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Dry stone walls favour biodiversity: A case-study from the Appennines
Abstract
One of the classical and traditional wall typology built in agricultural or pas-
toral landscapes are dry stone walls (walls built only of stones without concrete). These
vertical surfaces are expected to increase habitat heterogeneity and to play an important
role for biodiversity. This study focused on two groups of organisms: amphibians, repre-
sented by the rock-dwelling salamander
Hydromantes strinatii
, that are expected to use
walls mainly as shelters, and molluscs, which use of walls may be affected mainly by the
trophic resources available. A mountain area of the northern Appennines (NW-Italy) was
surveyed to assess the differences between dry stone walls and the wall typologies in terms
of morphology, surrounding landscape and salamander and mollusc occurrence; the rela-
tionships between wall typology features and salamander and mollusc distribution were
assessed. Dry stone walls were more heterogeneous than concrete walls and hosted more
lichens than natural rocky walls. They were more used by
H. strinatii
juveniles than the
other walls and played an important role for their distribution. They were positively related
to the occurrence of several molluscan species, including species with high ecological
plasticity and rock-dwelling species. Among wall features, the most important for molluscs
species distribution was vegetation cover, followed by lichen cover and heterogeneity,
confirming the importance of trophic content for mollusc exploitation, while vegetated
without concrete walls hosted higher number of species. The results suggest that dry stone
walls can be important for fauna biodiversity and should be maintained and preserved as a
part of landscape management.
... For instance, it takes years for the lichen to start growing after the construction of the wall, various exposures and micro-climate can intervene with this average growth, and a wall can sometimes be built with stones that already had lichens growing on them (Nylund 2006). 129 Stone and concrete walls were associated with increased lichen cover compared with rocky walls, perhaps because they were erected in open areas, whereas natural rocky walls occurred in woody areas (Manenti 2014(Manenti , 1886(Manenti , 1888. 130 The amount of lichen can be measured and then calculated to see how long it has been growing. ...
... If part of a terraced system, they provide hydrological functions like erosion control, stabilisation of slopes, prolongation of runoff times, and the possible reduction of surface runoff (Agnoletti et al. 2015). It has also been argued they play a strategic role in the conservation of biodiversity (Assandri et al. 2018;Manenti 2014;Collier 2013), the maintenance of local identity (Acovitsióti-Hameau 2008; ...
... One particular phenomenon presented is that groups of sheep breeders living in the area of Loznati and Orlec became hunters out of necessity to protect their own herds, later forming their own hunting association. to thrive more easily (Hobbs et al. 2006, 4). The accommodation of life is worth mentioning, as it highlights an advantage of dry stone walls to concrete walls (Manenti 2014). The main features of the dry stone walls which enable life are its: ...
The aim of this thesis was to capture the extensiveness and values of an important component of the Croatian Adriatic landscapes – namely, the heritage of the dry stone structures. Current scientific considerations still fail to capture their prevalence and significance despite their increasing relevance in the discourse of scientific research, spatial planning and cultural protection. In this thesis, valorisation comprised a multi-aspect approach, with the Cres-Lošinj archipelago used as a case study area. By combining a GIS-based cartographic production and processing, along with the in-situ recording of the dry stone artefacts accompanied by ethnographic notations, the objective was to lay a foundation and understanding of their distribution and characteristics. This task was followed by a correlation of the dry stone wall landscape-scale patterns to local historical socioeconomic circumstances to address the queries of time-depth data of their structures. Finally, the benefits arising from the dry stone walls were reviewed, especially those appurtenant to the ecosystem services framework, to assist future monetary valuation approaches. The research results include the full quantification and establishment of a GIS database of the dry stone walls of the Cres-Lošinj archipelago, a review and assessment of the heritage diversity and use and its distinctiveness in the context of the Croatian Adriatic and within. Dry stone wall patterns demonstrated their scientific value as indicators of historical events. With the example of the Cres olive grove, another lens of valorisation was discussed – namely, recognition under the cultural landscape category. Finally, initial steps for the conceptualisation of a valuation model were provided.
... This is potentially due to the lack of a dense root mat preceding aeration, as shown by the low SOM within FP2N. The higher PR baseline within FP2 may additionally inhibit earthworm motility and therefore their ability to reduce soil density and resultant PR (Capowiez et al., 2009;2014). Results support studies such as Van Vliet et al. (2006), who found no improvements to ρb following blade aeration. ...
... which can strongly influence soil hydraulic properties (Capowiez et al., 2009;2014). ...
... (Dry-)stone terraces have been widely shown to influence hydrology (Gallart et al., 1994;Arnáez et al., 2015;Kovář et al., 2016;Calsamiglia et al., 2018;Preti et al., 2018;Mesfin et al., 2019;Moreno-de-las-Heras et al., 2019;Ran et al., 2020), as well as sedimentology (Lesschen et al., 2008;Arnáez et al., 2015;Kovář et al., 2016;Calsamiglia et al., 2018;Camera et al., 2018;Moreno-de-las-Heras et al., 2019;Pijl et al., 2020), ecology (Manenti et al., 2014;Assandri et al., 2018), and culture (Assandri et al., 2018;UNESCO, 2018), throughout many regions of the world (see e.g., Arnáez et al., 2015;Deng et al., 2021). It is therefore plausible that dry-stone walls could similarly influence such ecosystem services, with a further need to understand these effects given how internationally widespread dry-stone walls are (Marshall and Moonen, 2002;Collier, 2013;UNESCO, 2018;Grove et al., 2020;Hollingsworth and Collier, 2020). ...
... These man-made structures are ubiquitous farmland linear features in some European agricultural landscape (Collier, 2013). In Ireland, traditional dry stone walls i.e. walls built of stones only, without the use of mortar (Manenti, 2014;Powell et al., 2018), are particularly abundant in the west of the country (Collier, 2013). ...
... However, whilst the quantity of stone walls may be recognised there is little emphasis on the quality of this type of habitat. Relative to other linear boundaries, such as hedgerows or drainage ditches (Shaw et al., 2015;Graham et al., 2018), the ecology of stone walls is understudied (Jennings and Stewart 2000;Manenti, 2014). ...
... Stone walls have been shown to be important habitats for a diversity of vascular plants, ferns, mosses and lichens (Jennings and Stewart, 2000;Presland, 2007;Collier, 2013), along with pollinators, spiders, butterflies, reptiles amphibians and birds (Clifford and King, 2006;Manenti, 2014). Yet, only a small amount of scientific research in Europe is dedicated to the study of stone walls quality (Presland, 2007;Collier, 2013) and some uncertainty still overshadows the definition of "high habitat quality" of stone walls. ...
Stone walls are ubiquitous field boundaries used to restrict livestock movement or to separate property. Bryophytes and lichens are often the dominant vegetation in dry stone walls and are strongly affected by local microhabitat characteristics. Bryophytes and lichens related metrics can be used to define habitat quality of stone walls.
The current study assessed how richness and cover of bryophytes and macrolichens in dry stone walls related to each other and how different environmental variables and farm management descriptors determined richness and cover of both groups in dry stone walls. Bryophytes and macrolichens were sampled in stone walls on sixteen farms across a management intensity gradient in Ireland.
Bryophyte cover correlated positively and significantly with bryophyte richness and macrolichen cover and richness, and can thus be used to assess stone walls quality. Farm management intensity emerged as the variable most strongly related with species richness of bryophytes and cover of both groups. Altitude also emerged as a strong predictor of both groups’ richness and cover. This study provides a novel perspective on stone wall habitat quality and results indicate that by promoting extensive farming it is possible to increase stone walls quality.
... Despite their prevalence in many landscapes globally, the ecological aspects of field boundary dry stone walls are a largely unexplored area (Collier, 2013;Collier & Feehan, 2003). There are some studies with data for a specific animal or plant species on or near a field boundary stone wall; however, no studies exist where dry stone walls are the primary research subject, though some new and promising studies are beginning the process (Manenti, 2014). Awareness of the presence of biota on walls of all types is nothing new; there is a long history of botanical and zoological surveys of the species found on walls (Darlington, 1981;Francis, 2010;Francis & Lorimer, 2011;Segal, 1972) but the main focus has been on mortared walls and walls in urban areas. ...
... While these works form the foundation of our understanding of wall ecology in general, including crucial concepts, such as the division of walls into height-based zones and the process of succession in mural communities, they also remain two of the few major publications on the subject, especially with regards to flora. There is a small collection of localised studies into stone wall flora (Cherrill & McClean, 1997;Duchoslav, 2002;Francis, 2010;Haslam, 2001;Jim, 1998;Jim & Chen, 2010;Johnson & Ouimet, 2016;Manenti, 2014;Müller, 2013;Nedelcheva, 2011;Thorson, 2005;Tokuoka & Hashigoe, 2015) with most focussing on old masonry urban walls (Jim, 2013;Jim & Chen 2010;Li et al., 2016;Lo & Jim 2015). Contrast this with the volume of research into other field boundaries such as hedgerows and field margins, which mirror stone walls in extent and function, but not in form. ...
... This lack of mortar not only means that there no available substrate, but also that wind and rain can permeate the gaps between stones and remove accumulated sediment (McAfee, 1997). While this may provide opportunities for invertebrates and other fauna (Manenti, 2014) it can mean that forbs, which are perhaps more widely associated with stone walls along with other spontaneously occurring vegetation, such as grasses, shrubs and even trees, are mostly located at the base and adjacent to the wall. To date, anecdotal observations of dry stone walls appear to indicate that they may support a variety of lichens, plants, invertebrates, birds, and mammals. ...
Despite the fact that field boundary (dry) stone walls are globally common in rural landscapes, very little research has been carried out regarding them. Dry stone walls may act as refuges for a range of plants and animals, especially in areas where conditions do not favour a high biodiversity or areas of high exposure. They may also provide connectivity via habitat corridors and may even serve as a habitat in their own right. This paper reports on a case study survey of the forb assemblages of field boundary dry stone walls in terms of species richness, biodiversity, and composition in comparison to the surrounding landscape, and aims to provide some insight into the floral ecology characteristics of dry stone walls. To accomplish this, the forbs growing in and immediately adjacent to 18 segments of dry stone wall in the Burren region of western Ireland, were surveyed. The forb assemblages growing within the walls were compared with those growing in the 0.5 m closest to the walls and those growing the areas 0.5-1.0 m on either side of the walls. The wall assemblages were shown to have lower species richness and each category of assemblage was shown to have significantly different species composition. This research indicates that the dry stone walls of the Burren may be associated with a distinct floral ecology, and therefore may act as habitat corridors in an otherwise exposed landscape.
... For millennia, traditional agricultural practices-such as low-intensity pasturelands, terraced farming, water management systems, and Mediterranean olive groves-have shaped the landscape, creating a mosaic of semi-natural and semi-artificial habitats that support high biodiversity levels [7]. These landscapes are highly heterogeneous, offering a diverse array of microhabitats, microclimatic refugia, and shelters for various species [8][9][10]. Many organisms have adapted to these environments, which, even when entirely artificial-such as dry-stone walls or agricultural water tanks-can offer shelter [9,11] or sustain complex trophic webs [12]. ...
... These landscapes are highly heterogeneous, offering a diverse array of microhabitats, microclimatic refugia, and shelters for various species [8][9][10]. Many organisms have adapted to these environments, which, even when entirely artificial-such as dry-stone walls or agricultural water tanks-can offer shelter [9,11] or sustain complex trophic webs [12]. Traditional olive groves, for instance, represent a longlasting example of an artificial environment that is often managed with minimal chemical inputs, maintains a diverse understory vegetation, and can support a wide range of flora and fauna [13]. ...
Simple Summary: Agriculture is essential for food security but has significantly impacted biodiversity, particularly through habitat loss and fragmentation. In the Mediterranean region, traditional farming systems like olive groves have coexisted with nature for centuries, creating landscapes that support diverse wildlife. This study investigates whether olive groves help maintain ecological connectivity for reptiles in Liguria, Italy, a region with a long history of olive cultivation. Using a large dataset of reptile records and advanced modeling techniques, we assessed how olive groves influence reptile movement across the landscape. Our results show that olive groves do not act as barriers to reptile movement and provide connectivity levels nearly identical to those of natural habitats. Furthermore, olive groves often serve as corridors linking protected areas, facilitating reptile movement between these regions. These findings highlight the importance of preserving traditional olive groves as part of biodiversity conservation strategies, especially in human-modified landscapes. By promoting sustainable farming practices, we can balance agricultural production with the need to protect wildlife, ensuring healthier ecosystems for future generations. Abstract: Agricultural expansion and intensification are major drivers of biodiversity loss, particularly through habitat fragmentation. In the Mediterranean region, traditional farming systems like olive groves have historically supported biodiversity by creating heterogeneous landscapes. This study evaluates the role of olive groves in maintaining ecological connectivity for reptiles in Liguria, Italy. Using a dataset of 5211 georeferenced reptile records and habitat suitability models, we constructed taxon-specific resistance maps and applied circuit theory to model landscape-scale connectivity. We addressed three key questions: (1) Do olive groves act as barriers to reptile movement? (2) Do olive groves provide connectivity levels comparable to those of natural habitats? (3) Do olive groves serve as corridors connecting protected areas? Our results indicate that olive groves do not impede reptile movement, with normalized current flow (NCF) values close to 1, similar to those of natural habitats. Additionally, olive groves frequently intersect with least-cost paths between protected areas, highlighting their role as connectivity corridors. These findings underscore the conservation value of traditional olive groves in fragmented landscapes. By integrating these agroecosystems into regional conservation strategies, we can enhance biodiversity while supporting sustainable agriculture. This study provides critical insights for land management practices that balance ecological and agricultural priorities. Citation: Costa, A.; Oneto, F.; Rosa, G.; Actis Dato, G.; Ottonello, D.
... For amphibians, branch piles are similarly crucial, not only harbouring a high number of prey but also offering moist shelter and cover from their own predators (Indermaur & Schmidt, 2011). Linear stone structures such as dry stone walls are especially beneficial to rock-dwelling amphibians and terrestrial molluscs (Manenti, 2014). Furthermore, small structures may offer nesting and feeding sites for pollinators as well as for various mammal species, including small carnivores such as stoats (Mustela erminea) and common weasels (Mustela nivalis, weasels hereafter) (Koller et al., 2017;Kolly et al., 2019;Steel et al., 1999;Sullivan & Sullivan, 2023;Westerfelt et al., 2015). ...
