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To reverse biodiversity loss, creating resilient ecological networks has been promoted in policy and practice. However, we argue that emphasising networks within policy without clear conservation prioritisations may direct focus away from ecological processes important for population persistence. We studied the rationale for resilient ecological networks represented in a policy context, by reviewi
We have investigated the bacterial decomposition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) extracted from the organic layer of a boreal forest soil and filtered at a pore size of 0.2 µm. This DOM source has previously been extensively characterized and contains approximately equal amounts by carbon of a colloidal fraction, mainly composed of carbohydrates, and a fraction of molecularly dissolved DOM. Here
Context: Land-use intensification to increase yields is often detrimental to biodiversity undermining the provision of ecosystem services. However, it is questionable if ecosystem service providers contribute to ecological intensification by achieving the same or higher yields than conventional high-intensity agriculture. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to disentangle the effects of local and
Human activities in deciduous forests over the past centuries have influenced associated species. To reduce extinction risks and mitigate population declines, there is growing interest in forest conservation and restoration, including initiatives by the European Union (EU). For resulting restoration and conservation practices to succeed, it is essential to know which forest characteristics promote
Infectious and parasitic agents (IPAs) and their associated diseases are major environmental stressors that jeopardize bee health, both alone and in interaction with other stressors. Their impact on pollinator communities can be assessed by studying multiple sentinel bee species. Here, we analysed the field exposure of three sentinel managed bee species (Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia
European semi-natural grasslands are hotspots for biodiversity and important for the provisioning of multiple ecosystem services, but their extent has declined considerably during the past century. Increasing demands for agricultural and forest biomass risk causing further loss of grasslands, raising concern about a goal conflict between climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation. This study
Agricultural intensification and expansion are regarded as main drivers of biodiversity loss. This conclusion is mainly based on observed declines of local diversity (α-diversity), while effects on community composition homogenization (decrease of β-diversity) at a larger spatial scale are less well understood. Carabid beetles and spiders represent two widespread guilds and are important predators
Resource competition between wild pollinators and managed honeybees (Apis mellifera) has the potential to detrimentally impact insect biodiversity as well as wild plant and crop pollination. As honeybees are central place foragers, their competitive impact on wild bees is expected to be structured by hive proximity, in conjunction with foraging decisions related to landscape-level resource availab
Agricultural intensification is widely recognised as a primary driver of pollinator loss, but the success of land-management actions designed to remediate its impact is often mixed. Payments to farmers to increase habitat connectivity or the availability of floral and nesting resources may only result in short-term gains or even unintended consequences. The reasons may lie in changes to interactio
Residential gardens can provide pollinator habitat and thus contribute to mitigating declines of insect pollinators. To further improve gardens for pollinators, it is necessary to understand the factors and pathways leading to successful conservation interventions. We studied how the success of two common pro-pollinator interventions, garden meadows and flower plantings, were influenced by gardene
INTRODUCTION: The optimal depth for decompression stops is unclear. We hypothesize that a decompression stop at 1.3 bar, compared with 1.6 bar, decreases post-dive whole-body nitrogen washout volumes and venous gas emboli (VGE).METHODS: In this randomized crossover trial, divers performed wet air dives of 40 minutes at 3.4 bar (340 kPa) with a seven-minute-long decompression stop at either 1.3 bar
Tudo o que comemos gera impactos ambientais: do uso do solo na lavoura, passando pelo transporte, processamento, consumo e descarte de embalagens e resíduos. Entender esse impacto ambiental da alimentação é complexo, mas já existem informações suficientes para orientar decisões mais bem informadas.
INTRODUCTION: Sexual life is important for many people and may be limited by breathlessness. We evaluated associations between breathlessness and individuals' perceived satisfaction with sexual lives and explored mediating factors in this relationship. METHODS: A cross-sectional, online, population-based survey of Australian adults with key demographics (age, sex, rurality, state/territory) reflec
Riverine colloids are important carriers of macronutrients, trace metals, and pollutants into marine waters. The aim of the current study was to extend the understanding of iron (Fe) and organic carbon (OC) colloids in boreal rivers and their fate at higher salinities. X-ray absorbance spectroscopy (XAS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were combined to explore Fe speciation and colloidal charac
Duplicative horizontal gene transfer may bring two previously separated homologous genes together, which may raise questions about the interplay between the gene products. One such gene pair is the “native” PgiC1 and “foreign” PgiC2 in the perennial grass Festuca ovina. Both PgiC1 and PgiC2 encode cytosolic phosphoglucose isomerase, a dimeric enzyme whose proper binding is functionally essential.
How do fungi navigate through the complex microscopic maze-like structures found in the soil? Fungal behaviour, especially at the hyphal scale, is largely unknown and challenging to study in natural habitats such as the opaque soil matrix. We monitored hyphal growth behaviour and strategies of seven Basidiomycete litter decomposing species in a micro-fabricated "Soil Chip" system that simulates pr
Air pollution by lead, even in small concentrations, can cause serious health effects. In the atmosphere this element can generally be found in particulate matter (PM), and in general in small concentrations. This work proposes the development of an analytical method for lead determination in inhaled PM based on ultrasound-assisted extraction with subsequent supramolecular solvent based dispersive
Site-specific land management practice taking into account variability in maize yield gaps (the difference between yields in the 90th percentiles and other yields on smallholder farmers’ fields) could improve resource use efficiency and enhance yields. However, the applicability of the practice is constrained by inability to identify patterns of resource utilization to target application of resour
Plasma biomarkers that reflect molecular states of the cardiovascular system are central for clinical decision making. Routinely used plasma biomarkers include troponins, natriuretic peptides, and lipoprotein particles, yet interrogate only a modest subset of pathways relevant to cardiovascular disease. Systematic profiling of a larger portion of circulating plasma proteins (the plasma proteome) w
Background: Lipoprotein(a) concentrations in plasma are associated with cardiovascular risk in the general population. Whether lipoprotein(a) concentrations or LPA genetic variants predict long-term mortality in patients with established coronary heart disease remains less clear. Methods: We obtained data from 3313 patients with established coronary heart disease in the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardi
