Practical actions for applied systematic conservation planning

Systematic conservation planning is intended to inform spatially explicit decision making. Doing so requires that it be integrated into complex regulatory and governance processes, and there are limited instances where this has been achieved effectively. South Africa is a global leader in the application of conservation plans, the outputs of which are widely used for spatial planning and decision making in many spheres of government. We aimed to determine how conservation planning in the country progressed from theory to implementation, and to identify practical actions that enabled this transition, by assessing temporal trends in the characteristics of conservation plans (1990–2017, n = 94). Since 2010 conservation planning has entered an operational period characterized by government leadership of plans, administrative rather than ecological planning domains, decreasing size of planning units, increasing emphasis on end-user products, and scheduled revision of plans. Key actions that enabled this progression include transitioning leadership of plans from scientists to practitioners, building capacity within implementing agencies, creating opportunities to integrate plans in legislative processes, establishing a strong community of practice, adopting implementation-focused methods, and balancing standardization with innovation. Learning from this model will allow other countries, particularly those with a similar megadiverse, developing context, to operationalize conservation planning into spatial planning and decision making.     

Age-specific responses to elevated salinity in the coastal marsh plant black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus Scheele) as determined through polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence transients (OJIP)

This study employed polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence transients (OJIP), a non-invasive marker of environmental stress in plants, to evaluate salt tolerance in three different Juncus roemerianus age classifications (6-, 24-, and 60-months). Following exposure to elevated salts (30 psu), the younger plants sustained growth, which was comparable to freshwater controls. While older (60-month) plants receiving only freshwater also grew over the 8-week study, the older salt-treated plants did not increase in size. Similarly, there were significant declines in variable chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters (F _v/F _m and F _v/F _o), electron transport flux per reaction center (ET_o/RC), and photosystem II performance index (PI_ABS) for 60-month J. roemerianus following salt treatment. These responses were not evident in the two younger salt-treated age classifications. Our results suggest that older J. roemerianus are less tolerant to rapid and sudden increases in salinity relative to younger plants and that this age-specific response may help explain observed discrepancies in salt tolerance in J. roemerianus.     

Four priorities for new links between conservation science and accounting research

Article impact statement: New collaborations with accounting research can improve conservation impact of ecosystem-based information systems.     

Microstructure of the paper nautilus (Argonauta nodosa) shell and the novel application of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) to address effects of ocean acidification

Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is a powerful microscopic technique to characterise the crystallography of biomineralisation. Here, we use high-resolution EBSD to characterise one of the least studied shells in the ocean, the female argonaut brood chamber, and to examine the changes in shell microstructure in response to incubation in decreased pH conditions. The thin (225 μm) shell of Argonauta nodosa is magnesium calcite with an average magnesium content of ca. 5.1 Wt % MgCO₃. EBSD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that calcification of the shell is bidirectional with formation of irregular crystalline grains. Following a 2 week incubation in a range of pH treatments (pH, 8.1–7.2), shell fragment weight decreased by dissolution in pH ≤ 7.8. EBSD and SEM revealed altered shell crystallography and microstructure at pH ≤ 7.4 due to preferential etching down crystallite grain boundaries and a change in crystalline orientation on both the inner and outer shell surfaces. Our study highlights the value of EBSD for the detailed examination of biogenic carbonates and its potential use in the field of ocean acidification research.     

Achieving attainable outcomes from good science in an untidy world: case studies in land and air pollution

While scientific understanding of environmental issues develops through careful observation, experiment and modelling, the application of such advances in the day to day world is much less clean and tidy. Merseyside in northwest England has an industrial heritage from the earliest days of the industrial revolution. Indeed, the chemical industry was borne here. Land contamination issues are rife, as are problems with air quality. Through the examination of one case study for each topic, the practicalities of applied science are explored. An integrated, multidisciplinary response to pollution needs more than a scientific risk assessment. The needs of the various groups (from public to government) involved in the situations must be considered, as well as wider, relevant contexts (from history to European legislation), before a truly integrated response can be generated. However, no such situation exists in isolation and the introduction of environmental investigations and the exploration of suitable, integrated responses will alter the situation in unexpected ways, which must be considered carefully and incorporated in a rolling fashion to enable solutions to continue to be applicable and relevant to the problem being faced. This integrated approach has been tested over many years in Merseyside and found to be a robust approach to ever-changing problems that are well described by the management term, “wicked problems”.     