... (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.) 2011; Manenti, 2014;O'Sullivan et al., 2023;Rossier et al., 2021;Sperry & Weatherland, 2010). The installation of small structures can be easily accomplished, as rocks and dead wood, often perceived as unusable or excess materials, are often readily available on-site. ...
The installation of small structures such as branch and stone piles has been recommended by experts for enhancing habitat conditions for biodiversity in intensively used agricultural landscapes, particularly for stoat (Mustela erminea) and weasel (Mustela nivalis). However, quantitative evidence regarding the effectiveness of such structures is lacking. In this study we investigated the influence of small structures and other surrounding landscape elements on these two mustelid species across the Swiss lowland agricultural landscape. Over the course of two years (2022 and 2023), we used scat-detection dogs, visual scat surveys, and camera traps to sample populations of these species in 420 plots distributed across 28 study sites. Of these plots, 187 harboured a branch pile, 94 a stone pile, while 139 had no small structure. Overall, when considering both scat and camera trap data, stoats were detected at 26 of 420 (6.2%) plots, but only one weasel was recorded, indicating a low mustelid occurrence across our sampling sites. Multi-scale linear models revealed a significant positive effect of small structures on stoat abundance and a preference for stone piles over branch piles. Forest negatively affected stoat occurrence, possibly reflecting a preference for open habitat where small rodents thrive, notably water voles and common voles. Our results underscore the importance of retaining or reinstating small structures, in particular stone piles, in the agricultural landscape to support stoat populations. Nevertheless, we call for ensuring the presence of both stone and branch piles to provide habitat features benefitting a diverse array of species.
... La longévité de ces ouvrages offre un nouvel écosystème anthropogénique (Collier 2013). Ces constructions réalisées sans mortier se caractérisent par l'hétérogénéité de leur surface qui génère de nombreux micro-habitats particulièrement favorables à l'accueil d'une partie de la biocénose, en particulier les bryophytes (Duan & Wang 2023), les mollusques continentaux (Juřičková & Kučera 2005, Alexandrowicz 2013) et les amphibiens (Manenti 2014). La région méditerranéenne est reconnue pour abriter une flore et une faune particulièrement riches et diversifiées (Cuttelod et al. 2008). ...
... Généralement les plus longues distances de dispersions actives sont observées sur des espèces de plus grande taille telles que l'Escargot des haies Cepaea nemoralis (Linnaeus, 1758) avec 9,7 à 67 mètres parcouru en moyenne sur deux ans (Lamotte 1951, Schnetter 1951. Ainsi un ouvrage de 5m² est susceptible d'accueillir la même diversité qu'un ouvrage de 100m² pour peu que celui-ci respecte les exigences écologiques de ces taxons et les ressources alimentaires correspondantes telles que la couverture végétale ou les lichens (Manenti 2014) Pour les murs, d'après nos résultats, la diversité des espèces ne semble pas affectée par l'augmentation de la zone de contact avec le sol des ouvrages de soutènement et la densité du réseau lithique n'induit pas de variation significative de la richesse spécifique (figure 6). L'effet de l'altitude sur la richesse spécifique se traduit par une tendance à la diminution du nombre d'espèces observées lorsque l'altitude augmente (figure 7). ...
De 2016 à 2022 nous avons réalisé l’inventaire
des mollusques continentaux à partir des coquilles
récoltées lors de travaux de restauration d’ouvrage en
pierre-sèche situés dans la partie orientale du biome
méditerranéen de France continentale, au sein des
régions d’Occitanie, de Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur et
d’Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Nous avons également relevé
différents facteurs environnementaux permettant de
caractériser ces stations afin d’évaluer la contribution
de chacun d’entre eux à la diversité des espèces
rencontrées. La richesse spécifique observée dans les
63 ouvrages étudiés est de 89 espèces réparties au sein
de 28 familles. Nos résultats mettent en lumière
l’importance de la matrice paysagère autour des
ouvrages de pierre-sèche pour expliquer en partie la
richesse spécifique rencontrées. En revanche, la
dimension des ouvrages, leur insertion au sein d’un
réseau lithique ou bien la surface d’échange entre les
pierres et le sol n’ont pas d’influence sur la richesse
spécifique des mollusques continentaux étudiés.
... The presence of scattered trees and of linear features (hedgerows, dry-stone walls, terraces, channels,…) deeply characterizes many cultural landscapes all over the world (Baudry et al. 2000;Wei et al. 2016;Gascuel-Odoux et al. 2011) representing an identity feature and being also important in terms of biodiversity, as they create microhabitat for small animals and plants (Meurk and Swaffield 2000;Manenti 2014;Avila-Flores et al. 2019). In fact, the presence of these elements contributes to protect native species which, even in intensively managed landscapes, are often largely restricted to linear boundary features (Cherrill and McClean 1997). ...
... Hedges in Dolores have an important role in terms of biodiversity conservation; beside the fact that they are made of different flora species, they could represent a habitat and a corridor for different species, as it is demonstrated for different part of the world and for different species (Van Der Zanden et al 2013;Harvey et al. 2005;Boutin et al. 2002). The ecological role of dry-stone walls is instead less studied than the one of hedgerows (Collier 2013), but some researches based in different European countries highlight their role in creating microhabitat for flora and fauna species (Manenti 2014;Dover et al. 2000;Tanadini et al. 2012;Holland 1972). For these reasons the conservation of linear features should be promoted at planning level, as well as their restoration, also for the positive effects on the surrounding crops or pastures (Benayas et al. 2020;Dainese et al. 2017;Morandin and Kremen 2013). ...
Traditional agro-silvo-pastoral systems are becoming each day more important, representing multifunctional systems that can contribute to the preservation of agrobiodiversity and of traditional knowledge and associated culture, to the wellbeing of local communities and to sustainable development of rural areas, as testified by the increasing interest regarding the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Despite many researches on traditional agro-silvo-pastoral systems tend to focus only on land uses and land use changes, is also important to analyse the different features that characterize cultural landscapes, as well as to produce detailed spatial maps, in order to preserve and valorise these systems as a whole. The paper intends to compare two traditional silvopastoral systems in two different continents and environments: sabana de morro (El Salvador) and pastures with carob trees (Italy), considered as good example of biocultural diversity. Both these sites are characterized by extensive cattle breeding in a hot climate under the shade of trees, whose fruits can also integrate the animal diet. The study analyzed the traditional landscape structure, with particular attention to the presence of linear elements, that act as property divisions and as ecological corridors, contributing to biodiversity at landscape scale. Sabana de Morro is characterized by a complex system of hedges that enhances the variety of species, while an extensive network of dry-stone walls divides the Sicilian pastures with carob trees. These two different types of linear elements created thanks to the local farmers’ knowledge are made of different materials but can play a similar ecological and social function, acting as a division between one pasture and another, as a delimitation of property boundaries, and are necessary to allow a correct pasture management. Despite the differences, these two traditional linear features deeply characterize the landscape structure and fragmentation, creating important microhabitat for many animal and vegetal species and a network of ecological corridors. For these reasons the conservation of linear features should be promoted at planning level, as well as their restoration. Thanks to the applied methodology, it was possible to identify peculiarities and vulnerabilities of linear features and of the systems as a whole, so that it will be possible to create effective management and conservation tools.
... Among climatic features, air temperature and water availability have a particularly strong impact on species phenology (Kearney et al., 2013), principally on ectotherms (Amarasekare & Coutinho, 2014;Sheldon & Tewksbury, 2014), and variation in these features often force animals to search for environments with the most suitable conditions (Papaioannou et al., 2015;Seebacher & Alford, 2002). Subterranean environments, from small crevices to deeper holes and caves, are sometimes used as shelters to avoid unfavorable outdoor conditions (Biswas, 2014;Lunghi, Manenti & Ficetola, 2014;Manenti, 2014), as these environments possess specific microclimatic features which differ from those of surface habitats (Romero, 2009). However, even in such environments the microclimate may not be stable, and fluctuations of primary microclimatic features (temperature, humidity, illuminance) contribute to creating areas characterized by heterogeneous conditions, especially in zones not far from the surface (Campbell Grant, Lowe & Fagan, 2007;Culver & White, 2005;Romero, 2012). ...
... The cricket D. laetitiae was associated with sectors characterized by high irregularity, and many clefts which may have given the opportunity to better avoid predators. Chilostoma planospira was related to sectors in which food availability might be higher, as this species frequented areas characterized by high passage which in turn have more wall surface, as this feature is positively related with the abundance of lichens (Manenti, 2014). The occurrence of seven out of eight study taxa was significantly influenced by the month of survey; the only exception was Bufo bufo. ...
Seasonality impacts species distributions through changes of the environmental
conditions that affect the presence of individuals at a given place. Although the dynamics
of cave microclimates are well known, only a few studies have evaluated the effects
of such dynamics on non-strictly cave species. Here we assessed if species exploiting
subterranean environments show changes in habitat occupation related to seasonal
variation of cave microclimates. We surveyed 16 caves in central Italy every month for
one year. Caves were subdivided into longitudinal sectors of three meters. In each sector
we measured cave morphology and microclimatic features, assessed the occurrence
of eight non-troglobitic taxa (orthopterans, spiders, gastropods and amphibians),
and related species distribution to environmental features and sampling periods. The
occurrence of most species was related to both cave morphology and microclimatic
features. The survey month was the major factor determining the presence of species
in cave sectors, indicating that cave-dwelling taxa show strong seasonality in activity
and distribution. For multiple species, we detected interactions between sampling
period and microclimatic features, suggesting that species may associate with different
microhabitats throughout the year. The richest communities were found in sites
with specific microclimates (i.e., high humidity, warm temperature and low light)
but seasonality for species richness was strong as well, stressing the complexity of
interactions between outdoor and subterranean environments.
... The findings presented here suggest that walls provide shelter for some less competitive species. Furthermore, vegetation-covered walls are highly attractive to animal species, providing important nutritional resources (Manenti 2014) for most species living in or on walls. Some species nest in wall vegetation, and some species may use it as a refuge (e.g., invertebrates) (Chiquet et al. 2013). ...
As a type of gray infrastructure that exists widely in cities, walls can provide habitats for a variety of species. To explore the ability of walls to increase biodiversity, we conducted a systematic literature review of articles evaluating the relationship between walls and urban biodiversity. We found that walls can improve urban biodiversity to some extent, but this enhancement may be limited by the characteristics and structural aspects of the walls themselves. Across the studies included in this review, there is a bias toward evaluating vascular plants and microorganisms, and most studies were carried out in developed countries. While the results of this study indicate that wall features are the primary factors that affect urban biodiversity, the narrow focus of the studies summarized in this study restricts our overall understanding of the relationship between walls and urban biodiversity. In the future, the planning and design of walls should be included in thematic discussions at the urban planning stage, and corresponding planning and design guidelines should be provided. The proportions and distribution patterns of different wall types, the distance and location relationships between walls and the surrounding land types, and other relevant factors should be comprehensively considered. Additionally, for walls with historical and cultural value, multiobjective planning strategies such as ecological balance, cultural protection and social development should be adopted to increase the ecological service function of the walls and improve the biodiversity of the city. By integrating biodiversity enhancement into wall design and management, cities can contribute to sustainable development goals (SDGs).
... Dry stone walls are more heterogeneous than concrete walls and hosted more lichens than natural rocky walls. (Raoul Manenti. 2014). ...
In many ways stones are the bone of the earth. Stone in its many forms is a tangible, useful material that can find a place in every yard. The color selection, texture, cuts and paver size available will cater to any project for landscape. (Kristen Hampshire et al. 2009).In the beginning, the gardens had a utilitarian purpose, being made up of plants with a food role. Then the gardens take on the role of religious meditation, rest, culture and recreation. (Daniela Posta. 2015).Stone is a material that is born and evolves in nature as it is detached over time with stable, simple and almost primitive methods. Therefore, together with wood, it is undoubtedly the most suitable material for the formation of forest recreation areas, which are the most widespread means of human contact with nature and its beauties. The use of stone constructions in forest recreation is perfectly in harmony with the natural environment. Thus, people have the possibility to escape from the hectic rhythms of everyday life in forest recreation areas, relax and enjoy the forest through the conveniences offered by the stone constructions. (Vasileios C at al. 2023)
... The traditional land use in urban and/or outside urban areas of rural communities is considered today to be of outmost importance when applying the historical approach, proving in this way its role in supporting biodiversity conservation at the landscape level [100]. It is well established today that such relevant examples for European countries are those represented by terroirs in France and similar landscapes in other European countries [29], as well as drystone enclosures in Ireland [57] or traditional agricultural plots in Germany or Austria [52]. At the global level, specific traditional transformed landscapes are well documented, and their roles in biodiversity conservation, such as the Satoyama in Japan [51], or rice traditional landscapes in Asia [18], are worldwide recognized. ...
One of the future challengesin ensuring food securityis accessing a broader diversity of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA). Today, heterogenous agricultural lands are considered hotspots for biodiversity, and they also exist in the hilly mountain areas of Romania's Carpathians. The scope of this article is to describe Saxon traditional home-gardens related to the land use of households and cultivated crop species in Moșna commune, Sibiu County, Romania. The survey was conducted with the support of authorities and local stakeholders. The results of this study revealed that the maintenance of crop species structure and land use in traditional households has been ongoing for more than two centuries. Today, these home gardens cover 26% of the total area of a household and are cultivated mainly with vegetables. Generally, a household should have a surface area ranging between 5,000 and 1,500 m 2. The first local council decision in Romania in 2019 supporting the recognition of 20 landraces, the Saxon church garden, and 15 traditional home gardens as heritage values was officially adopted. Among the oldest and most popular landraces cultivated in home gardens, we identified Moșna cabbage, garlic, celery, dill, and Saxon raspberry. The results of our study also support the idea that these traditional households are functional agro-ecosystems with a positive impact on food security for the future and generally on biodiversity conservation.
... Speleomantes strinatii populations are found in SE France and NW Italy in the leaf litter and on wet rocky outcrops of forest and riparian habitats, but also in underground environments (e.g. caves, crevices and the interstitial superficial system; Lanza et al. 2007;Manenti 2014;Salvidio et al. 2019). This lungless salamander is usually active on the forest floor during or immediately after rainfalls when air temperatures are mild (Salvidio 1998;Rosa et al. 2022), feeding on a large variety of invertebrate preys and behaving as a trophic generalist at the population level . ...
Behavioral adaptation is one of the first responses put in play by individuals to buffer environmental variations and to maintain homeostatic equilibrium with their environment. Microhabitat selection is pivotal for maximizing fitness, survival and reproduction, but how individuals process and exploit information acquired from the environment to make future microhabitat choice is yet understudied. In this study, we used outdoor mesocosms in which we introduced Strinati's cave salamanders (Speleomantes strinatii), to assess their behavioral patterns of shelter site fidelity. In each mesocosm three microhabitats were available to the salamanders: the leaf litter, a log and a rock. A total of 22 salamanders were tested over an 8-day period, 11 in autumn and 11 in spring. Salamanders shelter site fidelity was driven by both micro-habitat humidity and previous experience obtained in the mesocosm. In our experiment , the time spent in the mesocosm was the main factor influencing shelter site fidelity, suggesting that previous experience and familiarity are important in salaman-ders' behavioral adaptation. Therefore, cave salamanders are capable of learning from experience when selecting their shelters, a behavior that could also be relevant during migration, colonization of new environments and adaptation to climate change.
... Indeed, although spiders are strictly predators, Oxychilus snails can modulate their foraging strategy (from being predators to scavengers; [59]), being able to exploit habitats characterized by different trophic resources [1,58]. For example, for cave-dwelling snails, vegetation and lichens represent a consistent trophic resource [69]; this may be also the case for O. oppressus. Indeed, the species tended to be more abundant in more illuminated cave sectors, an environmental characteristic which is essential for these autotrophic organisms. ...
Subterranean environments are often characterized by a natural gradient of microclimatic conditions and trophic resources, showing a higher trophic availability and a lower microclimatic stability in the shallowest area (close to the cave entrance), while the opposite occurs in the deepest sections. The shallowest areas of subterranean environments (e.g., the entrance and twilight zone, Mesovoid Shallow Substratum) act as ecotones between the surface habitats and the deep areas, creating a particular habitat which can be exploited by numerous species with different degrees of adaptation to subterranean environments. Species living in these ecotones may hold a key role in sustaining the entire ecosystem, as they are likely one of the major drivers of allochthonous organic matter. Indeed, these species are usually facultative cave-dwellers, meaning that they are able to exit and forage on the surface. Once these species are back inside the cave, they provide the local community with different typologies of organic matter (e.g., feces, eggs), which represent one of the most important sources of organic carbon. Therefore, studying which ecological features may exert significant effects on the abundance of these species may be of great help in understanding the ecosystem dynamics and the functional role of each species. In this study we analyzed the data collected through a year-round monitoring program, aiming to assess the potential effects that both abiotic and biotic features may have on the abundance of three facultative cave species. We focused on seven caves located in Monte Albo (Sardinia, Italy). The cave environments were divided into 3-meter sectors, and within each cave sector, microclimatic and biological data were seasonally recorded. We focused on the following facultative cave species: the spiders Metellina merianae and Tegenaria sp. and the snail Oxychilus oppressus. Different relationships were observed between the ecological features and the abundance of the three species. The two spiders were more abundant in warmer cave sectors closer to the cave entrance, especially the M. merianae. On the other hand, the snail tended to be more abundant farther from the cave entrance and in more illuminated cave sectors, probably because sunlight promotes the abundance of some of its trophic resources (e.g., lichens, vegetation). Furthermore, O. oppressus was the only species whose abundance and cave distribution was significantly affected by seasonality. This study provides useful and novel information to understand the population dynamics of facultative cave species and their role in subterranean ecosystems.
... (Pagratiou,[4]) Nowadays, dry-stone walling is recognized as an important cultural element of rural communities (UNESCO, [5]) and an excellent example of optimizing natural and human resources (Picuno, [6]); however, it is not confined to that. Due to the technique, the produced infrastructure offers a wide range of advantages for the environment, the biodiversity (Manenti, [7]), the development of socioeconomic capital through culture (Rose,[8]), local jobs (HISTORIC ENGLAND, [9]), and rural tourism (Greffe, [10]). ...
... Nastali so zaradi krčenja površin za pripravo kmetijskih zemljišč (Orbanić et al., 2012). Prispevajo k heterogenosti habitatov, ščitijo zemljišča pred vetrno erozijo in s svojstveno mikroklimo povečujejo biotsko raznovrstnost (Manenti, 2014). Gradnja suhozidov, tudi v Sloveniji, je bila kot umetnost leta 2018 vpisana na Unescov seznam nesnovne kulturne dediščine (Unesco, 2018). ...
IZVLEČEK Današnja kulturna krajina, ki jo je več tisoč let oblikoval človek v mozaični preplet kmetijskih površin in gozda, je v zadnjih desetletjih izgubila velik del biotske pestrosti. Na območju Natura 2000 Slovenska Istra se zmanjšujejo površine vrstno pestrih travišč, ki prehajajo v opuščena kmetijska zemljišča ali intenzivne oljčne nasade. S primerno izbiro zemljišča za oljčnike in urejanjem nasadov, tako da v njih obdržimo čim več naravnih in polnaravnih habitatov ter krajinskih struktur, ohranjamo ekološke procese (na primer opraševanje rastlin in nastajanje prsti) ter povečujemo biotsko pestrost in mozaično podobo krajine. Območja, sprejemljiva za oljčne nasade, bi morala biti premišljeno načrtovana na regionalnem nivoju, pri čemer bi se upošteval tudi vidik biodiverzitete. ABSTRACT Today's cultural landscape, shaped by man for thousands of years in a mosaic of agricultural lands and forest, has lost much of its biodiversity in recent decades. In Slovenian Istria, region in sub-Mediterranean, the biodiverse grasslands show dramatic decline, while turned into overgrown land or intensive managed olive groves. By appropriate selection of potential areas for plantations and maintaining olive groves in a way to preserve as many natural and semi-natural habitats and landscape structures as possible, we conserve ecological processes (e.g., plant pollination and soil formation) and contribute to biodiversity and aesthetic value of the landscape. Suitable areas for olive groves should therefore be planned at the regional level, also from biodiversity aspect.
... Nastali so zaradi krčenja površin za pripravo kmetijskih zemljišč (Orbanić et al., 2012). Prispevajo k heterogenosti habitatov, ščitijo zemljišča pred vetrno erozijo in s svojstveno mikroklimo povečujejo biotsko raznovrstnost (Manenti, 2014). Gradnja suhozidov, tudi v Sloveniji, je bila kot umetnost leta 2018 vpisana na Unescov seznam nesnovne kulturne dediščine (Unesco, 2018). ...
IZVLEČEK Današnja kulturna krajina, ki jo je več tisoč let oblikoval človek v mozaični preplet kmetijskih površin in gozda, je v zadnjih desetletjih izgubila velik del biotske pestrosti. Na območju Natura 2000 Slovenska Istra se zmanjšujejo površine vrstno pestrih travišč, ki prehajajo v opuščena kmetijska zemljišča ali intenzivne oljčne nasade. S primerno izbiro zemljišča za oljčnike in urejanjem nasadov, tako da v njih obdržimo čim več naravnih in polnaravnih habitatov ter krajinskih struktur, ohranjamo ekološke procese (na primer opraševanje rastlin in nastajanje prsti) ter povečujemo biotsko pestrost in mozaično podobo krajine. Območja, sprejemljiva za oljčne nasade, bi morala biti premišljeno načrtovana na regionalnem nivoju, pri čemer bi se upošteval tudi vidik biodiverzitete. ABSTRACT Today's cultural landscape, shaped by man for thousands of years in a mosaic of agricultural lands and forest, has lost much of its biodiversity in recent decades. In Slovenian Istria, region in sub-Mediterranean, the biodiverse grasslands show dramatic decline, while turned into overgrown land or intensive managed olive groves. By appropriate selection of potential areas for plantations and maintaining olive groves in a way to preserve as many natural and semi-natural habitats and landscape structures as possible, we conserve ecological processes (e.g., plant pollination and soil formation) and contribute to biodiversity and aesthetic value of the landscape. Suitable areas for olive groves should therefore be planned at the regional level, also from biodiversity aspect.
... Els murs de pedra són un hàbitat important per a la biodiversitat de flora i fauna (Presland, 2007;Collier, 2013;Ruas, 2022), però tot i això hi ha pocs estudis que valorin l'ecologia d'aquests ambients (Manenti, 2014). Especialment a la regió mediterrània, on tot i que els murs de pedra seca són abundants, no han estat objecte d'estudi pel que fa als aspectes de biodiversitat. ...
Els murs de pedra seca són un element important del patrimoni cultural i natural de l'Empordà. L'ambient rocós afavoreix el desenvolupament de la vegetació rupícola, és a dir, de les espè-cies adaptades a sòls esquelètics o inexistents, que poden viure en ambients extremadament àrids. L'objectiu d'aquest estudi és valoritzar i descriure la flora rupícola dels murs de pedra seca d'aquest espai natural. L'estudi ha consistit en el mostreig de 30 murs de pedra seca, seleccio-nant dades dels diferents sectors que conformen la morfologia del mur. Els resultats obtinguts indiquen que la riquesa i l'abundància d'espècies és molt baixa en els ambients rocosos, el planell del mur presenta una comunitat rupícola més desenvolupada, dominada pel crespinell Petrosedum sediforme, que en diferencia la composició d'espècies respecte als altres sectors. La conservació del patrimoni cultural que representen els murs de pedra seca és important per a preservar el patrimoni natural que aquests poden acollir. Paraules clau: Vegetació rupícola, mur de pedra seca, conservació, la Garriga d'Empordà.
Dry stone walls are an important element of the cultural and natural heritage of the Empordà region. The rocky environment promotes the development of rupicolous vegetation, that is species adapted to skeletal or non-existent soils, that can live in extremely arid environments. The objective of this study is to assess and describe the plant communities of dry stone walls in this natural area. The study includes sampling 30 samples from different sectors of dry stone walls' morphology. The results obtained indicate that richness and abundance of species are very low in rocky environments. The vertical wall surface is the maximum exponent of these conditions, where plant cover is very low and in many cases even null. The top of the wall presents a more developed rocky community, dominated by Petrosedum sediforme, which differs from the species composition of other sectors. The conservation of dry stone walls as cultural heritage is important in order to preserve the natural heritage they potentially host.
... European plethodontid salamanders (genus Speleomantes) are eight allopatric species mainly distributed in Italy and in a small area of the French Provence (Lanza et al., 2006); among the mainland species, S. italicus also occurs in the Republic of San Marino (Casali et al., 2005). Speleomantes are facultative cave-dwellers inhabiting different typologies of subterranean environments (e.g., caves, mines), but also forested areas and even dry walls (Costa et al., 2016;Lanza et al., 2006;Manenti, 2014), where suitable microclimatic conditions (relatively cold temperature and high humidity) occur (Ficetola et al., 2018). ...
We here present the first study on the consumed prey by an epigean population of the Italian cave salamander (Speleomantes italicus) from the Republic of San Marino. Using the harmless technique of stomach flushing, we aimed to provide the first data on the diet and on the degree of individual specialization that characterizes the studied population. We performed two-night surveys (one in autumn 2022 and one in spring 2023) in which we opportunistically searched for salamanders in forested areas and dry walls. Captured salamanders were sexed, weighed, photographed, measured and stomach flushed. Overall, we inspected the stomach contents of 67 individuals, recognizing 1,018 prey items belonging to 28 different prey categories. The examined population was mainly composed by generalist individuals, and no differences in number and diversity of prey consumed were observed among salamanders. Contrarily to what has been observed in other Speleomantes species, flying prey provided a minor contribution to the diet of the investigated population. Our study produced the first information on the diet of Speleomantes italicus from the Republic of San Marino, representing the starting point for future assessments on the dietary habits of this specific population.
... salamander) and mollusks (e.g. snails), which can find shelter and nutrient availability on the rock voids [22]. Terrestrial gastropods, including species that are not strictly rock-dwelling, often exploit rocky areas, walls, and other vertical creviced surfaces to look for food. ...
Algarve, the southern district of Portugal, is a well-known touristic destination, since the 70s of the XX century. Besides, this emerging economic activity for the last 5 decades, the ancient economical bases were founded upon agriculture and fishery primary sector. Although agriculture is still an important motor of the region economy, the main producers are located on the fertile terraces and the traditional subsistence agriculture was practically abandoned, as well as the drystone walls used to level the slopes and create small terraces. These were used for agriculture, forestry and goat breeding purposes, but also for soil erosion control, as well as to retain and channel the rainwaters into natural or constructed reservoirs, since this is a semi-arid region and there's a shortage of water. With the rural exodus on the 70s and the replacement of the subsistence agriculture for farming production, drystone walls face abandon, only still standing due to its resilience. However, the lack of maintenance led to vegetation invasion, and consequently to wall tumbling, compromising their function and the human access to deepest forestry areas. The quantity of drystone walls in Algarve is immense and not only they make part of the constructed heritage, but they also stand up for climate change mitigation and forest fire prevention, thus an important patrimony that must be preserved. The research hereby presented aims, not only to highlight the importance of its maintenance and rehabilitation for the Algarve territory, impacting on cultural, socio-economical, environmental and sustainability indicators, but also to demonstrate the risks associated to the neglection of these structural elements and future implications.
... salamander) and mollusks (e.g. snails), which can find shelter and nutrient availability on the rock voids [22]. Terrestrial gastropods, including species that are not strictly rock-dwelling, often exploit rocky areas, walls, and other vertical creviced surfaces to look for food. ...
... Ongoing evolution not only has a clear impact on the cultural and aesthetic values of the landscape, but also has a significant ecological impact regarding biodiversity. Traditional vineyards on steep slopes are usually rich in man-made infrastructures such as dry-stone walls and embankments, which are well-known to provide suited microhabitats for a wide range of faunistic groups (e.g., Tanadini et al., 2012;Trivellone et al., 2012;Manenti, 2014;Košulič et al., 2014;Assandri et al., 2018;Wersebeckmann et al., 2021;Paiola et al., 2020). ...
... Os estudos que contribuem para a quantificação da importância dos muros de pedra seca na conservação da biodiversidade da fauna são escassos, e os existentes são estudos empíricos mais virados para a vertente botânica. No entanto, já se encontram resultados de estudos focados na fauna, principalmente em anfíbios (salamandra) e moluscos (caracóis), os quais podem encontrar abrigo e disponibilidade de nutrientes nos vazios rochosos (Manenti, 2014). Os gastrópodes terrestres, incluindo espécies que não são estritamente rochosas, exploram frequentemente áreas rochosas, paredes e outras superfícies verticais fendas para procurar comida. ...
This dissertation proposes a reflection on the importance of the rural heritage of dry stone
walls in the Algarve region, an 8-month field study was chosen with a photographic survey to
verify the location, function, material and construction techniques used in the walls found in
the three Algarve, Serra, Barrocal and Litoral regions. The largest amount of walls was found
in the Barrocal region and in the range between the Barrocal and the Litoral, due to their
slopes, while in the Serra they were found near villages, the Litoral had walls mostly of
property division, rare. cases of retaining walls. The walls found were cataloged and
subdivided in relation to their structural arrangement on the ground, their crowning, access to
the walls and rigging, in addition to the construction techniques and water regulation system,
also presenting information on their contribution to the mitigation of natural risks, namely
erosion control, reduction of rainwater runoff speed and natural barriers in forest fires.
During the research there were some limitations, especially in relation to the walls, first an
online study was carried out with the help of Google Maps to find fields where a cluster of
walls was perceived, however, many were found abandoned or taken by vegetation, which
made its cataloging difficult for the project.
The dissertation provides information about the sustainable effects of the walls in the regions
where they are found, the existence of such constructions tells a story of the ancestors of
farmers who developed techniques there to adapt to the topographical conditions, in which
they transformed the natural landscape from slopes into arable land suitable for production,
thus contributing not only to social but also economic sustainability.
... Stonewalls used in agriculture can have a positive impact on biodiversity by supporting endemic flora and fauna, including providing refuge for seeds, for soil preservation, and for easy access to habitats (Collier, 2012: 141;Manenti, 2014Manenti, : 1879Assandri, 2018: 200). By contrast, socio-political barriers have a negative impact on biodiversity. ...
... Finally, during the summer period, the slits and openings found on the stone walls accommodate another species, the shelled gastropods, protecting them during their breeding period. This probably has to do with the moisture 'blocked' there and the increased calcium deposits most useful for the construction of their shells, factors contributing to the welfare of these organisms (Manenti, 2014). Other frequent 'visitors' are the reptiles, whose exothermic condition is the key in their selection of suitable sites where they can find warmth, rich food and protection (Adolph, 1990) and for these reasons find stone terraces very attractive. ...
Agricultural terraces and stone walls present a characteristic view of the Mediterranean landscape, and are vital in relation to the conservation of biodiversity, ecological functionality and cultural heritage. The aim of the study is to identify the contribution of micrometeorology of the agricultural terraces and stone walls, and impacts on the biodiversity of the Mediterranean landscape. The literature review survey indicates that terraces and stone walls provide various vital goods and services, and are potential and interesting assets for the development of the Greek areas. It is noteworthy that agricultural terraces and stone walls are an important habitat for biodiversity and they are creating multiple microenvironments enhancing its conservation and sustaining the stability of the ecosystem. Consequently, these landscape elements should be preserved as they favour the components of biodiversity, which are the source of our food and medicines, fibres, fuels and industrial products. The utilisation of the biodiversity components contributes substantially to the economy and the development of tourism.
... Stone walls should be considered a contributing feature of the Anthropocene in southern New England because they: (i) represent a profound cultural shift in land use practices and are a defining characteristic of the northeastern landscape; (ii) have a ubiquitous geomorphological presence in this region in terms of their sheer volume and likely influence on surface processes; and (iii) could have an immense ecological impact, which has been studied in Europe and Asia (Collier, 2013;Francis, 2010;Holland, 1972;Jim, 1998;Manenti, 2014), but which is not well-studied in the northeastern United States (Frank et al., 1998;. The variation we show in stone wall distribution highlights the temporal and spatial complexity of 17 th to early 20 th land use that locally characterizes the Anthropocene in southern New England. ...
... The effects of past land use are visible in the landscape (Munteanu et al. 2015) and can persist for decades (Wallin et al. 1994) or even centuries (Boucher et al. 2013; Thompson et al. 2013). These traces in abandoned mountain areas include different terrain forms and object and were a subject of studies conducted among others in New England (Johnson and Ouimet 2016), Italy (Manenti 2014), Ireland (Hollingsworth and Collier 2020), Czech Republic (Duchoslav 2002) and Poland (Wolski 2016;Duma et al. 2020). These terrain forms and objects can be treated as an indicator of former land use. ...
Many landscapes bear the marks of historical land use. These marks can be the basis for a reconstruction of a historical land use structure as some of them are typical of different types of human activity. The aim of this paper is to determine whether Austrian cadastral maps from the 19th century present the image of the most transformed environment in the Western Carpathians as a result of agricultural activity. Land use structure and terrain forms were detected based on Austrian cadastral maps from 1848, airborne laser scanning and field studies. In two of the test areas, the percentage of arable fields was higher among the plots with stone mounds than the percentage among the plots without them. In the third test area, the relationship was reversed. Also, lynchets, terraces and stone walls sometimes occur in plots that were not arable fields in 1848. Thus, the Austrian cadastral maps from 1848 could not reflect the maximal range of arable fields in the Carpathians in the 19th century. However, it is impossible to determine the historical structure of land use precisely. Nevertheless, an inventory of terrain forms can be used to assess land use when historical maps have not preserved or when available maps do not present land use in detail.
... Climate change, related to the greater and greater frequency of high-intensity rainfall concentrated in few hours, is rapidly and severely increasing risks and threats in terraced mountain areas, more vulnerable due to their structural features. Complex terraced agricultural systems, including dry-stone walls structures and drainage systems, can be seen as a key infrastructure providing multiple ecosystem functions and services to local communities, which are peculiar, even if not yet fully accounted for [63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72]. ...
Terraced landscapes were for centuries forms of sustainable and multifunctional land management, results of a long and intimate relationship between peoples and their environment. They demonstrated a rich cultural diversity and agrobiodiversity through sustainable land-use systems. These productive cultural landscapes in many cases were expressions of a pre-industrial circular model of rural development, where no resource was wasted. However, not all terraced landscapes have to be considered sustainable in themselves: in recent times, the terraces have undergone changes that have threatened their sustainability with abandonment and degradation as well as exclusively productive exploitation. This paper explores whether and how terraced landscape can recover an active role in modern society, analyzing emerging terraces recovery practices from the perspective of the circular economy. Innovative circular and productive uses of abandoned terraced landscapes aim at reducing the waste of natural and cultural resources, enlarging the lifetime (use value) of landscapes and preserving cultural and natural values for present and future generations. Results show that new functional uses of terraced landscapes are able to enhance in different ways their role as “middle landscapes” or places of mediation among economic, ecologic, ethical and aesthetic needs through circular adaptive reuse practices, becoming key drivers of new “circular” economies and a new pact between rural and urban regions.
... only to reach areas with high prey availability Lunghi et al., 2018c). Although, in several cases surface populations are known, such as those on the forest floor or on dry stone walls (Manenti, 2014;Costa and Salvidio, 2016). ...
The pathways of introduction of non-native amphibians are diverse, as historically amphibians were used as pest
control agents, food stock, or were introduced to perform research. Today, the pet trade is the main source for amphibian
introductions into novel ranges. However, these introductions mainly concern anurans, whereas cases involving urodeles are
less common. Since 2013, a population of European cave salamanders, Speleomantes spp. Dubois, 1984, is known to be present
in Germany. However, knowledge on the size of this population is missing, and it is unknown to which of the similar-looking
species of Speleomantes it belongs. Here, we applied loglinear capture-recapture models to estimate population size, and used
a recently published photographic database, including more than 1000 images of all eight Speleomantes species, to determine
the species identity of the German population. According to our estimates, the population consists of 170 to 485 individuals (±
134 to 320). Based on colour pattern the population most likely belongs to S. italicus (Dunn, 1923). We additionally provide
the first evidence for reproduction and give further insights into this non-native salamander population
... Stones in stone mounds and walls and the space between them are gradually filled with dust, settled by bacteria, later by moss, lichens, and fungi followed by their disintegration resulting in an organic substrate for higher plants, insects and other fauna (Council of Europe 2019). The positive significance of stone walls for the biodiversity was confirmed by research (Manenti 2014 and Council of Europe 2019). Another important function of stone mounds is their cultural and historical value as a testimony to the development and existence of a traditional viticultural landscape. ...
Stone mounds and walls are defined as the man-made accumulations of the unnecessary skeletal material accumulated over centuries as by-products of vineyards cultivation usually at the borders of plots. Their distribution, position, shapes and volume are analyzed; the basic types are defined and causes of their disappearance and transformation are interpreted relying on the comparison of situations in 1894 and 2018. A combination of the historical maps, aerial images and Lidar data study and field research as well were used for the identification and analysis of stone mounds and walls. The volumes of stone mounds and walls in 2018 were computed from the digital terrain model derived from the Lidar data. Dependencies between the individual characteristics in individual years were quantified by correlation coefficient (r) and that of determination (r2). Compared to 1894, the number of stone mounds in 2018 decreased by 38%, their overall area diminished by 62%. The main driving force of the disappearance or transformation of stone mounds and walls has been the transition to large-area vineyards. Stone mounds and walls though remain a noticeable testimony to the traditional viticultural landscape with undeniable biodiversity and cultural/historical value.
... As for boulders, piles of stones or debris may be used as perches and singing posts, as observed for the burrowing owl Athene cunicularia Molina (Manning & Garton, 2012) and yellow wagtail (Fig. S18). Contrary to boulders, piles of stones and debris provide many holes and indentations, which can be used by a variety of invertebrates, amphibians, small reptiles and mammals, making these sites as attractive for foraging as dry-stone walls in hilly agricultural areas (Manenti, 2014). Thrushes use stones as anvils to break snail shells (Kwieci nski et al., 2019), while northern wheatear often builds nests in crevices between rocks and stones (Arlt & Pärt, 2008). ...
Farmland birds belong to the most endangered group of vertebrates in Europe. They are an important component of farmland biodiversity considering the numerous functions they perform (e.g. seed dispersal, improving germination, increasing gene flow, nutrient recycling, and pest control). Therefore, their decline imposes substantial risks on agricultural ecosystems. In general, farmland bird conservation includes land‐use and management alterations leading to less‐intensive farming and land‐sparing for breeding habitats (e.g. agri‐environment‐climate schemes, and organic farming). However, theoretical concepts describing farmland biodiversity maintenance and applied conservation measures usually ignore the role of singular, often very small, natural or man‐made elements in an agricultural landscape. These elements play a role in the populations of certain species, their biology and in the general species richness of farmland. Furthermore, the importance of these elements has never been empirically tested, which means that conservationists and practitioners are not aware of their measurable value for birds. Herein, we define and identify singular point elements in the agricultural landscape (SPELs) which are potentially important for breeding farmland birds. We also describe each SPEL and evaluate its importance for birds in farmland based on a systematic review of the available literature. Using a horizon‐scanning technique, we then polled field ornithologists about their personal observations of birds in relation to SPELs and the evaluation of the potential roles of such structures for birds. We identified 17 SPELs that vary in naturalness and age: singular trees, singular shrubs, erratic boulders, puddles, electricity pylons, wind turbines, spiritual sites, hunting platforms, fence and border posts, wells, road signs, scarecrows, piles of manure, piles of brushwood/branches, piles of stones/debris, piles of lime, and haystacks. Analysis of the literature revealed knowledge gaps, because some SPELs are frequently mentioned in ecological studies (e.g. trees, shrubs, pylons), but others such as spiritual sites, stones, hunting platforms, wells, road signs, or piles of lime are ignored. Despite the fact that some authors incorporate the effects of some SPELs in their studies, little research to date has aimed to assess the impact of various SPELs on farmland bird species numbers and distribution. Horizon scanning revealed that ornithologists often observe birds on various SPELs and thus, attribute to SPELs many functions that are important for maintaining bird populations. Horizon scanning also highlighted the importance of SPELs for many declining bird species and suggested possible mitigation of negative changes in the agricultural landscape by retaining SPELs within fields. We suggest that a better understanding of the role of SPELs for farmland birds is required. We also recommend that SPELs are considered as a potential tool for the conservation of birds, and existing conservation programs such as agri‐environment‐climate schemes and organic farming should be updated accordingly. Finally, we suggest that SPELs are included in predictive models that evaluate habitat suitability for farmland biodiversity.
... Even though in agricultural landscapes dry stone walls may play a crucial role in biodiversity enhancement (Manenti, 2014), their influence was poorly investigated in vineyards. However, a positive effect of dry-stone walls was found for birds, due to increased habitat heterogeneity and availability of potential breeding sites (Assandri et al., 2017a(Assandri et al., , 2018b. ...
Vineyards are experiencing strong expansion and management intensification worldwide, especially in areas with a Mediterranean climate, which are often characterized by a high conservation value. This is posing concerns about their environmental impact and it is fostering research on biodiversity patterns and ecosystem services in this agroecosystem. With this systematic review, we aim at providing a global and comprehensive overview of the current research on biodiversity and biodiversity-mediated ecosystem services in vineyards, considering the effects of landscape features and management practices. We carried out a systematic literature search on the Web of Science Core Collection database. Literature was filtered according to several criteria, resulting in a final collection of 218 papers published between 1995 and 2018 and referring to different organism groups (from microbes to vertebrates) and two spatial scales (local and landscape). The results of the studies are often contrasting and taxon- and scale-dependent, thus hindering conclusions at the global scale. However, at least three main points of practical relevance can be fixed: (i) organic viticulture weakly enhances biodiversity at the landscape scale, whereas contrasting effects have been found at the local scale; (ii) ground vegetation management by cover cropping and the conservation of native ground cover strongly promotes biodiversity; (iii) habitat heterogeneity at the landscape and local scales is a key element for biodiversity. Several studies support the view that promoting biodiversity in vineyard-dominated landscapes could also positively impact on several ecosystem services. Our study further revealed knowledge gaps that should be filled by future research. In particular, important geographical areas for wine production, as well as several organism groups, have been completely neglected. Studies at the landscape level are still scarce (specifically those addressing landscape configuration), and also the research about supporting, provisioning, and cultural biodiversity-mediated ecosystem services is still in its infancy.
... European terrestrial salamanders(genus Hydromantes; see Wake, 2013 for taxonomical discussion) are active at the surface during cool and wet seasons (from autumn to spring), while exploit- ing underground environments during dry and hot periods (late spring and summer;Lunghi, Manenti, & Ficetola, 2015;Manenti, 2014). These salamanders are at thermal equilibrium with the en- vironment(Lunghi et al., 2016)and, when underground, they selectK E Y W O R D Samphibians, microclimate, niche expansion, niche similarity, transgressive niche, underground environment | 3 FICETOLA ET AL. ...
Aim
Hybrid populations can have intermediate, conserved or transgressive niches, compared to the parental species. Fine‐scale analyses can improve our understanding of niche evolution, but information on microhabitat differences between parental species and hybrids is extremely scarce for animal populations. We assessed the pattern and role of niche variation along a hybrid zone, by investigating differences in microhabitat selection between terrestrial cave salamander species (Hydromantes ambrosii and Hydromantes italicus) and their hybrids. We tested whether introgressed populations show intermediate, conserved or transgressive niche, compared to parental species. Furthermore, we compared body condition index (BCI) among individuals observed in different microhabitats (different areas of caves), to assess the potential advantages of exploiting specific microhabitats.
Location
We surveyed ~700 cave sectors in Italy, across the whole range of the two parental species and along their contact zone.
Methods
We recorded salamander distribution and measured microhabitat features influencing salamander distribution: humidity, temperature and incident light. We tested niche differences between parental species and hybrids, and analysed spatial variation of body condition.
Results
We detected significant niche shifts between parental species and hybrids. Introgressed populations showed a transgressive niche and exploited sectors with warmer temperature, lower humidity and more light, compared to the non‐introgressed ones. Introgressed salamanders were better able to exploit the microhabitat conditions that are frequently found nearby cave entrance. For males, BCI was significantly higher in individuals found close to the cave entrance.
Main conclusions
The transgressive niche of hybrids between H. ambrosii and H. italicus indicates niche expansion towards harsh environmental conditions, and such transgressive segregation allows exploiting environments with higher food availability. The ability to exploit dry and warm sectors can provide important advantages to hybrid populations that can better persist under stressful conditions. Transgressive niche can be important for long‐term persistence and evolution within hybrid zones.
... Thorough research was also conducted in North America, where European colonists used techniques known from the Old Continent (Allport 1994;Ouimet 2016, 2018;Thorson 2004Thorson , 2005. Close to the southern Polish border, studies that focused on the significance of such walls for the ecosystem, similar to the studies from other European countries (Manenti 2014;Schreg 2016), were conducted in the Czech Republic (Duchoslav 2002;Hartmanová 2005). Stone walls and heaps that occur in the mountainous areas in Central and Eastern Europe are not as frequent and densely distributed as those from the British Isles, and they only sporadically form closed fences around old fields. ...
This paper is the first comprehensive and interdisciplinary presentation of stone walls in the Central European mountains from the perspective of landscape archaeology based on field surveys and analysis of cartographic and LiDAR data. The stone walls in the Izera Mountains of southwestern Poland are the largest ones in the region, as they represent a rare case of fully enclosed fields in the Sudetes. The niches constructed within the walls are not found anywhere else. The paper discusses the origins, functions, chronology, construction techniques, spatial distribution, and diversity of stone walls and also their significance for the cultural landscape, which was subject to substantial land abandonment after World War 2. Stone walls marked field boundaries, protected arable lands from erosion and their niches provided storage places, and provisional dwellings. Nowadays they are spectacular remnants of past land-use and unique features of the regional cultural landscape.
... Hydromantes species are fully terrestrial salamanders able to exploit several environments, from forest floors to cracks and bare rocks 2,9,10 . However, when local climate becomes unsuitable (too hot and/or harsh), Hydromantes salamanders seek refuge underground, where microclimatic conditions are generally suitable all year round [11][12][13][14] . ...
The availability of data on the feeding habits of species of conservation value may be of great importance to develop analyses for both scientific and management purposes. Stomach flushing is a harmless technique that allowed us to collect extensive data on the feeding habits of six Hydromantes species. Here, we present two datasets originating from a three-year study performed in multiple seasons (spring and autumn) on 19 different populations of cave salamanders. The first dataset contains data of the stomach content of 1,250 salamanders, where 6,010 items were recognized; the second one reports the size of the intact prey items found in the stomachs. These datasets integrate considerably data already available on the diet of the European plethodontid salamanders, being also of potential use for large scale meta-analyses on amphibian diet.
... The importance of dry-stone walls for biodiversity has been scarcely investigated, but such walls may provide breeding and roosting sites (Woodhouse et al., 2005;Manenti 2014), rich and often peculiar (i.e. xeric) plant communities (Holland, 1972), which can further increase the number of micro-habitat resulting in a more diversified fauna (Baur et al., 1995), and can potentially act as ecological corridors (Dover et al., 2000;Collier, 2012). ...
Agriculture, during its millenarian history, had contributed to shape impressive cultural landscapes; however, in recent decades, many of these have been lost or degraded because of widespread intensification or abandon-ment. Low-intensive agricultural landscapes are of utmost importance for biodiversity conservation and the delivery of cultural ecosystem services. We worked in a cultural landscape shaped by viticulture (in Trentino, Italy), which recently underwent a widespread intensification. We explicitly quantified two cultural services (aesthetic and cultural heritage values), and the biodiversity (bird species richness) associated with this landscape at 24 sampling sites. We then related these variables with the territory density of an indicator/flagship bird species, the common redstart. Finally, we assessed redstart ecological requirements at the territory scale. We aimed to define an appealing strategy combining biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service delivery in the cultural landscapes. Redstart density was positively related with avian species richness and landscape aesthetic value, the latter being related with the cultural heritage value. Redstart occurrence was positively associated with hedge and tree rows, dry-stone walls, marginal habitats, and the compositional diversity of the land-cover. We concluded that managing the agricultural landscape to maintain aesthetic and heritage values, which primarily means conserving and enhancing its key 'traditional' traits, would favour an indicator/flagship species and likely the wider bird diversity. It will also promote the heritage and recreational value of the landscape itself, underlining the importance of the synergistic integration of multiple conservation targets into a combined strategy.
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... flavus, H. supramontis, H. imperialis, H. sarrabusensis, H. genei) are lungless salamanders endemic to Sardinia (Sillero et al., 2014), showing allopatric distributions (Chiari et al., 2012). Salamanders of the genus Hydromantes are mostly epigean species which exploit a variety of different terrestrial habitats (Lanza et al., 2006;Manenti, 2014;Costa et al., 2016). However, these salamanders have a narrow thermal niche and require high humidity (Spotila, 1972). ...
Leeches can parasitize many vertebrate taxa. In amphibians, leech parasitism often has potential detrimental effects including population decline. Most of studies on the host-parasite interactions involving leeches and amphibians focus on freshwater environments, while they are very scarce for terrestrial amphibians. In this work, we studied the relationship between the leech Batracobdella algira and the European terrestrial salamanders of the genus Hydromantes, identifying environmental features related to the presence of the leeches and their possible effects on the hosts. We performed observation throughout Sardinia (Italy), covering the distribution area of all Hydromantes species endemic to this island. From September 2015 to May 2017, we conducted >150 surveys in 26 underground environments, collecting data on 2629 salamanders and 131 leeches. Water hardness was the only environmental feature correlated with the presence of B. algira, linking this leech to active karstic systems. Leeches were more frequently parasitizing salamanders with large body size. Body Condition Index was not significantly different between parasitized and non-parasitized salamanders. Our study shows the importance of abiotic environmental features for host-parasite interactions, and poses new questions on complex interspecific interactions between this ectoparasite and amphibians.
... The biogeographic factors that determined such a distribution are unclear and still debated (Macey, 2005;Lanza et al., 2006a;Carranza et al., 2008;Wake, 2013). Despite their vernacular name, European cave salamanders are mainly epigeous species which exploit several types of environments, such as forests, bare rocks and even dry stone-walls (Lanza et al., 2006a;Manenti, 2014;Costa, Crovetto and Salvidio, 2016). However, because of their specific physiology (Spotila, 1972), when external conditions become too harsh, they move underground looking for a suitable microclimate (Ficetola, Pennati and Manenti, 2012;Lunghi, Manenti and Ficetola, 2014a). ...
The introduction of allochthonous species often represents a serious problem for ecosystems and native species. Usually, these cases involve common widespread species that show high adaptability and strong competitiveness against local species. Within amphibians, the introduction of allochthonous species mainly deals with anurans, while cases involving caudata are few and poorly studied. We report the first assessment of an introduced population of European plethodontid salamanders. This population is located in the French Pyrenees and represents the oldest allochthonous Hydromantes population. We reconstructed the history of its introduction and collected data on the ecology and feeding habits of this population. Our results show that this population is stable and reproductive, showing strong similarities to Italian mainland species of Hydromantes. This study provided the base for further studies focused on this allochthonous population of European cave salamanders.
... In order to be both integrative and explicative regarding how the social-ecological system works, management indicators need to reflect provisioning, regulating, and cultural ES categories. The selection of management indicators was, therefore, based on previous research linking management practices and ES supply, stakeholder perceptions of ES provision in the region (Fagerholm et al., 2016a;Garrido et al., 2017), and recent reviews and assessments on the most relevant ES in wood pastures and grazing systems (Nieto-Romero , 2014;Plieninger et al., 2015;Modernel et al., 2016;Torralba et al., 2016). Finally, we selected a total of 12 quantitative dehesa structure and management indicators that can be linked with ES provision (Table 1), including the proportion of fencing on the property that is the traditional dry stone walls. ...
The wood pastures or hardwood rangelands of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula are complex social-ecological systems created from the long-term interaction of society and the landscape. Dehesa, oak woodlands managed for grazing, cropping, and other forms of production, is the most common rangeland system and one of the most distinctive landscapes. Traditionally characterized by multifunctional low-intensity management that enhances a wide range of ecosystem services, current management has shifted from the traditional toward more intensified models. This paper assesses the coproduction of ecosystem services on dehesa properties by exploring the relationship between biophysical and sociocultural factors and dehesa management practices. Based on 42 surveys we analyze 16 quantitative indicators using multivariate techniques. The results indicate that there are four main dehesa types as defined by their characteristics and management: large heterogeneous operations with diverse products; small and homogeneous operations focused on a reduced number of products; medium-large properties focused on crop production; and midsized properties with easy public access. Management is the result of the dynamics of interacting biophysical and sociocultural factors that influence manager priorities and investments. Management decisions group around the degree of multifunctionality of the operation, the relative importance of crop production, the degree of grazing pressure in the system, and how restrictive public access policy is. We find that in the study area, interactions between all the previously mentioned elements covary consistently, generating bundles of ecosystem services associated with each of three management models based on the intensity of management.
... Areas with limestone cliffs are famous for molluscan communities with high species richness and a large number of taxa of conservation value (e.g., Clements et al. 2006). Similarly structured environment can be found on stone walls containing a calcareous mortar cementing stones and bricks (Alexandrowicz 1995;Juřičková & Kučera 2005;Manenti 2014). In regions devoid of limestone or other calcareous rocks molluscan assemblages often reach the highest species diversity close to relics of castles or other overgrown ruins, where the substratum is locally enriched in lime. ...
To analyse the reproductive activity of the central-European clausiliid Cochlodina orthostoma we sampled monthly 30 adults from three sites comprising old stone walls of two abandoned castles and isolated limestone rocks. Out of the 395 dissected snails, 25.1% retained eggs. The number of eggs in the uterus ranged from 2 to 12. The highest percentages of gravid individuals were recorded in June–July, but reproductive intensity varied among populations. Almost half of the recorded eggs contained a shelled embryo. The largest embryonic shell featured approximately 1.3 whorls. The reproductive mode of the species was also studied in laboratory culture. Egg-laying was observed between May and November, the number of eggs laid on a single occasion ranged from 1 to 8, and the number of eggs produced per individual varied between 6 and 21 during the observation period. We found that eggs were laid in various developmental stages, accordingly, there were differences in egg sizes and the external incubation period varied between 6 and 15 days. Based on our results C. orthostoma should be regarded as brooding species with a short and flexible period of egg retention.
... Stone walls should be considered a contributing feature of the Anthropocene in southern New England because they: (i) represent a profound cultural shift in land use practices and are a defining characteristic of the northeastern landscape; (ii) have a ubiquitous geomorphological presence in this region in terms of their sheer volume and likely influence on surface processes; and (iii) could have an immense ecological impact, which has been studied in Europe and Asia (Collier, 2013;Francis, 2010;Holland, 1972;Jim, 1998;Manenti, 2014), but which is not well-studied in the northeastern United States (Frank et al., 1998;. The variation we show in stone wall distribution highlights the temporal and spatial complexity of 17 th to early 20 th land use that locally characterizes the Anthropocene in southern New England. ...
Abstract: This study reconstructs the recent history of Therasia by examining the interplay between traditional settlements and the island’s natural and agricultural landscape. Through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates spatial and architectural analysis, historical records, and NDVI-based vegetation mapping, this research highlights the significant impact of agrarian structures like drystone walls and terraces on the environment. The unique dry-stone wall and terrace system is shown to have been crucial for both spatial organization and the survival of Therasia’s inhabitants. This study also addresses the challenges of dating these structures, employing a relative dating methodology to establish a timeline of habitation from the late medieval period to the present. This research reconstructs the island’s recent history, from early seasonal settlements to the eventual decline of rural architecture in the 20th century. The findings indicate that settlement patterns were closely linked to environmental and geomorphological factors, with the evolution of these sites driven by agricultural practices and broader socio-economic changes. This research not only reconstructs Therasia’s past, but also proposes a novel methodological framework combining remote sensing with traditional historical analysis, offering new insights.
Biocultural diversity is the ever-evolving and irreplaceable sum total of all living organisms inhabiting the Earth. It plays a significant role in sustainable productivity and ecosystem services that benefit humanity and is closely allied with human cultural diversity. Despite
its essentiality, biodiversity is seriously threatened by the insatiable and inequitable human exploitation of the Earth’s resources. One of the benefits of biodiversity is its utilization in crop improvement, including cropping improvement (agronomic cultivation practices)
and genetic improvement (plant breeding). Crop improvement has tended to decrease agricultural biodiversity since the origins of agriculture, but awareness of this situation can reverse this negative trend. Cropping improvement can strive to use more diverse cultivars and a broader complement of crops on farms and in landscapes. It can also focus on underutilized crops, including legumes. Genetic improvement can access a broader range of biodiversity sources and, with the assistance of modern breeding tools like genomics, can facilitate the introduction of additional characteristics that improve yield, mitigate environmental stresses, and restore, at least partially, lost crop biodiversity. The current legal framework covering biodiversity includes national intellectual property and international treaty instruments, which have tended to limit access and innovation to biodiversity. A global system of access and benefit sharing, encompassing digital sequence information, would benefit humanity but remains an elusive goal. The
Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework sets forth an ambitious set of targets and goals to be accomplished by 2030 and 2050, respectively, to protect and restore bicultural diversity, including agrobiodiversity.
We here provide the first comprehensive analysis and discussion on prey consumed by the European cave salamanders of the genus Speleomantes. Our study stems from the need to shed light
on the still unknown foraging behavior adopted by Speleomantes cave salamanders. Starting from the published datasets on gut contents from all Speleomantes species (including hybrids), we here discuss additional information (i.e., species ecology, lower taxonomic level), which were systematically omitted from those data sets. We analyzed a data set consisting of 17,630 records from 49 categories of consumed prey recognized from gut contents of 2060 adults and juveniles Speleomantes. Flying
prey accounted for more than 58% of the prey items, while elongated crawling prey accounted for no more than 16% of the diet within a single population. Among the total recognized prey items, only three can be surely ascribed to the group of strictly-cave species (i.e., troglobites), meaning that European cave salamanders mostly forage in surface environment, and therefore represent one of the major drivers of allochthonous organic matter in subterranean environments. Some of the consumed
prey seemed to be aquatic, allowing us to hypothesize whether Speleomantes are able to catch prey from a shallow body water. Furthermore, European cave salamanders possess the ability to prey upon taxa characterized by particular anti-predator defenses, while morphological constraints seem to be the most important limit to prey consumption. For each specific case, we provide insights and propose hypotheses concerning the foraging behavior that need to be tested to properly understand the foraging behavior of this cryptic salamanders.
Drystone terraces offer a series of ecosystem services including both biological and cultural benefits. The aesthetic contribution towards the landscape and the increase in biodiversity levels, constitute drystone terraces and other similar constructions, as important biocultural assets. The low maintenance and the eventual abandonment of drystone terraces cause a series of drawbacks regarding the sustainability of agricultural environments. The main goal of this research was to assess the effect of drystone terrace maintenance level on biodiversity. For that reason, two closely distant agricultural areas of Lesbos Island (North Aegean, Greece) in which olive grove drystone terraces dominate were compared. The non-intrusive method of ecoacoustics was selected, and the levels of the acoustic complexity and acoustic diversity were statistically analyzed for areas that included highly maintained and poorly maintained olive grove drystone terraces. The results indicated an increase in acoustic biodiversity levels in the poorly maintained drystone terraces area. At this early stage, the results highlighted the fact that the increased resources in the poorly maintained drystone terraces, in terms of nesting and feeding opportunities, increased the biodiversity levels. Nevertheless, the spatiotemporal expansion of this research is undeniably important.
Traditional cultural landscapes are classified and described, which might occur all around the globe or only in certain regions of the world. These landscapes have been shaped by humans over the centuries and represent a historical continuity, despite landscape dynamics and historical changes. Typically, these landscapes have a considerable proportion of low-input and extensive land-use types (agriculture and forestry) and/or fishery. The cultural landscape classification encompasses forest landscapes, agroforestry landscapes, pasture landscapes, terraced landscapes, irrigation landscapes, lakescapes, riverscapes, coastal landscapes and seascapes, saltscapes, hunting and park landscapes, monastic landscapes, and sacred and spiritual landscapes. These landscapes integrate natural as well as cultural heritage.KeywordsAgroforestry landscapesExtensive land-use systemsIrrigation landscapeLandscape classificationLow-input agricultureRiverscape
The movements of 52 cave salamanders (Speleomantes strinatii) were studied from May to October 2012, in NW Italy. Cave salamanders, caught inside an artificial cave, were individually marked with fluorescent visible implant elastomers and displaced 20 m from the capture site. A total of 27 (52% of displaced individuals) were recaptured in the cave by the end of the experiment. Six (11.5%) of these were recaptured inside the cave within two nights and ten (19%) within five nights. There were no sex or body size differences between returning or non-returning salamanders. These preliminary results suggest the existence of homing behaviour in S. strinatii.
The utilization of food resources by a rock-face population of the plethodontid salamander Sprlromantes ambrosii was studied in northwestern Italy, both by dissection and stomach flushing. These two techniques proved quantitatively equivalent. S. ambrosii is an opportunistic feeder, preying on ground dwelling invertebrates within a broad range of groups and sizes. In addition, inorganic detritus, plant debris and salamander sloughed skin often are present in stomach contents. The utilization of prey taxa by number of specimens and by volume varies seasonally and between size classes, whereas prey volume spectra appear to remain constant within each size group. In mature individuals energy requirements are fulfilled mainly by large food items, whereas small prey are relatively more important in the diet of immature salamanders. Adults have a broader and a more varied trophic niche than juveniles. Values of trophic niche overlap are higher when calculated on prey volume categories than on taxonomic categories.
We studied the use of six caves by metamorphosed plethodontid salamanders from 2000–2005 in the Cumberland Plateau of northwestern Georgia. Nine species were observed, the most abundant being, in descending order, Eurycea lucifuga, Plethodon glutinosus, P. petraeus, and E. longicauda. Eurycea lucifuga and P. glutinosus were the only species observed in all six caves. Salamanders used caves seasonally, and all four species were more abundant within caves during seasons with warm, long days. A parsimonious explanation for the observed seasonal pattern of cave use is that salamanders use both cave and surface habitats, moving into caves to avoid hot, dry conditions on the surface. Eurycea lucifuga was most abundant in low-elevation, cold caves. The abundance of P. glutinosus was positively related to cave dimension and secondarily to wall heterogeneity. Species richness was not randomly distributed among caves, but neither was it consistently related to particular variables. Caves into which salamanders crowd during certain seasons represent ideal situations for the testing of hypotheses related to species interactions, both within and among species.
A six-year capture-recapture study allowed us to assess site-tenacity and spatial distribution of site-tenacious individuals in a population of the terrestrial, ovoviviparous Salamandra salamandra from Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Portugal. The study area, an abandoned orchard, maintained large numbers of S. salamandra (about 400/ha). Most site-tenacious individuals were associated with tunnels in old stone walls that supported former agricultural terraces. Age was the only trait that explained site-tenacity in both sexes. The number of residents in each wall was positively related with wall length, and the sex-ratio of the residents was approximately 1:1 in every wall. Several animals spent all of the study period in the same area.
Planktonic foraminiferal faunas have been studied from the Pleistocene of ODP Site 1073 (Leg 174A), New Jersey margin, NW Atlantic Ocean and their abundances have been compared in the >63 μm and > 150 μm size-fractions from the same samples. Trends in the relative abundance of many species are similar in the two size-fractions, although the general level varies considerably. The mean abundance and ranges of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sinistral), N. pachyderma (dextral), Globorotalia inflata and Globigerina bulloides are greater in the >150 μm size-fraction compared with the >63 μm size-fraction. Turborotalita quinqueloba, Globigerinita uvula, G. glutinata, G. clarkei, and juvenile species are more abundant in the >63 μm size-fraction than the >150 μm size-fraction. Peaks (c. 60%) in abundance of G. uvula occur in the >63 μm size-fraction only, although the causes of these patterns are unclear. The data suggest that, in general, consistent palaeoclimatic/palaeocenographic information is achieved by studying planktonic foraminiferal faunas from either size-fraction. However, because particular smaller species are either under-represented or even absent from the larger (>150 μm) size-fraction, the smaller (>63 μm size-fraction must be included in studies of planktonic foraminifera. Furthermore, studies that involve planktonic foraminifera in the >63 μm size-fraction could provide different transfer function estimates for sea surface temperatures in areas where workers have only used larger (>125 μm and >150 μm) size-fractions. J. Micropalaeontol. 21(2): 137-147, December 2002.
Within species, individuals with different sexes, morphs and age classes often show spatial segregation. Both habitat selection and social processes have been proposed to explain intraspecific spatial segregation, but their relative importance is difficult to assess. We investigated spatial segregation between age classes in the cave salamander Hydromantes (Speleomantes) strinatii, and used a hypothetico-deductive approach to evaluate whether social or ecological processes explain segregation pattern. We recorded the location and age class of salamanders along multiple caves; we measured multiple microhabitat features of different sectors of caves that may determine salamander distribution. We assessed age-class segregation, and used generalized mixed models and an information-theoretic framework, to test if segregation is explained by social processes or by differences in habitat selection. We found significant age-class segregation, juveniles living in more external cave sectors than adults. Multiple environmental features varied along caves. Juveniles and adults showed contrasting habitat selection patterns: juveniles were associated with sectors having high invertebrate abundance, while adults were associated with scarce invertebrates and low temperature. When the effect of environmental features was taken into account, the relationship between juveniles and adults was non negative. This suggests that different habitat preferences, related to distinct risk-taking strategies of age classes, can explain the spatial segregation. Juveniles require more food and select more external sectors, even if they may be risky. Conversely, adults may trade off food availability in favour of safe areas with stable micro-climate.
Underground environments are increasingly recognised as important habitats for the distribution of certain amphibians. However, very few analyses tested whether amphibians occur randomly in underground environments, or they select cavities with specific environmental features. We assessed the distribution of the cave salamander Hydromantes (Speleomantes) strinatii in an area of NW Italy during summer, and analysed relationships between salamander distribution and multiple cave features, considering parameters describing both the biotic and the abiotic environment. Using visual encounter surveys, species' detection probability was high, indicating that this technique provides reliable information on distribution. Salamanders were associated to caves with cold and humid microclimate, presence of wet walls, and hosting large numbers of Meta spiders. The association with less luminous caves was close to significance. Distribution data were not affected by spatial autocorrelation, suggesting that cave features are more important than the proximity to other occupied caves in determining the pattern of occupancy. Caves are heterogeneous environments: cave salamanders are strongly related to the features of underground environments. Food availability and abiotic features are major determinants of suitability for cave salamanders. Inter-correlation among biotic and abiotic cave features makes it complex identifying the role of factors determining species distribution, but quantitative analyses and PCA help to unravel the cave habitat requirements for amphibians.
Wildflower strips are used to increase natural enemies of crop pests and to conserve insect diversity on farmland. Mollusks, especially slugs, can affect the vegetation development in these strips considerably. Although recent theoretical work suggests that more diverse plant communities will exhibit greater resistance against herbivore pressure, empirical studies are scarce. We conducted a semi-natural experiment in wildflower strips, manipulating trophic structure (reduction in herbivorous mollusks and reduction in major predators) and plant diversity (2, 6, 12, 20 and 24 sown species). This design allowed us to assess the effect of plant diversity, biomass and composition on mollusks, and vice versa, the effect of mollusc abundance on vegetation. Seven species of mollusks were found in the strips, with the slugs Arion lusitanicus, Deroceras reticulatum and Deroceras panormitanum being most frequent. We found a negative relationship between plant diversity and mollusk abundance, which was due predominantly to a decrease in the agricultural pest species A. lusitanicus. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that plant diversity can reduce the impact of herbivores. However, plant identity also had an effect on mollusks, and accounted for a much larger fraction of the variation in mollusk communities than biodiversity effects. While overall plant diversity decreased during the 3 years of the study, in the final year the highest plant diversity was found in the plots where mollusk populations were experimentally reduced. We conclude that selective feeding by generalist herbivores leads to changes in plant community composition and hence reduced plant diversity. Our results highlight the importance of plant biodiversity as protection against generalist herbivores, which if abundant can in the long term negatively impact plant diversity, driving the system along a "low plant diversity - high mollusk abundance" trajectory.
Surface traps are recommended to monitor slugs in arable crops, but pastureland differs from arable land in many respects and these may affect the performance of sampling methods. Here, we report on the performance of non-baited mat refuge traps, permanently placed at the same position over more than 2 years in four established pastures, for the assessment of slug numbers and biomass, in comparison with soil sampling and flooding over 3 days. Despite the high availability of alternative shelters provided by the vegetation, a great many slugs were captured in the traps over the study period and over a wide range of temperatures recorded under the traps. The catches of slugs in traps and soil samples showed significant positive relationships in terms of numbers and biomass per sample unit and also for the mean weight of the slugs registered in each type of sample, but traps showed a bias towards the larger individuals and underestimated the numbers of smallest slugs of each species (Deroceras reticulatum, Deroceras panormitanum, Deroceras laeve and Arion intermedius). The relationships between the temperature under the traps at the time of collecting and the numbers of trapped slugs were found to be species-dependent. Besides the slugs, abundant slug eggs were regularly found beneath the traps at the four study sites, suggesting that permanent mat traps could be used to provide useful information about oviposition activity of slugs in the field.
