Explore the vast range of titles available.

Spatial patterns of movement are fundamental to the ecology of animal populations, influencing their social organization, mating systems, demography, and the spatial distribution of prey and competitors. However, our ability to understand the causes and consequences of animal home range patterns has been limited by the descriptive nature of the statistical models used to analyze them. InMechanistic Home Range Analysis, Paul Moorcroft and Mark Lewis develop a radically new framework for studying animal home range patterns based on the analysis of correlated random work models for individual movement behavior. They use this framework to develop a series of mechanistic home range models for carnivore populations. The authors' analysis illustrates how, in contrast to traditional statistical home range models that merely describe pattern, mechanistic home range models can be used to discover the underlying ecological determinants of home range patterns observed in populations, make accurate predictions about how spatial distributions of home ranges will change following environmental or demographic disturbance, and analyze the functional significance of the movement strategies of individuals that give rise to observed patterns of space use. By providing researchers and graduate students of ecology and wildlife biology with a more illuminating way to analyze animal movement,Mechanistic Home Range Analysiswill be an indispensable reference for years to come.

Species distributions are determined by abiotic and biotic factors as well as dispersal, but most studies focus exclusively on abiotic (mainly climatic) components. In this study, we evaluated the influence of dispersal as a predictor for species distribution models (SDMs) using the turtle Mesoclemmys tuberculata as an example. We specifically tested whether dispersal is a better predictor of the distribution of M. tuberculata than climatic predictors. We sampled occurrence records of M. tuberculata to build SDMs and used the distance of each cell to the nearest river (river distance) as a predictor for dispersal. In addition, three bioclimatic predictors that quantify temperature and precipitation were used. We applied five different algorithms (BioClim, Domain, Maxent, SVM, and Random Forest) to model the distribution of M. tuberculata and evaluate the relative influence of each predictor variable. Although models including dispersal as a predictor performed slightly better than models omitting it, climatic predictors were found to be more important to describe species distribution across all SDMs. Our results suggest that although dispersal limits the potential geographic areas that the species may reach, abiotic parameters determine where M. tuberculata actually lives. Finally, we used consensus maps to prioritize areas for future field surveys.

The content of biophilic elements in soils and minerals of shore depressions of highly mineralized chloride lakes in the Uldza-Torey endorheic basin (Dauria, Russia) and the microbiota involved in the cycles of these elements have been comprehensively studied for the first time. The data on the gross content and mobile forms of biophilic macro- (N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, and S) and microelements (Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Co) in soils of the local biota concentration of the Uldza-Torey basin reflect differences in the geosphere–biosphere interactions of biotic and abiotic components in quasi-gley solonchaks and saline humus–gley and saline light-humus soils. The great significance of halomorphic soils for preserving the biodiversity of steppe territories (Dauria, Transbaikalia) has been established. Maximal concentrations of the total content of biophilic elements and mobile forms of nitrogen, sulfur, calcium, sodium, manganese, and magnesium have been revealed within the Sg,ca horizon of the quasi-gley solonchak. This layer is characterized by the highest index of microbial diversity; a significant proportion of taxa participating in the cycles of biophilic elements; and the formation of new minerals with wide variations of the silicon, aluminum, and sodium content. The underlying horizons of solonchak (CQs) are enriched with sodium, magnesium, and sulfur under the impact of sulfate–chloride–sodium groundwater. Calcite, calcium amphiboles, and monocyte predominate in mineralogical composition. The enrichment of solonchaks with mobile forms of biophilic elements and the presence of various minerals containing Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, and rare-earth elements (Ce, La, Nd, Sm, and Th), confirm both the sodium and the rare-earth hypotheses of lithophagia of animals. A significant deficit of most gross and mobile forms of biophilic elements, a decrease in microbial diversity, and the predomination of minerals typical for acid rocks and rarely of basites have been revealed in the upper horizons of humus–gley saline and light-humus saline soils. The lower layers formed by paleohydromorphic lake sediments contain oxides with a low proportion of chlorine, sulfur, and sodium (8–15%) and are enriched with easily soluble salts and mobile forms of sodium and sulfur. The content of other biophilic elements is estimated as low and very low.

