A scoping review into the impact of animal imagery on pro-environmental outcomes

With the recognition that most global environmental problems are a result of human actions, there is an increasing interest in approaches which have the potential to influence human behaviour. Images have a powerful role in shaping persuasive messages, yet research on the impacts of visual representations of nature is a neglected area in biodiversity conservation. We systematically screened existing studies on the use of animal imagery in conservation, identifying 37 articles. Although there is clear evidence that images of animals can have positive effects on people’s attitudes to animals, overall there is currently a dearth of accessible and comparable published data demonstrating the efficacy of animal imagery. Most existing studies are place and context-specific, limiting the generalisable conclusions that can be drawn. Transdisciplinary research is needed to develop a robust understanding of the contextual and cultural factors that affect how animal images can be used effectively for conservation purposes.

     

Colonization and early succession on artificial hard substrata by meiofauna

An experiment was undertaken at Farol Island, Brazil, to examine colonization of bare aluminium surfaces by microbes and meiofauna. It was hypothesized that a primary source of meiofaunal colonists was sediment resuspended during upwelling events, two of which occurred during the experiment. Microbial biofilms formed on the experimental substrata within 1 day, and continued to develop throughout the experimental period. Among meiofaunal groups copepods also appeared on the first day, and nematodes on the second. Meiofaunal community structure developed in three main phases: an initial phase of 2 days, characterized by low abundances of copepods; a second phase during the first upwelling period characterized by higher abundances of copepods and also by turbellarians; and a third phase from day 13 onwards characterized by relatively stable abundances of a range of taxa including copepods, cirripedes, nematodes and ostracods. Nematode assemblages also developed in three phases, but with different timings coinciding with upwelling events: an initial phase, from the beginning of the experiment to day 9, characterized by few species and low (or no) abundances; a second phase following the first upwelling characterized by moderate abundances of Chromadorina, Chromadorella, Daptonema and Euchromadora sp. 3; a third phase following the second upwelling period (from day 26 onwards) in which Daptonema disappeared and the assemblage was characterized by moderate to high abundances of Euchromadora (species 1 and 2) and Chromadorella. Although shifts in nematode assemblage structure coincided with upwelling events no evidence was found for sediments being the primary source of colonizers on the aluminium substrata, in contrast to our hypothesis.     

Ecological drivers of group living in two populations of the communally rearing rodent, Octodon degus

Intraspecific variation in sociality is thought to reflect a trade-off between current fitness benefits and costs that emerge from individuals' decision to join or leave groups. Since those benefits and costs may be influenced by ecological conditions, ecological variation remains a major, ultimate cause of intraspecific variation in sociality. Intraspecific comparisons of mammalian sociality across populations facing different environmental conditions have not provided a consistent relationship between ecological variation and group-living. Thus, we studied two populations of the communally rearing rodent Octodon degus to determine how co-variation between sociality and ecology supports alternative ecological causes of group living. In particular, we examined how variables linked to predation risk, thermal conditions, burrowing costs, and food availability predicted temporal and population variation in sociality. Our study revealed population and temporal variation in total group size and group composition that covaried with population and yearly differences in ecology. In particular, predation risk and burrowing costs are supported as drivers of this social variation in degus. Thermal differences, food quantity and quality were not significant predictors of social group size. In contrast to between populations, social variation within populations was largely uncoupled from ecological differences.     

Amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis as a routine tool to assess toxicant driven changes in hindgut bacterial populations of Porcellio dilatatus (Crustacea: Isopoda)

Changes in saprophytic organism's gut microbial communities may present a threat to organic matter breakdown which can ultimately lead to soil function impairment. In this study, Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis (ARDRA) was evaluated as a potential simple molecular tool to assess shifts in bacterial community structure in hindgut populations of Porcellio dilatatus exposed to contaminated food. This prospective tool can also be used for a variety of purposes and samples prior to the use of more specific and sophisticated methods.     

Phylogeography of the Southwestern Atlantic menhaden genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brevoortia</Emphasis> (Clupeidae,Alosinae)

Among pelagic fish, the Southwestern Atlantic menhaden genus Brevoortia (Clupeidae, Alosinae) constitutes an important species model to investigate the patterns of genetic differentiation. It is abundant in the Río de la Plata estuary and in the Atlantic coastal lagoons system from Uruguay and Southern Brazil. To access in the taxa discrimination and population structure in Brevoortia we perform a phylogeographic approach based on mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt-b) sequences including 240 individuals from 16 collecting sites. Among the 720 bp cyt-b sequenced, 199 correspond to variables and 88 to phylogenetically informative sites. High values of haplotype diversity (h = 1.000) and nucleotide diversity (π = 0.061), as well as an average of 0.084 polymorphic segregating sites and 46 different haplotypes were found. Maximum likelihood analysis based on the GTR + I + G model and Bayesian inference strongly support the idea that B. aurea is the only species of the genus inhabiting the Southwestern Atlantic region. Our analyses revealed a complex population pattern characterized by the existence of long-term highly structured genetic assemblages of mixed stocks. Each monophyletic entity included individuals from different collecting sites, different age groups and collected in different years. Our data also suggest that the recruitment of unrelated mtDNA haplotypes carried out by individuals within schools could be occurring in the same nursery areas revealing the existence of many different maternal lineages. A scenario where different simultaneously and successively mixed mtDNA lineages remain historically connected through basal haplotypes among different clades could explains more accurately the complex and ordered metapopulation dynamic found in this pelagic fish.     

Interactions among bacterial-feeding nematode species at different levels of food availability

Accurate prediction of the biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationship requires adequate understanding of the interactions among species in a community. Effects of species diversity on ecosystem functioning are usually considered more pronounced with increasing functional dissimilarity, although species within functional groups may also perform non-identical functions and interact with each other. Here we present results of a laboratory experimental study aimed at elucidating whether interspecific interactions among species within a single nematode trophic group, bacterivores, (1) affect population development and community structure, and (2) depend on food availability. We studied the population growth of Rhabditis (Pellioditis) marina, a rhabditid nematode known to favour very high food densities when in monoculture, and of Diplolaimelloides meyli and D. oschei, congeneric Monhysteridae known to perform better in monocultures at intermediate food availability. Both Diplolaimelloides species showed significantly different patterns of food-density dependence in combination culture compared to monoculture. At very high food availability, the rhabditid nematode facilitated growth of both monhysterid species, probably as a result of down-regulation of bacterial density. At the lowest food availabilities, the presence of even low numbers of monhysterid nematodes lead to exclusion of the rhabditid, which at such low food availability has a very inefficient food uptake. At intermediate food availabilities, abundances of both Diplolaimelloides species were strongly depressed in the combination culture, as a result of food depletion by the rhabditid, indirect inhibitory interactions between the two congeneric species, or both. The complexity of the species interactions render predictions on the outcome and functional consequences of changes in within-trophic-group diversity highly problematic.     

Catalyzing sustainable fisheries management through behavior change interventions

Small-scale fisheries are an important livelihood and primary protein source for coastal communities in many of the poorest regions in the world, yet many are overfished and thus require effective and scalable management solutions. Positive ecological and socioeconomic responses to management typically lag behind immediate costs borne by fishers from fishing pressure reductions necessary for fisheries recovery. These short-term costs challenge the long-term success of these interventions. However, social marketing may increase perceptions of management benefits before ecological and socioeconomic benefits are fully realized, driving new social norms and ultimately long-term sustainable behavior change. By conducting underwater visual surveys to quantify ecological conditions and by conducting household surveys with community members to quantify their perceptions of management support and socioeconomic conditions, we assessed the impact of a standardized small-scale fisheries management intervention that was implemented across 41 sites in Brazil, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The intervention combines TURF reserves (community-based territorial use rights for fishing coupled with no-take marine reserves) with locally tailored social-marketing behavior change campaigns. Leveraging data across 22 indicators and 4 survey types, along with data from 3 control sites, we found that ecological and socioeconomic impacts varied and that communities supported the intervention and were already changing their fishing practices. These results suggest that communities were developing new social norms and fishing more sustainably before long-term ecological and socioeconomic benefits of fisheries management materialized.     

Ethical considerations when conservation research involves people

Social science is becoming increasingly important in conservation, with more studies involving methodologies that collect data from and about people. Conservation science is a normative and applied discipline designed to support and inform management and practice. Poor research practice risks harming participants and, researchers, and can leave negative legacies. Often, those at the forefront of field-based research are early-career researchers, many of whom enter their first research experience ill-prepared for the ethical conundrums they may face. We draw on our own experiences as early-career researchers to illuminate how ethical challenges arise during conservation research that involves human participants. Specifically, we considered ethical review procedures, conflicts of values, and power relations, and devised broad recommendations on how to navigate ethical challenges when they arise during research. In particular, we recommend researchers apply reflexivity (i.e., thinking that allows researchers to recognize the effect researchers have on the research) to help navigate ethical challenges and encourage greater engagement with ethical review processes and the development of ethical guidelines for conservation research that involves human participants. Such guidelines must be accompanied by the integration of rigorous ethical training into conservation education. We believe our experiences are not uncommon and can be avoided and hope to spark discussion to contribute to a more socially just conservation.     

Matrix effect in case of purification of oily waters by membrane separation combined with pre-ozonation

In the present study, oil in water emulsions (c_oil?=?100 ppm; d_{oil droplets}?<?2 μm) was purified with ozonation followed by microfiltration using polyethersulfone (PES) membrane (d_pore?=?0.2 μm). The effects of pre-ozonation on membrane microfiltration were investigated in detail both in case of ultrapure and model groundwater matrices, applying different durations (0, 5, 10, and 20 min) of pre-ozonation. Simultaneously, the effects of added inorganic water components on the combined method were investigated. Size distribution of oil droplets, zeta potentials, fluxes, and purification efficiencies were measured and fouling mechanisms were described in all cases. It was found that the matrix significantly affected the size distribution and adherence ability of oil droplets onto the membrane surface, therefore fouling mechanisms also were strongly dependent on the matrix. In case of low salt concentration, the total resistance was caused mainly by reversible resistance, which could be significantly reduced (eliminated) by pre-ozonation. In case of model groundwater matrix, nearly twice higher total resistance was measured, and irreversible resistance was dominant, because of the higher adhesion ability of the oil droplets onto the membrane surface. In this case, pre-ozonation resulted in much lower irreversible, but higher reversible resistance. Increased duration of pre-ozonation raised the total resistance and reduced the elimination efficiency (due to fragmented oil droplets and water soluble oxidation by-products) in both cases, therefore short pre-ozonation can be recommended both from economic and performance aspects.     

Evaluation and comparison of advanced oxidation processes for the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D): a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Organochlorine pesticides have generated public concern worldwide because of their toxicity to human health and the environment, even at low...