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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainability, Biodiversity and Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 January 2025 | Viewed by 10391

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Francisco Guerrero

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Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: biodiversity; bioindicators; ecosystem conservation; restoration; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Juan Diego Gilbert

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Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Jaén, Campus de las Lagunillas, s/n, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: aquatic biodiversity; conservation; metacommunity; wetlands; zooplankton
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Dr. Andreas Reul

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Guest Editor

Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: biodiversity and conservation; aquatic ecology; marine ecology; conservation biology; hydrology; water quality; ecosystem ecology; environment; management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since beginning of the Industrial Revolution (Anthropocene), ecosystems have been widely affected by anthropogenic activities. These impacts have been exceptionally diverse, from those on a global scale derived from climate change, to others of a varied nature generated at a local scale. Both lead to serious environmental problems such as the loss of biodiversity or the alteration of ecosystems. Understanding these ecological problems is a key concern for conservation purposes, being essential to develop research on these threats that allows the development of adequate management plans. The implementation of effective management actions to promote ecological integrity is based primarily on a deep understanding of how biotas and ecosystems react to multiple stress factors. Under this conservation paradigm, it is necessary to attend to a sustainable model in which the three aspects of sustainable development fit together to allow the conservation of our planet, promote social equity and develop human societies. Papers comprising this Special Issue of Sustainability must be original contributions focused on biodiversity (genetic, biotic and landscapes), the conservation biology of species and ecosystems. This includes all aspects related to ecosystem restoration and all issues related to ecosystem sustainability.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Francisco Guerrero
Dr. Juan Diego Gilbert
Dr. Andreas Reul
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

anthropocene
biodiversity
climate change
conservation
global change
management plans
restoration
sustainability

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2586 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selecting the Most Sustainable Phosphorus Adsorbent for Lake Restoration: Effects on the Photosynthetic Activity of Chlorella sp.

by Inmaculada Álvarez-Manzaneda, Álvaro Castaño-Hidalgo and Inmaculada de Vicente

Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8305; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198305 - 24 Sep 2024

Viewed by 738

Abstract

To promote the conservation of aquatic ecosystems, it is essential to delve into restoration techniques for selecting the most sustainable option for combating eutrophication. Hence, we study the effects of novel phosphorus (P) adsorbents (magnetic carbonyl iron particles, HQ, and two non-magnetic P adsorbents: CFH-12^® and Phoslock^®) on the growth and photosynthetic activity of Chlorella sp. More specifically, the intrinsic photochemical efficiency of PSII (Φ_PSII) and the nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) were measured in Chlorella sp. after different contact times with different concentrations of these adsorbents. Our initial hypothesis was that non-magnetic P adsorbents have more effects on the organisms than magnetic ones. However, our results did not show strong evidence of inhibitory effects caused by HQ nor CFH-12^® (no significant effect size on Φ_PSII), while Phoslock^® showed inhibitory effects on the photosynthetic activity of Chlorella sp. for any of its concentrations (NPQ = 0). Lastly, we compared the effect of the studied P adsorbents in a real application scenery (Honda wetland, Spain). For this study case, it is likely that CFH-12^® and HQ doses would not cause any negative effects on photosynthetic efficiency while Phoslock^®, by limiting light availability, will drastically reduce it. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Biologic Conservation and Ecological Sustainability)

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26 pages, 7798 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Landscape Pattern Gradient Transformation of Small-Scale Agroforestry Patches in Mountain Cities

by Canhui Cheng, Zhong Xing, Lin Ye, Junyue Yang and Zhuoming Xie

Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6322; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156322 - 24 Jul 2024

Viewed by 773

Abstract

Small-scale agroforestry patches possess irreplaceable value compared to large-scale patches. In southwestern mountainous cities of China, the complex terrain and urbanization have led to the presence of numerous small, fragmented agroforestry patches around urban areas. These patches serve as crucial habitats for endemic species and provide essential space for wild food sources, thereby contributing to a range of ecosystem services. Consequently, their proper conservation and utilization planning are of paramount importance. This study investigates the transformation characteristics of landscape patterns of mountainous small-scale agroforestry patches and their constituent elements across urban–rural gradients, identifying the driving factors behind these transformations to support conservation and utilization planning. From an urban–rural gradient perspective, four directional transects were selected and divided into uniform sample grids. Using Fragstats 4.3, landscape indices of small-scale agroforestry patches were calculated, analyzing the transformation characteristics of these patches and their elements across different gradients. Spearman correlation coefficients in SPSS were employed to assess the influence of terrain and relevant anthropogenic factors on the transformation of agroforestry patches. The findings reveal the following: (1) Small-scale agroforestry patches and their elements exhibit similar patterns in terms of size, fragmentation, dispersion, and connectivity, showing an “increasing trend in size and connectivity, decreasing fragmentation, and fluctuating dispersion” from urban centers to natural areas, with slight variations in orchard patches. However, patch cohesion and shape complexity display nonlinear differentiated transformation characteristics. (2) Overall, small-scale agroforestry patches are significantly influenced by anthropogenic construction factors, with the landscape pattern of forest patches notably affected by terrain factors. (3) Across urban–rural gradient zones, the landscape patterns of small-scale agroforestry patches in urban centers, suburbs, and rural natural areas are more affected by terrain factors, whereas those in urban construction zones are significantly influenced by anthropogenic construction factors. The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for the conservation and planning of mountainous small-scale agroforestry patches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Biologic Conservation and Ecological Sustainability)

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14 pages, 5111 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Distribution Pattern of Species Richness of Endemic Genera in Mountainous Areas of Southwest China and Its Influencing Factors

by Aoxiang Chang, Ting Wu, Bowen Li, Dezhi Jiao, Yushu Wang, Dan He, Zihan Jiang and Zhenyu Fan

Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3750; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093750 - 30 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1200

Abstract

China’s southwest mountainous region is one of the hotspots of biodiversity in the world. However, the study on the pattern of species richness distribution of endemic plants in this region and its influencing factors is still in the exploration stage. A clear regional spatial distribution pattern of plants and its influencing factors are very important for the protection and management of plant diversity in southwest China. In this study, 511 county-level regions in the southwest mountainous region were taken as examples to establish a plant species resource bank in the southwest mountainous region, and the distribution pattern of the proportion and abundance of endemic plant families and genera was analyzed based on 19 climate and environmental factors and 8 human disturbance factors in the southwest mountainous region. The geographical weighted regression model (GWR) was used to reveal the main factors affecting the spatial distribution of species. The results showed that: (1) A total of 4688 species investigated in the southwest mountain belong to 19 families and 32 genera. (2) The endemic species richness in the southwest mountainous region showed a significant uneven spatial pattern, mainly concentrated in the Heng Duan Mountain area, southwest Sichuan and northern Yunnan area, and the Ruoergai-Hongyuan area of West Sichuan Plateau. (3) The results of the GWR model showed that the diurnal mean temperature range, precipitation seasonality and distance from the main road had significant effects on species richness. The study on the distribution of endemic genera and their influencing factors in the southwest mountainous region has important implications for the exploration of the evolutionary history and species conservation of the mountain flora. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Biologic Conservation and Ecological Sustainability)

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19 pages, 10537 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Diversity of Dominant Species Betula pendula in River Valley Forests in the Irtysh River Basin and Sustainable Conservation Measures for the Future

by Yanming Li, Zhifang Xue, Tong Liu, Jihu Song, Ye Yuan, Ling Xu and Zidong Zhang

Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3217; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083217 - 11 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1088

Abstract

Biodiversity is the basis for the maintenance and functioning of ecosystems. Genetic diversity is at the heart of biodiversity, and therefore an understanding of the current state of plant genetic diversity can contribute to the future provision of sustainable ecological values and services by ecosystems. This study was conducted in the Irtysh River basin (five tributaries) with the dominant species of river valley forests, Betula pendula. Sampling points were set up at approximately 10 km intervals within each tributary using a random sampling method for genetic diversity studies based on chloroplast microsatellite molecular markers. The results indicated that (1) nine alleles were identified in 198 samples. The genetic diversity of Betula pendula was relatively rich in all tributaries (I = 0.216~0.546); genetic diversity was significantly higher in the downstream area of the basin than in the midstream and upstream areas of the basin. Genetic differentiation was at a low level in the tributaries except for the Berezek River, where genetic differentiation was high. (2) Genetic variation was mainly derived from within populations, accounting for 62% of the total genetic variation. The genetic distance was significantly positively correlated with the geographical distance (p < 0.05). The Betula pendula population structure was divided into two major groups. (3) Twelve haplotypes were identified in the basin. The dominant haplotypes in the upper tributaries were H2 and H4, while in the lower tributaries these were H1 and H3. Therefore, this paper suggests the future establishment of a germplasm resource bank for populations of the Berezek River, and the implementation of priority conservation measures for the downstream populations with higher genetic diversity, so as to realize the sustainable ecological value of the valley forests of the Betula pendula. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Biologic Conservation and Ecological Sustainability)

