Does Invasion Science Encompass the Invaded Range? A Comparison of the Geographies of Invasion Science Versus Management in the U.S.

Biases in invasion science lead to a taxonomic focus on plants, particularly a subset of well-studied plants, and a geographic focus on invasions in Europe and North America. Geographic biases could also cause some branches of invasion science to focus on a subset of environmental conditions in the invaded range, potentially leading to an incomplete understanding of the ecology and management of plant invasions. While broader, country-level geographic biases are well known, it is unclear whether these biases extend to a finer scale and thus affect research within the invaded range. This study assessed whether research sites for ten well-studied invasive plants in the U.S. are geographically biased relative to each species’ invaded range. We compared the distribution, climate, and land uses of research sites for 735 scientific articles to manager records from EDDMapS and iMap Invasives representing the invaded range. We attributed each study to one of five types: impact, invasive trait, mapping, management, and recipient community traits. While the number of research sites was much smaller than the number of manager records, they generally encompassed similar geographies. However, research sites tended to skew towards species’ warm range margins, indicating that researchers have knowledge on how these plants might behave in a warming climate. For all but one species, at least one study type encompassed a significantly different climate space from manager records, suggesting that some level of climatic bias is common. Impact and management studies occurred within the same climate space for all species, suggesting that these studies focus on similar areas – likely those with the greatest impacts and management needs. Manager records were more likely to be found near roads, which are both habitats and vectors for invasive plants, and on public land. Research sites were more likely to be found near a college or university. Studies on these plants largely occur across their invaded range, however, different study types occur within a narrower climate range. This clustering can create gaps in our general understanding of how these plants interact with different environments, which can have important policy and management consequences

Bioconcentration des éléments traces dans les horizons de surface d'un sol forestier non-contaminé

Les patrons d’accumulation d’éléments traces dans les horizons de surface sont bien documentés et généralement associés à la présence de sources proximales. À fine échelle et en l’absence de sources locales, ces patrons d’accumulation se développent selon la végétation locale et les propriétés chimiques du sol. L’objectif de la recherche était de comprendre quel est le rôle de la végétation dans le développement des patrons de distribution de éléments traces à fine-échelle dans une forêt non-contaminée. Les sols ont été échantillonnés dans une parcelle de 1500 m2 qui avait un gradient important dans la distribution de bouleaux jaunes (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.). La composition de la litière à chaque point d’échantillonnage et les concentrations de Ca, Cd, Mg, Mn, Pb et Zn ont été analysés pour les horizons F et B. Les feuilles vivantes des cinq espèces dominantes au site d’étude ont aussi été récoltées à la fin de la saison de croissance. Les feuilles de bouleaux jaunes avaient jusqu’à 13 fois la concentration de Cd et Zn des autres espèces principales sur le site. Les analyses spatiales ont mis en évidence des patrons similaires dans la distribution de la litière de bouleau jaune et les concentrations de Cd et Zn dans l’horizon F. Pour ces deux éléments traces, des différences significatives ont été trouvées entre les aires de haute et de basse densité de bouleaux jaunes dans les horizons F et B. Dans l’horizon F, l’aire de haute densité de bouleaux avait des plus fortes concentrations de Cd et de Zn. Dans l’horizon B, une tendance inverse a été trouvée pour les deux éléments traces. L’absorption annuelle de ces deux éléments par chaque espèce a été estimée. Il a été possible de déterminer qu’au courant de quelques décennies, il serait possible pour les bouleaux jaunes de créer les différences observées dans l’horizon B. Ces résultats soulignent l’importance des cycles biologiques sur l’accumulation d’éléments traces dans les sols forestiers non-contaminés.Large-scale trace element accumulation patterns in topsoil are well documented and often associated with nearby input sources. On a fine scale, and in the absence of a distinct source, these accumulation patterns develop according to local vegetation and the chemical properties of the soil. This project aimed to understand the role of vegetation in defining fine-scale trace element distribution patterns in the surface horizons of an uncontaminated forest. Fresh leaf samples were collected from dominant tree species at the end of the growing season. Soil samples were collected from a 1500 m2 plot that had a strong gradient in the distribution of yellow birches (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.). The composition of leaf litter at each sampling point and the pH, organic matter content and the Ca, Cd, Mg, Mn, Pb, and Zn concentrations of the organic F and mineral B horizons were analysed. Yellow birch leaves had up to 13 times the Cd and Zn concentrations of the other species on site. Spatial analyses found common distribution patterns between birch leaf litter and Cd and Zn concentrations in the F horizon. Significant differences exist between areas with a high and a low birch density for both elements in both horizons. In the F horizon, the high density area had higher concentrations of Cd and Zn. In the B horizon, an opposite trend was found for Cd and Zn. The yearly uptake of both elements for each species was estimated. Over a few decades, uptake by yellow birches could account for the observed differences in the B horizon. These results emphasize the role of biological cycling on trace element accumulation in the surface horizons of uncontaminated forest soils

Dietary interventions for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy people in late life

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: In this review we will set out to evaluate the effects of dietary interventions for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy people in late-life

