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In fire‐prone ecosystems, knowledge of vegetation–fire–climate relationships and the history of fire suppression and Indigenous cultural burning can inform discussions of how to use fire as a management tool, particularly as climate continues to change rapidly. On Wiisaakodewan‐minis/Stockton Island in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore of Wisconsin, USA, structural changes in a pine‐dominated natural area containing a globally rare barrens community occurred after the cessation of cultural burning by the Indigenous Ojibwe people and the imposition of fire‐suppression policies, leading to questions about the historical role of fire in this culturally and ecologically important area. To help understand better the ecological context needed to steward these pine forest and barrens communities, we developed palaeoecological records of vegetation, fire, and hydrological change using pollen, charcoal, and testate amoebae preserved in peat and sediment cores collected from bog and lagoon sediments within the pine‐dominated landscape. Results indicated that fire has been an integral part of Stockton Island ecology for at least 6000 years. Logging in the early 1900s led to persistent changes in island vegetation, and post‐logging fires of the 1920s and 1930s were anomalous in the context of the past millennium, likely reflecting more severe and/or extensive burning than in the past. Before that, the composition and structure of pine forest and barrens had changed little, perhaps due to regular low‐severity surface fires, which may have occurred with a frequency consistent with Indigenous oral histories (~4–8 years). Higher severity fire episodes, indicated by large charcoal peaks above background levels in the records, occurred predominantly during droughts, suggesting that more frequent or more intense droughts in the future may increase fire frequency and severity. The persistence of pine forest and barrens vegetation through past periods of climatic change indicates considerable ecological resistance and resilience. Future persistence in the face of climate changes outside this historical range of variability may depend in part on returning fire to these systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colonialism produces monsters thriving in island ecologies, but without a structural/historical treatment of how island monsters are created, how the agential relation between colonisers and natives accentuates the dynamics of interpellation, the island would reveal nothing of its past, the reusable trace that can be interpellated in the present. In the modern-day Philippines, a former colonial object to three foreign aggressions (Spanish, American and Japanese) that spanned almost half a millennium, such reusable trace has recently entered the international streaming platform Netflix. Trese (2021), a Philippine-made anime, navigates the myth of aswang, one of the dominant features of Filipino folklore, which centres on the image of a female, vampire-like monster. This image traces its iterative root in the lost history of the babaylans (female shamans) amid the creation of folk Christianity and diffracted engagements with the Christian indoctrination of the islands. This article navigates this subject and how Trese, among other actants in this play of figuration, is itself interpellated by traces of historical, geographical, and non-human ecologies that, in turn, reflect the fundamental role of liquidity in monster-creation as a material-semiotic intervention. As the discussions expand on the two most essential concepts in Island Studies today, the archipelagic and the aquapelagic, the article deploys the concept of detourning, a critical rhetorical arc that binds the article’s multi-faceted discussions, connections, and combinations, from human to the non-human, thus completing its assessment of the dynamics of islands being interpellated by traces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ecoscience (Ecoscience) is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• Neotermes sugioi that attack living trees is a new species found from East Asia. • Broken of living tree trunks were may be caused by N. sugioi infestation. • Populations of 1,000–4,000 individuals were common in Neotermes sugioi colonies. • Reproductives were in the central or root side of the nest branches. • Regular pruning of dead branches of trees might help to remove small nests. Termites are major pests of houses and buildings, and also living plants such as agricultural crops, trees in forests, urban areas and gardens. However, in Japan, the basic ecology of termites nesting in living trees is not fully understood. In this study, we observed 255 colonies (nests) of the drywood termite Neotermes sugioi , collected in the field on Okinawa Island, and reported the frequency composition of the reproductive castes, the size of wood with termite gallery, the population size of colonies, and the relative position of the reproductive and non-reproductive castes within nests. Most colonies were headed by a primary queen and a primary king. However, colonies headed only by primary queens, primary kings, or neotenic kings, each accounted for approximately 5% of the colonies. A colony size of 1,000– 4,000 individuals (2058.2 ± 1695.0 [mean ± SD]) was common and the average length of colony branches was less than 100 cm. Queens and kings were found in the same or nearby nest areas, and more predominantly in the central or root side of nest wood areas. The termites may experience colony fragmentation and reproductive loss as a consequence of typhoons. Incipient colonies (i.e., colonies at an early stage of development) were found on 11.3% of branches of Leucaena leucocephala that did not show any obvious signs of infestation. In future research, it will be necessary to update the list of trees damaged by this termite species, compare the damage by tree species, and evaluate the economic impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, referring to the notion of island communicative ecology, explores the role of local Okinawan initiatives for language revitalisation through community radio and island cultural agents, especially focusing on the activities of an individual, Minoru Ikehara, his private information and communications technology company, Crest Co. Ltd and their innovative use of vending machines. In Okinawa, the movement for re-introducing shimakutuba (community languages) officially started in 2006 when Okinawa Prefecture's legislated Shimakutuba no hi ('Community Languages Day'). Since then, local governing bodies have increased their language revitalisation efforts especially at school level. However, there have been difficulties with allocating time for shimakutuba education under the control of Japanese government curriculum guidelines. The choice of which language to work with, among various shimakutuba nurtured in each island community, has also raised endless discussions. As a top-down approach is not sufficient, the local media and grassroots efforts have played an important role for in the language revitalisation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shark