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17 pages, 12012 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Regional Sustainability through Dispersal and Corridor Use of Asiatic Lion Panthera leo persica in the Eastern Greater Gir Landscape

by Abhinav Mehta, Shrey Rakholia, Reuven Yosef, Alap Bhatt and Shital Shukla

Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2554; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062554 - 20 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1435

Abstract

Despite previous concerns regarding the survival of Asiatic Lions confined to the Gir Protected Area, their dispersal into surrounding landscapes has become a subject of considerable research and discussion. This study employs species distribution modeling, corridor analysis, and additional landscape assessment using satellite-based temperatures and Land Cover statistics to investigate this dispersal and identify potential corridors based on extensive field data. The results reveal the identification of a potential corridor from Gir Wildlife Sanctuary towards Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, indicating the expansion of the Asiatic Lion’s range in the Eastern Greater Gir Landscape. These findings highlight the significance of resilience in Lion dispersal and corridor expansion, with implications for conservation and potential regional benefits, including ecosystem services and eco-tourism for sustainable development of the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Biologic Conservation and Ecological Sustainability)

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19 pages, 1975 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Silaum silaus (L.) Schinz and Thell.—Habitat Conditions and Variation in Selected Characteristics of Populations at Different Densities

by Agata Stadnicka-Futoma, Tomasz Wójcik and Małgorzata Jaźwa

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1844; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051844 - 23 Feb 2024

Viewed by 831

Abstract

Grasslands are one of the most diverse and species-rich ecosystems in the agricultural landscape of Central Europe. However, they are gradually being overgrown or transformed into arable fields due to their abandonment and the intensification of economic activities. This leads to a drastic decline in biodiversity and the disappearance of many rare species, e.g., Silaum silaus. Research on Silaum silaus populations was conducted in the years 2020 and 2022. Data were obtained from two Natura 2000 sites. The Jaćmierz site is located in a dispersed range of Silaum silaus in south-eastern Poland. The site at Zagórzyce is located in a dense range of the species in the south-western part of the country. Research on the habitat conditions was conducted on two permanent study surfaces with the dimensions of 10 × 10 m. This research included a soil study and measurements of herbaceous vegetation. To determine the habitat conditions, use was also made of Ellenberg ecological indicator values. At each site, 10 phytosociological relevés were conducted with the Braun-Blanquet method. In each study year, the manner of land use was determined. For detailed population study, one permanent surface of the dimensions 10 × 10 m was marked out, on which each year the generative and vegetative specimens were counted and biometric studies were conducted on 30 randomly chosen generative specimens. The species occurred in two different meadow communities (Arrhenatheretum elatioris, Molinietum caeruleae), which were characterised by different habitat conditions, and the greatest differences were evident in the chemical properties of the soil and in the method of management. The meadows at Jaćmierz were mowed twice a year, while at Zagórzyce mowing was performed once every two years. The communities were also varied in terms of flora, characterised by a high species richness and a high Shannon–Wiener index. Silaum silaus had significantly greater numbers and an over four times higher cover coefficient at Jaćmierz. The largest differences in the analysed traits of the species occurred in the case of generative traits. It was observed that management practices at Jaćmierz had a strong influence on the condition of specimens and the population size of Silaum silaus, which was much better preserved at this site. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Biologic Conservation and Ecological Sustainability)

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14 pages, 1931 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Macroinvertebrate Community in a Mediterranean Mountain River: Relationship with Environmental Factors Measured at Different Spatial and Temporal Scales

by Cristóbal García-García, Juan Diego Gilbert and Francisco Guerrero

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1777; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051777 - 21 Feb 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 924

Abstract

The macroinvertebrate community, physical–chemical water variables and hydromorphological indices were studied in the Turón River (Málaga, Southern Spain). Our study aims to improve the knowledge of the most influential environmental factors at different spatial and temporal scales in Mediterranean rivers, in order to establish better management of Mediterranean river ecosystems. To this end, in this work, seasonal sampling was carried out for one year to evaluate the effect of the characteristics of the drainage basin (i.e., geology, topography, land use) on the macroinvertebrate community. To this end, the environmental variables of the catchment basins were evaluated at three different scales: (i) watershed level, (ii) valley segment level and (iii) local level. The results showed that 13 environmental variables, 3 at the watershed scale, 5 at the valley segment scale and 5 at the local scale, influenced the macroinvertebrate community. Land use is the main explanatory variable at the watershed scale, while stream channel curvature is the most common variable at the valley segment scale, and the habitat assessment index is the variable with the strongest influence at the local scale. The influence of different spatial scales presented a seasonal variation. During spring, autumn and winter, the watershed scale exhibited the highest resolution (adjusted R² = 0.20–0.29), while in summer, the local scale became the most significant in explaining the presence of macroinvertebrate taxa (adjusted R² = 0.17). The obtained results emphasize the significance of temporal and spatial scales in Mediterranean rivers for adequate river ecosystem management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Biologic Conservation and Ecological Sustainability)

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19 pages, 5524 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interaction of Filth Flies and Epigeal Arthropods with Soil Nitrogen and Gas Emissions in Grazing Systems under a Legacy of Low Fertilization

by Natalia Espinoza, Dorcas H. Franklin, Miguel Cabrera, Nancy C. Hinkle, Lawton Stewart and Anish Subedi

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12572; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612572 - 18 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 957

Abstract

During the summers of 2021 and 2022, we conducted a study in four Georgia Piedmont pastures to assess the effect of the presence of filth flies and epigeal arthropods on carbon and nitrogen emissions and soil nitrogen retention from lax rotational grazing systems under a legacy of low fertilization. Carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and ammonia (NH₃) emissions were measured from dung on days 0, 4, 8, and 15 following depositions. Soil and manure samples were collected on days 0 and 16 and analyzed for ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃⁻), plant-available nitrogen (PAN), and potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN). Manure samples were analyzed for total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN). The numbers of filth flies ovipositing and emerging from manure, fire ants, and epigeal arthropods around the manure were determined. Our results indicated that more than 12 ovipositing filth flies per manure pat can reduce PMN by up to 14.7 kg of nitrogen per hectare, while an increase in the biodiversity and abundance of predators may help to increase PAN and PMN in grazing systems, as well as decrease the number of emerging filth flies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Biologic Conservation and Ecological Sustainability)

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15 pages, 5252 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fine-Scale Species Distribution Modeling of Abies koreana across a Subalpine Zone in South Korea for In Situ Species Conservation

by Kyungeun Lee, Daeguen Kim, Jaegyu Cha and Seungbum Hong

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8964; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118964 - 1 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1397

Abstract

Severe declines in the population of Abies koreana, a conifer native to the subalpine regions of South Korea, are likely a consequence of climate change. However, local-scale modeling of the species’ spatial distribution has seen limited application to in situ conservation policies. Therefore, we intended for this study to examine the applicability of fine-scale species distribution modeling of A. koreana in the Mt. Jiri National Park area in S. Korea in order to explore candidate areas for its in situ conservation. We simulated the potential habitat of the species in the area with four separate models using different dominance patterns, then created an index based on habitability probabilities and residual durations to determine priority conservation areas. Under the highest sensitivity of potential habitats to temperature (spatially downscaled based on geomorphological characteristics), rapid habitat reduction occurred under climate warming in all experiments. At the regional scale, hydrological characteristics such as precipitation and slope characterized different secondary habitat distributional patterns among the experiments. Final conservation priority sites were identified based on specified criteria for the designed index. Our results suggest that a fine-scale modeling system with adequate spatial resolution of environmental inputs is advantageous in representing local habitat characteristics of A. koreana and can be applied to in situ conservation strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Biologic Conservation and Ecological Sustainability)

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