Most agricultural landscapes are a mosaic of farmers' fields, semi-natural habitats, human infrastructures (e.g. roads) and occasional natural habitats. Within such landscapes, linear semi-natural habitats often define the edges of agricultural fields. This paper reviews the role and interactions within and between the flora of these elements. In temperate, intensive agriculture, such field margin habitats, which historically had true agricultural functions, now are important refugia for biodiversity. As manmade habitats, field margins may also have important cultural roles as part of our landscape heritage, e.g. hedges in Britain. Whilst field margins are not usually specific habitat types, they contain a variety of plant communities in a variety of structures. These may range from aquatic elements to ruderal and woodland communities. Studies demonstrate a variety of interactions between fields and their margins. Agricultural operations, such as fertiliser and pesticide application, have effects on the flora. Some margin flora may spread into crops, becoming field weeds. Margins also have a range of associated fauna, some of which may be pest species, while many are beneficial, either as crop pollinators or as pest predators. The biodiversity of the margin may be of particular importance for the maintenance of species at higher trophic levels, notably farmland birds, at the landscape scale. Margins contribute to the sustainability of production, by enhancing beneficial species within crops and reducing pesticide use. In northwestern Europe, a variety of methods to enhance diversity at field edges have been introduced, including sown grass and flower strips. The impact of these on weed flora and arthropods indicate mostly beneficial effects though conflicts exist, notably for the conservation of rare arable weed species. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Nondetection of a species at a site does not imply that the species is absent unless the probability of detection is 1. We propose a model and likelihood-based method for estimating site occupancy rates when detection probabilities are 1. The model provides a flexible framework enabling covariate information to be included and allowing for missing observations. Via computer simulation, we found that the model provides good estimates of the occupancy rates, generally unbiased for moderate detection probabilities (0.3). We estimated site occupancy rates for two anuran species at 32 wetland sites in Maryland, USA, from data collected during 2000 as part of an amphibian monitoring program, Frog-watch USA. Site occupancy rates were estimated as 0.49 for American toads (Bufo amer-icanus), a 44% increase over the proportion of sites at which they were actually observed, and as 0.85 for spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer), slightly above the observed proportion of 0.83.
Aims
To (1) describe the distribution patterns of land‐snails occurring in afromontane forest habitats on Mount Kenya, in relation to elevation and aspect; (2) explore the relations between the land‐snail faunas and environmental conditions within the forests.
Location
Mount Kenya, Kenya.
Methods
Molluscs were sampled using standardized direct search and litter sieving methods in a total of sixty‐four replicated plots along four elevational transects spanning an altitudinal range from 1782 to 2851 m on the east, west, south and north‐northwest sides of Mount Kenya. Elevation, vegetation type, forest structure, soil calcium, soil pH, mean annual rainfall and other environmental variables were measured on each plot. Correlation and joint regression analysis, and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to relate snail diversity and abundance, and faunal composition, to site elevation and other environmental variables.
Results
Sixty‐eight mollusc species were recorded during the study with transect totals between thirty‐four and fifty‐three species. Mean number of species and mean snail abundance ranged from 6.75 to 23.0 and 19 to 348 per plot, respectively. Overall, species richness and Shannon diversity index declined with increasing elevation. Snail abundance declined with increasing altitude along three transects and was positively related to soil pH and soil calcium, but species richness was not. Several species exhibited clear altitudinal distribution patterns. Mean annual rainfall varies greatly around the mountain and tends to decrease with altitude over the elevational range studied. Soil calcium and pH were negatively related to annual rainfall. Estimated mean annual rainfall accounted for the greatest variation in the mollusc fauna around the mountain. Faunas in forests on the drier, western side of Mount Kenya contained higher numbers of species in families that are characteristic of temperate latitudes, whereas tropical families were more prevalent on the wetter, south and east sides.
Main conclusions
Land‐snail diversity in Mount Kenya’s forests declines with elevation and thus follows the widespread pattern shown by most groups of organism. However, faunal variation appears to be more closely related to rainfall levels, than to altitude per se or the other environmental variables examined. The effects of rainfall on snails could either be direct, or indirect via its effects on soils or vegetation, but the study suggests that direct effects are more important. Indirect effects mediated by changes in soil chemistry appear to be less important because lower altitude sites with more strongly leached and acidic soils tend to have richer and more abundant snail faunas. The reason for the association of temperate latitude mollusc families with forests on the drier, western sides of the mountain is not clear. The number of mollusc species present in Mount Kenya’s forests is broadly comparable with that reported elsewhere in East African forests. However, overall, the data from this study and elsewhere in East Africa may provide tentative evidence for a maximum level of land‐snail richness at intermediate elevations of about 1000–1500 m.
Aim Species richness in itself is not always sufficient to evaluate land management strategies for nature conservation. The exchange of species between local communities may be affected by landscape structure and land-use intensity. Thus, species turnover, and its inverse, community similarity, may be useful measures of landscape integrity from a diversity perspective.
Location A European transect from France to Estonia.
Methods We measured the similarity of plant, bird, wild bee, true bug, carabid beetle, hoverfly and spider communities sampled along gradients in landscape composition (e.g. total availability of semi-natural habitat), landscape configuration (e.g. fragmentation) and land-use intensity (e.g. pesticide loads).
Results Total availability of semi-natural habitats had little effect on community similarity, except for bird communities, which were more homogeneous in more natural landscapes. Bee communities, in contrast, were less similar in landscapes with higher percentages of semi-natural habitats. Increased landscape fragmentation decreased similarity of true bug communities, while plant communities showed a nonlinear, U-shaped response. More intense land use, specifically increased pesticide burden, led to a homogenization of bee, bug and spider communities within sites. In these cases, habitat fragmentation interacted with pesticide load. Hoverfly and carabid beetle community similarity was differentially affected by higher pesticide levels: for carabid beetles similarity decreased, while for hoverflies we observed a U-shaped relationship.
Main conclusions Our study demonstrates the effects of landscape composition, configuration and land-use intensity on the similarity of communities. It indicates reduced exchange of species between communities in landscapes dominated by agricultural activities. Taxonomic groups differed in their responses to environmental drivers and using but one group as an indicator for 'biodiversity' as such would thus not be advisable.
Alpine grasslands in the Southern Carpathian Mts, Romania, harbour an extraordinarily high diversity of plants and invertebrates,
including Carpathic endemics. In the past decades, intensive sheep grazing has caused a dramatic decrease in biodiversity
and even led to eroded soils at many places in the Carpathians. Because of limited food resources, sheep are increasingly
forced to graze on steep slopes, which were formerly not grazed by livestock and are considered as local biodiversity hotspots.
We examined species richness, abundance and number of endemic vascular plants and terrestrial gastropods on steep slopes that
were either grazed by sheep or ungrazed by livestock in two areas of the Southern Carpathians. On calcareous soils in the
Bucegi Mts, a total of 177 vascular plant and 19 gastropod species were recorded. Twelve plant species (6.8%) and three gastropod
species (15.8%) were endemic to the Carpathians. Grazed sites had lower plant and gastropod species richness than ungrazed
sites. Furthermore, grazed sites harboured fewer gastropod species endemic to the Carpathians than ungrazed sites. On acid
soils in the Fagaras Mts, a total of 96 vascular plant and nine gastropod species were found. In this mountain area, however,
grazed and ungrazed sites did not differ in species richness, abundance and number of endemic plant and gastropod species.
Our findings confirm the high biodiversity of grasslands on steep slopes in the Southern Carpathian Mts and caution against
increasing grazing pressure in these refuges for relic plants and gastropods as well as for other invertebrates.
The field boundaries, `stone walls', of Connemara, western Ireland, constitute a distinctive site type for plant growth. When values of species density (the number of vascular plant species per unit area) were plotted on a map a recognizable and simple pattern emerged. Contrary to what might be expected of an area at latitude 53° N, stone walls on south-facing slopes in Connemara have smaller values for species density than do those on north-facing slopes. South-west winds prevail over the area and their influence is most obvious along the north coastal belt of Galway Bay. The pattern of species density appears to reflect (1) aspect of the regional slope, and (2) degree of exposure to maritime air masses. Mean values for species density increase steadily from a low of 12.3 spp./20 m2 to a high of 18.9 spp./20 m2 with progressive angular displacement of slope aspect from the south-west. Within any aspect class, the species density of old stone walls increases with distance inland from the south-west coasts of Connemara.
Diversity of the calcicolous lichen flora and grazing damage to lichens were recorded on 12 limestone walls in the grassland Great Alvar on the Baltic island of Öland, southeastern Sweden. Grazing damage of lichens was compared with the abundance of potential lichen herbivores (land snails and oribatid mites). A total of 52 lichen species, 2 lichen parasites, one alga, 2 bryophytes, one vascular plant (Sedum acre) and cyanobacteria, most of them belonging to the family Chroococcaceae, were found on the upper layer of the stone walls. The number of lichen species encountered on single stone walls ranged from 21 to 33. Between-wall differences in species richness were not due to differences in sampling effort. Similarity coefficients of species composition showed a high similarity of the lichen communities between stone walls. Aspicilia calcarea was the dominant lichen which covered on average 66.1% of the upper surface of the stone walls (range among stone walls: 11.9-89.8%). Grazing damage was recorded in 33 (63.5%) of the 52 lichen species. In general, lichen species that occurred frequently were more severely damaged than rare lichen species, although 5 frequent species showed no grazingdamage at all. Six species of land snails and oribatid mites were encountered on the stone walls. Two of the snail species (Chondrina clienta and Balea perversa, both known as lichen feeders) were abundant on some stone walls. The proportion of lichen species that showed grazing damage was not influencedby thepresence/absence (and density) of eithe rsnail species or mites except that the level of grazing damage in the dominant lichen species A. calcarea was correlated with the local population density of B. perversa.
Alteration of natural habitats as a result of agricultural intensification is detrimental for wildlife. There is, however, growing evidence that land use and management
can be wildlife friendly. In Europe, agricultural areas cover two-thirds of the land and therefore play a major role in maintaining biodiversity. Agricultural land use is very intense in vineyard-dominated landscapes but there are no refuges for wildlife in the form of ecological compensation areas. In our study, we assessed spatial variation in abundance of salamander (Salamandra salamandra) larvae in relation to land use and stream characteristics in vineyard-dominated landscapes. Abundance of larval salamanders depended positively on weirs, amount of riparian vegetation along the streams and environment-friendly agricultural practice in the vineyards. Surprisingly, road density also had positive effects, presumably through indirect effects (stone walls along roads may serve as refugia). Thus, abundance is determined by characteristics of both the aquatic and terrestrial
habitats. Our results suggest that fire salamanders can persist in landscapes dominated by intensive agriculture like viticulture, indicate wildlife-friendly management
options and highlight that man-made habitat can be valuable for wildlife.
Helix texta is endemic to the Mediterranean regions of Israel. It has a seasonal activity pattern which starts in the autumn, with the first rains, and dwindles towards the spring, when the snails dig into the ground for a six months long aestivation. A cold spell of 0°C will, however, terminate the active season of the adult snail, even in the middle of the rainy season. Survival of the young is very low and most of them (90%) do not survive their first year, because of the winter cold and the summer drought.
Massive predation of adult snails by wild boar was observed in December 1986: within a few days, about 50% of the adults in the study in the area were eaten. A very rapid growth of young and subadults was observed immediately after this predation. These observations suggest that the extent of recruitment of new adults to the population may be partly controlled by existing adults, through a growth-inhibiting pheromone in the mucus. After predation this inhibiting factor disappears, enabling a subsequent rapid growth of the young. In this manner, massive, irregular predation of the adults by a large predator, and changes in juvenile survival, result in sharp fluctuations in the age structure of the population. The resulting pattern of unstable population dynamics is different from that described for the European species of Helix.
Green lanes are unmetalled tracks between fields of variable width, which may be sunk below or raised above field level, and bounded on both sides by 'grass' banks, hedgerows or dry-stone walls. Tn the UK they have no unique planning status and have been overlooked as discrete landscape elements. Green lanes were surveyed for butterflies in 1997 on lowland arable farmland on the Trafford/north Cheshire border (Warburton) and on upland grassland in the Yorkshire Dales (Ribble Valley). At the lowland site the green lanes were bounded by vegetation and were compared with grass banks and single hedgerow field boundaries; at the upland farm, the green lanes were bounded by dry stone walls and were compared with grass banks and single dry-stone walls. Data from earlier work on a largely arable farm (Manydown) in Hampshire in 1987 and 1988 were re-analysed to make comparisons between a green lane, the rides and glades of two coppiced woodlands, and the grass banks and single hedgerows surrounding arable fields. Green lanes, whether bounded by vegetation or stone were superior to other common farmland biotopes with the exception of woodland, in terms of both butterfly abundance and species richness. Multiple regression of the Warburton data indicated the importance of green lanes, adjacent habitat type, and nectar sources for species richness and butterfly abundance. The interior of green lanes had lower windspeeds, and more bramble nectar sources than hedgerows or grass banks. By their nature they occupy a larger area of uncropped land, and are subject to a reduced disturbance regime and reduced inputs of agrochemicals and fertilisers. Their value as biodiversity reservoirs in intensively managed land is likely to be high. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Walls are extensive, ubiquitous urban ecosystems that can act as habitat for a range of different species and support non-standard cosmopolitan assemblages. Most investigations into wall ecology have focused on botanical surveys rather than testing hypotheses, but it is apparent that walls can be surprisingly diverse. They also have the potential to be ecologically engineered to encourage a greater diversity and range of species. This review considers the development of wall ecology, highlighting the key characteristics of walls that have been found to influence their ability to support species, with a focus on higher plants. It then examines the kinds of plant assemblages that are found on walls and the broader role of walls within urban biodiversity, before discussing the potential for ecological engineering of walls. Some progress has recently been made in the latter area with the installation of living walls and the physical engineering of wall materials, but much more needs to be done to effectively increase their physical complexity and habitat quality. Walls therefore represent a substantial potential (as well as existing) habitat within urban areas.