and ray tourism is growing in popularity and often necessitates attractants like bait and chum to encourage close encounters. Such practices remain contentious amongst stakeholders as they may affect the species they target. We used lipid and fatty acid profiles to investigate the effects of South Australia's cage-diving industry on the diet and nutritional condition of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias (n = 75). We found no evidence of dietary shifts or reduced nutritional condition after a >3 week period of tourism-exposed residency at the Neptune Islands where the cage-diving industry operates. White sharks fed on a variety of prey groups, similar to other populations around Southern Australia that are not exposed to ecotourism provisioning. These findings indicate that current cage-diving operations in South Australia do not alter white shark diet and nutritional condition where prey resources are abundant. Image 1 • Previous studies suggest white shark cage-diving changes shark behaviour and daily activity. • Lipids and fatty acids in white shark muscle were used to assess the nutritional effects of the cage-diving industry. • White shark nutrition is unaffected by practices of the cage-diving industry. • White sharks do not consume sufficient bait (tuna) to affect their diet. • White sharks foraging ecology at the Neptune Islands is similar to other locations in South Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise and rapid estimation of leaf area index (LAI) is crucial for quantitative ecological monitoring and assessment, as it serves as an important ecological indicator of plant growth state and canopy structure. The acquisition, integration, and application of multiple remote sensing data from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms in quantitative ecological research is a current research hotspot. This study aims to explore the potential of combining morphological and spectral parameters using the symbolic regression (SR) algorithm with allometric models to improve the estimation of Leaf Area Index (LAI) at a regional scale of island ecosystem using UAV multi-source remote sensing data. The Canopy Height Model (CHM), Vegetation Density (VD), and Vegetation Indices (VIs), derived from UAV multi-platforms, were used as independent variables in the development of the retrieval models. Subsequently, regression equations were used to construct the Singlet, Duplet, and Triplet models. The precise assessments indicated that the triplet model demonstrates the highest accuracy, with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 9.48% and root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.2345. This improvement was observed compared to the singlet model (MAE = 19.55%, RMSE = 0.4091) and duplet model (MAE = 15.88%, RMSE = 0.3450), which can be attributed to incorporating morphological parameters to reduce the impact of tree height and leaf density. The analysis also showed that the estimated LAI accuracy is generally higher for shrubs and herbs compared to trees, and that lower plants with high vegetation coverage are better retrieved. The methodology advaneced in this study demonstrates significant potential and implications for ecological monitoring and assessment of island ecosystems, thereby expanding the research scope in the field of island ecology. Furthermore, it provides scientific evidence and technical support for decision-makers and scholars to propose and implement various measures for the conservation and restoration of island ecosystems. • Proposed a methodology of improving LAI estimation combining morphological and spectral parameters with symbolic regression. • Triplet model achieved highest accuracy, outperforming singlet and duplet models. • Higher LAI accuracy for shrubs and herbs compared to trees. • Implications for island ecological monitoring and ecosystem conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The coral reef ecosystems of the U.S. Virgin Islands are some of the most intensively surveyed and threatened tropical ecosystems on earth. These coral reefs vary widely in terms of biophysical structure, seascape context, socio-economic value and exposure to threats presenting a complex challenge for resilience-based management. How and where should managers prioritize actions to maximize conservation outcomes? To meet multiple conservation objectives, a novel map-based decision-support tool was designed which synthesized large amounts of data to help managers identify and rank coral reefs according to multiple ecological qualities, ecosystem services and threats. The spatial framework integrates local expert knowledge from SCUBA divers, scientific field data and spatial models to characterize and rank priority coral reefs. With user-defined flexibility, the tool provides information to guide management processes such as risk assessments of coastal development, management of protected areas, site selection in science and monitoring design, broader marine spatial planning and community education and outreach. Highlights • A novel spatial prioritization framework was developed to support coral reef conservation. • Occupational SCUBA divers contributed local ecological knowledge. • A web-based tool integrated predictive models, local ecological knowledge and field data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The islands located adjacent to the mainland provide us a lot of natural resources supported by their specific ecosystem structure and function, but they are easy to suffer from anthropogenic pressures and environmental change impacts. The island ecological integrity evaluation is one of the useful tools for the island protection and management. In this study, we proposed the island ecological integrity concept and developed a multi spatial and temporal scale evaluation index system, including anthropogenic pressures, climate change impacts, ecosystem function, and ecosystem structure. We applied the method and used the multi sources data to evaluate the ecological integrity in Nanri island, Dongan island, and Chuanshi island in Fujian Province, China in 2006 respectively. The result showed that the I ACEE scores were 0.61, 0.55 and 0.60 in Dongan, Chuanshi and Nanri islands respectively. The I AP , I CC , I EF and I ES scores were 0.72, 0.71, 0.43 and 0.54 in Dongan island; 0.71, 0.70, 0.40 and 0.39 in Chuanshi island; 0.67, 0.58, 0.41 and 0.62 in Nanri island respectively. The results indicated that the indexes system could reveal the islands ecological integrity on different spatial scales and spatial locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chongming Island is a distinct developing area in Shanghai and is currently being transformed as an international eco-island. The area is located in the Yangtze River estuary and secures the crop supply in Shanghai because of its unique geographical position and abundant water resource. Chongming is an agriculture-dominated district in an industrial city and is characterized by balanced utilization and natural preservation. In this study, the water footprint in Chongming Island from 2011 to 2014 was calculated and the