Predicting species and community responses to global change using structured expert judgement : an Australian mountain ecosystems case study

Conservation managers are under increasing pressure to make decisions about the allocation of finite resources to protect biodiversity under a changing climate. However, the impacts of climate and global change drivers on species are outpacing our capacity to collect the empirical data necessary to inform these decisions. This is particularly the case in the Australian Alps which has already undergone recent changes in climate and experienced more frequent large-scale bushfires. In lieu of empirical data, we used a structured expert elicitation method (the IDEA protocol) to estimate the abundance and distribution of nine vegetation groups and 89 Australian alpine and subalpine species by the year 2050. Experts predicted that most alpine vegetation communities would decline in extent by 2050; only woodlands and heathlands are predicted to increase in extent. Predicted species-level responses for alpine plants and animals were highly variable and uncertain. In general, alpine plants spanned the range of possible responses, with some expected to increase, decrease or not change in cover. By contrast, almost all animal species are predicted to decline or not change in abundance or elevation range; more species with water-centric life-cycles are expected to decline in abundance than other species. While long-term ecological data will always be the gold-standard in informing the future of biodiversity, the method and outcomes outlined here provide a pragmatic and coherent basis upon which to start informing conservation policy and management in the face of rapid change and paucity of data

Assessment of risks to wildlife and animal welfare associated with Lodden, Sami traditional hunting of ducks in spring

Source at https://vkm.no/.Spring hunting for ducks (Lodden in Northern Sami) is part of the Sami hunting and trapping culture. In Norway, this traditional hunting has been permitted in Kautokeino Municipality in accordance with the exception provision in the Wildlife Act Section 15, with quotas for males of several duck species. However, hunting in the spring may be in conflict with the Nature Diversity Act's principle for species management, saying (quote from Section 15): “Unnecessary harm and suffering caused to animals occurring in the wild and their nests, lairs and burrows shall be avoided. Likewise, unnecessary pursuing of wildlife shall be avoided.” Furthermore, in accordance with international legislation and agreements, the Wildlife Act (Section 9) states that the hunting season should not be set to the nesting and breeding season for the species in question. The Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA) asked VKM to (1) assess risk and risk-reducing measures on biodiversity and animal welfare when conducting spring hunting of ducks. The terms of reference were additionally clarified by the NEA to include assessments of the risks associated with hunting quotas of up to 150, 300, and 500 male individuals, on the populations of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca), common scoter (Melanitta nigra), long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis), and red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator). VKM was furthermore asked to (2) point out risk-reducing measures in scenarios with hunting bags corresponding to the mentioned quotas of all the six species. VKM, risk assessment, Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment, Norwegian Environment Agency, mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca), common scoter (Melanitta nigra), long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis), red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator), spring hunting, LoddenpublishedVersio

Assessment of risks to wildlife and animal welfare associated with Lodden, Sami traditional hunting of ducks in spring

Spring hunting for ducks (Lodden in Northern Sami) is part of the Sami hunting and trapping culture. In Norway, this traditional hunting has been permitted in Kautokeino Municipality in accordance with the exception provision in the Wildlife Act Section 15, with quotas for males of several duck species. However, hunting in the spring may be in conflict with the Nature Diversity Act's principle for species management, saying (quote from Section 15): “Unnecessary harm and suffering caused to animals occurring in the wild and their nests, lairs and burrows shall be avoided. Likewise, unnecessary pursuing of wildlife shall be avoided.” Furthermore, in accordance with international legislation and agreements, the Wildlife Act (Section 9) states that the hunting season should not be set to the nesting and breeding season for the species in question. The Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA) asked VKM to (1) assess risk and risk-reducing measures on biodiversity and animal welfare when conducting spring hunting of ducks. The terms of reference were additionally clarified by the NEA to include assessments of the risks associated with hunting quotas of up to 150, 300, and 500 male individuals, on the populations of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca), common scoter (Melanitta nigra), long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis), and red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator). VKM was furthermore asked to (2) point out risk-reducing measures in scenarios with hunting bags corresponding to the mentioned quotas of all the six species. VKM, risk assessment, Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment, Norwegian Environment Agency, mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca), common scoter (Melanitta nigra), long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis), red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator), spring hunting, LoddenpublishedVersio

The release of common pheasants and grey partridges for pointing dog training- consequences for biodiversity, animal welfare and health. Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Biodiversity of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment

Bakgrunn Siden sent på 1800-tallet har det blitt satt ut et ukjent antall tamme fasaner og rapphøns i norsk natur. Disse fuglene brukes til jakttrening av stående fuglehunder. Import, hold og utsetting av fasaner og rapphøns har i liten grad vært regulert og det er heller ikke utredet hvilke konsekvenser som import, hold og utsetting og jakttrening vil kunne ha for biologisk mangfold, dyrehelse og dyrevelferd. Miljødirektoratet og Mattilsynet har i felleskap bedt VKM om å utarbeide en vitenskapelig vurdering av mulige konsekvenser av utsetting av fasan og rapphøns på biologisk mangfold, dyrehelse og dyrevelferd. VKM ble også bedt om å foreslå eventuelle risikoreduserende tiltak for biologisk mangfold og dyrevelferd. Metoder VKM opprettet en prosjektgruppe med ekspertise innenfor blant annet fugleøkologi, landskapsøkologi, populasjonsbiologi, viltmedisin og dyrevelferd. Gruppen utførte systematiske litteratursøk, undersøkte resultatene fra søkene og supplerte med andre relevante studier der det var nødvendig. I mangel av studier fra norske forhold brukte VKM studier fra andre land som setter ut fasaner og rapphøns (og i noen tilfeller andre arter av fuglevilt) som referanse. VKM undersøkte observasjonsdata for fasaner og rapphøns i Norge for perioden 2000 til 2022. I vurderingen av de ulike aspektene som vil kunne påvirkes av utsettingen, la VKM til grunn en årlig utsetting av noen få tusen fugler i Norge. Høyere antall og tetthet av fugler vil øke sannsynligheten for negative effekter og alvorlighetsgraden av konsekvensene. VKM vurderte effekten som utsatte fasaner og rapphøns har på konkurranse med norske fugler,, krysning med beslektede arter, sykdomsoverføring, effekter på flora (herbivori), og fauna (predasjon). I tillegg ble indirekte effekter gjennom interaksjon med andre arter vurtdert. VKM vurderte også effekt på biologisk mangfold i et 50-års perspektiv. I tillegg diskuterte VKM hvordan fuglenes velferd vil kunne påvirkes av hold, transport, utsetting, og eksponering for jakthunder. VKM lister også opp relevante sykdommer og vurderer den potensielle effekten av disse på dyrehelse under hold, transport og utsetting. For vurdering av aspekter relatert til import og dyrehelse, la VKM til grunn at fuglene importeres fra Sverige. Resultater og konklusjoner VKMs vurderinger viste at utsetting av fasaner og rapphøns i norsk natur medfører risiko for biologisk mangfold, dyrehelse og dyrevelferd. Risiko for økt konkurranse om mat vinterstid med fugler som har lignende økologisk nisje som fasaner og rapphøns, er lav på nasjonal skala og moderat på lokal skala. Det gjelder spesielt gulspurv, Emberiza citronella. Denne arten er klassifisert som sårbar på den nasjonale rødlisten grunnet økende nedgang i bestanden, som igjen er forårsaket av redusert tilgjengelighet av mat om vinteren. Det er videre moderat risiko for predasjon på invertebrater (virvelløse dyr) og negative effekter på flora.The release of common pheasants and grey partridges for pointing dog training- consequences for biodiversity, animal welfare and health. Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Biodiversity of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and EnvironmentpublishedVersio

The release of common pheasants and grey partridges for pointing dog training- consequences for biodiversity, animal welfare and health. Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Biodiversity of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment

Source at https://vkm.no/.Bakgrunn Siden sent på 1800-tallet har det blitt satt ut et ukjent antall tamme fasaner og rapphøns i norsk natur. Disse fuglene brukes til jakttrening av stående fuglehunder. Import, hold og utsetting av fasaner og rapphøns har i liten grad vært regulert og det er heller ikke utredet hvilke konsekvenser som import, hold og utsetting og jakttrening vil kunne ha for biologisk mangfold, dyrehelse og dyrevelferd. Miljødirektoratet og Mattilsynet har i felleskap bedt VKM om å utarbeide en vitenskapelig vurdering av mulige konsekvenser av utsetting av fasan og rapphøns på biologisk mangfold, dyrehelse og dyrevelferd. VKM ble også bedt om å foreslå eventuelle risikoreduserende tiltak for biologisk mangfold og dyrevelferd. Metoder VKM opprettet en prosjektgruppe med ekspertise innenfor blant annet fugleøkologi, landskapsøkologi, populasjonsbiologi, viltmedisin og dyrevelferd. Gruppen utførte systematiske litteratursøk, undersøkte resultatene fra søkene og supplerte med andre relevante studier der det var nødvendig. I mangel av studier fra norske forhold brukte VKM studier fra andre land som setter ut fasaner og rapphøns (og i noen tilfeller andre arter av fuglevilt) som referanse. VKM undersøkte observasjonsdata for fasaner og rapphøns i Norge for perioden 2000 til 2022. I vurderingen av de ulike aspektene som vil kunne påvirkes av utsettingen, la VKM til grunn en årlig utsetting av noen få tusen fugler i Norge. Høyere antall og tetthet av fugler vil øke sannsynligheten for negative effekter og alvorlighetsgraden av konsekvensene. VKM vurderte effekten som utsatte fasaner og rapphøns har på konkurranse med norske fugler,, krysning med beslektede arter, sykdomsoverføring, effekter på flora (herbivori), og fauna (predasjon). I tillegg ble indirekte effekter gjennom interaksjon med andre arter vurtdert. VKM vurderte også effekt på biologisk mangfold i et 50-års perspektiv. I tillegg diskuterte VKM hvordan fuglenes velferd vil kunne påvirkes av hold, transport, utsetting, og eksponering for jakthunder. VKM lister også opp relevante sykdommer og vurderer den potensielle effekten av disse på dyrehelse under hold, transport og utsetting. For vurdering av aspekter relatert til import og dyrehelse, la VKM til grunn at fuglene importeres fra Sverige. Resultater og konklusjoner VKMs vurderinger viste at utsetting av fasaner og rapphøns i norsk natur medfører risiko for biologisk mangfold, dyrehelse og dyrevelferd. Risiko for økt konkurranse om mat vinterstid med fugler som har lignende økologisk nisje som fasaner og rapphøns, er lav på nasjonal skala og moderat på lokal skala. Det gjelder spesielt gulspurv, Emberiza citronella. Denne arten er klassifisert som sårbar på den nasjonale rødlisten grunnet økende nedgang i bestanden, som igjen er forårsaket av redusert tilgjengelighet av mat om vinteren. Det er videre moderat risiko for predasjon på invertebrater (virvelløse dyr) og negative effekter på flora.The release of common pheasants and grey partridges for pointing dog training- consequences for biodiversity, animal welfare and health. Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Biodiversity of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and EnvironmentpublishedVersio

The thermal tolerance of photosynthetic tissues: a global systematic review and agenda for future research

Understanding plant thermal tolerance is fundamental to predicting impacts of extreme temperature events that are increasing in frequency and intensity across the globe. Extremes, not averages, drive species evolution, determine survival, and increased crop performance. To better prioritise agricultural and natural system research, it is crucial to evaluate how researchers are assessing the capacity of plants to tolerate extreme events. We conducted a systematic review to determine how plant thermal tolerance research is distributed across wild and domesticated plants, growth forms and biomes, and identify crucial knowledge gaps. Our review shows that most thermal tolerance research examines cold tolerance of cultivated species; ~5% of articles consider both heat and cold tolerance. Plants of extreme environments are understudied, and techniques widely applied in cultivated systems are largely unused in natural systems. Lastly, we find that lack of standardised methods and metrics compromises the potential for mechanistic insight. Our review provides an entry point for those new to the methods used in plant thermal tolerance research and bridges often disparate ecological and agricultural perspectives for the more experienced. We present a considered agenda of thermal tolerance research priorities to stimulate efficient, reliable, and repeatable research across the spectrum of plant thermal tolerance

Fifteen emerging challenges and opportunities for vegetation science: A horizon scan by early career researchers