Macrobenthic mollusks are considered a good aquatic bioindicator for environmental biomonitoring. This study was conducted in Tembelas Island, Karimun District, Kepulauan Riau Province, at 103°29'47' - 103°29'90' BT and 0.991°16'63' - 0.989°06'37' LS. The objective was to compare the quality of water and sediment at Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) sites, monocultural sites and reference sites using the community structure of mollusks, and to assess the potential of mollusks as bioindicator. The research was conducted in June and October of 2016. Data of abiotic parameters included the composition of sediment substrate and DO, pH, salinity, temperature and turbidity. The sampling procedure was performed with the use of an Ekman Grab. The animals obtained were 1 mm size-sieved and were fixed using 10% formalin for further analysis. In total there were 49 species and 2 classes obtained (Gastropods and Bivalves). The most prevalent genus were Costoanachis sp (Fam. Collumbellidae) and Anodontia sp (Fam. Lucinidae). The values of outcomes from indices used were considered low, ranging from 1.34 to 2.54 for diversity (H'), from 0.86 to 0.96 for evenness, and from 0.11 to 0.31 for dominance (C). Further analysis consisting of a multivariate approach and graphical methods of cluster analysis and Non- Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) ordination showed differences between the assemblages in the aquacultural areas and the reference area. However, the tendency of grouping the stations between IMTA and monocultural sites did not occur, implying both sites have relatively similar structures of macrobenthic mollusks. Based on the data obtained, sediment composition at the KJABB IMTA, monocultural areas and the reference area were dominated by silt, with the highest value being 92.06% found in the KJABB IMTA area. Clay, silt and nitrogen levels were the abiotic factors influencing structure of macrobenthic mollusks (BIO-ENV-Primer 6.1.5; r = 0.571).

Moringa oleifera Lam. contains numerous essential constituents found in all plant parts (leaves, pods, and seeds). From all its edible parts, the leaf represents an effective remedy with high potential for medicinal applications. Ecuador is part of the new promising cultivation areas for Moringa, and therefore our study is emphasized to determine the influence of soil nutrition, toxicity (excess), and deficiency, from three main areas of this country, correlated with its climatic characteristics, on the mineral components, bioactive compounds’ synthesis, and antioxidant capacity of Moringa. Different analyses were performed in soil and especially leaf samples for phytochemical content, antioxidant activity, calcium, protein, and vitamin C determination to identify the relationship between soil nutrients, abiotic conditions, and the therapeutic potential of this species cultivated in Ecuador. The obtained values using methods such as DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS showed a high antioxidant capacity of the leaves from the Coastal Ecuadorian region, related with total phenolic compounds’ content (through the Folin–Ciocalteu method) and flavonoids in samples, with results obtained under the positive influence of high soil nutrients such as Ca, Mg, Mn, and Fe. We can conclude that M. oleifera from the coastal area of Ecuador presents the right environmental and soil conditions to positively influence its mineral and phytochemical content, making it suitable for incorporation into foods and medicines to solve the nutritional and medical problems in Ecuador and worldwide.

Stegastes adustus and Stegastes planifrons are two species of damselfishes commonly found in the Caribbean. These territorial fishes have been widely studied due to their major ecological role on coral reef in controlling the growth of macroalgae that compete with corals for space and, inversely, on their deleterious role in destroying coral tissues to impulse the development of algae. However, few studies were conducted on the biotic and abiotic components of their territories. In the present study, territory size and surfaces of benthic components (macroalgae, algal turf, massive corals, branching corals, Milleporidae, sponges, sand and rubbles) were estimated for the two species at two contrasted sites. At Ilet Pigeon site (IP), the two damselfishes were found at different depth and exhibited different territory sizes. S. adustus defended a larger territory characterized by massive corals, sand and Milleporidae, while S. planifrons territories were smaller, deeper and characterized by branching corals, sponges and rubble. At Passe-à-Colas site (PC), the two fish species coexisted in the same depth range and defended territories of similar size. Their territories presented higher proportions of macroalgae, but smaller surfaces of Milleporidae than at IP. At PC, the main difference between the two species was a higher surface of massive corals inside S. planifrons territories than S. adustus territories. Differences in microhabitat characteristics between the two Stegastes seemed mostly site related. This resulted from the high plasticity of two species, allowing them to persist on Caribbean coral reefs after the decline of most branching acroporids, their former favorite habitats.