water shortage was analyzed using virtual water as a criterion. Result shows that agricultural water footprint accounted for a major proportion of the total water footprint in Chongming Island. Water footprint from the manufacture of consumer products or services for residents was within the local water resource capacity, indicating that the self-sufficiency rate of water resource in Chongming Island was high. Nevertheless, this rate had been decreasing because of large imports that transfer water burden to other areas to optimize sustainable water consumption. However, Chongming Island had a higher water scarcity than other cities near Shanghai. Agricultural water footprint was categorized to assess the water utilization structure in Chongming’s agriculture. On the basis of the data from 2005 to 2014, four different scenarios were analyzed to predict the water footprint by 2040. The influence of the agricultural structure adjustment on the water resources of Chongming Island was assessed. Water consumption could be obviously reduced by 11.5% when the agricultural structure was changed. This situation should not be ignored by policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In island ecosystems, where endemic species have long been viewed as competitively inferior and more susceptible to herbivory relative to continental species, the impacts of invasive species may be especially pronounced. The sensitivity of island species to invasive species may lead to threshold effects causing irreversible changes in these ecosystems. Predictions that native, mostly endemic plant species are more adversely affected by ungulates than introduced alien plant species, and that competitive interactions between understory native and alien plant species are more severe when ungulates are removed were examined in a 15 year longitudinal study in a diverse mesic forest on Kaua‘i (Hawaiian Islands). Over this time period the density of both native and alien overstory canopy trees declined more in unfenced control plots than in plots fenced to exclude ungulates; alien and native trees in the canopy responded similarly to ungulate exclusion via fencing. A differential effect of ungulates on native vs. alien plant species was pronounced in the understory, where the density of small individuals of native canopy species declined sharply in unfenced relative to fenced plots. In contrast, the density of small individuals of alien canopy species was less affected over time by ungulate exclusion. Native herbaceous and understory shrub species also decreased in density over time in unfenced plots relative to fenced plots, while alien understory species increased greatly in some fenced plots relative to unfenced plots. Despite the increase in alien understory plants, no evidence for competition between these alien species and small individuals of native canopy species in the understory could be detected, as numbers of plants in these two understory categories covaried similarly in the presence or absence of ungulates. The contrast between large numbers of native species in the canopy and the severe disruption of the understory in this forest suggests that ungulate removal implemented now or in the near future might prevent loss of the canopy and lead to regeneration of these species. The near absence of recruitment of any endangered species not already present in protected plots indicates that active restoration will be essential to prevent loss of many of the characteristic species of these forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soundscapes of four bays along the Kona Coast of Hawaii Island were monitored between January 2011 and March 2013. Equivalent, unweighted sound pressure levels within standard 1/3rd-octave bands (dB re: 1 μPa) were calculated for each recording. Sound levels increased at night and were lowest during the daytime when spinner dolphins use the bays to rest. A tsunami provided an opportunity to monitor the soundscape with little anthropogenic component. We detected a decrease in sound levels and variability in one of the busiest bays. During the daytime in the 3.15 kHz 1/3rd octave band, we detected 92 loud outliers from vessels, aquaculture, and military mid-frequency active sonar. During one military mid-frequency active sonar event sound levels reached 45.8 dB above median ambient noise levels. The differences found in the bays illustrate the importance of understanding soundscapes to effectively manage noise pollution in marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A global understanding of landscape dynamics, through local case studies, is a prime topic in land change science. Consequently, this approach should be urgently applied to changing and heavily transformed environments, such as coastal areas. The aim of this work is to study landscape changes, comparatively, by focusing on three coastal sedimentary landscapes in the Canary Islands (Spain). We examine changes in main land cover types and identify their driving forces, actors and institutions, analyze their inter-relationships, and match each case to a case-specific development model. The three landscapes reveal very different change processes with regard to population density, land cover, and major land change processes (i.e., resource extraction, urbanization, tourism, and nature protection). We found that socioeconomic, political, and natural/spatial driving force types are of highest importance, while the local level is dominant in all three cases. The findings of this study can be used to interpret other similar landscapes worldwide. Driving-force and organizational-level patterns may be expressed in a synthesized manner as we demonstrate in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Legacy effects of reforestation interventions shape the regeneration of urban forests. • Species diversity of woody species is related to forest area and isolation. • Animal-dispersed trees regenerate better than other trees in urban fragmented forests. • Careful selection of trees based on their traits is essential in reforestation projects. Urban forests are highly fragmented in mega-cites, acting as islands in terms of preserving species diversity. To maintain the ecological services of urban forests, management measures such as reforestation have been implemented, which might have a long-term effect on biodiversity. To understand how fragmentation and reforestation affect the natural regeneration of urban forests, we investigated the relationship between forest area, isolation and seed dispersal mode and the diversity and composition of woody species at the tree, seedling, and sapling stages in 28 secondary forests of the mega-city of Wuhan, China. We found that the alpha diversity of woody species was positively correlated with forest area, while their beta diversity was negatively correlated with forest area. The beta diversity of nonanimal-dispersed species significantly correlated with isolation. Animal-dispersed plants had consistently a higher alpha diversity from trees to seedlings and saplings, while their beta diversity was lower than nonanimal-dispersed plants at the seedling and sapling stage. The community composition