Double jeopardy: The effects of retrial knowledge on juror decisions

Since the passage of the Double Jeopardy (Scotland) Act 2011, mirroring changes in other jurisdictions, a person who has been acquitted in Scotland can, under certain circumstances, be retried for that offence. Jurors could have knowledge of the previous acquittal verdict (whether not guilty or not proven) through media sources, potentially biasing the new jury in their decision-making. The current study invited 253 participants to give a verdict to a mock murder trial after either receiving pretrial information about the original verdict or no information about the case being a retrial. Significantly more acquittal verdicts were given when the participants were told that it was a retrial, compared to the control condition, irrespective of whether the prior verdict was not guilty or not proven. Findings are discussed in light of jurors’ knowledge of legal concepts and acquittal verdicts, and the increasing exposure of the general Scottish public to the not proven verdict due to increased media coverage

Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Double Trouble. Understanding risks from invasive species + climate change

Individually, invasive species and climate change are major threats to global ecosystems. Together they create new challenges for effective management. Before we can design management strategies to respond to this double trouble, we need to understand how these two forms of global change interact

Breaking down barriers to consistent, climate-smart regulation of invasive plants - a case study of northeast states

Efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of new invasive plants are most effective when regulated species are consistent across jurisdictional boundaries and proactively prohibit species before they arrive or in the earliest stages of invasion. Consistent and proactive regulation is particularly important in the northeast U.S. which is susceptible to many new invasive plants due to climate change. Unfortunately, recent analyses of state regulated plant lists show that regulated species are neither consistent nor proactive. To understand why, we focus on two steps leading to invasive plant regulation across six northeast states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont): which sets of species are evaluated and how risk is assessed. Our analysis confirms previous findings that invasive plant regulations are inconsistent and reactive. Of the 128 plants regulated by one or more states, 54 were regulated by a single state and only 16 were regulated by all six states; regulated species tended to be widespread across the region (not proactive). These outcomes are largely driven by different sets of evaluated species. For example, neighboring states Vermont and New Hampshire evaluated 92 species in total, but only 26 overlapped. In addition, states rarely evaluated species that were absent from the state. Risk assessment protocols varied considerably across states, but consistently included criteria related to ecological impact, potential to establish, dispersal mechanisms, and life history traits. While none of the assessments explicitly consider climate change, they also did not contain language that would preclude regulating species that have not yet arrived in the state. To increase consistency and proactivity, states would benefit from 1) evaluating species identified as high risk by neighboring states as well as high risk, range-shifting invasives, both of which we compiled here and 2) explicitly considering climate change when assessing ‘potential distribution’ or ‘potential impact’ of target species. Additionally, a mechanism for sharing knowledge and risk assessments regionally would benefit states with fewer resources to address invasive species threats. Presenting a unified defense against current and future threats is critical for reducing impacts from invasive species and is achievable with better state-to-state coordination

Proven and not proven: A potential alternative to the current Scottish verdict system

The current Scottish verdict system includes three verdicts: ‘guilty’, ‘not guilty’ and ‘not proven’. The Scottish Government are currently reviewing the utility of the not proven verdict. Proponents of the not proven verdict suggest that it directs jurors to their true role of determining whether the prosecution's case has, or has not, been ‘proven’. Reformists suggest a move to a system similar to England and Wales, with only guilty and not guilty verdicts. However, legal professionals have indicated a preference for an alternative system of proven and not proven. The aim of the current study was to test the effects of a proven and not proven system on verdicts given, when compared to alternative verdict systems (specifically, the current Scottish and Anglo‐American verdict systems). 227 mock jurors watched a staged murder trial, filmed in a real‐life courtroom, with legal professionals questioning witnesses and a judge giving legal direction. Jurors were significantly more likely to convict in a guilty and not guilty verdict system than either a proven and not proven or a guilty, not guilty and not proven verdict system. Future research should replicate this study with a focus on the impact of the not proven verdict in sexual offences

Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Taking Action. Managing invasive species in the context of climate change

Climate change is likely to alter the timing and effect of invasive species management, as well as the suite of species we are managing. Despite concern about the effects of climate change, lack of information about how and when to take action is a barrier to climate-smart invasive species management. Here, we outline strategies for incorporating climate change into management along with examples of tools that can inform proactive decision-making

Verdict spotting: Investigating the effects of juror bias, evidence anchors, and verdict system in jurors

The Scottish verdict of not proven represents a second acquittal verdict which is not legally defined. Existing research into the influence of the not proven verdict on jury decision making is modest. The main aim of the current study was therefore to investigate the influence of verdict systems (two vs three) on juror decision making. The effect of pre-trial bias and evidence anchors on juror judgements were also examined. One-hundred and twenty-eight mock jurors listened to two homicide vignettes and were asked to rate their belief of guilt of the accused and to give a verdict in both trials. The results suggest that pre-trial bias was a significant predictor of both verdict choice and belief of guilt, whereas evidence anchors were not a significant predictor of either. Finally, both guilty and not guilty verdicts were given with increased frequency in the two-verdict system when compared to the three-verdict system

Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Management Challenge: Gardening with climate-smart native plants in the Northeast

An estimated 80% of ornamental plants for sale are non-native. This means that the average yard does a poor job of supporting native flora and fauna. By shifting our plantings towards natives, we can dramatically increase the diversity of bees, butterflies, birds and other animals. In contrast, non-native plants do not support local food webs and can become invasive. Native plants increase biodiversity and reduce risks associated with invasive species, which supports resilient ecosystems in the face of climate change