The relative importance of indicators of biotic and abiotic components of water ecosystems of the Tsimlyansky and the Manychsky (Proletarian and Veselovsky) reservoirs in the process of formation of states of ecological trouble: “ecological stress,” “extraordinary ecological situation” and “ecological disaster,” provided by a number of existing normative and methodical documents is investigated. For this purpose, the shares of indicators as a percentage of their total number in the dynamics of negative changes in aquatic ecosystems were compared on the basis of long-term monitoring information of Roshydromet and data of own expeditionary investigation in reservoirs on hydrobiological, toxicological and physico-chemical indicators. The role of the biotic component increases as the state of the aquatic ecosystem deteriorates of the Tsimlyansky reservoir, on the contrary, decreases in the Manychsky it is established. The role of the abiotic component is great and similar in all reservoirs; it increases already in a state extraordinary ecological situation but in ecological disaster is somewhat reduced. It is concluded that the proposed new approach to the analysis of the role of biotic and abiotic components in the development of negative changes in the ecosystem opens up new opportunities in the study of the formation of water quality and the state of water bodies.

The Princeton Guide to Ecology is a concise, authoritative one-volume reference to the field's major subjects and key concepts. Edited by eminent ecologist Simon Levin, with contributions from an international team of leading ecologists, the book contains more than ninety clear, accurate, and up-to-date articles on the most important topics within seven major areas: autecology, population ecology, communities and ecosystems, landscapes and the biosphere, conservation biology, ecosystem services, and biosphere management. Complete with more than 200 illustrations (including sixteen pages in color), a glossary of key terms, a chronology of milestones in the field, suggestions for further reading on each topic, and an index, this is an essential volume for undergraduate and graduate students, research ecologists, scientists in related fields, policymakers, and anyone else with a serious interest in ecology.

The relationship between water level and biodiversity of aquatic plants has been broadly identified but not so frequently quantified, especially with regard to historical periods. We reconstructed historical water levels with decadal resolution and assessed the response of individual aquatic plant species and plant diversity to water level. Our analyses were based on diatoms and plant pollen preserved in sediments of a shallow lake. We disentangled the effects of physical and chemical components on the composition of diatom assemblages in the process of reconstructing water level. The results showed that water levels indicated compositional changes in sedimentary diatom assemblages in different time periods. Diatom assemblages in the lower sediment layers present a larger compositional change than the upper ones. Moreover, water level was linked to the abundance of aquatic vascular plants, especially the submerged macrophytes based on grey analysis. Data on both sedimentary abiotic parameters and annual precipitation indicated that water level had large temporal variations in the earlier time periods of lake formation. However, water level experienced a sharp decrease and tended to be less variable after the construction of water dams. The optimal water levels related to plant diversity were determined at 6.95 m and at 8.24 m based on the richness and the evenness of seven species which were indicative of water level. The latter included six diatom species (Eunotia pectinalis, Pseudostautosira brevistriata, Cymbella cornuta, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Nitzschia palea and Gomphonema gracile) and one submerged plant (Myriophyllum). Extremely high or low water levels dampened the diversity of aquatic plants. Obtaining long-term lake water levels and analyzing their relation with biotic and abiotic components help us to understand impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on shallow lakes and thus contribute to the maintenance of aquatic plant diversity.