of woody plants in urban forests was largely congruent among the three life stages. However, only the communities of animal-dispersed plants were consistent across life stages in small or highly-isolated forest patches. The results show that the woody plant diversity of urban forests is largely similar to that expected by island theory. Animal-dispersed trees are more likely to regenerate successfully due to a more diverse set of species used in reforestation and their higher tolerance to urban forest fragmentation. More management measures for nonanimal-dispersed species, such as enriching and repeating reforestation, will be required to maintain their high biodiversity in urban forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kiribati, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, the Maldives and other small island developing states in the Pacific are often incorrectly called “sinking islands.” With their highest points just a few meters above sea level, they face adverse impacts from climate change and especially sea level rise, which can cause them to disappear entirely or make their territory uninhabitable. After rather frustrating negotiations on other fora, the representatives of those states asked the UN Security Council to deal with their perilous situation in 2007. On the one hand, some countries used scientific argumentation to justify the introduction of this new security agenda. On the other hand, prominent UNSC members such as China and Russia, supported mainly by rapidly developing large countries, rejected it, arguing that the Security Council did not have the expertise to solve environmental problems. Since then the islands have echoed their plight to the UNSC in 2011 and 2015. This paper determines what roles individual countries ascribe to “experts” and “science” during UNSC negotiations. It examines how the authority of “experts” was exploited, which allowed certain countries to strike the issue of those islands from the UNSC agenda by calling for a more “scientific approach,” while others used “science” to widen the concept of security. The analysis of empirical data confirms the theory of Berling's three modalities when referring to science. Those modalities can be further extended by Foucault's conception of “will to truth” as a method of exclusion, and Chandler's theory of “empire in denial” as a way of evading responsibility, while maintaining power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An uncommon series of shark attacks, mostly involving surfers, occurred on the West coast of Reunion Island between 2011 and 2013, causing eight deaths. Following these events, which resulted in social, economic and political upheaval, and referred to as the "shark crisis", a scientific program with the aim of understanding shark behavior and ecology in Reunion Island was launched in 2012. It integrated spatial and temporal monitoring protocol of coastal uses allowing for the study of shark attack repercussions on the dynamics of 15 types of uses. In this paper, we bring shark and users observations together in order to assess human-shark interactions. Firstly, we assess the impacts that shark attacks have triggered in terms of users spatiotemporal distribution between 2011 and 2013. Secondly, we explore human-shark interactions in 2013 using cross-mapping techniques. Results show that three areas ( Saint-Gilles, Trois-Bassins, Etang-Salé ) have high levels of potential interaction and should be of high interest for the local authorities and stakeholders for further mitigation policies. Although further studies are needed to better understand the link between shark presence and shark attack, this study provides a first insight into human-shark interactions in Reunion Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe observations and provide ecological notes on two poorly known endemic thrush species from the Solomon Islands, the Guadalcanal Thrush Zoothera turipavae and Makira Thrush Z. margaretae. We also present the first published photographs for these species and discuss the differences in coloration observed in the field in July 2016 compared with published illustrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mont Saint-Michel Bay is located in a coastal area with a high tidal range that has resulted in a varied and complex history of inundation and of its opposite, “deislanding”. This article explores the mythologisation of the location and its history and identifies recent efforts to ensure that its islandness is re-established and re-affirmed as a local and national asset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removal of feral cats from island environments is a useful mechanism by which their ecological impact on endangered species can be reduced or ended. Nevertheless, because cats are anthropogenic in their origins, social perceptions of management practices play a large role in their implementation. Four-hundred questionnaires were delivered (386 were returned) with 100 going to each of the following: local residents; environmental workers; tourists; and, hunters. Questions explored respondents’ knowledge about island biodiversity and invasive species as well as attitudes towards cat population management methods. Habitat destruction and introduction of invasive species were considered the main threats for the conservation of island biodiversity. Most respondents considered cats to have a negative impact on biodiversity and sterilization campaigns were considered most appropriate for cat population control. Several free sterilization campaigns have been conducted in La Palma Island Biosphere Reserve in order to reduce free-ranging cats and were well received by local people. This research, which combined concepts of management, ecology and social sciences, provides valuable insights which may to be applicable on several other islands where cats and people are present and in conflict with conservation priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barrier island dunes are postulated to exhibit two states, or stability domains. In this model, transitions between domains can exhibit irreversibility. However, these transitions may also be bistable, whereby the topography of either domain can develop at a location. To infer evidence for these dynamical properties and link them to dune topography, statistical mapping of dune topographic state space was undertaken for six barrier islands of the southeastern U.S. Atlantic coast. Topographies for three to four plots per island were constructed from airborne LiDAR data. Elevation in each was quantified in terms of descriptive statistics, spatial autocorrelation and landscape patch structure. The state space derived from ordination of these data was not primarily structured by the domain model. Instead, positive and negative relief defined the major axis of topographic variability. Only the plot topographies intermediate of these extremes in relief and contained within a smaller window of elevations resembled those of the two-state model. Their emergence along the second axis of variability was correlated with the spatial autocorrelation of elevation and geographic factors related to wave and tidal energy. Topographies suggestive of irreversibility and bistability were distinguishable based on their position in state space relative to these two domains regions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper uses a case study of smallholder teak forestry in the Pacific Islands nation of Solomon Islands to evaluate difficulties that can arise when foreign expertise fails to take sufficient account of local epistemology and practices when implementing market based community level development. The planting of community level smallholder teak is widespread in the Solomon Islands and has the potential to address some of the environmental and livelihood damage done by years of indiscriminate logging. Attempts by successive Australian Government aid programs to better manage plantations for maximum yield and marketability have largely failed as competing livelihood priorities; differing philosophies on long term compounding returns and deferred income; and the geographical challenges of accessing markets have all conspired to prevent this high value timber from being grown to its full potential. We use the theories of indigenous epistemology to highlight the ways in which failure to properly integrate economic activity according to the culture and values of communities can mean that initiatives such as this will struggle to succeed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With globalisation, the world’s native biotas are increasingly exposed to disease, parasitism, herbivory and competition from exotic organisms. The vulnerability of native biota to these exotic invasions is exacerbated by human disturbance and global climate change. Rust pathogens are some of the most important plant pathogens, including Puccinia psidii (myrtle rust or guava rust) that is now spreading worldwide at an alarming rate. P. psidii is native to South America and affects species in the family Myrtaceae, including the economically and ecologically important eucalypts. The Australian continent has a rich myrtaceous flora and is the centre of origin of most eucalypt species. P. psidii was first detected in Australia in 2010 and has since rapidly spread along its east coast. We assess the risk this exotic pathogen poses to the eucalypt flora of the southern Australian island of Tasmania, where the first incursion of P. psidii was detected in early 2015. Specifically, we tested the relative importance of phylogenetic history, habitat, endemism, and range size in predicting host susceptibility. Rust screening of seedlings from one to four populations of each of the 30 eucalypt species which are native to Tasmania, revealed significant genetic-based variation in response among host species and populations within the species. Significant population differences in susceptibility were detected in threatened, rare and endemic eucalypt species, as well as Australia’s main plantation eucalypt ( Eucalyptus globulus ) and the world’s tallest angiosperm species ( Eucalyptus regnans ). A significant proportion of the variation in host species susceptibility to this exotic pathogen was explained by phylogenetic history, while factors such as habitat, endemism and range size had no detectable effect. Species from subgenus Eucalyptus (13 species) were more susceptible than those from subgenus Symphyomyrtus (17 species) due to differences between the subgenera in the proportion of plants showing a symptomless response. These subgenera are here shown to differ in their leaf oil and wax chemistry. The potential contribution of these differences and other possible mechanisms causing these subgeneric differences in susceptibility are discussed. This study demonstrates the power of a phylogenetic approach to risk assessment for biosecurity and highlights the need for broader resistance screening within and between populations of species of high conservation or economic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alien plants pose a substantial threat to island ecosystems in Australia and worldwide. A better understanding of weed distributions is necessary to more effectively manage natural resources on islands. To address this for Western Australian islands, we assembled a database of all available records of alien plants on these islands. In the second paper in this series, we report on the distribution of records from all islands located along the west coast of Western Australia. We defined the west coast as the coastline within the boundaries of the South West, Swan and Midwest regions of the Department of Parks and Wildlife. This area of coastline stretches from Black Point (near Cape Leeuwin) in the south, to Waroora Station (near Coral Bay) in the north. From 4049 individual records, a total of 317 alien plant species were recorded on the 206 islands with existing weed records. A disproportionately large number of weed species were recorded on islands near Perth, estuarine islands, and islands with a history of intensive human activity. Some of the species recorded as present on the islands are known to be serious environmental weeds, including mother of millions (Bryophyllum delagoense), sea spurge (Euphorbia paralias), cleavers (Galium aparine), African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum), tree mallow (Malva arborea), ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum), common prickly pear (Opuntia stricta), sea spinach (Tetragonia decumbens), and golden crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides). The development of management plans to address these species and the survey of islands adjacent to known infestations should be conservation priorities for the west coast islands. Improved biosecurity procedures and enforcement could prevent the establishment of new weed populations on islands and reduce the future costs associated with the management of infestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the third article in a three-part special issue titled "Pacific Islands, Extreme Environments" edited by Andrea E. Murray. Murray's review of a documentary film about the present-day consequences of climate change in Papua New Guinea highlights Kelman's piece on the challenges of multi-scalar governance, and brings to life Niazi's inquiry into the fate of so-called "climate refugees" in the Asia-Pacific. The author argues for the power and urgency of multimedia research and reporting in places most immediately affected by rising sea levels, while also questioning the notion that certain dwindling human populations and cultural practices can be "saved" by avoiding relocation to a more densely populated mainland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first article in a three-part special issue on "Pacific Islands, Extreme Environments" edited by Andrea E. Murray. Kelman explores case studies from particularly vulnerable Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including Samoa, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands, to articulate a new theory of disaster risk governance that accounts for the disproportionate climate change-related consequences suffered by these low-lying island countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management / Revista de Gestão Costeira Integrada is the property of Associacao Portuguesa dos Recursos Hidricos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Historically, fire has played a dominant role in shaping many forest plant communities. Mediterranean-type vegetation is one of the world's major fire-prone biomes, with conifer forests among the most flammable ecosystems in the Mediterranean region. Prescribed fires are a powerful tool for reducing fire hazards by decreasing amounts of fuel. The main objective of this work is to analyse the effects of prescribed burning on the understory vegetation composition and species richness in a reforested stand of Pinus canariensis. Nine 900 m2 plots were settled in areas were prescribed burning had been applied in the last 5 years; their respective control plots were established in nearby unburnt areas of similar environmental conditions. In each plot, we systematically selected 10 points in which we sampled the presence of species in 1m2 quadrats and analysed for species richness and species composition. No significant changes in the number of species richness were found medium term after prescribed burning. Also, when we analysed species composition, no discrimination among the control and burnt plots was detected. From an ecological point of view, prescribed fire is a good practice to reduce biomass accumulation in P. canariensis reforested stands, resulting in low effects in species composition and richness. However, it would be necessary long-term studies to evaluate the effects of prescribed burning intensity, season and frequency, as well as positive effects on the naturalization of these artificial stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environment of small islands makes them favorable locations for luxury resorts and these play a significant role in the economic development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). However, these resorts provide activities and services that can affect the islands' ecosystems and thus, a way to make luxury and sustainability compatible must be found. The main purpose of this study is to detect patterns for sustainability in SIDS surrounded by reefs from the conceptual framework of sustainable tourism. The study is based on a survey responded by 61 deluxe resorts in French Polynesia, the Seychelles and the Maldives. Responses were analyzed statistically to compare and group this population. Two important conclusions can be inferred from the results obtained in this analysis: a) luxury can go hand in hand with sustainability in the three SIDS and b) there is a pattern in their sustainability behavior based on how resorts manage sustainability and their willingness to improve environmental practices, and even sacrifice some activities and services, whether they have an environmental certification or not. The results of this study may contribute to the academic knowledge of environmental patterns in luxury SIDS destinations. Many studies have confirmed that possessing eco-labels and standards are a good reason to call tourism sustainable. However, this study proves that to achieve a sustainable target certain activities must be sacrificed. In addition, we provide advice to deluxe resorts that would like to be more sustainable and background information to policymakers which should help to find ways to enhance public environmental policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study to test the hypothesis that habitats deemed of minor value for bat foraging like cliffs, may become important in resource-limited systems like islands. The study involved an acoustic survey of bats in Capri, Italy and compared their use of Mediterranean shrubland and limestone cliffs. It finds that four of the five bat species tested preferred coastal cliffs for foraging, even by the barbastelle bat, Barbastella barbastellus, normally regarded a forest specialist.

Abstract: The release of exotic genotypes into the wild can lead to the extinction of local demes through the hybridization among distinct gene pools. This may occur between wild specimens and their domesticated relatives. Escaped pets represent a well-known pathway for the introduction of allochtonous resources, and island environments require major attention as they include small-sized and naïve populations that may be prone to extinction. We characterized the genetic make-up of the black francolin (Francolinus francolinus, Phasianidae) resident to Cyprus using microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA for the purpose of sustainable use and long-term protection of this game species. We collected 59 samples of specimens hunted in the districts of Nicosia and Paphos, while others (n =18) were obtained from birds of unknown origin. These had been imported to a pet-centre in Nicosia, the largest in the capital offering animals either for production or leisure purposes. Both genetic systems pointed to the occurrence of distinct wild district populations that could be treated as separate management units. The non-significant value of the inbreeding coefficient (F IS) computed for Nicosia and Paphos populations (−0.039 and −0.189, respectively: P >0.05) and the lack of evidence for recent genetic bottlenecks did not indicate a serious risk of over-hunting. The microsatellites revealed the birds in the pet-centre as highly genetically divergent with respect to the wild ones, the mtDNA pointed to their assignment to alien Asian subspecies once they were compared to141 sequences of allopatric francolins. We advised the Game & Fauna Service to consider law enforcement to ban the import, detention and sale of these subspecies to protect the black francolin population native to Cyprus. The results are discussed in the context of a bibliographic frame including the partridges of the genus Alectoris (Phasianidae) as a model group with reference to genetic characterization and conservation of game bird island populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tree islands are habitat for wading birds and a characteristic landscape feature in the Everglades. A total of 93 surface soil and 3 soil core samples were collected from 7 degraded/ghost and 34 live tree islands. The mean Hg concentration in surface soils of ghost tree islands was low and similar to marsh soil. For live tree islands, Hg concentrations in the surface head region were considerably greater than those in mid and tail region, and marsh soils. Hg concentrations in bird guano (286 μg kg−1) were significantly higher than those in mammal droppings (105 μg kg−1) and plant leaves (53 μg kg−1). In addition, Hg concentrations and δ15N values displayed positive correlation in soils influenced by guano. During 1998–2010, estimated annual Hg deposition by guano was 148 μg m−2 yr−1 and ∼8 times the atmospheric deposition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Sagar Island is situated at the estuary of the river Hugli and prone to several environmental hazards. Erosion, cyclones, tidal surges and floods are the four major environmental hazards occurring continuously in this Island. In this paper an attempt has been made to analyse the perception of several occupational groups of the Island about the adverse effects of the four major environmental hazards. The study has examined in detail how different occupational groups perceive the environmental hazards from their respective occupational standpoints. An amalgamation of the diverse perceptions of various occupational groups and their active involvement in various stages of hazards management is suggested to protect the Island from devastating effects of environmental hazards. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Demarcation of upland and water/marsh boundary is a critical issue for management and protection of barrier island ecosystems. Most accurate, precise and confident approaches are required to resolve conflicts related to developable lands and conservation area. Barrier islands are especially prone to these conflicts because they are highly dynamic systems that are formed and reformed by rise and fall of tides and seal levels. In response, this research analyzes the demarcation of Jekyll Island State Park, Georgia, USA that is faced with management issues of balancing tourism and development with resource conservation. Questions addressed by this research include: (1) What are the standard sea levels used to demarcate barrier islands? (2) What are the best methods for most accurately estimating the total area of coastal barrier islands? (3) Do differences in tide elevations between back-barrier and ocean-front shorelines of barrier islands exist? Specifically, this research considers a number of environmental policies, regulations, and laws along with geospatial data such as aerial photography, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and GIS shapefiles. These data are used to define sea levels and outline of Jekyll Island State Park based on Mean High Water (MHW) levels with respect to 0.79-m, 0.85-m, 0.94-m, 1.00-m, and 1.49-m for the entire Jekyll Island State Park. The demarcations of different back-barrier marshland and ocean-front side of the island were also considered. Results indicate that the total area of Jekyll Island State Park may vary by as much as 3.31-km2 or 7.2% depending on the jurisdictional sea level that is used to demarcate the island boundary. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Basic & Applied Ecology is the property of Urban & Fischer Verlag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper demonstrates that a recently proposed dynamical model for the ecology of Easter Island admits periodic and chaotic attractors, not previously reported. Such behavior may more realistically depict the population dynamics of general ecosystems and illustrates the power of simple models to produce the kind of complex behavior that is ubiquitous in such systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Changes of pasture communities consequent to management practices resulting from land abandonment considerably affect the structure and function of the ecosystem. This study analyses the consequences of grazing abandonment in terms of plant and soil microbial diversity and fertility, on a Mediterranean upland sheep pasture, over a short period (five years). Grazing was experimentally excluded by fencing ten 10×10m permanent plots within an area that had supported grazing until 2000, by 0.23 sheep ha−1. Plant and soil microbial communities and physicochemical parameters were monitored within the fenced and unfenced control plots, during three sampling times from 2000 (before the fencing) to 2005. Grazing cessation notably altered the floral composition, with an average dissimilarity of 96.7% between the vegetation communities, over five years. No significant change occurred in the control plots that were grazed throughout the sampling period. This work highlighted that, over a short term, the structural change in the specific plant composition affected only the grass species, confirming that grazing favours the small-sized species over the annual species. Further, it was evident that species groups of conservational and phytogeographic interest, like the endemic and Mediterranean-Atlantic species, tended to disappear with pasture abandonment and were substituted by more widespread species throughout the Mediterranean or even the world. Pasture abandonment was accompanied by an increase of soil pH and a decrease in soil organic matter and soil nitrogen. The microbial parameters recorded at three different sampling times revealed a substantial effect of the plant community, or the time of grazing abandonment, on soil microbial abundance and diversity. Considerable importance is given to the consequences of pasture abandonment on the conservation of plant and microbial diversity and on soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work tries to evaluate road transport usage in Lanzarote Island and its implications for sustainable tourism development. The methodology followed here is the ecological footprint indicator. Its evaluation is based on projections of trip matrix estimated for Lanzarote Island. This study allows us to determine, in an approximate way, the environmental impact (that is, the contribution to climate change) of car usage on the island. Besides, it permits to extract some important conclusions about the trade-off existing between the need of individual mobility and tourism development in Lanzarote Island. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Here we present a method for determining whether habitat patches are truly functioning as habitat islands. We do so by assessing if the species distribution pattern across the islands, when compared to a mainland pattern, conforms to the predictions of the theory of island biogeography. The putative islands in our study are a series of hummocks in a swamp in the ES George Reserve, Pinckney, MI. We assess the tree flora on each hummock and find that hummocks that are at a distance from the mainland forest have fewer tree species than subsets of the mainland having the same area as the island. The four hummocks greater than 350m from the mainland had significantly fewer species than mainland samples of the same size, while those less than 200m away were not statistically different. These results suggest that at least some of the hummocks function as biological islands for trees. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents results of the geomorphological study of river elements (or a morphostructural characterization of Hispaniola. The fluvial system and its primary and secondary drainage divides were delimited using a specially developed methodology. More than 120 uluvial basins were studied. The largest rivers are the sixth-order Yaque del Norte and Yaque del Sur. The (luvial density is in the range of 0.08-4.0 km/km2, with highest values in the Cordillera Central. There are two large hydrological regions, the Western and the Eastern, with a northeastern transverse diagonal boundary, coinciding with the direction of the Beata Escarpment. Using quantitative data to characterize the morphostructure of the (luvial network in Hispaniola enabled us to make comparisons with a Cuban network. As is shown, the river pattern in Hispaniola is basically tectonic, with a remarkable directional diversity in the main first-order drainage divide. In the Caribbean area, Eastern Cuba is the only other location with this pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management / Revista de Gestão Costeira Integrada is the property of Associacao Portuguesa dos Recursos Hidricos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article explores the history of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts and the island life and experiences of sailor George Washington Eldridge. The author reflects on Eldridge's research on ocean tidal movement in Vineyard Sound and his development of oceanic charts and maps. The article also discusses Eldridge's suffering a broken ankle and the subsequent healing of his crippled leg. Eldridge claimed that island life had a healing effect due to its climate, the purity of its drinking water, and the health of island children. Other topics include family life, commuting from Boston, Massachusetts, and business opportunities.

