Maria Belen Alfonso’s Post

A new study in Tirunelveli reveals how shrub encroachment impacts rodent communities. Given how essential rodents are to grassland ecosystems, it is important to understand how they respond to emerging threats. Change in vegetation structure, namely, an increase in the density of shrubs has been identified as a potential ecological crisis to grasslands worldwide. Shrub encroachment alters the behaviour of rodents and is known to have species-specific effects on abundance, with some species responding negatively to increasing woody cover and others responding positively. The study found rodents to be equally abundant in different grassland types, with captures positively associated with shrub presence. Access the paper by Aditya Ganesh, Arjun Kannan and Ganesh T.: https://lnkd.in/gFFhVfAY

Paradigm shift ⁉️ Do not always expect a strong and consistent relationship between reef fishes and corals! Muruga et al. reassess the association between reef fishes and hard corals in the paper 'Meta-analysis reveals weak associations between reef fishes and corals', recently published in Nature Eco Evo (https://lnkd.in/dhNvatjs).

NEW PAPER by Saara Mäkelin and co-authors, showing that food quality matters for directing benthic faunal carbon stocks and process rates along a land-to-sea gradient. Availability of more fresh organic matter towards the open sea boosted faunal carbon storage, respiration rates and biomass production, essential processes for carbon turnover in coastal ecosystems. Our results emphasize that human activities in coastal areas modify the balance of environmental resources, which affects important links between biodiversity, structure and process rates of benthic communities and thus the functions they can provide. Mäkelin, S., Lewandowska, A.M., Rodil, I.F. et al. Linking Resource Quality and Biodiversity to Benthic Ecosystem Functions Across a Land-to-Sea Gradient. Ecosystems (2024). Read the full paper published in Ecosystems, an international journal that bridges fundamental ecology, environmental ecology, and environmental problem-solving across diverse temporal and spatial scales. https://lnkd.in/df-FfZbN

Exciting news to share with my fellow ocean enthusiasts! My latest research, titled "Muscling mussels: Understanding the invasive potential of the South American bivalve Mytella strigata (Hanley, 1843) in the Northern Indian Ocean," has just been published in the journal Science of the Total Environment! In this study, we delved into the potential threat posed by the South American mussel, Mytella strigata, to the delicate ecosystems of the Northern Indian Ocean. These invasive bivalves have a knack for muscling their way into new environments, causing ecological disruptions and economic damages.

"Thrilled to announce the successful publication of my review article, 'Solid Waste Management, Challenges and Possible Sustainable Solutions,' in the Journal of Advanced Research in Alternative Energy, Environment and Ecology, Volume 10, Issue 3&4-2023, Pg. No. 14-18. Proud to contribute to peer-reviewed research on sustainable solutions for our environment!"

🌳 Fascinating study! The use of rock dust to restore forest vitality over decades is a game-changer. In Mexico, similar approaches could potentially boost the health of our diverse forests, benefiting both ecosystems and local communities. Let's explore how these innovative techniques can be adapted to our unique forest environments! 🌿 #ForestRestoration #Sustainability #Innovation

On Tuesday, September 24, the official launch of the Declaration of the Rights of the Biobío River took place at the Municipal Library of Concepcion, Chile. This document proposes the recognition and protection of the River as a subject of rights, aligning the region with the international trend that seeks to preserve natural resources and recognize the Rights of Nature. In the event, the 12 intrinsic and permanent rights included in the Declaration were presented, among which are the right to a surface and subway flow sufficient to maintain the health of the ecosystems of the entire river system, or also, the right to free flow and connectivity from mountain range to sea for the maintenance of a sustainable hydrological regime. #PorUnBiobioConDerechos #RíoBiobío #DerechosDeLaNaturaleza #Biobio

New paper published. In this study, we assessed the turnover and nutrient dynamics of leaf litterfall across the forest successional gradient in Singapore. We found that litter turnover was greatly accelerated in secondary forests that are dominated by exotic plant species, resulting in marked reductions in litter and soil organic matter pools. The exotic plant species, particularly invasive species, exhibited poor phosphorus-use efficiency, hence producing easily decomposable leaf litter. Our study provides an insight into litter turnover across human-modified tropical landscapes increasingly characterised by novel forests, potentially leading to a reduction in surface litter and soil organic carbon pools. Full paper can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/e46HRr5a #soil #carbon #tropical

🌳 As the largest country on the continent, Brazil hosts most South American vegetation types, including tropical and subtropical forests and savannas. BeZero’s Carbon Ratings Scientist Dr Fernanda Coelho de Souza co-authored a pioneering study published in Elsevier's Forest Ecology and Management Journal, which explored the intricate role of temperature, precipitation, and soil preferences for determining key functional and structural attributes across six Brazilian vegetation types. 🍃 The study found that vegetation types showcase consistent differences in both structural and functional aspects, going beyond simply floristic diversity. The study not only enhances our understanding of ecological patterns in Brazilian vegetation but also provides reference values of key functional and structural attributes such as number of trees per hectare and basal area. These findings are important as they provide key reference values for carbon stocks for the different Brazilian tropical and subtropical vegetation types, which in turn will help support our assessment of carbon accounting. Read the full study to learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q02nLbhC0 #Biodiversity #Carbon #CarbonRatings #BeZeroCarbon

SOCIAL SCIENCES CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH Species extinction is not just an environmental issue; it’s a social one too. Human activities—driven by economics, politics, and culture—are major factors in biodiversity loss. Social sciences help us understand these drivers and work toward more sustainable ways of living. Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet Laboratório Associado Terra Universidade de Coimbra More at: https://lnkd.in/dxEnXC-w #SOCIALSCIENCESCONTRIBUTIONSTOECOLOGICALRESEARCH