A Paleozoological Perspective on White-Tailed Deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Odocoileus virginianus texana</Emphasis>) Population Density and Body Size in Central Texas

Archaeological and paleontological datasets are used in conservation to add time-depth to ecology. In central Texas, several top carnivores including prehistoric Native American hunters have been extirpated or have had their historic ranges restricted, which has resulted in pest-level white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus texana) populations in some areas. Differences in body size of deer between prehistory and modernity are expected, given that a lack of predation likely has increased intraspecific competition for forage among deer, resulting in smaller body size today. In fact, modern deer from settings without harvest pressure are significantly smaller than those from harvested areas and from prehistoric deer. From a natural history perspective, this research highlights potential evolutionary causes and effects of top-predator removal on deer populations and related components of biological communities in central Texas.     

Comparison of trace element concentrations in livers of diseased, emaciated and non-diseased southern sea otters from the California coast

Infectious diseases have been implicated as a cause of high rates of adult mortality in southern sea otters. Exposure to environmental contaminants can compromise the immuno-competence of animals, predisposing them to infectious diseases. In addition to organic pollutants, certain trace elements can modulate the immune system in marine mammals. Nevertheless, reports of occurrence of trace elements, including toxic heavy metals, in sea otters are not available. In this study, concentrations of 20 trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, Hg, Tl, Pb, and Bi) were measured in livers of southern sea otters found dead along the central California coast (n = 80) from 1992 to 2002. Hepatic concentrations of trace elements were compared among sea otters that died from infectious diseases (n = 27), those that died from non-infectious causes (n = 26), and otters that died in emaciated condition with no evidence of another cause of death (n = 27). Concentrations of essential elements in sea otters varied within an order of magnitude, whereas concentrations of non-essential elements varied by two to five orders of magnitude. Hepatic concentrations of Cu and Cd were 10- to 100-fold higher in the sea otters in this study than concentrations reported for any other marine mammal species. Concentrations of Mn, Co, Zn, and Cd were elevated in the diseased and emaciated sea otters relative to the non-diseased sea otters. Elevated concentrations of essential elements such as Mn, Zn, and Co in the diseased/emaciated sea otters suggest that induction of synthesis of metallothionein and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme is occurring in these animals, as a means of protecting the cells from oxidative stress-related injuries. Trace element profiles in diseased and emaciated sea otters suggest that oxidative stress mediates the perturbation of essential-element concentrations. Elevated concentrations of toxic metals such as Cd, in addition to several other organic pollutants, may contribute to oxidative stress-meditated effects in sea otters.     

Field-scale demonstration of induced biogeochemical reductive dechlorination at Dover Air Force Base, Dover, Delaware

Biogeochemical reductive dechlorination (BiRD) is a new remediation approach for chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs). The approach stimulates common sulfate-reducing soil bacteria, facilitating the geochemical conversion of native iron minerals into iron sulfides. Iron sulfides have the ability to chemically reduce many common CAH compounds including PCE, TCE, DCE, similar to zero valent iron (Fe(0)). Results of a field test at Dover Air Force Base, Dover, Delaware, are given in this paper. BiRD was stimulated by direct injection of Epson salt (MgSO(4).7H(2)O) and sodium (L) lactate (NaC(3)H(5)O(3)) in five injection wells. Sediment was sampled before and 8 months after injection. Significant iron sulfide minerals developed in the sandy aquifer matrix. From ground water analyses, treatment began a few weeks after injection with up to 95% reduction in PCE, TCE, and cDCE in less than 1 year. More complete CAH treatment is likely at a larger scale than this demonstration.     

Assessment of biogeochemical natural attenuation and treatment of chlorinated solvents, Altus Air Force Base, Altus, Oklahoma

Biogeochemical reductive dechlorination (BiRD) is a newly recognized method for the remediation or natural attenuation of chlorinated solvents. Chlorinated solvents are rapidly treated by abiotic reaction with reduced mineral iron sulfides. Iron sulfides are formed by naturally occurring sulfate-reducing bacteria when sufficient SO(4)(2-) and organic carbon are present or supplied to sediments containing mineral iron. An example of site characterization focusing on BiRD is presented focusing on mineral phases. Methods demonstrated here may be employed at other sites to evaluate naturally occurring BiRD or to evaluate an engineered BiRD remediation. A field investigation was performed at a TCE contaminated site at Altus AFB with naturally high concentrations of SO(4)(2-) and Fe(III) minerals and where an accidental fuel spill provided organic carbon. In the area of this fuel spill significant mineral iron sulfides were found, sulfate was almost completely removed, and TCE was absent. Only small amounts of daughter products were found, further indicating that the BiRD pathway was operative. Mass balance data indicates all of the remaining TCE (182 kg) could be treated by the remaining FeS (66.5 kg) in the upper aquifer; however, the FeS was not co-located with TCE to enable complete reaction. Laboratory microcosm tests with FeS amended and FeS-rich sediment from Altus AFB also suggest that BiRD is capable of destroying TCE. The results suggest that an engineered BiRD treatment is possible for this site.