Five decades after a series of nuclear tests began, we provide evidence that 70% of the Bikini Atoll zooxanthellate coral assemblage is resilient to large-scale anthropogenic disturbance. Species composition in 2002 was assessed and compared to that seen prior to nuclear testing. A total of 183 scleractinian coral species was recorded, compared to 126 species recorded in the previous study (excluding synonomies, 148 including synonomies). We found that 42 coral species may be locally extinct at Bikini. Fourteen of these losses may be pseudo-losses due to inconsistent taxonomy between the two studies or insufficient sampling in the second study, however 28 species appear to represent genuine losses. Of these losses, 16 species are obligate lagoonal specialists and 12 have wider habitat compatibility. Twelve species are recorded from Bikini for the first time. We suggest the highly diverse Rongelap Atoll to the east of Bikini may have contributed larval propagules to facilitate the partial resilience of coral biodiversity in the absence of additional anthropogenic threats. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea is a marine Chlorophyta introduced into the Mediterranean Sea from south-western Australia. Since 1990, it has been invading the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands, raising ecological problems. Although this invasion event can be considered as one of the most serious in the history of species introduced into the Mediterranean Sea, C. racemosa has not triggered as much attention as the famous “killer alga”Caulerpa taxifolia. The aim of the present study was: (i) to summarize the current state of knowledge with regard to the distribution, the various biological and ecological characteristics of the introduced C. racemosa and its impact on the Mediterranean coastal environment; (ii) to discuss the various hypotheses regarding the explanation for its rapid and successful spread; (iii) to investigate the disparity in the treatment of C. racemosa and Caulerpa taxifolia invasions; and (iv) to outline future research needs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We relate fish biological and ecological characteristics to total and organic mercury concentrations to determine whether accumulation is influenced by trophic level, Hg concentration in the diet, and vertical distribution. Levels of total mercury and methylmercury were determined in the muscle tissue of eight species of fish: Pagellus acarne, Trachurus picturatus, Phycis phycis, P. blennoides, Polyprion americanus, Conger conger, Lepidopus caudatus and Mora moro, caught in the Azores. All such fishes are commercially valuable and were selected to include species from a wide range of vertical distributions from epipelagic (<200m) to mesopelagic (>300m) environments. Methylmercury was the major form accumulated in all species, comprising an average of 88.1% of total mercury. Concentrations of mercury (total and methylmercury) increased with age, length and weight. Based on data from other studies, mercury concentrations in fish diet were estimated. Mercury levels in food ranged from 0.08 to 0.32ppm, dry weight. Hg concentrations in the food and in muscle tissue from different species were positively correlated. Total Hg levels in the muscles were approximately nine times those estimated in food. Total mercury concentrations in muscle were positively correlated with both trophic level and median depth. Such enhanced mercury bioaccumulation in relation to depth appears to be determined primarily by concentrations in food and ultimately by water chemistry, which controls mercury speciation and uptake at the base of the food chain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bulk metal analyses of surficial sediments collected around the Norwegian Crown cruise ship grounding site in Bermuda indicated significant but localized contamination of reef sediments by copper and zinc, caused by the stripping of the tri-butyltin (TBT)-free antifouling (AF) paint (Intersmooth 460) from the underside of the hull. Highest copper and zinc values were found in heavily compacted and red-pigmented sediments inside the impact scar and were comparable to levels found close to slip ways of local boat yards where AF paints from hull stripping and cleaning processes are washed into the sea. The re-distribution of AF contaminated sediments by storms and deposition on nearby reefs constitutes a significant ecological risk that could delay recovery processes and reduce the effectiveness of remediation efforts. Whilst the ecotoxicological effects of AF paint particles interspersed with sediment is unknown, and in need of further study, it is argued that the significance of AF paint contamination of grounding sites has been overlooked. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article contextualizes the basis for a comparative framework of analysis for Caribbean and Pacific regions from the perspective of the challenges they face as small states in the global economy. Remarkable similarities exist among the small states of the Pacific and the Caribbean regions. The physical distance among islands in the two regions poses difficulties for the integration of national economies. Diversification into services beyond tourism requires considerable improvements in the educational and health sectors. Other economic dilemma facing small states in the two regions include the high outflow of trained nationals and underdeveloped financial infrastructures.

This article discusses monitoring of radioactivity near Amchitka Island decades after three underground nuclear tests were conducted. Levels of radionuclides including actinides were measured in marine fish species and birds and compared with levels at the reference site at Kiska Island. Composites of edible muscle from Pacific Cod, Halibut, Gulls, Puffins, Eider Ducks, and others were studied. The only radionuclides measured above minimum detectable activity (MDA) were isotopes of Cesium, Americium, Plutonium, and Uranium. Cesium showed significant differences among species but not locations among top predatory fish. Among birds, only the Glaucous-winged Gull, had Cesium values above the MDA.