Underground environments are increasingly recognised as important habitats for the distribution of certain amphibians. However, very few analyses tested whether amphibians occur randomly in underground environments, or they select cavities with specific environmental features. We assessed the distribution of the cave salamander Hydromantes (Speleomantes) strinatii in an area of NW Italy during summer, and analysed relationships between salamander distribution and multiple cave features, considering parameters describing both the biotic and the abiotic environment. Using visual encounter surveys, species' detection probability was high, indicating that this technique provides reliable information on distribution. Salamanders were associated to caves with cold and humid microclimate, presence of wet walls, and hosting large numbers of Meta spiders. The association with less luminous caves was close to significance. Distribution data were not affected by spatial autocorrelation, suggesting that cave features are more important than the proximity to other occupied caves in determining the pattern of occupancy. Caves are heterogeneous environments: cave salamanders are strongly related to the features of underground environments. Food availability and abiotic features are major determinants of suitability for cave salamanders. Inter-correlation among biotic and abiotic cave features makes it complex identifying the role of factors determining species distribution, but quantitative analyses and PCA help to unravel the cave habitat requirements for amphibians.
Exposed limestone cliffs in the Swiss Jura Mountains harbour a diverse lichen community with some rare species. Sport climbing has recently increased in popularity on these cliffs. We examined the effect of sport climbing on calcicolous lichens by assessing species diversity and cover of lichens in climbed and unclimbed areas of 10 isolated cliffs in the northern Swiss Jura Mountains. We also investigated possible associations between lichens and lichen-feeding land snails on these cliffs. A total of 38 calcicolous lichen species, three bryophytes and one alga were found on the rock faces of 10 cliffs. Twenty lichen species (52.6%) were epilithic, 16(42.1%) endolithic and two (5.3%) foliose. Overall, the epilithic lichen species covered 8.3% of the rock surface, endolithic species 10.2%, and foliose species 0.03%. Climbed and unclimbed rock areas did not differ in total number of lichen species, species density (number of species per 100 cm2) or total lichen cover. However, the frequency of occurrence of epilithic lichens was lower along climbing routes than in unclimbed areas. A multi-response permutation test showed that the lichen community composition of climbed areas differed from that of unclimbed areas. The dissimilarity of lichen communities between climbed and unclimbed areas increased with increasing climbing intensity on the focal route in climbed areas, but not with the age of the climbing route. Five of the 11 snail species recorded on the cliff faces were specialized lichen feeders. Plots along climbing routes harboured fewer snail species than plots in unclimbed areas. Total snail abundance was positively correlated with lichen species richness, but no correlation between snail species richness and lichen species richness was found. Our results indicate that frequent rock climbing can change the lichen community and reduce the snail community of limestone cliffs. A climbing-related reduction of snail abundance may also alter the lichen-herbivore interaction and indirectly change competitive interactions among lichen species.
Resource-selection probability functions and occupancy models are powerful methods of identifying areas within a landscape that are highly used by a species. One common design/analysis method for estimation of a resource-selection probability function is to classify a sample of units as used or unused and estimate the probability of use as a function of independent variables using, for example, logistic regression. This method requires that resource units are correctly classified as unused (i.e., the species is never undetected in a used unit), or that the probability of misclassification is the same for all units. In this paper, I explore these issues, illustrating how misclassifying units as unused may lead to incorrect conclusions about resource use. I also show how recently developed occupancy models can be utilized within the resource-selection context to improve conclusions by explicitly accounting for detection probability. These models require that multiple surveys be conducted at each of a sample of resource units within a relatively short timeframe, but given the growing evidence from simulation studies and field data, I recommend that such procedures should be incorporated into studies of resource use.
Question: Does resource partitioning among body sizes at local spatial scales account for the distribution of body sizes at all spatial scales? Hypothesis: Processes controlling regional or global patterns of species richness within size classes are scale-dependent, with regional or global patterns being influenced by macro-evolutionary processes such as size-biased extinction/speciation and constraints on maximum/ minimum size as opposed to local-scale interactions. Organisms: 297 species of terrestrial and deep-sea gastropods. Sampling sites: 838 terrestrial sites from 10 biogeographic provinces within a 2300 × 2800 km area in eastern North America, and 37 deep-sea sites from three biogeographic provinces at a depth of 196–5042 m in the western North Atlantic Methods: Multiple parametric and non-parametric statistical tests were used to identify the presence of significant deviations between the distribution of individuals and taxa from site to regional scales in both systems. Conclusions: The number of taxa does not always simply reflect the number of individuals across the body size spectrum with deviations becoming more prevalent with increasing spatial scale. Thus, local-scale interactions and resource partitioning alone are insufficient to explain patterns in body size at larger scales.
The cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment provide habitat for extremely diverse communities of land snails that may be at risk as a result of recreational rock climbing. We examined the effects of rock climbing on the density, richness, diversity, and community composition of snails on the Niagara Escarpment in southern Ontario, Canada. We sampled from randomly selected climbed and unclimbed sections of cliffs on the plateau ( cliff edge ), cliff face, and talus ( cliff base ). Snail density, richness, and diversity were lower along climbing routes than in unclimbed areas, and community composition differed between climbed and unclimbed samples. These results suggest that rock climbing has significant negative effects on all aspects of the snail community on cliffs; therefore, we recommend the inclusion of gastropods in conservation plans for protected areas containing cliffs.
Resumen: Las barrancas del acantilado del Niagara proveen hábitat para comunidades extremadamente diversas de caracoles terrestres que pueden estar en riesgo debido al alpinismo recreativo. Examinamos los efectos del alpinismo en la densidad, riqueza, diversidad y composición de comunidades de caracoles del acantilado del Niagara en Ontario Meridional, Canadá. Tomamos muestras de las mesetas ( bordes de acantilados ), la cara del acantilado y el talud ( base del acantilado ) de secciones de barrancas usadas y no usadas para el alpinismo y seleccionadas al azar. La densidad, la riqueza y la diversidad de caracoles fueron más bajas en las rutas escaladas que en aquellas áreas no escaladas y la composición de la comunidad difirió entre muestras escaladas y no escaladas. Estos resultados sugieren que el alpinismo tiene impactos negativos significativos en todos los aspectos de la comunidad de caracoles en acantilados; por lo tanto, recomendamos la inclusión de gasterópodos en los planes de conservación para áreas protegidas que contengan acantilados.
Previous ordination studies of land snail community composition have been limited to four or fewer habitat types from sites separated by no more than 300 km. To investigate the nature of large-scale patterns, North American land snail assemblages at 421 sites, representing 26 habitat types and covering a 1400 × 800 km area, were ordinated using global, nonmetric multi-dimensional scaling (NMDS). These data were then subjected to model-based cluster analysis and kmeans clustering to identify the main compositional groups and most important environmental covariables. Six primary compositional groups were identified. Three of these largely represent upland forest and rock outcrop sites, while the remaining largely represent either lowland forest, lowland grassland or upland grassland habitats. The geographical location and moisture level of sites also influences community composition. A strong compositional difference exists between sites having duff vs. turf soil surface layers. Only 8% of sites were improperly classified when soil surface architecture was used as the sole predictor variable. Fully 43% of taxa exhibited significant preferences towards one of these surface types, while only 15% of relatively common (10 + occurrence) taxa showed no preferences. Twelve groups of closely related taxa within the same genus had members that favoured different surface types, indicating that differential selection pressures have existed over evolutionary time scales. While turf faunas appeared unaffected by anthropogenic disturbance, duff faunas were strongly impacted, suggesting that their conservation will require protection of soil surface architecture.
Distributions of species often exhibit nested structure, such that assemblages at species-poor sites are proper subsets of taxa at more species-rich sites. Traditionally, this has been viewed as a large-scale biogeographic pattern and treated implicitly as static from a temporal perspective. Nonetheless, recent work suggests that nestedness may arise at multiple spatio-temporal scales. A 13-year data set encompassing the effects of two large-scale natural disturbances (hurricanes Hugo and Georges) on terrestrial gastropod assemblages was used to test the hypothesis that changes in species composition resulting from disturbance alter the degree of nestedness exhibited over time at two spatial scales. Gastropod assemblages were least nested immediately following disturbance, and nestedness increased thereafter. Although land-use history influenced the degree of nestedness, trajectories of nestedness following disturbance were similar irrespective of disturbance history or hurricane identity. The effects of hurricanes with respect to nestedness of terrestrial gastropods may be general and predictable, even though species respond to hurricanes in disparate fashions. By damaging some localities within the forest more severely than others, a hurricane dismantles extant patterns of species composition and severs connections among sites, as inhospitable microclimatic conditions limit dispersal of gastropods. As time passes and the forest canopy regenerates, conditions ameliorate, and movement among sites becomes more frequent. Thus, a conclusion based on a single time period may not characterize the study system in general. Consequently, explanations for nested structure that incorporate variability in ecological as well as evolutionary time will improve the applicability and comparability of nested subsets analysis across study systems.
Understanding patterns of genetic structure is fundamental for developing successful management programmes for isolated populations
of threatened species. Trochulus caelatus is a small terrestrial snail endemic to calcareous rock cliffs in the Northwestern Swiss Jura Mountains. Eight microsatellite
loci were used to assess the effect of habitat isolation on genetic population structure and gene flow among nine populations
occurring on distinct cliffs. We found a high genetic differentiation among populations (mean F
ST=0.254) indicating that the populations are strongly isolated. Both allelic richness and effective population size were
positively correlated with the size of the cliffs. Our findings support the hypothesis that T. caelatus survived on ice-free cliffs during the Pleistocene glacier advancements from the Alps. Due to the establishment of beech
and pine forest under recent, temperate climate conditions, dispersal between cliffs is no longer possible for rock-dwelling
snails such as T. caelatus. Our results provide basic data for developing a conservation action plan for this endangered gastropod species.
KeywordsHelicoidea–Land snails–Microsatellites–Population genetic structure–
Trochulus caelatus
To examine the effect of habitat connectivity on the genetic differentiation in the frequently selfing gastropod Chondrina avenacea we assessed RAPD profiles in 12 subpopulations from continuous cliffs and in 12 subpopulations from small, naturally fragmented cliffs in the Swiss Jura mountains. Subpopulations of C. avenacea on continuous cliffs showed a smaller number of polymorphic RAPD loci and a lower gene diversity (Nei's h = 0.049) than subpopulations on fragmented cliffs (h = 0.078). Genetic distance was not correlated with geographical distance between subpopulations. GST analysis indicated strong isolation effects. Neither the number of polymorphic loci nor Nei's h was correlated with local population density. Our analysis indicates that the local population structure of C. avenacea is a combined result of frequent self-fertilization, genetic drift and low dispersal. Similar findings have been reported in studies on spatial population structure of plants. We suggest that future management actions (selective tree cutting, and controlled access of sport climbers) should also consider small, isolated limestone cliffs to preserve the genetic diversity of C. avenacea.
Landscape ecology has the potential to contribute towards a holistic approach in landscape architecture. Such an approach can simultaneously inform, guide and inspire designers towards landscapes that are environmentally sustainable as well as being culturally and aesthetically appropriate. This paper reviews two possible ways in which landscape ecology can advance landscape architecture: (a) by providing a holistic and dynamic framework that contributes towards an alternative landscape design (e.g. ecological landscape design); and (b) by establishing the scientific knowledge (e.g. landscape heterogeneity, biological and ecological diversity and ecological networks) that can inform the design process at the local and regional levels.Both contributions were tested at the Bahrija Project in Malta. The methodology of ecological design is applied, initially to allow for a comprehensive understanding of the local landscape, and subsequently to assist in the formulation of a preliminary landscape master plan. The paper argues that conservation policies should necessarily be complemented with a proactive approach, which can accommodate the needs of contemporary development while ensuring the protection of natural and cultural resources.
In some parts of Europe, stone wall field boundaries pervade agricultural landscapes, yet despite their prominence there has been very little research into field boundary walls anywhere. However, these anthropogenic features within cultural landscapes may offer insights into current debates on ‘novel’ ecosystems because of their artifice, their longevity in the landscape particularly in remote or exposed regions, and their morphology. In a review of the available, published literature in Europe, it was found that no publications exist that examine or illustrate specific ecological characteristics of field boundary stone walls, despite this longevity. Using examples from Ireland, where these structures are locally abundant, this paper aims first to draw attention to the poorly representative literature on this topic, and thus stimulate research that will detail the potential ecological characteristics of these ancient forms of field boundary. It then briefly explores the potential for these walls to be considered as ‘novel’ ecosystems within current debates on the issue.
Synopsis
Regenerative properties of skin decrease with age, and thus, the search for substances that minimize cutaneous ageing has increased in the last few years. The secretion of the mollusc Cryptomphalus Aspersa (SCA) is a natural product that bears regenerative properties when applied topically. The purpose of this work is to study the in vitro effects of SCA on cell proliferation and migration, as well as on cell–cell (E‐cadherin and β‐catenin) and cell–substrate (vinculin and β1‐integrin) adhesion proteins expression, using a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT cells) and primary dermal fibroblasts (HF). We tested the effects of SCA on cell proliferation using a colorimetric assay. In addition, SCA‐induced changes on cell migration were studied by wound‐healing assays. Besides, Western blot and immunofluorescence microscopy were carried out to test the expression of different cell adhesion proteins. We found that SCA promotes proliferation and migration of HaCaT cells in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Moreover, treatment with SCA increases the migratory behaviour and the expression of adhesion molecules in both HaCaT and HF. Finally, SCA also improves cell survival and promotes phosphorylation of FAK and nuclear localization of β‐catenin. These results shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the regenerative properties of SCA, based on its promoting effect on skin cell migration, proliferation and survival. Moreover, these results support future clinical uses of SCA in the regeneration of wounded tissues.
Although multivariate analysis of ecological data already existed and was being actively developed in the 1960s, it really flourished in the years 1970 and later. Many textbooks were published during these years; among them were the seminal Écologie numérique (Legendre and Legendre 1979) and its English translation Numerical Ecology (Legendre and Legendre 1983). The authors of these books unified, under one single roof, a very wide array of statistical and other numerical techniques and presented them in a comprehensive way, not only to help researchers understand the available methods of analyses, but also to explain how to choose and apply them in an ordered, logical way to reach their research goals. Mathematical explanations are not absent from these books, and they provide a precious insider look into the various techniques, which is appealing to readers wishing to go beyond the simple user level.
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