Konektivitas habitat menentukan hasil keanekaragaman hayati di hutan yang dikelola masyarakat

Kami menemukan bahwa hutan yang dikelola oleh masyarakat lokal dapat mendukung kehidupan satwa liar seperti halnya kawasan hutan lindung di sekitarnya, terutama ketika hutan-hutan tersebut tetap terhubung dengan baik di seluruh bentang alam. Temuan ini memiliki implikasi penting tentang bagaimana perhutanan sosial dapat dimasukkan ke dalam strategi konservasi di masa mendatang. Di seluruh dunia, para pemerintah semakin banyak memberikan hak kepada masyarakat lokal untuk mengelola … Continue reading Konektivitas habitat menentukan hasil keanekaragaman hayati di hutan yang dikelola masyarakat

Habitat connectivity shapes biodiversity outcomes in community forests

We found that community-managed forests can support wildlife just as well as nearby protection forests, especially when forests remain well connected across the landscape. This has important implications for how community forestry is included in future conservation strategies. Across the world, governments are increasingly giving local communities the rights to manage forests. Indonesia is rapidly expanding its community forestry programme, and aims to place 12.7 … Continue reading Habitat connectivity shapes biodiversity outcomes in community forests

混合造林透過微生物和土壤有機碳的多樣性增強了土壤功能。

植樹造林常被視為恢復退化土地和改善土壤健康的策略,但並非所有造林模式都能產生相同的生態效益。土壤不僅為植物提供必需養分,還支持微生物活動、促進有機質分層並維持養分循環。 為了探討不同造林模式如何共同影響這些土壤功能,本研究比較了中國熱帶地區的裸地、純桉樹林、混合林和老齡天然林,評估了造林活動對土壤功能的影響。研究發現,造林顯著增強了土壤功能,且混合林的表現優於純林。進一步分析表明,土壤有機分子的多樣性是連接微生物碳特徵與土壤多功能的關鍵紐帶。 植樹造林——尤其是混合造林——增加了土壤有機碳分子的種類,從而促進了有機質分解、養分釋放及微生物功能的發揮。這些結果表明,熱帶地區的生態修復不應只關注植樹數量,更應重視樹種的選擇與群落組成。 在造林實踐中優先採用混合模式並專注於恢復土壤有機碳分子的多樣性,將有助於更有效地提升森林土壤健康與生態系統功能。 This is a Plain Language Summary discussing a recently published article in Journal of Applied Ecology. Find the full article here. Continue reading 混合造林透過微生物和土壤有機碳的多樣性增強了土壤功能。

Pixelated pathologies: Camera trapping as a tool for monitoring wildlife health

In a world of emerging diseases that threaten both wildlife conservation and public health, finding innovative ways to monitor animal populations has never been more necessary. Traditional methods often involve capturing or handling animals, which is stressful, costly, and logistically challenging. But what if we could detect diseases without disturbing an animal? A promising solution for this challenge is the use of camera traps. This … Continue reading Pixelated pathologies: Camera trapping as a tool for monitoring wildlife health

Hohe Pflanzenartenvielfalt durch Einsatz hochwertiger Renaturierungsmethoden fördert Grünland-Schmetterlinge

Um den Rückgang der Artenvielfalt von Flora und Fauna umzukehren, müssen artenreiche Grünland-Ökosysteme dringend wiederhergestellt werden. Die Identifizierung erfolgreicher Strategien zur Renaturierung ist daher von großer Bedeutung, insbesondere im Hinblick auf die Umsetzung der EU-Renaturierungsverordnung auf nationaler Ebene. Tagfalter und Widderchen als sensitive Indikatoren ermöglichen dabei eine ganzheitliche Betrachtung des Renaturierungserfolgs, welche den Landschaftskontext berücksichtigen. Unsere Studie wollte herausfinden, unter welchen Bedingungen sich artenreiche Tagfalter- … Continue reading Hohe Pflanzenartenvielfalt durch Einsatz hochwertiger Renaturierungsmethoden fördert Grünland-Schmetterlinge

Recovery of grassland butterflies requires high plant diversity by implementing high-quality restoration methods

To reverse the decline in plant and animal biodiversity, it is urgent to restore species-rich grasslands. Identifying successful restoration strategies is therefore highly relevant, especially with regard to the national implementation of the EU nature restoration regulation. In this context, butterflies can be used as sensitive indicators that allow for a holistic assessment of restoration success and take the landscape context into account. Our study … Continue reading Recovery of grassland butterflies requires high plant diversity by implementing high-quality restoration methods

Young owls stealing food from neighbors reduces chick survival

We sought to understand whether adding many nest boxes for barn owls, a common way to help control rodents on farms, might have hidden drawbacks. While more nest boxes can boost owl numbers, it is not always clear if this improves the survival of young birds. We studied barn owls in northern Israel using small electronic tags that recorded each time a bird entered a … Continue reading Young owls stealing food from neighbors reduces chick survival

Mixed tree planting boosts soil functions via microbial and Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) diversity

Afforestation is widely used to restore degraded land and improve soil health, but not all planting approaches deliver the same ecological benefits. Soils perform many important functions, including supplying nutrients to plants, supporting microbial activity, decomposing organic matter and maintaining nutrient cycling. However, how different afforestation strategies influence these functions together remains poorly understood. In this study, we compared four land-use types in tropical China: … Continue reading Mixed tree planting boosts soil functions via microbial and Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) diversity

Field Diaries: Weaving knowledge to revive indigenous plants and practices in Mpondoland, South Africa

In our ‘Field Diaries’ series, The Applied Ecologist is sharing stories from a range of different fieldwork experiences.  About the author Mallika Sardeshpande, She/her Affiliation: Ecology interests: Agroecology, Urban ecology, Green infrastructure Overview of fieldwork In 2024, I secured my first applied project grant, to work on indigenous agroforestry in the Mpondoland Centre of Endemism in South Africa. The project was a collaboration between the indigenous people’s … Continue reading Field Diaries: Weaving knowledge to revive indigenous plants and practices in Mpondoland, South Africa

Can AI improve decision-making in applied ecology? Only if we guide it well

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly entering our daily lives. As the world begins to rely on it for small decisions, such as choosing which furniture suits our garden décor, scientists are witnessing a much larger shift quietly unfolding. AI is now entering ecology, and more importantly, applied ecology, a field that supports real-time high-stakes decision-making for our planet and posterity. AI-based tools can identify species … Continue reading Can AI improve decision-making in applied ecology? Only if we guide it well