With the aim to identify future challenges and opportunities in vegetation science, we brought together a group of 22 early career vegetation scientists from diverse backgrounds to perform a horizon scan. In this contribution, we present a selection of 15 topics that were ranked by participants as the most emergent and impactful for vegetation science in the face of global change. We highlight methodological tools that we expect will play a critical role in resolving emerging issues by providing ways to unveil new aspects of plant community dynamics and structure. These tools include next generation sequencing, plant spectral imaging, process-based species distribution models, resurveying studies and permanent plots. Further, we stress the need to integrate long-term monitoring, the study of novel ecosystems, below-ground traits, pollination interactions and global networks of near-surface microclimate data at fine spatio-temporal resolutions to fully understand and predict the impacts of climate change on vegetation dynamics. We also emphasize the need to integrate traditional forms of knowledge and a diversity of stakeholders into research, teaching, management and policy-making to advance the field of vegetation science. The conclusions reached by this horizon scan naturally reflect the background, expertise and interests of a representative pool of early career vegetation scientists, which should serve as basis for future developments in the field

Plant trait and vegetation data along a 1314 m elevation gradient with fire history in Puna grasslands, Perú

Alpine grassland vegetation supports globally important biodiversity and ecosystems that are increasingly threatened by climate warming and other environmental changes. Trait-based approaches can support understanding of vegetation responses to global change drivers and consequences for ecosystem functioning. In six sites along a 1314 m elevational gradient in Puna grasslands in the Peruvian Andes, we collected datasets on vascular plant composition, plant functional traits, biomass, ecosystem fluxes, and climate data over three years. The data were collected in the wet and dry season and from plots with different fire histories. We selected traits associated with plant resource use, growth, and life history strategies (leaf area, leaf dry/wet mass, leaf thickness, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf C, N, P content, C and N isotopes). The trait dataset contains 3,665 plant records from 145 taxa, 54,036 trait measurements (increasing the trait data coverage of the regional flora by 420%) covering 14 traits and 121 plant taxa (ca. 40% of which have no previous publicly available trait data) across 33 families

Aciphylla glacialis mortality, growth and frost resistance: a field warming experiment

Decreasing snow depth and earlier snowmelt in alpine regions are expected to expose plants to a greater range of thermal extremes. Thus, paradoxically, in addition to increasing mean temperatures, aseasonal frost is likely to emerge as a major determinant of plant survival and development under a warming climate. Through the use of open top chambers, we assessed the effects of simulated warming on seedlings of the alpine herb Aciphylla glacialis (F.Muell.) Benth, sourced from provenances that vary in thermal characteristics. We hypothesised that seedlings grown at elevated temperature would have reduced survival and lower freezing resistance, but that individuals that did survive would show increased growth. Further, we hypothesised that seedlings sourced from the lower-elevation sites, where temperatures are more variable, would exhibit lower mortality at warmed conditions than those from sites with narrower thermal ranges. Warmed conditions significantly increased seedling mortality but those that survived grew slightly taller than their ambient counterparts, with no impact on leaf production or photosynthetic efficiency. Although the warming treatment did not influence temperature minimums, which would have allowed us to assess the impact of aseasonal frosts, there was no effect on freezing resistance. Contrary to our expectations, there was little evidence of variation among provenances. Our results indicate that a warmer climate with more extreme events may lead to a reduction in seedling establishment and survival; however, seedlings that do survive and establish are unlikely to express any lingering detrimental effects

An innovative approach to using an intensive field course to build scientific and professional skills

This paper reports on the design and evaluation of Field Studies in Functional Ecology (FSFE), a two-week intensive residential field course that enables students to master core content in functional ecology alongside skills that facilitate their transition from “student” to “scientist.” We provide an overview of the course structure, showing how the constituent elements have been designed and refined over successive iterations of the course. We detail how FSFE students: (1) Work closely with discipline specialists to develop a small group project that tests an hypothesis to answer a genuine scientific question in the field; (2) Learn critical skills of data management and communication; and (3) Analyze, interpret, and present their results in the format of a scientific symposium. This process is repeated in an iterative “cognitive apprenticeship” model, supported by a series of workshops that name and explicitly instruct the students in “hard” and “soft” skills (e.g., statistics and teamwork, respectively) critically relevant for research and other careers. FSFE students develop a coherent and nuanced understanding of how to approach and execute ecological studies. The sophisticated knowledge and ecological research skills that they develop during the course is demonstrated through high-quality presentations and peer-reviewed publications in an open-access, student-led journal. We outline our course structure and evaluate its efficacy to show how this novel combination of field course elements allows students to gain maximum value from their educational journey, and to develop cognitive, affective, and reflective tools to help apply their skills as scientists.publishedVersio