models in medical research and provide potential for new pharmaceuticals such as analgesics and anti-viral drugs derived from skin secretions. Amphibians contribute to regulating services by reducing mosquito recruitment from ephemeral wetlands, poten ...
... especially in Southeast Asia. They also serve as models in medical research and provide potential for new pharmaceuticals such as analgesics and anti-viral drugs derived from skin secretions. Amphibians contribute to regulating services by reducing mosquito recruitment from ephemeral wetlands, poten ...
Evaluating MPA effectiveness
... authors have ventured appraisals of how these effects enable MPA’s to achieve their intended objectives (but see Rowley 1994, Freitas et al. 1998). There is increasing pressure for evaluation of MPA’s with respect to their intended objectives (Carr and Raimondi 1999, Murray et al. 1999). This has im ...
... authors have ventured appraisals of how these effects enable MPA’s to achieve their intended objectives (but see Rowley 1994, Freitas et al. 1998). There is increasing pressure for evaluation of MPA’s with respect to their intended objectives (Carr and Raimondi 1999, Murray et al. 1999). This has im ...
Effects of biodiversity on ecosystem stability: distinguishing between
... containing many species are more stable (i.e. do vary less over time) than communities containing fewer species. Species covers were estimated every 6 months for 24 months and an index of stability was calculated for total community cover across time (S = mean SD-1). Second, I conducted a synthetic- ...
... containing many species are more stable (i.e. do vary less over time) than communities containing fewer species. Species covers were estimated every 6 months for 24 months and an index of stability was calculated for total community cover across time (S = mean SD-1). Second, I conducted a synthetic- ...
Global amphibian declines: sorting the hypotheses - Collins Lab
... new research findings have greatly improved our capacity to answer this question. Biodiversity is declining worldwide, and amphibians are representative of the general loss of populations and species (Houlahan et al., 2000; Alford et al., 2001; Wilson, 2002). None the less, since the early 1990s dec ...
... new research findings have greatly improved our capacity to answer this question. Biodiversity is declining worldwide, and amphibians are representative of the general loss of populations and species (Houlahan et al., 2000; Alford et al., 2001; Wilson, 2002). None the less, since the early 1990s dec ...
Plant diversity controls arthropod biomass and temporal stability
... direction to those of the producers in this experiment (Fig. 2, Table 1). In particular, bivariate correlations showed that, like the plants (Fig. 2a and b, relationships described in detail elsewhere, Tilman et al. 2001, 2006), arthropod biovolume increased with arthropod diversity (Fig. 2c, Table ...
... direction to those of the producers in this experiment (Fig. 2, Table 1). In particular, bivariate correlations showed that, like the plants (Fig. 2a and b, relationships described in detail elsewhere, Tilman et al. 2001, 2006), arthropod biovolume increased with arthropod diversity (Fig. 2c, Table ...
Plant functional composition influences rates of soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation
... community (i.e. increased plant productivity). Plant productivity is, however, strongly positively affected by the presence of critical plant functional traits which are related to the acquisition, processing and use of key resources such as N (see Díaz & Cabido 2001; Lavorel & Garnier 2002; Hooper ...
... community (i.e. increased plant productivity). Plant productivity is, however, strongly positively affected by the presence of critical plant functional traits which are related to the acquisition, processing and use of key resources such as N (see Díaz & Cabido 2001; Lavorel & Garnier 2002; Hooper ...
Ecological mechanisms associated with the positive
... indirectly increases rates of ecosystem N cycling through positive effects on the microbial community (Zak et al. 2003). The authors used 15N isotope-pool dilution techniques to show that higher numbers of species enhanced the microbial release of NH4þ from soil organic matter and caused greater gro ...
... indirectly increases rates of ecosystem N cycling through positive effects on the microbial community (Zak et al. 2003). The authors used 15N isotope-pool dilution techniques to show that higher numbers of species enhanced the microbial release of NH4þ from soil organic matter and caused greater gro ...
Late Quaternary Extinctions: State of the Debate
... 25 years to explain the LQE. Here, we offer a continent-by-continent summary of the LQE, focusing mostly on mammals. We do not discuss Holocene island extinctions in any detail because most researchers accept that anthropogenic factors were pivotal. We evaluate the main hypotheses proposed to explai ...
... 25 years to explain the LQE. Here, we offer a continent-by-continent summary of the LQE, focusing mostly on mammals. We do not discuss Holocene island extinctions in any detail because most researchers accept that anthropogenic factors were pivotal. We evaluate the main hypotheses proposed to explai ...
Local diversity of heathland Cercozoa explored by in-depth
... In November 2010, we sampled topsoil (0–8 cm, O-horizon) from two of the six drought plots 1–2 (Dry1) and 3–1 (Dry2) and from two of the control plots 9–1 (Control1) and 11–4 (Control2). To minimise the spatial variation, we pooled and mixed three subsamples from each plot for the subsequent ...
... In November 2010, we sampled topsoil (0–8 cm, O-horizon) from two of the six drought plots 1–2 (Dry1) and 3–1 (Dry2) and from two of the control plots 9–1 (Control1) and 11–4 (Control2). To minimise the spatial variation, we pooled and mixed three subsamples from each plot for the subsequent ...
Plant Diversity Affects Performance of Invasive Thistles in Restored
... establish in an ecosystem where there is an available niche. It can take advantage of a recent disturbance or opening caused by fire, flooding or overgrazing. If there are no natural enemies to control its population, whether it is insects, herbivores, or pathogens, an invasive may be more successfu ...
... establish in an ecosystem where there is an available niche. It can take advantage of a recent disturbance or opening caused by fire, flooding or overgrazing. If there are no natural enemies to control its population, whether it is insects, herbivores, or pathogens, an invasive may be more successfu ...
montane, heath and bog habitats - Cairngorms National Park Authority
... muirburn can have profound negative biodiversity implications on habitats and their associated species, e.g. inappropriate grazing levels changing moorland into species poor grassland as well as causing localised soil erosion. Localised and incremental damage to vegetation and soils from other landu ...
... muirburn can have profound negative biodiversity implications on habitats and their associated species, e.g. inappropriate grazing levels changing moorland into species poor grassland as well as causing localised soil erosion. Localised and incremental damage to vegetation and soils from other landu ...
Late Quaternary Extinctions: State of the Debate
... 25 years to explain the LQE. Here, we offer a continent-by-continent summary of the LQE, focusing mostly on mammals. We do not discuss Holocene island extinctions in any detail because most researchers accept that anthropogenic factors were pivotal. We evaluate the main hypotheses proposed to explai ...
... 25 years to explain the LQE. Here, we offer a continent-by-continent summary of the LQE, focusing mostly on mammals. We do not discuss Holocene island extinctions in any detail because most researchers accept that anthropogenic factors were pivotal. We evaluate the main hypotheses proposed to explai ...
Biodiversity
Global Biodiversity is the variety of different types of life found on Earth and the variations within species. It is a measure of the variety of organisms present in different ecosystems. This can refer to genetic variation, ecosystem variation, or species variation (number of species) within an area, biome, or planet. Terrestrial biodiversity tends to be highest near the equator, which seems to be the result of the warm climate and high primary productivity. Biodiversity is not distributed evenly on Earth. It is the richest in the tropics. Marine biodiversity tends to be highest along coasts in the Western Pacific, where sea surface temperature is highest and in the mid-latitudinal band in all oceans. There are latitudinal gradients in species diversity. Biodiversity generally tends to cluster in hotspots, and has been increasing through time but will be likely to slow in the future.The number and variety of plants, animals and other organisms that exist is known as biodiversity. It is an essential component of nature and it ensures the survival of human species by providing food, fuel, shelter, medicines and other resources to mankind. The richness of biodiversity depends on the climatic conditions and area of the region. All species of plants taken together are known as flora and about 70,000 species of plants are known till date. All species of animals taken together are known as fauna which includes birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, insects, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.Rapid environmental changes typically cause mass extinctions. More than 99 percent of all species, amounting to over five billion species, that ever lived on Earth are estimated to be extinct. Estimates on the number of Earth's current species range from 10 million to 14 million, of which about 1.2 million have been documented and over 86 percent have not yet been described. The total amount of related DNA base pairs on Earth is estimated at 5.0 x 1037, and weighs 50 billion tonnes. In comparison, the total mass of the biosphere has been estimated to be as much as 4 TtC (trillion tons of carbon).The age of the Earth is about 4.54 billion years old. The earliest undisputed evidence of life on Earth dates at least from 3.5 billion years ago, during the Eoarchean Era after a geological crust started to solidify following the earlier molten Hadean Eon. There are microbial mat fossils found in 3.48 billion-year-old sandstone discovered in Western Australia. Other early physical evidence of a biogenic substance is graphite in 3.7 billion-year-old metasedimentary rocks discovered in Western Greenland. Since life began on Earth, five major mass extinctions and several minor events have led to large and sudden drops in biodiversity. The Phanerozoic eon (the last 540 million years) marked a rapid growth in biodiversity via the Cambrian explosion—a period during which the majority of multicellular phyla first appeared. The next 400 million years included repeated, massive biodiversity losses classified as mass extinction events. In the Carboniferous, rainforest collapse led to a great loss of plant and animal life. The Permian–Triassic extinction event, 251 million years ago, was the worst; vertebrate recovery took 30 million years. The most recent, the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, occurred 65 million years ago and has often attracted more attention than others because it resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs.The period since the emergence of humans has displayed an ongoing biodiversity reduction and an accompanying loss of genetic diversity. Named the Holocene extinction, the reduction is caused primarily by human impacts, particularly habitat destruction. Conversely, biodiversity impacts human health in a number of ways, both positively and negatively.The United Nations designated 2011–2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.